The report launch could be a bit of a watershed for the stakeholders — probably a time to pause and reflect on the progress made and how we move forward. The original aims of the report were to pull together the category and to create a reference document for all current information relating to cask.
This, I think, has largely been achieved and has coincided with lots of progress for cask against other draught beer in the UK. Cask and beer from British breweries is a bit of a success story and something those involved are justifiably proud of.
The beer festival in Denver was the 30th anniversary of the event. In Colorado alone there are more than 100 breweries statewide.
At this event you felt part of a crusade, part of a consumer/home brewer-led revolution. You were surrounded by people armed with their little plastic glasses for a one ounce sample of any chosen beer. (There were queues of several minutes for one ounce of the most popular beers!)
Both of these events are rooted in a passion for taste and flavour and are increasingly about something new and interesting alongside familiarity and old favourites — the longest queue in Denver was for the winner of their IPA category!
The special relationship between the UK and the USA is often quoted, but I felt it in beer. There is huge admiration for and inspiration taken from British cask in the USA. British malt is used for the US versions of beers from stakeholders in the UK Cask Report. The Denver experience certainly invigorates you — the passionate, often simple and enthusiastic ways of retailing make you come home keen to embrace it all and do your bit to continue to drive the future of British beer.
I am confident the momentum we have in the UK, the Cask Report and the positive media coverage for British beer in 2011, will spill into 2012.
Add a few ounces of inspiration from the special relationship with beer across the pond to the tips in the 2011 Cask Report and in 12 months both sides of the Atlantic will once again be passionately toasting beer — and there will be increased interest in drinking great British beers in great British pubs.
For more details visit www.thecaskreport.co.uk.
Stephen Crawley, MD of Caledonian Brewing Co