The barrels were acquired from a brewery that had ceased trading and added to Beartown’s existing fleet following refurbishment.
“The barrels were acquired from a brewery that had ceased trading at a nominal cost - around £50 in total - before being refurbished and added into our existing fleet,” a Beartown Brewery spokesperson told The Morning Advertiser (The MA).
Cutting costs
With typical steel keg rental rates at around 25p per barrel per day, Beartown estimates the move will avoid around £10,000 in annual rental costs across 200 barrels.
“At typical rental rates of around 25p per barrel per day, that equates to around £10,000 per year in avoided rental costs across 200 barrels,” they said, adding that “the financial return was effectively immediate”.
More sustainable
The lighter weight of the plastic barrels is also expected to reduce fuel load across regional deliveries, although the carbon savings have not yet been formally quantified.
The investment forms part of a broader sustainability programme delivered in partnership with accreditation specialist Marka, which is reviewing Beartown’s carbon footprint across brewing, packaging and supply chain activity.
The brewer is also trialling a carbon neutral pint, Inception IPA, measuring lifecycle emissions and offsetting remaining carbon through UK peat bog restoration projects.
“This is a practical investment that makes sense for the business and for the environment,” the spokesperson said. “Sustainability isn’t something we talk about lightly - it’s about taking real, measurable steps that improve how we operate day to day.”
Beartown said it will review performance over the next year and may expand its owned barrel stock if operational and commercial benefits continue.
