New products to cask your eye over

Hydes brings back historic brews for new 'vinatage' range 

Manchester-based brewer Hydes has unveiled its new product range for 2024, boasting 18 brews including six ‘vintage’ casks ales as part of its bi-monthly offering and 12 seasonal ales.

Comprising of historic bottled brews crated from the original Hydes Anvil range, the vintage range sees the return of Anvil Brand Brown Stout (4.1% ABV), Anvil Brand Pale Ale (4.0% ABV), Anvil Brand Light Ale (3.9% ABV), Anvil Best (4.8%), Oatmeal Stout (4.5% ABV) and Nut Brown Ale (3.8% ABV). 

Previously all part of a bottled range dating back between 1895 to 1941, this is the first time the serves have been re-introduced on cask, including recreations of the original bottle designs with the Hydes Queens Brewery branding to feature on the bar pump clips and beer mats. 

Moving to the brand’s 2024 seasonal range, Hydes will release 12 ales themed around classic British TV shows including Bulls Eye, Dad’s Army, Monty Python’s Flying Circus, Phoenix Nights, Fawlty Towers and Only Fools and Horses.  

The first themed ales to be introduced the Salford brewery, which was formed in 1863, are Bulls Hydes, a 4.2% ABV premium bitter, and Flying Circus, a 4.5% ABV dark ale, for February.

Next will be the Fast Show inspired Suits You, a 4.3% pale ale in for March followed by 5.2% IPA Flowery Towers, inspired by classic 70s sitcom Fawlty Towers in April.

Hydes managing director Adam Mayers said: “We’re very proud to introduce our new range, combining our rich brewing heritage in the northwest through our Vintage range with an innovative, contemporary range of a dozen ales playfully themed around British TV classics. 

“The reintroduction of some of Hydes’ bottled beers from the early days of the brewery is an exciting addition to the existing core range and we can’t wait for drinkers to sample these brews, all based on the original recipes, for the first time in over 100 years in some cases.

“Anvil Best was first introduced as a bottled bitter in 1924 so it’s great to see it make a historic return exactly a century later for today’s drinkers to enjoy fresh from the cask.”

Shepherd Neame introduces new addition to Cask Club 

Independent pub operator and Britain’s oldest brewer Shepheard Neame has introduced the latest beer as part of its real ale initiative, Cask Club.

Cobnut, a 3.4% ABV light brown pale ale with biscuit, toffee and earthy flavours with a nutty finish, has been brewed with Kentish Target hops followed by a late hopping with locally grown East Kent Goldings with a blended mix of chocolate, amber, ale and crystal malts.

Shepherd Neame senior brewer and quality manager Stewart Tricker, whose signature features on the pump clip, said the new serve “showcases the talent of the brewing team” and offers a “well-defined balance of flavours and aromas”.

“The combination of four malts has allowed us to craft a well-rounded beer that is perfect for enjoying in a cosy pub throughout February and March.

“No nuts were harmed in the brewing of this beer! We hope all cask ale fans will enjoy discovering the delightful depths of our latest offering”, he added.

Future ales in the Kent-based firms’ Cask Club programme set to be released over the next few months include Rumour Mill and Go For Gold.

St Austell reveals 2024 seasonal line-up

Earlier this month, Cornish brewer St Austell revealed its music-themed seasonal beer line-up for 2024.

The first of this year’s specials to be released, Sufin’ USA, will be available in select pubs from Friday 1 March.

Summer Sun, Thunder Struck and Step Into Christmas will be the next brews in the line-up to be released.

Each beer will also feature its own Spotify playlist, which customers can listen to by scanning a QR code on the pump clip. Read more here​.