Thwaites says cheers to a record summer

Award-winning brewery, Thwaites, is toasting a record-breaking six weeks in which hot weather and Manchester’s vibrant events calendar have sent sales of its cask ales sky-rocketing.

The Blackburn-based brewer, which sponsored three key events this summer, has revealed that one in every four pints sold at Manchester International Festival, Manchester Jazz Festival and Dig The City, was a pint of its own cask ale.

Meanwhile, as England took on the Australians at last week’s Third Ashes Test at Old Trafford, cask ale sales topped 40,000 pints – a record for a five day Test Match in Manchester.

Lee Williams, marketing manager at Thwaites, said: “Sunny outdoor events are typically dominated by cider and lager, but the reception we’ve had from drinkers across all four events has been unanimous – the shift in cask ale’s popularity is here to stay.

“Wainwright golden ale was enjoyed at all four events, but we also offered choice with some limited editions beers, such as Festival Ale and Jazz Fest Ale, as well as our Australian hopped beer, Little Bewdy, which went down a storm at the Ashes.”

“It’s been a real team effort to ensure that, even in the searing temperatures of Festival Square and at the Ashes last week, visitors have been able to enjoy a perfect pint! It’s been an unbelievable few weeks of arts, sport and music here in Manchester and we’re very proud to have been a part of it.”