Christmas Events 2014

Mount Edgcumbe Christmas Fayre

A busy few weeks for us at Craft Bottle Beers, Christmas really is the time to maximise beer sales as so much goes out as gift sales. Firstly let me say how delighted we are to make such sales and I'm sure that anyone who received this gift from Santa will be delighted with our beers. However the gift sale is a real opportunity for brewers to make an impact on consumers and entice them into cask, craft or bottled beers.

The most popular beers we sold were Christmas branded. I understand the problems with over producing and getting stuck with festive stock, but why on earth more brewers don't come up with a bottled beer with a festive theme is beyond me - it should really be a matter of brewing a set amount and once its gone, then that's it. Many ladies in particular just don't know what to buy their partners/relatives so the Christmas beer/pack presents the perfect solution. Christmas beers also offer a great chance to engage with the public, people who would never talk about, or buy beer at any other time of the year are for the once a year opportunity, interested in buying beer.

Christmas beers in pubs should be no different. People are there for a few drinks to celebrate or perhaps enjoy the works Christmas dinner, so a festive beer on the bar is a great chance to encourage people to try cask beer. More licensees should consider such beers, their pubs are busy with eager revellers looking for a reason to celebrate and chat to friends, the Christmas beer offers the perfect chance to start a conversation - what does that taste like, that's a silly name etc etc.....

At Craft Bottle Beers we had some great Christmas beers on offer. Old favourites Sleigh Fuel, Reindeer Fuel and Dashers Dinkle are great beers. Full, sweet, spicy, fruit cake like, a hint spirituous, warming and alcoholic, with quirky labels, just as a Christmas beer should be and I'd be very happy to receive one. Box Steam Brewery offered a more upmarket branding approach, but one I think worked well. The Christmas Box Blonde and Dark were exceptional beers and the branding was quality. I'm sure many will be enjoyed over the festive period.

Of the events we did Cotehele, Crocadon and Mount Edgcumbe Christmas Fayre's were wonderful events. Our Christmas beer gift box really did sell like hot cakes but more importantly, it attracted people to our stand and gave us the chance to engage with customers and help them choose the right beers for the person they were buying a gift for. Yes, lots of Christmas beers went, but then my husband drinks Tribute, Doombar or Jail Ale so what should a I choose? -  was also a common question. As a Beer Sommelier it was great to be able to help guide people into what beer is best suited for the gift they wanted to buy. I think it really added to the gift that they had some advise from someone who could recommend and impart confidence, rather than taking pot luck on a beer!

So Christmas is nearly upon us, do venture into a local pub to enjoy a pint, or buy some bottled beers from the supermarket to try. Christmas is a great time to enjoy a beer, it brings people together, creates reasons to chat, breaks down social barriers and shyness, so do have a pint, or buy a bottle of beer, you just might enjoy it!