St Austell Brewery has launched a new limited edition American Pale Ale in Mitchell & Butlers’ (M&B) Castle pubs.
Skipper (4.9% ABV), which has been brewed in collaboration with Boston-based Harpoon Brewery, is now available exclusively in more than 100 Castle pubs across the country.
The new amber cask ale boasts blackcurrant and lychee aromas and has a bitter and rich fruit finish. The beer with Harpoon Brewery comes after members of its team visited St Austell Brewery whilst on a fact-finding mission to learn about brewing in the UK last summer.
Roger Ryman, St Austell Brewery’s head brewer repaid the visit with a trip to Boston in March this year and helped produce a collaborative ale between the two breweries. As well as brewing it at Harpoon Brewery, which is one of the top ten craft breweries in the USA, Roger returned from America and brewed the same recipe in St Austell’s Small Batch Brewery – the beer that’s now available in Castle pubs.
Commenting on the new cask ale, Roger Ryman, St Austell Brewery’s head brewer, said: “Skipper utilises all-English ingredients combined with USA flair and delivers a classic pale ale with a contemporary twist. We’re really pleased with the end result and that it has launched into Castle pubs.”
Roger added: “The beer is named after the aquatic antics which took place on both sides of the Atlantic. When the team from Harpoon Brewery visited Cornwall, I took them racing in a traditional pilot gig along the south coast. When I visited American soil the favour was returned, and I was whisked off for some water action, Boston style, with the Harpoon guys as soon as I landed. It was only right to get the nautical link in the name to help celebrate our shared passion – and proximity – of the water!”
Ben Lockwood, procurement manager for cask ale, craft beer and cider, M&B, said: “We’re confident the new beer will be well received and we’re delighted to have it as an exclusive. St Austell Brewery is very well respected and Harpoon’s beers have been served up in Castle pubs in the past. Skipper is a flavoursome new beer and the coming together of these two breweries makes for a really exciting collaboration.”
Skipper is being launched as part of Castle’s summer Craft Beer Festival which runs from 8th June – 15th July 2017 – www.craftbeerfestival.net.