Fuller’s, the award-winning London family brewer, has announced the launch of a new limited edition blonde ale, ‘Steel’, made in collaboration with Steel City Brewing, the nomadic Sheffield craft brewers that guest brew across the UK and Europe.
Steel City Brewing duo, Dave Szwejkowski and Gazza Prescott teamed up with Fuller’s head brewer John Keeling, with the aim to deliver a distinctive, unique beer to be distributed across a selection of Mitchells & Butlers pubs and restaurants, including Nicholson’s, Vintage Inns and Ember Inns. The limited-edition blonde ale will be available from December 2013 – February 2014 and combines the hoppy ethos of Steel City with the drinkability and know-how of Fuller’s.
With Steel City Brewing being renowned for their love of hops, it comes as no surprise that Steel is an intensely hoppy beer using a mix of hops from around the world with Magnum, Calypso, Wakatu and Motueka being utilised plus a hop so new it doesn’t have a name as yet, just a number! Steel is blonde in colour using mainly lager malts but delivers the aroma of tropical fruits with a firm bitterness, all in a beer with an ABV of just 3.5%.
Fuller’s Head Brewer, John Keeling, said: “Customers are increasingly looking for variety and to experiment with flavours so our collaboration with Steel City Brewing was a great opportunity to provide them with something a little different.
“We were delighted to work together and combine our brewing knowledge to offer M&B’s customers this deliciously light and moreish alternative for the winter months.”
Gazza Prescott, Steel City brewer, commented “It was great to work with John and the team down at the historic Griffin Brewery in Chiswick and we hope that, between us, we’ve created a beer which is distinctly Fuller’s yet has a touch of Northern attitude!”
Mike Atkinson, cask ale procurement manager at Mitchells & Butlers added: “We are looking to offer quality and choice to our guests across our beer range. Steel Blonde’s taste profile means we can offer our guests something a little different, and we’re pleased to have this exclusively on offer in around 400 of our businesses”
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Issued on behalf of Fuller’s by Fleet Street Communications. For further information please contact:
Melanie Rawlings 020 3567 5807 07818 517238 melanie@
Michelle Williams 020 3567 5806 07826 919677 michelle
Notes to editors
Fuller, Smith and Turner PLC is an independent traditional family brewer founded in 1845 and remains on its original site at the Griffin Brewery in Chiswick, London. The company has two trading divisions – Fuller’s Inns and The Fuller’s Beer Company.
Fuller’s Inns runs over 380 quality pubs, bars and hotels across the south of England. The Fuller’s Beer Company brews London Pride, the UK’s leading premium cask ale, as well as a portfolio of award-winning ales such as Chiswick Bitter, ESB and 1845. Three of Fuller’s beers – London Pride, ESB and Chiswick Bitter – have been named as CAMRA Champion Beer of Britain, a record unmatched by any other brewer.
Steel City Brewing Ltd are brewers without a brewery of their own (termed “cuckoo” or “gypsy” brewing) and operate part-time to create beers packed full of hops and character to a demanding fanbase. Founded in 2009 and with no current plans to go full-time, Dave and Gazza work to spread the gospel of hops and bitterness throughout the UK and, increasingly, Europe with recent collaboration brews in Italy and Catalunya. Dave works full-time whilst Gazza now runs his own brewery, Hopcraft, in South Wales.
Mitchells and Butlers are the leading operator of restaurants and pubs in the UK, providing the largest choice of eating out experiences through their successful brands and delivering great service, quality and value for money to customers.