Ossett Brewery and Salt managing director Edd Simpson told the Society of Independent Brewers & Associates’ (SIBA) Independent Beer Report: “For me, cask is the most authentic beer style in existence. It deserves to be considered premium craft.”
Simpson, who took part in The Morning Advertiser’s The Cask Project webinar late last year, continued: “Cask is not disappearing. It remains a cornerstone of British pub culture, loved by a loyal base. But for it to thrive rather than merely survive, it must lean into its strengths – heritage, authenticity, craftsmanship – while also borrowing craft’s lessons in premiumisation, innovation and modernisation.
“The foundation is strong; what’s needed now is education, ambition and a progressive mindset. If brewers, retailers and the wider trade embrace that challenge, cask can secure a renewed role – not just preserving tradition but shaping the future of beer in Britain.”
Indie or global?
At the launch of SIBA’s beer report, author Caroline Nodder explained the findings referred to independent ‘indie’ beer – drinks produced by a non-global company and sold mainly in its own locale – rather than ‘craft’ because there was some discrepancy about what the term ‘craft’ means.
“It was down to the individual consumer to interpret whether craft meant ‘independent, genuine craft beer’ or a ‘globally produced craft beer’,” she said.
“The figures from the SIBA Independent Beer Report showed 27% [of respondents] said they drink a globally owned craft beer, 54% (up from 50% last year) drink a globally owned lager while 38% drink indie beer, which breaks down to 27% of females and 44% of male drinkers consuming locally made beer.”
Appeal to younger drinkers
Meanwhile, beer writer and vlogger Jonny Garrett also voiced his feeling on the cask ale sector within the report.
He said: “The reason why I still see potential in the cask ale market is not just because it is a vital part of our nation’s identity and social life but because its unique attributes mean it should appeal to younger generations.
“It is a local product, made most by small and independent businesses. It is, generally, more sustainable than other styles of beer both in production and distribution, and it varies more geographically.
“Thus, in a world where people care more and more about where things come from, who made them, and what impact they have on the world, the cask ale pumps are where drinkers should look first.”
