Pubs which improve community life should be given tax breaks to help them survive, according to a report by a leading think-tank.

With 16 pubs currently believed to be closing each week, the report by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) recommends a 50% business rate relief for those that can prove they act as community hubs.

The report says this would help prevent the loss of more pubs which strengthen local networks, after a survey commissioned by the IPPR found a majority of people see pubs as the best place to keep up to speed with their community.

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) this week reported 140 million fewer pints of beer were sold in pubs last year, as they struggle to cope with competition from supermarkets, increases in tax on beer and changes in consumers’ tastes.

Read the full story Here

Article taken from Huffington Post UK

At a recent beer reception in London, health minister Anne Milton stated the Government’s support for beer and pubs. “We are supportive of the pub industry, we are supportive of people having a good time,” she said, adding that it was “staggering” how cheaply some of the supermarkets are selling alcohol and recognised that pre-loading presents the licensed trade with a “big problem”.

Milton was speaking to an industry audience at a showcase for 2.8% ABV beers organised by the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group. Several SIBA members including Hopback, Everards, Caledonian and Brentwood served their beers at the event.

SIBA Chairman Keith Bott, who attended the event, said, “SIBA has campaigned for many years for beer, drunk in moderation in pubs, to be recognised as a socially responsible way to enjoy alcohol, so it is good to hear similar messages coming from the health minister.” He added, “Although these 2.8% ABV create interest, it is worth remembering, as the BBPA’s Brigid Simmonds pointed out, that all beers are low in strength compared with other alcoholic drinks.”

For the full article go to:  the Publican’s Morning Advertiser

Steve Hindy to Deliver Keynote at Craft Brewers Conference

Register now for the craft brewing industry’s annual gathering

Steve Hindy of Brooklyn Brewery will deliver the keynote address at Craft Brewers Conference (CBC). One look at his impressive resume confirms that his perspective will be entertaining and informative. Read the full release for details.

Insight from professionals like Hindy makes CBC a valuable opportunity for CEOs, brewers, marketers and other beer professionals. CBC is key to succeeding in the industry. Register now and start planning for the brewing industry’s premier education and networking event.

Check out the SMI for the SIBA members’ discount code

All four finalists for this year’s Best Pub Operating Microbrewer category in The Publican Awards are SIBA members. Congratulations to: Leeds Brewery, Thornbridge Brewery, Convivial London Pubs and Palmers Brewery.

The Best Pub Operating Microbrewer is a new category, introduced this year. The award will be presented to ‘a company that combines its skills in running  a successful microbrewing business with operating quality beer-focused pubs.” The competition was open to brewers producing 10,000 barrels or fewer.

Final judging will be taking place next month and the overall winner announced at the Publican Awards dinner on 27^th March. May the best brewer win!

2012 Beer Bloggers Conference, July 12 –15, 2012 in Indianapolis, IN. 120 to 140 Beer Bloggers and Beer Industry Representatives will be attending this third annual event http://www.BeerBloggersConference.org/

This is a unique opportunity for you to share your beer and build relationships with the people who are behind the “new media” of beer. Specific opportunities are outlined on the attached file. Live Beer Blogging is one of the best opportunities for individual wineries. Specifically, smaller brewers will find Live Beer Blogging to be worth their time and investment.

Do you have an Industry Blog? If so, please email Elle and let her know what it is and who manages it elle@zephyradventures.com We’ll add it to our list of Beer Blogs http://beerbloggersconference.org/blogs/

You can be a part of the conversation now! Join our 3200+ active Twitter followers by clicking here https://twitter.com/#!/beerbloggers , or search for the hashtag on Twitter: #BBC12. Catch us on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/BeerBloggersConference

SIBA discount is available until 29th March 2012.

Check out the SMI for the SIBA members’ discount code

May 2-5, 2012
Town and Country Resort
San Diego, CA
www.CraftBrewersConference.com

The 2011 Craft Brewers Conference was a great success, with 3,900 members of the craft brewing community gathered in San Francisco.

Mark your calendars now to attend the brewing industry’s best conference in 2012. Join thousands of brewing professionals in San Diego for the conference and BrewExpo America®, the largest tradeshow in the US for the brewing industry.

Book your tickets early as last year was fully booked by March!

BFBi are organising a group of UK Companies at the show, they are also investigating hosting a showcase of UK Beers at the Convention. Anyone interested should contact for further information charlotte@bfbi.org.uk

Police in London have seized 1,000 beer kegs worth more than £100,000 as part of a continuing crackdown on the growing problem of metal theft.

Officers raided two shipping containers at sites in Tottenham and Edmonton, in north London, on Friday and took the barrels.

A 18-year-old woman and a 19-year-old man have been arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods. They remain in police custody.

Each steel beer barrel is worth between approximately £75 and £165, the Metropolitan Police said.

Growing problem

The whole problem of metal theft is estimated to cost the UK economy £1 billion a year.

Experts have warned that metal thieves are moving away from their traditional stamping ground of railway cable, and targeting power cables, utilities, telecoms cabling, catalytic converters and business and residential properties.

Earlier this month, an insurance company said the past year had seen the most claims made by churches for metal theft.

A trial scheme has also been launched in the north-east in which people selling scrap metal are required to show proof of their identity.

The north London operation was a joint one between police and Kegwatch, a trade association which works on behalf of the brewing industry to try and stop the theft of kegs, casks and gas cylinders.

‘Valuable commodity’

Detective inspector Steven Dryden, of Haringey CID, said: “In the last ten years, the price of metal has soared 400 per cent – it’s a valuable commodity that makes it an attractive prospect to thieves.

“Thieves and unscrupulous dealers will find industries are not prepared to suffer any further, and police in Haringey will not hesitate to take action against anyone who is found to be involved in this form of criminality on the borough.”

Operation Tornado

The north-east pilot scheme – Operation Tornado – sees scrap metal sellers being required to provide proof of identity, such as a passport or national ID card, along with a utility bill less than three months old.

If successful, the six-month trial could pave the way for formal legislation which could be introduced later this year.

Lord Henley, the Home Office minister for crime prevention and anti-social behaviour reduction, said existing legislation dating back to the 1960s is no longer sufficient to deal with what is an increasingly organised crime.

“We are examining what changes to the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 1964 are needed,” he said

Yorkshire-based family brewer Timothy Taylor has joined the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA), in a move that reflects growing recognition of the organisation’s pivotal role as champions of the UK’s quality brewing industry.

SIBA has more than 500 brewing members, on whose behalf it lobbies on issues relating to local brewing. It has consistently argued for local beers, enjoyed in moderation in pubs, to be seen as ‘part of the solution, not the problem’ in relation to alcohol misuse, and for the vital role of brewing and pubs at the heart of local communities, to be recognised in the Government’s beer taxation and wider economic and social policies.

SIBA chief executive Julian Grocock said, “We are delighted to welcome such a highly-respected and long-established family brewer into the SIBA fold and are confident they will make a valuable contribution to our ongoing campaigns. Timothy Taylor epitomises the values SIBA is seeking to protect: traditional craft brewing, providing jobs for local people and producing distinctive, quality beers that are at the heart of local pubs.”

Grant Simpson, sales director at Timothy Taylor, said, “Timothy Taylor is older and larger than many other SIBA members, but we share with them a passion for traditional cask ale, produced from top quality ingredients. SIBA speaks out for the UK’s quality craft brewers and we have joined in order to contribute to the debate about the future of our industry.”

SIBA’s brewing members range from ‘micro brewers’ to sizeable regional brewers. Six larger brewers – SABMiller, Heineken, Molson Coors, Marston’s, Fullers and Budvar – engage with SIBA as associate members and more than 100 pubs belong to its ‘SIBA Locals’ scheme.

What makes the perfect beer? Come and find out from some of the leading experts in barley, hops, beer and brewing at the British Guild of Beer Writers’ Brewing Ingredients Symposium.

Date: Tuesday 28th February
Time: 9.00 am – 4.00 pm
Venue: National Brewery Centre, Burton-upon-Trent

This event is for brewers, suppliers to brewers and anyone with an interest in the art and skill of the brewer and the impact of barley and hops on the brewing process and the beer we drink.

The seminar is chaired by former Institute of Brewing and Distilling President and Global Director for Technical Compliance for Molson Coors Dr Harry White.

For guests able to join us earlier, an optional trip to a maltings followed by an evening of trade visits and dinner in Burton has been arranged for Monday 27th February. Please note that the cost of this is NOT included in the seminar fee and guests will need to fund their own accommodation and dinner.

The seminar itself is FREE to individual members of the British Guild of Beer Writers, £50 for corporate members of the Guild, £70 for non-members and £35 for brewing students.

To book your place, please email Angie at Cask Marque to request a booking form angie@cask-marque.co.uk’. Programme

9.00am Registration,

9.15am Introductions

Tim Hampson, Chairman of the Guild

Chairman for the day, Dr Harry White

9.30am “Utterly Otterly”

Colin West, Chief Executive, Maltsters’ Association

10.00 am “Malting – Sustainable & Innnovative:”

Dr Nigel Davies, Manufacturing and Technical Director, Muntons plc

10.30–11.00 Tea/Coffee

11.00 “Hops & Hop Products”

Trevor Roberts, M.Sc., Dip.Inst.Brew., F.Inst.Brew., CSci,
Managing Director, Steiner Hops Ltd

11.30 “Hop Production & The Hop Market”

Paul Corbett, Chairman Hop Merchants Association,
Chairman IBD Hop Industry Committee

12.00 Lunch

1.45 “From Ingredients to Beer: From Design to Realisation”

Stuart Howe, Head Brewer, Sharps Brewery, Rock, Cornwall

2.15 “Beer Quality, Balance & Drinkability”

Toby Heasman, Head Brewer, Hall & Woodhouse Ltd

2.45 Full Speakers Panel – Q & A’s/discussions

3.00 Chairman’s Summing-Up

3.30 Tea/Coffee

4.00 Depart