Brewery launches beer for football team, new gin distillery gears up for third release

Beer cheer for footy ​fans​

Yorkshire-based Black Sheep Brewery has launched a new brew called Yellow Black Army​ in homage to Harrogate Town AFC.

Brewed in collaboration with the League Two side, Yellow Black Army is said to be a “dynamic, powerful and fruity session IPA”. The launch of the beer is part of Black Sheep’s sponsorship deal with the recently promoted club.

Yellow Black Army is a 4% ABV beer that claimed to have “tropical fruit leading the attack, while the robust malt blend tidies up the back, allowing the hops to take all the glory”.

Black Sheep Brewery chief executive Charlene Lyons said: “We’re so excited to launch Yellow Black Army to fans of the ‘Town’. We’ve been working really hard behind the scenes to create a beer that perfectly encapsulates the essence of Harrogate Town AFC, and we think fans will absolutely love the final result.

“Given the club’s recent promotion to the Football League for the first time in its history, we felt it was only right to celebrate Harrogate Town’s. Our deal with Harrogate Town is the first time Black Sheep has sponsored a football club.”

Harrogate Town AFC manager Simon Weaver added: “I’m sure our fans will be delighted to be able to drink our very own, official beer. Just like our club, Black Sheep does things its own way and has created a unique sense of identity in the process. We can’t wait to see our fans’ response to Yellow Black Army and give them another chance to enjoy how far our club has come in recent years.”

Yellow Black Army will be available in cans direct from the brewery online or in-store and also from the official Harrogate Town AFC shop in Harrogate.

The Henley Distillery gears up for third variant release​

Launched in the summer of 2021, The Henley Distillery is one of the newest distilleries in the UK and is launching its third gin variants this winter.

Based in a restored threshing barn just outside Henley-on-Thames, its expressions include Classic Dry, a contemporary twist on a London Dry style; a fruity Rhubarb & Orange, with a delicate pink hue; and new for winter 2021, an Oriental Spiced gin, with warming flavours of cubeb, long pepper and ginger. 

The distillery is the brainchild of 27-year-old Jacob Wilson, who is one of the youngest master distillers in the country.

The Henley Distillery’s first two gins are distilled using two handmade 300-litre copper alembic stills. Named ‘Tony’ and ‘Mac’ after Jacob’s grandfathers, the two stills are heated over open flames, finely controlled by Wilson, and by slowing this distillation down to last 12 hours, the spirit produced is said to be smoother and cleaner than those made by the more modern column stills. Furthermore, the gins are not chill-filtered, which means delicate aromas and oils from the botanicals are retained, giving a more distinctive and rounded flavour. The two gins available are Classic Dry (42% ABV, RRP £40 for 70cl) and Rhubarb & Orange (42% ABV, RRP £40 for 70cl).

Launching in spring 2022 is a new Gin Experience, taking place in a converted barn across the courtyard from the main distillery, where guests will be able to create their own gin.

Fruit-led vodka from Smirnoff

Diageo has announced a new Smirnoff vodka flavour will be released to the on-trade from March next year in the form of Mango & Passionfruit Twist (37.5% ABV).

Smirnoff Mango & Passionfruit Twist is part of the brand’s ambition to evolve its flavour portfolio and spearhead growth and innovation. Diageo said 87% of spirits growth has come from flavour, according to IWSR Spirits research, and the brand aims to continue growing this category. It added the introduction of Smirnoff Raspberry Crush in summer achieved “an astonishing £6m retail sales value in the first 10 weeks of launch”.

Nick Payman, head of Smirnoff GB, Diageo, said: “We have strong ambitions for our growing flavour range and are excited to be bringing a brand-new variant to our customers following the successful launch of Raspberry Crush as well as growing consumer demand. Smirnoff never shies away from standing out from the crowd and as we know vodka flavours are growing at a rapid rate, there is huge opportunity to continue expanding and developing our portfolio.”

Smirnoff Mango & Passionfruit Twist is available to via Booker now with an RRP of £16.50 for a 70cl bottle.

Wimbledon Brewery opts for winter launch of malt-led lager​

Wimbledon Brewery has launched Vienna-style lager – Wimbledon Liebe (5.2% ABV) – for independent pubs and restaurants.

Launching today (5 November) at The Wimbledon Tap in south-west London, Wimbledon Liebe will be available to on-trade accounts from Monday (8 November).

Wimbledon said this dark lager is “full bodied and robust with a burnished gold colour and rich malt character”.

Wimbledon ‘Liebe’, which means ‘love’ in German, uses a blend of Dark Munich and Vienna malts that are said to bring hints of spice and stone fruit to the brew.

Wimbledon Brewery sales and marketing director Kieran Shew said: “Our brewers have done a tremendous job producing another world-class beer to add to our already growing list of beers and ales.”

Wimbledon Brewery master brewer Derek Prentice added: “The low temperature fermentation allows the special lager yeast to accentuate Liebe’s distinctive flavour profile. A classic lager style enjoyed by many countries during the cooler months. Subtle use of continental hops allows for a balanced, rounded mouthfeel and finish.”

Sliced Apple variant added to Captain Morgan portfolio​

Captain Morgan’s new flavoured spirit – Captain Morgan Sliced Apple (25% ABV) – will be available to the on-trade in spring next year.

The introduction of Captain Morgan Sliced Apple Spirit Drink follows the launch of Captain Morgan Tiki in March 2020.

The brand said the drink can be enjoyed with lemonade, neat over ice or as a hot toddy. Developed to tap into the early evening occasion and recruit more drinkers to flavoured spirits, the latest launch positions Captain Morgan as an all-year-round liquid.

Captain Morgan GB category director Samantha Newby said: “We know that consumers are still keen to explore new flavours within spirits. The launch of Captain Morgan Sliced Apple provides an opportunity to truly disrupt the category with great tasting spirit option while widening the reach of Captain Morgan to a broader group of people, moments and occasions.”

Vocation launches new stout for winter​

Hebden Bridge brewer Vocation is launching Honeycomb Chocolate Stout, which it said is “a sweet, smooth and chocolatey stout that is resemblant in flavour to one of the UK’s favourite chocolate bars”.

Vegan-friendly Honeycomb Chocolate Stout (7% ABV) uses oats and wheat with the addition of chocolate malt to provide the drink’s chocolate flavour and aroma. The beer is available now in 440ml cans in selected bars, as well as from Vocation’s online shop. It can also be purchased overseas via Vocation’s export business, in both cans and keg.

Vocation Brewery brewing director Matt Howgate said: “Honeycomb Stout is an incredibly decadent, rich and chocolatey stout, which is a drink to be savoured at the end of the night or equally, paired with desserts as an indulgent treat. It is lactose-free and vegan-friendly which makes it more accessible to a broader reach of people.”

Vocation’s range of beers went through a major rebrand in September to bring more personality to the packaging and better reflect the distinct character of each beer inside.

If you have any new products that are being released to the on-trade, email the details with high resolution images before Thursday at midday for potential inclusion on Friday’s article to tnel.yyblq@jeoz.pbz​​​​​.