07-03-24

Kestrel Beer, the award-winning brand, has renewed its sponsorship with Santa Pod Raceway, the UK’s premier drag racing venue, maintaining its status as the official left lane sponsor. Kestrel continues to showcase its bold brand identity through the support of exciting sports such as drag racing. This sponsorship will see Kestrel Beer continue as the sole supplier of draught beer on site after extremely positive results from the initial sponsorship and supply period. Santa Pod’s Commercial Manager, Caroline Holden, said: “We are delighted to announce the continuation of Kestrel Beer as our Left Lane Sponsor. This great tasting draught beer has proved extremely popular with Santa Pod‘s customers and has outsold all previous brands! Our Lane Sponsorship is one of the highest-profile programmes on offer and we look forward to continuing the relationship throughout 2024 and beyond.”

20-09-23

Brewed for the bold, Kestrel Super Premium lager is an award-winning brew with a rich Scottish heritage. The UK’s best-selling 9% abv canned lager has once again been recognised as exceptional quality, receiving a silver medal at this year’s Scottish Beer Awards. 30 expert judges from the UK brewing industry tasted and sampled over 300 beers in 16 beer categories. They marked quality, appearance, and flavour without any prior knowledge on the names of brewers, branding or labels. Only the beer type was known.

20-09-23

KESTREL SUPER PREMIUM LAGER WAS AWARDED A GOLD MEDAL AT THIS YEAR’S INTERNATIONAL BEER CHALLENGE.

Brewed for the bold, Kestrel Super Premium lager is an award-winning brew with a rich Scottish heritage. The UK’s best-selling 9% abv canned lager has once again been recognised as exceptional quality, receiving a gold medal at this year’s International Beer Challenge awards. A renowned mark of quality, recognised throughout the industry, these medals are awarded based on blind taste tests completed by a panel of expert judges.

26-07-23

The UK’s best-selling 9% abv canned lager brand is unveiling a new packaging design to modernise the brand and appeal to a wider audience.

Kestrel Beer has been a household name since it was launched in the 1980’s. Since then, it has grown to become one of the leading independent British lager brands available, which focuses on offering differentiated products to independent and symbol convenience retailers. Championing independent stores has always been a key objective of Kestrel beer, with the new range designed to bring advantages to independent retail.

The recently updated branding features a striking, clean design, which incorporates a modernised typeface and minimalist appearance. The recognisable colourways of black and gold have been retained but the brand elements have been refined to create a greater standout on-shelf. The iconic Kestrel head now features more prominently, with the traditional roundel design being removed.

Alongside the Super Premium lager, Kestrel have rebranded Kestrel Extra Premium lager and Kestrel Premium lager. Available at 7% abv and 4.6% abv respectively, these products have been designed to combine mainstream and craft elements, whilst offering great value for money to both retailers and shoppers.

15-12-22 

Kestrel Brewing Co have enlisted the help of Gary Maclean, Master Chef the professional’s winner and Scotland’s National Chef, to create a 3-course menu to help Scots celebrate St Andrew’s Day. The day is marked by few, which is a real shame for a national famed for its sociability. As a fellow Glaswegian, Gary was keen to get involved in our campaign to reinvigorate love for Scotland’s National Day. St Andrew’s Day is all about Kinship and conviviality, which is why Kestrel wants the masses to come together and celebrate.

See the recipes here:

St Andrews Pie

St Andrews Veggie Pie

Lentils and Green Vegetables

Mull Cheddar Gratin Potatoes

Roasted Roots, Kale, Pearl Barley

Custard Tart with Bramble Jelly

12-07-21 

Award-winning brand, Kestrel Beer has partnered with Santa Pod Raceway, the UK’s most action-packed drag racing venue and has committed to a high-profile sponsorship package which will see the beer become an official lane sponsor at the north Bedfordshire motorsport venue. Kestrel was acquired in 2012 by Nigel McNally, founder, and CEO of Brookfield Drinks Ltd., who recognised the brand’s potential and as part of the premiumisation strategy, returned the brand to its crafted Scottish roots.

“We at Kestrel Beer are extremely excited to be partnering with Santa Pod Raceway as part of our ongoing investment in the Kestrel beer brand. Santa Pod is an iconic venue which will no doubt fuel our links with the motorsport industry and will further support our position as one of the UK’s leading beers.

“As a bold brand we continue to develop interesting and exciting properties that communicate the originality and personality of a beer that’s been enjoyed since the 1980s.”

The company recently made headlines with the remarkable story of its new corporate mascot: The Flying Kestrel.

Last year, Mr. McNally and his son, Joel, both committed car enthusiasts, found of a 1935 Riley Kestrel 9 gently rusting in a barn which had been there since 1965 and delivered it to specialist fabricator Jon Webster, at Webster Race Engineering for a transformation the car’s pre-war manufacturer could never have envisaged. The bold challenge Kestrel beer set itself was to achieve Internationally recognised land speed records whilst retaining the same look and feel of the original Riley Kestrel 9.

When The Flying Kestrel emerged, its restored wooden body, now gilded in gleaming company livery, cloaked a turbocharged, 2.5-litre Audi engine dispensing 900 horsepower, with original chassis and components to match.

In June, with its restorer, veteran drag racer Jon Webster, at the wheel, The Flying Kestrel clocked 159.63mph on Elvington Airfield to demolish the existing Class D 2.5-litre record for the standing half-mile, with further improvements in the pipeline. The Flying Kestrel now has seven official land-speed class records to its credit.

Away from the track, The Flying Kestrel becomes a roving brand ambassador in Kestrel’s extensive marketing programme. A busy schedule of guest appearances at shows and events across the UK and internationally includes Santa Pod outings throughout the summer to help cement the new partnership.

Mr. McNally said: “Our recent documentary series with Insight TV also features content filmed at Santa Pod, so the sponsorship was a natural progression for us.”

Santa Pod’s Commercial Manager, Caroline Holden, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Kestrel Beer as our new Left Lane Sponsor and to add them to our growing family of partners. Our Lane Sponsorship is one of the highest-profile programmes on offer and we look forward to developing the relationship throughout the remainder of 2021, 2022 and beyond. Today’s announcement and the backing of Kestrel is hugely appreciated and further strengthens our optimism about the prospects of our sport.”

22-06-21

The Flying Kestrel, a 1930s Riley Kestrel 9 found rotting in a barn in Holland and renovated during lockdown has set a new straight-line UK land speed record at Elvington Track in Yorkshire.  

The last time The Flying Kestrel was on the track for a test day, it crashed, but its driver and lead engineer Jonathan Webster escaped unscathed.

But on Tuesday, June 22, it lived up to its name and flew to set a new UK straight-line speed record. 

As ratified by the UK & International Timing Adjudicators, The Flying Kestrel broke the record for a Class D 2.5 litre engine for the Half Mile Standing Start by over a second, recording a speed of  159.634 mph. 

The car, with trademark fastback styling, had not been touched since 1965 when Nigel and Joel McNally from Bedfordshire discovered it rotting in a barn in Holland in early 2020. They commissioned Webster Engineering to the ambitious restoration project, which saw it fitted a specially modified 2.5 litre, 5-cylinder engine capable of 900bhp.  

“Plenty of people told us we couldn’t do it,” said Nigel McNally founder and CEO of Brookfield Drinks and The Kestrel Brewing Co. “We have had setbacks and issues, particularly with the aerodynamics on such an old-style 1930s body shape, but we have never lost faith.  Jon and the entire Kestrel team have worked tirelessly and with utter determination to do such an amazing job and I am so proud of all of them. We have learned a lot from the experience and are already planning to get back to Elvington soon and set some more records that would see us break through the 200mph barrier.”

“Records like this are extremely tough challenges when you consider the heritage of this wonderful old car, but seeing the Kestrel Racing team return a year after their first record attempt, we have all seen how hard they have worked on the project. They have never lost belief that they could do this and so we congratulate them,” said Trevor Duckworth of the UK and International Timings Adjudicators in accordance with Motorsport UK. 

Riley was one of the most successful light car producers in the British motor industry during the inter-war period between 1926 and 1938.

Car-mad father and son duo, Nigel and Joel McNally of The Kestrel Brewing Company, discovered the car and commissioned Webster Engineering to the ambitious restoration project. Renowned for designing and building bespoke race-winning vehicles at its state-of-the-art studio at Santa Pod Raceway, the company holds numerous records at virtually every national race car event.  John Webster, its principal, has been involved in the build of numerous high-profile vehicles including the world record holding four-cylinder Ford Focus created for Ford USA.

Rather than pull off the track and head into cosy retirement, the car will now take pride of place in Kestrel’s extensive new marketing programme, becoming a roving brand ambassador with its own range of clothing and merchandising, a dedicated website and social media channels, brand advertising and PR campaigns and a busy schedule of guest appearances at live shows and events across the UK and internationally as they return.

Coverage:

https://www.bedfordtoday.co.uk/news/people/bedfordshire-duo-break-uk-land-speed-record-with-historic-run-in-classic-car-3285229

https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/local-news/1930s-car-found-rotting-barn-20886476 

25-03-21

 Iconic Sottish beer, Kestrel lager today unveiled a brand new 40 sec TV commercial to continue the rejuvenation of the brand and support sales growth in both the UK and export markets around the world. 

‘Brewed for the Bold’ airs initially across digital platforms and channels including Samsung TV Plus, Amazon and Insight TV’s international network from 21 March to coincide with the launch of The Flying Kestrel, a new global TV documentary series which tells the story of the beer brand’s renovation of a classic 1935 Riley Kestrel car into a multiple land speed record breaker.

The new commercial – with creative from Walker Agency and production from Spark Content – celebrates those who live life “glass half-full.”  

Contrasting high energy and upbeat scenarios ranging from mountain trekking and dance with low octane pursuits including free art and yoga, it emphasises that Kestrel is not brewed for everyone, but for ‘the movers, the shakers, the innovators, the memory makers, the ground breakers and the great creators.’ It denotes a celebration of individuality and people free in behaviour, displaying boldness from a subjective viewpoint.

Famed for its TV ads in the 1980s starring names like with Hugh Laurie and Russ Abbot, the Kestrel brand has undergone a root and branch overhaul since 2012 when it was acquired by Nigel McNally, the CEO and founder of Brookfield Drinks who chose to rebrand and repackage Kestrel and create 5%, 7% and 9% abv variants.  Ex-factory data shows that over the last six months the brand has achieved sales growth of over 40% in the UK and export sales expansion of 103% across key developing markets including the US. Recent distribution agreements have been negotiated to take the brand into India, China, Vietnam, Australia and Russia.  

The latest campaign will extend into print and digital outdoor supported by dedicated social media, influencer, PR and e-commerce programmes.

“We vowed we would bring this brand back to glory and with our TV documentary going out internationally to an audience of up to 300 million and now with the new commercial, we are truly driving the visibility and brand equity across multiple global markets,” said Nigel McNally.  

Coverage:

https://wholesalemanager.co.uk/kestrel-unveils-new-tv-commercial/

https://www.asiantrader.biz/kestrel-unveils-new-tvc-with-brewed-for-the-bold-positioning/

Iconic Scottish beer, Kestrel have announced a major international marketing push built around a new globally-distributed TV documentary series which tells the story of The Flying Kestrel, the company’s miraculous transformation of an abandoned 1930s Riley Kestrel car into a land speed record breaker.

To be broadcast across linear and digital networks to over 300 million people worldwide from March 2021, the new and exclusive two season Show is being produced and distributed by Insight TV, the leading millennial-focused global channel provider alongside factual entertainment and live sports event specialists Spark Content.  

Launching next month Season 1 documents the epic ‘blood, sweat and beers’ journey of Nigel McNally, founder and CEO of Brookfield Drinks and his son Joel McNally as they set about transforming the rusted heap they recovered from a barn in Holland into a turbo-charged racer capable of speeds of over 200mph. Alongside an intimate glimpse into the work of acclaimed engineer Jonathan Webster, it is not all plain sailing with some dramatic setbacks along the way. With filming ongoing, Season 2 will tell the final story as the team goes for glory, which is far from guaranteed.

With a new 40 second TV commercial “Brewed for the Bold” set to be released to coincide with the Show’s launch and highlighting the completion of the heritage beer brand’s rejuvenation, Kestrel Beer is targeting a major sales and marketing push in multiple markets including the US, China, India, Australia and South Korea.

The Kestrel brand, hugely popular and successful in the 1980s and 1990s was purchased by McNally in 2012 and now includes 5%, 7% and 9% ABV variants.

“In true Kestrel fighting spirit, we have nurtured and developed The Flying Kestrel project throughout the pandemic, giving the beautiful old car a new lease of life and finally uncovering its true potential. It’s the perfect showcase for our brand and testament to some important traits we have always held dear – unflappable teamwork, the ability to overcome adversity and the power in following your dreams and sticking your foot down on life’s accelerator,“ said McNally.

“The Flying Kestrel’s amazing story is still unfolding and with every episode we reveal the twists and turns both car and crew take in their quest to realise their dreams,” said Arun Maljaars, Insight TV’s Vice President of Content and Channels.

Production for the series started last year with filming at the iconic Santa Pod Raceway where the car was unveiled by TV presenter and star mathematician Rachel Riley who features in Season 1.  As Marc Hayward, CEO and Executive Producer of Spark Content explains: “The Flying Kestrel story has been a fantastic production to work on. What started as a bit of an intriguing idea soon turned into a serious passion project and one that has had its fair share of bumps, bruises and serious dramas along the way. We think people will love it and take real inspiration from its abiding spirit of adventure.”

The car with its turbo charged 2.5 litre, 5-cylinder engine capable of 900bhp and speeds of over 200mph is gearing up to become a roving brand ambassador with its own range of clothing and merchandise, dedicated website and social media channels and a busy schedule of guest appearances at live shows and events across the UK and internationally when they restart.

A new TV commercial will be launched later this month and the marketing campaign will span print, social and digital, PR and e-commerce.

Coverage: 

https://www.slrmag.co.uk/flying-kestrel/

https://www.asiantrader.biz/kestrel-beer-launches-global-campaign-built-on-tv-series/

https://grocerytrader.co.uk/kestrel-beer-launches-global-marketing-campaign-built-on-new-tv-documentary-series/ 

https://wholesalemanager.co.uk/kestrel-beer-launches-global-marketing-campaign-built-on-new-tv-documentary-series/ 

https://www.scottishgrocer.co.uk/2021/03/01/beer-is-racing-ahead/ 

https://realscreen.com/2021/02/18/insight-tv-spark-content-kestrel-beer-join-forces-on-the-flying-kestrel/

https://www.videoageinternational.net/2021/02/19/news/insight-tv-spark-content-and-kestrel-beer-co-produce-the-flying-kestrel/

https://www.prensario.net/32375–Insight-TV-Spark-Content-and-Kestrel-Beer-Team-up-to-co-produceemThe-Flying-Kestrelem.note.aspx

This new 7% variant complements our existing range offering our drinkers a mid-point, higher strength, premium, crafted product. Kestrel Extra Premium Lager has been launched in sustainable packaging, which is 100% recyclable thus decreasing landfill waste.

‘Higher abv’s are often associated with premium products and Kestrel is no exception. The brewing process is inspired by traditional monastic brewing, whereby alcohol strength used to be far higher than it is today; with the ideal brew strength being between 8 and 12% abv. We have harnessed a traditional brewing method which allows us to craft a full-bodied and intense drinking experience and our Master Brewer insists on this method of production to deliver the outstanding lager that our drinkers have become accustomed to.’

Nigel McNally 
Managing Director, Brookfield Drinks Ltd

Coverage:

https://www.asiantrader.biz/new-kestrel-extra-premium-canned-lager-variant-to-hit-shelves/

https://www.betterretailing.com/products/alcohol/kestrel-extra-7-premium-lager-launched-by-brookfield-drinks/

https://wholesalemanager.co.uk/extra-extra-read-all-about-it/

https://www.kamcity.com/namnews/products-promotions/kestrel-adds-mid-strength-lager-option/

https://www.talkingretail.com/products-news/alcohol/kestrel-launches-mid-strength-lager-offering-21-01-2021/

Sweet potato Caribbean curry

RECIPE 

SERVES 2 GENEROUSLY
Suitable for freezing
1 tbsp sunflower oil
4 medium sweet potatoes,
peeled and chopped into
2cm (1in) chunks
1 red (bell) pepper, sliced
2 tsp jerk seasoning
400ml (400ml) canned
full-fat coconut milk
handful of coriander (cilantro),
stalks removed
pinch of sea salt

METHOD

Creamy and gently spiced, this vibrant curry will

transport you to warmer climates, wherever you are.

Jerk seasoning is available in supermarkets, in the dried

herbs and spices aisle. This handy spice mix combines

allspice, paprika, chillies, nutmeg and thyme, delivering

a warm kick to curries, stews and roasted vegetables

with minimal effort. Serve with Jamaican rice (opposite).

Gently heat the oil in a large pan over a medium heat,

then add the sweet potato chunks and red pepper slices.

Cook for 5 minutes until the sweet potato starts to soften,

stirring often to prevent sticking.

Spoon over the jerk seasoning, then pour in the coconut

milk. Simmer for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the

sweet potato is tender.

Remove the pan from the heat and scatter over the

coriander. Season with sea salt to taste.

Throw in spinach, kale or watercress for extra colour,

texture and to boost the nutritional value.

Recipe taken from Five Ingredient Vegan – Katy Beskow.

smarturl.it/5ingredientvegan  

Credit: Five Ingredient Vegan by Katy Beskow (Quadrille, £20) Photography ©Luke Albert

After gaining vegan accreditation from The Vegetarian Society, Kestrel have been huge supporters of Veganuary 2021. One of our Veganuary activities included having an incredible vegan fish & chip recipe created by Jess Beautician, and we could not be more impressed!

‘The addition of their vegan-friendly Premium Lager in this dish makes for the perfect light, yet crispy beer batter – it’s a vegan take on a non-vegan classic, British dish (and it tastes even better!)’ – Jess

Thank you to Jess for creating such a delicious recipe for Kestrel Premium. 

For the full recipe, please visit Jess’ blog! https://bit.ly/38IK3Je

Kestrel has officially gained a vegan accreditation from The Vegetarian Society!