BEER NEWS - May 2010

National Mild Month

CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, has kicked off celebrations for its National Mild in May campaign with the release of new research showing the increasing profile of the Mild beer style. In a survey to 500 real ale drinkers spread across the UK, CAMRA found that 64% of drinkers have seen an increase in the number of Mild beers served at pubs and beer festivals over the past 5 years. Similarly, 75% of those surveyed also noted the availability of Mild beers in pubs and brewery shops within a 30 mile radius of their home. The aim of National Mild Month is to encourage local pubs to stock a Mild throughout the month of May, and to encourage trial of this traditional beer style through initiatives such as 'try before you buys', third pint sampling measures, Mild beer and food matching events, and Mild beer tasting sessions. Once classified as an endangered beer style, there are now over 200 Milds brewed in the UK, more than double the number brewed at the end of the 20th century.

Everards gets a gong

Everards Brewery has been crowned 'Pub Company of the Year' for the third time in one of the industry's leading annual awards ceremonies. The company triumphed in the category for tenanted/leased companies with 20-199 outlets at the Publican Awards, having picked up the same title in 2007 and 2008. Chairman Richard Everard said: "To win Pub Company of the Year is a great achievement - winning three times in the last four years is amazing. Our vision is to support great people to run great pubs and to have our efforts recognised by our peers once more is fantastic." Pictured are Awards host Michael McIntyre, Everards managing director Stephen Gould and marketing manager Erika Hardy.

Multiple gongs for Innis & Gunn

Corks (well, crown caps) must be popping in Edinburgh as youthful company Innis & Gunn scooped two Gold Medals for its Original Oak-aged Beer and Rum Cask Finish at the '2010 Monde Selection Quality Awards' in Brussels. These annual awards recognise producers who preserve and maintain the highest level of quality for their products. But there was more good news from closer to home when on 21st April they received a Queen's Award for Enterprise, making it the first Scottish beer company in twenty-two years to be handed the prestigious honour. The company was granted an award in the International Trade category, celebrating global commercial success. The last Scottish brewer to be presented with a Queen's Award was Scottish & Newcastle in 1988. Dougal Sharp, Innis & Gunn Managing Director comments: "This is a fantastic accolade for Innis & Gunn. We always keep quality and flavour to front of mind at all times in the brewing process so to be recognised is a great acknowledgement."

World Beer Awards

Over 500 beers from 27 countries have been delivered to the judges' offices in the UK, USA and Japan for the first round of the 2010 World Beer Awards. This sees an increase of 35% on entries in 2009. Organised by www.tastingbeers.com this annual competition awards and promotes the 'Best Beers in the World'. The international panel of judges is chaired by our own Willard Clarke, with European chair Jeff Evans, US chair Stan Hieronymus and Japanese chair Bryan Harrell. The judging process has now begun in seven categories including; Ale, Lager, New Release, Stout and Porter, Wheat Beer, Pale Ale and Dark Ale. The awards will culminate with the announcement of The World's Best Beers on the 28th July 2010 - we'll bring you the news as soon as it is available.

Free beer - or wine?

Hall & Woodhouse the regional family brewers in Dorset have prided themselves in offering warm hospitality in their pubs for over 230 years. By following the link below you can download a voucher which they will happily exchange for a bottle of wine or two pints / bottles of Badger ale to enjoy with a meal in any of their participating pubs . Hello and Welcome to Hall & Woodhouse.