At the Camra AGM, Southport last weekend Cain's were handing out v nice new & free t-shirts Cain's plus also publicity leaflets about their new IPA (rebranded Dr Duncan's IPA?). I only had a quick scan, but I think the "IPA has its birthplace in Liverpool" idea comes from the wrecking of a ship on the Liverpool coast, which reputedly gave the English a first taste of IPA - but birthplace? I'm not so sure, I would have guessed that as Burton?
I hadn't heard mention elsewhere of the fire (possible arson) at W&D Wolves so I thought I'd post it up.
Also interesting stuff from AGM about S&N's plans to close Tyne Brewery, Newcastle (& move to Federation Brewery, nr Gateshead) - one ointment-fly (hopefully) is the EC Protected Geographic Indicator S&N successfully applied for in 1996. Similarly Armagnac and other usually high quality products from a specific geographical location gain both esteem & also protection from producers passing off a 'foreign' product as from the defined area. S&N are apparently asking EC to revoke the PGI (apparently no-one has ever done this before) as it would be illegal to brew a PGI protected product outside of its historic location. (see below) cheers MikeMcG _______________________________________________________________________________
V.Long URL
_______________________________________________________________________________ Cains invests in a new look Apr 27 2004 By Neil Hodgson, Liverpool Echo LIVERPOOL brewer Cains is investing a six-figure sum in a re-brand, giving the Toxteth business a new identity.
It is the next stage in expansion plans based on the first profit this year in more than a decade.
Founder Robert Cain is the inspiration for the Back to the Future look, which will adorn a complete overhaul of all Cains' beer brands.
Joint managing director Sudarghara Dusanj said: "We have successfully stemmed the losses the brewery was experiencing under its former management.
"Now it's time we invested in our own brands and made our beers more appealing to new customers."
Consultancy JKR developed the new brand and Silas Amos, who designed the new identity, said: "The brewery's new look draws on Liverpool's Victorian pub heritage.
"Robert Cain now sits as a cameo within the letter C and hops trail from beneath the logo."
One of Cains' best-selling cask ales, Indian Pale Ale, is the centrepiece of the re-brand and Sudarghara said: "We're embarking on a major promotion of our new-look IPA because Liverpool was the birthplace of the beer." _______________________________________________________________________________
9:21am (UK) Probe into Brewery Blaze By Matthew Cooper, PA News Scenes of crime officers and a fire investigation team were today probing the cause of a blaze at a brewery's transport yard.
The fire at the Banks's Brewery site in St Mark's Road, Chapel Ash, Wolverhampton, caused damage to a lorry, a HGV cab and six trailers.
West Midlands Fire Service confirmed that the incident – which was reported to the emergency services at 3.43am – was being treated as suspicious.
A total of four crews from Wolverhampton, Tettenhall and Fallings Park fire stations tackled the flames, a spokesman said. _______________________________________________________________________________
Brewing giant chiefs insist the closure of its Capital site - and now its Newcastle facility - is for the best
GARETH MACKIE BUSINESS EDITOR
SCOTTISH & Newcastle's decision to close its Tyne Brewery, ending 120 years of history in Newcastle, came just two months after the Edinburgh-based group announced the closure of its 150-year-old Fountain Brewery in Edinburgh.
Both closures will save the brewing giant a combined total of around £20 million a year, but will lead to 280 job losses at its Scottish Courage arm.
Critics of the Fountain closure have already called for a boycott of Scottish Courage brands - the group is responsible for a range of popular brews including Foster's, McEwan's and Kronenbourg - but industry leaders believe the group will be able to ride out the storm.
S&N says it is committed to retaining a presence in the Capital, having acquired the nearby Caledonian Brewery where McEwan's ales will continue to be brewed after the Fountainbridge plant ceases production in December.
And production of Newcastle Brown Ale will move just two miles across the Tyne to Dunston in Gateshead, where Scottish Courage has bought the Northern Clubs Federation Brewery for £7.2m.
Closure of the Tyne Brewery is expected to take place by spring 2005, although transfer of Newcastle ales will start later this year.
Since its launch in 1927, the famous concoction has been part of the culture of the city that shares its name.
In 1996, the European Union granted Newcastle Brown special status to protect its historical production, alongside products ranging from Parma ham to Armagnac brandy.
The brewer will now have to apply for the withdrawal of the product's so-called protective geographic indicator.
John Dunsmore, chairman and managing director of Scottish Courage, says there are no plans to rename the drink "Gateshead Broon".
He adds: "It's a couple of miles from the Tyne Brewery to the brewery in Dunston. Newcastle Brown Ale is protected by a trademark which keeps it a unique brand. We are hoping common sense will prevail on this issue."
And industry leaders believe the move will not result in a backlash against the firm in its north-east heartland.
Paul Waterson, chief executive of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, says: "In the short-term, I don't think this will be particularly good PR for them, but there's a lot of overcapacity in the brewing industry and we're used to announcements like these in modern business.
"There might well be some voices raised, but through time I don't think this will make much difference. S&N is a big name, and while it's not nice to see people lose their jobs, the business should not be badly affected."
Mr Waterson says he has not seen any evidence, anecdotal or otherwise, to suggest sales of Scottish Courage brands have suffered in Edinburgh since news of the Fountain closure, and he does not predict a boycott of the firm's brands on Tyneside.
"The public are so used to things like this happening and while these situations are unfortunate - especially for the people affected - nothing seems to surprise the public any more."
He adds: "From the business point of view, S&N is doing the right thing as far as numbers are concerned."
Scottish Courage says production at the Tyne Brewery was no longer seen as commercially viable, partly because of its city centre location.
It adds that a move to the Dunston Brewery, which was built in 1979, would provide the opportunity to brew both lager and ale, as well as offer extensive packaging facilities and room for development.
Mr Dunsmore says: "Both breweries have been operating below industry standards of capacity and efficiency. By joining forces, Scottish Courage and the Federation are able to preserve a home on Tyneside for the contribution of two long and enduring brewing traditions."
While Newcastle Brown Ale will be brewed at Dunston, other products will transfer to Scottish Courage's site at Tadcaster in North Yorkshire.
Tyne currently has 150 staff, with the Federation employing 130 people, but more than 100 jobs will be lost as the combined business will employ just 170 workers.
Scottish Courage hopes to avoid compulsory redundancies and says it hopes "the required number of job reductions can be achieved through voluntary means".
The firm has begun consultations with unions and employee representatives. A spokesman for the Transport and General Workers Union, which represents employees affected by the announcement, says: "We are disappointed with the news of another S&N brewery closure, but we are assured that the major regional brands will continue to be brewed on Tyneside through the acquisition of the Federation Brewery.
"This news is bad for jobs and we will do all we can to avoid compulsory redundancies when the plant closes in eight months' time."
John Holland, a national director of the Campaign for Real Ale who lives in Gateshead, says he was "gobsmacked" by the purchase of the Federation operation in Dunston.
"There must still be a question mark over the idea of brewing Newcastle Brown in Gateshead," he says.
"I guess people won't taste any difference, but the average guy is going to wonder what's going on in the brewing industry."
But he adds: "One thing is certain - they don't sell as large a proportion of brown ale in the UK as they used to and a lot more goes abroad. To your man in California, us arguing about which side of the Tyne it's brewed on is an absolute irrelevance."
Scottish Courage says Newcastle Brown is one of the fastest-growing, premium bottled ales in the United States, with annual growth exceeding 12 per cent - well ahead of the overall imported beer sector which grew between two and three per cent.
Total sales of brown ale rose nine per cent last year, helping annual profits at S&N rise to £471m. Announcing its results in February, just days after confirming the impending closure of the Fountain Brewery, the group said it expected "reasonable" market conditions during the financial year, but warned the summer season in western Europe was unlikely to be as buoyant as in 2003.
S&N decided to close the Fountain site despite investing £10.5m in a new kegging plant last year and improvements in customer service at Scottish Courage.
The group has bought the independently-run Caledonian Brewery on the Capital's Slateford Road, where McEwan's ales will continue to be brewed Production of McEwan's lager, Foster's and Miller will be switched to England.
The Tyne Brewery has brewed beer since 1884, but is in a congested city centre site close to Newcastle United's St James's Park ground and was only brewing 70 per cent of its annual capacity of 1.6 million hectolitres a year.
The Federation Brewery is running at just 40 per cent of its 1.2 million hectolitre capacity, but is a newer brewery, built in 1979, has packaging facilities and room to expand.
John Coppinger, chairman of the Northern Clubs Federation Brewery, says the firm's deal with Scottish Courage was prompted by its "uncertain financial outlook".
He adds: "While the end of our independence is a sad day in Scottish Courage, I am delighted that we have a purchaser who will help us to realise our goals and together secure the future for the brewery."
Geography crucial for famous Brown Ale
NEWCASTLE Brown Ale has been brewed in the city since 1927 and is one of only three beers in the UK to enjoy protected geographical indication (PGI) status - the others are Kentish ale and Rutland bitter.
The PGI, which was initiated by Scottish & Newcastle and has been in force since 1996, relates to the production of Newcastle Brown Ale at the city's Tyne brewery.
But S&N's brewing arm, Scottish Courage, says it will apply to have the protection revoked in order to move production of the ale to Dunston, around two miles away in Gateshead.
"Newcastle Brown Ale remains fully protected by its trademarks, owned by Scottish Courage, which prevents any imitation of this unique beer brand," the firm says.
Just one year after it was created by brewer Jim Porter, Newcastle Brown won gold medals at the International Brewers' Exhibition in London in 1928. Between the 1930s and 1960s, it continued to surge in popularity and became a symbol of the hardy working-class tradition of the shipbuilding, mining and steel industries of the north-east.
Traditionally it was served warm - although now it is served cold from the fridge - from a small glass which should be regularly topped up to maintain a gassy head.
The brand's image will forever be linked with the football club next to the brewery which is to close, as Newcastle United sported the beer's famous blue star logo on their shirts during the side's renaissance in the 1990s.