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15th March 2019

Greene King launches third beer in heritage range

Greene King has launched the third limited edition beer in its award winning Heritage Series.

Heritage Ernest Hop Pale Ale, a 5% abv pale ale, follows Heritage Suffolk Pale Ale and Heritage Vintage Fine Ale which were released into market in January 2018. All three premium ales have drawn influences from Greene King’s brewing heritage and have been based on historic recipes from the brewery archives.

Heritage Ernest Hop Pale Ale is brewed with English hop, Ernest, which was first bred in 1920s but never commercialised. Grown now in Herefordshire, it is considered new world in style for its wild fruit-centric flavours, in stark in contrast to traditional, more floral, English hops.

In 2018 Greene King developed Heritage Suffolk Pale Ale and Heritage Vintage Fine Ale with East Anglian Chevallier malted barley, which was reintroduced from five preserved Chevallier seeds, discovered in a maltings seed bank. With the crops harvested, Greene King was able to replicate a traditional real ale from the 1800s. Heritage Vintage Fine Ale was subsquently awarded Grande Gold at the Monde World Selections 2018.

Heritage Ernest Hop Pale Ale is limited edition cask ale, available in pubs throughout March and April.

Speaking about the beer Ross O’Hara, Greene King Head Brewer said; “It has been a privilege to develop the Heritage Series of beers, delving into archived recipes for inspiration.  What is so exciting as a brewer, is that had it not been for the fact that Ernest was discounted for its citrus flavours nearly hundred years ago, then we could have been drinking beers akin to modern day new world style craft, way back then.”

-ENDS-

Notes to editors

For further information, please contact beckyhaywood@greeneking.co.uk / 07771 528850

About Greene King

  • Greene King was founded in 1799 and is headquartered in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk. It currently employs around 39,000 people across its main trading businesses; Pub Company, Pub Partners and Brewing & Brands.
  • It operates c. 2,900 pubs, restaurants and hotels across England, Wales and Scotland, of which c.1,750 are retail pubs, restaurants and hotels, and c.1,150 are tenanted, leased and franchised pubs. Its leading retail brands and formats include Hungry Horse, Farmhouse Inns, Chef & Brewer and the Greene King Local Pubs estate.
  • Greene King also brews quality ale brands from its Bury St. Edmunds and Dunbar breweries. Its industry leading portfolio includes Greene King IPA, Old Speckled Hen, Abbot Ale and Belhaven Best.