Beer

Keep cool: BrewDog launches new weather-based discount scheme taking place this week (Pictured: BrewDog co-founder and CEO James Watt)

BrewDog launches weather-based discount scheme

By Rebecca Weller

Scottish pub operator and brewer BrewDog has announced a “cost-saving initiative” to help customers keep cool during this week’s hot weather by reducing prices of its Cold Beer in line with temperatures rises.

Building a rapport: securing guest taps in pubs crucial to success for small breweries (pictured: Titsey Brewery new taproom)

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Top tips from Titsey on brewing success

By Rebecca Weller

Building a strong rapport with local communities to secure guest ale taps in pubs is crucial to the success of a small brewery, but quality and marketing are top of the list for Kent-based Titsey Brewery.

New chapter: Cleeves Palmer steps down from the Dorset-based brewery (Credit: Getty/ Monty Rakusen)

Palmers brewery boss steps down

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Palmers brewery boss Cleeves Palmer has announced that he will be retiring after more than 40 years.

What does the future hold for CAMRA?

Big Interview

'There's no silver bullet'

By Ed Bedington

With challenges facing the sector and pub closures rising, how can CAMRA play a positive role to help the sector move forward?

Impact of new alcohol duty rules on pubs

OPINION

Thanks for next to nothing, Mr Prime Minister

By Ed Bedington

The days when Rishi Sunak was viewed as the white knight of the pub trade, riding to the rescue with furlough, VAT cuts, business rates holidays and (maybe) Eat Out To Help Out are now something of a dim and distant memory.

Award winning beer: (l-r)Elland Brewery brewing director Joe Francis, brewer Rob Thomas and sales and marketing director Scott Hutchinson

2023 Champion Beer of Britain unveiled

By Rebecca Weller

Elland Brewery's 1872 Porter has been crowned the golden Champion Beer of Britain at the Great British Beer Festival (GBBF) 2023.

Shocking figures: 30 pubs a week lost in first six months of the year (Credit: Getty/whitemay)

More than 750 pubs shut in H1 2023

By Rebecca Weller

Some 30 pubs a week closed across the first six months of the year, “shocking” figures from the Campaign for Ale (CAMRA) have revealed.

Choosing quality: Heineken's latest beer report identifies drinking trends (agrobacter)

Beer drinkers want to trade up

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Consumers are prioritising value for money through premium options and quality experiences despite financial challenges, according to the Heineken Beer Report 2023.

Make-or-break time: cost of a pint of lager rises by almost 12% (Credit: Getty/blizzard_77)

Pint prices soar by almost 12%

By Rebecca Weller

Consumers and operators alike will “continue to feel the squeeze” as the average price of a pint jumps almost 12% year-on-year.

Political move: Carlsberg, which introduced bio-based bottles a year ago to its UK subsidiary, has not been contacted by Russian authorities

Carlsberg’s Russian subsidiary seized by state

By Gary Lloyd

The Russian subsidiary of beer manufacturer Carlsberg has been taken over by Russia after president Vladimir Putin signed an order to put it in “temporary management” of the state.

Consumer demand growing for Cruzcampo Spanish lager

Promotional content

Serve the taste of Seville with Cruzcampo

By Heineken UK

Spain’s number one lager, Cruzcampo, is set to make a splash in the nation’s pubs as Heineken UK responds to growing consumer demand for Spanish lager.

Raise a glass: Net number of breweries increases (Credit: Getty/ Sigrid Gombert)

2023 sees net rise in UK breweries

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The total number of breweries in the UK has risen in the second quarter of 2023, according to new data from the SIBA UK Brewery Tracker.

Last resort: Black Sheep Brewery closes pubs in Leeds and York

Black Sheep Brewery closes three pubs

By Rebecca Weller

Black Sheep Brewery has announced the closure of three retail premises following an “extensive review” of the businesses.

Obstacles and solutions: Experts give insight into breweries' financial landscape (Credit: Getty/ Klaus Vedfelt)

Brewery sector balanced by ‘optimism and concern’

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The UK brewery sector is fighting a “toxic cocktail” of soaring costs, business rates, high taxation and Covid-ramifications, but there are silver linings, with many reporting better trade than expected.

Drinks Recovery Tracker: CGA data shows drinks sales were up 7% year-on-year in seven days to 17 June (Credit: Getty/Kar-Tr)

Drinks sales show 7% year-on-year growth

By Rebecca Weller

On-trade drinks sales have shown year-on-year growth for an eighth week in a row, the latest Drinks Recovery Tracker from CGA by NIQ’s has revealed.

Asking questions: bringing education to the masses key for beer industry (Pictured Ed Hughes and Sam Lyne)

INTERVIEW

Education key to changing beer perceptions

By Rebecca Weller

The beer industry needs to bring education “to the masses” to help boost the category and support firms through recruitment and costs challenges.

Beer expert: British Guild of Beer Writers chair Emma Inch

Opinion

Understanding the realities of writing about beer

By Emma Inch, chair of the British Guild of Beer Writers

Do you remember that meme that did the rounds on social media a few years ago with the heading ‘what people think I do versus what I actually do’?

What has happened to Brew by Numbers?

Brew by Numbers enters administration

By Ed Bedington

Craft beer darlings Brew by Numbers has gone into administration citing a combination of the pandemic and escalating prices.

Cruz control: Will Rice says people are going out less but the good news is when they do go out, they spend more money

Feature – Heineken UK

FEATURE: Providing better experiences in thriving pubs

By Gary Lloyd

As Heineken UK commits £3m in funding to help selected pubs cover the costs of their first energy-saving audit plus £5,000 towards the any improvements needed, we caught up with interim on-trade director Will Rice to talk about that and much more.

Swings & roundabouts:

BrewDog reports £24m operating loss

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

BrewDog has reported an operating loss of £24m in its latest trading update, but its founder retains “unshakeable confidence” in the Scottish brewery.

Hampshire business: Ringwood Brewery was sold to Marston's Brewery in 2007

CMBC planning to sell Ringwood Brewery

By Nikkie Thatcher

Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company (CMBC) has revealed it is proposing to sell Ringwood Brewery in Hampshire citing the venue’s location being in a residential area makes expansion complicated as part of the reason.

Next chapter: Black Sheep Brewery has been acquired by Breal Group (Credit: Getty/andresr)

Black Sheep acquired by Breal Group

By Rebecca Weller

North Yorkshire-based Black Sheep Brewery, its shop and pubs have been acquired by lending and advisory firm Breal Group.

Operator opinion: Dom Hope-Smith is the director and co-founder of Carnival Brewing Company in Liverpool shares his views on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's comments about cheaper beer prices (image: Colin Lane)

OPINION

Sunak’s smoke and mirrors won’t bring down the cost of a pint

By Dom Hope-Smith, director and co-founder, Carnival Brewing Company

During a recent trip to Japan on his way to the G7 summit, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak gave a press interview in which he was quoted as saying: “We reformed the alcohol duties that mean this summer you will be able to get cheaper beer in pubs. These are...

Spiralling costs: draught lager prices soar by 11% year-on-year (Credit: Getty/mikedabell)

Draught lager prices soar by 11%

By Rebecca Weller

The average cost of a pint of draught lager increased by 11% in the year to April 2023, figures from the Office For National Statistics (ONS) have revealed.

Political delusions on cheap beer are damaging

OPINION

Delusions of cheaper beer is beyond naive Prime Minister

By Ed Bedington

You have to wonder if politicians really believe the things they say because our Prime Minister’s recent comments about how one of the benefits of Brexit has been the delivery of cheaper beer does seem to fly in the face of reality.

The Morning Advertiser Lock In Podcast episode 61

The Lock In Podcast

Black gold: Why is Guinness so popular?

By Ed Bedington

Guinness is an iconic brand that has stood the test of time and continues to forge a path others can only dream of. The Lock In team takes a closer look and asks: Why is Guinness the only show in town?*

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