Surrey based craft brewer Hogs Back is contributing to the EU Referendum debate with a specially-brewed ale, Hogswallop, available from the start of May.
A 4.2% ABV, easy-drinking rye beer, Hogswallop is designed to loosen the tongues of ‘pub politicians’ and encourage a lively discourse in the run up to the vote on 23 June.
Hogs Back managing director Rupert Thompson said, “Everyone will have an opinion on the Referendum and where better to express it than in the pub, which has a long tradition as a source of useful advice for the prevailing government.
“We hope that the sight of Hogswallop on the bar will raise a ‘rye’ smile from members of both ‘in’ and ‘out’ camps, as they enjoy an amicable exchange of views in their local.” He added, “Like the Euro-debate itself, this ale may appear increasingly bitter as 23 June approaches, but mellow somewhat thereafter.”
Hogswallop is a malty, rye beer with spicy notes and a hoppy finish. It joins previous Hogs Back seasonal beers marking events of national importance, such as ‘England’s Mourning Glory’, which lamented the home team’s early exit from last autumn’s Rugby World Cup and ‘Hog in the Limelight’ at the 2015 General Election.
Caption to attached image: sitting firmly on the fence in the EU Referendum debate, the Hogs Back Brewery team (l-r): head brewer Miles Chesterman; sales director Gordon Thompson and managing director Rupert Thompson
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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 the leading independent ale in Surrey and increasing in popularity elsewhere. According to CGA Brand Index figures for the year to September 2015, TEA was the third biggest craft beer brand in volume growth terms in the on-trade, behind Brewdog Punk IPA and Goose Island IPA, and saw the biggest growth of any cask ale brand.
- The Hogs Back Brewery range includes a number of award-winning draught and bottled beers. Recent launches include Hogstar English Craft Lager and Montezuma’s Chocolate Lager, both demonstrating Hogs Back’s ability to combine brewing expertise and tradition with product innovation to create distinctive, memorable beers. Hogstar won a Gold award at the Society of Independent Brewers’ National Keg Beer Competition 2015. 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 is growing its presence in both the on and off trade. Customers include Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Lidl, Majestic Wine, JD Wetherspoon, Mitchells & Butlers, Greene King and Spirit Pub Company.
Issued on behalf of: Hogs Back Brewery
Further information: Ros Shiel: ros@shielporter.com / 07841 694137
John Porter: john@shielporter.com / 07734 054389