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Carlsberg Group has started a consumer trial scheme for its new fibre bottle. The sampling initiative involves 8,000 bottles in 8 countries, including the UK. The bottle also contains beer brewed with “organic and regenerative barley”, the company said. 

The fibre bottle includes a plant-based PEF polymer lining, which has been developed by Carlsberg’s partner Avantium. The brewer said PEF is made entirely from natural raw materials, is compatible with plastic recycling systems, and can degrade into nature.

“Beyond its sustainable packaging benefits, PEF functions as a highly effective barrier between the beer and the fibre outer shell, protecting the taste and fizziness of the beer better than conventional fossil-fuel-based PET plastic,” Carlsberg said.

The outer shell of the bottle, produced by packaging company Paboco, consists of sustainably-sourced wood fibre and is also bio-based.

Stephane Munch, VP group development at Carlsberg, said: “Identifying and producing PEF, as a competent functional barrier for beer, has been one of our greatest challenges – so getting good test results, collaborating with suppliers and seeing the bottles being filled on the line is a great achievement.” 

The bottle is 100% bio-based apart from the cap. The brewer and its partners are exploring alternative fibre-based bottle caps, with a generic solution expected in 2023.

Two Rotherham-based entrepreneurs are hoping to snaffle up a piece of the lucrative pub snacks market after successfully reinventing the pork scratching.

John Walker and David Mace launched their pub snacks business, Beerpig, back in November 2019. Despite losing their impetus with the oncoming of the pandemic, the scratchings, which are sold warm, can be found in more than 250 venues across the UK.

Insurance broker John hit on the idea of producing warm pork scratchings when he decided to conduct an experiment at home. To his surprise, he discovered that the process of heating the scratchings improved their flavour. After sharing his discovery with friends, the Wickersley-based entrepreneur decided to explore building a business.

Central to Beerpig’s growth plans was the creation of a custom-built warming cabinet, enabling pubs to sell heated pork scratchings. At the same time, John embarked upon a quest to design and create the perfect pork crackling. It had to be suitable for warming, meet the necessary shelf life, and comply with all food safety standards. Armed with a few samples of Beerpig Crackling and some business cards, John and David ventured out to several local pubs and secured their first orders.

With each heating unit requiring significant investment, John knew that the key to the success of the business would be securing repeat orders. He also recognised that by serving the pork scratchings in washable, porcelain dishes, it would also help to reduce single-use plastics or cardboard.

John and David also knew that to build and grow the business, they would need additional help. They called upon Launchpad, a free business support programme aimed at helping new entrepreneurs and SMEs within South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw.

Working with experienced business adviser Darren McDool, John and David secured a trademark to protect their unique brand. Together they developed short-term and a long-term business plans, setting out the company’s ambitions over the next six months and the next three years. With Darren’s help, Beerpig relocated from John’s home office to Rotherham’s Fusion Business Centre.

John and David took part in a number of free workshops provided by Launchpad, giving them the confidence to build and develop their own website from scratch, further protect their brand, and learn how to market their products more effectively.

Beerpig currently sells one ton of Beerpig pork crackling to pubs and clubs across the UK every week. The company is hoping to expand its pub operations to more than 1,000 outlets by the end of 2023.

John Walker said: “Pork scratchings are the most popular pub snack in the UK, yet despite their popularity, the way they are sold today has hardly changed since they were first developed nearly 200 years ago.

“I felt selling warm pork crackling would be something that would be popular with drinkers, so after tailoring and perfecting our recipe, we quickly started receiving regular orders. However, when Covid-19 struck, we were forced to completely re-evaluate our business model. Imagine starting a new company selling to pubs and bars for them all to be forced to close their doors within a matter of weeks.”

He added: “We approached Launchpad for help fairly early on in our business journey, and Darren and the team have been incredibly supportive. We knew that for our business to succeed it was important to get everything right from day one.

“The one-to-one advice we’ve received helped us to get our terms and conditions right, protect our brand, as well as refining our business plans. The workshops we’ve attended have helped us to build our customer base, increase online presence, and understand what it takes to run a successful business. 

“Launchpad has provided a constant source of support throughout our business journey, and the help we’ve received has enabled us to not only believe in our ideas, but lay the foundations for significant future growth.”

BrewDog will offer shoppers the chance to claim back the full price of a pack of beer, if they are not satisfied with the taste.

The BrewDog Guarantee has launched in Asda, ahead of a wider roll out across grocery and convenience. The scheme is available on BrewDog’s headline range and being promoted on 4-packs of Punk IPA, Lost Lager, Hazy Jane, Elvis Juice and Planet Pale.

To get their money back, shoppers follow on-pack instructions to visit a landing page where they can upload their proof of purchase along with a 15-word statement on why they did not like the product. The brewer said all refunds will be paid out within 14 days, with final claims to be made by May 22.

Daniel Jones, head of marketing at BrewDog , said: “Despite the scale of our business, great tasting beer and consumer enjoyment is still very much at the heart of what we believe, and our brewers work hard to create beers that people love. With the first ever BrewDog Guarantee we want to show our customers just how confident we are in the taste of our beer by offering them the chance to claim their money back if they don’t love it.”
 
Jones said the company is investing in a marketing campaign and highlighting the promotion on-pack to drive recruitment and trial into the category. The tagline for the campaign is ‘Love our beer or your money back’.

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The 2022 Robin Hood Beer & Cider Festival will be returning to Trent Bridge Cricket Ground. The dates will be Wednesday 12th to Saturday 15th October 2022.

Bristol Craft Beer Festival returns to the city’s Harbourside on 10th and 11th June and will feature beers from more than 40 world-class breweries.

Local breweries like Wiper & True and Arbor Ales will pour alongside national and international big hitters like North Brewing Co, Hackney Brewery, and the New Zealand Beer Collective. Further European and US breweries will be announced soon.

Music legends DJ Spoony and Beardyman will join Bristol’s Saffron Records to provide the musical entertainment. Bristol’s Pegs Quinn, from family-run restaurant Sonny Stores, and Country Fire Kitchens, Tom Bray, will man the new Fire Pit area.

Festival founder, Greg Wells, said: “What makes Bristol Craft Beer Festival is that it’s greater than the sum of its parts. Amazing brews, incredible food, music, and atmosphere all combine to make a truly special event.”

Each ticket includes entry to the festival, festival pours of any beer from any brewer, a full music line up, access to the people that make the beer, and a free beer tasting glass.

Electric Bear Brewing Co has created a new English pale ale in support of the Jubilee project, The Queen’s Green Canopy.

The 4.1% ABV beer uses all-English hops, thanks to a partnership with Brook House Hops. The hops in question are UK Chinook, UK Cascade, Admiral, Bramling Cross, and Pilgrim.

Electric Bear will be donating 30p from every can and pint of Treetops sold to The Queen’s Green Canopy fund to plant trees for a more sustainable future.

“Climate change is a huge and complex issue and, as individuals, we can feel helpless,” said an Electric Bear spokesperson. “But there is something we can do to help to become carbon net-zero — we need to plant more trees.”

Sharp’s Brewery celebrated its female employees on International Women’s Day and created a special one-off beer.

Women work across all sectors of the business at Sharp’s, in roles from brand management and human resources, to events and brewing.

On Tuesday, 15 of Sharp’s female employees got together in Rock to brew a small-batch beer — a pale ale with added berries and other fruits.

This brew was part of a wider event, the International Collaborative Brew Day, in which female brewers from across the world brewed a special beer to celebrate International Women’s Day.

The team at Sharp’s brought in their favourite fruit to mash into the brew, a 4.5% ABV pale ale, which will be ready and on sale in a few weeks (in mini casks from the brewery shop, and at select outlets in Cornwall on draught).

As well as brewing, there was a full day of activity on site, including an International Women’s Day quiz, and a panel discussion on women in the beer industry.

Nina Griggs, HR business partner at Sharp’s, said: “International Women’s Day was our opportunity to celebrate together our inspirational female colleagues from across the business. It was brilliant to work as a team to brew and name our very own beer.

“It was a memorable day with lots of interesting conversation as well as some great opportunities to connect with people in various roles and celebrate our inspirational women. We can’t wait to taste our beer!”

Head brewer, Aaron McClure, added: “We were delighted to take part in the International Women’s Collaborative Brew Day for International Women’s Day 2022.

“The beer brewed is a 4.5% ABV mixed fruit pale ale, with a base of extra pale malt and wheat to create a light-coloured beer with a crisp mouthfeel. The New World hops and assorted freshly squeezed fruits give notes of citrus and berry.

“The day was a great success, which rightly recognised and celebrated the women in our brewing industry and within Sharp’s Brewery. The beer will be packaged into cask and released in a few weeks’ time.”

A preference for low- and no-alcohol beers is no longer proving a bar to enjoying beer festivals. That’s the message from the organisers of one of the UK’s biggest events.

Brew//LDN takes place in May and will showcase low- and no-alcohol brands among its 118 brewery guests.

“That time when beer festivals were not the right place for teetotalers is long gone,” say organisers.

Research shows that the number of adults participating in Dry January this year was 6% up on 2021, with nearly one in five adults signing up. At Brew//LDN the emphasis will be on quality, not quantity.

“The Craft Beer culture is so strong in our country, and the diversity of types and flavours is so rich, so we need to know how to really appreciate it,” said Toby Chantrell, one of the four founders of the event.

Brew//LDN takes place on 6th/7th May at Printworks, in London. To find out more and buy tickets, visit brewldn.com

The New Zealand Beer Collective is back hosting New Zealand Beer Month (NZBM) this February — a month-long Kiwi beer extravaganza.

After taking lockdown in its stride and hosting a successful ‘online edition’ in 2021, the celebration is back this year for a mix of virtual and in-person events across the UK, with more beer and more events in more locations.

The fourth NZBM will feature more than 130 beers, ciders, and mead. Venues across the UK have signed up to be involved, showcasing fan favourite breweries like 8 Wired, as well as several newcomers, including Boneface and
Duncan’s Brewery, and launching innovative products such as the Crystal IPA from Urbanaut.

This year, there are more than 40 events across the country, showcasing 12 NZ producers and a host of UK breweries. In addition to this, there’s a host of independent retailers across the UK, or NZ Embassies, as NZBC calls them, also stocking Kiwi beer.

Todd Nicolson, director of New Zealand Beer Collective (NZBC), said: “Hosting NZBM in February is our highlight of the year, even if we get a little greyer after each time! We will be showcasing the amazing producers we work with and partnering with other fantastic NZ and UK businesses in the food and beverage sector.

“We’re extremely proud and happy to be back again collaborating with some of the hottest NZ and UK breweries and working with venues who have supported us from the start, as well as exciting new venues across the UK. The range of events is incredible, from our online Women In Booze panel, to Paint & Pint with PaintVine, beer and food degustation menus and, of course, amazing brewery launches and tap takeovers.”

Jake Doherty, manager of Bath Road Beers and an avid supporter of New Zealand Beer Month, added: “Not only does NZBC supply some of the finest beers in the world, they’re also awesome people! Over the years we have hosted a variety of events, from virtual tastings to tap takeovers, during New Zealand Beer Month, and they never fail to deliver the goods. It’s a pleasure to work with such an ethical and socially conscious bunch!”

Kiwiana

It’s not only about the beer, it’s also about bringing the New Zealand spirit and culture to the UK. For kiwis, Kiwiana means those “kitchy quirky things they love in their country”, and that’s what the NZBC Crew will be bringing to their events during the month.

As Ben, general manager at The Exchange Craft Beer House, in Bradford, says: “Having spent five years in the industry in Wellington, I jumped at the chance to be able to work with the NZ Beer Collective here in the UK.

“New Zealand Beer Month is a fantastic celebration of some sensational breweries and I’m absolutely buzzing to have the chance of pouring these delights here in Bradford! We’ll be wrapping up NZBM with a wicked Kiwi party, with some classic Kiwi treats, including pies from Pie Hard and tunes from Kiwi record label, Flying Nun.”

Following its launch last month, Shepherd Neame is offering its winter ale, Cracklewick, in a limited edition mini-keg.

Just 150 five-litre kegs have been produced, exclusively available from its online and brewery shop in Faversham.

Cracklewick (4.8% ABV) combines ale, Crystal, and chocolate malts with oats to give a smooth, velvety mouthfeel. Hints of chocolate and roasted flavours are complemented by floral, citrus, and spice aromas, courtesy of East Kent Goldings, First Gold, and Centennial hops.

Shepherd Neame’s director of brewing, Mike Unsworth, said: “Cracklewick was offered in our pubs across the festive season as part of our real ale initiative, Cask Club, and we are delighted to now offer this English ale in a mini-keg for drinkers to enjoy at home.

“Cracklewick is a deliciously dark ale that is perfect for enjoying on a chilly January evening. With its complex flavours, this beer can be enjoyed with a variety of dishes, including hearty pies, steaks, and chocolate desserts.”

The Faversham-based brewer and pub operator launched Cask Club in 2019, with a new cask ale released each month, celebrating modern styles and flavours, and classic seasonal favourites.

Along with inventive tastes, the look and feel of the Cask Club brands take a fresh approach, with dynamic design and bright colours for stand-out on the bar. A new 2022 series will launch later this year.