The Cask Project

GK to launch apprentice-collaboration beer

15-Mar-2023 - Last updated on 15-Mar-2023 at 08:33 GMT

Brewer and pub operator Greene King will release its limited-edition Spring Break cask beer, which was created last year in collaboration with the National Brewing Apprentice Programme.

Making its return as a seasonal ale, Spring Break is a 4.4% ABV golden ale, which was launched in early 2022 as a partnership with the National Brewing Apprentice Programme, called Future Brewers.

Greene King said Spring Break is just one of the beers it has collaborated on with students on the apprenticeship programme.

Spring Break is described as a “full bodied, hoppy ale that includes delicious malty characters, which are perfectly balanced with citrus flavours” and claimed to be “great for the time of the year as the temperature starts to rise”.

Play with styles

Lianne Bakdur, an apprentice brewer at Greene King who joined the brewing team last year after deciding to move from finance, is really passionate about the opportunity seasonal cask ales can bring to the sector.

Bakdur said: “It is great to see Spring Break appearing as one of the seasonal limited-edition cask beers we offer. As an apprentice, the best part is getting to play with styles and flavours to create something new, and while it’s fun, it’s also important for my career development.

“Cask beer is incredibly important to our history and as we try to drive consideration with a wider audience, by creating delicious and exciting beers, we also need to give teams on the bar the information to shout about the different styles and flavours we offer too.

“Providing our customers with tasting notes enables them to really educate themselves about the beer on their bar and get their guests excited too.”

18 limited-edition cask beers

The new cask release is part of the wider Fresh Cask Releases calendar, a portfolio of 18 limited-edition cask beers available at specific times throughout the year ahead.

Greene King is offering its licensees support with knowledge packs for each seasonal beer, including tasting notes and access to online training support.

The brewer also announced in January its seasonal ales will be available also in cask pins of 36 pints later this year, which will support in offering more variety on the bar and with throughput in quieter periods of the week.