Beer Hawk Fresh launch into chilled distribution

Beer Hawk Fresh operating from a refrigerated warehouse in Central London delivers cold-chain beer in kegs, cans and bottles, with same-day delivery to London customers, in brewery-fresh condition.

Breweries already signed up with Beer Hawk Fresh include Modern Times, Magic Rock, Fourpure, Little Creatures, Alpine, Great Divide, Voodoo, Camden Brewery, Birra Del Borgo, Goose Island and Brewski.

Beer Hawk Fresh is part of ZX Ventures, the global growth incubator of AB InBev, and Andrew Morgan, head of Beer Hawk Fresh, describes the business as a "coming of age" for the craft beer sector.

He added: "Simple science dictates that beer is happier when it's stored below 6°Celsius. It keeps the flavour as the brewer intended and stops beers refermenting, which means more beer is poured rather than fobbing foam down the drain. We'll be delivering cold kegs that bars won't have to worry about which means less waste and happier customers."

Chris Beaver, channel controller, UK and Europe for Lion, the owner of Magic Rock and Fourpure, added: "As beer quality is the most important thing to any brewer, we are delighted to work with such a respected distributor as Beer Hawk on entering the world of refrigerated distribution."

Breweries receive seven-day credit terms, and Beer Hawk will also agree annual volume targets and offer collaborative forecasting.