Low-alcohol Old Speckled Hen joins flock

With the low and no-alcohol beer sector rapidly growing, Morland & Co brewery, under owner Greene King, has introduced a new a 0.5% ABV version of Old Speckled Hen premium ale.

Now worth a staggering £48.6m, the low and no-alcohol beer sector is the second fastest growing beer category in supermarkets after craft beer – up 35.1% in the past year.

Greene King Brewing & Brands managing director Matt Starbuck said the new low-alcohol ale will deliver flavour characteristics reminiscent of the original 5.0% ABV beer.

Starbuck said: “Important in the decision whether to introduce low or no-alcohol version of our famous beer is the driving belief that the beer should always taste like a proper beer.

“After extensive consumer tasting trials and expert tasting panel analysis, it was decided to introduce a low-alcohol version so our brewers could absolutely match that consumer expectation.”

Hit the taste mark

Recent survey results revealed that almost a quarter of adults claim they have consumed low or no-alcohol beer in the past year as the healthy living lifestyle trend continues to rise.

Starbuck added he is confident that the low-alcohol ale will go down well with consumers.

“The low-alcohol beer market is fast evolving as people’s drinking habits adapt to fit with healthier lifestyle choices,” he said.

“Choosing alcohol-free drinks shouldn’t mean compromising on the occasion and there is an ever-increasing demand for a grown-up alternative to soft drinks and alcohol-free beers that simply don’t hit the taste mark.”