GOODBYES
On the day that the previous edition was published we learned of two further brewery closures. Although By The Horns had moved to Salfords near Redhill in Surrey, they still had links with their roots in Summerstown. BTH filed for administration just before Christmas. They had hoped that the company could be sold as a going concern by the administrators but it didn’t happen. The company has been liquidated. The cause of their problems was mainly major customers defaulting on their debts, including a single debt of £50,000. It also did not help that a major supermarket stopped stocking their beer, despite it being a top ten seller, because a larger beer company wanted to double their shelf space.
Beerblefish in Walthamstow closed at the end of March, having decided to close the business because of diminishing prospects. Christine Cryne’s article tells the full story.
SHEP’S ONE HOP WONDER
Faversham based Shepherd Neame have come up with a new concept, a beer that uses just one variety of malt and a single hop variety. They call it a SMaSH (single malt and single hop). The 4.5% ABV beer, called One Hop Wonder, is brewed with a lager malt and locally grown Chinook hops, supplied by English Hops Ltd, who are based in Tunbridge Wells. The pale straw colour beer is described as having a fruity, floral, full bodied taste. It is the latest offering from Shep’s Cask Club range of limited edition beers. Go to www.shepherdneame.co.uk/caskclub for more information.
WORKING WONDERS
Such has been the interest in Allsopp’s revival of Double Diamond that owner Jamie Allsopp, the seven times great grandson of founder Samuel Allsopp, has arranged to have the beer supplied in cans and is hoping for supermarket listings. Jamie is helped by Steve Holt who runs the Kirkstall Brewery in Leeds. Steve bought an old ledger in an auction and found that it contained Allsopp’s recipes from the 19th century. The beers are now brewed by Kirkstall. Although DD (3.8% ABV) is best known as a leading brand from the 1960s, it actually first appeared in 1876. It was, of course, a target for CAMRA in the 1970s but I’m sure that we will give the new version, brewed with pale malt and Citra and Mosaic hops, a fair chance.
McMULLENS EXPAND
As mentioned in the Pub News column, McMullens have acquired the Duke of York in Fitzrovia. The company is however expanding even further beyond its home area in Hertfordshire. It recently acquired three pubs from Oakman Inns: the Anchor in Hullbridge, Essex, the Rose Inn in Wokingham, Berkshire and the Polecat Inn in Prestwood, Buckinghamshire .
THORNBRIDGE BIRTHDAY
The Peak District (Bakewell) based brewery celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. As part of its celebrations, and in recognition of the beautiful scenery in which the brewery stands, it is brewing a new beer to help local outdoor education charities. The beer is called the Great Outdoors (3.4% ABV) and is described as a classic bitter with a light mahogany hue and earthy, floral aromas. For every pint sold, Thornbridge will donate 20 pence to a rotating list of local charities.
KEYSTONE GROUP ADDS WANDERING BREWERIES
The somewhat convoluted journey of the Magic Rock and Fourpure breweries has ended up with them becoming part of the Keystone Brewing Group. Keystone have bought the brands out of administration into which previous owners, the In Good Company group had placed them. Fourpure was founded in Bermondsey in 2013 but, when they were taken over, brewing was transferred to Huddersfield and their taproom on the Bermondsey Beer Mile was closed. The Magic Rock brewery has also now closed. Keystone, who also own the Black Sheep, Purity, Big Drop, Brick and Brew by Numbers breweries, are funded by the investment firm Breal Group.
HACKNEY TAP TO CLOSE
As we went to print, news came that Hackney Brewery have decided to close their High Hill Tap on the Blackhorse Beer Mile at the end of March. This is the consequence of a dispute with Waltham Forest Council, the landlords, going back to the pandemic. It does not affect the brewery itself, which continues as before.
