Jennings is embarking on one of its biggest changes in its 200-year history by bringing out two new beers as part of a massive rebranding from next week.

In order to tap into the fresh new India Pale Ale market, head brewer Jeremy Pettman has designed two exciting new beers, Fine Line (a 4% contemporary keg) and Atomic Theory (a 3.8% cask ale) and they have a new strapline: “There is more to the Lakes than meets the eye.”

The Cockermouth brewery’s decision will see brands such as Cockerhoop and Snecklifter sidelined as mainstream production ceases. But the popular Jennings tipples will not be lost forever – “they will have the opportunity to come back as guest ales at a later date to be agreed, we are not losing them at all by any stretch of the imagination”, said Jeremy.

Brand manager Sarah Grave explained that they have to move with the times and be innovative as the cask ale market is in decline. She said: “It’s a big change and people are reluctant to change but we have to do it. We’ve been brewing for nearly 200 years and we have that reputation of producing quality beer and that’s what we will continue to do.

“Myself and Jeremy are very passionate about the brewery. We’ve worked here 20 years, we understand the passion for the brewery locally – we’re doing it for all the right reasons.”

Sarah explained that Fine Line is a bridge between traditional smooth beers and real craft beers, so it will appeal to a wider audience.

All the beers will still be brewed with pure Lakeland water drawn from a borehole well in the courtyard at the brewery, coming down off the Caldbeck hills. The range includes Atomic Theory, named after the scientific thoughts of John Dalton, who was born in Eaglesfield; and Fine Line, which gets its name from the graphite discovered in Borrowdale.

Jennings Bitter is remarketed as Night Vision – after Cockermouth’s claim to be one of the first towns to have piloted electric lighting – and Jennings’ biggest brand, Cumberland, will keep its name.

A free pint will be available at Jennings’ Cockermouth brewery on October 4 from 6pm to 8pm.