Cask

Cask

The Morning Advertiser launched The Cask Project in a bid to re-energise the category and reinstall it in pride of place on the bar of pubs throughout the country.

Cask beer is in long-time decline and, having joined forces with some of the UK’s leading cask beer suppliers – Greene King and St Austell – we want to reinvigorate attitudes within the trade to a product which should be rightly cherished by operators.

Cask beer is a unique product that can only be replicated successfully within pubs but the perception of cask, particularly among younger drinkers, is that it is made and loved only by an ageing male population.

We want to create a real buzz about cask to get pub owners, operators, general managers, bartenders and all pub staff on board and debunk the myths surrounding the drink and educate them on how to make cask work for their business. And by doing this, we can pass on that knowledge, care and skill into cask beer at the bar for customers to get excited about too.

Greene King to launch beer made by apprentices

The Cask Project

GK to launch apprentice-collaboration beer

By Gary Lloyd

Brewer and pub operator Greene King will release its limited-edition Spring Break cask beer, which was created last year in collaboration with the National Brewing Apprentice Programme.

Shepherd Neame launches Cask Club Passport

The Cask Project

Shepherd Neame Cask Club Passport ready for take off

By Gary Lloyd

Kent brewer and pub operator Shepherd Neame has launched its Cask Club Passport for 2023, which encourages customers to support the category while offering rewards to drinkers.

How can we get younger people into hospitality jobs?

The Cask Project

A reason for young people to work in pubs

By Gary Lloyd

Making a pub great will, inevitably, make hospitality a more attractive place to work and forge a career – and that goes is true for both management and subordinate staff, according to Robinsons Brewery.

Bruha Brewery announces seasonal cask beers for 2023

The Cask Project

Bruha Brewery to roll out 9 seasonal cask beers

By Gary Lloyd

East Anglia brewer Bruha Brewery will roll out a series of seasonal cask beers throughout 2023 with the aim of broadening the horizons of on-trade customers.

Brewhouse & Kitchen cask and experiences sales up

B&K reports 5.3% lfl cask sales boost

By Gary Lloyd

Brewpub multiple operator Brewhouse & Kitchen (B&K) is bucking the trend on declining cask beer sales by recording a 5.3% like-for-like (lfl) growth across its range.

Craft beer brand Northern Monk talks about its love for cask

The Cask Project - feature

FEATURE: The Northern star watching over cask

By Gary Lloyd

As more cool craft brewers turn their hand to making cask beers, Leeds-based Northern Monk admits there has been some clamour for it to do the same.

Disruption is Brewing wins gold at SIBA south-east final

The Cask Project

Disruption is Brewing wins SIBA regional final

By Gary Lloyd

A cask beer with flavours of mango, blueberry and tropical fruit from Disruption is Brewing has scooped top prize at the SIBA South-East Independent Beer Awards.

How Robinsons is ensuring better quality cask at its pubs

The Cask Project

Robinsons rewards pubs for cask quality

By Gary Lloyd

Stockport-based brewer and pub operator Robinsons has rewarded 88 of its pubs after they achieved 90% or above in their 2022 cask beer quality audits.

What is happening to Titanic Brewery?

The Cask Project

SOX acquires White Horse Brewery

By Gary Lloyd

South Oxfordshire Brewery has acquired neighbouring White Horse Brewery for an undisclosed sum.

Raising a glass: Greene King and Jeff Stelling partner up to celebrate cask

THE CASK PROJECT

Greene King teams with Jeff Stelling to celebrate pubs

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Greene King has recently hosted its fifth event with sports presenter Jeff Stelling as part of a series of evenings that celebrate British pubs, cask beer and quizzes.

Beer focus: The MA's Ed Bedington urges operators to put cask back in the heart of business

The Cask Project - opinion

Are we missing the best footfall driver?

By Ed Bedington

As January makes way for February and the colder miserable months continue to bite, pubs will be eager to look for ways to drive punters over the threshold.

Initiative comeback: The Shepherd Neame Cask Club was launched in 2019

The Cask Project

Shepherd Neame’s Cask Club returns

By Nikkie Thatcher

Kent brewer Shepherd Neame has announced it is bringing back its real ale initiative Cask Club next month (February).

What will it take to save the cask ale category?

The cask project – opinion

Seeking the silver bullet(s) to save cask

By Gary Lloyd

Writing and compiling stories for The Cask Project has led me to believe the under-threat category of cask ale could be improved vastly with a handful of changes.

Smaller serving units for cask beer from Greene King

the cask project

Greene King to launch cask pins

By Gary Lloyd

Suffolk-based brewer and pub operator Greene King has claimed to be the first major cask brewer to launch cask pins – a 4.5-gallon unit container – to market this summer following a seven-figure investment.

Hogs Back launches two low alcohol beers and PoS support

the cask project

Hogs Back releases two low alcohol beers

By Gary Lloyd

Surrey-based Hog Back Brewery has urged communities to support their local pubs this month by launching two low and no alcohol beers and adding new PoS support for its flagship beer.

Molson Coors opinion on making cask a pub USP

the cask project

Let’s make cask ale a true USP

By Mark Bentley, category management controller and beer sommelier, Molson Coors

A fresh pint of cask ale, perfectly served, is one of life’s great pleasures and a genuine unique selling point (USP) of the great British pub.

Proper craft beer: future for the cask category is

THE CASK PROJECT

Cask category 'building back steadily'

By Rebecca Weller

The future for cask is “bright” as the category "builds back steadily" post-pandemic, but more must be done to educate people on the craft of cask, according to Wadworth Brewery managing director Toby Bartholomew.

Facts on cask ale

The Cask Project

5 'flight' sized facts on beer style

By Andrew Volker, CMBC Brand Manager on Wainwright

Andrew Volker, Carlsberg Marston's Brewing Company Brand Manager on Wainwright, talks about beer “style” as an important factor when thinking about cask ale.

Top tips: CMBC's John Fogg outlines mistakes and advice on serving cask

The Cask Project

5 common cask mistakes

By John Fogg, CMBC technical specialist

Carlsberg Marston's Brewing Company (CMBC)'s technical specialist John Fogg highlights the most common mistakes made when working with and serving cask ale.

Sharp's, Shepherd Neame and Black Sheep win at International Beer Challenge 2022

the cask project

Cask ale producers scoop host of awards

By Gary Lloyd

Cask ale producers Sharp’s, Shepherd Neame, Black Sheep Brewery and Purity are celebrating after winning an array of medals at the International Beer Challenge 2022.

CMBC's Kyle Le Vins on 5 myths surrounding cask ale

The cask project

Cask beer doesn’t sell – debunking 5 myths

By Gary Lloyd

Cask ale is difficult to keep and it doesn’t sell. Those are a couple of the 5 myths Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company (CMBC) on-trade category manager Kyle Le Vins has debunked about stocking cask beer.

Greene King launches Cask Iron Guarantee to save pubs money

GK launches Cask Iron Guarantee

By Gary Lloyd

Suffolk-based brewer and pub operator Greene King has launched a new initiative – the Cask Iron Guarantee – that gives free-trade customers the ability to claim a refund or credit for expired cask ale.

Why CMBC's Hobgoblin could help cask category

Seeking a younger market for cask

By Gary Lloyd

Cask is often associated with old men and an out-of-fashion drink but if modernising the beverage and bringing down the average age of the customer is the answer to reinvigorating the category – could Hobgoblin help the category?

Anspach & Hobday completes brewery expansion after fundraising

the cask project

Anspach & Hobday capacity hits 1.76m pints per year

By Gary Lloyd

London-based cask and keg brewer Anspach & Hobday has completed the expansion of its brewery following a crowdfunding drive that mean it is now capable of producing 1.76m pints per year.

Theakston's first ever collab is with craft brand Wylam

the cask project

Cask and keg brewers join for Theakston’s first collab

By Gary Lloyd

Yorkshire-based brewery T&R Theakston has joined forces with Newcastle-upon-Tyne’s Wylam Brewery to create Henry’s Pick – the first collaboration beer since the family brewer was founded almost 200 years ago.

Why beer styles only work with a certain dispense method

the cask project

If you love cask ale, is it OK to flirt with keg?

By Pete Brown

Since CAMRA’s foundation, some real ale devotees have insisted it’s the only style of beer worth taking seriously. But times have changed, and so has beer.

Big Bog Brewing named North West champion in SIBA awards

the cask project

Liverpool-based Big Bog wins SIBA regional award

By Gary Lloyd

Liverpool microbrewery Big Bog Brewing Co has won the Overall Champion Cask Beer Award at the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) North-West Independent Beer Awards 2022, which took place at the Bolton Beer Festival.

Beer and food pairing with Ed Hughes of Sharp's

the cask project

How to match complex cask flavours with your food

By Ed Hughes, beer sommelier, Sharp’s Brewery

Sweet, bitter, sour, spicy and fruity: beer arguably has a more complex range of flavours than wine, and beer and food matching is a growing concept in modern cuisine.

Beer Piper tips and online tool to work out beer waste

the cask project

Beer Piper launches beer-saving calculator

By Gary Lloyd

Beer line cleaning business Beer Piper has launched an online calculator to help publicans save money and offered six tips to help keep money in licensees’ pockets.

Sheffield's Kelham Island Brewery saved from shutdown

the cask project

Kelham Island Brewery saved from closure

By Gary Lloyd

Sheffield’s oldest independent brewery has been saved from closure by a six-strong group made up of beer, music and art fans.

Purity bucks trend on cask and charges more

the cask project

Purity pub charges premium price for cask

By Purity Brewing Co

Contrary to some preconceptions, when properly ‘looked after’ and poured, cask ales can range from cool, light, zesty and refreshing to dark, rich and complex, with an infinite variety of styles, flavours and aromas in between.

London brewer Small Beer put Steam beer into cask

the cask project

Small Beer puts Steam variant into cask

By Gary Lloyd

South London brewer Small Beer, which is known for its sub-2.8% ABV brews, is putting its Steam beer variant into cask format.

St Austell's Georgina Young on the need for expert cask beers

the cask project

Big boys have ‘dumbed down cellarmanship’

By Gary Lloyd

St Austell brewing director Georgina Young believes the art of cellarmanship is being dumbed down and, because cask beer is exclusively made only in the UK, it must be saved.

Quality and premiumisation is key to cask growth

THE CASK PROJECT

Cask needs to premiumise, research reveals

By Ed Bedington

Premiumisation is the future of cask beer but quality will be key to the delivery of that, according to a new report into the category.

Goose Island & Magic Rock launch two collabs at Nicholson’s Pubs

The Cask Project

Goose Island and Magic Rock release new cask beers

By Gary Lloyd

Beer brewers Goose Island and Magic Rock Brewing have collaborated to launch two new brews at Nicholson’s Pubs to celebrate Cask Ale Week, which runs until Sunday 2 October.

Greene King incentives for Cask Ale Week

the cask project

Greene King launches two promotions for Cask Ale Week

By Gary Lloyd

Brewer and pub operator Greene King is launching two incentives to engage new and loyal drinkers in the cask ale category to coincide with the launch of Cask Ale Week, which runs between Thursday 22 September and Sunday 2 October.

Salcombe gains St Austell listings and Theakston triples distribution of Summit

the cask project

St Austell lists Salcombe brew, Theakston triples distribution

By Gary Lloyd

South-west-based brewer and pub operator St Austell has recently listed cask and kegged beers from Salcombe Brewery while brewer T&R Theakston has seen the distribution of its Summit variant rise threefold since the start of summer.

Sharp's to release mango beer for Cask Ale Week

the cask project

Sharp’s releases new beer for Cask Ale Week

By Gary Lloyd

Rock-based Sharp’s Brewery has created a limited-edition cask beer called Coaster Alfonso to celebrate Cask Ale Week, which runs between 22 September and 2 October.

Cask operator sees chance to expand cask category

the cask project

‘Opportunity for flavoured and fruit cask ales’

By Gary Lloyd

In the run-up to Cask Ale Week, which takes place between Thursday 22 September and Sunday 2 October, Shaun Slater, licensee of Star Pubs & Bars site the Black Rock, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, talks about the future of cask ale.

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