Acorn Brewery’s famous Barnsley Bitter is being put under a national spotlight in the Houses of Parliament.

The championship cask-conditioned ale from the fast growing Barnsley brewer is on sale as the guest beer in the House of Commons’ Stranger’s Bar during May.

Barnsley East MP and cask ale enthusiast Michael Dugher nominated Acorn’s signature beer for the popular Commons bar to showcase a Barnsley success story. The chestnut coloured ale has claimed many top awards – including a silver accolade at Camra’s (Campaign for Real Ale) annual Great British Beer Festival.

Barnsley Bitter (3.8%) was the first beer rolled out when the brewery launched in 2003. Acorn uses the same yeast strain as the original Barnsley Brewery of the 19th century to recreate the traditional Yorkshire brew once widely popular among industrial workers.

Based in Wombwell, Acorn has enjoyed an outstanding success story since launch by Dave and Judi Hughes – claiming more than fifty awards. Five years ago they invested in a 20-barrel-brew-length plant to double production capacity to 100 barrels-a-week. Recently further equipment has been added to meet the burgeoning demand for Acorn brands.*

Michael Dugher said: “I wanted to get Barnsley Bitter served in the Palace of Westminster as I think it is a great opportunity to showcase such a fantastic local brew. It is also brilliant to be able to share some of Barnsley’s finest produce with colleagues in Parliament. Acorn Brewery produces many popular beers so hopefully this will be the first of many local bitters enjoyed by parliamentarians in the Palace of Westminster.”

After visiting the Commons on Monday to sample the beer with Mr Dugher (see photograph), head brewer Dave Hughes said: “Being on the bar in the House of Commons offers a wonderful shop window for our Barnsley Bitter, which is already award winning ale on the national stage. It has received a very good early reception. We hope a proper taste of Yorkshire will help ease the pain for MPs a little after a hard day dealing with the nation’s woes.”

Barnsley Bitter is always available at the Old No 7 pub, Acorn’s brewery tap in Market Hill, Barnsley, recently voted CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) ‘Local Pub of the Year’.

Taking to the ministerial pumps for a third time in two years, Ilkley Brewery’s beer is once again on tap at the prestigious House of Commons’ Strangers’ Bar this week.

The spa town’s ‘Save the Pub’ ale will be enjoyed by MPs in support of the All Party Parliamentary Save the Pub group chaired by North West Leeds MP, Greg Mulholland. In recent years, the parliamentary group has been lobbying Government to come up with changes to help keep local pubs alive and well, including rules to try and stop developers closing down profitable pubs.

Back in July 2011, Mr Mulholland visited Ilkley Brewery and was one of the first to sample a pint of ‘Save the Pub’. Testament to the brew’s fine flavours, Mr Mulholland has now secured a sought-after spot for the beer at the House of Commons’ watering hole.

Mr Mulholland commented: ““The Save the Pub Group has worked tirelessly over the past three years, seeking to preserve and protect the Great British pub, which plays such an important part of this country’s history and heritage and is hugely important to the communities they serve. It is great to get together and toast our success and have the group’s hard work recognised.

“I was delighted to welcome Ilkley Brewery down to Westminster to join the Save the Pub Group in celebrating our third anniversary with a pint of their specially brewed Save the Pub ale. I hope my colleagues will take the opportunity, whilst the Save the Pub ale is on, to get down to Strangers’ and enjoy a pint and show their support for the Great British pub!

“The Save the Pub Group will, however, not be resting on our laurels and will continue being a strong voice for the British pub in Westminster and nationally for years to come.”

Speaking of his support for the group, Stewart Ross, one of Ilkley Brewery’s directors, said: “As a small brewery in a thriving town, we are continually reminded of the value local pubs bring to communities. Not only do they provide employment and support local food and drink producers, they offer a communal hub for people who live in the area and help build stronger and closer communities.

“We hope our ‘Save the Pub’ beer helps to raise awareness of some of the issues the All Party Parliamentary Save the Pub group is addressing and that we start to see an upturn in pubs’ prosperity across the land.”

To find out more about Ilkley Brewery, visit: www.ilkleybrewery.co.uk or to read the brewery’s blog, go to: www.ilkleybreweryblog.blogspot.com

A SOUTH Tyneside pub boss is brewing fresh expansion plans … on the other side of the river.

Jarrow Brewery, which opened its latest pub only a matter of months ago, has taken over the real ale and music pub, The Magnesia Bank in Camden Street, North Shields.

Launched in 2002, Jarrow Brewery already operates The Robin Hood in Primrose Hill, Jarrow, The Maltings Brewery Tap in Claypath Lane, South Shields, where its brewing operations are based, and The Isis, in Silksworth Row, Sunderland, the latter pub opening last October, after a £500,000 revamp.

Now brewery owners Jess and Alison McConnell are acquiring The Magnesia Bank, which they plan to refurbish.

Mr McConnell said: “The Magnesia Bank has been a very popular pub, and Jarrow Brewery is delighted to be taking it over.

“The pub has a reputation for real ale and live music, and we aim to continue with both, while improving the beer line, including introducing our own Jarrow Brewery beers and a good selection of other ales.”

Meanwhile, Jarrow Brewery is also pressing ahead with its plans to convert the former St Andrew’s Church on Hebburn riverside into a brewery. A planning application to turn the Grade 11-listed Victorian building into a brewhouse was due to be submitted to South Tyneside Council this week.

Mr McConnell said a survey revealed there were no bats in the old church, which could have delayed plans.

“It’s been a long, drawn-out affair, including a structural survey and other delays, but after the planning application goes in, things should start moving,” he added.

Rivet Catcher, Jarrow Brewery’s most popular beer, will eventually be brewed at Hebburn, while production of its other ales will remain at The Maltings in South Shields.

The Hebburn real ale scheme is set to create five jobs and 22 posts over the next five years, after Jarrow Brewery won a share of a £93m Government growth fund, expected to create 8,500 jobs across the region.

But Mr McConnell stressed that Jarrow Brewery’s headquarters remains rooted at the Robin Hood pub, where brewing first started a decade ago.

Moorhouse’s, the North West’s leading dedicated cask ale brewer, has announced a high-profile sponsorship of the Lancashire League 20/20 cricket competition.

The three year deal is a major marketing initiative as the internationally acclaimed brewer hits the first birthday for its ambitious multi-million pound brewing development.

It aims to further grow sales of the famous ‘Pendle Witch’ ales in Moorhouse’s heartland and puts the Burnley brewery up alongside brewing giant Heineken UK – sponsor of the 120 year old League under the Foster’s brand.
The annual competition is fiercely fought by 15 teams from Burnley and Todmorden, the Blackburn area and the Rossendale Valley and will be known as “The Moorhouse’s Brewery Lancashire Cricket League 20/20 Competition”. Moorhouse’s ales will be on sale at seven of the clubs.
Moorhouse’s managing director David Grant said: “As the first birthday of the new brewery approaches we are especially delighted to announce our support for such a terrific local contest. This is an exciting opportunity to promote our celebrated cask ales to cricket clubs and fans – a perfect fit with our future business development goals in our heartland.”
League officials have warmly welcomed the local sponsorship for the contest which attracts strong support to Friday night games over seven weeks, from late May to July.
League chairman Mike Bibby said: “Moorhouse’s are the top independent brewers who have a long and proud history and, being based in Burnley, are right in the heartland of the member clubs of the Lancashire League.

“The League Executive are delighted to have been able to attract such a well known local company as sponsors of one of our competitions.These games are an ideal opportunity for Moorhouses to have a presence and promote their products.”
The launch of a £4.2m brewing complex complete with visitor centre and training school last May trebled the former production capacity to more than 15 million pints a year to transform Moorhouse’s into regional brewer status. It has enabled substantial sales growth across the UK and the launch of special ales such as White Witch alongside its five award winning core brands, including Black Cat and Pride of Pendle*.

HRH The Princess Royal unveils a commemorative plaque to celebrate the installation of Ilkley Brewery’s sixth fermentation vessel with Richard Shelton and Stewart Ross, Ilkley Brewery directors

Seeing off competition from 3,000 other Yorkshire businesses, Ilkley Brewery has triumphed as the region’s winner of the Newspaper Society’s Local Business Accelerators competition. The West Yorkshire brewery, just three years old, will now go up against 11 other UK companies at the national final of the initiative.

Based on its strength of brand and its quality of product, the brewery’s win was announced yesterday, Thursday 26 April, by the Local Business Accelerators (LBA) judging panel which includes Helen Loveless, Mail on Sunday business editor; Stephen Welton, Business Growth Fund chief executive; Graham Goodkind, Frank PR founder; Al Young, St Luke’s creative director and Lynne Anderson, Newspaper Society communications and marketing director.

“We are thrilled to be selected as the region’s representative to go forward to the national final of the Local Business Accelerators programme,” said Chris Ives, one of Ilkley Brewery’s directors.

Stewart Ross, Ilkley Brewery director, continues: “The success of the business has been very much a team effort and we would like to pay tribute to the hard work and long hours put in by everyone associated with Ilkley Brewery.”

Ilkley Brewery is the only brewery in the national final line-up.

HRH The Princess Royal finds out more about the hops used to make Ilkley Brewery's new Ilkley Jubilee ale, with Chris Ives, Ilkley Brewery director

Winning formula

The LBA judges scored each of the 12 finalists on a series of criteria including the originality of the business idea, their ability to fend off competition, their finances and future prospects, their communication skills and their positive impact upon the local community.

Led by Deborah Meaden, the campaign’s national ambassador, the panel will now select an overall LBA winner who will be announced at an awards ceremony in the summer. The overall winner will receive a year’s mentoring from Deborah and an advertising campaign devised by a top London agency.

Toast of the town

After being selected by the Yorkshire Post and a panel of local business experts as one of the region’s most promising young companies back in January, the spa town brewery won a substantial amount of free advertising in the Yorkshire Post and mentoring from John Tordoff, managing director of JCT600 motor group.

This level of support has helped Ilkley Brewery build on its rapid rise to success. Having only brewed its first firkin in 2009, the Yorkshire-based brewery has gone from making 23,000 pints a week at the beginning of 2011 to 40,000 pints a week, thanks to the installation of a sixth fermentor which was officially unveiled by HRH The Princess Royal on 3 April this year.

The brewery has also won a host of awards for its innovative, flavour-filled beers with seven Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) awards including a national gold for its MJ Pale, an artisan pale ale launched late last year.

In 2012, Ilkley Brewery will continue its involvement with Goldman Sachs’ pilot 10,000 Small Businesses Programme which has already enabled the business to team up with other leading producers and suppliers in the region.

Looking ahead, the brewery also hopes to commence export to Sweden and Canada later this year, taking its beers to a global audience.

To find out more about Ilkley Brewery, visit: www.ilkleybrewery.co.uk or to read the brewery’s blog, go to: www.ilkleybreweryblog.blogspot.com

Lancashire-based brewery Thwaites has joined forces with Wigan’s Prospect Brewery to open a new pub with a unique range of cask ales.

Thwaites has agreed a deal to buy The Foresters Arms at Shevington Moor which is to be renamed the Silver Tally and run by Prospect Brewery. The new name is in honour of the Prospect Brewery’s best selling beer and nods to Wigan’s mining roots – a silver tally was the coin given by the miners to exchange for a meal when they had completed overtime.

The new pub will be the first for the Prospect Brewery which has so far concentrated on brewing beer, but will add to Thwaites’ existing estate of 340 pubs. Thwaites is also to invest £80k in refurbishing the pub which will reopen on 1st June 2012. Serving locally sourced, traditional home-cooked food, the pub will become Prospect’s official brewery tap. It will stock a rotating range of Thwaites and Prospect Brewery’s cask ales as well as cask ciders and bottled beers.

Andrew Buchanan, director of pub operations at Thwaites said: “We’re excited about the partnership with Prospect Brewery, which is a first for Thwaites. The Foresters Arms has the potential to be a successful and popular pub with the right person at the helm and we’re in no doubt that Patsy and her team are the people to drive its success when it re-opens as the Silver Tally in June.

“Prospect are proven entrepreneurs, significantly growing the brewery over the past five years. The Silver Tally will provide an outlet for Prospect to showcase its beer and fulfil customer demand to further develop the business.

“By partnering with Thwaites, Patsy and the team will have access to expert advice and support on successfully running a pub as well as our full beer range, including a choice of imported draught lagers, wines, spirits and soft drinks. We look forward to a long and prosperous partnership.”

Patsy said: “Anybody who knows me will know that I have been very measured in my approach to taking on our first pub.

“We have thought about this for a long time and The Foresters Arms fits because it will be the perfect place for people to visit to drink proper beer, served properly in proper condition, and in a convivial atmosphere. There will be no juke box, gaming machines or satellite sports coverage – it will all be about a great atmosphere with great beers where the customer is king.”

Thwaites was recently awarded the Best Tenanted/Leased Pub Company (200 plus sites) accolade at the prestigious 2012 Publican Awards.

Celebrating the tenth anniversary of Hawkshead Brewery in the Lake District, The Prince of Wales…meets the brewing team led by Head Brewer Matt Clarke  / pulls a pint of the brewery’s Windermere Pale cask beer.

Hawkshead Brewery was founded at Hawkshead in 2002, moved to Staveley in 2006, and now employs 19 full time staff and brews 5,000 barrels (1,400,000 pints) of beer a year.

BOLTON’S newest brewery has thrown its weight behind the campaign to fund a statue of sporting legend Nat Lofthouse OBE.

Dunscar Bridge Brewery (DBB) has agreed to produce two special commemorative beers — the Lion of Vienna and Lofthouse bitters — to help raise money to erect a statue of the former Bolton Wanderers and England player.

The beers have been specially created by brewer Doug Baxendale to represent the strength and character displayed by Nat Lofthouse during his Bolton Wanderers and England careers.

The beers will be the first produced by a much larger brewery, which has been installed behind the new members-only club The Bleachworks in Dunscar Business Park.

It will replace the small brewery at The Brewhouse pub in Blackburn Road.

The brewery has partnered with The Bolton News and Bolton Wanderers, to help support fundraising for a public statute of Nat, who died aged 85 in January, 2011.

The new beers will have specially designed artwork featuring Nat in his heyday, with the Lion of Vienna beer pump clip showing him scoring the goal that gave him his famous moniker.

Owner of the brewery, Jeremy Jones, from Bromley Cross, said: “We jumped at the chance to help commemorate great local sporting legend Nat Lofthouse.

“Nat was a great footballer as well as a true gentleman and he was a popular regular in one of our pubs. We are honoured to be involved in helping raise funds to remember his great sporting achievements.

“Lofthouse will have an ABV of 4.1 per cent while the Lion of Vienna brew ABV will be 4.4 per cent.”

Bolton Wanderers’ chaplain Phil Mason, who is coordinating the club’s fundraising efforts, added: “Dunscar Brewery has really got behind the fund and we are looking forward to the launch in a few weeks’ time.”

Managing director of the brewery Pat Kitchen said: “Dunscar Bridge Brewery is privileged to be invited to create the beers for the Nat Lofthouse Appeal and we hope to help raise a lot of money towards the statue fund.”