Oxfordshire's Wychwood Brewery launches WYCHCRAFT - Winner of the Tesco 2005 Spring & Summer Beer Challenge.

Judged best from over 100 entries from 70 brewers, WYCHCRAFT wowed the expert panel of judges, which included members of the British Guild of Beer Writers including Michael Jackson, Roger Protz and Andrew Jefford, to scoop the prestigous accolade. It will be launched in Tesco Stores during April at £1.58 for a 500ml bottle

WYCHCRAFT - a wonderfully aromatic and fragrant, refreshing beer at 4.5% abv, which can be drunk straight from the fridge - is the first new brew to be created in the re-developed brewery at Wychwood following extensive redesign and expansion last autumn. Head Brewer, Jeremy Moss uses an innovative new recipe including adding hops three times to the copper to extract increased aromatics and luscious freshness of flavour, hence the "Thrice hopped & Golden" tasting note. The name "WYCHCRAFT" was chosen to highlight the importance of the Head Brewer's craft in the context of traditional brewing.

As Head Brewer, Jeremy Moss says,
"My philosophy is to brew the best possible beers from the best possible ingredients and devise new recipes, so each has its own unique character and identity. For WYCHCRAFT, I chose Styrian Goldings hops which give fullness of fruit at the same time as being overtly refreshing. I want to show all those "Lagerboys" out there that you get more taste for your money with a traditional crafted British beer. To win the Tesco Beer Challenge with WYCHCRAFT is fantastic and will hopefully encourage more beer drinkers to give traditional British Beer a go"

Editors’ notes:
• WYCHCRAFT will be available in Tesco stores from mid-April at £1.58 for a 500ml bottle.
• WYCHCRAFTS innovative new recipe includes adding three infusions of Styrian Goldings hops to the copper. A light base of delicately flavoured English Fuggles hops, and the use of lager malt, help retain the signature hop character and create a wonderfully aromatic and fragrant summertime beer.
• WYCHCRAFT's label design from a unique commissioned artwork from artist Chris Bohanna depicts the 4 "elementals", or spirits from Myths and fables which represent the 4 elements of Air, Fire, Earth & Water. This recognises the brewers craft in summoning together the basic elements and ingredients of the brew;
• Water - to steep the barley, and constitute the mash
• Fire - to "roast" the malted barley in the kiln and boil the wort
• Earth - providing hops & barley
• Air - a must for growth of the yeast

More information on WYCHCRAFT can be found at:
http://www.wychwood.co.uk/wychwood_wychcraft.htm

Wychwood Brewery's beer portfolio includes in 500ml bottles; The Legendary Hobgoblin Strong Dark Ale, Circle Master Organic Pale Ale, Fiddlers Elbow Wheat Brewed Ale, and Goliath Mighty Ale in 660ml bottle

For further information, contact Katherine Robbins on 020 7384 1333 or Rupert Ponsonby at rupert@randr.co.uk