This year is set to be a transformative one for Moorhouse’s Brewery, as it launches a series of new hop-forward keg beers, plus an innovative Botanical range and unveils a new look for its much-loved cask beers, all aimed at broadening its appeal to a wider audience.
The Burnley-based brewery, drawing on its strong reputation for quality cask beers all brewed in the shadow of Pendle Hill, will launch its first ever keg craft beer, MALKIN Pale Ale in April. Available in 30l keg and featuring an innovative 3D lens label to create standout, the 4.1% ABV beer has been brewed with Citra, Eldorado, Calypso and Cascade hops which gives it a distinct grapefruit aroma with bright orange, mango and pear like flavours throughout. A 330ml can of MALKIN Pale Ale will launch in the summer.
Hot on the heels of MALKIN Pale Ale, will be SABBATH FLIGHT, a 5.0% ABV keg American Pale Ale, which will also launch in April. A collaborative lager, will be added to the brewery’s repertoire over the summer. Completing the new portfolio of products is Moorhouse’s Botanical range. Launching in the autumn in 330ml cans, the unique range has been inspired by the brewery’s history when founder, William Moorhouse, began brewing lower alcohol hop bitters and botanical beers for the temperance movement.
The launch comes as managing director, Lee Williams marks his first year in the role. Commenting, Williams said: “The Moorhouse’s brand is synonymous with brewing quality; it’s one of the reasons I joined the business. I wanted to harness that and challenge the brewers to create new styles that fit a modern brief alongside our much-loved existing cask range.”
Product development is at the heart of Moorhouse’s new strategy, and one of the first initiatives was installing a pilot brewery, M1, to provide head brewer, Dan Casaru and his team with the tools to experiment and create small batch brews.
Williams continued: “The new beers, along with established favourites and pilot runs, will ensure that we can offer a choice of beers and styles to our drinkers and importantly not just in cask but keg and can for the first time.”
Moorhouse’s has also invested significantly in rebranding, working with leading brand design consultants, WPA Pinfold to create a modern, standout look for both existing and new lines, including Blonde Witch and White Witch. The designs have been inspired by the stories and legends of Pendle Hill.
Commenting on the background to the new look, Williams added; “Although keen to stay true to our roots, it’s imperative that Moorhouse’s develops a reputation for being forward-thinking and respected for what it does best. Our brand image has been outdated for too-long and our products lost in a crowded market. The new look will stand out for all the right reasons now and broaden our appeal. It’s an opportunity for customers and drinkers to reappraise Moorhouse’s as a brewer.”
The new beers and revitalised branding will be underpinned with a sales and marketing strategy to elevate awareness and increase availability. Activity will initially commence with Tap Takeovers in over 50 pubs and bars across the North West and Yorkshire from April, all supported on social media.
ENDS
For further information please contact Moorhouse’s PR agency, Wolfstar:
Chris Grayson – chris@wolfstarpr.com / 0113 273 7816
Alex Halls – alex@wolfstarpr.com / 0113 273 7816
Notes to Editors
Online: www.moorhouses.co.uk
Tweet us: @Moorhousesbrew
Untapped: Moorhouse’s Brewery
Moorhouse’s is an independent Lancashire brewery, established in 1865 by William Moorhouse, a Burnley man who took great pride in his town and his craft. He built his own brewery premises in 1870, and nearly 150 years later, Moorhouse’s is still on the same historic site, in the shadow of Lancashire’s famed Pendle Hill. With almost five million pints sold each year, Moorhouse’s is a must-have for all North and North West bars and pubs.
Today, Moorhouse’s is privately owned by the Parkinson family and it supplies its beer direct to over 500 Free Trade bars in the north plus a number of larger retail chains and through the wholesaler network. It runs two pubs, The Pendle Witch in Atherton and The Rising Sun in Blacko and its bottled beers are stocked in selected supermarkets and off-licence shops.
