27-Feb-2009 By Roger Protz
Czech brewer Budvar has introduced a new beer to London. It's a blend of two styles, reminiscent of intriguing 1960s beer mixes, says Roger Protz.
Trade union backs Axe the Beer Tax
27-Feb-2009 By Matt Eley Matt
Trade union Unite has come out in support of the campaign to Axe the Beer Tax. In a statement, the union which represents 20,000 members in related...
26-Feb-2009 By Andrew Pring
Siba, the small brewers group, has teamed with the country's leading technical services group Innserve to provide cellar services and dispense help...
26-Feb-2009 By Robyn Lewis
Black lager is the latest offering from rebel brewer BrewDog, as it looks to capitalise on the growing interest in the company since its run-in with...
Kopparberg launches elderflower and lime cider
25-Feb-2009
We've had pear cider, strawberry cider, iced draught cider… and now the latest attempt to breathe new life into the cider category is an...
Church in bid to take over closed brewing museum
25-Feb-2009
A church is in talks with Coors about taking over the running of its closed brewing museum.The Coors visitor centre in Burton, which houses the...
When is a wine drinker not a wine drinker?
25-Feb-2009
Irregular wine drinkers in the UK choose wine mainly from Australia, but France, Spain and Italy are the countries of origin that more regular...
24-Feb-2009 By Andrew Pring
With six weeks to go, over 4,000 pubs have enrolled for Cask Ale Week, to be held between 6-13 April. The target of 5,000 pubs should be achieved...
Local brewers' volumes soar
23-Feb-2009
The volume of beer sold by local brewers defied the overall decline of the drinks market and grew by 10 per cent in 2008, according to the Society of...
Alcoholic ginger beer launches
23-Feb-2009
Halewood International is targeting the on-trade with the launch of an alcoholic ginger beer that it hopes can capitalise on the over ice drinking...
Storm in a pint glass over black lager launches
23-Feb-2009 By Matt Eley Matt
Controversial Scottish micro BrewDog is launching what it claims is the UK's first mass-market commercially available black lager. But Budvar, a...
23-Feb-2009 By Ewan Turney
Italian beer Peroni Nastro Azzurro has teamed up with Anglo-Italian designer Antonio Berardi to create three bespoke fashion items. The items — a...
23-Feb-2009 By Ewan Turney
A new TV series will follow the process behind choosing the winners at the International Wine Challenge (IWC).
23-Feb-2009 By Ewan Turney
Adnams is bringing back its Extra Special Bitter to coincide with the launch of National Cask Ale Week. Adnams Extra was crowned the Champion Beer of...
23-Feb-2009 By John Harrington
Independent brewers continue to outperform the overall beer market, with the local brewing sector up 10% in 2008 and brewers predicting a 15% rise...
23-Feb-2009 By Ewan Turney
Work has begun on a new £700,000 bottling line at St Austell Brewery in Cornwall. The new bottling line will increase capacity to 100,000 bottles a...
Search on for Pilsner Urquell master bartender
20-Feb-2009 By Matt Eley Matt
Pilsner Urquell is once again on the lookout for its UK Master Bartender. The search for the 2009 champion follows on from the success of last year's...
20-Feb-2009 By Roger Protz
Why did the BBC edit out any sign of Camra from a programme about drinking in Britain?
20-Feb-2009 By Robyn Lewis
Halewood International is hoping to cash in on the Pimm's market with an alcoholic ginger beer under its Crabbie's Ginger Wine brand. Served over ice...
Biggest ever ad campaigns for Courage and Young's
19-Feb-2009
The biggest ever advertising campaigns for beer brands Courage and Young's have been unveiled by Wells and Young's."Take Courage, my Friend" has been...
Pete Robinson: Beer Group to meet Govt Ministers - Whoop-ee-doo!
19-Feb-2009
The hope is to appeal to their better nature and effect a U-turn on taxing alcohol, at a time when they are desperate to wring every extra penny of...
'Heineken forced to write down value of business'
19-Feb-2009
Heineken, the Dutch brewer, has taken a hit of €389 million (£343 million) against the Scottish & Newcastle businesses it acquired last year....
19-Feb-2009 By Sonya Hook
Cranberry specialist Ocean Spray has unveiled plans to develop its on-trade business, as part of a £15m brand support package for 2009. A new TV...
18-Feb-2009 By The PMA Team
The Revolution vodka bar chain has upped the stakes in the discounted food battle — by offering free pizzas between 3pm and 5pm in the afternoon....
Lucozade about-turn over recent launch
18-Feb-2009
Energy drink brand Lucozade Alert has been relaunched in cans, and a £2m marketing campaign has been promised to support the move.Lucozade has...
18-Feb-2009 By Ewan Turney
Harveys Sherry has signed a deal with fashion label PPQ to become its official drink for London Fashion Week. The deal forms part of a £750,000...
18-Feb-2009 By Ewan Turney
Heineken has written down around £45m (€51m) off the value of its 2,000-strong pub estate in Britain due to "exceptional economic circumstances".
18-Feb-2009 By Ewan Turney
Danish brewer Carlsberg has warned the UK beer market has been "severely hit by sharp declines in consumption driven by the on-trade". Carlsberg said...
IPA in deal with rugby's Sale Sharks
17-Feb-2009
Greene King has signed a deal making its IPA brand the official beer of Manchester rugby team Sale Sharks.With IPA already the official beer of the...
Diageo introduces new trade terms
17-Feb-2009
Diageo has established a new set of trade terms for licensees, claiming the new deals are part of its drive to make the spirits category more...
17-Feb-2009 By Tony Halstead
Lancashire brewer Daniel Thwaites has announced wholesale beer price rises of 5% for the majority of its house ales and lagers. But the Blackburn...
17-Feb-2009 By Ewan Turney
Irish whisky Jameson's is challenging drinkers on how well they know their film endings as part of a new campaign in the run-up to St Patrick's Day...
17-Feb-2009 By Ewan Turney
The Hogs Back Brewery has just released its 4,000th brew since it launched 17 years ago, during which time it has brewed 35m pints of ale. The...
Watching the watchdog
16-Feb-2009
THERE IS finally some hope for pubs and drinks companies facing increased crackdowns on how they promote themselves.Mark Hunter, chief executive of...
Comment: Magners' success once again rests on marketing
16-Feb-2009
Can any product be worth the wait we've had for Magners Pear?The cider's maker, C&C, has officially confirmed that it is to launch a pear variant...
16-Feb-2009 By Ewan Turney
Greene King IPA has bolstered its links with rugby union by becoming the official beer of Sale Sharks. The deal will see Greene King IPA, already the...
13-Feb-2009 By Roger Protz
It seems obvious that rising prices and duty do no one any good in the long term — neither brewers nor Brown & Co — so why do they persist, asks Roger Protz.
13-Feb-2009 By Andrew Pring
Brewers and licensees need to regain their self belief in beer and once more exude pride in our national drink
Marketing director leaves Magners
13-Feb-2009
The shake-up at Magners producer C&C continues with the departure of marketing director Maurice Breen, one of the men responsible for the recent...
MPs launch enquiry into impact of tax increases on wine and spirits' market
13-Feb-2009
An enquiry into the impact of tax changes on the wine and spirits' market is set to take place this month as businesses cut jobs as a result of...
13-Feb-2009 By Ewan Turney
A group of MPs have launched an inquiry into the impact of last year's bumper duty rises and the potential duty escalator rise on wine and spirits....
12-Feb-2009 By Sonya Hook
Brewer Wells & Young's (W&Y) has unveiled its biggest ever spend for its three core ale brands as part of a bid to boost the cask beer market in 2009.
Day in the life: Her Brothers' keeper
12-Feb-2009
This is a crucial time for Brothers Drinks, and the company needs good people steering the cider brand, as it bids to develop its presence in the...
Diageo to seek £100m in cost savings
12-Feb-2009 By Hamish Champ
Drinks giant Diageo said today it expects to save around £100m in the next year as it undertakes a restructuring of the business.Announcing its...
Supermarkets accused of swallowing beer duty rises
12-Feb-2009 By Matt Eley Matt
Beer prices in pubs and bars have gone up 4.9 per cent in the last year compared to a rise of just 0.6 per cent in the off-trade. The figures are...
12-Feb-2009 By Robyn Lewis
Welsh brewer Brains is to introduce new font designs across its portfolio, as it continues its drive for growth. The new more contemporary chrome...
BrewDog drops case against Portman Group
11-Feb-2009
BrewDog has scrapped plans to sue industry watchdog, the Portman Group, over comments made in its ruling banning the company's beer Speedball, it...
Conman jailed for mass wine fraud
11-Feb-2009
A conman has been convicted of fraud after he was found guilty of handling stolen wines and spirits worth hundreds of thousands of pounds.Dogan...
11-Feb-2009 By MA Reporter
Admiral Taverns hosts have been offered discounts on four major drinks brands if they agree to sell for £1.99 per pint. So far 650 licensees have...
11-Feb-2009 By Ewan Turney
InBev has signed a three-year deal with logistics firm Tradeteam to distribute its brands in Northern Ireland. The deal will create 70 jobs and...
