E-Malt.com News article: UK: Coopers Vintage Ale wins quality drink award

Coopers Brewery’s Extra Strong Vintage Ale has been named the best specialty beer available on the shelves of United Kingdom retailers, according to company’s press release, August 3. Coopers Vintage Ale won the 2007 Quality Drink Award in the Lagers and Specialty Beer’s category in a competition run by the English retail trade magazine Checkout, outshining the
Sainsbury Cologne Style Lager, which was highly recommended, and the Tesco Belgian Beer which was shortlisted.

The independent judging panel, comprising wine and beer writers and consultants, described Vintage Ale as “excellent”. “It’s got everything a strong beer should have – fantastically balanced flavours and a good long finish,” they said. “It does everything it says it will on the label.”

This is Coopers Vintage Ale’s second major international award. Last year, Coopers 2006 Extra Strong Vintage Ale won the 2007 Tesco Drinks Awards’ Best Import. Coopers Chairman and Marketing Director, Mr Glenn Cooper, said the Vintage Ale’s second major award win in England was a big achievement for Coopers and helped to strengthen its distinctive reputation in the marketplace.

“This award reiterates just how well-respected we are around the world,” he said. “It’s a fantastic result.
“In Australia, Vintage Ale has become a collector’s item and stocks are quickly snapped up when they become available.

Mr Cooper said the 2007 Vintage, the seventh in the series, was launched at the end of June and had been selling strongly.

“Every year we learn more about brewing this style of ale and the lessons we have learned since last year have been incorporated into this year’s Vintage,” he said. “This is by far the best Vintage Ale we have produced.”
The 2007 Coopers Extra Strong Vintage Ale is a very full flavoured, robust ale with a slightly higher bitterness and a late hops aroma.

The alcohol content is 7.5% alcohol by volume, making it the strongest beer produced by Coopers and one of the strongest produced anywhere in the world.

“Because of the high alcohol level, it should be savoured in moderation,” said Mr Cooper. “The higher alcohol content also helps to enhance the flavour of the beer and its storage qualities.”

Coopers Extra Strong Vintage Ale was first released in 1998, with further vintages in 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2006.


08 August, 2007