Successful Derby-based Wentwell Brewery have launched a crowd-funding campaign to finance upgrades to their existing equipment. Set up in 2010 and having already self-financed a move from a 0.5 BBL kit located in a domestic garage to a 2.5 BBL plant, Wentwell also has 2 pubs of its own and would like to be in a position where it can not only meet demand from its own outlets, but also supply its beers to the wider free trade. In this case, rather than again upgrading their kit to something larger…

Continue Reading →

In light of the recent 1p duty cut, one brewery has opted to make a difference rather than pocket the difference. Jonathan Hughes of Great Orme Brewery, North Wales, has decided that instead of seeing an increase in profits from the reduction in beer duty, that he will give the difference to the National Association of Children of Alcoholics (NACOA) in order that those affected by alcohol misuse may benefit instead – an idea which quickly drew support from from SIBA (Society of Independent Brewers). Established for over 20 years,…

Continue Reading →

Let There Be Beer is a new large scale marketing campaign that was launched in the UK last week by a conglomeration of some of the largest beer brewers in the world including the likes of AB InBev, Carlsberg, Heineken, Molson Coors and SABMiller, with the aim of rekindling the passion we have in this country for our beer. Their Let There Be Beer campaign will run across social media (click for their Twitter feed, and Facebook page), a new website is due to launch at http://www.lettherebebeer.com/ next month and…

Continue Reading →

So I decided to go to my favourite soulless supermarket chain to avail myself of their range of stouts for a series of reviews. I decided against sampling Guinness for the moment because if you are reading this blog and you haven’t tried (or have an opinion on) Guinness then quite frankly you should go and read something else. That left me with the following three noble stouts – Marston’s Oyster Stout Williams Bros Brewing Co March of the Penguins Hook Norton Double Stout Not that many to choose from…

Continue Reading →

This week seems to have been the week for some much needed common sense from the great and good in the pub scene. Instead of the usual bombastic pronouncements about the death of the great British pub, etc. with no useful counters towards their apparent inexorable demise, we actually have a couple of articles published this week with some common sense ideas involved instead. Both of which a separate pieces but have a common thread – “diversification”. Ed Turner, Commercial Director for the Young’s brewery exemplified in this article that…

Continue Reading →

If you forget the sensationalist headline and the various opinions in the piece unsubstantiated by facts, this Mail on Sunday article about the rise of the coffee shop and the fall of the pub is quite an interesting read. I’m typically cynical by nature so the fact that throughout the article there are attributed quotes from named individuals espousing the benefits of coffee shops but the only quote that purports to show any support for pubs comes from the ubiquitous “industry insider” only heightens my suspicion as to the reasoning…

Continue Reading →

So according to the BBC Heineken have decided to reduce the ABV of John Smith’s from 3.8% to 3.6%. The reduction in strength will start to kick in on 4th February and by reducing the alcohol content it is claimed that Heineken can cut 2.5 pence off a pint at the trade level (whether this reduction will be reflected in the prices the average consumer pays at the pump is a question I think we can all answer). By making the change, Heineken will apparently save themselves just over £6…

Continue Reading →