Craft brewers are still bouncing along nicely, thanks, despite the dire state of economy, the decline in beer drinking generally, and damaging taxation.
The latest Local Brewing Industry Report 2011 from SIBA (Society of Independent Brewers) revealed that volumes for independent brewers grew 9% in 2010. While the overall beer market suffered a 3.9% decline, volumes among SIBA members grew by 8.8%. And the sheer variety of local beer exploded with many brewers trying different styles and a few even diverting from cask conditioned ales into keg and lager.
Some amazing figures: SIBA members produce around 2,500 cask beer brands a year, 3,500 seasonal ales and 1,750 bottled brands. In 1976 it was just 300.
These days a fair bit of that ale finds its way into B&P pubs through the outstanding dedication displayed by the valiant beer buyers in each pub. Some venture boldly where others fear to tread, but overall, they get it right and it is great to see the diverse range we can enjoy.
Much of this burgeoning of the brewers is down to the good work that SIBA, now with some near 500 members, has performed over the years – most notably achieving Progressive Beer Duty under the Labour government. Since this tax relief system was introduced in 2002, the number of SIBA brewers has doubled, their sales have doubled and the number of people employed has doubled.
PBD – also known as Small Brewers’ Relief – offers a reduction of up to 50% on duty to brewers producing fewer than 60,000 (around 37,000 brewer's barrels) hectolitres per year. Last year brewers in receipt of duty relief used it to build a sustainable business – increasing brewery capacity, installing new equipment, marketing and recruitment. The report reveals that 60% of respondents said they believed their brewery would fail if PBD were withdrawn. But SIBA also warns of a real threat to the future of this thriving industry – the punitive duty charged on beer in the on-trade and has called on the government to become more ‘joined up’ up’ in its approach to taxation across the brewing and pubs industries.
SIBA chief executive Julian Grocock said: “Introducing a lower VAT rate across the hospitality sector, and scrapping the duty escalator, would help to bring customers back to into pubs – helping to keep them, and the local breweries, in business and providing jobs at a time when they are sorely needed.”
Grocock concluded: “ We urge the government to think long and hard before making any decisions which could jeopardise the prospects for our young, vibrant sector and of the pubs upon which it depends.”
We should all say hear, hear to that.
The latest Local Brewing Industry Report 2011 from SIBA (Society of Independent Brewers) revealed that volumes for independent brewers grew 9% in 2010. While the overall beer market suffered a 3.9% decline, volumes among SIBA members grew by 8.8%. And the sheer variety of local beer exploded with many brewers trying different styles and a few even diverting from cask conditioned ales into keg and lager.
Some amazing figures: SIBA members produce around 2,500 cask beer brands a year, 3,500 seasonal ales and 1,750 bottled brands. In 1976 it was just 300.
These days a fair bit of that ale finds its way into B&P pubs through the outstanding dedication displayed by the valiant beer buyers in each pub. Some venture boldly where others fear to tread, but overall, they get it right and it is great to see the diverse range we can enjoy.
Much of this burgeoning of the brewers is down to the good work that SIBA, now with some near 500 members, has performed over the years – most notably achieving Progressive Beer Duty under the Labour government. Since this tax relief system was introduced in 2002, the number of SIBA brewers has doubled, their sales have doubled and the number of people employed has doubled.
PBD – also known as Small Brewers’ Relief – offers a reduction of up to 50% on duty to brewers producing fewer than 60,000 (around 37,000 brewer's barrels) hectolitres per year. Last year brewers in receipt of duty relief used it to build a sustainable business – increasing brewery capacity, installing new equipment, marketing and recruitment. The report reveals that 60% of respondents said they believed their brewery would fail if PBD were withdrawn. But SIBA also warns of a real threat to the future of this thriving industry – the punitive duty charged on beer in the on-trade and has called on the government to become more ‘joined up’ up’ in its approach to taxation across the brewing and pubs industries.
SIBA chief executive Julian Grocock said: “Introducing a lower VAT rate across the hospitality sector, and scrapping the duty escalator, would help to bring customers back to into pubs – helping to keep them, and the local breweries, in business and providing jobs at a time when they are sorely needed.”
Grocock concluded: “ We urge the government to think long and hard before making any decisions which could jeopardise the prospects for our young, vibrant sector and of the pubs upon which it depends.”
We should all say hear, hear to that.
