‘Viva Espana’ for WharfeBank brewery bosses (From Wharfedale Observer)

‘Viva Espana’ for WharfeBank brewery bosses

10:00am Friday 8th March 2013 in Local news By Jim Jack

An award-winning brewery has won a deal to give northern Spain a taste of Wharfedale this weekend.

WharfeBank Brewery, at Pool-in-Wharfedale, will supply beer to the this year’s Barcelona Beer Festival and is also supplying more than 20 bars across Catalonia.

The move is part of the brewery’s expansion into the continental European beer market, and will see it provide the festival with one of its core keg ales – Yorkshire SPA or, as it’s branded for the Spanish market, Luna SPA.

A 5.8 per cent proof Special Pale Ale, the variety is brewed using a heavier dose of the same hops as WharfeBank’s IPA, with a different blend of malts to give a refreshing flavour.

It will be one of more than 300 specially-selected beers to feature in the 2013 Barcelona Beer Festival, in the Convent de Sant Agustí between Saturday, March 9, and Monday, March 11.

WharfeBank’s managing director and partner, Martin Kellaway, said: “We are delighted to be supplying the Barcelona Beer Festival.

“It is a privilege to be taking the taste of Yorkshire to the people of Spain, whilst taking the opportunity to launch the WharfeBank and Luna Bru brands for this and other countries across the world.

“We are exploring all avenues of distribution to export to Europe, Asia and the USA, with both keg and bottled beers.

“We trialled the Yorkshire SPA in bars across Barcelona before Christmas, and it proved there is a market for WharfeBank and Luna.

“Customers loved the fact it was distinctively British but with a local twist, whilst providing the beer character required to stand out in the crowd against more established competition.”

The Barcelona event is a new craft beer festival from the recently-created Association of Cerveza per la Cultura Artisan, whose main goal is to introduce the culture and taste of craft beer to the people of Spain.

Paul Mellor, who is working in partnership with WharfeBank Brewery in Spain, said: “The movement for craft beers in Spain is growing rapidly.

“WharfeBank Brewery is leading the way with the introduction of an easy-to- drink British beer at the festival, taking on the traditional American and Belgian suppliers.

“The pre-Christmas trial has also helped us secure sales with more than 20 bars across Catalonia.

“There is a genuine interest from the diverse Catalonian community to enjoy an alternative to the traditional flavours.”