Beer

The Big Interview: John Holberry, Growler Brewery

23-Oct-2012 By Phil Mellows

Remember the autovac? Those were the days, John Holberry remembers. He started his drinking career on Tetley’s Bitter when it was served via an autovac — a dispense system for recirculating waste beer from the drip tray that was later, understandably...

Brewmeister Brewery bullish over 65% ABV Armageddon beer

22-Oct-2012 By Robyn Black

A Scottish brewer who has launched the world’s strongest beer, at 65% ABV, denies he is being irresponsible or that he is trying to compete with BrewDog.

Illicit beer sales are on the increase, claims HMRC estimates

22-Oct-2012

The loss of revenue to the UK Exchequer due to illicit beer sales increased c10% in the past year, according to the latest estimates from HM Revenue & Customs.

MPs to meet Backbench Business Committee to push for beer duty escalator debate

22-Oct-2012 By Michelle Perrett

MPs Andrew Griffiths and Greg Mulholland are set to meet the Backbench Business Committee tommorrow to present the case for a debate to discuss ending the beer duty escalator.

Video: Scientists reveal the formula for enjoying the perfect pint

19-Oct-2012

Researchers claim to have come up with a formula for enjoying the perfect pint.

Castle Rock Brewery lures Starbucks customers with pub coffee deals

18-Oct-2012 By Mike Berry

Castle Rock Brewery is tempting disillusioned Starbucks customers with coffee deals in its pubs on the back of the tax scandal that has engulfed the US coffee giant.

Cask Report: Different beer factions should unite and celebrate growth of cask ale

17-Oct-2012 By Pete Brown

The latest edition of The Cask Report was launched two weeks ago. We had a great evening in the Parcel Yard — the stunning new Fuller’s pub in the rebuilt King’s Cross Station in London.

Pro-pub MPs to meet Treasury to call for scrapping of beer duty escalator

16-Oct-2012 By Michelle Perrett

Three high profile MPs are set to meet with Sajid Javid, Economic Secretary to the Treasury today (17 October) to call on the Government to scrap the beer duty escalator.

Cask Ale Week hailed a success after 8,000 pubs take part

16-Oct-2012

Cask Ale Week has been hailed a success after 8,000 pubs got on board with this year’s event.

SmartBeer real ale labelling system attracts more brewers

16-Oct-2012 By Adam Pescod

A number of brewers are signing up to a new real ale Point of Sale labelling system which is seen as a “free alternative” to Cyclops.

Reading the Cask Report will boost real ale sales at your pub

15-Oct-2012 By Mitch Adams

Cask Ale Week, the Cask Report and the latest Good Beer Guide launch has left me feeling very upbeat about the industry. Cask ale is at the heart of British brewing heritage and should be celebrated.

St Austell Brewery signs deal with CPL Training

15-Oct-2012 By Michelle Perrett

St Austell Brewery has entered a partnership agreement with CPL Training to ensure its staff are trained to the highest standard.

Aspall's targets record sales of Mulled Cyder this winter

11-Oct-2012

Aspall is predicting record sales for its Mulled Cyder this winter, which will be stocked in Fuller’s and Peach Pub Company outlets for the first time.

The Big Interview: Colin Wilde, Castle Rock

09-Oct-2012 By Mike Berry

This year has been a good one for Colin Wilde. In January he became managing director at Castle Rock, reaching the top of the firm he joined 18 years previously. Then in May his home-town team Manchester City won its first Premier League title.

St Austell Brewery launches Seven Stars scheme to let customers rate its beer

08-Oct-2012 By Adam Pescod

St Austell Brewery has launched a new initiative to guarantee that customers to all 170 of its pubs are 100% happy with their pint.

Shortlist announced for British Beer and Pub Association's first awards

08-Oct-2012 By Gurjit Degun

The shortlist for the British Beer and Pub Association’s (BBPA) first ever awards ceremony has been announced.

Stella Artois fans encouraged to drink responsibly in new campaign

08-Oct-2012 By Robyn Black

Brewer AB InBev is ploughing money into a responsible drinking campaign for its Stella Artois brand.

AB InBev UK sales hit by freetrade closure

08-Oct-2012

Stella Artois and Budweiser brewer AB InBev UK saw its turnover reduce by £196.7m in 2011 following the closure of its independent freetrade business and the stopping of distribution of third-party products.

Protz: Supermarket beer prices study reveals bombshell findings that threaten the pub trade

08-Oct-2012 By Roger Protz

This column is about supermarket beer prices and how they undermine the pub. Don’t yawn, say “I’ve heard that all before” and turn the page, because this is new information and it’s devastating stuff.

James Staughton of St Austell Brewery to become IFBB chairman

05-Oct-2012 By Michelle Perrett

Paul Wells is to step down as chairman of the Independent Family Brewers of Britain (IFBB) and will be replaced by James Staughton of St Austell Brewery.

BBPA chief calls for Labour to cut VAT on food and end the beer duty escalator

05-Oct-2012 By Michelle Perrett

Cut VAT on food sales and end the beer duty escalator which is “killing our industry” – was the call from British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) chief executive Brigid Simmonds to Labour politicians earlier this week.

The Big Interview: Adrian Staley, Hook Norton

02-Oct-2012 By Phil Mellows

There’s something to be said for being in the right place at the right time. The Hook Norton Brewery nestles in a fold of the Cotswolds, a jewel of quintessential Englishness. No-one could have designed it better for a beer market thirsty for heritage...

Cask Report 2012: Cask ale volumes grow for first time in 20 years

28-Sep-2012 By John Harrington

Cask ale volumes grew in 2011 for the first time in 20 years, and the category has now overtaken keg as the most popular form of draught ale, according to the Cask Report 2012-13, published today.

A great licensee makes us forget that anyone is running the pub

28-Sep-2012 By Pete Brown

I am filing this column from the departure lounge of Toronto airport after helping to celebrate Toronto Beer Week (last night’s ten-course beer and food-matching dinner was a particularly memorable highlight), on my way to visit the celebrated ice cider...

JD Wetherspoon autumn beer festival to offer ten overseas beers

27-Sep-2012 By Robyn Black

Beers from Lithuania, Japan, Holland, Canada, Belgium and the US will feature in this autumn’s JD Wetherspoon (JDW) beer festival.

Cask Ale Week 2012: Pub trade gears up for flagship event

26-Sep-2012

Cask Ale Week kicks off on Friday (28 September) with brewers and retailers up and down the country running a variety of activities to celebrate Britain’s national drink.

British Beer & Pub Association to hold an MP dinner during the Labour Party Conference

26-Sep-2012 By Michelle Perrett

The British Beer & Pub Association North West region is holding a dinner during the Labour Party Conference in Manchester.

Departing Wells and Young's MD to revive Kestrel lager brand

25-Sep-2012 By Robyn Black

The managing director of Wells and Young’s Brewing Company, Nigel McNally is to leave his role next week in a bid to revive the Kestrel lager brand, which he is in negotiations to buy from the brewer.

Molson Coors to launch winter version of Carling Zest

25-Sep-2012 By Robyn Black

Molson Coors is releasing a winter version of its 2.8% ABV Carling Zest variant, to capitalise on the success of the summer version.

Female bartender wins Stella Artois UK Draught Masters final

25-Sep-2012

A female bartender from Henry’s in Sheffield has triumphed in the UK final of the Stella Artois World Draught Masters competition.

Molson Coors axes female-friendly beer Animée

25-Sep-2012 By Gurjit Degun

Animée, the Molson Coors beer aimed at women, is to be taken out of the market by the end of the year after failing to attract female drinkers.

CAMRA Good Beer Guide: 40 years and still going strong

24-Sep-2012 By Roger Protz

We held a party last week to launch the 2013 edition of the Good Beer Guide. We thought a small celebration was in order as it’s the 40th edition of the guide, a remarkable milestone.

Scrap the beer duty escalator petition hits 100,000 signature target

20-Sep-2012 By Gurjit Degun

The e-petition to scrap the beer-duty escalator has reached the target of 100,000 signatures — and is only the 12th e-petition out of 16,000 to reach the milestone.

Wells & Young's invests in a new campaign for Young's beer

19-Sep-2012 By Robyn Black

Wells & Young’s is launching the first advertising campaign for its Young’s beer brand in three years.

Linking minimum pricing to inflation is a "real concern" claims British Beer & Pub Association

18-Sep-2012 By Gurjit degun

Linking minimum pricing to inflation will mean that the basic unit price will only increase which is a "real concern" the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has stated.

Hop-portunity knocks in Slovenia for UK brewers

18-Sep-2012 By Pete Brown

How Greene King head brewer John Bexon’s golden ale dilemma led Pete Brown on a pilgrimage to Slovenia to devour cured meat and rub hops.

London’s first female Beer Sommelier accredited by the Beer Academy

18-Sep-2012 By Michelle Perrett

Jane Peyton is a beer writer, trainer and principal of a corporate events company which organises beer, cider and wine tastings; and beer and food matching events.

New awards launched to celebrate best in beer marketing

14-Sep-2012 By Gurjit Degun

A new set of awards has been launched to recognise and celebrate the best in beer marketing, open to all brewers with a presence and focus in the UK.

Greene King to give away MGB car in Old Speckled Hen pub promotion

13-Sep-2012 By Robyn Black

Greene King is to give away a classic MGB sports car in an Old Speckled Hen promotion running in more than 2,000 pubs.

E-petition to scrap beer duty escalator closes in on 100,000 signatures

13-Sep-2012 By Gurjit Degun

The e-petition calling for the Government to scrap the beer-duty escalator is close to hitting the 100,000-signature barrier, which will prompt a debate on the issue in Parliament.

CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2013: Number of breweries in the UK tops 1,000

12-Sep-2012 By Michelle Perrett

There are now 1,009 breweries in the UK - the highest number for over 70 years - CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide 2013 has revealed today.

Heineken changes the marketing focus for Kronenbourg

11-Sep-2012 By Robyn Black

A new marketing approach for for Kronenbourg is set to be unveiled next week.

The Big Interview: Julian Grocock, SIBA chief executive

10-Sep-2012 By Mike Berry

The boss of the Society of Independent Brewers tells the PMA’s Mike Berry that he has as much passion now for beer as he did in his formative drinking years as an undergraduate in Leeds.

British Beer & Pub Association continues push for red tape cut

10-Sep-2012 By Gurjit Degun

The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) is continuing to push for less red tape for pubs, asking the Government to put more of the onus on local councils.

Butcombe Brewery ups profits despite tough trading

05-Sep-2012

Butcombe Brewery, the Somerset-based brewer and pub operator, has reported a 3.7% rise in full-year pre-tax profit to £1.4m in “extremely difficult” trading conditions.

Average price of a pint increases by 11p over the last year

05-Sep-2012 By John Harrington

The average price of a pint of lager and bitter in the pub has increased 11p to £3.19 and £2.80 respectively this year, according to the British Beer & Pub Association’s (BBPA) Statistical Handbook 2012.

Two pubs become first winners of Carlsberg's Football Legends competition

03-Sep-2012

The 12 Pins in Finsbury Park, London and the Jolly Miller in West Derby, Liverpool are the first two winners of Carlsberg’s Football Legends competition and will each play host to the ‘Ultimate Match Commentary Team’ for an England’s World Cup qualifying...

Carlsberg UK sales director Chris Houlton steps down after 14 years

03-Sep-2012

Carlsberg UK has announced that Chris Houlton is to step down as sales director on 28 September after 14 years with the brewer.

Let's herald an era of positivity about pubs

03-Sep-2012 By Pete Brown

Last week I appeared on a Radio 4 programme called What’s the Point of Pubs? It had a favourable reaction on Twitter, but I was struck by the number of people who highlighted my positive, optimistic sign-off about the future of the pub as being particularly...