Butcombe releases Pioneer as on-trade exclusive

Brewed with nine malt types for body and British oats for smoothness, the new brew will sit alongside the brewer’s Original, Rare Breed and Gold beer variants.

Of Pioneer, Butcombe’s managing director Geraint Williams said: “Pioneer’s sweet malt is balanced by a soft bitterness from Sterling hops and an aroma of citrus, grapefruit, orange and marmalade from the Pioneer and First Gold hops.

“Pioneer allows Butcombe to do what it does best, craft brilliant cask ale. Our brewers have explored their craft and created a unique ale at the forefront of the market. Pioneer is a beer that delivers excellent a thirst-quenching taste, pint after pint.”

‘Support the on-trade’​

He continued: “We are eager to support our on-trade customers with this beer, so ensuring it is cask-only is important to us. Cask beers like Pioneer enables pubs to create something can’t be replicated at home, and we’re keen to support our customers with great-quality ale to drive people to their outlets.”

Earlier this year, the brewery revealed a major rebrand of its logo and beers ahead of ambitious expansion​ plans.

Butcombe currently operates 25 pubs across the south-west of England but will expand its estate to 100 venues over the coming years.

At the time the expansion plans were announced, marketing manager Emmy Webster said: “This marks a huge step forward for the Butcombe brand.

“It is as much a reflection of who we are as it is a statement of the development of the company, our intent for the future and our ambitious growth plans."

Forty Two and Invader​

Meanwhile, the brewery launched itself into the craft beer segment with the introduction of its two tinned beers Forty Two and Invader.

Both beers were inspired by the year the brewery was founded – 1978. Forty Two in reference to 'the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe and everything' in the novel The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy​; and Invader paying homage to the arcade game Space Invaders​, which was released that year.

Williams said: “These new beers give us a chance to be creative and experiment with brewing outside of our classic range.

“Invader and Forty Two will allow us to access new markets and showcase our craft credentials. Our decision to create these craft beers has been driven by a consumer demand for fresh concepts in beer style as well as design.”