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Britain has the biggest number of breweries in Europe but producers are faced by a shocking tax burden. Research shows that while the UK is second only to Germany where beer production is concerned, the British industry is held back from growth by duty levels 12 times higher than in Germany. The UK pays almost 40 per cent of all beer duty in the EU, with 54p of a pint going in tax, compared to just 5p in Germany.

Added: Thursday, December 6th 2018

Seen years after Norwich set the ball rolling with City of Ale, other cities across the UK gathered in Norwich to create a forum that will see more and more beer and pub events in the years ahead. The photo shows the delegates at the forum with key note speakers including Pete Brown, Roger Protz, Stefan Gurney from BID, David Wilson from the British Beer & Pub Association and Andrew Daines from Visit Flanders. Roger Protz is holding the sign with Dawn Leeder and Phil Cutter from Norwich with Pete Brown next to Phil. Report by Frances Brace

Added: Thursday, October 25th 2018

Now in its 37th year, the Great American Beer Festival goes from strength to strength, attracting in September 8,500 beers from 2,404 breweries and drawing crowds of 62,000. As well as mainstream styles such as lager and IPA, American brewers are "pushing the envelope" with sours, saisons, barrel-aged and wine-influenced beers. This special report is from Lotte Peplow

Added: Friday, October 5th 2018

Sales of cask beer have fallen faster than the overall beer market, according to the latest Cask Report. Sales are down by 6.8 per cent while the overall beer market has declined by 1.6 per cent. But while amber beers have shown the biggest fall, golden ales in the cask sector have seen substantial growth and a big majority of publicans say cask beer is vital to the business.

Added: Thursday, September 27th 2018

Hannah Rhodes is celebrating her fifth anniversary as a brewer by launching her Hiver honey beers in cans to augment the keg and bottle versions. She uses fresh, unpasteurised honey as part of the fermenting and conditioning process, not just as an add-on flavouring. 10% of her profits go to backing charities that support bees as they forage for honey. All her malts and hops come from England

Added: Monday, September 24th 2018

After years of dramatic growth, the craft beer sector has slowed in the US but is growing at a fast pace in Europe, according to a report by leading research organisation Mintel. Traditional beer styles are being challenged by innovative new ones as consumers look for new tastes and flavours. The downside of craft beer's success, says Mintel, is that global brewers are now entering the sector and are buying independent producers. Pictured: Stone Brewing of California now has a second brewery in Berlin

Added: Thursday, September 20th 2018

London's oldest family brewer, Fuller's of Chiswick, has added a pilot brewery as part of its visitor centre. It will enable the brewing team to develop small-run new brews with exciting and unusual flavours. Successful beers will then be scaled up for production in the main brewery. Pictured left are Fuller's brewers with members of Gravity Systems that installed the new plant.

Added: Wednesday, September 19th 2018

The new edition of CAMRA's Good Beer Guide praises breweries that are "putting something back" by reducing carbon footprints and producing more gluten-free, vegan-friendly and low alcohol beers. The guide also lists breweries that aid less fortunate people,such as those with learning difficulties and others serving prison sentences. Other breweries aid the environment by recycling used malt and hops and even lining brewing vessels with sheep wool.

Added: Thursday, September 13th 2018

For the first time in years, the craft beer sector in the United States is losing growth as a result of the emergence of two giant brewing groups, AB InBev and Molson Coors. Jim Koch (pictured) says the domination of "Big Beer" poses a threat to the craft movement while the Brewers Association lays the blame for the decline on the aggressive price cutting of the giants and success of Bud Light, which has led to some craft brewers producing light lagers

Added: Monday, September 10th 2018

The Pub Code Adjudicator Paul Newby is tackling the giant companies over the barriers they have created to stop publicans getting a better deal on rents and beer choice. The pub code was brought in in 2016 to ensure a better deal for landlords, including the right to go free of tie with a Market Rent Only option. But few landlords have won the right to MRO and Newby is concerned by the high number of pub seizures and closures

Added: Friday, August 31st 2018