As temperatures continue to soar, operators have to consider their food and drink offering for the warmer temperatures of summer and providing the experience that drives footfall to their outlet.
With a higher temperature you see guests looking for a lighter and thirst-quenching beer, and this is when an operator can really shake up their cask ale offering and provide those golden, brighter cask styles on the bar.
Greene King offers a number of permanent golden and pale cask ales, such as Old Golden Hen, Deuchars IPA and Yardbird. For operators looking to experiment and drive excitement for the category, the brewer also has multiple golden ales in their seasonal cask calendar, Fresh Cask Releases. For every month of summer in 2023, Greene King has a tasty new golden ale with its own style, flavour and story to explore.
But it’s not just the beer style that needs to be chosen carefully for summer, when it comes to offering something different for the warmer months; the right food choice is also incredibly important to drive guests to the outlet. So how can you ensure that your food and beer choice are working together perfectly and providing an elevated tasting experience?
Greene King Brewery has provided some key dishes and flavours that work well with each of its golden/pale cask ales, whether that be a beer from the permanent portfolio or a limited-edition seasonal brew.
Old Golden Hen
Old Golden Hen is a 4.1% light and refreshing beer with the ideal level of bitterness that balances the sweet impact of the intense tropical fruit flavours. For the perfect food pairing, the golden ale’s flavours complement lighter summer dishes, especially pizza, chicken or bacon, which is great for alfresco dining.
Deuchars IPA
The hoppy 3.8% refreshing Deuchars IPA is part of the Caledonian family that recently joined the Greene King portfolio and is perfect with spicy curry dishes or anything with a kick. So even in the sunshine you can offer a great curry and pint choice.
Yard Bird
A 4% bright and hoppy American style pale ale, Yardbird can be perfectly paired with fish dishes, whether that be the traditional fish and chips or a creamier fish sauce. This will allow the flavours of Yardbird to cleanse the palate and tingle your guest’s taste buds.
St Edmunds – Available Now
A seasonal Greene King cask ale, available until the end of June, the 4.2% St Edmunds is a fresh golden beer with a citrus finish, brewed using pale malt and Cascade hops. The best choices to compliment this ale are creamy pasta dishes using meats such as pork or chicken, and fish, as you’ll get a kick from the zesty, refreshing mouthfeel of St Edmunds.
Ale Fresco – Available July/August
Another seasonal ale that is due to hit the bar this summer is Ale Fresco, a 4.3% light refreshing beer with tropical fruits and lemon citrus notes. The moderate bitterness of the golden ale offers a delicious pairing with barbecue foods and grilled fish, great for summer events coming up.
Mischief Maker – Available August/September
As the finishing act of summer 2023, Mischief Maker is a 6% super hoppy IPA that will be making its way on to the bar and uses special British hops. This beer will be great with salty dishes such as burgers or fish. However, for guests with a sweet tooth a lemon tart or orange cake is a great recommendation too.
Jack Palmer, Head Brewery at Greene King said: “Golden and pale cask ales stand strong on the bar in the summer months, with their fruit flavours and lighter styles ideal for relaxing and socialising in beer gardens. For operators we also understand that food is a key driver for footfall and we know what works well with our ales so you can make great pairings and recommendations for your guests, providing an experience they’ll come back for.”
To order any of the above cask ales contact your Greene King sales representative or phone 0345 600 1799.
-ENDS-
For more information, or any other media inquiries please contact pressoffice@greeneking.co.uk
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 39,000 people across the group with four divisions: Greene King pubs, Destination Brands, Partnership and Ventures, and Brewing & Brands.
- Greene King pubs are located where people and communities come together; pubs enjoyed in cities, towns and villages throughout the country
- Destination Brands is a mixture of food and drink-led brands including Hungry Horse, Farmhouse Inns, Chef & Brewer, Wacky Warehouse, and Pub & Carvery, Pub & Dining and Pub & Grill
- Partnerships & Ventures includes Pub Partners, which runs our tenanted and leased pubs business and Hive Franchise pubs, and our Ventures Brands which is made up of Metropolitan Pub Company, Hickory’s, Hotels Group and Crafted Pubs
- 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, or any other media inquiries please contact pressoffice@greeneking.co.uk
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