Category: News

Cask is back, so back cask

Posted on by Guest

A new campaign launching today is calling on beer drinkers to back British brewing and pubs and opt for a pint of fresh cask beer from a local independent brewery when they return to pubs next week.

OK, technically cask never truly went away with a few pubs and specialist beer shops offering cask beer to drink at home through lockdown, however sales of hand-pulled cask beer have been hit hard by Coronavirus restrictions – with sales of this fresh British beer down 70% over the last twelve months and many breweries suspending production during lockdown.

The ‘Cask is BACK, so back CASK’ campaign has been launched today by the Society of Independent Brewers, the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), the British Institute of Innkeeping, and Cask Marque – who are championing Britain’s National drink, which can only be enjoyed down the pub.

“Cask beer and pubs go hand-in-hand and are an important part of our National identity. Because cask beer can only be enjoyed in the pub it’s the drink millions of beer lovers across the UK have missed most during lockdown. Whether you’re a real ale enthusiast or sometimes beer drinker, we’re asking everyone to support their local independent breweries and opt for their first pint back in the pub to be some delicious local cask beer. For publicans, those pubs that do cask and do it well will reap the rewards so we’re encouraging all in the pub trade to prioritise cask and ensure that first pint back is in tip-top condition. The message is simple – cask is back, so back cask!” James Calder, SIBA Chief Executive.

“What makes the Great British pub so unique is delicious, fresh cask beer. It’s a drink you can only enjoy in the pub and which millions of people across the UK have not been able to enjoy for much of the last twelve months. So when pubs reopen next week, I’d like to invite you to join me in making our first pint down the pub a fresh cask beer from a local brewery. You’ll not only get a great tasting beer but you’ll be supporting local independent breweries and our struggling pub-industry.” Tom Stainer, Chief Executive CAMRA

“Cask ale is a unique attribute to UK pubs and a key point of difference to many BII members, who run professional independent, drink-led venues in our local towns, high streets and communities.  Our pubs need ongoing support to recover their businesses and support fantastic local brewers that make our pubs so special.

“The BII continues to support members through this critical reopening and long road to recovery of their pubs, as well as the key supply chain businesses that help make the Great British pub part of our nation’s heritage.” Steven Alton, CEO of the BII.

“We have all missed the pub and for a lot of us a pint of Cask Ale will complete our rehabilitation. Serving great cask ale I am sure will get more people back into the British pub.” Paul Nunny, Cask Marque Director

Cask beer, also known as Real Ale, is Britain’s National drink and what makes it unique is its freshness – brewed to be served fresh ands hand-pulled from chilled pub cellars in a few days.

During lockdown, some 5 million pints of cask beer from small independent breweries had to be poured away, with the brewers who made it left to foot the bill. Those same breweries have been ramping production back up ahead of pubs reopening, so by buying a pint of cask beer, you’re not only supporting your local pub, but helping out small independent breweries too.

Why should we care about cask beer?

  • You can only get cask beer in the pub – and pubs have been shut for majority of the year
  • 80% of revenue for small independent breweries comes from pubs and the vast majority (around 70%_ of that beer is cask. By choosing cask you are supporting local independent businesses.
  • Small independent breweries create local jobs more than other styles of beer from Global breweries. Pubs and breweries also employ a higher percentage of young people than other sectors
  • With a limited shelf-life cask beer is the freshest beer available and a uniquely British product.
  • Handpulled cask beer is the original ‘craft beer’ beer and deserves our protection and promotion. Alongside traditional beers from Belgium and the rest of Europe it inspired a generation of brewers in the US and across the Globe. Without cask beer we wouldn’t have craft beer!

A taste of Sheffield

Posted on by Andy Cullen

We were hoping to welcome over 1000 beer tourists to Sheffield in April for the CAMRA Members Weekend but with the Coronavirus restrictions this was sadly not to be. So we are bringing you the next best thing, a box of six different beers from breweries in the Sheffield & District branch area to enjoy at home along with a live online tasting event with all six breweries included in the price

The online tasting event is at 6pm on Saturday 16 April and the beer box will be delivered to you in time for this.

The Beers

  • Neepsend Brewery Acadia 3.9%
    New England session pale (440ml can)
  • Kelham Island Brewery Pale Rider 5.2%
    Premium golden ale (500ml bottle)
  • Intrepid Brewery Stanage 4.5%
    Oatmeal stout (500ml bottle)
  • Triple Point Brewery Dyad #4 5.2%
    DDH New England IPA (440ml can)
  • Bradfield Brewery Belgian Blue 4.9%
    Flavoured speciality ale (500ml bottle)
  • Abbeydale Brewery Black Mass 6.66%
    Strong stout (440ml can)

The price is £35, discounted to £30 for CAMRA members. Order your box online from CAMRA (don’t forget, if you are a CAMRA member, to sign in first to get the discount)

Route out of lockdown

Posted on by Andy Cullen

The government have now published their road map to normality.

A handy summary can be found on the BBC News website.

The full document can be downloaded from the government website.

As far as pubs are concerned, the following phased reopening timeline has been announced. Note dates are the earliest it will happen and are subject to review based on meeting targets for vaccinations, hospital admissions etc. Also note not all pubs will find it viable to open with restrictions in place.

12 April

  • Pubs can do alcohol takeaway sales from the premises rather than just home deliveries
  • Beer gardens may open with table service and rule of six observed.

17 May

  • Larger groups permitted in beer gardens
  • Pubs may open indoors with table service, social distancing arrangements and rule of six enforced

21 June

  • social distancing rules removed
  • pubs may open in a normal fashion
  • nightclubs and live music venues may open and festivals can take place (this may be subject to conditions yet to be decided).

Until pubs can start reopening, they need proper financial support in order to survive and decisions made in the budget announced on 3rd March will be important. A facility to email your MP on the subject is available on the CAMRA Save Our Pubs campaign page.

Comment on the announcement from CAMRA’s national Chairman below.

Summary of steps out of lockdown (graphic from Sheffield City Council).

Sheffield Beer Week goes virtual

Posted on by Guest
True North Brewery.

To keep the spirit of this much-loved annual city-wide beer celebration going through an exhaustive twelve months of the global Covid-19 pandemic, Sheffield Beer Week goes virtual in March 2021.

Taking the week to celebrate the local beer scene, who have had little respite or adequate support from the government during this global pandemic, Sheffield Beer Week will celebrate via social media campaigns across their channels on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook in a ‘look back’ over the last six years, asking participants to also share their favourite memories using the hashtag #SheffBeerWeek.

Sheffield Beer Week at its core shines the spotlight on the unison of beer and food, community and heritage; with a continued celebration of women working in the beer industry (International Women’s Day falls in the week). In previous years there has been everything from women in beer networking events to brewsters’ tap takeover collaborations with organisers such as Fem.Ale and Ladies That Beer. Last year, in 2020, when Sheffield Beer Week was the last UK nationwide beer week event to occur, Sheffield based LGBTQ+ beer group Out and About, Lost Industry Brewing and Sheffield Beer Week collaborated on a beer to celebrate the pioneering life and work of Edward Carpenter. The collaboration shared a unified sentiment which championed welcoming everyone from across the spectrum of sexuality and gender identity-based cultures. Edward Carpenter (1844-1929) was a significant cultural and political activist around Sheffield in his life. Advocating the simplification of life through his market garden and grow your own approach to campaigning for many issues of social concern. These ranged from women’s suffrage to the protection of the environment, from sexual emancipation to the formation of trade unions.

The Beer Engine.

Join Sheffield Beer Week on their Instagram live launch – Monday 8th March, 6pm, with guests from the local beer scene such as breweries Neepsend Brew Co and Saint Mars of the Desert. Shared across socials have been resources compiled by the Sheffield CAMRA branch which highlight pubs, bars, breweries and beer shops where people can source Sheffield brewed beer from; hoping to increase support and boost the local economy.

To kick-off the week, Sheffield’s craft beer festival, Indie Beer Feast usually goes ahead at the iconic Abbeydale Picture House with brewery bars (20+) and street food. On Saturday 6th March the festival will host a virtual launch on their Instagram feed with a surprise beer bundle supplied by associated Sheffield beer shop Hop Hideout. Due to demand, boxes have sold out two weeks ahead of the event.

To see a flavour of previous Sheffield Beer Weeks you can view via the website’s Events Database and the 2019 printed guide online. It features contributions from British Guild of Beer Writers’ members Emma Inch (2019 Beer Writer of the Year), Jane Peyton and beer historian Ron Pattinson: https://issuu.com/exposed_magazine/docs/sheffbeerweek_0219

Head to http://sheffieldbeerweek.co.uk for more information.

Jules Gray

Photographs by Mark Newton.

Local Breweries offering home delivery of beer

Local pubs doing takeaway and/or delivery of food & drink

Council calls for support for nightlife

Posted on by Guest

One of the sectors hardest hit by the pandemic and its lockdowns has been nightlife, with many businesses facing an uphill battle to bring back their venues and events when restrictions ease. Sheffield City Council has today called on the Government to support the sector so that the city’s much loved pubs, bars and clubs can recover from the financial impact of Covid-19, which has seen many businesses forced to remain closed for nearly a year.

Sheffield has over a thousand businesses offering a huge range of experiences in the night-time economy, which also includes live music, exhibitions and cinema, as well as a reputation for hosting many internationally renowned events and festivals, such as Tramlines, Sensoria, MelaninFest, Sheffield Beer Week and Sheffield Doc/Fest. These businesses support nearly 12,000 jobs directly, and many more through the gig economy and their supply chains.

Alongside industry partners such as UNIGHT, a not-for-profit organisation that represents Sheffield’s night-time community, and CAMRA (the Campaign for Real Ale) the Council is calling on the Government to put practical support and funding in place to ensure the survival of businesses that play a key role in Sheffield’s identity and attract residents, visitors, students, and investment to the city.

The Council has submitted its proposals to the All-Party Parliamentary Inquiry into the night-time economy. These include:

  • A continuation of the furlough scheme, business rates relief and 5% VAT relief for the rest of 2021
  • Funds to be allocated to encourage the creation of new businesses and to enable training for new staff entering the sector
  • A national campaign aimed at restoring consumer confidence and encouraging people to continue to spend local when restrictions are lifted
  • Ensuring a level playing field between pubs, restaurants, takeaways and shops so that pubs have a lifeline during the current lockdown

Cllr Mazher Iqbal, Cabinet Member for Business and Investment at Sheffield City Council, said: “We have iconic venues and events in Sheffield that are known worldwide and are an integral part of our appeal as a visitor destination. That there is something for everyone is central to Sheffield’s uniqueness, and we simply cannot afford to lose these much-loved and valuable assets and their vital contribution to the local economy.

“The Council is calling on the Government to support these businesses who have been hardest hit by the pandemic so that when the time is right, they can come back fighting and provide the vibrant nightlife we are all so looking forward to experiencing again.”

Nick Simmonite, Chair of UNIGHT and Manager of the Frog and Parrot, said:

“So many businesses I work with are on their knees, because of the pandemic. Many will not survive. I hope that Government will listen to those working in the industry, who know and love it and who have worked hard to protect both business and our customers, throughout this unprecedented time. With support, we will bounce back. We are ready to provide the services and experiences that we absolutely know our people are going to want right now.”

Dave Pickersgill, Pub Heritage Officer of CAMRA Sheffield said:

“The Government should realise the immense value of pubs to communities, individuals, and the economy – and it should protect them and allow them to trade on a par with restaurants and shops. Pubs are essential to our local economy and we should be doing all we can to support them to survive through these difficult times, not hindering them.”

The All-Party Parliamentary Group is calling for evidence from night-time economy businesses, employees, freelancers and consumers to share their views on the challenges facing the sector, its importance to our society and economy, and how nightlife can be reopened. Members of the public, employers, employees and freelancers are asked to submit their views to the inquiry via htntia.co.uk/appg.

UPDATE:

The report is now published and is available to download.

Local MP tries to protect small brewers

Posted on by Dave Pickersgill

Small breweries in Sheffield, who have already been hugely impacted by the pandemic, are now facing another blow as the government proposes cuts to a subsidy known as Small Brewers Relief (SBR). Hallam MP Olivia Blake is working with local brewers and campaigners to reverse these proposed cuts.

SBR was introduced in 2002 to enable small brewers to exist in a market dominated by multinationals. It is widely credited for being the reason why such a diverse and exciting craft beer industry has flourished in the UK over the past two decades.

Within Sheffield’s City boundary, there are currently 27 functioning brewing companies, more per head of population than any other UK city. These vary from long-established breweries like Abbeydale, Bradfield and Kelham Island, to newer breweries, like Little Mesters, Lost Industry and Loxley.

Hallam MP Olivia Blake has tabled a parliamentary motion calling on the government to reverse these proposed cuts.

Olivia Blake MP said:

“Covid-19 is having a huge impact on small breweries in Sheffield and across the country. Right now sales have fallen by 80% and two small breweries are going out of business every week.

But at this critical time, when small breweries so desperately need more support, the government is proposing the opposite – cuts, which will threaten the whole industry.

I have tabled a Parliamentary Motion, to call on the government to rethink this damaging plan, and am working with breweries in my constituency as well as national campaign groups to hold the government to account over this.”

A spokesperson for Loxley Brewery, established in 2018, said:

“Small Brewers’ Relief has been a lifeline to independent breweries, such as Loxley Brewery.

Without the scheme, breweries such as ours would not have been able to grow by reinvesting the duty relief back into the business, purchasing new equipment to increase our capacity, create jobs and boost the local economy.

With the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on the hospitality industry, the proposed change to SBR could not have come at a worse time for the industry, especially after pubs – a lifeline especially for predominantly cask and keg producing breweries – have been closed for months on end and brewers are struggling to make ends meet.

As a predominantly cask producing brewery with ambitions to grow, penalising brewers by reducing the annual threshold to 2100HL will only result in many closing their shutter doors for one last time as they face mounting bills on top of decreasing sales; all this on top of successive lockdowns on the hospitality industry is nothing short of a slap in the face for a nation that has culturally, economically and historically been the centre of brewing for many centuries.

We, at Loxley Brewery, do not support the changes to SBR, which will only really benefit larger breweries who have higher lobbying power than those trying to craft a future for beer in a local setting and create a meaningful experience for our residents and expand our footprint further afield.

We implore the treasury to rethink the matter during their technical consultation.”

Dave Pickersgill, Pubs Officer at Sheffield and District CAMRA, said:

‘CAMRA do not believe that the proposed changes, resulting in around 150 small brewers paying more tax, are the best route to improve Small Brewers’ Relief. The Government should be providing more support to our vibrant small brewing sector to aid its recovery, rather than planning on withdrawing tax relief from some of the smallest operators, brewers who are vital to maintaining consumer choice in the beer market. We fully support the Early Day Motion, as proposed by Olivia.”

Council supports pubs as off-licences

Posted on by Dave Pickersgill

Sheffield City Council is working with the Sheffield and District Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) to urge the Government to revise their policy on restricting pubs and bars from providing takeaway alcohol products during the national lockdown. Currently, hospitality venues are only able sell alcohol via delivery.

Councillor Mazher Iqbal, Cabinet Member for Business and Investment at Sheffield City Council, said:

“The hospitality industry has been one of the hardest-hit sectors during the pandemic, with many businesses having been unable to operate as normal for nearly a year.

“Having spoken to many local businesses in Sheffield, I know that they have faced the challenges Covid-19 restrictions have brought as best they can by quickly adapting their sales model to trade online, changing their offerings and making their venues Covid-secure. However I also know that for many pubs and bars one of the lifelines in the last lockdown was the ability to offer take-away alcohol products, as this gave the opportunity to keep their doors open, continue to employ staff and welcome their customers safely.

“The new lockdown restrictions state that takeaway alcohol can still be sold in supermarkets and other shops but not pubs, putting them at an unfair disadvantage and effectively shutting down their only livelihood. Pubs are the lifeblood of communities and this is especially true in Sheffield, where our eclectic mix of excellent independent pubs and breweries is one of the great highlights of the city.

“With Sheffield and District CAMRA, we are calling on the Government to reconsider their ban on the sale of takeaway alcohol in hospitality venues. Pubs and bars are essential to our local economy and we should be doing all we can to support them to survive through these difficult times, not hindering them.”

Councillor Julie Grocutt, Cabinet Member for Planning and Development at Sheffield City Council, said:

“We have worked with businesses throughout the pandemic to ensure that they are able to trade safely and are up to date with most recent Covid-19 guidance and regulations.

“Whilst we appreciate the assessed risk of people congregating outside venues, our landlords are taking every effort to trade responsibly putting the necessary measures in place, and we will continue to support them to make sure they remain Covid-secure while operating.”

Dave Pickersgill, Pubs Officer for Sheffield and District CAMRA, said:

“It is essential that pubs are treated fairly and given the same opportunities as other hospitality venues and supermarkets during the lockdown. Business owners have worked very hard to continue trading in extremely difficult circumstances, but many may face closure, resulting in further increase of unemployment, if they are unable to offer any kind of service in the months ahead. The Government must review this policy as a matter of urgency to ensure that Sheffield’s night time economy will be in a position to once again thrive when restrictions are lifted.”

National lockdown from 5 January

Posted on by Andy Cullen

The government have announced a new national lockdown with an instruction to stay at home except for various permitted reasons such as shopping, work and excercise, which should be done locally to where you live.

Food and drink retail is classed as essential and you can continue to buy beer from supermarkets and off licences.

Pubs, bars and restaurants can continue to serve takeaway food and non-alcoholic drinks, however it appears from the new guidelines they can only include alcohol in home deliveries.

You can read the guidelines on the government website.

Pubs setting up a home delivery service that urgently need a website and app to take orders on may wish to consider brew2you.co.uk, the low cost platform set up by CAMRA and SIBA.

More on this subject soon… please continue to support pubs, local breweries and independent specialist beer shops where you can and also more importantly stay safe!

Breweries in our area offering home delivery of cans, bottles and minikegs

Pubs offering takeaway and/or delivery