NORTH Suffolk brewer St Peter’s has expanded its portfolio of beers with the launch of its first lager.

The company, based at St Peter South Elmham, near Bungay, has specialised in traditional ales and bottled beers since it was established in 1995, but believes there is also a niche for quality, full-flavour lagers alongside the major international brands.

Managing drector Colin Cordy said: “We set ourselves the target of brewing a lager with some real taste, in common with our existing portfolio of beers and ales.

“During the development process we tasted lager-style beers from around the world and were surprised how many well-known brands offered little in the way of taste. Cold refreshment, yes; taste, no!”

Several development batches of lager were brewed before the team was completely happy with the taste, with the bottling of English Lager having begun just after the Christmas/New Year break.

St Peter’s English Lager (which is 5.2% alcohol by volume) will be available in the company’s iconic oval 500ml bottle and in 30 litre kegs. Presentations of the new product to the major UK supermarkets which already stock its bottled ales will begin next week.

Mark Slater, head brewer and production manager at St Peter’s, said: “We are very pleased with this new product which is bottom fermented and brewed using extra pale lager malt and Hallertau and Styrian Golding hops, traditionally used in lager brewing.

“The result is a full-bodied, tasty lager which has performed very well in consumer taste tests and also on draught at our London pub, the Jerusalem Tavern in Clerkenwell where a lot of regular customers have switched from the international lager brand we stock there to the new product.

“Regular cask ale drinkers are also including this in their drinking repertoire commenting positively about the taste and flavour of the lager.”

Mr Cordy added: “Our vision at St Peter’s Brewery is that we introduce delicious, high quality, interesting English ales and beers to a world market which, at present, believes in the main that only lagers exist which are bland in taste terms and served very cold.

“By adding this new product to our product portfolio, we hope to attract new consumers to the St Peter’s brand which will lead to drinkers trying other beers from our range such as our world-famous Cream Stout and traditional Old Style Porter.”