Dave bottles it… and comes out a winner!
By: JimOldfield
August 26th, 2012
It might sound double-Dutch to non-drinkers, but an exotically-named real-ale bottle shop in a small Yorkshire town is becoming a must-go destination for hoards of ale aficionados.
Bier Huis – Dutch for alehouse – only opened last November, but its stock of rare beers, ciders and Yorkshire delicacies, has rooted West Yorkshire town Ossett as a firm-fixture on the real ale map.
It sells ales from around the world – but with a special focus on Yorkshire beers. Stock usually includes ales from up-and-coming brewers such as Huddersfield’s Magic Rock, along with popular favourites from Bradfield, Ilkley, and of course, Ossett.
Now beer sales are booming, and owner and first-time businessman David Jones, has only one regret: that he didn’t think of the idea sooner!
The former pub worker launched the venture after moaning to his wife that he couldn’t find any bottles of Ossett Brewery’s Treacle Stout in Ossett.
Said David: “She said ‘why don’t you sell it?’. So here we are!”
That was January last year. While arranging a shop lease, he spent the summer taking beers to various farmers’ markets. He planned to name his shop Yorkshire Bottle, but discovered the name was in use with a Doncaster gas company. Instead he settled on Bier Huis – picking the Dutch term so it “stood-out”.
Since then, sales have been rising week-on-week.
An avid real ale fan, David said: “I’ve tried a lot of beers and I know what’s good and what’s not. I usually go direct to the brewery to buy, but I’ve used an importer to bring southern beers and supply our world selection. “I’m now finding some brewers and import companies are coming to us themselves. I was delighted that Ossett Brewery came to us with their Rat & Ratchet Ratsputin. They only made 200 bottles of it, and gave us 24 to sell as an exclusive beer. They were soon snapped up. Bloody good beer it was too!
“Of course, Ossett beers, as the local brewer, out-sell everything. They are closely followed by Bradfield, Ilkley and Sam Smiths. I’ve just started selling Five Towns and Revolutions who are both local breweries and I expect them to be right up there.”
David doesn’t have a typical customer. He says: “Every age group has been in, giving the elbow to the myth that only old men enjoy ale! We’ve found women in their late 20s come in for Belgium beers – and not just the fruit ones. Many customers come from Bradford, Barnsley and Leeds, but we’ve had people from all over the country popping in.
“I don’t think pubs see us as competition. If people enjoy a guest ale in a pub, they might come to us next to see if we have it.”
To spice up interest, he holds tasting nights. The next is a cider and cheese-matching event which takes place tomorrow (Tuesday, March 27). Previous events have included a Little Valley brewery special, and a women’s night which interspersed make-up demonstrations with beer tasting. Next for the shop will be a home-brew range and potentially, a small Dutch-style bar upstairs.
David adds: “Not once have I woken-up and thought ‘not another day’. I’ve met some great people and I’ve even been given free beers.
“If I’d known that would happen, I’d have done this years ago!”
