A KNOCKOUT beer capturing the wildlife of Bowland has been launched in East Lancashire.

Boxer, a straw-coloured blonde with gooseberry flavours, is the latest real ale in the core range at Clitheroe-based Bowland Brewery.

It lines up on the bar alongside the other core beers, Hen Harrier, Pheasant Plucker, Bowland Gold and Buster IPA.

Brewery managing director Warren Bennett said: “Boxer is a reinvention of our Area of Natural Beauty brew. We are delighted to launch it as one of our core range, available all year round."

Pheasant feather artist Clare Brownlow, who is responsible for all of the drawings used for Bowland’s core range, has created the hare artwork for Boxer pump clip and bottle labels based upon the area's famous 'boxing hares'.

Marketing manager Heidi Kettle said: “The wildlife of Bowland is a theme of our beers and the hen harrier, a pheasant, a wild boar and a bird of prey already feature on our pump clips.

"Boxer is depicted with a hare, another native of the Forest of Bowland, the area of outstanding natural beauty on our doorstep from where we get our name.”

Mr Bennett added: “We also brew a selection of occasional and seasonal beers.

"Autumn, an aromatic, herby and spicy red ale, is now available and orders are currently being taken for our October offering, Spooky, a copper-coloured drink with an initial soft fruity character giving way to a dry coffee finish.”

Bowland Brewery was named best drinks producer in the Lancashire and Cumbria Life Food and Drink Awards 2016 and won the Producers and Makers Award in the Lancashire Tourism Awards 2016.

Its artisan craft ales hold numerous prestigious accolades, including International Beer Challenge bronze awards and North West Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) silver.

The brewery is part of the James’ Places group of hotels, inns, interior design and hospitality businesses across the Ribble Valley, Yorkshire Dales and south Lakes.