Enjoying lockdown beer at home

The last time pubs, bars and restaurants were allowed to be open for enjoying food and drink on the premises was 20 March and we’ve now had nearly three months without being able to socialise with friends at such venues to protect us from the Covid-19 pandemic. CAMRA members enjoy the pubs and the people in them along with tasting the quality beers from craft brewers and will be keen to keep supporting their favourite pubs and brewers through lockdown where possible – those that hold off licences are still able to offer takeaway and home delivery services of both food and drink. For myself, the concept of drinking at home alone is a bit alien – that’s what alcoholics do isn’t it? However a change of mentality in general has been required to get through these unusual times and for myself I’ve enjoyed a beer in front of the TV most evenings after my daily walk and all the beers have been delivered to me at home by a local brewery or independent bottle shop and have mostly been ones that aren’t available in supermarkets. With the latest easings of lockdown restrictions, we are able to socially drink with up to 5 others in a private garden (remaining 2 metres apart of course) so some small BBQ parties have occurred over the last few weekends and mini-kegs have proved perfect for the occasion! So far I’ve had bottles, cans and mini kegs delivered directly from breweries including Abbeydale, Drone Valley, Eyam and Triplepoint; also had some more exotic choices delivered from the Beer Stop in Dronfield and Hop Hideout in Sheffield City Centre plus some takeout beer freshly handpulled from the Kelham Island Tavern. Many other options are of course available! It is expected that some pubs will be able to reopen with social distancing measures in place from 4th July, however until then CAMRA have some websites to help you enjoy them from home: Whatpub.com is our online pub guide and will show you which pubs are open selling beer and/or food to take home. Pulling Together is a joint CAMRA and SIBA initiative featuring a directory of breweries offering online orders either for home delivery or to click & collect. Brew2You is a website and app CAMRA has developed to offer an online sales platform for pubs and breweries that needed one to keep in business taking orders for takeaway and home delivery. Retailers on there in our region including Lost Industry’s Tap bar, Drone Valley Brewery, Acorn Brewery and Geeves Brewery.