Bristol’s legendary crocodile – said to be lurking in the River Avon at Hotwells – has been immortalised in the latest beer from craft brewery Butcombe.
The firm claims it was inspired by the story of the illusive reptile when it was creating Tall Tales, promoted by the firm as “a pale ale with real bite”. 
The legend of a shy croc living close to the Clifton Suspension Bridge has surfaced every now and then over the years but gained worldwide attention in 2014 when Avon & Somerset Police said they had launched a hunt for it following a sighting by a bus driver.
Photos claiming to show the crocodile swimming in the muddy waters of the Avon have since been posted on social media but it has so far evaded any official confirmation.
Marc McGuigan, group MD, brewing & distribution, of Butcombe parent company Liberation Group, said: “We were inspired by the tale of Bristol’s mythical crocodile when creating Tall Tales.
“It’s important that we keep surprising our customers, so what better way to show the innovation and creativity of our award-winning brewery, whilst remaining faithful to our Bristolian heritage, than launching this incredible new beer.
“Whether it’s true or not doesn’t really matter. Who doesn’t love a Tall Tale every now and again?”
He said the Wrington-based Butcombe – which acquired by Channel Island-based beer, wine and pub group Liberation five years ago – was incredibly proud of Tall Tales, describing it as it as one of its biggest flavoured beers made by the brewery since it was launched in 1978. 
“It’s a vibrant and flavoursome pale ale brought smack bang up to date, by our amazing brewing team, for today’s beer lover,” he added.
According to the brewery’s marketing team, Tall Tales, which has an ABV of 4.5%, is a “thoroughly modern, delicious and easy-to-drink pale ale . . . refreshing, fruity and light [and] full of character with notes of grapefruit, pineapple and citrus.” It is available in 30ltr and 50ltr kegs and 330ml bottles.
Earlier this month Liberation said strong trading over the summer – including a record August – at Butcombe meant its Original bitter was on target to enter the top 10 UK cask ales this year.
The brewery achieved a 9.5% increase in sales between 21 May and 3 September as beer drinkers continued to turn to craft beer.
Butcombe owns around 60 pubs – many of them gastropubs or inns with accommodation – in an area stretching from Bristol to the South, South West and the West Midlands.
In Bristol it owns The Cottage Inn at Baltic Wharf, The Ostrich on Lower Guinea Street and The Whitmore Tap on Whiteladies Road, which it converted last year to become Butcombe’s first taproom and named after brewery founder Simon Whitmore.
Its range of beers also include Underfall Lager, Rarebreed Pale Ale, Golden Ale and its award-winning alcohol-free Goram IPA Zero.
