The real ale brewing industry is crippled..here's why

[setmash]

Im going to make some serious effort to use Inns with proper beer....vote with my feet !

[AnthonyUK]

What I think is needed is limited duty reductions for certain food and drink types that can be protected under geographical status or produced using stringent traditional methods.
It shouldn't be the case that minimum alcohol unit pricing has an effect on artisan quality produce.
We really should be promoting homegrown produce not taxing it out of existence.
The number of beers on the PGI list is quite sad TBH - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Un ... ted_status

[seymour]

Molson Coors are buying up 'craft' breweries simply because they're eating up their market at the moment, and the pubs they supply are finding their customers demand 'ale', and MC are responding in the only way they can - buy something to fit in their carefully manicured product portfolio...

Of the megabreweries, I'll go on record saying Molson Coors is the least awful. They own and distribute many previous microbreweries in the USA, and have not pressured them to change their recipes or processes. In fact, they started up "AC Golden" with serious old-world recipes, antiquated equipment, and an elaborate barrel aging project of their own, even some lambic type sour ales, and reviews are extremely high so far. As Jocky says, their strategy is to increase their competitive portfolio, sharing in the revenue of each acquisition, but so far not simply offering different brand names to the same homogenized adjuct swill. These Molson Coors aren't truly great beers, but they don't suck, and I still enjoy them on occasion: Killians Irish Red, Killians Irish Stout, Blue Moon Belgian White, Blue Moon Farmhouse Red, the whole Leinenkugel line, etc.

Now, don't get me wrong, they aren't Real Ale, nor will they ever be nearly as tasty. But your original premise was about bars serving only Stella, Boddingtons, Becks (and presumaby Bud/Bud Light/Bud Select, which weren't even worth mentioning) which are all A-B/InBev, the true bad guys, well-known for their malicious tap policies. Their dealer agreements state if you want any of their offerings, (or decent pricing anyway), you're not allowed to offer any competing taps. It's beyond sh!tty, but it's big business taken to its logical extreme.

Actually, Peroni is a surprise, as it's distributed by SABMiller. If A-B/InBev allows them to offer that, why not a local cask?

[Martin G]

Although, Am Bev / In Bev bought Goose Island and now I can get it in my local Tesco's!

[Gold]

What I think is needed is limited duty reductions for certain food and drink types that can be protected under geographical status or produced using stringent traditional methods.
It shouldn't be the case that minimum alcohol unit pricing has an effect on artisan quality produce.
We really should be promoting homegrown produce not taxing it out of existence.
The number of beers on the PGI list is quite sad TBH - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Un ... ted_status

I.e. Progressive Beer Duty........?

[setmash]

Molson Coors are buying up 'craft' breweries simply because they're eating up their market at the moment, and the pubs they supply are finding their customers demand 'ale', and MC are responding in the only way they can - buy something to fit in their carefully manicured product portfolio...

Of the megabreweries, I'll go on record saying Molson Coors is the least awful. They own and distribute many previous microbreweries in the USA, and have not pressured them to change their recipes or processes. In fact, they started up "AC Golden" with serious old-world recipes, antiquated equipment, and an elaborate barrel aging project of their own, even some lambic type sour ales, and reviews are extremely high so far. As Jocky says, their strategy is to increase their competitive portfolio, sharing in the revenue of each acquisition, but so far not simply offering different brand names to the same homogenized adjuct swill. These Molson Coors aren't truly great beers, but they don't suck, and I still enjoy them on occasion: Killians Irish Red, Killians Irish Stout, Blue Moon Belgian White, Blue Moon Farmhouse Red, the whole Leinenkugel line, etc.

Now, don't get me wrong, they aren't Real Ale, nor will they ever be nearly as tasty. But your original premise was about bars serving only Stella, Boddingtons, Becks (and presumaby Bud/Bud Light/Bud Select, which weren't even worth mentioning) which are all A-B/InBev, the true bad guys, well-known for their malicious tap policies. Their dealer agreements state if you want any of their offerings, (or decent pricing anyway), you're not allowed to offer any competing taps. It's beyond sh!tty, but it's big business taken to its logical extreme.

Actually, Peroni is a surprise, as it's distributed by SABMiller. If A-B/InBev allows them to offer that, why not a local cask?

If a dealer agreement is in anyway restrictive, against a competitor in such a manner, then it is very much against the UK and European law. Punishable by fine, extrapolated compensation and in its extreme executive imprisonment. Perhaps the European commission should get of its fat ar*se and actually do something for our brewing industry. Lets RIOT

[seymour]

If a dealer agreement is in anyway restrictive, against a competitor in such a manner, then it is very much against the UK and European law. Punishable by fine, extrapolated compensation and in its extreme executive imprisonment. Perhaps the European commission should get of its fat ar*se and actually do something for our brewing industry. Lets RIOT

Rioting might be your only recourse, cuz you can be sure the A-B/InBev lawyers thought of every angle. I don't think there's anything intrinsically illegal about offering a dealer lower prices if they sign an exclusive, as long as there is another (albeit more expensive) route for shared tap space. It's entirely up to the dealer to fire their other accounts, see? Shitty and capitalism-gone-wild, but not illegal. Maybe I'm wrong and you guys have better fair trade regulations. I HOPE I'm wrong, but it sounds like the same thing is bearing out there as here.

[AnthonyUK]

I.e. Progressive Beer Duty........?

Isn't progressive beer duty entirely quantity based, at least in UK. I appreciate that smaller brewers are more than likely to be the ones producing 'craft' produce.

[andybiochem]

...in the DeWhites hotel Bolton.

That's a shame you had a bad experience in Bolton. I lived there for years, and there are some great real ale pubs in the area. The Sweet Green Tavern, The Howcroft Inn, and The King's Head (one of my old regulars), were all great.

Bit of a trek from the Reebok though.

[critch]

I.e. Progressive Beer Duty........?

Isn't progressive beer duty entirely quantity based, at least in UK. I appreciate that smaller brewers are more than likely to be the ones producing 'craft' produce.

indeed it is anthony under 60,000 hl a year to get the best rate

[Nofolkandchance]

went to my local spoons, did the meal deal, but i wanted the real ale they sold, the offer was a meal and drink, for £x. i perchased the meal deal, and tried to select the real ale.
not on the list, they wouldnt do a price adjustment either, i will pay for good beer there isnt no problem with that.

i ended up buying meal deal / drink and a real ale, because that was the cheapest way to do it, even though i didnt want it. i bought my ale and walked away, "sir, sir you forgot your drink." i kinda replied just chuck it. an walked off.

thats whats wrong !

Strange!!! My local Spoons include ALL real ale in the meal deals?

[chastuck]

So does mine!