Yorkshire's independent breweries in bid to protect themselves against mainstream

A new scheme to provide protection for independent breweries in the UK has been launched to give clarity to consumers as to the provenance of the ales they are buying.
Gregg Wallace backs Leeds Food Month for success ahead of 10th annual Leeds Food and Drink Festival.

 Gregg Wallace shares a pint with Northern Monk Brewery founder Russell B...Gregg Wallace backs Leeds Food Month for success ahead of 10th annual Leeds Food and Drink Festival.

 Gregg Wallace shares a pint with Northern Monk Brewery founder Russell B...
Gregg Wallace backs Leeds Food Month for success ahead of 10th annual Leeds Food and Drink Festival. Gregg Wallace shares a pint with Northern Monk Brewery founder Russell B...

Britain is currently home to a craft ale revolution, which has posted double digit growth each year for the last five years.

Craft Ale is traditionally defined as beer brewed by local independent breweries. However the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) is becoming increasingly concerned that these businesses are losing out to large corporations who are passing off mass-produced ales as artisan products. Accordingly, SIBA has launched an initiative to promote ‘Assured Independent British Craft Breweries’ saying beer drinkers need more information to help them make informed choices.

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Recent market research commissioned by SIBA shows that 46 per cent of beer drinkers, by far the biggest group, regard craft beer as ‘made by small brewers rather than large corporations’, although one in 10 people are unsure what the term means.

Hambleton Ales owner Nick Stafford.Hambleton Ales owner Nick Stafford.
Hambleton Ales owner Nick Stafford.

Mike Benner, managing director of SIBA, said: “The passion and innovation of independent brewers together with increasing consumer demand for diversity, provenance and excellence has created the craft beer revolution.

“It is the biggest thing to have happened to British beer for many years and has helped to revitalise the UK beer market and turn it into the most exciting beer scene in the world. Hundreds of passionate and genuine independent brewers have brought thousands of world-class beers to communities across the UK. However, as the craft beer market has grown it is being flooded with beers from across the world, often from large global brewers. We have launched our ‘Assured’ initiative to help consumers make informed decisions about where their beer comes from and who has brewed it.”

The movement has enjoyed widespread support amongst Yorkshire’s brewing industry.

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Luke Raven, director at Ilkley Brewery, told The Yorkshire Post: “Education and information is so important for consumers, and the abundance of choice in the beer market is very much a positive thing for the consumer, driven at the moment by so much positive education from brewers. As responsible producers, the onus is on us all, individually and collectively to highlight the benefits of supporting genuine independent business.

Hambleton Ales owner Nick Stafford.Hambleton Ales owner Nick Stafford.
Hambleton Ales owner Nick Stafford.

“The wine industry has had spectacular success establishing wine as part of the “norm”, and whilst the interest in “craft” beer from global breweries will undoubtedly help establish this growing sector, now is the time for us smaller breweries to work together. We can’t compete with the PR and marketing of big brewing, so through organisations like SIBA, and by continuing to work together, we must all take the opportunity to shout from the rooftops about the joys and qualities of genuine, independent beer.”

Russell Bisset, founder of Northern Monk Brewery in Leeds, said: “As an independent brewery focussed on producing beers of the highest quality, we welcome any initiatives that help to protect and nurture our sector.”

Dave Shaw, managing director with The Hop Studio in York said: “This is a great scheme and will really help us to stand out from the mega industrial brewers who claim to brew craft beer.”

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