SEASONAL special ale Bucket of Blood has been launched by St Austell Brewery.

Not for the fainthearted, BoB is a full-blooded red ale infused with spicy hops and takes its name from the brewery’s Bucket of Blood pub in Hayle.

Evoking dark deeds in history, legend has it that the Bucket of Blood pub got its grizzly name after a body was found in the well under the pub 200 years ago.

Instead of pulling a bucket of water, the pub’s shocked occupant pulled up a bucket of blood from the well and subsequently found a body, rumoured to be that of the local taxman – even now the victim’s ghost is said to haunt the inn.

Rick Shackelton - the Brewery’s longest serving landlord, having taken on the reins of the popular pub back in 1975 - was the first to pull a pint of the red stuff back in 2009 and Bucket of Blood is as popular with ale lovers today as it was when it launched nearly a decade ago.

Brewing director Roger Ryman said of the brew: “Bucket of Blood is a really distinctive ale and its spicy flavours are perfect for Halloween and the winter months. As it’s a special you might not find it in every one of our pubs, but it will certainly be playing a part in our annual Celtic Beer festival on November 24th!”

On the bar at 4.5% ABV, this spookily spicy red classic ale has become a feature of Halloween. It is full with a malty toffee palate and a good bitter skeletal backbone finish. Try it with Halloween themed dead man's fish finger sandwiches or hot dog ‘Frankenfurters’.

For information about where to find Bucket of Blood, visit www.staustellbrewery.co.uk.