Happy families

Britain’s independent family brewers are under increasing amounts of pressure, but many of them are doing better than ever. Glynn Davis reports

'Yet another casualty as family sells’, ‘Is the end near for Britain’s independent breweries?’ and ‘Trouble’s brewing – but independent beer makers fight on’ are among a host of recent headlines that have highlighted just how difficult it is for brewers to remain independent.

Among the independents are many family-owned breweries, most of which have been passed down the generations and fit the romantic vision that most of us have of an idyllic brewery with its Victorian tower, cobbled yards and tall chimney stack.

That there are still many such breweries around is testament to the fact that brewing families have malt and hops in their blood and wouldn’t even countenance having to ever brew a final mash. But there is no escaping the reality that their numbers have been dwindling.

They have been under pressure from a combination of factors including: a declining cask ale market; and increasing property prices that have placed more value on their pub estates which has in turn attracted interest from predators.

Proof of these pressures they are under can be seen from the decline in the number of members of the Independent Family Brewers of Britain (IFBB) that champions the role as brewers played by its members, often in local communities.

Stuart Bateman, managing director of Bateman & Co, says: “Five or six years ago there were more than 60 members but now there are only 31, it does not seem to stop. More family brewers will continue to tumble. It’s not when, but who will be.....

To read the rest of this article you can buy this issue or subscribe to Beers of the World to have every issue delivered direct to your door.

By Glynn Davis

Section : Beer Trends

Page number : 54