Miller Brands to make St Stefanus Belgian beer available in UK

Miller Brands has expanded its craft beer portfolio by making St Stefanus Belgian abbey beer available to the UK market as part of a distribution agreement with the Van Steenberge brewery and the Sint Stefanus monastery.

St Stefanus can trace its roots back to 1295 and is an unpasteurised high fermentation beer that undergoes a secondary fermentation in the bottle. It is brewed using three different yeasts, including the Jerumanus yeast strain, entrusted to the Van Steenberge family brewery by the monks of Sint Stefanus. After brewing, the beer is stored for a minimum of three months before cellar release.

The beer, which is available in bottle only, will continue maturing in the bottle until it is opened.

Laura Edwards, director of trade marketing at Miller Brands, said: "Like World Beers, craft beers are increasing in popularity, especially for those occasions when consumers want to try something a little different, which is why we are adding St Stefanus to our portfolio".

St Stefanus will be available in two varieties - the Blonde, which is a 7% ABV, cellar matured for a minimum of three months, and the Grand Gru at 9% ABV, which is cellar matured for a minimum of nine months.

By Neil Gerrard

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