In praise of the Regional Brewer

Love them or not, Regional Brewers have become beacons of hope for cask ale drinkers over recent years. However they are not always popular with consumers being associated with local monopolies, accused by some of having a stranglehold over choice and price. Also the recent interest in craft beers has led to Regionals being over shadowed for more fashionable, younger and exciting brewers who are new to the market.

But let’s be positive, cask ale drinkers have a lot to thank Regional Brewers for! They have done a great job in maintaining and growing the cask ale market as multi-national companies and national brewers have moved away from cask into lager and cider. Often much maligned, Greene King have continually invested in their cask brands and recently announced a £4 million investment in Old Speckled Hen and Greene King IPA. Marston’s too have supported the sector with their sponsorship of the England cricket team with Pedigree. In London, Fullers with London Pride have done TV advertising with James May, whilst Wells & Young’s have invested hugely for Bombardier.

What is often overlooked is that as the bigger regionals invest in marketing their brands, they also help to sustain and grow the whole cask sector. Fo example If someone is encouraged by the advertising to switch from lager to Greene King IPA, they are converted into a cask ale drinker which in turn may lead them to try many other beers.

Regional Brewers have also been very active in the campaign against the hated Beer duty Escalator. The news this week that this is to be removed, plus and a further 1p drop in beer duty, is a great credit to their sustained efforts over the past few years.

Finally, let’s not forget that Regional Brewers brew some fantastic beers, all of which are produced to a consistently high standard. The word consistency is something Regionals brands have become synonymous for. Micro’s and Craft Breweries (and I don’t know the difference) brew some very tasty beers as well, but they are perhaps less consistent. One week it’s wonderful but the following week it can be less so. However the Regional brewer has the systems and equipment in place to brew consistently good quality beer every week.

So in conclusion, do be positive if you have a local Regional Brewer and support their beers and pubs.  

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