Marston’s — the brewer and pub company whose Pedigree beer is the official beer of the England cricket team — is poised to begin selling cask ale in take-home form.
The drinks group is in talks with retailers about stocking a miniature version of its new high-tech beer barrel, dubbed Fast Cask, for the home. It is being hailed as the biggest development for the off-licence beer market since the introduction of the “widget” in the 1980s by Guinness.
Many pubs do not sell cask ale because it is regarded as too difficult to handle. Traditionally, pubs have had to leave the ale to rest for a couple of days before it can be sold, to allow yeast to settle after transportation. Marston’s new technology uses special yeast beads, which settle immediately. The system is available in Marston’s Pedigree, EPA and Wychwood Hobgoblin beers.
The group is expected to confirm the move to begin selling a take-home version of the product when it announces its interim results this week.
The company hopes the mini-kegs, which hold just under nine pints, will be on sale this summer.
Panmure Gordon, the stockbroker, is forecasting interim pre-tax profits of £26.6m.
The Sunday Times