35 minute read
Brewery news The latest from our Brewing Members around the UK
New Cumbrian brewery, Lakes Brew Co, emerges from tough times
After being made redundant at the beginning of lockdown restrictions 12 months ago, an award-winning team of four has reunited as Lakes Brew Co.
Co-founders Matt Clarke, Michelle Gay, Steve Ricketts and Paul Sheldon, formerly employed by Hawkshead Brewery at Staveley, will be focusing on the local and thriving independent beer scene. Michelle said they were looking forward to developing a progressive and sociably innovative brewery in line with their own ethos and attitudes: “This opportunity has come out of adversity. What most people would regard as a disaster - when we lost our jobs - means we can now build something fresh and new.” The new brewery will be in the heart of Kendal on Mintsfeet Industrial Estate, housing a bespoke designed 16hl SSV brew kit, MicroCan CL5 canning line and a proposed pop up tap room, providing fresh off the line beer to the craft beer scene in the Lake District. Brewer Matt will be creating a range of modern beer styles, focusing on freshness and quality. Keen to use innovative ingredients including new hop varieties and yeast strains, Matt, said he is looking forward to working alongside likeminded artisanal businesses in the Lake District’s food and drink scene and collaborating with other Cumbrian businesses.
For further information go to www.lakesbrewco.com
Brewery Manager and Wold Top Director, Alex Balchin with the first three Viking inspired beers
The team at Wold Top Brewery has launched a range of limited edition beers for people to enjoy at home.
Each month, Wold Top brews a different Viking inspired beer that is available exclusively online and as part of its monthly bottled beer subscription offer. The third of the Wold Newton based brewery's limited edition bottlings in the 2021 Vikings series is Thor. "Thor's deep amber colour is reminiscent of the red hues in the God of Thunder's hair and beard. It's a delicious balance of biscuity crystal malts and Mystic and Minstrel hops with notes of orange," said Brewery Manager, Alex Balchin. "Our first two Viking beers, Odin and Freyja were very popular, so we're hopeful that people looking for something different to enjoy at home will want to try Thor and the forthcoming limited edition beers. Hopefully, people will also be able to enjoy the Viking beers in pubs before too long." Thor (4.5% ABV) is gluten free and suitable for vegans.
To find out more go to www.woldtopbrewery.co.uk
Craft alcohol-free returns to draught with Big Drop
Alcohol-free brewer, Big Drop, launched two of its most popular 0.5% ABV beers on draught - in kegs - to coincide with UK pubs and bars reopening in April.
Big Drop’s Citra IPA was already being poured on draught pre-pandemic in venues such as Brewhouse & Kitchen and the Barworks group. Now it is also kegging its Pine Trail Pale Ale in the same 30L format to support the return of on-trade drinking. Pine Trail is unparalleled as the only AF beer to have twice won ‘World Best’ at the World Beer Awards (2017 and 2020), not to mention a Master from the Global Beer Masters. In terms of availability, Big Drop has around 90% of the UK covered via wholesalers such as Matthew Clark, EeBria, Nectar & Pigs Ears. This nationwide distribution was one of the reasons for it winning the Commercial Achievement category at this year’s SIBA Business Awards. Rob Fink, founder and CEO of Big Drop, said: “When we say we’re dedicated to pushing the boundaries of alcohol-free beer, that includes the physical and geographical ones too. We’re as excited as anyone for the on-trade to finally open up again and we’ll be there for venues who want to add a decent AF option to their repertoire.”
Find out more at www.bigdropbrew.com
Big Drop launches ‘the big explorer’ mixed 8-pack, available exclusively in Waitrose
Alcohol-free brewer, Big Drop, has announced the launch of The Big Explorer Pack, a new mixed 8-pack of 330ml cans, which is available exclusively in Waitrose.
A collaborative idea between the brewer and the retailer, the pack will feature an impressive collection of Big Drop’s bestselling beers, many of which will be listed with the retailer for the first time. The pack will also include Coba Maya Cerveza: a brand new 0.5% lager. As well as being a welcome addition to Waitrose’s beer range for fans of craft brew, the pack is an opportunity for the uninitiated to take a deep dive into the world of alcohol-free beer, and to discover the myriad of award-winning varieties that Big Drop has to offer. The pack follows the success of Big Drop’s previous listings with Waitrose - Galactic Milk Stout and Paradiso Citra IPA - which first hit the retailer’s shelves last year. Retailing at £12, The Big Explorer Pack will be available to purchase in 220 Waitrose stores. The new launch comes at an exciting time for Big Drop, who have a busy summer full of collaborations and releases in store. The beers in the pack are:
Coba Maya Cerveza (new)
A retail first available exclusively at Waitrose, this brand new beer delivers classic summer refreshment. It’s a crisp, clean, lawnmower style lager which pours the colour of straw in sunlight. With a balanced malt punch on the palate and a gentle spicy, herbal aroma of German noble hops, serve with a slice of lime to enjoy the summer in full cerveza style.
Poolside DDH IPA
Previously a limited-edition beer, the Poolside DDH IPA proved so popular that Big Drop decided to bring it back for the summer, exclusively at Waitrose. A classic hop-fest that fuses tropical flavours to recreate the intensity of a double IPA, this brew is the ultimate summer thirst quencher. The fantastic blend of US hops combine to give pineapple, citrus, pine and stone fruit aromas underpinned by a pine and herby flavour – topped off with an unapologetic slap of mango.
Pine Trail Pale Ale
A new listing for Waitrose, the Pine Trail Pale Ale is one of Big Drop’s best-selling beers, and the only alcohol-free beer to ever scoop two top prizes at the World Beer Awards (2017 & 2020).. A delight for the senses, it delivers on all levels. Rosy floral aromas are immediate on pour, with a light and limey citrus bite on the palate and a balanced but obvious bitterness to finish.
Uptime Lager
Another first-time listing for Waitrose, Big Drop’s Uptime Craft Lager is easy drinking and full-flavoured, but elegant, too. A goldmedalist at the European Beer Challenge, the vegan-friendly brew has light herbal and floral hop aromas, a hint of caramel with peppered spiciness on the palate and a touch of orange at the end.
Paradiso Citra IPA
Voted the UK’s best Speciality IPA at last year’s World Beer Awards - beating 6% ABV beers into second and third place - the Paradiso Citra IPA radiates citrus fruit from first pour to final sip. The bright, sharp twist of bitterness on the end makes it incredibly morish.
Galactic Milk Stout
Big Drop’s first-ever brew - and one of its most decorated with gold medals at the International Beer Challenge, the World Beer Awards and the US Open Beer Championship, to name a few - the Galactic Milk Stout is rich, unctuous and an absolutely decadent treat of a beer. Think honeycomb covered in chocolate.
Double Strike Sour
Gluten-free and vegan-friendly, the Double Strike Sour is a tastebud-tickling brew with a clean white grape aroma, hints of fresh white bread and almost lemon curd-like sourness. It’s a great gateway into the world of sour beers, and - with its mouthwatering properties — it’s an excellent aperitif.
Woodcutter Brown Ale
Another multi award-winner, the Woodcutter Brown Ale is malt-focused with a toasty aroma and soft grassy notes thanks to the light use of hops. The palate is malty with a touch of fruit and caramel. Perfectly paired with something hearty like a good beef stew. Rob Fink, Co-Founder of Big Drop, comments: “We’re so excited to be working with Waitrose to launch our new Big Explorer pack. Both our Galactic Milk Stout and Paradiso Citra IPA beers have proved exceedingly popular with Waitrose customers since hitting the shelves last year, and we’re confident this pack will also go down a storm. It’s the perfect purchase for consumers looking to discover the many different styles of alcohol-free beer on offer, and the fact that it features two exclusive beers is an added bonus!”
Docks Beers releases its first sour
Docks Beers has released its first ever sour beer and the Docks team is urging people who've never drunk this style of beer before, to try this one. ‘Fruits of Labour’ is a 5.5% ABV triple berried sour, made with blackberries, blackcurrants and black peppercorns.
Sharam Shadam, Director of Docks Beers, explains why the brewery wanted to release a sour. “Sours are one of my favourite beer styles. They have an intentionally acidic, tart, or sour taste and I’ve always been fascinated by the science that goes into producing one. We wanted our first sour to be accessible, so we have crammed it full of fruit flavours to balance the sourness. If you’re new to drinking sours, I think that Fruits of Labour is an ideal first beer to try. It will open your eyes to the world of sour beer. We are so pleased with the results that it has whet our appetite for making more sours and we look forward to exploring different styles and flavours later in the year.” Mike Richards, Director and Head Brewer at Docks Beers, describes it as a “punchy fruity sour beer, rich with sweet, sour, tart and spicy flavours. It’s ideal for the warmer months to come. Fruits of Labour is definitely the first of many more sours for us!”
Find out more at www.docksbeers.com
Salcombe Brewery Co backs the Devon economy with major investment
Salcombe Brewery Co has announced that, following a major investment in its brewing and packaging facilities at a new additional site, it is ideally placed to meet the growing market for its awardwinning beers.
As the hospitality sector re-opens, its investment will support the launch of its first canned products, its first lager and its increasing partnerships with leading South West hospitality venues. Salcombe Brewery Co Chairman, John Tiner, comments: “While the last year has been incredibly challenging for our industry, we have taken the opportunity presented by the lull in trade to open a second site. This site complements our existing brewery at Estuary View and will house our own bottling, canning and kegging lines. We have also tripled our brewing capacity and introduced new cardboard packaging across the board to replace plastic.” John explains: “In addition to the packaging and fermenting capabilities at the new site, we are also moving our cask and keg storage together with our distribution activities from our brewhouse at Estuary View. This will enable the brewhouse, tap room and shop to offer a broader range of experiences to our visiting customers. The expansion means we will be able to support the local community through increased employment and to open up new markets, both locally and further afield, for our Heritage and Discovery range of beers.” Sam Beaman, Head Brewer, comments: “The new facilities will present fantastic opportunities for the brew team to both increase volumes of existing beers and to introduce new products within our Discovery range. The lighter cans, which also lend themselves to product innovation, will enable us to propel our online offerings and seek new distribution channels.”
For more information go to www.salcombebrewery.com
Purity beers are now suitable for vegans
As of 12th April and the opening of pub gardens nationwide, all beer, including cask, leaving Purity Brewing Company’s Warwickshire farm location has been suitable for vegans.
Since 2005 and the launch of Pure UBU and Pure Gold, Purity has set about widening the appeal of modern-day cask beer and over more recent years, Purity has noticed an exponential growth in veganism across the UK. Paul Brazier, Head of Marketing, said: “The UK has seen a growing trend of healthconscious consumers, looking for healthier alternatives to their regular products they would normally purchase. Here at Purity, we’ve seen a growing demand for Gluten Free, organic and vegan beers which led us to launch a Gluten Free speciality range in 2019. It was only last January we relaunched Bunny Hop as a Gluten Free Vegan Hazy Pale in cask to offer an alternative to Isinglass fined traditional cask and meet a demand from cask consumers.” Since the relaunch of Bunny Hop in January 2020, Purity’s journey hasn’t stopped there, during summer of 2020 Head Brewer Flo Vialan took steps to ensure all bottled product was vegan friendly to complement the full range of vegan friendly keg and canned beers. Flo explains: “Our keg, can and most recently bottle products are all vegan friendly, unfiltered and brewed without the use of Isinglass finings. This got us thinking, as a business built on accessibility of modern-day beer, we wanted to ensure everyone could enjoy our full range, including cask.” In early lockdown, Purity set about addressing this. Following some initial trials and research into credible alternatives, they found a way to remove this animal bi-product from their brewing process. Flo added: “After a number of trials back in 2020 and the early part of this year, I am pleased to announce that we have successfully removed Isinglass entirely from our cask beer range. Essentially, we have switched to a vegan-friendly fining agent Super F. This will ensure all of our cask beer will continue to have the same appearance they have had since Purity was founded back in 2005.” To assist customers serving the newly fined cask beer, Purity has taken a step to include some additional information on their cask, alongside a letter with every delivery.
For more information go to www.puritybrewing.com
Purity Brewing Company appoints new MD
Purity Brewing Company has announced the appointment of Andy Maddock as Managing Director.
Andy’s appointment comes at a critical time for Purity, who tragically lost Co-Founder James Minkin to Pancreatic Cancer back in June 2020. With a first-class background across brewing and brand Andy’s most recent senior positions include European Agile Transformation Director and Trading Director National Groups & Festivals with Heineken UK, following two years between 2014-2016 as Managing Director of Caledonian Brewery in Edinburgh. Bringing a wealth of experience and knowledge of the industry with him Andy’s first priority will be focusing on re-establishing the growth trajectory Purity had enjoyed pre-Covid. Paul Halsey said of the appointment: “I’m really very excited about Andy joining us in the critical stage of our journey. He will massively upweight our focus on sales and marketing and more importantly enable myself to share more responsibility within my role.”
Ossett owner Jamie Lawson (left) with Nadir Zairi, Ossett Brewery MD launch the new look brews.
Ossett promotes three brewpub champions into new look core range
Yorkshire’s progressive Ossett Brewing Company has taken in three ‘shining star’ beers from its brewpubs to relaunch under the mothership brand.
The fast-growing trio of White Rat, Black Voodoo and Butterley will now all be brewed at the main brewery site under the Ossett banner while retaining their own distinctive new look. Sales of the hoppy pale ale, White Rat (4.0% ABV) - originally brewed at the Rat Brewery housed underneath the Rat and Ratchet pub in Huddersfield - have soared in recent times, gathering a cult-like following. To keep up with current demand for this excellent beer, White Rat has been successfully brewed at Ossett over than the past three years. Now, Fernandes’ Black Voodoo-renamed Voodoo (5.0% ABV) chocolate orange stout and Riverhead’s Butterley (3.8% ABV) Yorkshire bitter, have joined White Rat from their respective homes in Wakefield at Fernandes Brewery Tap & Bierkeller and in Marsden, Huddersfield at the Riverhead Brewery Tap to increase production. Owner Jamie Lawson has stated that the brews will be faithfully replicated at the main brewery. He said: “These shining stars of our microbreweries enjoy an ever-growing fan base, but increasing production in their home breweries was not possible. It was time to firmly place them under the Ossett portfolio. “Demand for White Rat is now pretty much on par with our leading brew, Yorkshire Blonde, which is quite incredible. As true White Rat fans know, we have brewed it successfully at Ossett for over three years. So I can assure any doubting diehard fans that the beer remains as brewed previously. If anyone says differently, well, that’s fantasy, just fake news. “I can also reassure Black Voodoo and Butterley fans that the character of the brews will remain untouched. We have simply tweaked the design but certainly not the beer. The creative new branding is presented in a more clean and modern way, allowing the trio to sit alongside the ever so popular Ossett core range, Yorkshire Blonde, Silver King and Excelsius.”
For more information go to www.ossett-brewery.co.uk
Arran Brewery puts its Loch Earn Brewery Hotel and Visitor Centre on the market
The Arran Brewery Loch Earn Brewery Hotel and Visitor Centre is up for sale. The site, on the banks of Loch Earn, features 10 moorings, three piers, fishing, a brewery with the potential to brew 3,500 litres per day, a cider shack producing batches of 1,000 litres of cider as well as a hotel with three bars, three restaurant areas, a coffee shop and 39 bedrooms.
Managing Director Gerald Michaluk said: “It is with a heavy heart we are having to put the property on the market. We have not recovered from a small fire, following which the insurance company has still not settled our claim in full. This has lead to a lack of funds while the property needs around £600,000 spent on it to bring it up to spec. Unfortunately we simply don’t have that kind of money, given the current downturn in the brewing industry, to put into the building. As such we have put the site on the market for offers over £775,000 but a new owner would need to have around £1,500,000 to acquire the site and to realise its full potential.” The brewery acquired the site in 2013 and purchased and installed a secondary brewery in the outbuildings which is currently in need of commissioning. Plans are to build a further three buildings and open both a whisky shop and a local produce shop. The brewery reports having tried to form a joint venture with several parties on the site but in the end none of these proposals have come to fruition. Arran recently acquired Flying Firkin, a wholesale beer distributor in the North of England, and is in the process of acquiring a 16,500sqft warehouse facility for this company, clearly broadening its focus to include the South. The property is being marketed by Christie’s as the sole agent.
For more information go to www.arranbrewery.co.uk
Bluestone Brewing Co undertakes a brand refresh for 2021
With last year’s lockdown forcing the Bluestone Brewing Co team to take time out from the day-to-day hustle and bustle of brewery life, they have had time to consider what the future looks like for Bluestone Brewing Co.
After seven years in business, the team decided it was time for some “new clothes”. Not so much a rebrand, but a fresh look and feel for the brewery and its beers and one that borrows from its past. The brewery remains the same, with the same people, same bottle, cask and keg beers packed with flavour, the same values and green credentials, but Bluestone has refreshed its logo, labels and merchandise with a versatile and responsive design that enables it to bring new beers and ideas to market much faster, allowing its brewers to get creative. The new look is inspired by Turing Patterns, which are a “Spatially periodic pattern even from a random or almost uniform initial condition”. These are found all around us in the beautiful natural environment that the brewery is so lucky to be situated in and even in the brewing process itself. These patterns will change and morph in many colourful and exciting new ways as Bluestone adds new beers to its collection and refreshes the existing favourites. A signature element of the branding that has always helped the brewery stand out from the crowd has been colour. Whilst the aim was for a more generic, versatile design, for the new look, the team wanted to retain the playful, vibrant feel of the old, so they have worked hard at replicating the existing colours, for the core range of beers, making them easy to recognise and maintaining their colourful personalities. The new look also enables Bluestone to be much more spontaneous, wild, and playful with the colours and design of new beers.
For more information go to www.bluestonebrewing.co.uk
McColl's Brewery announces appointment of new Head Brewer
McColl's Brewery has appointed Simon Whittington as the new Head Brewer for the County Durham-based craft brewery.
Simon joins McColl's after a short spell as Head Brewer at Durham Brewery, with the majority of his career prior to this at Camerons Brewery in Hartlepool. He started as a lab technician at Camerons, before moving into production and packaging, and then leading the development of nanobrewery Tooth & Claw Brewing. He joins McColl's with a wealth of quality control and assurance knowledge, which has been at the heart of plans for McColl's to improve on everything it does. The plan is to break down the current core and seasonal ranges and dive into the technical side of each beer. Once this work is completed, the brewery will have an amazing base to then start releasing more specials and pushing boundaries. Simon says of his new role: "With QA at the forefront, we are looking at the way we brew and ferment depending on the final packaging method. We're focusing on water, grist bills, hop usage and yeasts, not only as raw ingredients but how we use and process them. There are lots of controls and background stuff that has already been identified and once in place will elevate our beer to the next level. We're fortunate to have really good equipment and a shared passion for beer, now it's time to work on the amazing foundations that Danny has laid and get stuck into the nitty-gritty." Danny McColl, Co-owner at McColl's Brewery, said: "It's been a long time thinking, but with the appointment of Simon as our Head Brewer it genuinely marks a significant point in McColl's Brewery development. Alongside other substantial process and equipment investments (less sexy than fresh, wacky beers or collab shout outs) Simon is here to strip the brewery back to basics and build foundations of quality and consistency to ensure bloody tasty beer is what people get from us. The next few months will see significant development in our current beers, elevating their character and profiles and nailing the best means of packaging and dispense. No more jack of all trades, more pitch-perfect precision." McColl's Brewery is also proud to announce that it has now reached the £2,000 mark in the target to raise money for Men's Pie Club (MPC) to help tackle social isolation in men across the North East of England. The North East craft brewery collaborated with MPC late last year to brew a traditional bitter (with a twist), with £1 from every can of beer sold being donated to the club. They hope to raise £2,500 in total, which will enable Men's Pie Club to continue their great work. Men’s Pie Club is about local guys, making pies. Supported by Food Nation, a social enterprise based in Newcastle, MPC was developed in response to the need for increasing levels of social connections and feelings of belonging for men in the North East of England.
For more information go to www.mccollsbrewery.co.uk
Powderkeg launches brand new look
Multi-award winning Powderkeg Beer is coming out of lockdown with a stunning re-brand. Having picked up a 3-star Great Taste Award, a national SIBA Gold, Food & Drink Devon ‘Drink Of The Year’ and a gold at the European Beer Challenge over the past 12 months, Powderkeg is brewing at the top of its game.
Widely admired in its home county of Devon, Powderkeg is now ready to take its ‘FreeThinking Beer’ to the next level with a fresh new look. The Exeter-based brewers are self-confessed freedom-loving beer obsessives, carving their own path with curiosity, creativity and defiance. They look beyond established ideas and opinions to revolutionise a style, creating something fresh, interesting and always outstanding. In Cut Loose, they re-imagine a classic German-style Pilsner by pepping it up with New Zealand hops; it’s a great example of how moving past traditional techniques can elevate a beer beyond expectations. The beers are also Gluten-Free and Vegan. Here’s what founder and head brewer John Magill had to say: “We take influences from craft beer and classic European brewing to create flavour-packed sessionable beers that excite craft aficionados and the casual drinker alike. The PK team have spent many years honing our skills, giving us the expert brewing knowledge to break the rules with a bit of style; making beers that really satisfy our curiosity, creativity and thirst.” Working with Catling Creative and renowned Illustrator Jem Panufunik, Powderkeg has brought its brand to life with some eye-popping new artwork. The intricate illustrations tell the stories of the individual beers above the bold new logo, mouth-watering tasting notes and clear product information. The new designs are aimed at grabbing the attention of beer lovers on shelves, taps and in fridges everywhere this summer.
For more information go to www.powderkegbeer.co.uk
Moon Gazer Ale launches new ale and new cans
A brewery in North Norfolk turned lockdown into an opportunity by launching a new strong bottle-conditioned ale.
Moon Gazer Ale, in Hindringham, launched the new Moon Gazer Bob’s Tale Barley Wine style beer thanks in part to its brewing tanks sitting idle while the pubs were closed during lockdown, as the brewery’s co-founder Rachel Holliday explained: “We have always wanted to launch a strong ale and create a contemporary twist on an old beer style – particularly Barley Wine. However, the challenge was always having time to allow the beer to sit and mature in tank, which can take several months. Typically, all our tanks are full producing our core range of cask ales for pubs and we just never seem to fit it into the busy brewing schedule.” That all changed when the lockdown hit hard late in 2020 and the team at Moon Gazer Ale could see that the tanks would be sitting empty for weeks if not months. It was too good an opportunity to miss, so the team set about creating Bob’s Tale Barley Wine, which at 8.8% ABV is the strongest beer the micro-brewery has ever created. It was also an opportunity to create a beer in memory of Colin Bobbitt, Rachel’s Dad, who had sadly passed away just before the first lockdown. “Dad was a true fan of real ale and very likely the inspiration that brought me to starting a brewery nearly 10 years ago. Before Dad died, we were lucky enough to brew a special beer with him, creating a beer similar to his favourites ‘Fullers 1845’ and ‘Oakham Bishop’s Farewell’ – the result was a cask beer at 4.8% ABV, which was really well received in the pubs as well as by Dad.” The team took that original brew and planned the bottle version to be much stronger – taking the same recipe but super charging it into a Barley Wine. “We hope all beer drinkers will enjoy discovering Bob’s Tale and that it may be the beginning for a series of premium and heritage Moon Gazer ales,” added Rachel. The brewery has also ventured into its first 440ml canned ale – a collaboration brew with fellow Norfolk brewery Smartmouth Brewing. The twist, however, is that Smartmouth are based in Norfolk, USA. The Pondhopper IPA, as the name suggests, links the two brewers across the ‘pond’ and uses a combination of UK and USA hops.
Find out more at www.moongazerale.co.uk
Yorkshire Wolds businesses collaborate to create unique beer
Sibling businesses from the Yorkshire coast have collaborated to launch a second barrel-aged beer.
The teams at Wold Top Brewery and sister company Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery have launched Barrel Wave, a limited edition beer that has been matured for eight months in casks that latterly held Filey Bay whisky from Yorkshire's first single malt whisky distillery. Of the collaboration, Wold Top's Brewery Manager, Alex Balchin said: "Rather than brewing an original beer (as we did with our first barrel-aged beer, Swell), for this bottling we've taken one of our most popular and well known beers, Scarborough Fair IPA, and aged it in Spirit of Yorkshire whisky casks for eight months. "Over that time, the beer has matured and developed and has taken on the flavours of the casks. The result is a beautifully rounded, smooth, full bodied beer where hints of soft citrus fruits and hoppy bitter notes marry with the light, creamy, vanilla flavours of the Filey Bay whisky. At 9.1% ABV it's not a beer for every day. Much like a good dram of whisky, it's one to savour and sip!" Barrel Wave is Gluten Free and suitable for Vegans.
For more information go to www.woldtopbrewery.co.uk
Brewery rescued from the brink launches ‘back to the pub’ campaign
Skinner’s Brewery, producer of iconic Cornish beers including Betty Stogs, Porthleven and Lushington’s, has launched a summer campaign to encourage the public to head back to their local pub and support the recovery of hospitality businesses as they emerge from lockdown.
The fiercely independent brewery, which is known for its tonguein-cheek approach and love of Cornish folklore, has picked up the baton for the long-standing Devon/Cornwall dispute over the correct way to enjoy a scone, announcing: “We’re officially launching our #SkinnersFirst campaign this week. We all know that Jam First is an unshakable belief here in Cornwall. However, a new mantra is now taking hold as beer lovers are finally able to enjoy the inside of a pub again; Skinner’s First!” Artist Stevie Gee, the creator of the Porthleven pale ale brand and designer for the likes of Adidas, Vans, Patagonia and Stella McCartney, has updated the original artwork to show a surfer riding a wave, balancing a scone (jam first, of course!) and a pint of Skinner’s beer. Following an extremely tough year in the sector – which amounted to a perfect storm for Skinner’s and led to fears of closure – the Trurobased brewery underwent a successful Crowdfunding campaign back in March, hitting their survival target of £100,000 in just four days. Brewery co-owner Steve Skinner said: “During that incredible Crowdfunder campaign, we were emphatically reminded what Skinner’s means to Cornwall. We’re a brewery with heart and soul - people wanted to hold on to that!” Steve, who owns the company alongside his wife Elaine, continued: “The Skinner’s First campaign is our call for everyone to support their wonderful neighbourhood pubs, and make their first pint from cask or keg a Skinner’s beer as we continue our recovery.” Elaine added: “Successive lockdowns have reminded us all how important it is to support local communities and businesses. By asking your landlord or landlady for Skinner’s you’ll be doing just that – helping to keep the Cornish food and drink industry alive for the future.” Sadly Skinner’s has had to put the re-opening of its own brewery tap, The Old Ale House, on hold until June 21st. It is hoped that alongside The Old Ale House, Skinner’s all-new Tap Yard Bar & Café will now also open in June. Made possible by an additional £50,000 raised on top of the survival fund during the Crowdfunding campaign, this exciting new venture will turn the brewery itself into a food and drink destination and help breathe life back into the post-pandemic city. To get involved with the campaign, the brewery is asking beer lovers to share their pints of Skinner’s back in the pub on social media using the hashtag #SkinnerFirst.
For more information go www.skinnersbrewery.com
A new look for Cornish Crown Brewery
Cornish Crown Brewery has invested in a major equipment overhaul and relaunched with a new look to keep pace with the rapidly evolving market for craft beer.
The microbrewery, which overlooks St Michael’s Mount, was launched in 2012 initially to supply brewery tap The Crown - an award-winning real ale pub in Penzance. It has grown to become one of the South West’s most iconic small breweries, supplying independent pubs, bottle shops and food stores, and epitomising the quality and innovation of contemporary Cornish brewing. Founder Josh Dunkley recently revealed a rebrand for the brewery, a revamped website for online sales, and an ecofriendly service for doorstep deliveries in West Cornwall; he has already had to hire two new employees to help him keep up with demand. Josh explained: “Pre-Covid we were still producing quite a lot of cask beer for pubs. It was a shrinking market, accelerated by the effects of the pandemic. Our response has been to completely overhaul our business, taking it in a new and exciting direction.” Josh has invested in cutting-edge equipment for seamless production of small batch, hop forward beers which he will mainly be selling in can; Premium Pilsner, Citra Boom Pale Ale, and Cornish IPA are amongst the core range, which will regularly be supplemented by limited edition, seasonal releases. Josh added: “We now have a filtration system to produce clear and crisp lagers; a hop gun to deliver optimum infusion for hop-forward IPAs; and a canning machine which allows us to be seriously agile in creating an everevolving range of beers.” While Cornish Crown is still producing cask and kegged beers for pubs across the South West, canned lagers and IPAs will be the new focus, with sales through the relaunched website delivered promptly across the UK. Meanwhile, Josh has bought an electric van for local deliveries, enabling Cornish Crown to make ecofriendly doorstep drops around West Cornwall from his base at Badger’s Cross. Josh said: “Local customers can also order online for ease, and delivery over a certain amount is free within the immediate area. Our customers are embracing the opportunity to drink a great range of beer made locally in small batches, with carbon-neutral delivery to their doors.” Brewery tap The Crown remains a warm and welcoming home for local beer lovers; Josh and his wife Michelle have been able to retain the character and atmosphere of the pub while adhering strictly to Covid-19 measures. Is has been a year of adaptation for Josh, who says: “Like a lot of businesses, the pandemic brought forward and intensified changes we would’ve made over a period of several years. I have other exciting plans - like opening a Visitor’s Centre and hosting regular pop-up food events at the brewery – and hope to kick-start those projects later this year.” The brewery’s current offering can be view and purchased via the website, where new releases and seasonal specials will appear – keep an eye on social media for news of freshly-brewed batches.
Find out more at www.cornishcrown.co.uk
Gloucester Brewery announces major expansion
Gloucester Brewery has leased a new 2,500sqft dockside warehouse in order to expand its brewing capacity and open a new taproom and shop.
It has leased the large Warehouse 4 which fronts onto the canal basin as an addition to its existing site at Fox’s Kiln which adjoins the new building. Plans have been drawn up to create a new selfservice bar and taproom, large brewery shop and extra brewing space which will triple its current beer production. Managing Director Jared Brown said: “We are unbelievably excited to get our hands on this fantastic new warehouse space with its stunning waterside location. This new site will enable us not only to increase our brewing capacity but also create a fantastic new visitor attraction for the city. “It is a challenging project for us as we want to ensure this old building can meet all of our standards around sustainability as part of our bid to be carbon neutral by the end of next year, but we’re determined to redevelop this site with the environment in mind.” The new taproom and shop are due to open this summer as part of the first phase of ambitious plans for the building. The brewery will be launching a Crowdfunding campaign later this year to help fund the next stage of its development. “Crowdfunding will enable us to help the brewery to realise the full potential of this incredible space and take the business to the next level,” Jared said. This major project comes on the back of 18 months of strong growth for the brewery despite the pandemic. It now counts Gloucester Rugby chairman Martin St. Quinton and the club’s Chief Executive Lance Bradley among its shareholders who have helped the business go from strength to strength. In December 2019, the business rebranded to promote and underpin its sustainable earthconscious brewing values. It also brought its entire canning operation in house and is now producing upwards of 500,000 pints of beer a year. Last year, the brewery also created the Fox’s Kiln Distillery spirits line with more than 5,000 bottles of gin sold and a new vodka range released last month. “Despite such overwhelmingly challenging circumstances during the pandemic, the brewery has strived not only to keep going but to continually move forward,” Jared said. “It has not been easy, and I wanted to thank our hard-working staff and our shareholders for their support throughout the last year and of course our loyal customers. We didn’t give up on our vision and dreams despite the pandemic and as we gradually come out of what we hope is the last lockdown, we are excited about realising them with this new site.” The brewery has leased the historic warehouse from the Canal and River Trust. “We are so pleased we have been able to make this deal happen with Canal and River Trust. I started the brewery in 2011 at Gloucester Docks and the business has continued to invest in the area over the last 10 years with the development of Tank bar and over at Fox’s Kiln. This new project cements our commit to the waterside area of the city, and we can’t wait to get started,” Jared added. Anyone who would like to express an early interest in the Crowdfunding project can email invest@gloucesterbrewery.co.uk.
For more information go to www.gloucesterbrewery.co.uk
New craft beer and pizza bar opens at Stewart Brewing
Stewart Brewing, based in Loanhead of the outskirts of Edinburgh, has opened a new brewery bar and pizza kitchen.
The brewery previously had a small marquee bar where locals could enjoy a glass of brewery fresh beer and occasionally hosted pop-up food vendors, however over lockdown the brewery took the opportunity to give the space a massive makeover. Stewart’s Customer Experience Manager, Sarah Stirton, said: ‘We have been building our plans to revamp our bar for a while and when lockdown happened it seemed right to take advantage of that time. We have been working on the area for over a year, the plans keep evolving are we worked on the project, and we are very excited about what we have built. The previous marquee bar has had a complete makeover and a kitchen has been added including an impressive 800kg pizza oven. The brewery will be serving freshly cooked Neapolitan style pizzas made by their very our chef, Ram. The bar’s drinks range has also been expanded to include something for everyone including wines, spirits, and soft drink selections. Not forgetting the outdoor space which has been turned into a beer garden fully equipped for the Scottish weather with a covered area with heaters.”
Find out more at www.stewartbrewing.co.uk.
The Five Points Brewing Company, based in Hackney, East London, has reached its current crowdfunding target and then some, as the independent brewery seeks investment to build a new brewery and taproom in the heart of Hackney.
Five Points hit its initial target of £350,000 within seven days, and continued overfunding until Thursday 20th May. Investors receive shares in the company as well as a range of discounts and unique investor experiences. The move allows Five Points to merge its separate production and warehousing sites into one new flagship headquarters in Mare Street, Hackney. Due to launch in September, the new indoor taproom will host visitor tours and guided beer tastings, include a mezzanine viewing gallery, and will have a large outdoor area for open-air hospitality. The outdoor Taproom is currently open on a pop-up basis, as the hospitality industry re-opens from lockdown. Ed Mason, Co-Founder and Managing Director of The Five Points Brewing Company, said: “Covid-19 has been incredibly challenging for the hospitality and brewing industry, and forced all of us to examine our business models and what we do. Here at Five Points we are doubling down on our East London location, building a brand new combined brewery and distribution centre and, excitingly, creating what will be Hackney’s largest on-site brewery taproom, just a stone’s throw from London Fields and Bethnal Green.”
Find out more at www.fivepointsbrewing.co.uk.
