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4th October 2016

MOORHOUSE’S CASTS A NATIONAL SPELL FOR HALLOWEEN

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Moorhouse’s  – the much acclaimed ‘Pendle Witches’ brewery – is set to roll out a bubbling cauldron of cask-conditioned ales for the Halloween season.

 

Special brew Ruby Witch (4.6%abv) will go on national release throughout Enterprise outlets alongside the free trade to underpin Moorhouse’s core brands – including the new regular session strength White Witch (3.9% abv), premium strength Blond Witch (4.5%abv) the ‘cult like’ Pendle Witches Brew (5.1%abv) and the famous Black Cat (3.4abv).

 

Ruby Witch (4.6%ab) is brewed to match the seasonal mood as a dark ruby, full bodied ale with ‘subtle roast flavours and hints of spice and tangerine’ and features a flashing pump clip for some Halloween fun and a distinctive bar presence.

 

A full range of carefully blended special ales are also offered throughout October to support publicans in boosting business for the season: Broomstick Bitter (4%abv) rich, golden ale; Black Witch (4.2%abv) a smooth, dark brew; Witches Cauldron (4.2%abv) mellow, amber ale; Witchfinder General (4.4%abv), full-bodied and golden; premium Witch Hunt (4.8%abv) a powerful, golden tipple with delicate honey notes.

 

Now Lancashire’s leading independent brewery, Moorhouse’s is again anticipating record sales for the season as it becomes the preferred Halloween brewer for pubs across the country.

 

Mark Boardman, Moorhouse’s sales director, said: “Our reputation as the brewer of choice for Halloween now stretches throughout the land and each year our seasonal sales surge. Our range of ten witch brands cater for a variety of tastes – from our regular Black Cat, the perfect dark quaffable ale, to our special brew Ruby Witch, a rich, darker brew to match the season. We expect it to be well received in Enterprise pubs and the free trade as more and more publicans seek to get the best out of this potentially rewarding trading period.

Moorhouse’s brands are themed around the witches’ legend of Pendle Hill, a famous landmark within sight of the Burnley brewery. Sales have grown year-on-year since the 2011 launch of a multi-million brewing complex which replaced the ageing Victorian premises where William Moorhouse built his successful drinks business, founded in 1865.

Ends/Ref: MHPR Halloween 2016         

Notes for editors:

Moorhouse’s, founded by William Moorhouse in 1865 as a mineral water business is now Lancashire’s leading independent brewery. The internationally acclaimed ale brands pay tribute to the legend of the ill-fated ‘witches’ of landmark Pendle Hill near Burnley who were tried and executed at Lancaster in 1612.

*Moorhouse’s has won a long list of awards: Black Cat (3.4%abv) was crowned Supreme Champion  Beer of Britain at the Camra Great British Beer Festival  2000 and in 2011 was proclaimed the best moderate strength ale by the Brewing Industry International Awards (BIIA) – the ‘Oscar’s’ of the brewing world. Pride of Pendle (4.1%abv) claimed the Champion Cask Ale title at the BIIA 2004 and Premier Bitter (3.7%abv) was voted gold in class; Pendle Witches Brew (5.1%abv) was twice runner-up in the Camra annual national contest and has received a silver medal at the BIIA.  Blond Witch (4.5%abv), a pioneer premium blonde brew, has collected awards from many Camra and SIBA (Society if Independent Brewers) beer festivals.  White Witch (3.9%abv) session strength ale is the latest to join the core portfolio and is the fastest growing brand.

In 2011 a £4.5m ‘tower’ brewery was launched to replace the cramped Victorian premises. With a 100 brewer’s barrels brew length it trebled production capacity to 1,000 barrels a week to make Moorhouse’s ‘the North West’s newest regional brewery’. With a current annual turnover of some £6m, the state-of-the-art brewery now directly supplies several hundred free trade pubs throughout the North of England and reaches outlets nationwide via contracts with major pub companies and leading drinks wholesalers.

For further media information contact: Steve Hobman, Rhino Public Relations: mobile 07751 578605/ email: shobman@rhinopr.freeserve.co.uk