A Beer of Its Own

A U.K. petrol station commissioned a branded brew.

December 26, 2013

KENDAL, England – Beer and gas stations often go hand-in-hand, but rarely are they as closely entwined as they are at Tebay Services. To stand out among the fierce competition of service stations in the United Kingdom, the service station developed its very own beer, Tebay Blonde, Petrol Plaza News reports.

Tebay Services, the last family-operated motorway gasoline station in the United Kingdom, commissioned Cumbria’s Eden Brewery to come up with its own special brew. The resulting Tebay Blonde is “a light blonde ale produced from Marris Otter Pale Ale malt and a new British hop, 103, grown for its alpine, floral tones and a hint of liquorice.”

“Obviously Tebay is more than just your generic motorway stop-off; it is actually somewhere that people like having the chance to relax and enjoy themselves and the quality and service on offer mean it has become a destination in its own right,” said Jason Hill, a brewer with Cumbria’s Eden Brewery. “We are a local brewery and we are lucky that the Westmorland family really loved our other beers and decided to commission their own with us. They are doing a great job of promoting local food and drink to the thousands who pass through the services every month.”

The beer is just one more way that Tebay Services tries to differentiate itself from other service stations. The retailer also offers a farm shop and restaurant that serves fresh, local fruits and vegetables. Nearby ponds are stocked with mallard ducks, which get a cameo appearance on the beer label. Tebay Services owner Westmoreland Ltd. has plans to build a similar station near Gloucester. No word yet on whether the new location will have its own brew, too.

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