NEW PRODUCTS: Vocation unveils seven festive brews

Vocation’s festive line-up

Yorkshire brewer Vocation has unveiled seven new seasonal beers for the festive period.

Spanning sessionable cask ales, contemporary IPAs, and indulgent stouts, the line-up has been developed to help operators cater for wide-ranging tastes and festive drinking occasions, while creating opportunities for discovery and trade-up.

“Christmas is one of the biggest commercial opportunities of the year for pubs and bars, and the best festive beer offering balances trusted favourites with something new and seasonal,” Vocation Brewery head of marketing Chris Mitchell said.

“It’s a time when customers are often more open to treating themselves and trying something different, giving operators an opportunity to create a sense of occasion while encouraging trade-up.”

The four keg releases include:

• White Gold Panettone White Stout – A smooth, pale 6% ABV stout brewed with honey, orange peel, raisin, vanilla, cardamom and cinnamon to recreate the flavours of the classic festive bake.

• Office Party Hazy IPA – A 5% ABV juicy, hazy IPA packed with tropical fruit, citrus and soft apricot notes, delivering bold modern hop character with a smooth finish.

• Winter Sun Limoncello IPA – A light, slightly hazy 6.5% ABV IPA with vibrant lemon, lime and citrus notes, inspired by limoncello and balanced by a smooth malt base.

• First Pick Chocolate & Creamy Hazelnut Praline Stout – A 4.6% ABV rich, full-bodied stout with roasted malt, chocolate, creamy hazelnut praline, caramel and vanilla notes.

The cask line-up includes:

• Huddle Up Galaxy Blonde – A 4.2% ABV golden blonde ale with bright mandarin, citrus and passionfruit notes, balanced by a soft malt base and clean finish.

• Panic Buy Session Pale – A light, easy-drinking 3.4% ABV session pale with pine, resin, tropical fruit and citrus hop character, delivering plenty of flavour at a highly sessionable strength.

• Dark Delights Dark Cocoa Stout – A 4.5% ABV smooth stout with layers of caramel, dark chocolate and gentle roast, brewed with cocoa husks and cocoa powder for a soft hot chocolate character.

The new releases will be available to on-trade outlets nationwide this month in 30L kegs and 9G casks directly from Vocation Brewery and through selected wholesalers.

Spirit Cartel relaunches Horse with no Name

Spirit Cartel has reintroduced Horse with No Name to its distribution portfolio.

Created by Monkey 47 founder Alexender Stein, the bourbon brand, made up of three expressions, will transition from 50cl to 70cl bottles while maintaining the same pricing for both on and off-trade stockists.

Initially, Spirit Cartel will focus its efforts on Horse With No Name’s bourbon infused with 2% habanero chili distillate, alongside distribution of its classic bourbon and rye expressions.

All three are produced at the Firestone & Robertson distillery in Fort Worth and presented in a distinctive bottle modelled on a Western-style cut-glass hip flask.

Adnams launches alcohol-free handpull

Suffolk-based brewer, distiller and pub operator Adnams has launched it alcohol-free ale on ‘handpull keg’.

Ghost Ship Alcohol-Free Pale Ale 0.5% ABV was released in Adnams’ managed pubs last month. Read more here.

Kelham Island Brewery revives Brooklyn Smoked Porter

Sheffield’s Kelham Island Brewery has relaunched Brooklyn Smoked Porter, a collaboration with Brooklyn Brewery brewmaster Garrett Oliver, first brewed in 2006.

Originally created when Sheffield Council considered naming a local bridge the ‘Brooklyn Bridge’, the beer returns following a successful cask release last year, available in cask, keg and, for the first time, cans.

The porter boasts a deep mahogany colour, with roasted malt, dark chocolate, coffee, cocoa and toffee flavours.

Kelham Island pledged to donate 10p from every pint and can sold to the Michael James Jackson Foundation for Brewing and Distilling, which supports technical education and career development for people of colour in the brewing and distilling industries.

Commenting on the release, Kelham Island co-owner Simon Webster said: “We have very fond memories of this beer from 2006 and jumped at the chance to rebrew it with Garrett, while raising money for a worthwhile cause.”

Oliver added: “This was a brilliant project...I’m really pleased to bring it back while raising money for the Foundation.”

Bunta Beer expands on-trade footprint

Bunta Beer, a UK-brewed, Indian-inspired alcohol-free lager, has launched in London.

Founded by Gunikka Ahuja in October last year, the brew has since seen rapid on-trade expansion.

Designed to pair with Indian dishes such as kormas, vindaloos, jalfrezis, the 0.5% ABV, gluten-free and vegan lager has subtle citrus notes from orange peel and coriander seed, with low carbonation.

Bunta Beer is also gluten-free, vegan and contains 60 calories per can.

The brew is available from the brand’s webshop and selected wholesalers.

Powder Monkey secures Fuller’s listing

Hampshire-based Powder Monkey Brewing Co. has secured a listing with Fuller’s for its Bubbleheads Brut IPA (5% ABV).

The gluten-free IPA is brewed using enzymes to ferment out residual sugars, producing a light-bodied beer with high carbonation and a crisp, dry finish.

Amarillo and Cashmere hops provide citrus and floral notes. Inspired by Champagne. The brew is available in both keg and can format.

Coined after the nickname for submariners, Bubbleheads also supports the Vernon Mine Warfare and Diving Monument at Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth.

Hydes releases spiced cider

Hydes Cyder has added Hydes Spyced (3.4% ABV), a seasonal spiced serve made with the Hampshire-based producer’s wild-fermented English cider.

Flavoured with cinnamon, vanilla and gingerbread, it is designed to be served either chilled or gently warmed.

The cider is available in 330ml sparkling cans and a still Bag-in-Box format for hot serves.

Cans are available direct from the Hydes Cyder website, priced at £4.50 each (RRP), with 12-packs available for £54 plus delivery.

Red Engine showcases new gin

Red Engine has launched two bespoke London Dry Gins for its Flight Club and Electric Shuffle venues, developed in partnership with Bristol-based distillery the Spirit of Bristol.

Created by master distiller Pete Lumber and Red Engine’s Bar Masters, the gins have been developed for each brand’s drinks menu.

The Flight Club gin has a spice-led profile featuring clove, angelica, cardamom and cassia, balanced with lemon and orange peel.

Meanwhile, the Electric Shuffle gin is citrus-forward, with lemon, lime and orange peel alongside coriander, cassia and liquorice.

Both serves are available now across Flight Club and Electric Shuffle venues in the UK, serving as house pours and featuring in the brands’ cocktail menus.

Prickly Pete’s lands at Marston’s

Global Brands has announced the release of Pickly Pete’s Pickle Liquor, a 15% ABV pickle-flavoured liquor aimed at the UK on-trade.

Available in a 70cl bottles, the product has secured a listing across 750 Marston’s pubs nationwide.

Designed for shots and cocktails, suggested serves include a 25ml neat shot, a Pickle-Rita made with margarita mix, and a Cuba Lipa, combining the liquor with cola.

The launch adds to growing interest in pickle flavours across food and drink.

Global Brands senior brand manager Thomas Fox-Owens said: “Pickle as a flavour has become a cultural phenomenon and we’re seeing that momentum continue to build across food, drink and on social media.

“With Pickly Pete’s Pickle Liquor, we wanted to bring that momentum to venues across the UK with something truly interesting and different.”

Spirit Cartel develops Bad Appel

Spirit Cartel has launched Bad Appel, a cocktail-focused Calvados.

Made in Normandy’s Pays d’Auge region, the spirit delivers a crisp green apple flavour profile designed to stand out in cocktails rather than sit as an after-dinner serve.

The brand is encouraging operators to use Bad Appel to create modern twists on classic cocktails, tapping into growing consumer demand for new and innovative drinks experiences.

Available in 70cl bottles at 40% ABV, it is being distributed nationwide through wholesalers and the Spirit Cartel sales team.

To feature in The Morning Advertiser’s new product’s round-up, please email rebecca.weller@wrbm.com. See the previous round-up here.