Brewery News

Here is the latest news about breweries in the branch area.

  • Monday 19 March 2018

    FIXED WHEEL December was a very busy month for everyone at the brewery, which was topped o by Fixed Wheel being awarded: • Blackheath Stout wins Champion Stout of West Midlands at CAMRA regional awards. • Blackheath Stout wins Bronze in the overall Champion beer of West Midlands at CAMRA regional awards. • Blackheath Stout now heads to the Winter Ales Festival for the National Stout competition. Well done guys, keep up the good work!

    GREEN DUCK A new year means a new range of special beers! The last few weeks and months of 2017 were spent formulating what the brewery would o er in 2018. A full production schedule for the year ahead is now in place, so keep your eyes peeled for new brews both in Badelynge Bar and in your local pub too. Of course, Green Duck's core range will be available throughout the year. The first Green Duck Beer Festival of 2018 the 32nd beer festival hosted by Rugby CAMRA. www.rugbybeerfestival.com Burton on Trent hosts its beer festival towards the end of March. The event will take place at its usual venue of Burton Town Hall, a short walk from the railway station. Opening night is Thursday 22nd March and it continues until Saturday 24th. This is the 39th beer festival that Burton & South Derbyshire CAMRA have organised. https://burtoncamra.wordpress.com Coventry beer festival also takes place the same weekend. This festival has been at Coventry Rugby Football Club, part of the Butts Park Arena, for many years. The venue is about a 10 minute walk from Coventry Rail Station. The opening day is Friday 2nd March from noon until 4pm and then from 6pm until 11pm. Saturday’s opening hours are Noon until 11pm. www.coventry.camra.org.uk Stourbridge & Halesowen CAMRA have their festival April 25th – 28th. Put the dates in your diary and more information will be available on the Stourbridge & Halesowen branch website shortly. http://stourhales.camra.org.uk Steve Thompson will be held in March to coincide with the 6 Nations.

    CRADDOCK’S BREWERY Dave Craddock reports that they have just had their most successful Christmas yet.The brewery will be 7 years old in March, and will soon be brewing in collaboration with Toast Ales, with profits going to charity.

  • Fixed Wheel Saturday 18 November 2017

    Fixed Wheel, Long Lane Trading Estate, Long Lane, Blackheath B62 9LD are holding a Halloween party on Saturday 28th October with live music from the Shambolics, and the Christmas beer festival will run from November 30th until Sunday 3rd December.

  • Green Duck Saturday 18 November 2017

    Green Duck Brewery, Gainsborough Trading Estate, Rufford Rd, Stourbridge DY9 7ND As we go to press, Green Duck will be celebrating their 4th anniversary this November. Congratulations! Green Duck love a Boxing Day party and this year is no exception! Their Christmas Beer Festival runs from 21st - 26th December. Look out for monthly specials ‘The Storm’ which is a Winterberry Stout, and Last Ship Sails which is a Cascade Pale. Heaven Sent, their Chocolate Milk Stout will also be available consistently over the autumn and winter months, as will a big batch of Ricochet, their amazingly fruity 7.2% New England IPA brewed with Mosaic & Simcoe. That is, as long as supply can keep up with demand of course! The beer range for 2018-2019 is currently being finalised based on new hops becoming available. Some old favourites will reappear in addition to some new recipes and the arrival of a new 7th fermenter will help support brewery growth into next year and beyond.

  • Fixed Wheel Monday 11 September 2017

    Fixed Wheel Having taken a leap of faith 3 years ago Scott Povey and Sharon Bryant are continuing to grow. Fixed Wheel Brewery has recently confirmed that they have taken the lease on the adjoining unit at the Long Lane Trading Estate in Blackheath, doubling the brewery size to 2,000 sq ft. This will enable them to increase output and provide more room for cold storage and the onsite bar. Fixed Wheel have also taken on a third member of staff to support the demand. A fifth fermentation vessel they have purchased means production can be increased to 40 (Brewer’s barrels at 36 gallons or 288 pints) barrels a week.

  • Green Duck Monday 11 September 2017

    Green Duck The next monthly specials are: June Special – Flame Of The West – citra simcoe mosaic pale sold out in 6 days July special The Great Divide will be an ekuanot citra pale & Steeltown a beer brewed for black country day celebrations August is Dead on Arrival  - a strong British IPA brewed with a blend of new English hops September is Close Action – a mosaic pale

    Date for the diaries this year’s Oktoberfest is the 19th-21st October

  • Sadler's Monday 11 September 2017

    barrels a week. Sadlers Halewood Wines & Spirits, makers of Crabbie's and Lambrini, has taken a majority stake in Sadler's Brewing Company in Lye, the Black Country brewery behind Peaky Blinder IPA. Sadler's, which is now operated by 5th generation brewer, Chris Sadler, will now have access to Halewood's global infrastructure as well as gaining new routes to market. The deal will enable the brewery to further capitalise on the growing craft beer industry and they will also receive marketing support from Halewood, but will continue to operate separately. Chris Sadler, the managing director of Sadler's, has said that "Halewood's investment gives us the opportunity not only to continue providing hand-crafted beers with a strong provenance locally, but also to expand our reach throughout the rest of the UK and internationally". Stewart Hainsworth of Halewood has said that "Sadler's has a fantastic family heritage and Chris has continued the passion for creating characterful beers with a point of difference. The current Sadler's generation is talented and visionary while upholding the original family ethos and with Halewood's focus on craft, we're looking forward to supporting their business. The Peaky Blinder brand holds huge potential for the off-trade, which is very focused on listing more craft beers. It is a natural fit with our portfolio alongside our investment in the Cumbria-based Hawkshead brewery and the Tsingtao distribution business". Halewood is the UK's largest independent alcoholic drinks manufacturer and distributor, and is still family owned. Its product range includes wines, spirits, beers, ciders and bottled water, including Lambrini, Whitley Gin and Vodka, Marylebone Gin, Bajan Rum 66, The Pogues Irish Whiskey and Red Square Vodka, and of course Crabbies Ginger Wine.