Rooster’s Brewing Co. is proud to unveil Hazy-Faced Assassin, a gluten-free Hazy IPA, launched in both keg and 440ml can to become the latest addition to its renowned Assassin series of IPAs. The juicy, modern Hazy IPA launches in keg and 440ml cans at select venues from Friday 2nd May, with wider supermarket listings to follow shortly after.
At 5.7% ABV, Hazy-Faced Assassin is a crushable, flavour-forward IPA that punches well above its weight. Brewed with a bold blend of Citra, Galaxy and Mosaic hops, it delivers a tropical hit, with standout notes of mango and peach. True to its namesake, Rooster’s flagship IPA, Baby-Faced Assassin, the new addition to the brewery’s line-up is also ‘deceptively drinkable, not to be taken lightly.’
The launch of Hazy-Faced Assassin strengthens Rooster’s year-round range of gluten-free beers across cask, keg and can, sitting alongside Easy-Going Assassin (4.3% session IPA), Haus Lager (4.2% session lager), Good As Hell (4.9% premium Helles lager) and Yorkshire’s Best (3.8% best bitter).
Originally hatched as a concept midway through 2024, Hazy-Faced Assassin has been in development for the past six months. Commenting on this process, Oliver Fozard, Rooster’s Head Brewer said: “We’ve tested and tweaked the recipe across four pilot brews, taking on feedback from trusted trade customers along the way, ahead of gearing up for the launch at the start of May. I’m delighted we’re now able to share the beer and am confident it will hit the spot!”
Such is the reputation Baby-Faced Assassin has developed since becoming the first beer Rooster’s canned and launched to market in January 2015, Hazy-Faced Assassin has swiftly been picked up on by both ASDA and Morrisons, with each supermarket listing the beer in selected stores nationwide from mid-May.
In a bid to push back against AI-generated art trends and support creative talent, Rooster’s commissioned Manchester-based illustrator David Bailey to create the beer’s striking new look. Known for his work with Patagonia, Rapha, The Guardian, CAMRA, as well as some of the UK’s most exciting modern breweries, David’s work brings a fresh and exciting, hand-drawn look to the beer.
“We’ve always taken pride in creating everything in-house,” says Tom Fozard, Commercial Director. “But with Hazy-Faced Assassin, we wanted create a fresh approach. It was great working with David and I’m delighted with just how interesting and exciting the artwork is.”
Speaking of the collaboration, David Bailey said: “I’m very excited to work with Rooster’s on Hazy-Faced Assassin. Rooster’s are pioneers of the modern UK beer scene, and I’ve been drinking their beers for ten years plus, so it’s a big honour to get to work with Tom and the team on a new direction for their Assassin range. I hope the artwork does the beer justice.”
With a bold new look, but delivering the same killer drinkability as other beers in the Assassin range, Hazy-Faced Assassin is a confident next step in the progression of Rooster’s brand.
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For further information, please contact Tom Fozard on tom@roosters.co.uk Rooster’s Brewing Co. www.roosters.co.uk
Notes to Editors
About Rooster’s Brewing Company
Rooster’s Brewing Co. has always been an independent, family-run brewery, focussed on creating quality new world pale ales, with an emphasis on flavour and aroma. It was established in 1993 by the pioneering brewer Sean Franklin, who developed a new style of beer that had, up to that point, never been tried in the UK before.
At a time when most breweries were taking flavour out, Sean was trying to put more in, using imported flavourful hops from the west coast of America. His pioneering and innovative approach began to turn heads, with Rooster’s flavour-packed beers standing out in a sea of brown beer – with its flagship pale ale, Yankee, leading the way. The awards began to pour in, with Rooster’s beers winning gold medals at the biggest and most renowned international and national beer awards.
Having won pretty much everything there was to win, in 2011 Sean decided to retire and chose to sell the brewery to Ian Fozard and his sons, Tom and Oliver, in a move that ensured Rooster’s would remain a family-owned brewery. Ian has had an affinity with beer for over forty years, having been an active member of CAMRA since the 1970s and the founder of Market Town Taverns, which grew into a portfolio of 15 bars and pubs across Yorkshire.
Oliver, who has been brewing professionally since 2000, became the head brewer at Rooster’s, and Tom, also an active brewer, became the company’s commercial director. Oliver was awarded Brewer of the Year in December 2020 by the British Guild of Beer Writers. In 2018, it became clear that Rooster’s was rapidly outgrowing its site in Knaresborough and in 2019 the decision was made to invest in a new state-of-the-art brewery and taproom.
Finding the right location, that offered Rooster’s the opportunity to become part of the fabric of the local community wasn’t easy, but the team were delighted when the perfect space became available at Hornbeam Park in Harrogate. Over the course of 2019 and the early part of January 2020, the company created a bespoke, state-ofthe-art facility that it now calls home, in a move that saw it return to the town where Rooster’s was first started some twenty-seven years earlier.