The 4.2% beer features East Kent Goldings and Fuggles hops delivering ‘spice and honey notes with an earthy, minty balance’ alongside a sweet biscuit taste from the malt.

The brewery is using the beer to help celebrate a recent agreement to grow Maris Otter with farmers around St Helens and Preston, ensuring Moorhouse’s has suitable supplies for its ‘Pendle Witches’ ales.

David Grant, managing director of Moorhouse’s explained: “We have always used Maris Otter in our award winning beers, but First Cut celebrates its revival in the North West in its milestone 50th year. Now the farmers know they have a market and we know we have a supply.

“We would like to expand the cultivation and build a ‘terroir’ – quality cask ales with real provenance brewed in Lancashire from the area’s best malt.

“This initiative is good for our future and the industry at large. So with our First Cut now pouring, we want cask enthusiasts to raise a glass or two of this very British beer to the future of this king of barleys.”