Greene King’s new 4.5-gallon pins have been released to operators, containing its July seasonal cask ales, Ale Fresco and New Tricks, a Nethergate Brewery collaboration.
In January, Greene King announced that it would become the UK’s first major brewer to launch cask pins to its customers. The seven-figure investment aims to help licensees minimise wastage and ensure the best quality of cask ale is reaching guests every time.
Offering the smaller unit will give operators the ability to manage a lower throughput at quieter times of the week, meaning less waste from unsold beer or out of date beer being sold. The launch of pins with Greene King’s Fresh Cask Releases calendar provides an opportunity for operators to showcase different styles and flavours of cask ale for guests to explore.
One of the beers that will be available in pins in July and August is Ale Fresco, a 4.3% ABV smooth and easy drinking golden ale. The ale is brewed using Centennial hops to deliver a light citrus flavour.
The second beer available will be New Tricks, the brewer’s second collaboration with the also Suffolk-based Nethergate Brewery. The 4% golden beer combines ginger and lemon to deliver fruity characters and refreshment.
Greene King has said firkins will still be advised when operators have that busier footfall and demand. However, pins can offer an additional seasonal cask ale on the bar or to provide that lower throughput when needed.
Jack Palmer, head brewer at Greene King, said: “We’re passionate about the cask sector, and launching pins is a great achievement for us, and the category, in helping to address some of the key challenges that serving this unique product can bring.
“Cask ale is part of our heritage and the core of a great pub, and we continue to invest and innovate to secure its future. Our Fresh Cask Releases calendar shows the many styles and flavours that cask ale can offer, and we’re excited to be able to provide this in a smaller format for operators to introduce on the bar and explore with guests.”
Ale-Fresco and New Tricks golden ales form part of the wider Fresh Cask Releases calendar, a portfolio of 18 limited-edition cask beers available at specific times throughout the year. From July onwards the seasonal ales will now have the option to be purchased in a firkin or in a pin format, excluding only Rocking Rudolph.
Nethergate Brewery will also be offering New Tricks on draught at its taprooms in Long Melford and Bury St Edmunds. The limited-edition ale will also be bottled and available on Nethergate’s and Greene King’s online shops.
