DATE OF JUDGING 19th April 2012

http://www.tuckersmaltings.com/

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Overall Champion of the Competition

Sponsored by:   GOLD Tuckers Maltings – SILVER Jim Laker Memorial – BRONZE SIBA

For the full set of results go to http://www.siba.co.uk/events/regional-competitions/south-west/2012-2

Two new sales representatives have joined Skinner’s Brewery. James Pritchard will manage sales in West Cornwall and the North Cornwall coast while Kevin Soper is to cover the Somerset, Bath and Bristol region.

Taking over from Louise Skinner, James Pritchard knows the North coast of Cornwall well as he grew up in the county. He lives in Newquay and also has a background in the hospitality sector.

“As a Cornishman, I’m particularly proud to be working for Skinner’s Brewery as its Cornish roots are an integral part of the outfit. It’s a great company to work for because of its family values, and the quality of its beer means that I’m well received by one and all!”

These new appointments mark an ambitious period of expansion by the Truro-based brewery. Chief Executive Steve Skinner is enthusiastic about the progression.

“Despite the tough economic times Skinner’s continues to grow – we exceeded sales of £4 million for the first time last year. Since mid-2009, our ales have been on sale at all Waitrose’s UK stores and we are now also selling in around a quarter of all Tesco’s UK stores. In addition, we have our pre-existing national arrangements through Coors and Wetherspoons.

These developments have convinced us that we still have a long way to go in terms of tapping our full potential at national level rather than just in our traditional Cornish ‘home territory’.

Appointing Kevin and James is the next step in offering a true taste of Cornwall to a wider audience.”

Kevin has spent his entire career to date in the hospitality industry and is well known around the county as he has also played rugby for Somerset. He is excited about his new role.

“Skinner’s Brewery is now ‘exporting’ its beers out of Cornwall and I’m keen to bring them into my territory. Ales such as Betty Stogs are already well known and well loved so it’s a case of spreading the word and meeting the demand.”

The new sales representatives will be easily recognizable by the ‘Bettymobiles’ that they will drive. The vehicles are Volkswagen T5s which are emblazoned with the characteristic Skinner’s cartoon artwork of Betty Stogs, the ‘Queen of Cornish Ales.’

For more information on Skinner’s Brewery please visit www.skinnersbrewery.com

St Austell Brewery has been named Regional Brewery of the Year at The Publicans’ Supplier Awards.

James Staughton (centre) receives the award from Gavin Murdoch, MD of Tradeteam (l) and Rob Willock of The Publican’s Morning Advertiser

The award is perceived as having particular significance as it’s voted for purely by licensees.

MD James Staughton commented: “This latest award-win is truly fantastic for all involved.

“Our constant focus is on brewing and delivering fantastic beers and so to say we are the UK’s favourite regional brewer among the nation’s pub landlords is no mean feat.”

So the price of a pint in your local goes up again … oh well, as inevitable as night follows day.

The Beer Duty rise announced in the Budget Statement, although widely predicted is unfair to brewers, to pubs, to pub customers, beer drinkers and to all of us that live relatively modestly and enjoy simple pleasures.

Brewers and beer lovers help bailout the banks, chip in to fund Quantative Easing and generally do our bit to help re-jig the British and World economy – and Beer Duty continues to increase no matter what.

I cannot remember when Beer Duty was left alone – or god forbid – was reduced and we have been brewing for 27 years.

We now have the dubious honour to be top of the European League with the most expensive Beer Duty in Europe (except for the brewing minnows of Finland). Germany produces twice as much beer as the UK and yet our Government takes eight times as much in duty – other countries support their brewing industries.*

In my view the hike in Beer Duty is simply unjust in the context of how brewers and pub operators have been hit year after year.

The dreaded ‘Duty Escalator’ has much to answer for. Affecting all alcohol it is an automatic, built-in increase above inflation – every year, no questions asked. How can that be?

Duty on a pint has increased over 40% over the last 6 -7 years and beer volumes have fallen as the prices have increased.

It was tough enough for brewers with changing drinking and social trends and with different duty regimes for other drinks that are less punitive.

Hitting people who want to enjoy a drink in a pub, over and over again is dull and eventually dull economics.

Higher prices mean lower sales and less money into Treasury coffers – a triple-whammy where everyone loses – sensible drinkers, responsible producers and the Government.

The present duty regime is, to me, especially unfair on beer and the advantages for other drinks is switching consumption – for our business and a proud brewing heritage that is real concern.

It is also driving drinkers out of pubs, yet pubs remain the only place where alcohol consumption is supervised by trained staff.

Hence Government policy on duty is contributing to ‘pre-loading’ and a binge culture of drinking to excess.

So if the Chancellor wants to support this successful small(ish) business and many more besides and do himself a favour – scrap the Duty Escalator, give beer a break and we will gladly pay our way.

Cheers, Roger Jones

* Ernst & Young, The Contribution made by beer to the European Economy

SIBA Southwest’s Tuckers Maltings Festival hits its 20th year April 19-21 and once again it is accompanied by the latest edition of the Brewers Herald, which offers a comprehensive guide to the beers on show at the Festival as well as snapshot of the state of play amongst SIBA’s brewing members in the region.

Despite the economic conditions and the persistent stories of the demise of pubs and beer, the Brewers’ Herald reports growth amongst SIBA Southwest members, awards won, new premises moved into and plenty of beer launches.

Amongst the features, Moor Beer Company’s Justin Hawke sings the praises unfined beer, while five southwest breweries tell the tale of why they did something different — St Austell’s head brewer Roger Ryman explains the origins of the brewery’s popular beer festival, while Jon Comer at Arbor Ales reveals the thoughts behind Bristol brewery’s single hop range.

If you want to know more about developments in the SIBA southwest region please contact Paul Davey at RCHBREW@aol.com or if you would like a PDF of the Brewers’ Herald contact editor Adrian Tierney-Jones at tierneyjones@btinternet.com.

The West Country’s fastest growing Brewery, Butcombe, is to have three of its key brands; Butcombe Bitter, Gold and Brunel IPA, stocked in fourteen Waitrose stores across the South West from the end of March 2012.

Oliver O’Mara, Waitrose Product Manager, Local and Regional said:
“Britain enjoys a rich and vibrant brewing heritage and it is important that we support the breweries in the communities we trade. We’re delighted to be stocking Butcombe beers as part of our regional beer initiative which will see beers from innovative regional and craft brewers alongside the bigger brands.”

Butcombe now has the fastest growing major bottled ale brand in the UK (Source: Nielsen Scantrack Top Thirty Brewers Retail Sales 52 weeks to December 24th 2011).

Guy Newell, Butcombe Brewery’s boss, says: “We are delighted to now have our beers available through such a respected retailer regionally. Butcombe beers are enjoyed on draught in a 75 mile radius of Bristol, and it’s great that Waitrose customers will now also be able to enjoy a Butcombe beer at home.”

Butcombe brands are stocked in over 550 supermarkets across the UK, as well as a large number of independent convenience stores and off licences. The range includes: Butcombe Bitter (4.5% A.B.V.), Butcombe Gold (4.7% A.B.V.), Butcombe Blond (4.5% A.B.V.), Butcombe Brunel IPA (5.0% A.B.V.) and Adam Henson’s Rare Breed (4.2% A.B.V.).

For further information on all Butcombe Brewery’s bottled beers, visit http://www.butcombebottles.com/ or follow Butcombe Brewery on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Butcombe-Brewery

MPs have launched a campaign last night to stop the Chancellor undermining the region’s growing beer industry in his Budget later this month.

They want George Osborne to abandon the planned five per cent tax hike – claiming this will save 16,000 jobs over the next three years.

A Commons motion to suspend the proposed rise – known as the beer duty escalator – has been supported by MPs from all parties.

The region’s brewing industry has grown exponentially in the past decade, with several successful brewers expanding and a slew of artisan beermakers opening businesses.

Tory MP James Gray said last night that the beer and pub sector supports 888 jobs in his North Wiltshire constituency, including 195 for 18-24-year-olds, who have been hardest hit by the economic slowdown.

It adds £27.7 million to the local economy and already contributes almost £13 million in taxes to the Treasury.

Mr Gray said: “These figures show how important the brewing and pub sector is to North Wiltshire.

“I hope the Chancellor will take action to protect these jobs by scrapping the beer duty escalator. This will help our much-loved local pubs, the communities they serve and the important local facilities they provide.”

Tewkesbury MP Laurence Robertson and North Dorset Tory Robert Walter also back the campaign, which is supported by the British Beer & Pub Association, the Campaign for Real Ale and the Society of Independent Brewers.

And Bristol North West MP Charlotte Leslie has signed the Commons motion, which says that 2012 is a year of national celebration, and the perfect time to recognise the value of the British beer and pub industry.

Article Taken from This is Bath

Carl Beeson the proprietor of SUMMERSKILLS BREWERY, Plymouth, presented HASLER Company, Royal Marines with a cheque for £1000.00 donated from the sales of their beer BLONDIE.

The beer was launched in Jan 2011 at the Brittania Pub, Milehouse. Hasler Co. R.M, is a special remedial Company situated in HMS DRAKE and was set up to help both physically and mentally injured service men and women returning from Afghanistan or other theatres and is named after Col. Blondie Hasler of Cockleshell Hero’s fame.