Beer

Beer duty cut delivers spending boost to pubs

03-May-2013 By John Harrington

Spending on credit and debit card in pubs has increased by 4% following the cut in beer duty in the Budget, new research from Barclaycard shows.

Heineken to paint London pubs green ahead of UEFA Championship League final

02-May-2013 By Robyn Black

Fifty London pubs will be painted green as part of Heineken’s campaign to promote the UEFA Champions League final in Wembley on 25 May.

Building on the beer duty campaign success

02-May-2013 By Brigid Simmonds

The cut in beer duty was a great victory for beer and pubs. It was unexpected to many, and on a scale greater than most of us dared hope for, so a few reflections are timely, says BBPA chief Brigid Simmonds.

Brakspear returns to brewing, launches microbrewery in Oxfordshire

01-May-2013 By Gurjit Degun

Pub operator Brakspear is returning to its brewing roots by launching a microbrewery in Henley, Oxfordshire.

Beer group chairman Andrew Griffiths labels VAT cut campaigners as "deluded"

01-May-2013 By Michelle Perrett

The chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group Andrew Griffiths has derided VAT-cut campaigners as “deluded”, and embarking on an “exercise in fantasy politics”.

Why McEwan’s Red was not what I expected

30-Apr-2013 By Roger Protz

Roger Protz says Wells & Young’s could be missing a trick with the launch of its new 3.6% ABV beer.

New look for Fuller's bottled ales

29-Apr-2013 By Mike Berry

Fuller’s has unveiled a new design for its Premium Bottled Ales portfolio, including London Pride.

Pub beer sales drop again in first quarter of year

29-Apr-2013 By John Harrington

Beer sales in UK pubs fell 5.5% in Q1 against the same period last year, the equivalent of 49.8m fewer pints sold across the three months.

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company takes two awards at International Brewing Awards 2013

25-Apr-2013 By Gurjit Degun

US firm Sierra Nevada Brewing Company won two awards at the International Brewing Awards 2013, at a ceremony in London’s Guildhall yesterday.

Carlsberg to cut Tuborg to 4% ABV

24-Apr-2013 By Noli Dinkovski

Carlsberg UK is to reduce the ABV of Tuborg to 4% in an attempt to make the Danish lager more “accessible” to drinkers.

Molson Coors employees balloted for strike action

23-Apr-2013 By Gurjit Degun

Molson Coors workers in Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, are being balloted on strike action after the brewer announced that it is consulting on the loss of up to 26 jobs.

Embracing new ideas with Brains Brewery

22-Apr-2013 By Pete Brown

Brains’ micro ‘test plant’ is allowing free rein for experimentation. Pete Brown gets stuck in.

The Big Interview: Inge Plochaet, AB InBev

22-Apr-2013 By Jessica Mason

Inge Plochaet, president of AB InBev UK & Ireland, tells Jessica Harvey about dealing with big brands, ongoing marketing plans and why she is a perfectionist when it comes to glassware.

Gluten-free beers win awards at FreeFrom Food Awards

22-Apr-2013 By Jordan Chamberlain

Gluten-free beers Green’s Lager Dry Hopped and Celia Premium Czech Lager were awarded top prizes at the FreeFrom Food Awards.

Heineken to brew Kingfisher beer as part of new UK agreement

19-Apr-2013 By Mike Berry

Heineken is to brew Kingfisher Beer in the UK, making the packaged beer available across its Star Pubs and Bars estate.

Wells & Young's launches McEwan's Red

18-Apr-2013 By Jessica Mason

Wells & Young’s has launched a new beer under its Scottish ale brand McEwan’s named McEwan’s Red.

Marston's teams up with Shipyard Brewing to launch American Pale Ale

18-Apr-2013 By Jordan Chamberlain

Marston’s is to launch Shipyard Brewing's 4.5% American Pale Ale in May, in an extension of the breweries 15-year pan-Atlantic collaboration.

JW Lees launches Manchester Pale Ale

18-Apr-2013 By Robyn Black

Manchester brewery JW Lees is launching a new beer, which it hopes will do for the brewery what London Pride has done for Fuller’s.

Jacques Borel: Beer-duty escalator scrap is 'good sign' for VAT campaign

18-Apr-2013

The Government’s decision to scrap the beer-duty escalator is a “good sign” for the campaign to reduce VAT on the sector to 5%, the man leading the industry’s lobbying effort on VAT has said.

Good things come to those who serve quality pints of Guinness

16-Apr-2013 By Robyn Black

Guinness teams will be visiting some 6,000 pubs and bars between now and the end of June in a bid to drive sales of the Black Stuff in the on-trade.

Leaving a legacy of brewing excellence

15-Apr-2013 By Roger Protz

Licensee Graham Yates retires from a career championing truly great beer. Roger Protz provides the plaudits.

Price of a pint of cask ale tops £3

15-Apr-2013 By John Harrington

The average price of a pint of real ale has exceeded £3 for the first time, according to new figures from the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).

Adnams launches first Jack Brand beer Innovation

12-Apr-2013 By Antonia Hawken

Suffolk-based brewer Adnams has launched ‘Innovation’, the first of its new Jack Brand beers.

Thwaites unveils 2013 Awards for Excellence winners

11-Apr-2013 By Helen Gilbert

A husband and wife team have triumphed for the third year running in the 2013 Thwaites Awards for Excellence.

Innis & Gunn to launch its first lager

11-Apr-2013 By Robyn Black

Oak-aged beer brewer Innis & Gunn has launched its first lager.

Aspall relaunches blonde beer as Outlier

10-Apr-2013 By Robyn Black

Aspall, the cyder and vinegar maker, has relaunched its Suffolk Blonde beer as it looks to increase its presence in the beer market.

CaskFinder app upgrade aims to further boost cask ale category

09-Apr-2013 By Jordan Chamberlain

The popular CaskFinder app is being upgraded following consumer feedback, in the hope that it will reach 100,000 users a month by the end of the year.

Fighting the new evil of binge-drinking scare stories

09-Apr-2013 By Pete Brown

Why must we put up with this relentless tide of poorly-researched scare stories about binge drinking, asks Pete Brown.

New Kent microbrewery to pay rent in beer

09-Apr-2013 By Helen Gilbert

A new independent Kent-based microbrewery has struck a novel deal to pay its rent in beer.

Arkell's pledges to keep upskilling staff

08-Apr-2013 By Helen Gilbert

Arkell’s has pledged to continue up-skilling pub staff by opening up courses to its tenanted houses.

My daunting date at the Drifty

05-Apr-2013 By Roger Protz

Roger Protz enjoys delightful beers and fascinating chat at the Driftwood Spars in Cornwall.

Chancellor George Osborne: beer duty cut is “just the beginning” of Government help for the sector

04-Apr-2013 By John Harrington

Chancellor George Osborne has said the beer duty cut is “just the beginning” of Government help for the sector.

Adnams speeds up pub disposal plans

04-Apr-2013 By John Harrington

Adnams plans to accelerate its pub disposal programme in 2013, with around five or six sites expected to be sold this year, chairman Jonathan Adnams has said.

US brewery Dogfish Head and Bedford's Charles Wells launch a new beer

03-Apr-2013 By Robyn Black

American craft brewery Dogfish Head has joined forced with Charles Wells to produce a new IPA.

Greene King launches flagship pub for its beers

03-Apr-2013 By Michelle Perrett

The Mason’s Arms, in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, has become a flagship for Greene King beers, in the brewery’s home town.

The Big Interview: Steve Nuttall, Joule's Brewery

03-Apr-2013 By Phil Mellows

The man who brought you Caffrey’s Ale is keeping it local these days as managing director of Joule’s Brewery in Market Drayton, Shropshire. Phil Mellows meets Steve Nuttall, and his friend the sleeping monk.

Elland Brewery’s 1872 Porter awarded CAMRA’s Winter Champion Beer of Britain

02-Apr-2013 By Jordan Chamberlain

Elland Brewery’s 1872 Porter has been awarded CAMRA’s Winter Champion Beer of Britain Award (CWBOB) for the second time in three years.

London pub company celebrates a decade in the trade with their own beer, wine and gin

02-Apr-2013 By Robyn Black

The owners of Renaissance Pubs, the six-strong pub company based in south west London, have created their own beer, gin and wine to celebrate 10 years in the trade.

Government explains why beer duty cut does not break EU rules

01-Apr-2013 By John Harrington

Treasury minister Sajid Javid has explained why the Government’s decision to reduce duty on beer but not other alcoholic drinks would not breach EU rules.

Marston's to launch new Pedigree beer for this summer's Ashes clash

28-Mar-2013 By Robyn Black

Marston’s is planning on bowling a googly to Pedigree ale fans this summer, with a new version of the brew to be launched ahead of this year’s Ashes clash.

Adnams reports rise in sales and profits

27-Mar-2013 By John Harrington

Adnams, the Suffolk brewer, distiller and pub operator has reported a rise in full year sales in 2012, with pre-tax profits up 145%, in what it called a "good year".

BrewDog to create #Mashtag, the world's first crowd sourced beer

26-Mar-2013 By Robyn Black

BrewDog is to create “the world’s first democratically designed beer.”

No, cider is NOT the new beer

25-Mar-2013 By Pete Brown

The misinterpretation of Mintel’s cider category research left me wanting to cry into my pint, says Pete Brown.

New look for Pilsner Urquell

25-Mar-2013

New-look fonts and glassware have been unveiled for the Czech beer brand Pilsner Urquell.

Budget 2013: Pubcos and breweries pass on beer duty cut

25-Mar-2013 By Michelle Perrett

The majority of pubcos and brewers have promised to pass on the beer duty cut announced in last week's Budget to both their licensees and customers.

Thwaites Shire horses help relaunch refurbished pub

25-Mar-2013 By Michelle Perrett

The famous Thwaites Shire horses turned up for the opening of the Royal Oak, Riley Green, which has undergone an extensive £110,000 refurbishment.

Unite asks Molson Coors to reconsider jobs and pay changes in wake of beer duty cut

22-Mar-2013 By Michelle Perrett

The beer tax cut should prompt Molson Coors to rethink its proposed slashing of pay and conditions at its Burton-on-Trent plant, Unite, the country’s largest union has said.

Old Speckled Hen and Greene King IPA in £4m TV push

22-Mar-2013 By Robyn Black

Greene King is investing £4m in its Old Speckled Hen and Greene King IPA brands, with a return to TV for both.

Foster's Gold campaign builds "posh and sohisticated" image

20-Mar-2013 By Robyn Black

Foster’s comedy characters Brad and Dan are making a return to the small screen in a new campaign for Foster’s Gold, after being dropped from the main brand at the beginning of this year.

Budget 2013: Beer group chair Andrew Griffiths 'stunned' by beer duty cut

20-Mar-2013 By Michelle Perrett

The MP for Burton and chairman of the All-Party parliamentary Beer group Andrew Griffiths said he was “stunned” when Chancellor George Osborne revealed plans to scrap the beer duty escalator and cut duty by 1p.