A revolutionary new method of storing cask beer in pub cellars could see real ale reaching out to a new audience of drinkers.

Marston’s will launch Fast Cask during Cask Ale Week (29 March-5 April) with the aim of attracting thousands of new pubs to real beer.

Fast Cask involves a form of yeast treatment that allows beer to drop bright quickly — the process whereby yeast is cleared from the beer — while still undergoing a secondary fermentation.

It has undergone trials in 70 pubs since November 2009 and there has been no adverse consumer reaction.

Marston’s will seek a patent for the yeast “beads” used in the process, but will consider sharing the technology with other brewers.

Finings made from fish bladders will not be needed to clear the beer under Fast Cask — so it will be acceptable to vegans.

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Countdown to UK’s biggest and best cask beer festival – 29 March-5 April.

This Easter CAMRA, Cask Marque, Britain’s brewers and pub operators and are uniting to celebrate Britain’s national drink - cask ale.

Hook Norton will be playing its part in the World’s largest real ale festival during National Cask Ale Week - 29 March-5 April – with a week of activities at the brewery and in its pubs.

Highlights during the week include a ladies Bring and Beer night at the brewery and an open day when visitors can see Hook Norton’s 100 year old steam engine in operation.

In Hook Norton pubs there will be tutored beer and food tastings, a chance to meet the brewery team and ladies nights.

Hook Norton Managing Director James Clarke said: “A key aim of National Cask Ale Week is to encourage people who have never tried real ale to give it a go in local pubs.

“Research shows that 44 per cent of women who actually taste cask ale go on to become regular or occasional drinkers of it, which is why we are calling all female drinkers to swap their regular tipple for a taste of real ale.

“Hook Norton is hosting a number of events at the brewery and in our pubs for women in a bid to convert them to the joys of cask ale.

“We want our loyal customers to try and covert a friend or family member to the pleasures of drinking cask conditioned beer.

“Research by the Campaign for Real Ale shows a staggering 65 per cent of adults have never even tried our national drink, yet of those that do, 40 per cent are converted.

“Hook Norton drinkers are marvelous ambassadors for real ale. We are calling on all our fans to go out and recruit other people to the wonderful world of real ale. After just one or two sips of a Hooky beer, most people are amazed at the flavour and never look back.

“Unlike tea, coffee, wine and lager, Hook Norton beers are hand crafted here in the Oxfordshire village of Hook Norton, usually using only four raw materials – hops, malted barley, yeast and water – which are often source locally.”

Hook Norton Brewery Cask Ale Week plans include:

Monday 29 March - Ladies Night at the Brewery Visitors Centre

“Bring and Beer” - why not bring a friend who does not drink Cask Ale?

An evening of tutored tastings, beer with food and an education into the wonderful world of Cask Ale!

There will be stands from the Body Shop, Hook Norton Florist, Handmade gifts, jewellery and Aloe Vera for you to enjoy.

Male representatives from the brewery will be serving the ladies for the night - prepare to be pampered!

If you’d like to join us for this event, please register with Elizabeth Holmes at the Brewery on 01608 737210, there is a cost of £5.00 per person. All proceeds from the evening will go to Leukaemia Research.

Tuesday 30 March

Ladies Night at the Coach & Horses, Banbury.

Meet the Brewery at the Cap N Gown, Worcester

Tutored Tasting and beer with food matchings with representatives from the brewery.

Meet the Brewery at the Red Lion, Ilmington

Wednesday 31 March

Ladies Night at the Eagle Tavern, Witney

Meet the Brewery at the Volunteer Inn, Grove

Meet the Brewery at the Fox Hotel, Chipping Norton

Meet the Brewery at the New Inn, Abthorpe

Thursday 1 April

Meet the Brewery at the Reindeer Inn, Banbury

Meet the Brewery at the Kings Head, Napton on the Hill

Meet the Brewery at the Coach & Horses, Shipston-On-Stour

Saturday 3 April

Open day at The Brewery - come along for impromptu tastings, quiz around the museum, a chance to see the Steam engine at work and the dray horses in full regalia.

All of the events listed will be from 7.30pm except for Saturday which will be from 10am - 4pm

Go to www.hooky.co.uk for more on Hooky beers, pubs and the Visitor Centre or to book a brewery tour.

Go to www.caskaleweek.co.uk for the latest news on the week.

Brewery tours happen daily, but only by prior appointment and they must be pre-booked, either by telephone on 01608 730384 or via www.hooky.co.uk. Tours cost £9.50 per person.

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The growing popularity of Purity Brewing Company’s award-winning ales has led to two well-known Birmingham venues now stocking them, including one that came as a result of the micro-blogging site Twitter.

The Electric Cinema, which is famous for being the oldest working cinema in the UK, sells Pure UBU, while all three brands, Pure UBU, Mad Goose, and Pure Gold, are available in the Great British Eatery, named England’s Best Fish & Chip shop at 2010 Seafish Awards.

The sale of Pure UBU at The Electric Cinema occurred as a result of appeals by a number of Purity’s Twitter followers. Among those who campaigned for The Electric to stock Pure UBU were Tania Nexust (@tania_nexust) and Ade Bradshaw (@ade_b), both from Birmingham.

Tania said: “The Electric Cinema has a great bar for cocktails but I’ve always thought it could do with selling some good local beers and ales, so I’m delighted that it now stocks Purity. I also think the cinema’s customer base is the right kind of demographic for Purity’s products.”

Tom Lawes, owner of the Electric Cinema, said: “Pure UBU has won legions of admirers with its rich texture. By offering Pure UBU to our customers we further enhanced the unique Electric experience, which includes luxury sofa seating and waiter service.

Meanwhile, Conrad Brunton, who runs the Great British Eatery with Andrew Insley, said: “We all know that different wines enhance the dining experience by bringing out mouth-watering flavours, but we’ve found that you can definitely also match ales with foods. Pure UBU, Mad Goose and Pure Gold are a great match for the delicious items on our menu.”

Visit http://www.greatbritisheatery.co.uk/ or http://www.theelectric.co.uk/ for further information about the Great British Eatery or Electric Cinema.

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“If ever there was a reason to beer blog, this has to be it.”

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Nottinghamshire’s largest independent brewery, Springhead, is celebrating an 800% growth in demand for its reciprocal trading business from December 2009 to February 2010 as a result of an intensified firkin swapping campaign.

Like many small breweries Springhead has long been involved in a barrel exchange system with other like-minded breweries. This co-operative effect enables them to forge long-lasting relationships with both free houses and pub groups and introduces the breweries to a wider geographical audience. In the last six months Springhead has increased the number of breweries it trades with tenfold and is now guaranteed £100, 000 in gross sales for the coming year.

The end of 2009 and the start of 2010 has been witness to some of the largest developments to Springhead’s marketing activity, including a complete re-brand and the appointment of and North-East agent and two new sales managers, one of whom is National Accounts Manager, Phil Owen who has been the driving force behind the successes of the beer swap.

The initiative sees Springhead swapping a mix of its five core beers, including its most popular beer, Roaring Meg, and a specially selected monthly brew from its larger selection of 12 further beers with other similar microbreweries belonging to SIBA, The Society of Independent Brewers. Each microbrewery then has a range of different beers from all around the country with which to trade, selling them on to their regular suppliers, pubs and pub groups. Each beer from the Springhead portfolio is created from an entirely separate recipe to focus on different strengths, colours and flavours to account for different tastes across the UK. Springhead plans to trade with 40 other breweries in 2010 stretching from Newcastle to Cornwall.

As well as the obvious benefits it brings, such as increasing the presence of Springhead’s beers, and those of the other participating breweries’, in real ale pubs around the country, this co-operative effect leads to efficiencies in haulage, reduced costs for both parties and casks are returned quicker than average. In addition, Springhead is able to support the pub groups by supplying its newly rebranded point of sale materials as well as, for instance, regular “meet the brewery” nights held in their pubs.

Springhead’s Managing Director, Helen Teasdale has said: “The beginning of 2010 has been quite tough for the pub trade, with the poor weather affecting sales, so I am delighted that things seem to be looking up. The team at Springhead has really got behind the beer swapping and I hope that the new drinkers who are being introduced to the brand up and down the country enjoy it as much as our regulars.”

Springhead bottled beers are available in Morrison’s nationally and regionally in Waitrose, The Co-op, Asda, Majestic, and Tesco’s supermarkets.

For further stockist details please call 01636 821 000. Springhead Brewery encourages you to enjoy its products in moderation.

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David & Keith Bott

Stoke-on-Trent based Titanic Brewery has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award in recognition of its growing fleet of community pubs.

The brewery has invested heavily in reviving “the local” by buying and refurbishing dilapidated pubs across North Staffordshire.

Now its determination to buck the trend of pub closures has led to a position on the four-strong shortlist for the Publican newspaper’s Multiple Operator of the Year award.

The winner will be announced at a gala evening at London’s famous Grosvenor Hotel on April 21.

The prestigious nomination comes as the brewery, based at Lingard Street, Burslem, celebrates its 25th anniversary.

During that time Titanic has grown from small beginnings to produce around two million pints of fine ale a year with the brewery’s beer sold in pubs and supermarkets across the UK.

However, the award nomination is for its work in its home area of North Staffordshire where Titanic has established a popular chain of four pubs.

“In the early years we probably sold more beer in Newcastle-on-Tyne than Stoke-on-Trent, but we recognised that there would be benefits in selling our product ourselves through local outlets,” explained Managing Director Keith Bott.

“The pub estate provides our shop ‘port-hole’ in the local area and allows beer drinkers to connect directly with the brewery and to feel part of a growing local company. The involvement of customers and the ability to interact and feel part of the Titanic family is exceptionally important to us.”

Titanic bought its first pub, the Bulls Head, Burslem, in 1992, but only began to expand its fleet in 2007 when the brewery forged an innovative partnership with a larger company Everard’s.

The joint venture, combining Titanic’s local knowledge and consumer loyalty with Everards pub purchasing and operating skills has resulted in three new pubs – the Greyhound, Newcastle-under-Lyme,the White Star, Stoke, and the Royal Exchange, Stone.

Titanic Brewery now employs more than 100 people in North Staffordshire and has invested hundreds of thousands of pounds in its four pubs.

Keith added: “Despite the current trend of closures and the global recession we believe there is still a place for traditional style community pubs.

“Titanic’s success comes through giving people what they want – a traditional local pub where people can enjoy good quality products in comfortable surroundings.

“Our pubs are firmly part of the communities they serve. There are no flashy gimmicks or large screen televisions.”

Titanic Pubs are renowned for their community work, each pub raises funds for local and national charities, the Greyhound hosts a popular carol service complete with brass band and the White Star provides a much needed venue for local musicians and poets.

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Purity Brewing Co. has thrown its support behind the 4th Flatpack Festival by signing up to be the official drinks sponsor.

The Flatpack Festival, a celebration of eclectic films, animation and music, runs from 23rd – 28th March at various venues around Birmingham, including Ikon Eastside and The Electric Cinema.

Purity will supply its award-winning Pure UBU and Veltins Pilsner for all hospitality events, which will be attended by artists, filmmakers and the media, including stocking the green room for the flagship event, Fast Forward with Synth Eastwood, which features 20 musicians and artists from France, Berlin, Ireland and the UK.

Purity will also supply the beer in the festival bars at the Vivid and Ikon Eastside venues.

Paul Halsey, Purity’s Managing Director, said: “As a brand Purity has a very broad appeal. Our beers are equally at home in the traditional pub, as well as at cultural events, which is why I am so delighted to support the Flatpack Festival.

“Birmingham has a vibrant arts and culture scene and I’m keen to make Purity a part of it.”

Pip Mcknight, from the Flatpack Festival, added: “The Flatpack Festival aims to provide our audiences with the best in every way, from amazing films, right down to the beer we serve, so we are very excited to be working with Purity. Our two brands make a lot of sense as a package and, after sampling Purity’s award-winning ales, I’m sure they will be popular with festival-goers.”

Among the highlights of this year’s festival are a live score to FW Murnau’s classic silent film, Sunrise, at St Martin’s in the Bull Ring, a Plasticine Party celebrating the work of Frank Zappa’s animator Bruce Bickford, and the UK premier of restored Australian cult classic, Dogs in Space UK, which stars Michael Hutchence, the former lead singer of INXS.

Visit www.flatpackfestival.org.uk for further information about the Flatpack Festival.

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L-R Canalhouse manager, Yvette Storey with Nottingham Evening Post writer, Delia Monk, and two tasters from the Vale of Belvoir, Sandra O’Leary and Janet Newton

The Canalhouse bar has hosted its first ever women only beer tasting event. Organised as part of SIBA’s beer fest weekend, women of all ages, experience, and past taste nightmares were introduced to beer as it should be.

Among those taking part were Sandra O’Leary and Janet Newton from the Vale of Belvoir and Nottingham Evening Post journalist, Delia Monk.

Sandra says she and Janet met at a beer festival and though she is ‘beer mad’, Janet is still a bit of a novice. “So we decided to give this a try and what a great success it’s been,” she says. “Our usual favourites are Harvest Pale and Elsie Mo. Here we’ve really taken to the strong Scottish bitter, Wildcat.”

For the Evening Post’s Delia Monk, the experience was life changing. She says she loves the atmosphere of a beer festival, but would much rather order a lager or a wine. Under Castle Rock’s Charlotte Blomeley’s guidance, her opinions altered radically.

“I went from total ignorance to opinionated enthusiasm in less then 30 minutes,” she says. “We all threw ourselves into it, discovering tastes and flavours I never knew existed in barrels.”

The event, hosted by pub landlady Yvette Storey and led by Castle Rock’s head of beer tasting, Charlotte Blomeley, had the simple aim of introducing female drinkers to the wonders in taste, texture and appearance of British brewed traditional real ale. Charlotte says too many of her women friends fight shy of trying new tastes. “Most are quite content to carry on with a half of their favourite continental lager, glass of wine or fizzy alcopops.

“What they’re missing, and what we showed off, was the majestic tastes of today’s British ales. These are often locally made by brewers who seem much more able to reflect what customers want. The big multi national brewers’ stranglehold on beer has gone and so, instead of only tasting their limited ingredients, these newer ales offer styles and flavours every bit as complex and worthy of discussion as good wines and spirits,” says Charlotte.

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Purity Brewing Co. is proud to announce it will be an official sponsor of the first ever Mostly Jazz Festival, due to take place this summer in Birmingham’s Moseley Park (3rd – 4th July).

Purity, based near Alcester, Warwickshire, will be serving both cask and bottles of its three award-winning beers, Mad Goose, Pure Ubu and Pure Gold, plus Veltins Pilsner and Bernard Lager from its eclectic imported range, ensuring that festival goers don’t get thirsty while they enjoy the musical delights of contemporary jazz, funk and soul.

Premiering this year, the Mostly Jazz Festival is the UK’s only, one site, open air music festival dedicated entirely to jazz music. Set in picturesque surroundings, the festival will feature an eclectic mix of up and coming talent performing alongside headline acts, Sun Ra Arkestra, Courtney Pine, and Quantic and his Combo Barbaro.

Paul Halsey, Purity’s Managing Director, comments: “I’m really looking forward to being part of the first ever Mostly Jazz Festival. The Purity brand has been created to be fresh, funky and innovative, just like the music and artists who will perform at the event.

“Great music and premium beers are a first class combination. Lets just hope the sun shines on us in July.”

Charlotte Payne, the festival’s Press Officer, added: “Mostly Jazz is about showcasing the diversity of contemporary jazz in all its forms, from avant-garde, free and modern jazz through to vocal, song-based jazz, jazz-fusion and future jazz. It’s also about considering jazz’s influence and relationship to other black music art-forms such as Latin music, funk and soul.

“Mostly Jazz will be a relaxed and fun event, so it’s great to have Purity on board as it’s a brand that will fit in very well with the festival’s atmosphere.”

Visit http://www.mostlyjazz.co.uk/home to find out more information about the festival.

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