John Keeling's new whisky-beer get the go ahead
Published: 16th October 2008
Written by: OLN news team
After a long battle with HM Customs & Excise, London brewer Fuller’s finally launched a whisky-beer hybrid last night.
Brewer’s Reserve is the result of four years work by head brewer John Keeling create an ale that could assume some of the characteristics of a single malt.
It has been matured for more than 500 days in 30-year-old scotch whisky casks. The whisky used is under wraps.
Much of that time has been taken up in negotiations with HMC&E which was quibbling over whether the drink would count as a beer or a spirit for duty purposes.
Now officially a beer, though weighing in at a hefty 7.7% abv, Brewer’s Reserve is available in 25,000 individually numbered bottles and presentation box.
“The idea of ageing beer in whisky casks sounds simple but we hard to work hard to make sure we were in line with Customs,” said Keeling.
“We tried many different recipes. The one we selected has rich, tangy marmalade flavours along with vanilla notes from the oak and a wonderful hint of whisky.”
Brewers Reserve is first in a series of special beers from Fuller’s which will be released annually.