The Times They Are A-Changin'

News

May 29

Bob Dylan once poignantly said, "Then you better start swimmin' or you’ll sink like a stone. For the times they are a-changin’'"This has probably never been more true, especially in the beer industry. The pubs, bars and restaurants aren't open, they can't sell on site, so the main source of income for many breweries has gone. They have no serious Cask or Keg sales (some to a few loyal customers, I'll get to that later).Lots of breweries do supply small pack products, like cans and bottles, but a lot of these breweries had only ever delivered to wholesalers or trade customers. Most pubs live on their on-sales. These are now totally gone. What have they done?And then there's you and me, the customer, who right now would maybe be sat in a pub garden sipping a superb cask beer.This is where Bob and his lyric start ringing true….

Breweries

A picture of a burning soul brewery growler in Birmingham Lots of breweries have supplied wholesale companies and bars with small pack (bottles, cans etc) for a while. They still do, as these companies are still running, but the sales have been at a slower rate.Canning lines and bottling machines have been purchased or rented to extend sales and this has moved many breweries to online shopping. Offering more than their own beer, but beer from other breweries too and there is also merchandise (t-shirts etc) and with this really taking off, breweries seem to be spending a lot to make a little.With the cost of shipping high, the breweries try to stay competitive on that price. Many running the local orders for free, with a member of staff delivering.When they can get back to some normality, let's hope this form of sales continues at a good rate and adds another wing to the business.

Pubs

pub the village vineyard Barnt Green filling up a reusable growler Online sales have become key, maybe not through a website but through Facebook and Twitter.Many pubs are running a delivery service and also a small window for collections. Most orders are pre-made and delivered locally or picked up. Many have put selection boxes together, with a number of unnamed cans/bottles and a few snacks for the pub feel. Pubs are also driving their cask and keg sales by offering grower or carton sales, selling 2 or 4 pints in a reusable container that can then be refilled again at a lower price.This means pubs can still order from breweries and keep the chain going and also keep the pub's name out there for when we can all once again head to the pub.

You & Me

A picture of an Amundsen craft beer in the Yupp beer delivery box The biggest change I've found is my ordering habits. I used to make one online order a month, if that! Now 2 or 3 a week is not out of the ordinary.The choice has always been there, but it meant visiting that venue, now they come to you.If I went to a pub I may have found a beer that I really liked and supped a few pints, now I search extensively through websites to find something with a WOW factor.I'm looking at Dutch, Polish and Croatian websites to add to my already extensive range. A couple that immediately spring to mind are Browarium - Beer Store, Kraft Klub and Beerdome.