Cornwall’s premier independent brewery has officially launched an extra special bottled version of the South West’s favourite beer.
St Austell Brewery has rolled out the 5.2% Tribute Extra ale in 500ml bottles having seen it attract a growing cult following when released as a limited edition seasonal version of the popular pint once a year.
Tribute Extra offers ale enthusiasts a glass full of everything they love about the multi-award winning Tribute – but with extra hops, extra strength and balanced with a fuller malt flavour.
The official launch of Tribute Extra follows the continued success of Tribute across the country. 2013 was a record year for sales of Tribute, with well over 45,000 Brewers’ Barrels (13 million pints) of draught Tribute sold in the nation’s pubs as well as over 3 million bottles (up 46% on 2012) sold in supermarkets. Bottled Tribute is now the second best selling beer in Tesco, while Tribute was also voted Best Drink at the Food Reader Awards in 2013.
Jeremy Mitchell, Marketing & Communications Director at St Austell Brewery said: “Tribute is such a popular ale, not only within the region but nationally as well, that we didn’t want to make any fundamental changes to its traditional and trusted identity. We initially developed Tribute Extra as a Christmas treat for pubs but it has caught on so much that we have decided to offer Tribute Extra in bottles as a permanent addition to our range. We also believe the stronger version will be well placed for our growing export markets.”
Tribute Extra is packed full of zesty American Willamette and Slovenian Celeia hops, offering a lively taste of orange, grapefruit and biscuit from a pale amber-coloured pint.
To buy Tribute Extra online go to www.staustellbreweryshop.co.uk or look out for it at your local pub.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
St Austell Brewery (www.staustellbrewery.co.uk)
· St Austell Brewery was named Best Regional Brewer at the Publicans Choice Awards 2013, and has a large number of other award wins under its belt.
· Its flagship Tribute Ale (4.2% ABV) was named Best Drink at the Food Reader Awards in 2013; voted the licensees’ Regional Cask Ale of the Year at the Publicans’ Suppliers Awards 2012 and is currently in the top five of the UK’s best selling premium cask ales.
· Founded in 1851, St Austell Brewery is known to be one of the oldest businesses in Cornwall.
· It is one of only 30 Independently Family Owned Brewers in the UK.
· The company owns over 170 pubs and inns across the South West.
· It is the South West’s largest wholesale distributor of beer, ciders, wines, spirits and soft drinks, serving more than 3,000 free trade accounts, from pubs, clubs, restaurants, hotels and other licensed outlets in Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Dorset and Bristol.
· The company employs up to 1,000 people including part-time and seasonal staff.
· The company brews five main cask ale beer brands: Tribute, Proper Job, Trelawny, Dartmoor Best and HSD. Korev Cornish Lager is also available on draught.
· The bottled beer range consists of HSD, Tribute, Proper Job, Admiral’s Ale, Trelawny, Smugglers Vintage Ale, Smugglers Grand Cru, Clouded Yellow wheat beer, 1913 Cornish Stout and Korev Cornish lager.
· The company markets its cask ales nationally.
· The company also distributes a full range of national brands of beers and minerals and a full range of wines and spirits under the Walter Hicks label.
· The company is a recognised centre of excellence for training, accredited by the British Institute of Innkeeping (BII), offering a wide range of courses to people who work in the licensed trade.
For further information, please contact:
Jeremy Mitchell
Director of Marketing & Communications
St Austell Brewery
Tel: 01726 627149
e-mail: Jeremy.Mitchell@