Food & Drink

Brewer Laverstoke Park Farm slams 'vindictive' Portman Group

25-Feb-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

A Hampshire brewer has urged the trade to continue selling its beer, after the Portman Group has written to independent retailers asking them to stop placing orders for the company’s alcoholic products in their current packaging.

News of the brews: Writer Danny Wallace is the latest celebrity to get a beer, plus beers from California and Innis & Gunn

24-Feb-2014 By Robyn Black

In this weeks round-up of the best new beers in the UK, writer and presenter Danny Wallace gets his own brew; Californian craft brewer North Coast heads to the UK and Innis & Gunn join forces with Hinds Head barman for a brew.

The Big Interview: Richard Westwood, Marston’s Beer Company

24-Feb-2014 By Robyn Black

Marston’s Richard Westwood and Robyn Black chat over the thorny issues of defining craft beer, why microbreweries pose a problem and why people don’t believe Pedigree is the same now as it always was.

Carlsberg launches new low ABV Blackcurrant blended lager

24-Feb-2014 By Noli Dinkovski

Carlsberg is following up last year’s launch of 2.8% ABV Citrus with a low ABV Blackcurrant variant.

Budweiser gears up for World Cup with new campaign

21-Feb-2014 By Mike Berry

AB InBev has unveiled a global marketing campaign for its Budweiser brand ahead of this summer’s football World Cup, in a bid to gain a slice of the estimated 13.2% volume boost in beer and cider that the tournament will bring.

JD Wetherspoon goes for cans of beer

20-Feb-2014 By Robyn Black

Cans of beer will be appearing in all 900 JD Wetherspoon pubs from next month.

Demystifying the craft beer movement

19-Feb-2014 By Jessica Mason

The funniest thing about the craft beer trend is that it’s a bit of an emperor’s new clothes term. Nobody wants to ask: “What is craft beer?” Instead, everyone’s whispering: “We just need to have some, okay?”

Video: SIBA chief quizzes comedian Rufus Hound to help boost beer

17-Feb-2014 By Robyn Black

The chief executive of SIBA (the Society of Independent Brewers), Julian Grocock, is the first of three publicans to get the chance to interview celebrities as part of the industry-wide Let There Be Beer campaign.

Three Tuns Brewery's sales hit £1m mark

17-Feb-2014 By Noli Dinkovski

A Shropshire brewery claimed to be the oldest in Britain has made £1m in annual sales for the first time in its history, a little more than a decade after being on the verge of closure.

Join the Spirits Revolution

17-Feb-2014 By Robyn Black

You may have seen in the pages of the Publican's Morning Advertiser, or on the PMA’s website,this month that we are challenging the trade to generate a Spirits Revolution.

Jack Daniel's introduces interactive bar mats for pubs

17-Feb-2014 By Robyn Black

Interactive bar mats are being rolled out by Bacardi Brown-Forman Brands, as part of an ongoing drive around music for its Jack Daniel’s brand.

Strongbow Dark Fruit to roll out next month

17-Feb-2014 By Robyn Black

Strongbow Dark Fruit is to roll out to pubs and bars next month, following a successful three-month trial at the end of last year.

Gordon's Elderflower Gin launched

13-Feb-2014 By Robyn Black

An elderflower version of Gordon’s Gin is rolling out this month.

Heineken UK to challenge ASA Kronenbourg ruling

13-Feb-2014 By Noli Dinkovski

Heineken is to challenge an Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) ruling after it upheld two complaints that the brewer misled consumers about the provenance of Kronenbourg 1664.

Adnams and Camden Town Brewery launch collaboration beer

13-Feb-2014 By Jessica Mason

Adnams has teamed up with the Camden Town Brewery to create ‘South Town Red Ale’, a 4.9% ABV limited-edition cask beer.

The US sure has a thirst for cider

13-Feb-2014 By Pete Brown

Ever the professional, Pete Brown misses out on ‘cider karaoke’ in Chicago to share his thoughts on the US craft cider scene.

Budweiser Budvar to launch a cherry lager

11-Feb-2014 By Robyn Black

Czech brewery Budweiser Budvar is launching a cherry version of its lager in the UK, following a successful trial.

PMA’s Beer Summit places selling out fast

11-Feb-2014 By Mike Berry

The agenda for the Beer Innovation Summit, to be held on 26 February, has been finalised, with places selling out fast.

Trooper leads Robinsons global march

11-Feb-2014 By Roger Protz

The worldwide success of Trooper ale, allied to the expanded capacity of its new brewhouse, has allowed Robinsons to quadruple exports and boost investment across its pub estate. Roger Protz discovers more.

New whisky from Highland Park

11-Feb-2014 By Robyn Black

Highland Park has launched the third whisky in its Valhalla Collection, a range of whiskies inspired by Norse Gods.

Batemans celebrates anniversary with new branding and beers

07-Feb-2014 By Mike Berry

Family brewer Batemans is celebrating its 140th anniversary by launching new branding using the strapline ‘Craft Brewers Since 1874’, alongside a selection of new beers.

WKD sponsors The Only Way Is Essex

06-Feb-2014 By Jessica Mason

WKD is the new sponsor for reality TV programme The Only Way Is Essex.

John Smith’s takes horse racing campaign to pubs

06-Feb-2014 By Jessica Mason

Heineken has launched a campaign across over 2,000 pubs to give drinkers of John Smith’s a chance to ‘buy one ticket and get one free’ at 28 jump and flat racecourses across the UK.

BBPA report strengthens case for Budget beer duty freeze

06-Feb-2014 By Michelle Perrett

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has urged the Government to freeze beer duty after new research revealed 900,000 jobs are dependent on the beer and pub sector.

Rockers Status Quo on their new Piledriver beer

05-Feb-2014 By Jessica Mason

They have sold more than 130 million records and this year alone will perform around 100 gigs — not only that but Status Quo are branching out into brewing. Guitarists Rick Parfitt and Francis Rossi tell Jessica Mason why their new beer, Piledriver —...

Pub gets global coverage for beer garden ‘safety’ tents

05-Feb-2014 By Lewis Brown

A Worcestershire licensee said she hopes global media coverage of her idea to have tents in her pub garden for customers will put her business and town on the map.

Celebrity Juice's Keith Lemon is the face of Hooch

03-Feb-2014 By Jessica Mason

Keith Lemon has become the new face of Hooch, the alcoholic lemon brew originally released in the nineties.

News of the Brews: new beers from Shepherd Neame, Carlsberg & the Calvors Brewery

03-Feb-2014 By Robyn Black

Here's our weekly round-up of new beers hitting the market.

Stella Artois partners with The Open

31-Jan-2014 By Jessica Mason

Stella Artois has been named as Official Beer and Cidre of The Open Championship for the next five years.

Wetherspoon's motorway pub is a PR own goal for the industry

30-Jan-2014 By Pete Brown

JDW’s new motorway site does not help in the fight to portray pubs in a positive light, argues Pete Brown.

Highest ever number of entries for annual Thwaites awards

30-Jan-2014 By Lewis Brown

Thwaites has received the highest ever number of entries for its annual Awards for Excellence.

Elbow to launch its second beer

30-Jan-2014 By Robyn Black

British band Elbow is set to launch its second beer next week (4 February).

Status Quo launches ‘Piledriver’ beer

30-Jan-2014 By Jessica Mason

Rock ‘n’ roll legends Status Quo are launching a beer with Wychwood Brewery.

Beer duty freeze would secure 2,400 jobs this year, say leading figures

29-Jan-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

A freeze in beer duty would secure 2,400 jobs this year alone and promote growth and investment in Britain’s vital brewing and pub sector.

Stellar speaker line-up revealed for Future Pub 2014 conference

29-Jan-2014 By Rob Willock

Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) chief executive Alistair Darby and Simon Emeny, CEO of Fuller’s, will outline their visions for the pub of the future at a must-attend conference on Monday 3 March.

Coke Zero the Hero

28-Jan-2014 By Robyn Black

Coke Zero takes an “edgier” direction to attract a new generation of drinkers

Budvar introduces a non-alcoholic beer - and a higher strength one

28-Jan-2014 By Robyn Black

The UK arm of Czech lager Budweiser Budvar is hoping to roll out its no-alcohol beer this year.

Beer sales increase over consecutive quarters for first time in 10 years

27-Jan-2014 By Lewis Brown

UK beer sales have increased for two consecutive quarters - the first time in 10 years – although pub beer sales were down by 2.2%.

Hobgoblin brings Taste to the Nation in a new campaign

27-Jan-2014 By Robyn Black

Wychwood Brewery is urging publicans to get involved in its “Taste to the Nation” tour for Hobgoblin ale.

Tiger takes on year of the horse

24-Jan-2014 By Jessica Mason

Tiger Beer has begun to build links to Asian food in time for the Chinese New Year festivities.

SIBA urges pubs to promote BeerX

24-Jan-2014 By Michelle Perrett

The Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) is urging pubs to promote the BeerX Festival of Beer ahead of its start on 12 March in Sheffield.

Carlsberg launches new Tapster's range of cask ales

24-Jan-2014 By John Harrington

Carlsberg UK has announced that it is to distribute a new range of “Great British Cask Ales”.

Tsingtao hits cinema screens

24-Jan-2014 By Jessica Mason

Chinese beer Tsingtao has begun a stint of advertising in cinemas to help promote the brand and its Dragon Ping Pong events in the run-up to Oscar season.

Gaymer Cider Company averts industrial action

24-Jan-2014 By Michelle Perrett

Workers at the Gaymer Cider Company in Shepton Mallett, Somerset, have agreed a 3% pay increase for 2012-13 averting industrial action.

Tim Martin: Settling VAT differences over a pint

24-Jan-2014 By By Tim Martin

Tim Martin gives his latest views on a VAT cut and discussions with MP Andrew Griffiths.

Bruce bonus for West Berkshire Brewery

23-Jan-2014 By Roger Protz

Roger Protz reports on how a significant figure on the pubs and brewing scene is thinking big and aiming high after being appointed chairman of West Berkshire Brewery.

MPs awarded ‘Beer Champions’ for pub industry support

23-Jan-2014 By Michelle Perrett

Over 100 MP ‘Beer Champions’ have been presented with a new beer in honour of being supportive of the pub industry.

Cider makers call for Government to support industry and scrap duty escalator

22-Jan-2014 By John Harrington

The UK’s cider industry is the most vibrant, diverse and successful in the world – that was the message delivered to MPs and government officials at a Westminster reception earlier this week.