NEW LOW ALCOHOL BEER LAUNCHED BY WADWORTH FOR CONSUMERS WITH NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS
Traditional brewers Wadworth are launching a new lower alcohol beer which will be on sale in their pubs during January.
The launch follows the progressive beer duty relief on beers of 2.8% which came into effect on October 1st 2011, and is timed to appeal to the traditional January ‘squeeze’ when consumers tend to cut down on calories and how much they spend.
The new Small Beer is brewed with less sugars and it is also going to be sold at a lower price point to Wadworth’s other ales.
The full benefit of the duty relief is being passed on to Wadworth customers so that the price at the pump will be around a welcome £2 a pint.
Christine Evers, Beer Brand Manager at Wadworth, said:
“It is very rewarding for us to bring good news on pricing to our customers who have been feeling the pinch in their pockets as beer duties have risen over the last few years.
“We have ensured that this time the benefit of the beer duty relief has been passed on directly to beer drinkers. If it as successful as we think it will be, we plan to make this a seasonal ale that will be on sale every January.”
The name of the beer is apt, bearing in mind its small price, lower alcohol content and lower sugar content, however, the name was chosen for its historic significance which dates back to mediaeval times.
Water at that time could be so toxic and unsafe to drink that low alcohol beer, known as small beer, was brewed and served as a replacement to water.
The majority of the population consumed the brew, even with their breakfast.
Despite being small in name the new beer claims to be big on flavour.
Head Brewer Brian Yorston said:
“It is a real challenge to create a lower alcohol beer with a full flavour.
“This beer has an ABV of only 2.8% and yet we have managed to give it impressive depth by using six different malts along with three hops added at various phases of the brew.
“The result is layers of flavour and a beer with complexity and body.
“The beer has a sweet floral aroma, which immediately hits the palate, followed by a body crammed with roasted malt, lingering in to a final burst of hop bitterness which leads to a satisfying finish.”
