Annual ’Beer Day Britain’ launched
It took a trio of female beer experts to launch Beer Day Britain, which is hoped to become an annual festivity of the British beer industry starting in 2015. On 15 June next year, Beer Day Britain will celebrate all that is great about British beer.
The initiative is spearheaded by 2014’s Beer Sommelier of the Year, Jane Peyton, as well as Sophie de Ronde, Head Brewer at Brentwood Brewery, and Sara Barton, founder of and Head Brewer of Brewsters’ Brewing Company and former British Brewer of the Year.
CAMRA, The British Beer and Pub Association, The Society of Independent Brewers, Casque Marque, Let There Be Beer, and The Independent Family Brewers of Britain have all signed up to support the initiative, media reported on 30 July 2014.
With UK pubs currently closing at a rate of 26 per week, according to CAMRA, it is hoped that a co-ordinated effort will encourage brewers, landlords, retailers and beer lovers alike to arrange beer-themed activities to encourage greater support of the industry.
Suggested events include brewery open days, tutored beer tastings and special offers to beer barbecues and festivals.
Pubs will be able to print their own beer mats from the day’s official website and promotional material to advertise the day.
Introducing the initiative, the trio said: “The idea is for Beer Day Britain to be a self-starting activity. It will be a success if beer lovers, pubs, brewers, supermarkets, beer shops, and beer related organisations make their own plans to create events, publicity and encourage the appreciation of beer and pubs.”
Actually, 15 June is the day when the Magna Carta (the first document imposed upon a King of England by a group of his subjects to limit his powers by law and protect their rights) was signed in 1215, in which article 35 of the charter states: “Let there be throughout our kingdom a single measure for wine and a single measure for ale and a single measure for corn, namely ‘the London quarter’.”
