Sheffield-based Abbeydale Brewery are just days away from releasing their much-loved flagship beer, Moonshine, in can – having adapted their business significantly due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis.
Commenting on the release, brewery director Dan Baxter said: “Whilst it has always been a long-term ambition of ours of offer Moonshine in small pack, the present crisis has accelerated our plans.
“Moonshine is a beer which has so many loyal followers, especially in our hometown of Sheffield (which drinks about 70% of all the Moonshine we make!) and so we have responded by moving those plans forward much more quickly, allowing our drinkers the option of consuming our most popular beer from the comfort and safety of their own homes.”
Moonshine in can is exactly the same as that for the much-loved cask beer, which has accounts for around 50% of the brewery’s output.
The brewery has always preferred canning as a method of presenting beer to bottling, as brewery owner Pat Morton said: “Cans are light proof with less chance of extraneous air leaking in, both of which allow for a much higher quality finished product when compared to bottles.
“Cans are also lightweight, transport more easily than glass, and recycle well. Properly dealt with, the canned product is an excellent version of the beer.
“We have always prided ourselves on the quality and consistency of our products and we truly believe this extends to Moonshine in can.”
Moonshine was named Sheffield’s most likely cask ale to be found on bars around the city throughout the last decade, most recently in the Sheffield CAMRA (Campaign For Real Ale) 2019 Beer Census.
It has also been the recipient of numerous awards over the 24 years of Abbeydale’s history. Beginning with winning Sheffield’s Steel City Beer Festival on its very first appearance in 1996, other significant accolades include Champion Beer of Yorkshire 2012, runner up Champion Beer Of Yorkshire 2017, and a national bronze medal in the Golden Ale category at the prestigious Champion Beer of Britain Awards in 2018.
During the present crisis, Abbeydale Brewery are mindful of the devastating effects this is having on their pub customers who have been forced to close for the foreseeable future, and so are endeavouring to continue to support the trade via a “pay it forward” initiative, whereby members of the public placing orders of over £40 on their online shop are invited to nominate a pub of their choosing to receive a credit off a future order when they are able to reopen.
Moonshine cans launch on Tuesday 12th May.
