Adnams Reprises Extra – Return of Champion Beer of Britain
Adnams Extra Champion Beer of Britain: Adnams is bringing back Extra as an autumnal seasonal on draught ahead of Cask Ale Week in September. This historic brew will also be available in cans for the first time ever.
Extra, an uncompromisingly hoppy Extra Special Bitter from the historic Adnams brewing books, returns as an autumnal seasonal. It is remembered for its intense English hop character and thirst-quenching finish.
Much revered in the past because of the high levels of English Fuggle hops, Extra won the prestigious Champion Beer of Britain title at the 1993 Great British Beer Festival. It also made an appearance as a limited release for the inaugural Cask Ale Week in the early noughties and will be available on draught again for this year’s event. Cask Ale Week takes place from Thursday 17th to Sunday 27th September and is a celebration of Britain’s national drink and pubs as the place to enjoy it.
“The essence of Extra all those years back was its resinous quality. It was vibrant and punchy, with a whole basket of interesting aromatics that came exclusively from the Fuggle hop. It has a gloriously hoppy, floral and herbal aroma which follows through on the palate, where it is balanced by the biscuity fullness of the malts,” said Head Brewer,” Dan Gooderham.
“With growing interest in heritage brews, we were excited to brew it again for our 2026 seasonal calendar. As well as heading back to the pumps, it will also be packaged for enjoying at home, for the first time in its history,” he added.
Dan scoured the records, spoke to enthusiasts, and sought out past Adnams brewers to gain an insight into what made it so special.
“One of the greatest privileges as a Head Brewer is knowing you are a steward or custodian, preserving the quintessence of a beer. A lot has changed in the brewery since we first brewed Extra, so speaking with those who remember the beer has been crucial to bringing it back. Our archives also provided a tangible peek at the past; like discovering we’d selected this year’s Fuggle hops from the same grower we used back in the 90s. We hope Extra fans enjoy its return and that it creates a little extra excitement around this year’s Cask Ale Week.”
Adnams Extra Special Bitter is available on cask at the bar this autumn and for the first time in its history, it will be leaving the brewery in a format you can enjoy at home, with a limited release of 440ml cans in Adnams stores and online at adnams.co.uk from 1st September.
