Polyclar™ stabilizers are helping breweries produce highest quality beers

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam - Amid the world's biggest and fastest-growing beer market, brewers in the Asia Pacific region are looking for clear and more stable beverages with long-lasting shelf life. At the upcoming Institute of Brewing & Distilling (IBD) Asia Pacific Section's 33^rd Convention in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, March 23-28, Ashland Specialty Ingredients, a commercial unit of Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH), will showcase Polyclar&#8482 stabilizers, a leading brand in polyphenol stabilization for beer.

Ashland Polyclar stabilizers are a highly effective means of preventing the development of colloidal haze and loss of clarity caused by polyphenols in beer, thus extending the shelf life. Among a variety of grades, Polyclar stabilizers are designed for single use or to be recoverable by filtration, as in the case of Polyclar Super R regeneration-grade beer stabilizer.

"Polyclar Super R stabilizer is a unique product optimized for use after primary filtration, recovered and regenerated in a candle filter, whether used on its own or in conjunction with other stabilizers," explains PS Chiang, brewmaster, Asia Pacific, Ashland Specialty Ingredients. "Ashland's 50 years of expertise providing wort clarifiers and beer stabilizers to the brewing industry is helping customers achieve the highest quality product."

Le Thanh Hieu, country manager, Vietnam, Ashland Specialty Ingredients, commented, "Customers are excited about this technology. Building on our reputation for solid technical service and strong relationships with our customers, we are looking forward to networking with peers, discussing critical issues and better understanding their brewing challenges."

IBD is recognized as the world's leading member organization for the advancement of education and training in the science and technology of brewing, distilling and related industries.

Ashland is a world leader in food and beverage ingredients and stabilizers, with our products meeting formulation customers' health, convenience, quality and processing requirements in major food and beverage applications. Ashland creates value through applications knowledge, market insight and a powerful product portfolio that includes: Aquacel&#8482, Aqualon&#8482, Aquasorb&#8482, Blanose&#8482 and Bondwell&#8482 cellulose gum; Benecel&#8482, Klucel&#8482 and AeroWhip&#8482 modified cellulose, Supercol&#8482 guar gum and Polyclar&#8482 stabilizers.

About Ashland Specialty Ingredients
Ashland Specialty Ingredients offers industry-leading products, technologies and resources for solving formulation and product performance challenges in key markets including personal care, pharmaceutical, food and beverage, coatings and energy. Using natural, synthetic and semi-synthetic polymers derived from plant and seed extract, cellulose ethers and vinyl pyrrolidones, Ashland Specialty Ingredients offers comprehensive and innovative solutions for today's demanding consumer and industrial applications. Key customers include pharmaceutical companies; makers of personal care products, food and beverages, and cosmetics; manufacturers of paint, coatings and construction materials; and oilfield service companies.

About Ashland Inc.
In more than 100 countries, the people of Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH) provide the specialty chemicals, technologies and insights to help customers create new and improved products for today and sustainable solutions for tomorrow. Our chemistry is at work every day in a wide variety of markets and applications, including architectural coatings, automotive, construction, energy, food and beverage, personal care, pharmaceutical, tissue and towel, and water treatment. Visit ashland.com to see the innovations we offer through our four commercial units - Ashland Specialty Ingredients, Ashland Water Technologies, Ashland Performance Materials and Valvoline.

&#8482 Trademark of Ashland or its subsidiaries, registered in various countries.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Media Relations
Helen Pei
+86 (21) 2402-4863
bpei@ashland.com