NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Homer Simpson, make room in your freezer. Beer-flavored ice cream has arrived.
Scottish Courage, the big U.K. brewer, last week began selling to British consumers ice cream that tastes like Newcastle Brown Ale, one of the company's flagship brands. The product is made via a joint venture with Doddington Dairies, which, like the beermaker, is located in Northeast England.
Doddington, an award-winning dairy, is making the superpremium ice cream. It will sell initially at supermarkets in Northumberland and Newcastle, and only during the summer months.
Linda Bain, a spokeswoman for Scottish Courage, confirmed the launch, and noted that it's already attracting local attention. "I was driving home last night, and they were conducting a taste test on the radio," she said.
The ice cream's taste is said to reflect the nutty, caramel flavors of the namesake ale.
The two companies have agreed to a six-month licensing arrangement, in which the product is to be test marketed to gauge its popularity. According to a report by the market research firm Datamonitor, sales of the ice cream may fare best in Northeast England, where both companies have strong brand appeal to consumers.
It should be noted that while publicity may create a buzz, the product itself will not. The ice cream contains less than 1 percent alcohol.
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