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News
Full year of growth restores cask to former glory
After decades languishing in the beer wilderness, cask ale is fast becoming one of its rising stars, after posting a full 12 months of growth last year for the first time since 1982 according to new figures published today at the start of National Cask Ale Week, a celebration of cask in 10,000 pubs nationwide. Read more...
Free IPhone App for finding Cask Marque Pubs
CaskFinder is designed to help you enjoy and appreciate Cask Ale wherever you may be in the UK! Combining data from The Cask Marque Trust’s pub quality inspection scheme and The Cyclops® Beer standardisation initiative, both industry sponsored bodies, CaskFinder uses the location-awareness of your iPhone to show you nearby pubs, brewers and events.
Finding a Cask Marque quality approved pub couldn’t be easier – there are over 6,000 in the UK and growing all the time – click on the Cask Marque pub icon and CaskFinder shows you automatically on a map where your nearest pubs are. Once you have found a pub, you can click on its icon and find out what beers it serves, based on its Cask Marque quality inspection. If you are unfamiliar with the beers or just want to try something new, you can click on the beer logo and immediately view the Cyclops® Beer database information held for over 1,000 beers. The Cyclops® database contains standardised tasting information compiled by trained inspectors, including Head Brewers, so you’ll know they know what they are talking about! However, you can rate your favourite beers yourself so that you can keep a record of beers that you specially like.
Annabel Smith of Cask Marque talks about cask ale in the run up to Cask Ale Week. Annabel Smith talks Cask Ale in time for Cask Ale Week ...
Ladies can get involved in FemALE day on April 1st at Jubilee refreshment rooms, near Halifax.
The picturesque pub is hosting a event where ladies can try out cask ale for free, as well as getting to sample the latest ale brewed by two lady brewsters from Mallinson’s Brewery.
Visitors will need to move swiftly as the specially brewed ale will serve up to 75 pints during the one off event.
Ladies will also get the chance to become the new Peggy Mitchell, getting to stand on the other side of the bar and learn how to pull a pint.
There’s fun for everyone, so get down to the event and try your hand at serving and sipping Britain’s national drink.
For more details visit or call: http://www.jubileerefreshmentrooms.co.uk
01422-648285
Arkells are Brewing an Organic cask version of Bee's Organic Ale for Cask Ale Week 2010.
Launched in October 2001, Bee's is Arkell's first organic ale - and was recently voted 'Organic Ale of the Year'.
Organically-grown malted barley, hops and, unusually, organically-produced honey are used in the brew. These give this golden premium bottled ale a light, fresh taste - with the organic honey providing a delightful and surprising flavour. ABV: 4.5%.
TIME LADIES PLEASE FOR NATIONAL CASK ALE WEEK
Did you know the number of female drinkers had doubled in the last year to 1.3 million*?
With 44% of women who actually taste cask ale going on to become regular or occasional drinkers, Cask Ale Week is calling all female drinkers to swap their regular tipple for a taste of real ale.
On Thursday 1 April pubs and breweries nationwide are hosting a number of events in a bid to convert further femALE drinkers to the joys of cask ale.
Events include women-only real ale parties, tutored tasting sessions, beer and food matching events and special female friendly ales on tap.
Why not check out the regional map to find out what’s’ going on in your local area?
Adnams are brewing Adnams Extra again for cask ale week, it was champion beer of Britain in the 1980's.
A feast of local events to celebrate the unique qualities of our national drink
Curtain raiser:
Monday 22 March 8 pm: Lunesdale CAMRA
Pub of the Year award to The Water Witch, Lancaster. Cask ale venue.
All week:
Joint beer festival at The Smugglers' Den & New Inn, Morecambe. Cask ale venue.
“Old and New” beer festival at The Water Witch, Lancaster. Cask ale venue.
Wednesday 31 March:
Tutored beer tasting with Bowland Head Brewer, Richard Baker, at The White Cross, Lancaster (7.30). Free. Places strictly limited and going fast. Cask ale venue.
Thursday 1 April:
“Local pubs then and now” - a slide show and talk by Jenny Greenhalgh exploring the changing face of Lancashire pubs, followed by the fascinating DVD Make mine a pint. Upstairs at The Borough, Lancaster, from 7.30. Cask ale venue.
Friday 2 April:
Meet the Brewer evening at The Smugglers' Den (Morecambe) at 8 pm. Bryson's Head Brewer, George Palmer, will talk about his craft. Cask ale venue.
Hop Back Brewery has confirmed that it will be running a Hop into Summer Lightning competition with the Salisbury Journal to celebrate the start of British summertime and Cask Ale Week. Five readers will have the opportunity to win a summer BBQ comprising:
- 12 x bottles Summer Lightning
- 24 x Summer Lightning sausages
- Hop Back Brewery golf umbrella – in case of Spring showers
- Disposable BBQ
They will also be staging various promotions in their pubs including a beer festival at the Wyndham Arms (the original site for the brewery) on Friday 2 April.
Wadworth offers customers triple chance to try before you buy
Customers at Wadworth pubs could get three times the flavour when they order a pint during Cask Ale Week.
In a bid to get more people to sample different ales in its managed houses, the Cotswolds brewer is giving customers the chance try a third of three different brews for the same price as a pint.
Marketing director Paul Sullivan said: "We produce a wide selection of real ales but beer drinkers know what they like, and will often stick to their favourite tried and tested varieties".
"With this special promotion we are offering beer drinkers the chance to try some new and different brews that they may have so far overlooked."
He added: "I think this is rather a continental idea. Think of it as beer tapas or a meze of ales – just a taster of each of our delicious flavours, to whet your appetite."
FoodLoversBritain.com
National Cask Ale Week would like to say a big thank you to FoodLoversBritain.com for their support.
The site brings you food and drink bursting with flavour, made with real ingredients in the proper way. - Britain's tastiest website. Food Lovers can find where to buy, eat and learn about quality local and regional food and drink.
Representing over 3,500 businesses, all of which are FoodLovers Approved to a set of rigorous standards, the site brings you food and drink bursting with flavour, made with real ingredients in the proper way. FoodLoversBritain.com is committed to championing regional distinctiveness; promoting farm animal welfare and sustainability; and sourcing locally and seasonally whenever possible.
SIBA Support - Society of Independent Brewers
We are pleased to announce SIBA will be supporting National Cask Ale Week 2010 providing a national marketing campaign encouraging pub goers to try out real ale. The exciting proposal will see marketing activity including 1,000 pubs receiving free promotional packs worth £30 each.
SIBA's Commercial Director, Nick Stafford has said "We are delighted to be helping a number of our customer pubs make the most of National Cask Ale Week".
COUNTDOWN TO UK'S BIGGEST AND BEST CASK BEER FESTIVAL
29th March – 5th APRIL
In its second year, National Cask Ale Week is back to celebrate Britain's national drink and it's not too late to be part of this fantastic celebration.
Serving the usual array of cask ales on tap as well as a selection of local brews from across the region, the 8,000 participating pubs will also be hosting a number of exciting events up and down the country including beer festivals, food and ale appreciation evenings, tasting tips and 'try before you buy' promotions.
CAMRA's chief executive, Mike Benner, said: "Following last year's success the Great British pint has enjoyed a storming year with 71 new breweries opening in the UK, taking the total up to 660 – the highest level since WW11".
"We want this year to be even bigger and better with brewers and pubs alike working together to remind the great British public why cask ale is our national drink."
Feature ideas:
- Introduce A Friend: Whether you are already a fan or need convincing, Cask Ale Week is a great excuse to visit your local, find out what makes the perfect pint and why we should all be celebrating Britain’s national drink.
- Be A Brewer for the Day: With over 600 breweries across the UK, you are bound to have at least one in your locality. Discover their recipe for success and try your hand at brewing your own beer.
- Dream Jobs: Brewer, Cooper, Beer Inspector/Taster and Publican – these are just some of the amazing careers related to the wonderful world of brewing. Find out who has these dream jobs and turn your hand to it yourself.
- FemALE Day (Thursday 1 April): 30% of women have now tried cask ale, up from 16% 12 months ago. Women account for one in six of all cask ale drinkers.
- National opportunity: Interview / attend a tasting session with St Austell's Columbian born, female brewer Paula Leather or Martson’s head brewer Emma Gilleland. Alternatively, find out what makes the perfect pint with the UK's only female beer inspector, Annabel Smith
- Regional opportunity: To visit local pub / brewer for tasting / tutorial on why women should be swapping their glass of wine for a glass of Britain’s finest beer!
