Swansea based brewer, The Hurns Brewing Company, is celebrating after its bottled Magic Lagyr (lager) came out as the Tesco 2008 Wales regional winner in a blind tasting of new Welsh bottled beers.
Judging was carried out earlier this year by a panel of industry experts and top food journalists on behalf of Tesco supermarket’s annual Drinks Awards with the award ceremony itself taking place at the Kensington Roof Gardens in London last Friday (19 October).
“We are absolutely thrilled. We actually heard the news while in Las Vegas at the American National Beer Wholesalers Association convention. We were the only Welsh brewer represented at the event, where our head brewer, David Campbell, led a couple of well received tutored tastings on a variety of British beer styles for our American ‘cousins’,” said Connie Parry, who co-owns Hurns with her brother Philip.
“Knowledge of this prestigious award from Tesco gave us a magic finale to a very successful week and we were the toast of Vegas. Our American customers were suitably impressed as they were all well aware of the high profile Tesco enjoys in the UK”.
The family-owned company only started producing Magic Lagyr in April this year after a full twelve months of brewing trials. It has proved to be a very successful addition to the brewery’s existing range of award wining ales which are produced under the Tomos Watkin brand.
Made from German hops, English floor malted barley, Danish yeast and pure Welsh water, Magic Lagyr has a crisp, clean, thirst quenching taste and is an excellent accompaniment to a variety of meals.
Now in its 15th year it was the largest ever Tesco Drinks Awards, with over 400 products - all of them never before listed at a national level.
Dan Jago, Tesco Category Director Beers Wines and Spirits, commented, “At Tesco we are committed to bringing new, exciting products to the market. Great drinks deserve shelf-space and a chance to gain access to the UK consumer, and that is exactly what these Awards are designed to achieve.”
Since it saved the Tomos Watkin brewery in 2002, Hurns has enjoyed a great deal of brewing success, including two awards from True Taste of Wales for its bottled beers and numerous CAMRA ( Campaign for Real Ale) Awards for its cask conditioned ales.
Currently there are five varieties of bottled beers in the Tomos Watkin range as well as the increasingly popular Taffy Apples Cider and several seasonal varieties of cask ale, such as, Cwrw Haf, Cwrw Santa and Dewi Sant.
As a result of the Las Vegas trip, Hurns is about to send its first order of beer to their new importers in the USA, following a deal with Boston-based drinks distributor, St Killian and a glowing report from the ‘Beer Advocate’ - the definitive guide to beer in America.
“It is a very exciting time for us. Our initial US distribution contract was for 12 states but this new contract will see our beers being sold across America in all 50 states in independent retailers, restaurants and delicatessens and now this Tesco award will hopefully lead to a much bigger presence for us here at home too” said Connie.
“It has been a lot of hard work and we have had great support from the Welsh Assembly Government which, through events such as St David’s Day in New York, enabled us to get our beers noticed in America.”
The brother and sister team, great grandchildren of the original founder of the business, have built up a significant company. Their experience and sheer determination saved the Tomos Watkin brewery from obscurity, when they bought it five years ago, safeguarding and creating jobs.
At the turn of the century the company manufactured lemonade, ginger beer, soda water and fruit cordials. Their original pop-alley bottles and stoneware bottles are on display in the local museum.
DETAILS: Sheila Coleman 01792 817532 / 07968 357474
Email: sheila@colemanroberts.co.uk
NOTES TO EDITORS
Photo: Hurns receives its award
(Left to Right) Tesco Category Director Beers Wines and Spirits, Dan Jago; Hurns Head Brewer David Campbell; and Hurns co-owner Philip Parry.
For further information about the company please contact:
The Hurns Brewing Company
The Kingsway
Fforestfach Industrial Estate
Swansea
SA5 4DLKingsway,
Contact: Connie Parry
Email: beer@hurns.co.uk
Tel: 01792 560020
Website: www.hurnsbeer.co.uk
