Food & Drink

News of the brews

05-Feb-2016 By Ben Winstanley

News of the brews is your definitive guide to beer, bringing you the latest in all things hoppy.

Beer

Fancy a 'Tinge of Ginge'? Arkell's launches flavoured beers range

05-Feb-2016 By James Evison

Wiltshire family brewery Arkell’s has created a new ‘flavour’ range of beers which will be rolled out across its estate of pubs across the spring and summer.

Pub food

M&B to expand Sizzling Pizza & Carvery brand

05-Feb-2016 By James Evison

Mitchells & Butlers has announced plans to convert a further ten sites into Sizzling Pizza & Carvery businesses by summer 2016.

BrewDog to close all its UK bars and brewery for one day

05-Feb-2016 By Emily Sutherland

BrewDog has announced it will close its UK bars and its Aberdeenshire brewery on the 29 February for its first 'Blackout Day'.

Beer that claims to taste of joy is launched

05-Feb-2016 By Ben Winstanley

Data experts at Havas Helia and IBM Watson claim to have created a beer that "tastes of joy and optimism" after researchers profiled 2,800 beer recipes to match their ingredients to emotional states.

Brewdog launches Hong Kong bar

05-Feb-2016 By James Evison

Scottish brewery BrewDog is to launch a new bar in Hong Kong.

Beer sexism: It’s spelled ale not male

05-Feb-2016 By Jane Peyton

Sexist marketing in the beer and pub industry has to stop. Jane Peyton asks brewers to market beer at people, regardless of gender and pubs to refrain from stocking beers with sexist pump clips

Finance

Late payments still issue for craft brewers as govt reveals small businesses owed £32k

05-Feb-2016 By Emily Sutherland

Late payments are still a major headache for craft brewers according to Cloudwater Brew Co founder Paul Jones, despite attempts from the Government to tackle the issue.

Brewdog enters spirits market

04-Feb-2016 By Jessica Mason

Brewdog is set to move into the spirits market with the launch of a new distillery named The Lone Wolf.

AB InBev unveils 2016 Budweiser on-trade football activity

04-Feb-2016 By Ben Winstanley

AB InBev has unveiled Budweiser’s on-trade football activity for 2016 as it celebrates its ongoing global association with the sport.

Beer

How Woodforde's combines a mash tun from an old laundry and modern kit

04-Feb-2016 By Roger Protz

Woodforde’s has a mash tun from an old laundry. Roger Protz discovers that it scrubs up well.

CAMRA research

Pub closures falling - but still 27 shutting every week

04-Feb-2016 By Oli Gross

Pub closures have slowed slightly to 27 a week as the industry begins a ‘fragile recovery’, according to the Campaign for Real Ale’s latest research.

AB InBev to expand non-alcoholic beer portfolio with Beck's Blue Lemon

01-Feb-2016 By Ben Winstanley

AB InBev UK has plans to add Beck's Blue Lemon to its on-trade portfolio of non-alcoholic beer as the brewer seeks to fulfil its Global Smart Drinking Goals that 20% of its global beer volumes are low-to-no alcohol by 2020.

Gluten-free cask ale launched by Hambleton Ales

01-Feb-2016 By Ben Winstanley

Hambleton Ales has produced a gluten-free cask ale for the first time as it aims to capitalise on the growing trend for gluten-free beer.

Lords debate bill for lower drink-drive limit

29-Jan-2016 By Emily Sutherland

A lower drink-drive limit in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is inevitable according to Labour Lord Clive Brooke

Healthy options

Creating gluten freedom in our pubs

29-Jan-2016 By Jessica Mason

Gluten-free beer used to be a bit of a contradiction and had a fairly poor reputation too.

There's A Beer For That campaign receives £5m funding boost from big brewers

29-Jan-2016 By Ben Winstanley

The There’s A Beer For That campaign has received a combined £5m investment from Heineken, Molson Coors, AB InBev, SABMiller and Carlsberg as it aims to drive sustainable growth in the UK beer market.

77% would lower drink-drive limit, survey reveals ahead of Lords debate

29-Jan-2016 By Emily Sutherland

Doctors and health experts have urged the House of Lords to support a bill calling for the drink-driving limit to be lowered, bringing England, Wales and Northern Ireland in line with Scotland.

WKD unveils new products following research into key demographic

29-Jan-2016 By Ben Winstanley

SHS Drinks has unveiled two new WKD products to the alcoholic RTD category, following in-depth research into the changing lifestyles of 18 to 24-year-olds during the past 10 years.

Kopparberg expands into fruit beer market

28-Jan-2016 By Ben Winstanley

Swedish cider brand Kopparberg is expanding its portfolio into the fruit-beer market.

Greene King IPA becomes Official Beer of England Cricket

28-Jan-2016 By Ben Winstanley

Greene King IPA has become the Official Beer of England cricket, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced.

Branded wine currently a missed sales opportunity, research suggests

28-Jan-2016 By Ben Winstanley

Pernod Ricard UK has urged the on-trade to maximise the growing popularity of branded wines after research by CGA suggested many pubs and bars are missing out on sales.

VIDEO: Do you have the balls for whale testicle beer?

27-Jan-2016 By Ben Winstanley

Whale testicle beer maker, Icelandic company Stedji microbrewery, has released a video detailing the process of making its controversial brew.

The growing trend for gluten-free beer

26-Jan-2016 By Jessica Mason

Gluten-free beer deserves space in your pub. Jessica Mason looks into the reasons why a once-considered niche option is now a viable trend

New pubs

Is it a Tea House or Public House?

26-Jan-2016 By Pete Brown

When locals thought hipsters were taking over their pub, they feared it would be ruined. Pete Brown explains how the Yummy Pub Co team has made Stoke Newington Tea House a huge success.

Theakston's pint raised for flood affected communities

26-Jan-2016 By Ben Winstanley

Victims of the recent flood devastation are being supported by Theakston’s brewery as a new specially made ale looks to fund the rebuilding of communities in the north of England.

The Big Interview

"We ignored the focus groups because it felt right" - Interviewing Rupert Thompson of Hogs Back Brewery

26-Jan-2016 By Phil Mellows

Hogs Back Brewery’s Rupert Thompson has been among the most influential people in the beer industry over the past three decades. Phil Mellows caught up with him in the hop garden.

Birch sap water takes on sugary drinks market

25-Jan-2016 By Ben Winstanley

A range of sparkling drinks, dubbed 'superwater', is set to tackle sugary drinks by using birch sap.

Brooklyn Gin comes to UK

25-Jan-2016 By Ben Winstanley

Premium drinks distributor Hi-Spirits has announced a deal to supply Brooklyn Gin to the UK on- and off-trades.

SIBA partners with PMA/MC Allegra on licensee beer survey

25-Jan-2016 By James Evison

The PMA and industry research firm M&C Allegra have partnered with SIBA – the Society of Independent Brewers - to quiz licensees on their attitudes and preferences towards British beer

News of the brews

22-Jan-2016 By Ben Winstanley

News of the brews is your definitive guide to the week in beer, bringing you the latest in all things hoppy.

Stonegate Pubs' New Supplier of the Year is Cracker Drinks

22-Jan-2016 By Ben Winstanley

Stonegate Pubs’ New Supplier of the Year 2015 has been awarded to Cracker Drinks Co, following the launch of its premium adult fruit juice drinks into the Classic Inns and Slug and Lettuce brands.

Flooding

Heineken continues support of flood-hit pubs

22-Jan-2016 By Mike Berry

Heineken has continued its support for pubs and other on-trade customers in the north-west following the extensive flooding in the area over the festive period.

CAMRA report: people who visit local pub are happier, have more friends & are more satisfied

22-Jan-2016 By Emily Sutherland

Research from the University of Oxford has revealed people who have a local or regularly visit small community pubs are happier, have more close friends, and are more satisfied with their lives than those who don’t.

What’s next for vegetarian food in pubs?

22-Jan-2016 By Nicholas Robinson

More people are considering meat-free dishes when they eat out and want to see more choice on the menu. Michelle Perrett unearths a potential new order

Training

Camerons pledges to train beer sommeliers for all managed pubs

21-Jan-2016 By Oli Gross

Camerons Brewery has pledged to train beer sommeliers, and hopes to ensure all of its managed pubs have one fully accredited member of staff.

Beer and wine hybrid created for first time

21-Jan-2016 By Ben Winstanley

Nottingham's Castle Rock Brewery has created what it alleges is the first beer and wine hybrid to be produced in cask.

Beer

Cyclops Beer scheme reaches quarter of UK breweries

21-Jan-2016 By Ben Winstanley

Cyclops Beer, a scheme which aims to help consumers choose beers based on helpful tasting notes, has reached a key milestones at the beginning of 2016.

Tender

Pubs must prepare for plastic fivers

21-Jan-2016 By Oli Gross

Pubs will need to accept new plastic five and ten pound notes from customers later this year, and licensees will need to prepare for their introduction.

10 things you need to know about selling vegetarian food

21-Jan-2016 By Nicholas Robinson

More people are considering meat-free dishes when they eat out and want to see more choice on the menu. Here are 10 things to consider when putting vegetarian options on your menu.

Food

Bidvest relaunches own brand after name change

21-Jan-2016 By Nicholas Robinson

Foodservice giant Bidvest has relaunched its own brand portfolio of food, drink and non-food products, less than a year after the hospitality supplier changed its name.

Industry reacts to profit fears over 'undrinkable beer'

20-Jan-2016 By Emily Sutherland

The British Beer and Pub Association has said it will investigate 'ways to promote awareness and best practice', including pre-entry industry training, in the wake of serious concerns from tenants about how much drinkable beer is in a barrel.

Bolton licensee opts to display alcohol units on pub wall

19-Jan-2016 By Emily Sutherland

A Bolton licensee is displaying how many units of alcohol are in drinks on the wall of his pub following the Government's overhaul of the recommended drinking guidelines.

Diageo focuses on nutrition on revamped website

19-Jan-2016 By Ben Winstanley

Diageo has launched a newly revised version of its responsible drinking website DRINKiQ.com with a keener eye on nutrition.

People News

Heineken appoints new MD of Star Pubs & Bars

19-Jan-2016 By Mike Berry

Star Pubs & Bars has appointed a new managing director to directly represent the c.1000-strong tenanted and leased pub business on the board of parent company Heineken UK.

Like-for-like net income up 3.2% at Everards

19-Jan-2016 By M&C Allegra

Everards, the Leicestershire-based brewer and pub operator, saw like-for-like net income in its 176-strong pub estate rise 3.2% in the year to 30 September.

Pub boycotts Samuel Smith's following unpopular decision to block temporary bridge on its land

19-Jan-2016 By Emily Sutherland

The owners of a Yorkshire pub have refused to sell beer brewed by pub company and brewer Samuel Smith's after it refused to allow a temporary footbridge to be built on its land following the Boxing Day floods.

Wine predictions for 2016

18-Jan-2016 By Ben Winstanley

As wine continues to rise in popularity both in the on-trade and home markets, what does 2016 have in store? Crown Cellars wine vendors share their predictions for the year ahead.

MPs urged to support beer duty cut

18-Jan-2016 By Oli Gross

Industry leaders have written to MPs urging them to support a new parliamentary motion calling for a one penny cut in beer duty in this year's Budget.

Healthy options

Call for exercise-equivalent calorie labelling

15-Jan-2016 By Oli Gross

The Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) has called for 'activity-equivalent' calorie labelling, which would show how much exercise would be required to burn off calories contained in food and drink.