Moorhouse’s is set to bewitch cask ale enthusiasts throughout the UK for Halloween as a special brew of its famous Black Cat ale joins a magical array of ‘Pendle Witches’ beers.
The leading Lancashire cask-ale brewery is again gearing up for a record breaking sales surge during October. Last year seasonal sales hit more than 185,000 pints (643 brewer’s barrels) and a £500,000- plus turnover as Moorhouse’s increasingly becomes known as THE Halloween brewer.
And star billing for the next month’s line up goes to the inaugural roll out of Black Cat Reserve – further strengthening Moorhouse’s offer of five core brands-including the fast growing Blond Witch (4.5%abv) and the ‘cult like’ Pendle Witches Brew (5.1%abv)-and five blended seasonals.
Black Cat Reserve has been carefully crafted by head brewer Dan Casaru as stronger ale to build on the acclaimed attributes of the 3.4 per cent ABV Camra Champion Beer of Britain brew.* It will be generally available as a seasonal special in cask at 4.6per cent ABV, but rising to 7.0 per cent ABV for a limited extra strength and premium priced cask issue and as a bottled version. The bottles will be available only from the north based Booths supermarket chain. The Black Reserve version at 4.6% abv will also be found throughout the Wetherspoon chain.
Moorhouse’s taste notes say: ‘An intensely dark beer, Black Cat Reserve conjures deep complex notes of roasted coffee, chocolate and mocha, balanced by hints of dark cherry and blackcurrant from the Polish Junga hop’.An eye catching black cat image pump clip offers a strong bar presence combined with a unique ‘witch’ hand pull topper.
MD David Grant said: “Each year we further raise our profile as the brewer of choice for the Halloween season. Once again we expect our Pendle Witches magic to deliver a sales surge across the country, from Essex to Newcastle, as business grows with both pub companies and the free trade.
“Our regular Black Cat at the lower strength is the perfect dark quaffable ale to match the mood of the Halloween season and always very popular. We have now created Black Cat Reserve to build on that appeal. We believe it will be ideal for the cask enthusiast looking for that richer brew to savour.”Alongside the Black Cat Reserve and core championship brews including Black Cat, Blond Witch, and Pendle Witches Brew a full range of carefully blended special ales will be available to free trade pubs throughout the Halloween season: Broomstick Bitter (4.0%abv); Witch Hunt (4.8%abv); Black Witch (4.2%abv); Witches Cauldron (4.2%abv); Witchfinder General (4.4%abv). Moorhouse’s internationally acclaimed brands are themed around the story of the ill-fated ‘witches’ who roamed Pendle Hill near Burnley in the early 17th century. Ends/Ref: MHPR Halloween 2014 (B)
Notes editors: Moorhouse’s has won more brewing awards than any other brewer of its size and directly supplies several hundred free trade customers through the North of England while the brands are also distributed nationally via leading wholesalers and pub companies. Black Cat was voted Camra (Campaign for Real Ale) Champion Beer of Britain 2000, while Pride of Pendle claimed the Champion Cask Ale title at the Brewing Industry International Awards (BIIA) 2004 and Premier Bitter was voted gold in its class by the BIIA; Pendle Witches Brew was twice runner-up in the Camra annual contest and has received a silver medal at the BI IA. Blond Witch, the fastest growing brand, has collected many awards from Camra and SIBA.
> > For further media information, interviews and images contact: Steve Hobman, Rhino Public Relations on 07751 578605 or shobman@rhinopr.freeserve.co.
> >