West country brewer, Bath Ales, has extended its sponsorship of Bath Rugby.
Bath Ales’ flagship amber ale, Gem (over 52,000 pints of which have been sold at The Recreation Ground in the past 12 months) will continue as the official beer of Bath Rugby – served on cask from the start of the season. For the first time Bath Ales’ new English lager, Sulis, will also be available across all bars at The Rec. Brewed in honour of Sulis Minerva – the Roman goddess of Bath – Lemon Drop and Hüll Melon hops, give the lager a bright freshness and a subtle hint of fruitiness.
As part of the partnership Bath Ales branding will feature around the Rec and on the team’s playing shorts. The West Stand will also continue to be known as the Gem Stand as it has since it was officially renamed in 2016.
Vicky Guy, brand activation manager, Bath Ales, said: “We’ve really enjoyed working with Bath Rugby for the past four years. There’s such a natural fit between both businesses – and the fans and our customers. We look forward to continuing the relationship and building on our strong partnership with the club – a valuable platform for us as a local brewery.”
“Here’s hoping for a successful season ahead for this talented squad!”
Ben Wells, Chief Commercial Officer, Bath Rugby, added: “We have established a very successful partnership with Bath Ales over the years, and are delighted to have extended the agreement further. Bath Ales are an important local partner, playing a key role in the delivery of our match-day experience and The Clash – our annual match at Twickenham. We look forward to continuing to deliver business value during the season ahead.”
Bath Ales was acquired by brewery and pub operator St Austell Brewery in 2016 and opened the doors of its new state-of-the-art brewhouse, Hare Brewery, in May 2018. Tarquin McDonald, Bath Rugby’s managing director officially opened the new brewery.