Ilkley Brewery boss heads across the Atlantic to showcase best of its beer

Chris Ives, managing director of Ilkley Brewery, which is targeting the American market, will be taking part in the 10th annual Atlanta Cask Ale Tasting event on Saturday.

Four UK breweries will be showcasing cask ales at the event: Harviestoun, Hawkshead, Thornbridge and Ilkley.

Mr Ives said: “Alongside the four UK breweries, there will also be a host of US breweries exhibiting their cask ales so I’m really looking forward to tasting some new and different US conditioned beers. As well as being a great overseas PR exercise, events likes these are also invaluable for research.”

The Atlanta Cask Ale Tasting event provides an opportunity for US beer aficionados to sample cask conditioned ales which UK breweries are known for.

As Mr Ives touches down in Atlanta, the second shipment of Ilkley Brewery’s beers will also reach US soil.

Just before Christmas, almost 7,000 bottles of The Mayan and Siberia left the spa town brewery, Alabama-bound, and will now be distributed to specialist shops and bars across three southern US states: Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama.

This second order came after the brewery’s first US export back in May.

Mr Ives said a third shipment will be leaving the brewery at the end of January.

“It’s very encouraging to see the export side of our business take off as it gives us a great incentive to pursue other markets,” said Mr Ives.

The brewery is currently exploring Canada and China while Scandinavia remains on its radar too.