Weather hitting beer deliveries

In message , Pat Ricroft wrote

Surely it's no problem if you buy from the local brewery rather than trucking it half the length of the British Isles?

It may be less of a problem but it still is a problem. It doesn't really matter how far you've come if you still can't reach the drop for the pub cellar.

I wonder what sort of dray copes best with these conditions. Horse- drawn waggon, Transit van, flat bed lorry or artic?

-- Pat Ricroft, City of Salford, UK ===============================

We had a slight problem with that over the Christmas period at a rather secret real ale outlet in Hebden Bridge

The planned guest beer ordered from Caskmaster ( Bishops Farewell and White Squall) did not appear (he did ring us and tell us he couldn't get there)

So an emergency order was made from Bridestone who brought down a couple of Sandstones in his 4 wheel drive. And very good it was too! (as were the two guests when they arrived for the new year)

Ian

We've got a swb transit-type - just took it very easy, weather OK, some smaller roads are still pretty icy, but most major routes fine.

We're lucky in that we sell everything really very locally. (ice on the top & frozen ullage in the bottom of the returned casks though).

Heard from another local micro that they had several calls this week from pubco/big brewery pubs that their big artic drays couldn't make it, so they had to go loc-ale.

Also heard that a certain Scots/Dutch conglomerate were delivering kegs with thick ice & snow atop them - apparently they were stored outside for several days with temps as low as -15C! (lager ice-pop anyone?) Apparently they were not inspired by a new BrewDog beer :~)

cheers MikeMcG

I can't see Joey Holt's buying a Sno-Cat, there's no room to take hogsheads!

-- Pat Ricroft, City of Salford, UK ===============================