BEER NEWS - February 2007

Wychwood Brewery, home of Hobgoblin strong dark ale, has launched Green Goblin 6% abv oak aged cider onto the UK market. Green Goblin is the result of a partnership between Wychwood and Thatchers Cider. It will be available from the beginning of March in a striking new 500ml bottle design. It has already achieved a wide range of listings including Waitrose, Sainsburys, Punch Taverns and WaverleyTBS. Wychwood�s MD Rupert Thompson, comments: "The cider category has been re-invigorated by high profile launches backed by substantial media expenditure and some excellent promotions. It has caused a fantastic buzz and dispelled some of the old-fashioned and downmarket images, from which cider used to suffer. This has created a big opportunity at the premium and speciality end of the category, especially for ciders combining real flavour with a

marketing point of difference. Oak-aged Green Goblin is a cider with attitude, fruity and highly drinkable, but with real depth." The cider has been made exclusively from English cider apples, particularly Somerset Redstreak and Dabinett varieties sourced from West Country orchards, and was matured in hundred-year-old oak vats.

A limited quantity of Sierra Nevada India Pale Ale will be available for the first time in the UK, in 355ml bottles from mid February 2007. Vertical Drinks Ltd is the importer and distributor for UK and Europe for the Sierra Nevada Brewery range of beers. The beer is not to be confused with Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, the fastest selling American style Pale Ale in the UK. Sierra Nevada India Pale Ale with an abv of 6.8% is a traditional English-style IPA using all English hops varieties as well as 50% Maris Otter malt. Deep red in colour this fine India Pale Ale has a sweet malty body with good bitterness and plenty of hop aroma, providing an ideal accompaniment to spicy dishes. Vertical Drinks Ltd is carving a reputation for handling excellent quality innovative imported beers. The company�s portfolio includes multi-award winning Weissbier Etalon from the Ukraine and new to the UK, Lammsbrau Organic from Germany and Gaffel Kolsch from Cologne. Look out for Willard Clarke review of the new India Pale Ale from Sierra Nevada coming soon to beer-pages.com.

Yorkshire based T&R; Theakston's has launched a catalogue of branded merchandise, featuring everything from a specially designed Theakston 'Old Peculier' pin to a brand new e-commerce extension for the brewery's website (www.theakstons.co.uk) which sells branded clothing, souvenirs, food, ales and hampers. Theakston's visitor centre manager, Victoria Bramley, says: "We have definitely seen an increase in our brewery merchandise sales since the launch of the e-commerce website, particularly over the Christmas period."

Fuller's, the London brewer, has announced its Spring Beer Festival, where three limited edition brews are available in cask for a limited time only. The festival includes Gales Swing Low, a classic English ale that is already in pubs. Swing Low (3.8% ABV) is brewed with Pale and Crystal malts plus Goldings hops "for a light, floral aroma and refreshing taste." March sees the arrival of Gales Festival Mild (4.8% ABV). Fuller's say that this "complex, fruity beer" was so popular in last year's festival that it is back by popular demand. Finally, during April, Fuller's India Pale Ale will make an appearance. Another 4.8% ABV brew, India Pale Ale is "pale amber in colour and well hopped to leave a pleasant and distinctive bitterness." Announcing the line-up, John Roberts, managing director of The Fuller's Beer Company,

said: "We have a terrific range of award-winning beers available in cask all year round, and each year Fuller's brews more than 15 different beers. The Spring Beer Festival is one opportunity for our customers to try something a little bit different and gives our brewers the chance to work with a few different ingredients throughout the year."

Manns Brown Ale, the classic 2.8% abv beer, has returned to its brewing roots by promotinag itself as a sociable long 'mixer'. A large part of Manns Brown Ale's early success from the 1920's onwards came from its mixability, adding its soft dark complexity to other beers and to spirits - leading to nicknames acknowledged in a book by Richard Boston entitled 'Beer and Skittles' such as: "Black and Tan" (stout and mild or stout and bitter) and "Granny" (old and mild). Manns ran a campaign during January encouraging drinkers to serve Manns with a wide range of beers or spirits. The recommended long mixers promoted

in pubs and bars included: "Irish Manns" (Manns with stout); "Best Manns" (Manns and best bitter); "Cool Manns" (Manns with ice); "Fancy Manns" (Manns with either coffee or fruit liqueurs).