It's classic Ruddles — with rhubarb!

June 11, 2007: A new rhubarb flavoured variant of the classic Ruddles ale has hit supermarket shelves, scooping a top award in the Tesco Beer Challenge.

The contest, which rewards excellence and innovation in the brewing industry, saw Ruddles Rhubarb beat off stiff competition from 63 other beers and is now being rolled out exclusively into Tesco stores this month.

Crafted by Greene King for drinkers who enjoy their beer with a refreshingly zesty twist, Ruddles Rhubarb (4.7%) retains the proper country taste of the original Ruddles ale with a hint of rhubarb.

Like Ruddles County, it is brewed using the finest possible ingredients, including the distinctive Bramling Cross hop. A vanilla aroma leads to a rich flavour which balances the refreshing sweetness of rhubarb with the lingering bitterness of the hop.

The beer comes in stylish bottles that feature the new Ruddles horseshoe design, the 500-year-old symbol of its original home and England’s smallest county, Rutland. It is available in 8 x 500ml bottles at £1.69 each.

Neil Jardine, Greene King Brewing Company take home and export director, said: "In terms of quality and flavour, Ruddles Rhubarb is unlike anything else you will find in the supermarket and Tesco’s seal of approval will help assure people they are getting a great tasting, truly unique beer.

"Like Ruddles County, it is full of flavour and continues our commitment to offer ale drinkers refreshingly different beers to explore and enjoy."