British hops and malts championed in 24th edition of the famous annual brew
October 16th 2020, London; Fuller’s Griffin Brewery is today launching its highly-prized annual limited edition brew, Fuller’s Vintage Ale 2020.
The Vintage Ale special has been carefully and passionately crafted by the Fuller’s brewing team in Chiswick every year since 1997. Each time, a new recipe is created, ensuring the annual vintage has its own unique profile, distinct from the last – yet all are made to mature elegantly, with the flavours developing over time.
This year, the best of British is on show, following the New Zealand inspiration that influenced the 2019 variety. Home grown hops and UK-produced malt form the basis for Vintage Ale 2020, alongside the signature yeast of the Fuller’s Griffin Brewery.
Brewing Manager, Guy Stewart, had the role of creating the recipe and perfecting the 2020 Vintage. He said:
“It’s a real honour and privilege (not to mention, real pressure!) to contribute a vintage to the Vintage Ale series. This year we are championing our British-grown ingredients and have worked with our suppliers to bring a vintage we think is particularly special to the series.
“We’ve selected Herefordshire hops from Charles Faram which bring ripe berry fruit and tangy citrus notes, alongside speciality malt from Simpsons Malt that delivers a malty sweetness rich in caramel and raisin. It’s the balance of all these elements that makes for a great beer now and one that will continue to develop if you can resist temptation and store them for a few years.”
Availability:
Whether enjoyed today or in ten years, Vintage Ale makes a great gift. Every bottle is individually numbered, making our older Vintages extremely rare and sought-after.
From today – Friday 16th October – you can buy bottles of the latest vintage on our Fuller’s Brewery shop from £6. Multi-vintage gift sets and previous years’ vintages can be purchased too. It will also be available from Waitrose & Partners from Monday 26th October subject to availability in participating stores.
Tasting notes:
The story starts with DRC®, a Double Roasted Crystal malt from East Anglia that promises malty sweetness rich in caramel and raisin. Then there’s the Herefordshire hops – Jester ® and Godiva – adding ripe berry fruit and tangy citrus notes to the signature marmalade flavours of our famous Fuller’s yeast.
For a virtual tasting and brief history of Vintage Ale, Guy Stewart was joined by former Fuller’s Brewing Director, John Keeling, and Richard Simpson, Vice Chairman & Marketing Director at Simpsons Malt and Paul Corbett, Managing Director at Charles Faram & Co Ltd. Click here to watch the video, where they also compare Vintage Ale 2020 with a previous vintage.
For further information on Fuller’s Beer Brands and the Griffin Brewery, please visit: https://fullersbrewery.co.uk/.
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Notes to editors:
- Fuller’s Vintage Ale 2020, 500ml, £6 RRP
- ABV 8.5%, IBU 40
- Malt – Pale, Chocolate, DRC® (Double Roasted Crystal)
- Hops – Target, Jester®, Godiva
- Bottle-conditioned
- Available from Friday 16th October in the Fuller’s Brewery shop and from Monday 26th October from Waitrose & Partners.
About Asahi UK
Asahi UK is a subsidiary of Asahi International Ltd and is responsible for sales, marketing and customer operations across the UK and Ireland. Asahi UK aims to enrich consumer experiences through innovation, high-quality service and an exceptional portfolio of premium beer, ale and cider brands including, Peroni Nastro Azzurro, Asahi Super Dry, Grolsch, Meantime, Fuller’s London Pride and Cornish Orchards. The Woking based business is focused on developing quality, super premium brands and delivering commercial value in the marketplace, through a strong belief in collaboration, customer excellence and people development. For further information, visit www.asahibeer.co.uk
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