The Cask Project

The Cask Project

The Morning Advertiser launched The Cask Project in a bid to re-energise the category and reinstall it in pride of place on the bar of pubs throughout the country.

Cask beer is in long-time decline and, having joined forces with some of the UK’s leading cask beer suppliers – Greene King and St Austell – we want to reinvigorate attitudes within the trade to a product which should be rightly cherished by operators.

Cask beer is a unique product that can only be replicated successfully within pubs but the perception of cask, particularly among younger drinkers, is that it is made and loved only by an ageing male population.

We want to create a real buzz about cask to get pub owners, operators, general managers, bartenders and all pub staff on board and debunk the myths surrounding the drink and educate them on how to make cask work for their business. And by doing this, we can pass on that knowledge, care and skill into cask beer at the bar for customers to get excited about too.

Pete Brown on Marston's selling last 40% of brewing business

THE CASK PROJECT

OPINION: What does Marston’s sale mean for cask?

By Pete Brown, beer author

The announcement last week that Marston’s has sold its 40% stake in Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company (CMBC) to its Danish partner for £206m has deepened the gloom around the already beleaguered cask ale category.

Small beer festivals are a chance to help cask ale

THE CASK PROJECT

Can a rise in smaller beer festivals save cask ale?

By James Ramm, head of sales, Woodforde’s

Questions have been raised over the viability of big name beer festivals with the postponement of some of Britain’s biggest – but exciting alternatives for brewers remain in the rise of smaller festivals, writes Woodforde’s head of sales, James Ramm.

Raising awareness: Star & Timothy Taylor joined forces to release collaborative charity brew

THE CASK PROJECT

Star and Timothy Taylor's release charity brew

By Rebecca Weller

Star Pubs, the pub arm of Heineken UK, has joined forces with Timothy Taylor Brewery to introduce a new limited-edition cask ale in a bid to tackle loneliness.

March to victory: Woodforde's relaunches Lion Heart in support of the England football team during the 2024 Euros

THE CASK PROJECT

Woodforde's brings back limited-edition ale for Euros

By Rebecca Weller

Norwich-based Woodforde’s brewery has re-released a limited-edition beer exclusively available to pubs on cask to show support for the Three Lions during the Euros 2024.

Shepherd Neame releases Go For Gold to honour Olympics win

THE CASK PROJECT

Shepherd Neame’s tribute beer to war and sporting hero

By Gary Lloyd

Kent brewer and pub operator Shepherd Neame is releasing a cask beer to commemorate 100 years since Lieutenant General Sir Philip Neame’s gold medal success in the 1924 Paris Olympics.

Joseph Holt to allow brewery tours for first time

THE CASK PROJECT

Joseph Holt to celebrate 175 years with festival

By Gary Lloyd

Northern brewer Joseph Holt is allowing fans of the brand a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” to go have a look behind the scenes of its Manchester brewery as part of its inaugural beer festival.

Poll: Are perceptions around cask changing for the better?

THE CASK PROJECT

VOTE NOW: Are perceptions of cask ale changing for the better?

By Rebecca Weller

Independent breweries have been hailed as the “saviours” of the cask category as the segment battles falling sales, but are perceptions of cask changing? Have your say now in the Morning Advertiser's poll.

Joseph Holt teams up with Belle Vue Aces speedway team

THE CASK PROJECT

Joseph Holt on track with speedway team

By Gary Lloyd

Manchester-based brewer and pub operator Joseph Holt has joined forces with speedway team Belle Vue Aces to produce a new beer specifically for sale to racetrack fans.

The Cask Project: St Austell Brewery scoops three awards at SIBA South West Independent Beer Awards 2024

THE CASK PROJECT

St Austell scoops trio of awards

By Rebecca Weller

St Austell Brewery has scooped three silver awards at the Society of Independent Brewers Association (SIBA) South West Independent Beer Awards 2024.

Timothy Taylor's Dewey argues Fresh Ale may help cask sales

THE CASK PROJECT

Fresh Ale could mean more people go for cask

By Gary Lloyd

Despite complaints about ‘Fresh Ale’ being poured through hand-pulls, Timothy Taylor’s Tim Dewey believes if it draws people to the cask category – then it’s not a problem.

Doom and gloom: sector needs to be more positive about cask

THE CASK PROJECT

Bradbury: Cask has seen 'too much doom and gloom'

By Rebecca Weller

Cask beer has been the victim of too many reports of “doom and gloom” during the past couple of years as consumers seek consistency, quality and tradition within the category, according to T&R Theakston managing director Richard Bradbury.

Greene King to release two cask beers from seasonal calendar

THE CASK PROJECT

GK to release two cask ales for spring

By Gary Lloyd

Suffolk-based brewer and pub operator Greene King is releasing two seasonal cask ales for pubs to order in time for spring.

How the revamped Proper Job IPA by St Austell looks

THE CASK PROJECT

St Austell rebrands flagship cask ale Proper Job

By Gary Lloyd

St Austell Brewery has unveiled a new look for its flagship IPA Proper Job (4.5% ABV), which will hit pubs and bars across the UK beginning this month (March 2024).

Different ideas: Woodforde's launches new Brewers Signature range

THE CASK PROJECT

Woodforde's unveils new cask range

By Rebecca Weller

Woodforde’s Brewery has announced a new cask beer range, the Brewers Signature range, which features bespoke brews, each created by one their brewers.

Wye Valley Brewery is big on cask ale sales

THE CASK PROJECT

Wye Valley bucking the trend in cask

By Gary Lloyd

Wye Valley Brewery is a champion of cask beer. Yes, growth of kegged beer at the Herefordshire business is flying but 80% of its total production is cask beer for pubs – and the big pubcos are relying on them too.

New cask products: Shepherd Neame, Hydes and St Austell release new brews

THE CASK PROJECT

New products to cask your eye over

By Rebecca Weller

In this special new products round-up, we've looked at the new cask brews released so far this year.

St Austell brewing director Georgina Young wins two awards

THE CASK PROJECT

St Austell brewing boss’s double win

By Gary Lloyd

St Austell’s brewing director Georgina Young has scooped two awards for her continued dedication to the beer industry.

Hook Norton brewer says US hopped kegged beers can go in cask

The Cask Project

Trendy US-hopped kegged beers are great in cask too

By Gary Lloyd

US brewers see cask as the pinnacle for beer and the latest craft innovations from the US can work just as well in the traditional dispense method, according to Hook Norton’s Andy Thomas.

Sign up for a free webinar to help improve your cask ale offer

CASK WEBINAR

Don't miss our cask webinar live today at 3pm

By Gary Lloyd

If you want to start or improve your cask beer offer, sign up now for free to watch our webinar on cask ale that goes live today at 3pm (Tuesday 31 October).

Property of the week

BERKSHIRE - RENOVATED PUB WITH FOUR LETTING BEDROOMS

- Leasehold

Village position close to Reading and Newbury Extensively renovated public house Bar, conservatory, snug and function room (80-90) Four en suite letting bedrooms Two bedroom owner/staff accommodation Part-covered trade garden...

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