Adnams releases new Ghost Ship variant
Suffolk-based brewery Adnams has expanded its core Ghost Ship range with the addition of a new IPA.
Double Ghost IPA is a 5.2% ABV double dry hopped new Indian Pale Ale, made using Citra hops with Centennial and Chinook.
Boasting the recognisable citrus and warming spice of the original Ghost Ship, the serve offers an additional layer of tropical fruit and an intense hoppy character.
Adnams head brewer Dan Gooderham said: “It’s been a long-held ambition to do a further iteration of Ghost Ship.
“The Citra hop really has not only transformed the brewing landscape, but the Adnams brewery itself.
“To further explore this hop in an IPA and try to coax different nuances out of the ingredients, while staying true to the original is always a dream for a brewer.
“We are extremely pleased with how it turned out. It has expressed a lot more mango than we expected and has both a pineapple and an orange note on the palate.
“You’ll find the characteristic spiciness from the rye on the finish and there’s good weight to the body and mouthfeel.”
The IPA joins the original Adnams Ghost Ship, a 4.5% Pale Ale, and the 0.5% option.
The trio of brews has been inspired by the ghost stories surrounding ships lost to storms on the shores off Southwold, the home of the Adnams brewery.
Adnams head of sales Max Bond added: “Double Ghost IPA is set to be our most exciting beer launch of 2024.
“There was space in our range to accommodate an IPA with this strength of character, and the fact that it could also complement the existing Ghost Ship family was an exciting bonus.
“We’ve received an amazing response from UK retailers, with several listings lined up for autumn, to coincide with its October launch. We will also have a limited release in cask, to support the brand’s launch in the pubs. With preorders already sailing in, it should fly.”
Adnams Double Ghost IPA will be available direct from Adnams on Thursday 3 October in 500ml bottle format, priced at £16.99 for a pack of eight and £2.29 for a single bottle. The serve will also be available for a limited time in 9g cask from Friday 11 October, while stocks last.
Sipmsith launches limited-edition gin
Sipsmith has announced the launch of a new gin, Origin 1639, inspired by the history of gin production.
The limited-edition spirit has been infused with raspberries and strawberries and then rested in oak barrels, in line with 17th-century production methods, resulting in a juniper-forward gin with bright berry notes and a spiced backbone.
Inspired by the first recipe to “give birth to modern gin”, found in the 1639 manual The Distiller of London, Sipsmith master distiller Jared Brown and his wife, drinks historian Anistatia Miller, deciphered the 34 approved formulas and 16 variations found in the manual, which were originally written in code to “protect their mysteries”.
Brown said: “Through meticulous research by myself and Anistatia, this recipe proves that gin did, in fact, originate in England. We clamoured to get into the distillery to see if we could revive the recipe! For Sipsmith, the chance to write a whole new chapter in the story of gin by going back to its very inception? Nothing could be more exciting than that.”
Sipsmith Origin 1639 Gin is available now direct from the brand’s website and in selected stores nationwide including Harvey Nichols, John Lewis, Waitrose and Majestic, with an RSP of £38.
Gosnells releases on-trade exclusive
London-based brewer Gosnells has released its newest creation, Blueberry Velvet Nectar (4.4% ABV), a limited-edition on-trade exclusive.
Gosnells Blueberry Velvet Nectar is made from 100% Blossom Honey blended with sweet, crisp blueberries and served through a cream filter for a velvety smooth, blueberry flavour.
Unlike its range of sparkling Nectars, Gosnells has brewed this Velvet version with nitrogen gas, creating much smaller bubbles, which create a much tighter foam for the head and also, once drunk, a smoother feeling on the tongue giving more creaminess and better mouthfeel - hence the name ‘Velvet’.
Available for on-trade customers in London direct from Gosnells now, the product will only be available to buy in pubs and bars in pints, due to how it is dispensed.
Gosnells sales director Cameron McKenzie-Wilde said: “We’re really excited about Blueberry Velvet Nectar.
“It’s a unique blend that’s both bold and comforting - just right for the colder months. The nitro keg style gives a comforting luxurious mouthfeel and Blueberry Velvet has a lovely matt pink colour, making it a really eye-catching pour.
“Like all our Nectars it’s brewed with 100% natural ingredients, is gluten-free, sulphite-free and has no nasty chemicals. Plus, it’s lighter in calories compared to most fruit ciders, so it’s a great option if you’re looking for something delicious but not too heavy.”
DropWorks reveals first barrel-matured rum
DropWorks has released its latest small-batch creation and first barrel-matured product to join the core range, Barrel Drop Rum.
The new product is a blend of the distillery’s award winning liquids, matured in specially selected casks to produce a full bodied and complex 40% ABV dark rum with tasting notes of rum & raisin ice cream, jammy dates and warm winter spices.
Barrel Drop Rum is available now direct from the brand’s webshop in 70cl bottle format at RRP £34.99.
DropWorks founder Lewis Hayes said: “You can’t cheat time when it comes to ageing rum, which is why Barrel Drop isn’t an aged rum but a matured one.
“However, due to its complexity, we still sit in that aged rum category despite our liquid only being in barrels for months opposed to years. As with all our Drops, we have challenged the production process and created a liquid that redefines British rum, and I can’t wait to see where we can push this next.”
Greene King unveils ‘devilishly good’ new seasonal cask
Greene King has unveiled a new “devilishly good” seasonal cask beer and a spooky rebadge for part of its core range to celebrate Halloween.
Created in collaboration with Nethergate Brewery, Bloodhound is a rich 4.4% ABV chocolate blood-orange flavoured stout
The launch marks Greene King’s third collaboration with the award-winning Sudbury-based brewer and the thirteenth limited-edition cask to be released as part of this year’s Fresh Cask Releases Calendar.
The Suffolk-based brewer and pub operator also revealed its Old Speckled Hen variant will be receiving a seasonal rebadge as Old Spooky Hen. Read more here.
CCEP introduces Oasis brand to on-trade
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) has introduced its popular Oasis brand to the on-trade market.
The brand has made its on-trade debut with two variants, Oasis Summer Fruits and Oasis Exotic Fruits No Added Sugar, available now in 330ml can format.
Oasis Summer Fruits boasts flavours of apple, strawberry, redcurrant and cherry, while Oasis Exotic Fruits features a blend of mango and passion fruit flavours with no calories or added sugar.
Like the entire Oasis range, both variants use only natural flavours and contain no artificial colours. Read more here.
St Austell launches first low alcohol beer
St Austell Brewery has launched its first low alcohol beer – Proper Job 0.5% ABV – after developing the brew for more than two years.
Pubs will be able to stock the bottled variant in their fridges from the south-west-based brewer and pubs-with-rooms operator from Thursday 10 October when the beer is made available.
The independent and family-owned 173-year-old brewery has been meticulously tweaking its recipe to create a beer that celebrates Proper Job’s famous flavour profile.
St Austell Brewery has high ambitions that its 0.5% ABV equivalent of its famed full-strength 4.5% ABV version will become one of the best low & no IPAs on the market. Read more here.
Cloud House releases new coffee-infused rum
Cloud House, which is part of the White Claw family of brands, has expanded its range with the release of a brand-new coffee-infused rum that brings together a “unique” blend of rich coffee with sweet and silky rum.
Emerging Spirits at Mark Anthony Brands International global brand manager Eve Heffernan said: “Cloud House truly captures the authentic spirit of Colombia.
“Our rum, aged by the beach, where the sea mist adds sumptuous salted caramel notes, combined with the boldness of Colombian coffee, offers an unexpected, uplifting flavour with each sip. We’re excited to bring this Cloud House to the UK and we know cocktail and coffee lovers alike will embrace discovering this unique and delicious new liqueur.”
The new serve is availble now from Amazon in 70cl bottle format at RRP £32.
Suggested serve:
Colombian Old Fashioned
Ingredients:
- 60ml Cloud house
- 3 dashes of Angostura Cacao Bitters (or your preferred chocolate or orange bitters)
Method:
- Add bitters to a glass
- Add Cloud House to the glass
- Add ice to the glass and stir
- Serve garnished with a slice of orange
Hydes introduces final ales in TV-inspired range
Manchester brewer Hydes has launched the final ales in its classic British TV programme-inspired seasonal range for 2024.
The final themed ales to be introduced will be Our Survey Says, a 4.2% ABV deep amber beer available throughout September; Four Candles, a 5% ABV classic ruby ale for October; Say What You See, a 4.5% premium golden ale for November, and Jerry the Berry, a 4.4% ABV fruity red ale. Read more here.
- 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 3 October. Check out the previous round-up here.
