Accra Brewery Limited (ABL), Ghana’s premier brewing company and a subsidiary of SABMiller Plc, has launched a redeveloped Stone Lager at an impressive ceremony in Accra.

The new Stone Lager replaces Stone Strong Lager, one of the company’s well-known brands, which has won several awards since its introduction in 2006. With the launching of the new Stone Lager, ABL becomes the first ever brewery in Ghana to brew beer with high quality locally grown rice as one of the ingredients.

Mr Anthony Grendon, Managing Director of ABL, said the introduction of the new beer was necessary because Stone Strong Lager had been steadily losing its consumer appeal due to changes in beer consumption habits, from heavier strong alcohol beers to lower alcohol and more sessionable offerings.

“The new Stone Lager has been inspired by the need to satisfy the evolving expectations of our cherished customers and you our valued partner,” he said. The Stone Lager has no added sugar and has reduced 5.2% alcohol by volume.

Mr Grendon said through Stone Lager ABL was putting its support behind Ghanaian rice farmers, assuring them of a larger sustainable demand for their yields. The initiative by ABL, he said, reaffirmed the company’s promise of continuous new product development for customers and consumers.

“ABL has also shown its commitment to growing the Ghanaian economy by patronizing local raw materials,’’ he said. The new brand Stone Lager joins the line of Accra Brewery’s products, namely; Chibuku Shake-Shake and Eagle Lager that are produced with local raw materials.

Chibuku Shake-Shake and Eagle Lager are produced with locally-grown sorghum and maize; and cassava respectively "ABL as a subsidiary of SABMiller believes deeply in the principle of sustainable development, where through its actions it promotes and enhances the livelihood of local communities,”Mr Grendon said.

Mr Grendon acknowledged the company’s stakeholders and thanked consumers for their loyalty, as well as business partners for hard effort and support.’’ “Let us work together to make our beers the natural choices for the responsible and moderate drinker as well as accelerate growth and social development in Ghana through our values chains and support of local Ghanaian enterprises, ’’he added.

ABL is expected to double its production capacity and also increase its product lines once the first phase of its on-going 100 million dollar expansion project is completed by the end of the year.