A Perfect Blend: Greene King and Thornbridge Brew Up a Cask Ale First

Greene King Brewery is excited to launch its first collaboration cask brew with Derbyshire-based brewer, Thornbridge, this September.

Genevieve is a 4.5% ABV West Coast IPA which combines pineapple and citrus flavours to create a hop-forward cask beer with a clean, crisp body. The beer will be available for venues to order across September and October, including for Cask Ale Week celebrations.

Founded in 2005 in the grounds of the historic Thornbridge Hall, Thornbridge Brewery has quickly earned a reputation as one of the UK’s most pioneering craft brewers and has award-winning beers such as its flagship Jaipur IPA. Beginning with a small 10-barrel set-up in Derbyshire, Thornbridge has now grown into a state-of-the-art brewery in Bakewell.

Renowned for combining heritage with innovation, Thornbridge has won more than 350 national and international awards and continues to push boundaries in beer styles while staying true to its cask ale roots.

The recipe for Genevieve was created together at the Thornbridge Brewery, with trial brews and then the final brews taking place at the Greene King Brewery in Bury St Edmunds. The cask beer is dry-hopped using two varieties that Greene King has not used together before in a brew, Bravo and Sultana.

Simon Webster, co-founder of Thornbridge Brewery, said: “We’re thrilled to be partnering with Greene King on Genevieve, our very first cask collaboration together. As brewers with a shared passion for quality and heritage, it’s been fantastic to combine our expertise to create something truly special. Genevieve is a celebration of cask ale at its finest — full of character, brewed for the season, and perfect for raising a pint to the start of autumn.”

Alan Fulcher, Technical Brewer at Greene King, said: "When Thornbridge came up as a potential collaboration partner, we instantly said yes. We’re huge fans of their beers, and they share our commitment to cask and exploring the styles it offers. Collaborating on a recipe that reflects the strengths of both breweries has been a fantastic experience, and I truly believe we’ve created a very special pint. As it’s Cask Ale Week at the end of the month, this is a great beer to have on the bar to celebrate."

The Greene King Fresh Cask Releases calendar includes 15 limited-edition beers available, at select times throughout the year celebrating seasons, sporting occasions, and collaborations with other brewers.

The seasonal cask calendar is available for all outlets to order, including independent venues, and in both firkin and pin formats (36-pint containers). Greene King’s pin units are great for customers looking to order an additional seasonal cask for bars with lower throughput, complementing the permanent range and adding excitement for drinkers

To order from the Fresh Cask Releases calendar head to the Greene King Value for Venues website: www.valueforvenues.co.uk/  

ENDS

For more information, please contact hollylander@greeneking.co.uk.

Notes to editors

Greene King is the country’s leading pub company and brewer with c.2,600 pubs, restaurants and hotels across England, Wales and Scotland.

At Greene King we are passionate about delivering our purpose to ‘pour happiness into lives’. That’s for our customers, our team, our pub partners, our suppliers and the communities in which we live, operate and serve. Founded in 1799 with offices in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk and Burton on Trent in Staffordshire we employ around 40,000 people across the group with three divisions: Greene King pubs, Destination Brands & Ventures, and Brewing & Brands.

• Greene King pubs: Greene King pubs is our mainstream pub brand located where people and communities come together; pubs enjoyed in cities, towns and villages throughout the country with clear ambition to be “The Nation’s Most Loved Pub Brand”. Pub Partners runs our tenanted and leased pubs business and Hive Franchise pubs.

• Destination Brands & Ventures: Destination Brands is a portfolio of distinct brands which includes Hungry Horse, Chef & Brewer, Farmhouse Inns and Flaming Grill that bring friends and family together, delivering great service, quality and value for money for a range of eating out and drinking occasions. Venture includes Hickory’s, Premium (Crafted Pubs & Metropolitan Pub Company) and Hotels which operate autonomously of Greene King’s managed pub brands. 

• Brewing & Brands covers the brewing sides of the business. Quality ales are brewed at the Westgate brewery in Bury St Edmunds and the Belhaven Brewery in Dunbar. Our industry-leading portfolio includes Greene King IPA, Old Speckled Hen, Abbot Ale, Ice Breaker and Belhaven Best and our premium beers, Level Head and Flint Eye, brewed for the modern-day drinker. 

  
  

For more information, please contact hollylander@greeneking.co.uk.

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