Two new craft beers produced to give drinkers a taste of classic 1970s sci-fi have been launched by Butcombe Brewing as it prepares to celebrate its 40th anniversary.
Invader and Forty Two have been inspired by the year the Wrington-based brewery was founded. 
Available on draught with Seventies sci-fi-influenced beer pump clips and also packaged in cans, the latest additions to its ‘78 range gives Butcombe a chance to showcase its craft brewing credentials outside of its classic range.
Invader, which Butcombe describes as having “a crisp, dry finish with soft spicy German hop undertones” celebrates the iconic Space Invaders computer game, which was also launched in 1978.
Popular in pubs at the time, as well as gaming arcades, its 8-bit graphics were a game-changer and its pixelated enemy spaceship has become an image in its own right. A forerunner of modern video gaming, it remains a totem for a generation.
The beer is cool fermented and conditioned cold for longer, making it a strong, malty lager. It has a light amber colour and sweet, malt, biscuit character.
Forty Two is named after the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe and everything in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, which was released in 1978.
Butcombe describes the beer as “out of this world” and, due to some clever brewing techniques, as black as space in the glass.
The brewery says it is “packed full of Galaxy hops [with] plenty of roasted and caramel characters to balance the huge hopping rate of this very drinkable session ale”.
The new beers are already proving popular and will be available in 36 Asda stores across the South West. 
Butcombe Brewing managing director Geraint Williams said: “We created our 1978 range in homage to the year of our birth. These new beers give us a chance to be creative and experiment with brewing outside of our classic range. Invader and Forty Two will allow us to access new markets and showcase our craft credentials.
“Our decision to create these craft beers has been driven by a consumer demand for fresh concepts in beer style as well as design. As drinkers move away from bland homogenised beer, towards craft brews, they’re looking for beers which connect with their lives.
“We think Invader and Forty Two will be incredibly popular with sci-fi fans. We hope these beers will be as successful as the cultural classics which inspired them.”
Butcombe, now owned by Channel Island-based beer, wine and pub group Liberation, was started by former managing director of Courage Western Simon Whitmore.
