Hogs Back Brewery is offering pubs and bars a Christmas bonus with the launch of Yule Hog, a new 3.8% ABV seasonal session ale.
The new cask ale joins established Hogs Back festive favourites Advent Ale and Mistletoe & Swine on the Surrey brewer’s calendar for December. At just 3.8% ABV, Yule Hog is lower strength than most Christmas beers, but still packs a powerful flavour punch. A red rye beer, Yule Hog has a malty flavour and smooth character, with spicy notes and a hoppy finish, making it the perfect easy-drinking festive ale
Rupert Thompson, managing director of Hogs Back Brewery, said, “Both Advent Ale and Mistletoe & Swine are great examples of classic Christmas ales. However, there is definitely a gap in the market for a lower-ABV seasonal ale as part of the festive line-up of beers on the bar.
“We’ve seen a strong increase in the popularity of session ales as part of our seasonal calendar this year. For example Biker, our 3.4% ABV golden summer beer brewed to celebrate the Farnham Bike Ride, was a great success. With Yule Hog, we wanted to create a festive session beer with plenty of flavour, allowing Santa to enjoy a great pint and still steer his sleigh safely back to the North Pole.”
The seasonal cask ale range from Hogs Back Brewery includes three ales, all freely available to pubs and bars:
- Advent Ale is a ruby coloured, 4.4% ABV ale with a refreshing fruity nose, a sweet liquorice and roasted malt flavour and rich dark chocolate aftertaste. Ideal served with a slice of rich Christmas cake.
- Mistletoe & Swine, at 5.2%, is a full-bodied, deep amber ale with subtle hints of sultana, peppery ginger, warm cinnamon and orange zest. Made with a mulling recipe for a real Christmas taste and feel, it goes well with mince pies or a classic cheese board.
- Yule Hog is a 3.8% red rye beer. It has a malty flavour and smooth character, with spicy notes and a hoppy finish. Yule Hog is great served with a seasonal buffet including vol-au-vents, pigs in blankets and smoked salmon.
Caption: Hogs Back Brewery’s festive line up: Advent Ale, new Yule Hog and Mistletoe & Swine
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Notes to editors:
- Hogs Back Brewery was founded in 1992 in Tongham, Surrey, in the heart of the traditional Surrey hop growing area.
- Its flagship brand TEA, or Traditional English Ale, is one of the leading regional ales in the South East. The first beer brewed by Hogs Back 25 years ago, TEA has won multiple awards including runner-up in CAMRA’s Champion Beer of Britain in 2000. Distribution of TEA is currently at an all-time high.
- The Hogs Back Brewery range includes a number of award-winning draught and bottled beers. Launches over recent years include Hogstar English Craft Lager, Montezuma’s Chocolate Lager and London’s Outback pale ale, all demonstrating Hogs Back’s ability to combine brewing expertise and tradition with product innovation to create distinctive, memorable beers. In 2013, Hogs Back also launched a traditional cloudy cider, Hazy Hog.
- In September 2015 Hogs Back Brewery harvested the first hops from its own hop garden on a 3.5 acre plot adjacent to the brewery, bringing the traditional but near-extinct Farnham White Bine hop variety back to its Surrey home. Once fully mature, the hop garden will provide 25% of the brewery’s hop requirements.
- Hogs Back Brewery achieved volume growth of 22% over the last year and is expanding its presence in both the on and off trade. Stockists include EI Group, Mitchells & Butlers, Greene King, Youngs, as well as independent pubs and bars.
Issued on behalf of: Hogs Back Brewery
Further information: Ros Shiel: ros@shielporter.com / 07841 694137
John Porter: john@shielporter.com / 07734 054389