The new beer, called Small Beer, is brewed with less sugars, meaning it is lower in calories.
It will be sold at a lower price, around £2.50 per pint at the pumps, than Wadworth's other ales due to its lower alcohol content. Since October, beers of 2.8% ABV or less have been subject to beer duty relief.
“It is very rewarding for us to bring good news on pricing to our customers who have been feeling the pinch in their pockets as beer duties have risen over the last few years,” said Christine Evers, beer brand manager at Wadworth.
“We have ensured that this time the benefit of the beer duty relief has been passed on directly to beer drinkers. If it as successful as we think it will be, we plan to make this a seasonal ale that will be on sale every January.”
Small price big taste
Despite its name, the new beer is big on flavour, according to Wadworth's head brewer Brian Yorston.
“It is a real challenge to create a lower alcohol beer with a full flavour,” he said. “This beer has an ABV of only 2.8% and yet we have managed to give it impressive depth by using six different malts along with three hops added at various phases of the brew. The result is layers of flavour and a beer with complexity and body.”
The beer is described as having a sweet floral aroma, which immediately hits the palate, followed by a body crammed with roasted malt, lingering in to a final burst of hop bitterness which leads to a satisfying finish.
