Broughton boosted as Tesco takes winning ale

INDEPENDENT Borders-based brewery Broughton Ales has been given a major boost by Tesco deciding to stock a new beer in its Scottish stores.

Broughton's Tibbie Shiels Ale was Scottish winner in the annual Tesco Drinks Awards competition, which identifies the best fine-tasting beers that are new to the market. The victor gains a place on local shelves.

Now Broughton Ales, which already supplies fine real ales to Tesco, anticipates Tibbie Shiels Ale sales could reach 250 cases a month, providing a significant sales boost to the company.

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Broughton expects to increase its turnover to 1.4 million for the year to May 31, 2010, from 1.1m, with 60,000 of this coming from Tibbie Shiels Ale.

Alastair Mouat, managing director of Broughton Ales, said: "We experimented with a number of blends and mixes until we came up with a beer that offers a complex dark malty flavour and subtle hop aftertaste."

The new ale is named after Tibbie Shiels, 19th-century landlady of a Borders inn frequented by such figures as Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stephenson. Tibbie Shiels Inn, by St Mary's Loch near Selkirk, is still in existence today.

Angus Bell, local buying manager for Tesco, said: "Tibbie Shiels is a great ambassador for Scottish brewing and we are delighted to be the first to launch this award-winning ale."

Broughton Ales was founded in 1980 and produces 11 different bottled beers, 18 cask ales and a mixed gas keg beer, Broughton Best. It also supplies a range of beers, ciders, lagers and stout to the on-trade.

As well as Tesco, its ale is sold in such shops as Sainsbury's, Asda, Somerfield, First Quench, Bookers and EH Booth.

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