News

Craft brewers hammered by lockdown

A report by SIBA, the Society of Independent Brewers, shows that beer sales from small craft brewers are down by 82 per cent since the coronavirus lockdown was brought in. A number of small brewers are considering making staff redundant as they have no received no government support. 65 per cent of SIBA members have suspended brewing and some fear they may never start again. SIBA is calling on the government to defer beer duty until the crisis is over
Added: Friday, April 17th 2020
Sam Smith's horses deliver beer at home
Pub heroes boost their communities

As the pub lockdown enters its second week, pubs in England, Scotland and Wales are offering help to their communities with delivery services of fresh food, meals-on-wheels for senior citizens and accommodation for NHS nurses. Pictured: fire fighters at Cwbran with food parcels supplied by Brain's brewery in Cardiff
Added: Monday, April 6th 2020
Sainsbury's Six to the rescue

Sainsbury's has come to the rescue of drinkers who can't get to the pub. The supermarket group has launched a range of six beers from craft brewers that are a long way removed from mainstream beers.Several use unusual ingredients and some IPAs are well-hopped with American and Kiwi varieties
Added: Friday, March 20th 2020
CAMRA & SIBA in bid to boost beer

The Campaign for Real Ale and the Society of Independent Brewers have joined forces in an attempt to boost pubs and breweries during the corona virus crisis. They will encourage pubs to make meals and beer available for home delivery for people who are forced to self-isolate. CAMRA is also working with Crowdfunder to help raise much-needed income for pubs
Added: Thursday, March 19th 2020
Take-home beers beat the virus blues

Hog Star Brewery in Tongham, Surrey, has launched a special take-home service for customers who can't get to the pub during the corona crisis. It's a drive through service where customers stay in their cars while beer is packed into their boots by members of staff who keep a safe distance. Beers include the best-selling TEA, Hop Star Lager, and Nirvana Session IPA
Added: Wednesday, March 18th 2020
GK collab helps tackle African poverty

Greene King has teamed up with Bristol-based micro-brewery Tapestry to produce a cask pale ale, Encounter, that will aid charity work in sub-Saharan Africa. Five pence of every pint bought will be donated to Save a Cow, Tapestry's chosen charity. Pictured left are GK head brewer Ross O'Hara and Tapestry co-founder Calum Doutch at the brewery in Bury St Edmunds
Added: Monday, March 9th 2020
Shep's new cask reaches out to gin lovers

Kent brewer Shepherd Neame is celebrating one year of its Cask Club with a new beer that reaches out to today's legion of gin drinkers. Why Can't We Be Fronds? is brewed with Kentish hops and the addition of juniper berries and elderflower. Half a million pints of beer have been poured since the brewer launched Cask Club with a new ale every month, some brewed in collaboration with other breweries. The April beer will be based on a recipe from legendary American brewer Samuel Adams.
Added: Sunday, March 8th 2020
CAMRA call to cut duty to save pubs

The Campaign for Real Ale -- CAMRA -- has unveiled new research carried out by European Economics that shows a cut in beer duty for draught beer would help pubs struggling against competition from supermarkets. The research was launched at the House of Commons by Chris Watling MP (seen left) with CAMRA chairman Nik Antona
Added: Thursday, March 5th 2020
MPs demand action on rates & beer duty

The All Parliamentary Beer Group, one of the oldest and most influential groups of MPs and Peers, is calling on the government in its Budget in March to make fundamental changes to both Business Rates and Beer Duty in order to allow high street pubs to flourish. At present the burden of rates and the high price of beer is leading to many pubs closing. Britain's oldest pub, the Old Fighting Cocks in St Albans (pictured), has been forced to close for two days a week in order to cut costs
Added: Thursday, February 27th 2020