WharfeBank Brewery Appoints Bottled Beer Sales Consultant

Thursday, 18th April 2013

WharfeBank Brewery has announced the appointment of Steve Benton, who will join the business in the newly created position of ‘Bottled Beer Sales Consultant’. The appointment follows the brewery’s growth into the bottled beer market with a range of core beers and the recent contract win to create bottled beers for one of the nation’s finest stately homes - Harewood House. 

Steve Benton, formerly Head of Sales for Northern Foods, will bring more than 23 years’ specialist experience gained within the food and beverage industry. Steve has worked with the country’s leading multiple retailers selling top brands such as Pot Noodle, Bovril, Marmite, Fox’s Biscuits and most recently Goodfella’s.  

Steve has been appointed to gain listings and distribution of WharfeBank Brewery’s bottled beers into UK multiples, off-licenses and specialist retailers.  Expansion into the export market will also form part of his remit offering consultancy advice to the company on Europe, North and South America and Asia markets. 

The award winning brewery situated on the banks of the River Wharfe in the heart of Yorkshire currently has six bottled beers on sale in their own range, plus three additional beers in Harewood range. There are also plans for seasonal specials to be bottled stating in the autumn. 

The full range on offer is:- 

Slingers Gold (3.9%), a golden session ale, with a delicate malty feel, very easy drinking.

Tether Blond (4.1%), the brewery's flagship blond beer, flavoured with three different hops from across the world, including the Galaxy variety from Australia, for a citrus fruit feel.

CamFell Flame (4.4%), a dark ruby/chestnut coloured premium ale, traditional style with a slightly sweet flavour.

Yorkshire Stout (4.5%), a traditional Irish stout but brewed in The Dales.

Yorkshire IPA (5.1%), an English-style India Pale Ale brewed with the three C hops: Columbus, Celeia, and Cascade. Quite bitter.

Yorkshire SPA (5.8%), a Special Pale Ale, brewed with a heavier dose of only American hop varieties, and pale ale malt to give a paler beer.

Harewood Gold (5.1%), a golden India Pale Ale.

Harewood Red (4.4%), a ruby red traditional premium bitter named in recognition of the Red Kite birds of prey often seen on the estate.

Harewood Dark (4.5%), a traditional dark stout, with 

All the Harewood beers contain Challenger hops grown on the Walled Gardens within the Harewood Estate.

Martin Kellaway, Managing Director and Partner of WharfeBank Brewery, comments:

“I’m very much looking forward to Steve joining the growing WharfeBank team. His impressive experience and sales acumen will be of great value to us. WharfeBank Brewery’s locally brewed bottled beer market is opening up beyond Yorkshire and we intend to take full advantage of every opportunity regionally, nationally and internationally.”