CARPINTERIA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Now you can have your beer and eat it, too. Carl’s Jr.® and Hardee’s® today announced a partnership with Seattle craft brewery Redhook® to bring the gastropub flavors of beer-battered cod to their menus. Featuring the distinctive flavor of Redhook’s ESB (Extra Special Bitter) ale, the Redhook Beer-Battered Cod Fish Sandwich is now available at Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s restaurants.
The Redhook Beer-Battered Cod Fish Sandwich features a crispy, beer-battered premium cod fillet, topped with fresh lettuce and creamy tartar sauce on a sesame seed bun. The Carl’s Jr. version of the sandwich also includes tomato while the Hardee’s version includes a slice of American cheese. The chains will also offer Redhook Beer-Battered Cod Fish Tacos in their dual-branded Carl’s Jr./Green Burrito restaurants and Hardee’s/Red Burrito restaurants. The tacos feature Redhook beer-battered cod fish, topped with spicy Santa Fe sauce, shredded jack and cheddar cheeses, lettuce and salsa, wrapped in a soft tortilla. There is no residual alcohol in the beer-battered cod fillets but the wonderful, hoppy, malty beer flavor remains.
“Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s pioneered the use of branded alcoholic beverages in fast food as menu ingredients because they taste great and our customers are familiar with the practice from casual-dining and even fine-dining restaurants,” said Brad Haley, chief marketing officer of Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s. “So, for our new crispy cod fish sandwiches and tacos, we loved the idea of trying a beer-battered cod. After sampling many beers – in the batter, of course – we landed on the Extra Special Bitter from Redhook, one of America’s favorite craft breweries, since it gave the cod fillets a nice beer flavor and a crispy coating. In other words, we were hooked on the flavor of the Redhook beer-battered cod and we think our guests will be too.”
“We’ve been brewing Redhook ESB since 1984 and many beer drinkers get nostalgic about ESB as their first beer. We’re excited to introduce ESB to the customers at Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s in a really unique and delicious way,” said Karmen Olson, Brand Manager for Redhook Brewery.
Brewed in the style of a traditional British ESB, Redhook’s ESB is now the benchmark for the Amber beer category. Redhook’s ESB is not very bitter in taste, maintaining a balance of caramel malt sweetness completed by spicy, citrusy hops.
Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s will promote the Redhook Beer-Battered Cod Fish Sandwich with a new ad titled “Bartender,” developed by Los Angeles- and Amsterdam-based creative agency 72andSunny. It will premiere on TV and YouTube this week.
The Redhook Beer-Battered Cod Fish Sandwich is available beginning at $3.69 or in a combo meal with fries and a drink for $5.69. Two Redhook Beer-Battered Cod Fish Tacos are available for $3.99 or in a combo meal for $5.99. Prices may vary by location. For a limited time, visit www.carlsjr.com/coupons or www.hardees.com/coupons to download a coupon for $1 off any size Beer-Battered Cod Fish Sandwich combo.
Follow Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s on Facebook (www.facebook.com/carlsjr and www.facebook.com/hardees), Twitter (@CarlsJr and @Hardees) and Instagram (@CarlsJr and @Hardees) for the latest product news and promotional offers. Download the Super Star® Rewards app from the iTunes Store and Google Play and check in to redeem Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s products on the spot, save points for a high-value reward, check out the full menu, and use the store locator to find any Carl’s Jr. or Hardee’s in the U.S.
About CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc.
CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc. (“CKE”) is a privately held company headquartered in Carpinteria, Calif. Through its subsidiaries, CKE owns and licenses Carl’s Jr.® and Hardee’s® quick-service restaurants. CKE operates Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s as one brand under two names acknowledging the regional heritage of both banners. CKE has a total of 3,539 franchised or company-operated restaurants in 42 states and 33 foreign countries and U.S. territories. Known for its one-of-a-kind premium menu items such as 100 percent Black Angus Thickburgers®, Made from Scratch™ Biscuits, Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders™ and Fresh Baked Buns, as well as an award-winning marketing approach, the Carl’s Jr./Hardee’s brand continues to deliver substantial and consistent growth in the U.S. and overseas. The Carl’s Jr./Hardee’s system is now 78 percent franchised, with international restaurants representing 18 percent of the system. For more information about CKE, please visit www.ckr.com or its brand sites at www.carlsjr.com and www.hardees.com.
About Redhook
Redhook was born out of the energy and spirit of the early 80s in the heart of Seattle. While the term didn’t exist at the time, Redhook became one of America’s first “craft” breweries. From a modest start in a former transmission shop in the Seattle neighborhood of Ballard, to the current breweries in Woodinville, Wash., and Portsmouth, NH, Redhook has become one of America’s most recognized craft breweries. While Redhook has “grown up” over the past 30 years, one thing has never changed—Redhook is still brewing great beers like ESB, Long Hammer IPA and Audible Ale. Most importantly, Redhook has fun doing it. Redhook beers are available on draught and in bottles around the country. For more information, visit www.redhook.com. Follow Redhook Brewery on Twitter and Instagram at @Redhook_Brewery and Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/RedhookAleBrewery.
