YORK Brewery has launched a fresh drive to sell its beers overseas, with a new Roman-themed range aimed at the export market.

The brewery in Toft Green, in York city centre, has launched a new brand called Cor et Anima - heart and soul.

It has created two new beers: Legion IX, an IPA brewed with five varieties of hop; and Imperium, an imperial stout. Both are available in the UK from Monday but are mainly aimed at the export market. 

The beers mark a shift in direction for the brewery, which has traditionally focused on cask ales, with the new products available in keg and bottle only.

York Brewery director Andy Barker said: "To craft something is to put your heart and soul into making it. So just as the Roman craftsmen did when they laid the foundations for York, our brewers have put their all into creating the Cor et Anima range. We are proud of our brewing provenance and our team of brewers are sure they’ve created beers that will stand the test of time."

Neil Arden, brand manager, added: "Both Legion IX and Imperium represent a departure from our more traditional brews and shall be the first beers that we have produced designed specifically for keg and bottle only. We’re really happy with the result and are excited that they’ll soon be available overseas as well as locally."

Mr Arden said the brewery had dabbled in the export market in the past, but said: "In more recent terms

it is a new endeavour which is quite exciting. We’ve had discussions with importers, mainly in the US and Scandinavia, and have been making the most of the UK Trade and Investment help and advice that is available. Fingers crossed we’ll start shipping soon."

The brewery said the new products were the result of varied recipe experimentation involving all their brewers, and a spokesman said: "The end result is the triumph of passion and fervour over process and ingredients."

Legion IX has an ABV of 6.5 per cent and is brewed using amarillo, cascade, citra, columbus and simcoe hops. Imperium has an ABV of 7.5 per cent and uses six different malts alongside northdown and phoenix hops.