A beer bearing the Red Tractor food assurance mark will be the first of many British alcoholic drinks to use the logo, hopes Assured Food Standards, the organisation behind the scheme.

The new beer, Farmers Harvest, has been created to celebrate 100 years of the National Farmers' Union and is made using only British ingredients. It is brewed by the Purity Brewing Company, based in Warwickshire.

"The Red Tractor logo signifies that the ale has been brewed in the UK using hops and malt produced to high standards on the farm and checked by independent inspections," said Colin Smith, chairman of the AFS. "We hope other breweries will follow Purity's lead and commit to sourcing farm assured British ingredients."

The number of products bearing the red tractor mark increased last year, following new rules that allow foods containing 65% or more Red Tractor-assured ingredients to display the logo. This enabled products such as stuffed meats, cereals and flavoured milk to join the scheme for the first time. Some 74 food businesses are now signed up including Dairy Crest, Nestlé and Bernard Matthews.

Purity Brewing sales director Paul Halsey said the company was delighted to link with the NFU and the AFS on the project.

"Farmers Harvest is a full-flavoured beer with a great balance. Its fruity taste delivers a memorable finish to a truly superb ale and is the ideal way to toast 100 years of the NFU," he said.

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