S&N trials iced cider and lager
Scottish and Newcastle (S&N) is coming to the end of a 12-week on-trade trial of an iced draught serve of Strongbow.
It is also about to start a trial of an iced draught lager product (more than likely Foster's) based on running the liquid through the same technology.
The trials have been taking place in 10 pubs, and are a bid to tap into the iced serve said by some to represent the best chance of cider continuing the boom sparked by serves over ice.
Cider brands Westons and Thatchers have already rolled out iced serves using a system designed by dispense technology company IMI Cornelius. IMI's "TwinIce" machine freezes and dispenses a layer of cider, not water, to top the draught beverage. It has also been sold direct to pubs wishing to use it as a general draught system for other cider brands. The version produced by another technology company for S&N works in a similar way.
It had been reported that S&N was running a number of its ciders, including Bulmers Original, through the system during the trial, but S&N denied this.
The second trial will involve an existing but undisclosed S&N lager. Suggestions are that it is Foster's - Kronenbourg's premium positioning means it is unlikely to be that brand.
There have been attempts at launching an iced lager product in the past - most notably Coors Fine Light Sub Zero, developed by Coors with IMI in 2006.
A spokesman said that neither of the trials would necessarily result in a launch. "What we will do, as we always do with new product development, is evaluate the results and base decisions on that," he said.
