Cellarman's beer blog

Time for a pint?

2008-05-02T13:59:00.002+01:00

It is 6.14pm.... time for a pint! Boffins have told us that this is the time when most people in the UK have their first pint, with only one in ten quenching their thirst at lunchtime. Changed days! Can't retell the story here, but anyone who has heard Billy Connolly waxing lyrical about the casual vomit will know how prevalent (serious) lunchtime drinking used to be.

The Danes are the most anxious to get to the bar. They have their first quaff of Carlsberg at 4.41pm, and more than a quarter of them drink at lunchtime! But in France, Kronenbourg sales must dip after 8.33pm because that is the time they have their last beer! Les lightweights!

Stonehenge gold!

2008-04-29T14:50:00.004+01:00

Congratulations to Stig and his team at Stonehenge Ales after winning a gold medal at the SIBA South West Beer Festival for strong bitters. Danish Dynamite was voted best amongst a very strong list of rivals. Cornish brewers also did very well at the event which demonstrated the renaissance in brewing in that part of the world.

So again, well done Stig!

End of an era... beginning of upheaval?

2008-04-28T11:43:00.003+01:00

The entire board of Scottish & Newcastle (S&N) tendered its resignation today as it prepared for a new era of ownership under Heineken. It is indeed the end of an era as S&N can trace its roots back through turbulent times to the mid 18th century.

The Board may have resigned, but there is definitely more upheaal to come as the takeover beds down. One of the more obvious areas of concern for 'craft' beer lovers is the future of Caledonian Brewery and their brands. Now owned by Heineken there are real fears amongst employees, trade and loyal customers alike.

Anyway, the king is dead... long live the king!

Wickwar brews to the fore

2008-04-17T10:19:00.002+01:00

We have got some new Wickwar brews coming to Cellarman Towers soon. The official beer of the Cotswolds and a beer brewed especially for rugby players all over the country... Rite Flanker! Look our for these in the very near future.

I don't normally do straight 'ads' on the blog, but the guys at Wickwar deserve a special mention for the wonderful ales they brew. If you see them, try them!

All shook up!

2008-04-14T15:56:00.002+01:00

After Marston's bought Refresh, the next move in our world of cask conditioned beer has been announced. Scottish & Newcastle have bought Caledonian Brewery. This begs a number of questions: why are S&N buying breweries when they won't exist this time next month? What are Heineken going to do with a small ale brewery in Edinburgh? Where does that leave Harviestoun?

On the latter, the following is an opening paragraph of a press release: "The independent future of Harviestoun Brewery Limited has been secured in the wake of this week’s outright acquisition of Caledonian Brewing Company by Scottish & Newcastle UK." For how long?

Anyone got an idea what will happen next? The first cracks are starting to appear!

Hobgoblin gobbled up

2008-04-03T14:20:00.002+01:00

Midlands-based brewer Marston's has bought Refresh UK, which brews ales including Brakspear and Hobgoblin and has partnership agreements with Wadworth, Thatchers, Löwenbräu and Innis & Gunn. Marston's said it wants to develop a portfolio of well-established premium beer brands to complement its core range, led by Marston's Pedigree, and promised to continue brewing at Refresh's Wychwood Brewery in Witney, Oxfordshire.

Is this the start of the second wave of consolidation? Will the economic conditions forestall any further activity or will we see further deals? And where will the deals stop? Will they percolate down to the smaller craft brewers? Is there over capacity in the market? Of course there is, but can it be affected by the 10, 20, 30, 40 barrel plants?

Am I asking rhetorical questions?

No. You read it here first. Heineken will soon be the biggest UK brewer, but the indigenous brewers will retaliate.

April Fool!

2008-04-02T14:40:00.002+01:00

OK, I know I am a day late but sometimes it is better to be late than never. Has beer ever been used as an April Fool 'prop'? You bet your cotton socks it has. Here are just two examples:

Not long ago on April 1, a San Diego radio station announced that a beer truck had jack-knifed and couldn't be towed until the beer was drained from it's tank. Over 100people showed up to help drain it!

In Singapore, an ad campaign was launched for a new beer, called XO, so strong that it must be consumed lying down. Guests were invited to a hotel on April 1st to help drink and launch the product.

I would never have fallen for those. Would you?

Right, I am off down the pub later. My mate told me yesterday that every time Liverpool are in possession of the ball tonight, beer is £1.00 a pint. When Arsenal have the ball, it is £4 a pint. It is called a 'floor pair' promotion seemingly. Sounds good.

You have to admire their gall!

2008-03-26T15:00:00.003Z

A campaign has started to ban Alistair Darling from every pub in Britain after his "tryannical anti-pub budget".

The campaign group, being run on Facebook, has so far attracted 170 members across the country.

I think this is a wonderful idea. Whether it will have any impact is another matter altogether, but the sheer audacity of the attempt has to be applauded.

I don't own a pub, but I have barred Mr Darling from coming round to watch the footie in my house. There. Take that Alistair!

The price of peace of mind

2008-03-19T16:00:00.003Z

According to the Daily Mail, Dutch winemaker Ilja Gort, has a nose for the job - a £3.8m one. Lloyds has decided to insure his nose for the sum after concluding that his smelling ability is "far above usual".

Thank the Lord and pass the biscuits! I have got a quote from Lloyds: £234,908. At least I will be covered. I was beginning to think that all those thousands of hours of beer tasting may have gone to waste.

But now I can quaff safe in the knowledge my belly is fully insured. Third party, fire and wind.

Remote mashing

2008-03-19T09:48:00.003Z

I was flicking through TV channels last night trying to avoid cookery programmes, anything to do with moving house, and quiz shows when I happened upon 'An Island Parish' about the vicar on the Scilly Isles. There is now a brewery on the Scilly Isles (nothing to do with the vicar I hasten to add) and it got me thinking about remote breweries.

In the UK, Dent Brewery in Cumbria is fairly remote, then you have the Scottish island breweries on Skye, Orkney and Shetland. In my travels I have been to breweries in the Arctic circle (Mack) and off the east coast of Australia on an island called New Caledonia, but I wonder where THE most remote brewery is? Has anyone got any ideas?

Beer with food

2008-03-18T06:09:00.003Z

A lot has been said and written about matching beer and food. I have been slow in buying in to the many concepts banded about (the marketing people call that a 'laggard' I am told.... bloody cheek). However, I am now coming round to the idea having conducted a few scientifically calibrated experiments on a carefully selected sample of those who know everything (i.e. Mrs Cellarman).

Here are some tips:

Pilsners - cuts through fatty foods, oily fish and refreshes the mouth with spicy foods. Great with seared fillet of salmon or Thai green curry

IPAs - great foil for hot and spicy dishes eg. Indian, Mexican etc.

Bitter - classic English ales work brilliantly with roasts, pies, cheese based starters, hearty soups

Strong Bitter - fuller bodied ales work well with cheeses

Wheat beers - mussels, creamy white meat dishes

Porters - caramelised dishes such as seared scallops, chocolate desserts

Abbey & Trappist beers - braised meats, casseroles and stews

Fruit beers - pates and foie gras

I hope this helps. Give me your opinion.

Cheers

Two pints of Jacobson's please... do you take VISA?

2008-03-13T12:01:00.003Z

Have you ever paid £4 for a pint? £5? What about £255? If so you must have bought a Jacobsen Vintage No.1.

The 600 limited edition bottle, filled with 10.5% ABV beer, and brewed within the Carlsberg group, has gone on sale at £204 a bottle. With the bottles holding 375cl, that equates to £255 a pint!

Vintage No.1 has been matured in J C Jacobsen's original crypt-like cellar for six months, in new Swedish and French oak barrels.

"The project started as a wild idea and a wish to create a new type of beer that had never been seen before," said Jens Eiken, head brewer at Jacobsen,

"During the ageing process in new barrels lots of chemical processes take place. Not all reactions are known but they taste wonderful."

The beer will be sold mainly through three upmarket restaurants in Copenhagen

Each bottle of Jacobsen Vintage No.1 is labelled with an original hand-stilled lithographic print made by Danish artist Frans Kannik. The prints depict fables of Sif, who was married to the Nordic god Thor, often used by Carls Jacobsen as a symbol of strength.

It may not seem like everyone's idea of great value, but beer writer Pete Brown told the Sunday Mirror: "It is worth every penny in my opinion. I promise you, if you taste this drink it will totally change your perception of beer."

Here is another interesting fact: did you know two positives make a negative? For example.... aye, right, Pete Brown!

What a kick in the b@&^%s Mr Darling!

2008-03-12T15:07:00.003Z

Well, there you have it. Beer duty is going up by 4p a pint, plus of course the VAT on that. After a year of escalating costs, this really is the icing on the cake for breweries up and down the UK. Can you imagine the German or Belgian or Czech government increasing the duty on beer by such an amount? No, they want to protect their historically important and economically vital brewing industry.

I don't want to get enmeshed in party politics. This issue is more important than petty men making petty points in their petty committees (and claiming vast salries and expenses to do so). No this is about equity and fairness. Every single day, the Treasury is losing over £1 million in beer taxes and four pubs are closing..... that is more than 120 a month! People are now drinking 1 million fewer pints a day compared with last year. That trend will continue.

Supermarkets will continue to sell at below cost and squeeze suppliers' margins so hard they need to make cost savings by chucking people on the redundancy scrapheap.

And you know what.... binge drinking will continue unabated!

This blunt instrument of duty hikes will NOT 'cure' binge drinking. It merely penalises the majority of level-headed and peaceful beer drinkers up and down this land. And remember, Darling promised more hikes in future years at 2% above the prevailing rate of inflation!

This is not a doomsday scenario.... this is happening NOW! In the UK, a country with one of the finest brewing heritages on the face of the planet.

It could make you weep.

Come on Darling, kick us harder! You might just drive us all to drink!

Budget buzz!

2008-03-11T10:56:00.002Z

Now that The Cheltenham Festival is upon us, why not have a wee flutter. What about 7/2 that beer will go up by more than 5p per pint!

Beer taxes - frozen in the 2001 and 2002 budgets - have gone up broadly in line with inflation since then. Tax accounts for 28% of the price of a pint and the odds are stacked against that figure being reduced. By why should the responsible drinkers of high quality beer be swept up in the same Draconian measures meant to lessen the impact of binge drinking? Surely there is a more equitable way?

Double carpet says Mr Darling doesn't find that way.

Landlady Madonna (with apologies to The Beatles)

2008-03-06T09:04:00.002Z

Rumours that Madonna and Guy Ritchie have bought the Punchbowl Pub in London have proved false. Unfortunately. Can you imagine karaoke night in her place? I know footballers are prone to buying pubs for their 'retirement' but rock & pop stars? Who else might be in line for landlord or landlady status? And what would the name of their pub be? Come on, throw in some ideas.

A Milestone for cellarman

2008-03-04T14:57:00.003Z

I am pleased to let you know that Ken Munro's Milestone Brewery will soon be featuring at cellarmandirect.com. Milestone are offering a range of three exciting beers including, as a first for cellarman, a continental style Raspberry Wheat Beer. Have a look and have a try.

Cheers.

Actions speak louder than words

2008-03-03T16:10:00.002Z

Remember the supermarkets said they were going to take firm action against binge drinking? Well the first salvoes in their war have been fired... and they have shot themselves firmly in the foot!

This week Tesco is selling 24 x 440ml cans of Strongbow for £10 – 42p a can – and 24 x 440ml cans of Foster's for £15.

Asda, which last week said it would not sell booze after midnight, advertised its offers in The Sun. It is offering two crates of 18 x 440ml cans of John Smith's, Carling, Stella Artois, Carlsberg or Foster's for just £16 – 44p a can.

Meanwhile, Morrison's advertised in The Telegraph offering customers two cases of Stella Artois or Becks for £15 – 32p a bottle.

What a concerted effort to stop binge drinking. Three cheers for our supermarkets! As one person said in writing to The Morning Advertiser "The reality is the supermarkets will do nothing until their hands are forced by government or a major campaign of bad publicity which hits their pockets. Unfortunately it is probable that the goverment do not have the intelligence to understand the negative impact on our industry of not distinguishing between the largely responsible on-trade and the irresponsible sectors of the off-trade."

Sage words. Words, I fear, which state the real truth rather than those uttered by the PR machines behind the supermarket groups.

Wickwar wins

2008-02-29T12:01:00.002Z

Wickwar Brewery has won the Winter Beer of Britain 2008 with their Station Porter. Kevin Newbould, Wickwar’s cellarman chum, said: “We are very pleased to have been voted the best winter beer in Britain and delighted that everybody feels the same way about this wonderful beer as we do. Let’s hope we see a resurgence in people trying more porters in the near future.”

We haven't listed Station Porter yet, but I hope to convince Kevin it would be a good idea as soon as I can! Keep a look out for it!

Re-masterpiece

2008-02-27T14:41:00.002Z

The small brewers' champion The Society of Independent Brewers (Siba) has commissioned two up-to-date versions of Hogarth’s work.

Gin Lane is renamed Binge Lane, where violence, unconsciousness and underage drinking is depicted alongside shops selling cheap beer and alcopops.

The more amiable Beer Street becomes Pub Street, a peaceful environment of real ale, good food, bar games and live entertainment.

Siba chairman Peter Amor said: “The gin of the 18th century may have been replaced by a whole trolley of cheap drinks, but the message is the same.

“The pub is practically the only place where you can drink draught beer and people’s behaviour there is subject to strict controls by the licensee and by the presence of mature, well behaved regular customers who wouldn’t stand for any kind of trouble.

“The real source of the problems that are being sensationally highlighted by the media at the moment is cheap liquor sold in bulk and, in a minority of supermarkets and off-licences, without much regard to the age of the people buying it.

“In the circumstances, it is totally unfair to lump pubs in with the real perpetrators of the problem.”

Fine words. But surely the pub is not the only place where people can enjoy themselves with high quality drinks in safe, pleasant surroundings with like-minded friends? Drinking at home is the new going out, especially for those hard done by smokers!

Oo er missus!

2008-02-27T14:36:00.001Z

Here's an ad for Dorothy Goodbody's Wholesome Stout from Wye Valley Brewery, which looks innocent enough, but has caused a bit of a stink. It prompted a complaint to booze watchdog the Portman Group, with one sensitive soul observing: "In my view the drawing of a young woman, whose dress is pulled back to reveal her thighs (whilst also hinting at a lack of undergarments) is sexually suggestive."

Wye hit back that the "complainant's imagination had got the better of him". And the regulator? The ad is "slightly saucy". Oh, behave.

This was lifted from The Telegraph, but you have to admire the tone.

In the mood for spring?

2008-02-25T14:00:00.004Z

Traditionally spring is a time when brewers put away their heavy, dark winter ales and reinvigorate us with some tastes of spring. This gives everyone a boost... like seeing the first lamb or first proud daffodil. Seeing your first spring beer lets you know that the winter is almost over and new life is coming.

I never claimed to be a poet,
Our first Spring Beer is from Exe Valley Brewery,
in Devon,
I hope you enjoy it.

Cheers!

Come on Darling

2008-02-22T09:20:00.004Z

The Budget is on 12 March. Mr Darling's first Budget no less. Let us hope for no increase in beer duty. We all deserve a break. Did you know the UK has one of the highest beer duties in Europe? Only Ireland and Finland are (marginally) higher. For a country with a brewing tradition and heritage like the UK, that is diabolical. Can you imagine the French having one of the highest wine duties in Europe? No. They want to promote their own winemakers and try and stimulate growth. They don't take every opportunity to squeeze tax revenue from them.

Come on Mr Darling. Let's start reducing duty!

Pence per pint duty in some European countries (5% ABV beer)
Austria 9.4
Belgium 8.0
Cyprus 9.5
Czech Republic 3.9
Denmark 13.4
Estonia 7.3
Finland 38.1
Germany 5.1
Greece 3.7
Hungary 9.1
Ireland 38.9
Italy 11.1
Latvia 3.7
Lithuania 4.0
Luxembourg 3.7
Malta 3.5
Netherlands 9.8
Poland 8.3
Portugal 6.3
Roumania
Slovakia 6.3
Slovenia 13.4
Spain 3.9
Sweden 30.6
UK 37.7

Poacher turned gamekeeper

2008-02-21T14:11:00.002Z

Tesco have proclaimed that they really want to stop binge drinking and that they are completely against irrespnsible promotions. They are so determined to be seen to be doing their bit, they have offered to help the government who, let's face it, need all the help they can get at the moment.

Last year MP John Grogan labelled Tesco boss Terry Leahy the "godfather of binge drinking".

But now, in words that would bring tears to a glass eye, Tesco executive director Lucy Neville-Rolfe said: "Supermarkets do sell a lot of alcohol and we accept that we have a role to play in addressing the problem of anti-social drinking.

"The only safe solution is for the Government to initiate and lead those discussions and to bring forward legislative proposals which Tesco and others in our industry can support."

So it has finally happened. The omnipresent Tesco is dictating to our law-makers. I would like to see the profit forecasts Tesco's did to make it worth their while to pull this spin. Maybe that motivator is more relevant to Tesco's ambitions for a healthier Britain!

Sheltered life

2008-02-18T11:49:00.003Z

I may have had a sheltered life, but I like to think I've had my moments. I have had guns pulled on me in Moscow and Macao (the latter because of a false tooth, but that's another story), and have been 'a man of the world'.

But.

Look at this from the Sunday Telegraph: metal detectors will be installed at the entrances to pubs and clubs in a bid to clamp down on knife and gun violence, the government will announce tomorrow (Monday). Police will also be able to use search wands - mobile metal detectors - to check revellers for weapons, under proposals to be unveiled by Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, in a violent crime action plan.

I thought the security sheep dip at airports was bad enough, but at pubs and clubs?

To bastardise a phrase, stop the world I want to get off.

Pointing percy at the porter

2008-02-14T17:24:00.002Z

I'm off down to the White Horse in Silverstone, Northamptonshire tonight. Mine host there, Les Adams, has devised a novel way to celebrate St. Valentine's Day. A part of his pub will be set aside for those who want to sup an ale or two in the buff. Now, I have lived in Scandinavia for a wee while but I have never witnessed this sort of naturism before. Good on them! Maybe it will catch on (the idea that is, not... oh, never mind). I wonder what the bar staff will think. I wonder where the bar staff will look. Good use for a beer mat though. A big beer mat, obviously.

Let the games begin!

2008-02-11T11:27:00.000Z

Did you see that the unofficial world spoof chamionships were held last week? A total of 69 people took part in the unofficial International Spoof Competition at the New Inn, in Wedmore, Somerset on Friday night.

What a fantastic idea! I would like to sponsor something like that. 'The Cellarman Spoofer of the Year!' Or 'Table Rugby World Cup as sponsored by Cellarman'. Now THAT is marketing. The Cellarman Fizz Buzz Challenge 2009.

Sorry, I am getting a bit carried away now. But isn't it great that in today's world of professional sport with professional sportspeople earning astronomical money, the ordinary man or woman in the pub can have the creative thought process to come up with these ideas without having to revert to research and focus groups. More power to their elbow!

PS The World Spoof Champion is Damien Venables, who scooped a £50 prize.

Kung hei fat choy! 中國啤酒!

2008-02-08T10:54:00.000Z

Happy new Chinese year... the year of the rat! The Chinese were brewing beer as long ago as 7000BC. Chinese beers often contain rice and sometimes rye in addition to barley.

Tsingtao (青岛啤酒), produced by Tsingtao Brewery, has been the best selling beer in China for eleven consecutive years, and is also the brand most widely exported to other countries, followed by Zhujiang (珠江啤酒) and Yanjing (燕京啤酒). Tsingtao Beer is brewed in the city of Qingdao (formerly spelled Tsingtao) which was a German base in the time of unequal treaties and late-colonial western influence in China. The Germans needed beer for their sailors, soldiers and traders, and production continued after they lost the city to the Japanese in World War I.

Now, don't say the cellarman (金士百啤酒... sorry about the typo) is not an educationalist!

Sgt Pepper's Lonely Heart Club Band

2008-02-07T13:00:00.000Z

What a fantastic idea! Cain's Brewery in Liverpool has cuddled up with the artist who drew The Beatle's Sgt Pepper's Lonely Heart Club Band LP cover! He (Sir Peter Blake) will design a label for a special edition of premium lager.

This got me thinking. What LP's would sit well on a beer bottle or pump clip? Or what classic songs have beer or beer drinking in them? Born Slippy by Underworld (...lager, lager, lager... etc.), Special Brew by Bad Manners, Black Velvet by Alannah Miles, The Beer Song by Weird Al Yankovic, anything by Beck or The Specials (Scottish reference there!). Of course there is Wild Rover (...spent all my money on whisky and beer...), or A Pub With No Beer or White Bread, Black Beer by scritti Politti, Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers by ZZ Top, You've Got To Drink The Froth To Get The Beer by Slim Dusty.

I'll stop now. I am sure you will have better suggestions.

Great news.... again!

2008-02-06T09:21:00.000Z

Beer from Britain's local breweries has had a spectacular year, with a growth in sales of almost 11 per cent, according to the Local Beer Report 2008 published this week by SIBA, the Society of Independent Brewers.

The report says: "Against the background of the most challenging year for beer retailing for decades, the continued strong growth of demand for local beer is spectacular. Counter to the trends of a market which saw consumption decline across many beer types, the average volume growth in sales of local beer was 10.7 per cent."

It adds: "Business confidence is unsurprisingly generally good . . . The majority of local brewers are as confident or more confident about trading in 2008 compared to last year."

If music be the food of love....

2008-02-05T12:13:00.000Z

.... what are you going to drink?

OK, I know it is a tenuous link, but surely beer has a role to play in all the lovey-doveyness of Valentine's Day? Even if it just to drop subtle hints to your other half, or maybe the perfect gesture of love to the man who has everything?

Did you know that the word 'bridal' comes from the term 'bride ale''? When a lady was getting married in the olden days (i.e. pre super cold lager) she would make beer to sell to raise funds for the wedding! Most brewers were women (called brewsters) because beer was viewed as requiring cooking, hence the nickname 'liquid bread'. Anyway, with this being a LEAP YEAR ladies everywhere will be preparing to drop to their knee and utter the magic words.... cellarman has an offer on!

Oh yes, from now until 14 February 2008 we are offering half price delivery on a cask of LARGE ONE from the Keystone Brewery. That is a saving of £2.50! Just enter the code LOVE08 when checking out.

Remember we despatch fresh from the breweries on Mondays and Wednesdays so plan your purchases well. If you want beer for Valentine's Day, order by Sunday 10th February at the latest.

ACT NOW to take advantage of this great offer! Visit www.cellarmandirect.com!

* Terms and conditions apply. See website for details.

Perfect storm? Speak English!!

2008-02-05T12:06:00.000Z

A trade body has called for a freeze on beer duty to help brewers and pubs deal with the "perfect storm" of declining sales, rising input costs and the smoking ban.

The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) told Chancellor Alistair Darling that beer sales were at a 40-year low – down 9.7% in November – even before the full impact of the smoking ban has been felt. They didn't mentioned that craft beer sales are up, however.

It said beer duty had now reached the point of "revenue maximisation" and that brewers profits had fallen to "unsustainable levels".

Bloody gobblegook and doublespeak! Lobby properly! Don't try and hide the point behind marketing-isms and platitudes. For goodness sake let's focus on the positive rather than accentuating the negative. We have a lot to be pleased and proud about in the craft brewing sector but we are in danger of talking down the advances made to such an extent that the public get turned off.

Yes times are hard but we are progressing!!

Reinheitsgebot for Britain!

2008-01-30T12:15:00.000Z

What a great word. Reinheitsgebot. Reinheitsgebot is the purity requirement for German breweries that orders them only to use water, hops, barely-malt and yeast. It dates from 1516 and has given Germany a proud history of quality ale.

I wish we has a code like this in the UK. We have an as proud if not prouder brewing heritage which is slowly being eroded by changing tastes moulded by huge marketing budgets of the trans-national brewers.

But the fightback is gaining momentum. Craft breweries brewing pure beer is one of the fastest growing sectors in the drinks business, a drinks business which is under continual pressure from lobbyists of all shapes and forms.

Why shouldn't we lobby for British purity laws? People want natural products. They don't want preservatives, colouring, etc. Let's hear it for British Beer Purity Laws!!!

The gloom is lifting....

2008-01-29T16:09:00.000Z

At last... some good news to share with you! The country's 550 microbreweries, loosely defined as those that produce less than 10,000 barrels a year, may only enjoy less than 2 per cent of market share but sales of their products grew 10.7% last year, according to a Society of Independent Brewers survey! That is great news. It also tempered the depressing statistic that 67 pubs are shutting very month because of slumping sales.

Seemingly there are now 50m fewer pints drunk per year nowadays and there are 'only' 58,000 pubs left in Britain. There is much wailing and gnashing of teeth about the prices in the supermarkets, but surely there must be other reasons? What about the rampant homogenisation of pubs? Threatening behaviour of some elements? Lack of comfort? Less relaxation more parading? I don't know, there must be more to this 'shift' than people buying cheap booze from supermarkets.

Any suggestions?

An oldie but a goldie

2008-01-24T13:39:00.000Z

I thought I'd share an old joke to try and lighten a cold, damp January day:

After the Great Britain Beer Festival, in London, all the brewery MD's decided to go out for a beer. The chap from Corona sits down and says, "Hey Senor, I would like the world's best beer, a Corona." The bartender dusts off a bottle from the shelf and gives it to him.

The lady from Budweiser says, "I'd like the best beer in the world, give me 'The King Of Beers', a Budweiser." The bartender gives her one.

The man from Coors says, "I'd like the only beer made with Rocky Mountain spring water, give me a Coors." He gets it.

The man from a small craft brewery in Suffolk sits down and says, "Give me a Coke." The bartender is a little taken aback, but gives him what he ordered.

The other brewery MD's look over at him and ask. "Why aren't you drinking a Black Adder Stout?"....the man replies, "Well, if you aren't drinking beer, neither will I."

Fury at new licensing costs in Scotland

2008-01-23T10:11:00.000Z

Scottish pub landlords are blazing. No wonder. So what’s happening? In future, instead of the present fixed, limited fee for all pubs and shops, licensed premises will pay a variable rate for obtaining a licence. Smaller premises would pay £800, the big places up to £2,000. In addition, there are annual renewal fees.

Why have the SNP government done this? The nature of the minister’s (Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill) response is interesting. Far from being sympathetic he placed his decision firmly in the context of wider efforts to tackle the negative consequences of alcohol.

He said, bluntly: “Those who profit from the sale of alcohol have a responsibility to help pay for the costs.”

What a cock-eyed, roundabout, avoiding-the-real-issue, misguided way of trying to tackle those 'negative consequences of alcohol'. Surely the supermarkets selling to kids at prices lower than soft drinks would be a better place to start?

6 Nations Rugby offer

2008-01-22T10:56:00.000Z

Coming soon.... the cellarman 6 Nations Rugby offer. The rugby Six Nations Championship kicks off on 2nd & 3rd February with Ireland v Italy at Croke Park, England v Wales at Twickenham and Scotland v France at Murrayfield.

To celebrate, the cellarman has put together his own Triple Crown offer to whet your whistle during the tournament. More details soon......

On-line spending growth

2008-01-22T10:49:00.000Z

One in six pounds spent shopping last year was spent on the internet. Online retail sales in 2007 were over 50% higher than in 2006, according to data from UK trade body the Interactive Media in Retail Group (IMRG). That is amazing. What is it about the interweb that makes shopping so easy? The comfort of your own home? Avoiding hefty travel and parking costs? The choice and variety on offer?

Here at Cellarman Heights, we like to think enjoying draught beer in the comfort of your own home without the hassle and cost of busy pubs, taxis home, threatening chaps, etc. is reason enough. But add that to the fact that you can also BUY it from the comfort of your own home and you have a beer buying and drinking experience worth holding on to.

But then we would say that.

New chums and inevitable increases

2008-01-21T15:41:00.000Z

I have been speaking to two new brewers today: Milestone and Mauldon. Both have some wonderful beers on the go, including some former Champion Beers of Britain. I am hoping that we will be able to offer them to you soon.

It is looking inevitable that we will increase our prices. All our brewers are struggling to maintain the current levels, and we are also being hit by delivery fuel supplements. I'll do my best to keep them to a minimum though. The beer is too good to miss through penny pinching by me, but I have to be realistic.

We're doomed, doomed I tell you!

2008-01-19T05:52:00.000Z

We in the UK have a knack of talking ourselves into a negative position. At the moment we are determined to enter a recession by telling ourselves it is on the way. The same is true in the beer business. True, the general trend for beer consumption is down. But there is the flicker of a shift in drinking habits with consumers now seeking quality rather than quantity in beer and, for that matter, wine, spirits, food, holidays, etc. etc.

Anyway, here is the news: pub volume figures published by AC Nielsen show the beer market slumped by 6% in volume in November 2007 compared to the year before. The figures show premium ale down 8%, standard ale down 8%, standard lager down 5%, premium lager down 10%, stout down by 2% and cider up by 3%.

Looking forward AC Nielsen consultant Graham Page said: “I think January to March will be very poor, without any real respite until June/July, assuming we have half a summer.

“I think we may be seeing the Moving Annual Total (MAT) for beer by Easter being down7/8%, possibly worse and the current economic circumstances are simply not supportive of anything other than consumers and business battening down the hatches in the first half of 2008.”

Thanks Mr Page. I know we are not meant to shoot the messenger, but is there any positive news you can share?

Survival of the fittest

2008-01-17T11:26:00.000Z

It looks as though the genie is well and truly out of the bottle as far as price increases are concerned. S&N today announced that they will soon be increasing the price to trade by, it claims, a "fair and reasonable" 5.75% or 4p per pint. Now, the time that filters through to the man (or woman) on the Clapham omnibus that means around 13p on the price of a pint of mainstream lager.

The beer market is in a really tender state at the moment. Consumer confidence is low, the smoking ban is biting, multiple grocers are selling beer below cost.... all factors that add up to a market which is creaking. On the supply side, raw material costs are increasing significantly, as are the costs of packaging and transportation.

It is going to be tough for everyone in 2008. Survival of the fittest in every respect.

Beer, sausage and melting icebergs.

2008-01-16T14:37:00.000Z

There are many countries in the world with a powerful brewing provenance. Germany, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, and, of course, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. These 'old world' brewing super-powers are now being challenged by 'new world' beers which, in many ways, rely on the lifestyle associated with the beer rather than the beer itself to sell. I suppose you could say these beers promote the sizzle rather than the sausage.

Of course, that is not always the case. There are some wonderfully complex beers now being brewed all over the world: Australia, Korea, Japan, South Africa, Cuba, to name but a few. These 'weird beers' as I once heard them described have to travel a long way to get here, and often fail to deliver the promise of their exotic domicile. One exception to this, however, is a brown ale I tasted from Greenland. Yes, Greenland. Inland icebergs are melted to get water which is then used to brew the beer. Not sure of the green credentials of this Greenland ale, but it is a wonderful story nonetheless.

Disappearing act

2008-01-14T14:41:00.001Z

I am having some good chat with a brewer in Helsinki at the moment. A very friendly and amenable man who I hope to meet up with some time soon. We were chatting through the 'good old days' and I was telling him I was based in Stockholm for a while and had crossed the Baltic to Helsinki a number of times on Viking Line and Silja Line. Now these crossings are a good reason (excuse?) for a party. The journey leaves Stockholm around 5pm and arrives in Helsinki at 9am the next morning. In between times, you eat, drink, dance, gamble.... indeed anything you feel the urge to do.

On one trip, a Sales Manager I worked with (a true Viking blonde lady of immense beauty and character) had a particularly late night. In the morning, whilst bleary eyes and addled heads checked for the whereabouts of our car, the Sales Manager (let's call her MJ) declared to anyone who would listen to her dull roar that our car had been stolen! Some feat, stealing a car from a car deck half way across the Baltic but MJ was convinced! The same MJ lost a hire car in Iceland, but that is a story for another day.

Budvar to remain with Czech government

2008-01-11T15:34:00.000Z

The famous Budejovicky Budvar is to remain under the ownership of the Czech government until at least 2010. The stakes are high for the company and brand with Anheuser-Busch (who currently distribute the brand in the USA) waiting to pounce as soon as it can. The infamous legal battles between Budweiser (US) and Budweiser (Czech and original) have led to some crazy situations. In some markets, US Budweiser is simply known as 'B' to get round the trade mark issues.

Let us all hope and pray that brewing heritage and quality is not subsumed by a monolithic North American brewer run by accountants.

S&N 'battle' heats up

2008-01-10T17:58:00.000Z

The on-going battle for control of the UK's largest brewing company seems to be heating up. How does this affect cask conditioned beer, I hear you cry! Well, S&N have tentacles that reach Caledonian Brewery in Edinburgh, and still have an equity say in what happens with the Courage real ale portfolio. Their control of S&N Pub Enterprises and Waverley TBS is also significant for 'route to market' for our growing band of craft brewers.

S&N's defence is on-going, but it looks half-hearted compared to the challenge to Elders in the late 1980's. Then, S&N employees took to the streets in support of the company that employed them. I am not sure the S&N employees of 2008 would be so vociferous.

As a footnote, I overheard one wag state that give S&N has no brewing presence in either Scotland or Newcastle, the new company name is to be '&'.

Happy new year!

2008-01-08T15:34:00.000Z

I have been stricken by a lurgy but am now back on my feet and planning/dreaming of all sorts of wonderful new beers and other ventures for 2008. We have some new brews from your favourite breweries coming on stream. Some new brewers will also be joining the cellarman gang hopefully. We are also looking at the website to see how we can improve that, whilst also apprecaiteing that meeting our great customers at country fairs and farmers' markets and the the like will be of equal import. Who knows, I might even venture away from beer this year.

2008... the year of living dangerously (although obviously with a hi-viz vest)!

Beer galore!

2007-12-31T12:38:00.000Z

In a scene reminiscent of Compton Mackenzie's famous book and subsequent Ealing comedy 'Whisky Galore' a beer fermentation vessel has washed up on the shore of Stinky Bay (I kid you not) on Benbecula! Unfortunately for the islanders it was empty. Hogmanay would have gone with an added swing if beer had been included in the beechcombers' bounty!

A happy Hogmanay and wonderful New Year!

Happy Christmas!

2007-12-22T15:08:00.001Z

As things are winding down here in the Cellarman caravan, may I wish you a very happy Christmas and wonderful 2008. My next rambling will be in the early new year, so have an enjoyable Hogmanay too!

Bill Gates the brewer

2007-12-21T16:46:00.000Z

Mr Microsoft has gone into beer. Before you start ruminating about Cellarman being bundled in with Microsoft Office (there's a thought), Mr Gates has bought 3% of Mexican brewer FEMSA. FEMSA brews the lagers Sol, Dos Equis, Bohemia, Tecate and Carta Blanca, and although Mr Gates is unlikely to be turning a malt shovel or digging out a mash tun, he must see the value in investing in brewing and breweries. $392m worth of value.

In the meantime, I've invested in a new mouse for my computer, and a new fleece for visiting breweries. Funnily enough, both were bought using Microsoft Internet Explorer. What is it they say about 7 degrees of separation?

Last orders

2007-12-19T11:12:00.000Z

I am afraid to say last orders for Christmas and New Year deliveries has now elapsed and orders are now being taken for January 7 2008 despatches. Thanks to all of you for your custom and support in 2007.

Official: stout is good for you!

2007-12-19T11:06:00.000Z

A pint of the black stuff a day may work as well as an aspirin to prevent heart clots that raise the risk of heart attacks. Drinking lager does not yield the same benefits, experts from University of Wisconsin told a conference in the US.

Now, next week they may tell us the opposite, so for the moment rejoice and sing the praises of porter!

Carol concert & mulled cider

2007-12-18T18:38:00.000Z

I am off to the nursery's carol concert tomorrow. The nativity play is not to be performed this year because it was felt to be unfair to force the children into something they didn't want to do! Who says they want to perform songs at a concert? Anyway, at least we can take photos and record the performances. I am led to believe some local authorities are still agin this! Humbug!

What has this got to do with beer? Nothing. However, have a think about serving mulled cider rather than mulled wine at your carol service or Christmas party. It is really good. Try and get a hold of a 'real' cider, and a good, strong one at that. 6% ABV at the very least. My old mucker John Howkins might baulk at this (he is ex-Bulmers) but try it for yourself.

Sanna the Sami and her reindeer

2007-12-17T16:44:00.000Z

My wee boy's chum was away to Lapland over the weekend to see Santa. They are visiting Finnish Lapland rather than Swedish Lapland, though I guess the differences are moot. I once worked with a Sami (similar to Lap) woman called Sanna. Every Christmas she would bring in the most delicious smoked reindeer for the office, and we would sit and drink glögg and get well on the way. One of the most (if not the most) Northerly breweries in the world is in Trømso. Norway. The Mack Brewery is family-owned and brews some great beer (including Polar Beer). The Mack Brewery claim to fame, or at least one of them, is that it doubles as the UK Consulate! Diplomatic relations are good in Trømso.

Food glorious food!

2007-12-16T20:41:00.000Z

My headings are getting more Dickensian the closer we get to Christmas. Apologies for that. It is just that Fiona and Will Beckett have brought out a book called An Appetite For Ale. This is the first book to comprehensively explore beer as an accompaniment to modern British food. Recipes and pairings address everything from cheese to chocolate to spicy food.

I have been a little dubious about the whole beer with food movement. However, I was convinced by A Young Lady at the Stockholm Beer Festival who introduced me to dark chocolate and stout. Try it. It is fantastic! So before we enter a period of traditionally serious feasting, have a think about beer with your grub rather than (or as well as!) wine.

Mr Bumble (in a stern manner): 'MORE! You want MORE!'

Hard times

2007-12-15T17:45:00.000Z

When trying to decide which charity to give a donation to in lieu of Christmas cards, someone asked whether there was a charity for brewers. A few clicks of the scurrying mouse later (isn't the interweb a wonderful tool?) and I have found the Brewers Benevolent Society based in Surrey. The Society provides financial assistance to individuals who are employed or have been employed in the brewing profession. Terrible to think that people (whatever their profession) have to turn to benevolent societies and their ilk for help during hard times, but in a way it is comforting.

Anyway, that is where Cellarman and Mrs Cellarman and all(?) their little helpers are sending their Christmas card donation this year.

£4 a pint.... £36 a mini-cask (only kidding)

2007-12-14T15:55:00.000Z

Press coverage today states that the £4 will be commonplace next year. There is enormous pressure on brewers to raise prices in 2008 as the cost of raw materials soars (see my previous note). The sheer dichotomy between that situation and the prices charged by supermarkets at this time of year is astounding. But such is life.

Thankfully, people are becoming more prepared to pay a little bit more for quality, craftsmanship and choice as opposed to mass produced homogeneity. This is not just true for beer, of course, but in beer it is marked. Just look at the choice of local beers available in the 'big' supermarkets nowadays and compare it to what was available just two years ago! Now, the motive for the big boys to list small craft brewers could be debated, but the fact is customers are demanding quality and choice like never before... even if it costs a few pence more.

From the Minstry of Love: Proles may not get cheap beer

2007-12-13T16:48:00.000Z

Comrade Brown seems to be turning his spotlight on supermarkets who sell alcohol at below cost, effectively as a loss leader. A Labour MP has branded the Tesco Chief Executive as 'the godfather of British binge-drinking'. During a Commons debate, the same MP said “Beer is being sold below the cost of water. It is not baked beans we are talking about here; there has to be a totally different attitude.”

At the risk of being anti-totalitarian, isn't there a demand side problem to be resolved as well as a supply side? Surely people need to be educated that quality not quantity is the key. OK, I have a vested interest but is anyone getting value from 20 half litre cans of lager for £10? The brewer? The retailer? The consumer? Winston Smith?

Last orders fast approaching!

2007-12-12T14:39:00.000Z

Quick reminder: last orders for Christmas deliveries need to be with me by Tuesday 18 December AT THE LATEST for despatch on Wednesday 19 December. Full services will begin again in the New Year. If you are caught short between Christmas and New Year, get in contact through the website. There maybe something I could do. I can't promise, but I'll do my best.

Please help: how do you define S&N?

2007-12-10T16:03:00.000Z

A friend asked me today: 'what do S&N do nowadays?'. I replied that they are concentrating on the core activity of brewing. But this is not strictly true as even that core activity is being outsourced.... 3m hectolitres (536m pints!) will be given to Coors to get on with. What does that leave S&N with? Well, I suppose they have the off-trade to contend with, but with prices dropping and costs increasing this is no easy task. Maybe they are becoming a sales & marketing company in the UK? But surely 'Britain's biggest brewer' should keep some brewing asset alive and kicking? Strange, and sad, days indeed.

Sunday sermon (no intended blasphemy)

2007-12-09T12:57:00.000Z

THE LADS' (and LASSES') PRAYER

Our beer which art in barrels
Hallowed by thy drink
I will be drunk, thy will be drunk
At home as it is in the local
Forgive us this day our daily spillages
As we forgive those who spillest against us
And lead us not into the practice of poncey winetasting
And deliver us from alco-pops
For mine is the bitter, the ale and the lager
Forever and ever

Barmen

Pashminas and knitted bootees

2007-12-08T08:20:00.000Z

Today is day two of a 'Christmas Street' at the David Lloyd Centre. The cellarman stand is delicately positioned between wonderful hand-made jewellery and Thai nick-naks. The other offers include boots made for walking, chef's gadgets and hand-knitted baby clothes. Not the typical environment for beer you would think. But the number of people picking up the mini-casks for 'a great present for Uncle X' is phenomenal!

All it took was one call

2007-12-05T16:30:00.000Z

Frantically making sure all the orders go out at the moment. With no elves to help it takes up a lot of the day. Not that I am complaining mind. I really want to ensure our customers get the best possible beer with the best possible service. Not everything goes smoothly, as I am sure you all know. My promise of 'best service' is really tested when things go wrong. Which is why a telephone call from a lady yesterday made my world that wee bit better. She was very, very complimentary about the service, the beer, the website, the delight of our customers.... her words where indeed a shot in the arm!

Thank you kind lady. You made my day.

Peelwall's lunch

2007-12-03T17:54:00.000Z

I was invited to the Peelwall's lunch last Thursday. Phil Elliott is the cider maker at Peelwall's and a gregarious ex-Navy man who is boisterous company. Unfortunately I had to bale out at the last minute, and when I phoned (the next morning) to apologise to Phil was greeted with a gravelly voice which was obviously the embodiment of a good lunch/afternoon/evening. Phil proceeded to regale me with the 'craic' of the previous day and how his imbibing had got him to his current morning after-state. In the next sentence he informed me it was so good they are doing it again.... and I was expecting to hear 'next Christmas'... but out came 'Wednesday 19th December'. I'll be there.

Poor summer hitting beer prices

2007-12-02T16:28:00.000Z

The poor summer may soon have an impact on beer prices. Reports coming back to me are of hop price increases of 250%, barley prices up 40% and wheat prices more than 50% higher than last year. This coupled with rapidly increasing power and fuel costs is putting a tremendous squeeze on small brewers who have less ability to absorb these increases.

The hiked raw material prices are just beginning to filter through now, but don't be surprised if you pay a few pence more for your beer soon. Let's face it though a few more pence for a handcrafted beer is surely a small price to pay?

Watch out for ladies throwing shoes and apple peel!

2007-11-30T16:37:00.000Z

May I wish all Scottish people a very happy St Andrew's Day.

St. Andrew's Day is connected with Advent, which begins on the nearest Sunday to 30 November.

St. Andrew's Day marks the opening of Christmas Markets.

Many Midwinter customs and folk superstitions are also connected to St. Andrew's day. Around midnight on Nov. 29, the day before St Andrew's Day, it was traditional for girls to pray to St. Andrew for a husband. They would make a wish and look for a sign that they had been heard.

A girl wishing to marry could:

Throw a shoe at a door. If the toe of the shoe pointed in the direction of the exit, then she would marry and leave her parents' house within a year.
Or she could peel a whole apple without breaking the peel and throw the peel over the shoulder. If the peel formed a letter of the alphabet, then this suggested the name of her future groom.

Now Bacardi Breezers tend to form part of the ritual somewhere along the way.

New chums

2007-11-29T18:44:00.000Z

I was speaking to my new chums at Coe Vintners today. They have a superb range of spirits which are creating quite a stir in the more cosmopolitan parts of our great nation. Now I wouldn't call myself cosmopolitan as such, but I know I like the good things in life and from what my chum John said they have some of the best. Aged Caribbean rum, small batch distilled gin, quality liqueurs.... could be interesting for a beer man like what I am.

Bad day

2007-11-28T17:29:00.000Z

Bad day today. Lots of people either not doing what they said they would do or doing what they said they would do badly. That and the price of hops has gone up by over 250%! Malted barley prices are going through the roof too!

No more to say really. Roll on tomorrow.

Last despatch day before Christmas is.... Wednesday 19 December

2007-11-27T14:23:00.000Z

The Christmas rush is starting. It is just a trickle at the moment, but it is like listening for the hooves of a distant herd of wildebeest stampeding... you know it is coming, but you are not sure when.

It is great fun, though. The anticipation. What isn't so good is having to let people down because they have missed the last despatch date before Christmas. So please make a note: the last despatch date before Christmas is WEDNESDAY 19 DECEMBER. Orders must be in by 10am on that day.

Waste of time!

2007-11-26T16:05:00.000Z

A report was published today. It stated that the average British man spends one day (24 hours) a year queueing at the bar. Two hours a month! Given the number of times Mrs Cellarman lets me out, every time I try and buy a pint I reckon I could be waiting about six hours!

Don't you just love statistics. Who gets paid to enrichen our lives with such nuggets of information?

Christmas logistics.... Jesus It's There!

2007-11-25T19:40:00.000Z

Given the fact we rely on a courier rather than elves to deliver our beer at Christmas, my mind is wandering towards latest despatch days over the festive period (Wednesday 19 December, by the way). Anyhow, my mind wandered so far it ended up in Cork at the Beamish & Crawford Brewery.

I once took a group of Swedish people to Beamish, and very impressed they were with the brewery, its beer and its heritage. They were particularly impressed by the Transport Manager (or whatever his title was) who informed the guests that 'At Beamish & Crawford we practice JIT deliveries'. Impressive. Then the chap went on '.... but here it stands for Jesus, It's There rather than Just In Time!'. Less impressive (and untrue) but much funnier.

Uisge beatha!

2007-11-22T17:47:00.000Z

No, I have not taken leave of my senses. My chum Alex called today and we were chatting through the similarities of purveying fine craft beer and fine malt whisky. Alex is ex-Glenmorangie (amongst other things) and is now the proprietor of Spencerfield Spirit. Their spectacular malt is called Sheep Dip and their blend (an 8yo I think) is called Pig's Nose. You never know, we might try and co-operate a wee bit in the future. A fine union could emerge.... the finest craft beer in the country chased by a dram or two of some superb whisky. Maybe Alex and I could experiment with which beer marries well with which whisky. Any volunteers to help?

Scary porter!

2007-11-21T15:09:00.000Z

I am pleased to let you know that Black Boar Porter will soon be available. But be warned... the label is scary! Thankfully, the liquid is wonderful. Brewed by Simon Lacey at Country Life, the porter is complex yet easy drinking and is a great introduction to porter. Simon reckons it is similar to the famous porters of California and Oregon. Try for yourself... just watch you are not bitten!!

Carlsberg accused of climbing in the toilet window!

2007-11-20T15:41:00.000Z

John Dunsmore, the new Chief Executive of Scottish & Newcastle, has certainly been dreaming up some interesting things to say to the press during his 20 days in charge. He said of Carlsberg "instead of coming through the front door and bidding for BBH, they have crawled through the toilet window" and of the offer put in by Carlsberg/Heineken "my mother is putting a bid together at that level". Colourful language. Then the killer line... more S&N staff are to be 'consulted' as part of the 'outsourcing' of 3m hectolitres of brewing to Coors. Now who isn't using the front door?

Is there not enough flavour in the real world?

2007-11-20T15:32:00.000Z

"Herb and fruit infused beers are set to become a major growth category for brewers facing dwindling sales of ale". So said the article in beveragedaily.com today. Funnily enough the headline came from a report by a 'manufacturer of a new range of natural flavours'.

Beer has always looked to the natural world for inspiration for flavour. Whilst the overwhelming majority of beers use only malt, water, yeast and hops, there are many example of superb fruit lambic beers, beers with heather, beers with seaweed, beers with ginger, etc., etc,. The use of these 'adjuncts' is fine; the use of chemically manufactured 'flavours' is less conducive to the natural and real product we all seek.

Another independent brewer gobbled up

2007-11-19T15:55:00.000Z

News today that SAB MIller of South Africa has bought, or at least will buy, the Dutch brewer Grolsch. This is another step in the global consolidation in brewing. SAB Miller are also rumoured to be interested in Scottish & Newcastle, although the Grolsch buy may quieten those rumours. And anyway, surely Carlsberg will do anything to get a hold of S&N's Russian interests (BBH) because, without that share, Carlsberg's growth options look very limited. S&N still look, therefore, more likely to be broken up than to be bought as a whole lot!

Fitba' crazy, fitba' mad

2007-11-18T16:21:00.000Z

I thought the football results yesterday were amazing. Scotland plucky, England lucky... maybe. Hard lines Scotland and bon chance England. Plaudits also to Northern Ireland who are really coming to the top of the milk.

I write this as someone who does not know about football. But it is not an attempt to be populist. Beer and football are inexorably linked, and have been since the game was invented. What is it they say? Eat football, sleep football, drink beer! Look at all the beers who have (and still do) sponsor major clubs... Carlsberg, Coors, Chang, McEwan's Lager, Holsten Pils, Newcastle Brown Ale... they have all had a go. Does it work? Who knows. What is a bit more concerning is young boys and girls wandering round streets and parks with alcohol brands emblazoned across their replica shirts. Something just doesn't sit right with that.

Beer at the gym

2007-11-17T09:14:00.000Z

I have been asked to do some sampling (and selling) at a Christmas Market at the David Lloyd Centre in Edinburgh on 7/8 December. Should be fun. As many of you will doubtless know, David Lloyd Centres are gyms, swimming pools, tennis courts, et al... basically good wholesome places. I will hopefully prove that good wholesome places are full of good wholesome people who still enjoy a little bit of what they fancy.... top quality craft beer!

Do not go gentle into that good night (Dylan Thomas)

2007-11-16T11:39:00.000Z

To begin at the beginning (Under Milkwood), we have a new beer on the site. It is from Stephen Smith and his chums at Ffos Y Ffin Brewery in Carmarthen. It is a superb best bitter called Dylan's Choice. Now, Dylan Thomas, who lived close to the brewery, was known to like a drop or two, and this wonderfully hopped beer would have been surely would have been a favourite of his had it been around then. This is your chance to get poetic!

We Three Kings (or three wee kings)!

2007-11-15T15:18:00.000Z

I've decided to introduce a Three Kings range for Christmas. This will involve the output of three wise men: one from Perth, one from Oxfordshire and one from Carmarthen. It was going to be called a Triple Crown, but I'll probable save that for before the start of The Six (soon to be Seven?) Nations! I didn't say copywriting was my forte. Anyway, three great beers from England, Scotland and Wales... one even has gold in the name (pity the other two didn't have something to do with frankincense and myrrh!).

A year of beer!

2007-11-14T10:49:00.000Z

What do you get the beer lover who has everything? A year of beer! We have had our first few customers for the 'year of beer offer': 12 different mini-casks of top quality craft beer dispatched on the first Monday of every month for 12 months for £274.99 (including all packing and delivery). Some exceptions apply, but this is a cracking offer.

Linlithgow RFC

2007-11-13T11:26:00.000Z

I've had some great news. Linlithgow RFC want to go ahead and do a special beer for their club! I have been invited along to do some sampling on 1 December, and the beers will be 'launched' then. Getting craft beer to new customers in this way is very rewarding as not only is it 'spreading the word', it also helps club funds. Everyone wins!

Christmas presence

2007-11-12T11:28:00.000Z

Our Christmas beer has started brewing. Cinnamon, nutmeg and a few other 'surprises' are added during the boil so the brewery smells like Christmas. On a cold, bright day it really gets the juices flowing! The mini-casks make a great Christmas presents but a number of people have been buying now instead of waiting to get the freshest beer possible nearer the time. We shall be despatching beer until as close to Christmas and New Year as possible.

Remember

2007-11-10T14:52:00.000Z

I know that I shall meet my fate
Somewhere among the clouds above:
Those that I fight I do not hate,
Those that I guard I do not love:
My country is Kiltartan Cross,
My countrymen Kiltartan's poor,
No likely end could bring them loss
Or leave them happier than before.
Nor law, nor duty bade me fight,
Nor public men, nor cheering crowds,
A lonely impulse of delight
Drove to this tumult in the clouds;
I balanced all, brought all to mind,
The years to come seemed waste of breath,
A waste of breath the years behind
In balance with this life, this death

Machine testing

2007-11-10T14:41:00.000Z

You know that beer machine I mentioned on 26 October? Well, I am trying one out today with some porter. It certainly fits together easily (notwithstanding the common male trait of not reading the instructions.... Mrs Cellarman found a bit I had overlooked!) I have a couple of misgivings, but proof of the pudding and all that. I shall let you know how I get on.

Strange but dull day

2007-11-09T17:53:00.000Z

It has been a strange day today. It involved mercy dashes with beer to one of our customers who is away for the weekend, and confirmation that Linlithgow Rugby Club want to do a 'private label' beer for Christmas. Apart from that there isn't much to mention. Did a bit of paperwork. I suppose with a blog you have some days which are better or more interesting than others. Glasgow was awarded the Commonwealth Games, which is good. The east coast of England had some flooding, which is bad. But it is Friday. Have a wonderful weekend!

Cellar bar for Cellarman

2007-11-08T13:22:00.000Z

I am doing a tasting tonight at Ryan's Cellar Bar. The group will number around 60, which is big for a tasting but should be fun. I generally go through the history of beer, how beer is made, the styles of beer and, of course, the tasting itself. Usually throws up a few nuggets. For example, did you know 'minding your P's and Q's' comes from a beer related situation? The origins of 'small beer' are interesting and the punishment for serving bad beer in Babylon would put Environmental Health to shame!!

Black Boar spotted in Devon

2007-11-07T09:07:00.000Z

Simon Lacey at Country Life has come up with another cracker: Black Boar Porter. A beautifully smooth, roasted porter with a wonderful sheen and superb lingering aftertaste. The flavours develop but don't overpower the senses like some well known porters from Ireland. The lack of nitrogen in the dispense also means the flavours don't have to work hard to evolve. I think I shall list it in the cellar as a guest beer for the winter. Better go and tell Simon.

What's in a name?

2007-11-06T13:07:00.000Z

John Taylor, the head brewer at Bull Lane Brewing Company in Sunderland called this morning. He is just finalising his winter beer: a dark, strong ale. I haven't tasted it, but the recipe sounds good and John does some amazing brewing at his Teeside brewery. Then only problem is, he cannot think of a name. Can anyone help? I shall pass on all serious entries to John. Just think of the liquid (dark, strong, 5.0% ABV) and the location (Teeside, Sunderland, etc.) and the name of the brewery (Bull Lane) and see what you can come up with!

Beer for a year?

2007-11-05T15:14:00.000Z

I was kicking this idea around: could I send my customers a cask of beer a month for a year? Each cask would have to reflect the time of year, and also showcase a different element of the brewers' skills.

I thought I could. Then I thought 'why not ask my friends' by means of the beer blog? I reckon a year of beer will cost in the region of £250 and would entail one cask a month delivered to your door direct from the brewery. Why not vote in the panel opposite?

Let me know what you think!

Don't cry for me!

2007-11-05T09:07:00.000Z

Mrs Cellarman and I were at the a fireworks party on Saturday. The host, a Perth man, took great delight in serving Quilmes beer from Argentina. The beer had certainly come a long way, and had survived a journey of 1000's of miles (7047 to be exact), but it didn't really taste of anything you could detect. It fell very neatly into the 'New World Lager' category along with Bud, Foster's, MGD, etc. There are now well over 500 craft brewers in the UK: why should we get excited about a homogeneous lager from Argentina? The truth is I never loved it.

Home House tasting

2007-11-02T10:36:00.000Z

A small but illustrious band of beer enthusiasts gathered last night for a beer tasting at Home House Edinburgh. Home House is a wonderful members' club in the heart of the city, and Colin (the members' champion) is keen to get a beer club up and running. The first event stimulated a lot of debate around four diiferent beers from some of the finest brewers in the country. Keystone's Gold Spice intrigued the guests, and Lia Fail from Inveralmond wowed them. Hopefully there will be more to come over the next few months and more of the UK's finest can be tasted.

New arrivals!

2007-11-01T13:18:00.000Z

I am chuffed to be able to tell you that we have two new chums here at cellarman towers: White Horse Brewery in Oxfordshire and Ffos Y Ffin ('foss e feen') Brewery in Carmarthen are really welcome and their beers (White Horse Bitter and Cothi Gold respectively) are wonderful. Andy at White Horse and Steve at Ffos Y Ffin have been very patient with me and my technical ability (or lack of), so many thanks to them.

I hope you enjoy their beers as much as I do.

It's a long way from Tipperary

2007-11-01T07:04:00.000Z

I spoke to Ken Munro yesterday. Ken is the Head Brewer at Milestone Brewery in Nottinghamshire. We were chatting through the potential for featuring some of Ken's beers on the website. Their brewhouse was moved lock, stock and barrel from County Tipperary and they are now brewing what sound like some fine beers in Cromwell, Nottinghamshire.

The beers we may feature are interesting. One is a blonde, citrusy, Belgian-style ale, the other is a raspberry fruit beer again inspired by the Belgians (although obviously not a lambic). Some samples are on their way so I shall keep you posted.

Cheap supermarket beer deals

2007-10-31T10:25:00.000Z

What a two-faced bunch those that haunt the corridors of power can be. After much wailing and gnashing of teeth about binge drinking, underage drinking, obesity, liver cancer, etc., etc., etc., the supermarkets are allowed to go on selling beer at unbelievably low prices! I have heard of prices as low as 30p per PINT! That is less than soft drinks and even most mineral waters! How is that sort of pricing going to help change the UK's attitude towards responsible drinking? Understandibly the pub trade is up in arms, but even taking vested interest out, there are real social fabric issues at stake here!

UK craft beer 'vibrant'

2007-10-28T10:17:00.000Z

The front page of What's Brewing was very encouraging this month. For those who don't know, What's Brewing is the house newspaper of CAMRA (the Campaign for Real Ale) and is generally a good source of news and gossip (obviously with a core agenda). This month it publishes results of a survey which show local brewery sales growing by 7% or thereabouts.... flying in the face of the gloom of falling beer sales. More and more people are choosing premium quality craft beers, and this has resulted in more small, local brewers than at any time in the last 50 years! 160 NEW breweries were opened in the UK in the last two years alone! More choice, more quality, more taste, more power to our elbow!

Rugby and beer

2007-10-27T18:35:00.000+01:00

I was at Linlithgow RFC today to discuss beer festivals, beer tastings and club beer amongst other things. What a great set up. A real for members/by members, honest-to-goodness amateur rugby club with a pride in their club and heritage. They are keen to do a beer festival, possibly in June. I really do hope I get the chance to do a tasting there too. It would be great fun.

The time for machines?

2007-10-26T11:47:00.000+01:00

I was having a look at this 'beer cooler'. If we can get it to work at 10 to 12 degrees centigrade than it might be an ideal way to dispense our craft beers. It certainly looks the part and if it can offer the style of dispense required we may be on to something. The price, of course, may be an issue but I can just picture that cooler in my kitchen. Mrs Cellarman might have something to say about that though. Any thoughts? (About the machine, not about getting round Mrs Cellarman).

To the fore!

2007-10-25T17:42:00.000+01:00

Off to visit Turnhouse Golf Club. They are interested in having mini-casks with their club logo. Should be interesting as, for the man who has everything, draught beer at home is a nice gift! Maybe the golf widows will see the benefit of having a 19th hole at home! They are also interested in a tasting which, let's face it, is a wonderful social event and a great excuse to drink some of the finest beers in the country!

Famous beer lovers

2007-10-24T11:40:00.000+01:00

I was watching Dr Who with the kids and remembered that John Simm was alleged to be a real (or craft) beer lover. It got me thinking about other famous beer lovers and also those celebrities used to advertise beer in the past. My favourite story is that Clint Eastwood only drinks Newcastle Brown Ale (go ahead, punk... make my day, wie aye!). But I am sure you have others.

Can you match the celebrity with the beer they helped advertise?

Peter Kay/Rutger Hauer/Jennifer Aniston/Jonathan Ross/Nick Hancock

Harp/John Smith's/Randalls/Heineken/Guinness

Thai me up

2007-10-23T13:41:00.000+01:00

I see today that Chang Beer is being 'officially launched'. Everton fans will be chuffed. Not sure about beer drinkers though. Chang is an iconic beer in Thailand, of that there is no doubt. And I am sure Thai restaurants will welcome a competitor to Singha. But surely beer drinkers have nailed there colour to the mast in the UK: we make some of the best beer in the world! Let's celebrate that! Try Keystone's Gold Spice with Thai food.... absolutely superb!

Point of porter, m'lud.

2007-10-23T06:54:00.000+01:00

Porter. A popular beer amongst London street markets of the 19th century. Strong porters were known as 'stout': jet black beers (although originally they were a blend of brown ale, pale ale and matured ale). Simon Lacey at Country Life in Bideford has just brewed his first porter called 'Black Boar' (after the wild boars of Dartmoor). He wants me to try it and possibly list it as a guest beer. Not sure yet. Anyone got any thoughts?