Local brewers continue to buck the trend

Posted by admin | About | Posted on February 21st, 2011

Locally-brewed craft beers are continuing to buck the trend as a new major industry report reveals volumes for independent brewers grew by nearly nine per cent in 2010.

The Local Brewing Industry Report 2011, published today by the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA), surveyed around half of all SIBA’s 463 members – and found volumes grew by 8.8 per cent.

This was compared to an overall decline of 3.9 per cent in the UK beer market last year.

The report also notes the diversity of beers also being produced by SIBA members. Cask ale maintained its production share of around 80 per cent, but keg beers grew as smaller brewers looked to create a broader ‘craft beer’ market.

SIBA members are producing around 2,500 cask beer brands a year, 3,500 seasonal ales and 1,750 bottled brands, compared to just 300 in 1976.

But the report also warns of the threat to the “punitive” duty charged on beer in the on-trade.

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