Beers News Digest | October
October 1, 2024
October news bites that caught our attention!
SIBA launched their Indie Voices campaign this month, getting national newspapers talking about small breweries. We fully support investing in the equity of “Independent”. Whilst there are hundreds of brilliant independent breweries in the UK, from a consumer perspective, you need to build products people want, can afford, with brands that are emotionally resonant in their communities.
Longtime friends of the festivals, St Austell launched their 0.5% version of Proper Job this month. After last year’s launch of Guinness 0.0 and Adnams Ghost Ship AF and the success of Sierra Nevada’s non-alcoholic range in the USA, this is one of the most significant new releases in a fast moving category from an established brewery.
Waitrose has some genuinely innovative new products and promotions recently– highlights include hosting takeovers of their King’s Cross wine bar by brands including Beavertown, Budvar and 1664 blanc, launching Brewgooder’s Fonio session IPA in over 200 stores, and an upcoming launch of a Beer 52 four pack. It’s great to see Supermarkets finding new ways to retail good beer.
Whilst we welcome the drop in draft duty in the budget yesterday, our big takeaway is the investment in community development. Beer and brewing has place-making ability like no other and breweries and beer retail need to tap into this over the next parliament.
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