Staff at aShropshire pub have brewed their own unique beer from“greenhops”– just in time for the Ludlow Food Festival.

Norman Pearce, who runs the Sun Inn at Corfton in south Shropshire, has made the ale–named Green Hop –from vines grown at Tenbury Wells

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SIBA also urged the Government to confirm its commitment to progressive beer duty (PBD), the tax breaks for smaller brewers, in its submission for the Treasury’s review of alcohol tax and pricing.

SIBA urged the government to create a duty structure that encourages consumers to choose lower alcohol drinks like draught beer over higher ABV beverages that “contribute far more readily to a ‘binge drinking culture”.

In response to Diageo’s high-profile call for duty “equivalence”, which would mean a freeze on spirits duty only so each unit of alcohol is taxed the same, SIBA said: “There can be no sense at all in allowing spirits to become relatively cheaper as part of a strategy to tackle drink-related problems.”

The group said there’s a “compelling argument” for equalising duty systems for beer and cider because the smallest brewer, although receiving 50% relief under PBD, is still paying more in duty than a “major brand of Irish cider”. 

On PBD, the submission says 83% of SIBA members receive the full 50% abatement on all their production, and have a “crucial vested interest in its continuation for their ongoing commercial viability”.

However, SIBA would participate in a review of PBD and suggests a similar scheme for smaller cider producers.

Article taken from the Morning Advertiser

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Sheffield Steelers are delighted to announce that they have secured sponsorship for their Man of the Match awards through an agreement with Thornbridge brewery.

For the new season each team will have a Man of the Match awarded with a case of Thornbridge’s Award Winning Jaipur IPA. “We are delighted to be involved with Steelers and are looking forward to what will be an fantastic season”. says Brewery Director Simon Webster.

“This association builds on our support for other local sport with involvement at Sheffield Tigers, Abbeydale Sports Club and Sheffield FC as well as other sponsorship for the great Arts and Music in the City and is a great way of promoting our beers through activities we are interested in.

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In its submission to the government’s Alcohol Taxation Review, The Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) stresses its readiness to support the Treasury if it actually ‘walks the walk’ to formulate and deliver a sustainable strategy to achieve its aspirations.

Presenting a local brewing industry that embodies many of the qualities of the Coalition’s ‘Big Society’, chief executive Julian Grocock said, “Local brewers are exactly the type of business that this government says it wants to see prosper: independent, entrepreneurial and rooted in their communities, providing direct and indirect employment for local people.” Within the submission, SIBA has asked the government to confirm its commitment to retaining Progressive Beer Duty (PBD).

SIBA points out that the previous administration’s policy of a high and escalating duty on beer has been “fiscally inefficient, socially and culturally detrimental and commercially damaging.” It has shifted consumers away from the controlled, socially responsible drinking environment of the pub into the supermarket for their drinks purchases – and the impending VAT increase will widen further the on-off trade price differential. SIBA recommends a cut in beer duty to balance the VAT hike.

SIBA also urges the government to look at creating a duty structure that would encourage consumers to choose lower alcohol drinks like draught beer over higher ABV beverages that “contribute far more readily to a ‘binge drinking culture”. In response to recent calls for a spirits duty freeze, it states, “There can be no sense at all in allowing spirits to become relatively cheaper as part of a strategy to tackle drink-related problems.” It also argues that there is a “compelling argument” for equalising duty systems for beer and cider, pointing out that the smallest brewer, although receiving 50% relief under PBD, is still paying more in duty than a major brand of Irish cider.

On PBD, SIBA’s submission states, “83% of SIBA members receive the full 50% abatement on all their production, and have a crucial vested interest in its continuation for their ongoing commercial viability.” The resultant failure of many smaller brewers would, according to Grocock, “be bad not just for our sector, but for the whole UK beer market, which has been transformed by the innovation of the microbrewers.” SIBA repeats, in the submission, its readiness to participate in a review of PBD, and suggests that similar protection could be offered to smaller cider producers.

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Purity Brewing Co is pleased to announce a new partner for the development of its business in the national off trade sector. Top5 is a new company started by Rob Flanagan and Mark Holmes who both share a passion for selling and maximising brand performance.

Mark Holmes from Top5 commented “We are delighted to be working with the Purity Brewing Co, Top5 recognises just how good Purity beers are, and not just in their branding but how great they taste too”

Paul Halsey, Managing Director, Purity Brewing co goes on to say “It was a natural choice for us as we have worked with Mark and Rob before. We believe the focus and knowledge they have within that sector will bring great rewards for purity who want to focus their premium bottled ale brands into the key premium off trade sector.

“The premium bottled ale market is a developing market and we want to be at the forefront of it.”

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At least in this country such sentiments tend to get no further than ill-considered calls for the forced repatriation of those who are “over here, living off the state, taking our jobs” etc.

So where are microbrewers supposed to go back to? This is not a flippant question – not after the orchestrated haranguing I received during the Great British Beer Festival trade session.

One after another, leading figures from old family breweries took me to task about SIBA’s commitment to the continuance of Progressive Beer Duty (PBD). “Too many small brewers, unfair competition, undercut pricing”, I got the lot.

Let me put some perspective on this pessimistic (and inaccurate) vision of oceans of cheap beer flooding the market on the back of a so-called “subsidy”.

In 2009 the total volume brewed by the 350 members of SIBA who are entitled to the full rate of duty relief on all their production was 287,000 barrels.

That’s about as much as came out of one revered brewery in Chiswick. It’s little more than half the total produced in Bedford. And British Beer & Pub Association statistics indicate it’s about one per cent of all beer sales in 2009.

Add to this the undeniable evidence that microbrewing has worked wonders on our cask and craft brewing heritage – and therefore on consumer choice too. Nowhere was this more apparent than at Earls Court last month. Even die-hard traditionalists have been inspired to innovate and brew something other than bitter and mild and the occasional old ale. Enthusiastic drinkers and publicans have never had it so good.

When I ask PBD critics how many small brewers they want to put out of business, I get answers that echo the old weaselly mantra, “I’m not racist, but…” .

I’m not saying there’s no case for a review of PBD. We know the new government has this in its sights. And rather than seek confrontation, we’re working towards a structure that we can present to the Treasury as a pragmatic solution – that will not threaten the livelihoods of the vast majority of SIBA members.

Some brewers would do well to remember too that we’ve been constructive about the beer tie. PBD has helped microbrewers survive in significantly foreclosed markets. As long as tied estates are retained, duty relief remains essential.

One of my ambushers told me the managing director of one large brewing company says microbrewers are “parasites”. I won’t tell you his name – you could call him Alf Garnett, but that might be too generous.

Taken from:  The Publican

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The Kammac keg and cask company, based in Burton, the brewing capital of Britain, has never been busier.
Though the recent recession has been hitting brewing hard, one Staffordshire firm is bucking the trend.

Kammac in Burton-on-Trent supplies casks and kegs to breweries; and it has seen its production double.

That is because the demand for real ales has increased. Kammac is making giant 100-litre casks just to keep up.

While dozens of pubs are closing every week, the number of small British brewers is actually at its highest since 1940.

Figures published in September 2010 by the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) show that the UK has seen the sharpest annual decline in alcohol consumption in more than 60 years. But the UK ale market increased its market share of all beers for the first time since the 1960s.

It is thought the overall decline may be due to the effect of the recession on spending, but commentators say it could also be a sign that people are drinking more responsibly.

Read the full story on the BBC website

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They can be light, dark, strong or sharp – and they are the shining light of the pub industry in Northamptonshire and nationwide.

The commodity in question is real ale, which new figures show is the only area of the British pub market which is on the rise. Statistics released by the British Beer & Pub Association yesterday show that UK drinkers are continuing to reduce their alcohol consumption, and 2009 saw the sharpest year-on-year decline since 1948.

But it also revealed that the UK ale market increased its market share of all beers in 2009 for the first time since the 1960s, and the number of UK brewers is at its highest since 1940.

Read the full story in the Evening Telegraph

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Ross Kemp Visits Box Steam Brewery’s Flagship Pub

BAFTA award-winning actor, author and journalist Ross Kemp paid a surprise visit to a rural Wiltshire pub this weekend; Mr Kemp spent the early part of Saturday evening in the riverside gardens of The Cross Guns at Avoncliff - the flagship pub of the Box Steam Brewery – where he enjoyed drinking the
multiple-award winning Tunnel Vision ale.

Staff and customers alike were surprised to find themselves in the company of the celebrity, who had called in to the Cross Guns at Avoncliff with his girlfriend whilst enjoying a break from filming.
Bar manager Emily Weymouth and waitress Sophie Upton (British under-23 National Pole Vault champion) enjoyed chatting to the star and were able to have their photo taken alongside him.

Ross Kemp joins an impressive list of celebrities to have visited the charming 16th Century pub in recent years, including Gary Oldman, Kevin Spacey, Harry Enfield, Ruby Wax and Phil Spencer.

Brewery manager Gordon King commented “It is always a pleasure to hear of people enjoying our quality hand-crafted ales, especially well-known individuals such as Ross Kemp – perhaps the Queen Vic may soon start serving Tunnel Vision?!”

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