Adnams launches English speciality beer

Suffolk brewer Adnams has launched a new product which it hopes will signal the rise of modern English beer.

Spindrift is a top-fermented, five per cent ABV, chilled and filtered beer, which will be targeted at premium pubs and bars.

The beer has been developed in close conjunction with pubco Punch Taverns, following research that more consumers are looking for a contemporary, speciality English beer.

Jonathan Adnams, the brewer's chairman, said that the partnership between brewer and retailer had been fruitful. "There has been commitment and vision on both sides. It's been a great process for us," he said.

Geoff Brown, marketing director at Punch Taverns, said: "We had done some work looking at speciality beers and been surprised at how well community local pubs had taken to them - even at £3 a pint.

"That made us think there was something we could do. We then had a conversation with Adnams about a chilled and filtered beer and they came back to us with Spindrift."

The beer is being rolled out into 40 to 50 Punch outlets before the end of the year, while Adnams will be testing it in targeted outlets in East Anglia.

Mr Adnams insists the launch of Spindrift is in no way at the expense of the company's cask ale portfolio.

"Adnams is dedicated to great cask conditioned beer. It is our bread and butter," he said. "But this beer is for people who have made the decision not to drink cask beer.

"We are seeing an increasing area of the on-trade where retailers have decided that cask is a non-existent proposition. This is a great beer brewed in the Adnams way."

Steve Curzon, marketing director at Adnams, added: "It is about creating a new category and giving English beer a new lease of life."