Tesco has increased its craft beer range to over 70 beers in stores throughout the country.
Following last year’s success to expand the craft beer range to more than 400 high street stores, Tesco has increased the offer by nearly a third to over 70 beers in shops throughout the country. Drawn from our partnerships with nearly 30 breweries from the UK and around the globe, customers will be able to sample beers from Cornwall, Whitstable Bay and Scotland, and from as far afield as Sweden, Japan and the USA.
Reflecting the growing trend for craft beer in pubs and bars across the country, Tesco will become the first major retailer to stock the craft drinkers favourite tipple - sour beer. Sour beers are intentionally acidic and tart, and are most commonly seen in Belgium. Despite the name, sours are refreshing and a perfect accompaniment to food.
Tesco craft beer buyer Chloe Harrison explained, “Britain’s thirst for craft beer shows no sign of slowing down. It’s a drink that is popular with both millennial and older drinkers looking for a more artisan experience and exciting flavours.
'We’ve scoured the globe to bring a range together which we hope will satisfy all tastes, and are thrilled to be able to introduce customers to some fantastic new beers from both little-known and highly recognisable breweries.
“And our new sour beer is the jewel in our crown. With summer just around the corner, its wonderful thirst-quenching quality and is perfect for drinkers looking for palate-tingling flavours.
“We think that sour brews are destined to become the next frontier for beer lovers, in the same way that golden ale helped convert die hard lager lovers over to light and refreshing ales.”
Tart sour beer is priced at £1.90 and is available in store and online. Brewed by Thornbridge Brewery in Derbyshire, it has a golden colour, white head with a combination of citrusy hops and hints of grapefruit and lemon, and has an ABV of 6%.
Tesco has seen its annual growth for craft beers increase by more than 40 per cent – the arrival of sour beer on supermarket shelves is likely to raise interest even further. The retailer is allocating an extra 350 per cent of shelf space in its beer aisles.
Other craft beers being brought in by Tesco include:
• Kofra Stout from Norwich brewery Redwell
• Forklift Truck Mango Ale by Glasgow brewer Drydate
• Fourpure Session IPA made by Bermondsey brewery Fourpure
• Double Brew Lager by Swedish brewery Wolf Warning
• Flying Dog by Maryland, USA brewer Flying Dog
• Hitachino Nest White Ale by Japanese brewery Hitachino