Book promotions 2.0

It is interesting to see the contrast between the marketing of two different British beer books published this year.
One follows the old way of doing things, sending out review copies to some old chums writing in media wholly dependent of dead trees.
The other uses the social media, creates a buzz as the book is in [...]

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The right to drink

It all depends on perspective, doesn’t it? 
In a blog post named Booze bans – the new frontier of joyless regulation, Henry Porter at the Guardian is alarmed that the right to drink in public is being systematically attacked across the country by local authorities using powers to stop people having a good time in a [...]

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Credit when credit is due

Finally we heard from the insurance company about our trip to Manchester. We got most of our extra expenses back. Here’s to Codan Insurance, formerly TryggHansa, buy their annual travel insurance if you need one.

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For cod and Ulster

A fairly inventive name for a chippy!
From the menu:
Ian Paisley
bacon, cheese, salad and an onion ring & any sauce!
Gerry Adams
bacon, cheese, salad & any sauce

Looking at the photos, the salad seems to consist of a twig of paisley parsley, but that’s hardly the main thing!
They say on their web site they plan to make t-shirts. I [...]

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Craft beer or crap beer

Beverage Daily has started a series where they are looking into the potential of craft beer in various markets in Europe. I haven’t had the time to analyze this properly, but it seems to me to be some confusion concerning terms here. Using a local or regional brand name does not necessarily mean craft.
I’ll come back [...]

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A sobering view

Any visitor to these shores expecting to encounter booming local pubs staffed by rosy-cheeked landlords are in for a shock. They’re more likely to find a “For Sale” sign.
 
Paul Moody writing in the Guardian.

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Non-info on cask ale.

If you want to promote something in this day and age, you’d better have a web site functioning. I tried to check out the British Cask Ale Week, which starts on 6 April, but no:

caskaleweek.co.uk
This site is down for maintenance. Please email any urgent change of details to info(at)cask-marque.co.uk
Nice logo, folks. A pity there’s nobody [...]

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Mail order beer

This is what I an expecting in the reception of my Manchester hotel in a few weeks time, neatly boxed:
Jolly Pumpkin, Luciernaga (The FireFly), 6.5%, 75cl   
Port Brewing, 2nd Anniversary, IPA, 9.5%, 660ml 
Port Brewing, HighTide Fresh Hop , IPA, 6.5%,
Port Brewing, Hop 15 , Double IPA, 10.5%, 660ml  
Port Brewing, Santas Little Helper, Imperial Stout, 9.5%, [...]

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No need for beer knowledge

I have to correct myself. I wrote some time ago that it’s a challenge to educate people on both side of the bar about beer. Well, the Publican shows that it’s not really necessary. They did a survey asking 500 licensees which brands they would want to stock if they were free to choose. The results might [...]

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No crisis for the smaller breweries

Good new from the British Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA):
 
In marked contrast to the decline in volumes reported by national and global brewers, the local brewing sector grew by a total of 10 per cent in 2008. Of this, three per cent was contributed by new brewers not operational throughout all of 2007, leaving [...]

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