SBS Imports & Batemans Announce Mr. George’s Ruby Porter for US Market
Seattle, WA. March 5, 2010 – Batemans Brewery of Wainfleet, Lincolnshire, England and SBS Imports of Seattle, Washington are pleased to announce the premiere arrival of Batemans Mr. George’s Ruby Porter to United States market. Mr. George’s joins regularly available items Triple XB (XXXB) Classic Pale Ale, Combined Harvest Multigrain Beer, and the seasonal Rosey Nosey Holiday Ale.
Founded in 1874, Batemans is one of the few remaining multi-generational family brewers in England. Now under the guidance of fourth-generation of family management, the Brewery has prospered not only on the strength of its flagship Triple XB (XXXB) but also by an imaginative expansion of the range of bottled ales.
Mr. George’s is identical to the beer sold in England known as Batemans Dark Lord, but re-named for the U.S. market due to a trademark conflict. Dark Lord has been one of Batemans most awarded beers. In both 2007 & 2008 it was named among “The World’s Fifty Best Beers” at the Drinks International Beer Challenge.
Dark Lord has a deep black color with reddish hints and is capped by rich creamy foam. The aroma features roasted grain notes with spicy-citrus hop notes. The palate is roasty with hints of coffee and licorice and an underlying fruit accent and long finish. It will be sold in cases of 12/16.9 ounce bottles, with a suggested retail price of $4.99. 5% alcohol by volume.
“Our Father (known at the Brewery as Mr. George) was keenly interested in having our brand return to the USA after a lengthy absence. We’re pleased to name the beer in his honor to celebrate our second year back in America,” noted Marketing Director Jaclyn Bateman.
“Ruby Porter is a rare style that I believe is very well-suited to the American specialty beer consumer’s palate,” commented SBS Founder and President, Alan Shapiro. “I am thrilled to add this beer to the SBS portfolio.”
SBS-Imports was created in 2003 by specialty beer industry veteran Alan Shapiro. In addition to Batemans, SBS represents Aspall English Cyders from Suffolk, England and the De Proef Brewmaster’s Collection from Lochristi, Belgium. SBS also is a partner in Reunion – A Beer for Hope, which raises funds for the Institute for Myeloma & Bone Cancer Research. More information is available at www.sbs-imports.com.