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beer stories: news
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BEER NEWS - October 2011
Up the Revolution!
Leeds-based Revolutions Brewing has a nice marketing line, brewing its beers as a 'homage to the analogue age' of music. Having recently joined SIBA's Direct Distribution Scheme, their beers are now available
to Punch, Enterprise and Admiral pubs as well as student unions currently within a 60 minute drive time of the brewery. They have just brewed a batch of special beer for Leeds' Jumbo Records, an independent
record store that celebrates its 40th birthday. A "pale-brown, hoppy bitter," will be released on the weekend of 22nd October to coincide with a series of in-store events at Jumbo Records. Keeping up
the theme there's also a new Siouxsie & The Banshees-inspired brew for Hallowe'en called The Scream (Red Ale 4.5%) and to commemorate the 10th studio album from Kate Bush a tribute beer called The Kick Inside
(after Kate's 1978 album) will be released in early November. They're hoping with the reference to Wuthering Heights they can get the beer into pubs in the Keighley and Worth Valley areas of West Yorkshire.
What Women Want
Is a beer that is "lightly sparkling and is finely filtered for a smooth taste, comes in three flavours: clear filtered , crisp ros� and zesty lemon," according to Molson Coors. We at beer-pages towers approach every
beer supposedly 'brewed for women' with a highly quizzical, PC eye, but this one comes with a �2m investment from Molson Coors who are up front in saying they are "seeking to fill a �396m market opportunity," by pitching at
beer-drinking females. Under the tagline 'Hurray for Anim�e', the ads feature photography by the renowned German fashion photographer Norbert Schoerner, which "reflect the fun, sophisticated image of the beer." B
Schoerner's work has been published in NY Times Magazine and Vogue and his advertising campaigns have included Comme des Gar�ons, Shiseido, Lacoste and Prada. Kristy McCready, Communications Partner,
Molson Coors (UK & Ireland) says: "Anim�e is the result of an extensive research programme that looked at why women in Britain aren't reaching for beer. Anim�e is a non-traditional beer - the idea for
which we collaborated with over 30,000 women across the UK. The result is a new beer unlike others in the category that we hope will break down these barriers."
Cell More Beer
Beer-pages is always delighted to hear of a new specialist bottled beer shop opening, and news has reached us from sunny Altrincham of a new specialist called Bier Cell. Claiming to offer "an uncompromising
range of beers in a setting that allows you to trip back in time to a bygone era of Emporiums and Apothecaries," the shop boasts an extensive beer list that includes "the very best and rarest beers from Belgium,
France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands and of course the UK." Offering both off-sales and advice on beer menus for parties or gift ideas, the shop is located at 34b Greenwood Street (along the passageway between
Greenwood Street and Central Way) adjacent to the lower market. Watch out for the restricted opening times though: Weds and Thurs 4.30 - 7.30pm, and Fri and Sat 1.30 - 7.30pm.
The State of Wetherspoons
Wetherspoon pubs across the UK have kicked off a 19-day beer festival, with five American cask-conditioned beers on offer. The festival is on now through until Sunday October 23 2011 and
the five American beers are being brewed in the UK by their respective brewers, to their individual recipes. Kalamazoo Black Silk (from Bells, Michigan), Sandiago Session IPA (from Stone, California),
Cascadian Dark Ale (from Bend, Oregon), Yakima Sun (from Fat Head, Ohio) and Ninety Shilling (from Odells, Colorado) will be joined by up to 45 beers from across the UK including The Governor (JW Lees),
Ginger Beard (Wychwood), Horse Rustler (White Horse), Old Crafty Hen (Moreland), Pudding Porter (Tring), Vapour Trail (Salopian) and Brother Rabbit (Thornbridge). Customers will be able to sample any three of
the beers in special third-of-a-pint glasses for the price of a pint. Wetherspoon's chief executive, John Hutson, said: "The festival will give people the opportunity to enjoy a superb selection of
American beers not usually available in the UK, as well as wonderful beers brewed closer to home." Pictured is John Mallett of Bells Brewery, Michigan with Shepherd Neame master brewer Stewart Main.
Budvar Lives (To Fight Again?)
The seemingly annual court battle between Anheuser-Busch (maker of US Budweiser beer) and Czech rival Budweiser Budvar has just been settled again. Marks & Clerk Solicitors, acting on behalf of Budvar,
say "Both companies were given permission by the Court of Appeal to simultaneously register the 'Budweiser' trade mark in 2000, given their long-standing history of honest co-existence in the UK market.
However, in 2005, Anheuser-Busch started legal action to invalidate Budvar's 'Budweiser' mark on the grounds that their application for the registration of the mark in the UK (1976) predates
Budvar's application (1989). The Court of Appeal sought clarification from the CJEU, which has ruled in Budvar's favour, all but guaranteeing Budvar's right to maintain its 'Budweiser' trade mark
registration in the UK." Partner in Marks & Clerk, Mark Blair, comments: "We are delighted with the CJEU decision. It sends a clear message that you cannot simply cancel a trade mark that has been
used for thirty plus years in good faith."
Hop To It
In 2010, Ember became the first pub group to make a green hopped ale available nationwide. Such was the reception from its guests, it will once again be offering a unique green hopped ale - 'Project Green' -
throughout November. Usually, beer hops are picked in late August and dried. They can then be stored for several years before they are used. Green hopping sees a return to traditional British brewing,
going from the vine to the brewer's tank in just 24 hours, and to pint glass in just over four days. Ember Inns comments: "unlike regular ales, the flavours in a green hopped ale cannot be refined at a later
stage, so each cask really is a one of a kind." The beer is brewed by Cropton Brewery in Pickering.
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