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Sussex brewer Harvey’s is to re-introduce keg beer after a gap of more than 15 years.
Keg beers rose to prominence in the 1960s and Harvey’s made the most of the trend with their Sussex Keg Bitter, which remained popular for many years. It stopped making keg beer in 2000, deciding not to replace kegging equipment which was damaged when the brewery flooded.
Although keg beer divides the opinions of beer-lovers, the dispense method has very much
re-invented itself for the 21st Century. Successful craft brewers such as BrewDog and Beavertown use keg almost exclusively for their draught beers.
“We wanted to make a range of new brews that people wouldn’t necessarily expect to see from Harvey’s but that still maintained our reputation for producing quality beers,” says spokesman Bob Trimm.
The newest additions to the Harvey’s range – Gold Bier (4%) and Malt Brown (4.8%) – should please both fans of golden beers and those who prefer a darker, malty brews. A third beer, Black Stout (4.8%), will join the keg line-up in the near future.
“As a company with a 226-year history we’ve always kept evolving, while ensuring we maintained our integrity and passion for producing world-beating beers,” adds Bob.
“I like to think that John Harvey, our founder, would be pleased that after all this time we’re still doing that.”
The new beers are part of the Harvey’s re-brand launched at the Great British Beer Festival in August and the brewery has once again teamed up with a local artist, this time Eastbourne-based Susan Lynch, to create bespoke label designs for them.
Her dramatic abstract work will feature on keg lenses (the keg equivalent of a pumpclip) and beer cans – once they are released later this year.
Bob explains, “We loved the fluidity and vibrancy of Susan’s work and felt her passion for creating original art matched our own passion for creating original beers.”
Gold Bier is soft and malty with gentle bitterness from traditional, locally grown hops. Malt Brown is a bigger, sweeter beer made with some roasted malt and dark sugars making it rich and biscuity, with a lush fullness and a pleasing bittersweet finish.
Bob added, “Hopefully the flavours in our new brews will also satisfy the passions of beer lovers.”
● Pubs wishing to stock Harvey’s Brewery new keg beers can email: info@harveys.org.uk or call 01273 480 209.
ENDS
For further details, comment or image requests please contact:
Harvey’s Sales & Marketing Manager, Bob Trimm on 01273 480209 or mobile 07713 270547; email rtrimm@harveys.org.uk
High res images of the new keg beer artwork are available to support this story by contacting Bob Trimm as above, or Sophie Atherton by replying to this email.
Notes to editors
►Harvey’s Brewery is based in Lewes, East Sussex. It was founded in 1790 and has a member of the eighth generation of the founding family currently working there. The brewery building has been a landmark in Lewes for more than 200 years.
►Its cask beers include the iconic Harvey’s Best Bitter (4%), twice-winner of Champion Best Bitter at the Great British Beer Festival, and Old Ale (4.3%), declared the World’s Best Mild at the World Beer Awards on three occasions, as well as favourites such as Wild Hop (3.7%) and Harvey’s IPA (3.5%).
►The brewery launched a re-brand of its beers in August this year. This included a range of new pumpclips and a new strapline, ‘We wunt be druv’, aimed at summing up the strength of character behind the brand. It is also designed to reflect the independence, spirit and pride at the heart of the brewery’s home county and which also fits with the Harvey’s ethos.
►‘We wunt be druv,’ is the unofficial county motto of Sussex. Used locally for generations, it’s a Sussex dialect phrase meaning, ‘we will not be driven’.
►Further details of all Harvey’s beers can be found at:
Sent on behalf of Harvey’s Brewery by:
Sophie Atherton
Freelance Journalist & Accredited Beer Sommelier
Mob: 07946 112 025
E: sophieatherton@btinternet.com
www.sophieatherton.co.uk
Freelance Journalist & Accredited Beer Sommelier
Mob: 07946 112 025
E: sophieatherton@btinternet.com
www.sophieatherton.co.uk