A BREWERY has launched its first own brand low-alcohol beer just in time for Dry January.

Hepworth & Company Brewery, based in Pulborough, has created Spartan – a British style pale ale which uses speciality malts that limit the fermentation to 0.5 per cent alcohol by volume (ABV).

The aim was to create a low-alcohol ale which would still have the rounded body normally expected in a full-strength beer.

Head brewer and managing director Andy Hepworth said: “Low-alcohol beers have improved greatly over recent years.

"However many of the ales use big, brash American hops to make up for the lack of other characters in these beers.

"This frequently makes a beer that has great flavour but just that one alone.

“We wanted to create a low-alcohol beer that is genuinely quaffable."

Spartan is modelled on Hepworth’s successful Traditional Sussex Bitter, a low strength quaffable beer at 3.5 per cent which uses locally grown hops.

Five different hops were used to make Spartan, sourced both in Sussex and from around the UK.

They were added at different stages of the brew to build up a full hop character without being overpowering.

The latest addition from the award-winning brewery is also gluten free and vegan friendly.

Spartan also contains agave syrup, which provides a richer taste and lowers the calorie level to 21 calories per 100ml.

While Hepworth & Company Brewery has brewed and developed other low alcohol beers for its white-label contracts, this is the first time the company has produced its own offering of this kind.

Andy added: "We have spent time developing Spartan to ensure the taste of it measures up.

"We wanted it to be a beer you can join in the British custom of rounds with others and not just nurse one drink through the evening.

"It’s perfect for many occasions.

"Whether you’re looking to upgrade a soft drink choice or to cut down on alcohol, you’ll still get the refreshing reassurance of a great Hepworth beer, without compromise on flavour.”

Hepworth & Company has a range of 14 beers and lagers, and most are gluten free and suitable for vegans due to the brewing process on certain beers, which removes gluten naturally.

The company recently teamed up with Shoreham-based pie producer Higgidy, which has used Hepworth's Sussex Pale Ale in its Steak & Sussex Ale Pie, now available in Sainsbury’s.

The brewery is also leading the way when it comes to sustainability in brewing, with its site being the proud pioneer of a beer sourced heat pump.

Hepworth & Company has a visitor centre which stocks a variety of Sussex produce, including gins, wines, jams, jellies and chutneys.

Many of the company’s beers are also stocked in supermarkets across the UK including Tesco, Waitrose and Morrisons.

Spartan is available to purchase online at www.hepworthbrewery.co.uk or from Hepworth’s shop in Stane Street, Pulborough.