Author Archive
Moving on from the bear essentials…
By: JimOldfield
July 18th, 2016
Bath’s Electric Bear Brewing Co has expanded its brewhouse capacity in the wake of rising demand as the company comes up to its first birthday. The addition of two 20-barrel fermentation tanks and a 2,000 litre conditioning tank will allow four-days-per-week brewing. The increase is important as Electric Bear has found its ales being stocked Read the full post…
Pubs’ health hangs in the balance after multiple shockwaves
By: JimOldfield
July 17th, 2016
Two starkly contrasting pictures of our pubs’ health has been painted within days, as the local faces a host of new challenges… both in Europe and from the silver screen. CAMRA has hailed a “brighter future” for the pub – revealing figures that the net number of pubs closing per week fell from 27 to Read the full post…
BBPA awards deadline is looming
By: JimOldfield
July 14th, 2016
The deadline for entries to the BBPA awards for 2016 is looming! Brewers, pubs and other hopefuls have only until August 26 to submit their bids for victory in this year’s revamped competition. The British Beer & Pub Association and Pub & Bar magazine are continuing the partnership that began last year, and the BBPA’s Read the full post…
Jennings staff are cocker-hoop as brewery tours resume!
By: JimOldfield
July 13th, 2016
The Lake District’s Jennings brewery is finally set to welcome visitors again… seven months after being devastated by Storm Desmond. The Castle Brewery, in Cockermouth, disappeared 7ft of water when the River Derwent burst its banks in December. Brewing was resumed within weeks, after a massive clean-up operation. But only now are the brewery shop, Read the full post…
Brewers’ Brexit benefit? It’s possible, says drinks analyist…
By: JimOldfield
July 13th, 2016
Britain’s Brexit from the EU could have a positive influence on the UK craft beer scene, says a leading drinks industry analyst. Francois Sonneville, beverage analyst at Rabobank, says that, with domestic competition likely to ease as foreign competitors are affected by the weakness of the British pound, British brewers could flourish. However, he warened Read the full post…
This May be a good move, says BBPA
By: JimOldfield
July 13th, 2016
The British Beer & Pub Association has welcomed the swift move by the Conservatives to install Theresa May as party leader and Prime Minister. BBPA Chief Executive Brigid Simmonds said: “It is good to see that the process to find a new Prime Minister has been completed quickly, and this will help ease some uncertainty Read the full post…
Quaffing record broken at Wye festival
By: JimOldfield
July 12th, 2016
A record 21,000 pints were supped at last weekend’s twelfth Beer on the Wye beer and cider festival, with some 6,300 ale lovers turning out to make the three-day event the best ever. On offer were 130 UK beers, 40 world beers and 137 different ciders – and a third of all the drinks served Read the full post…
Batley beer fest is back
By: JimOldfield
July 11th, 2016
Batley Beer and Music Festival will return for a second year, on the weekend of August 6 and 7. Artists such as singer-songwriter Loz Campbell, acoustic folk pop duo The Last Minute, four-piece rockers Goodnight Dakota and gospel blues act Scott Wainwright are all booked for the event, which has been inundated with bands offering Read the full post…
Harwich beer festival is well fortified with ale!
By: JimOldfield
July 10th, 2016
The historic Redoubt Fort in Harwich will soon be trembling to the march of real ale fans once more – when Harwich Town Brewing Company launches its seventh annual beer festival. A splendid 60-plus real ales and ciders will be up for sinking, in the moat of the Napoleonic fortress, together with American and Read the full post…
Beatson’s bottle new brews for Belgians!
By: JimOldfield
July 10th, 2016
When South Yorkshire bottling specialist Beatson Clark were called on by the Belgians to help package a new landmark series of brews, Beatson’s did what they always do… and bottled it, good and proper! The Humblet family restored Bertinchamps farm in 2011 and launched their first range of beers from their new brewery, two years Read the full post…