Black Sheep Brewery unveils first craft beer
Black Sheep Brewery has reimagined its lager offering with the release of its first craft beer, Side Quest (5% ABV).
Side Quest is a hazy pale ale with citrus and tropical fruit flavours, combining an oat-heavy malt base Citra, Chinook and Summit hops.
In addition to the launch of Side Quest, Black Sheep has also another new brew, Brewhouse Lager, a 4% ABV serve crafted with German Noble hops and Yorkshire Dales Water, boasting sweet and floral notes.
Alongside the new beers, the Masham-based brewery, which was acquired by the Breal Group earlier this year, has also relaunched its 4% ABV English Pale Ale, Finisher.
Black Sheep head brewer Dan Scott Paul said: “At Black Sheep Brewery, we don’t just make great cask, we also make great beer. That is why we’re proud to be launching our first craft beer, Side Quest.
“Inspired by our origin story, Side Quest is an exploration off the beaten track and symbolises a new era for our brewery here in Masham.
“Side Quest, alongside Finisher and Brewhouse Lager, are three exceptional beers made for easy drinking wherever you are”.
The new beers follow Black Sheep Brewery’s recent partnership with the Rob Burrow Racing Club to launch ‘Burrow’s Blonde’, in support of rugby legend Rob Burrow MBE.
Black Sheep Brewery CEO Charlene Lyons said: “We've always embraced the spirit of adventure and innovation in crafting exceptional beers.
“With the launch of our three new brews, we invite our loyal flock of beer enthusiasts to join us on the next journey of taste and discovery.”
All three new brews are available to the on-trade directly from Black Sheep Brewery in a variety of formats and prices.
Seven Bro7hers adds new stout to core range
Seven Bro7hers Brewing Co has added a new stout, Satin Stout (4.5% ABV), to its core beer range.
Described by the Salford-based firm as having an “intense flavour mixed with a smooth taste”, the new serve boasts a roast malt character with coffee and burnt chocolate on the nose followed by chewy caramel and biscuit flavours on the palate and a sweet-nutty finish.
The new brew will sit alongside the brand’s other beers in core range, which consists of 13 beers including Chocolate Honeycomb Stout, Helles Lager and Easy IPA.
Seven Bro7hers CEO Keith McAvoy said: “We’ve always made sure our range of beers offers something for everyone, especially those looking for the deep flavour of a stout.
“We saw huge love for our Chocolate Honeycomb Stout, and the Satin Stout is one we think will become a firm favourite to.
“Stout sales within the drinks industry have been on the up, and it’s something we’ve seen with our own consumer data too.
“Adding Satin Stout into our range meant we could offer drinkers something fresh and new, whilst giving them another delicious beer to try.”
Satin Stout is availble now direct from the Seven Bro7hers webshop in 440ml can format, ranging in price from £19.95 to £73.95 for 6, 12 or 24 packs and £3.85 per individual can.
The stout is also available to hospitality businesses via the brand’s sales team.
Hogs Back reveals seasonal cask line up
Surrey-based Hogs Back Brewery has revealed its seasonal cask ale line up for autumn.
The first new brew, Home Harvest Ale (4% ABV), went on sale earlier this month and has been crafted using Fuggles, Cascade and Farnham White Bine hops – the latter being a local variety the brewer claimed it rescued from near extinction.
Also on sale now is Ratfink & RipSnorter, a 5% ruby ale boasting spice notes alongside hints of plum, which featured at JD Wetherspoon pubs this month as part of their annual Real Ale Festival.
The third autumnal cask, set to be released later this month, is the brands Blackwater Plum Porter, a 4% ABV fruity and sweet porter, which follows the release of Hog Back’s original Blackwater Porter in March this year.
Hogs Back Brewery managing director Rupert Thompson said: "Debate about the future of cask ale has raged for as long as I can remember.
“Whatever the long-term outlook for the category, we can report that, among our core drinkers, there is still strong demand for our cask ales.
"Our seasonal programme is an important part of what we offer these drinkers, who enjoy being the first to try a new beer in the Tap.
“We're very happy with our autumn line up, which offers a wide range of tastes and eases drinkers into the darker, richer styles of the festive season."
All beers in the seasonal line-up are available in a variety of formats direct from Hog’s Back.
Never Say Die releases first rye whiskey
Award-winning independent Kentucky-based craft bourbon brand, Never Say Die, has launched its first rye whiskey.
Never Say Die Rye Whiskey is a 52.5% ABV described by the brand as having a “well-balanced” flavour profile of punchy spices, toffee and rich butter layered with top notes of citrus, green herbs and freshly cracked black pepper.
The small batch serve has been crated using a sweet mash as opposed to a sour mash with a bill of 56% rye, 33% corn and 11% malted barley.
In addition, the whiskey is transported in its original casks from Kentucky to White Peak Distillery in Derbyshire as part of its trans-Atlantic aging process, which the brand claimed results in the spirit’s “distinct and pronounced flavour profile that is beyond its years”.
Never Say Die co-founder Brian Luftman said: “More than anything, Never Say Die is a labour of love and driven by our ambition to create interesting and never seen before whiskeys.
“Our take on an American Rye continues to go against the grain and we are delighted to launch it not only to UK drinkers, but also across Europe.”
Never Say Die Rye Whiskey is available now from The Whiskey Exchange and Whiskey World in 70cl bottle format at RRP £64.95.
Thatchers expands fruit cider range
Thatchers Cider has extended its range of fruit ciders with the release of a new Apple and Blackcurrant variant.
Launching in November with limited distribution, Thatchers Apple and Blackcurrant cider will then be available with extended distribution from Spring 2024.
Described by the Somerset-based cidermakers as a “rich and refreshingly fruity cider”, the new 4% ABV serve boasts notes of Fuji and Apple dessert apples, fresh berries and bold blackcurrant.
Replacing the brand’s Dark Berry offering, Thatchers Apple and Blackcurrant will be available to the on-trade as part of the brand’s Fusion Font range, which allows operators to dispense three ciders on one font, as well as in 500ml bottle format.
Read more here.
Molson Coors launches reformulated version of Cobra Zero
Molson Coors has announced the launch of a reformulated version of Cobra Zero.
The redeveloped 0.0% serve, which Molson Coors said has an “improved flavour” that better matches the taste of Cobra original, is available to the on-trade now in 330ml can format.
Cobra Beer founder Lord Karan Bilimoria said the brand was “confident” the improved recipe, teamed with its “impactful can design”, will be “a hit” with consumers and help venues “drive more sales.”
Molson Coors Beverage Company senior brand manager for Cobra Flick Jones added: “We know consumers want zero alcohol lagers to still truly deliver on flavour.
“The new Cobra Zero does just that, offering the same smooth taste of our award-winning Cobra beer but with no alcohol.”
Warners Distillery enters rum category
Northamptonshire-based Warner’s Distillery has expanded its portfolio with the release of its first ever rum.
Warner’s Spiced Botanical Rum (40% ABV) has been crafted by distilling white Caribbean rum with roasted dandelion root, ripe bananas, vanilla and spices including cardamom, cinnamon and pink peppercorn.
Post distillation, Warner’s, which is a B-Corp certified business known for its award-winning gin, adds more roasted dandelion root added alongside orange peel, cassia and sarsaparilla to build flavour and give the liquid its golden colour.
The new serve is available now direct from the distillery’s webshop in 70cl bottle format at RRP £36.
- If you have any new products being released to the on-trade, email the details with high resolution images for potential inclusion to Rebecca.weller@wrbm.com. The Next round-up will be published on Thursday 7 December.
