Brewery News

We Are SIBA’s Brewer in the Community 2018

29 Jun 2018

Brentwood Brewery is ‘surprised but delighted’ to have won the Society of Independent Brewers’ (SIBA) Brewers in the Community Award 2018. This national accolade recognises ‘the fantastic but often under-appreciated work British independent craft breweries do for charity, local people and for community causes’.

NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR BEING COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS

Brentwood Brewing Company’s MD Roland Kannor said: “It is an honour to receive this award. We’re proud to serve, help and play an active part in our community. In the dozen years we’ve been trading we always aim to help the local community where we can.

“Whilst it’s always a pleasure to be of assistance, we always end up having fun and enjoying ourselves at the same time.”

Judges were ‘bowled over’ by the brewery’s connection to the local community as well as the range of activities they undertake supporting local charities, elderly residents and local businesses.

“Despite the high standard of entries, it was Brentwood Brewery that stood out from the rest. Their passion for finding innovative ways to support so many causes from a local pre-school to the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire was truly inspiring. Congratulations to everyone at the brewery!” said SIBA”s Tony Jerome.

SIBA representatives and The Mayor of Brentwood, Cllr Sheila Murphy, joined many brewery friends for the award presentation by Brentwood and Ongar MP Alex Burghart, appropriately, on Beer Day Britain (June 15). He said: “This is excellent news for Brentwood Brewing Company, excellent news for Brentwood and excellent news for beer. Under Brentwood Brewing Company, local ale goes from strength to strength.”

Some of the many and varied charitable fund raising activities undertaken by the brewery team have included running the Brighton Marathon in aid of The Fragile X Society, supporting an elephant conservation charity through Colchester Zoo and supporting a local primary school with a collaboration brew generating a donation to the PTA for every pint sold. (Chipping Ongar Primary School Association COPSA).

The brewery is supporting three main charities this year. They are: Special Needs and Parents (SNAP charity) based in Warley (they support families across Essex), The Fragile X Society based in Great Dunmow (supporting families in Essex, a national charity) and Little Doves Pre-School in Navestock.

“SIBA’s Brewers in the Community Award judges were amazed by the quality of entries. These examples illustrate the varied and important roles British independent craft breweries play. In many cases, brewers play just as integral a part in their communities as the local pub. Raising funds, donating prizes, offering space for events, creating employment or just opening a small brewery tap are just some of the ways craft breweries support their communities,” added Tony Jerome.

Roland Completed Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses (10KSB) UK Programme

Brentwood Brewing Company’s ambition and potential for further growth led to its participation in the prestigious Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses (10KSB) UK programme in 2017. The fully-funded programme helps to support growth-orientated small businesses and is designed by business education experts and run in partnership with leading UK universities and business schools.

Brentwood Beer is Gluten-Free

Roland Kannor said: “It was an extremely valuable experience because we had so many ideas about how to grow the business and while we have always worked with the community, it was an opportunity to plan how we could develop that relationship even further by using tools such as social media.

“It also gave me the confidence to make the decision to work towards becoming a gluten-free brewery which has led to export opportunities with Sweden.”

Brentwood Brewery is an award-winning micro brewery in Essex run by a family with a passion for making and drinking the finest craft beer. It is among just 2% of UK breweries to hold the quality accreditation Safe and Local Supplier Approval (SALSA) plus Beer certification. It is home to the Brentwood and Elephant School Brewing beer brands.

SIBA is a trade association representing more than 800 independent craft breweries.

**SIBA’s Brewers in the Community Report**

SIBA has compiled a new report, Brewers in the Community, which highlights new research illustrating how important independent breweries are to communities across Britain. www.siba.co.uk. Key findings:

82% of independent breweries have supported a charity in the last 12 months

84% of independent breweries said their relationship with their community was ‘important’ or ‘extremely important’ to their business

45% of the breweries donating money to good causes chose to support a local or village charity

1 in 4 breweries raised over £1,000

A third of independent breweries now have a Tap Room, which has helped to replace a closed village pub in many instances.

Love Beer, Love Brentwood

Beer for School’s 50th Anniversary

29 Jun 2018

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by Wendy

Brentwood Brewery is once again proud to be supporting Chipping Ongar Primary School Association (COPSA) Dads in their quest to raise money for the school. COPSA Gold is the second collaboration beer brewed to raise money for the school association. It’s one of many projects that has contributed to the brewery winning national recognition for supporting the local community as Brentwood Brewery was recently announced as winner of the Society of Independent Brewers’ (SIBA) Brewers in the Community Award 2018.

Beer for Chipping Ongar Primary School’s Golden Year

COPSA Gold 4.1%, also celebrates the school’s 50th anniversary and was on sale at COPSA’s grand school fete following Ongar Carnival, which was organised by Ongar Round Table (Sunday 24th June). The fund raising Brentwood Beer is now available on draught at The Cock Tavern in Ongar High Street and a donation of 10p for every pint sold will go to COPSA.

Steve Reynolds of COPSA Dads said: “Last year’s beer, Chipping Chirper, was such a success, we were keen to work on another collaboration brew, especially in the school’s 50th anniversary year.

“We sold 90 pints of COPSA Gold at the fete and everyone loved it. Hopefully, customers at The Cock Tavern will sample some more and at the same time help to raise funds for the school association.”

Community Support

Ongar Estate Agent and fellow community supporter John Sear sponsored the beer for the school fete which means that all the money from those beer sales goes straight towards helping the school via COPSA. John Sear also sponsored the school’s balloon race which saw 300 ozone-friendly, biodegradable balloons, launched at the fete.

Roland Says Please Drink Generously

Brentwood Brewery MD Roland Kannor said: “In the dozen years we’ve been trading we always try to help the local community where we can. As ever, it is always good to work with local groups, supporting local causes, like COPSA Dads in Ongar who are raising money for the school.

“It’s a great, local cause, so please drink generously and support The Cock Tavern at the same time.”

Roland Kannor MD of Brentwood Brewery, Steve Reynolds of COPSA Dads and The Cock Tavern Landlord Rob Price sampling some fund raising COPSA Gold at The Cock Tavern in Ongar High Street. (Jolly bearded chap is photo bombing.)

The money raised by COPSA is being earmarked for updating the school’s playground equipment.

Everyone who bought a pint of COPSA Gold at the school fete was entered into a free, prize draw to win a Brewery Tour for two at Brentwood Brewery.

Love Beer, Love Brentwood

Community Champions

25 Jun 2018

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by Wendy

We are the brewery with the biggest heart in the land. That’s official. We’ve just won SIBA’s Brewers in the Community Award 2018, a national award from the Society of Independent Brewers. The accolade recognises ‘the fantastic but often under-appreciated work British independent craft breweries do for charity, local people and for community causes’.

Brentwood Brewing Company’s MD Roland Kannor said: “We’re proud to serve, help and be an active part of the community. It is an honour to receive this award. We’re firmly committed to helping our local community.

“Whilst it’s always a pleasure to be of assistance, we always end up having fun and enjoying ourselves at the same time.”

With SIBA representatives, The Mayor of Brentwood, Cllr Sheila Murphy, and the brewery’s CAMRA liaison officer Beryl joining lots of brewery friends for celebrations at the brewery, the award was presented to Roland by Brentwood and Ongar MP Alex Burghart, appropriately, on Beer Day Britain. He said: “This is excellent news for Brentwood Brewing Company, excellent news for Brentwood and excellent news for beer. Under Brentwood Brewing Company, local ale goes from strength to strength.”

The Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) is a trade association which represents 835 independent craft breweries. The judging panel was ‘bowled over’ by the brewery’s connection to the local community as well as the range of activities we get involved in. They were also impressed by the brewery’s commitment to local charities, elderly residents, sustainability and to supporting local businesses.

Tony Jerome, SIBA’s Director of Membership and Marketing, said: “Despite the high standard of entries, it was Brentwood Brewery that stood out from the rest. Their passion for finding innovative ways to support so many causes from a local pre-school to the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire was truly inspiring. Congratulations to everyone at the brewery!”

The brewery’s main charities this year are: Little Doves Pre-School, The Fragile X Society and SNAP (Special Needs and Parents).

SIBA’s Tony Jerome added: “Our judges were amazed by the quality of entries which illustrate the varied and important roles British independent craft breweries play. In many cases, brewers play just as integral a part in their communities as the local pub. Raising funds, donating prizes, offering space for events, creating employment or just opening a small brewery tap are just some of the ways craft breweries support their communities.”

Love Beer, Love Brentwood

Beer Festival Tips

25 May 2018

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by Wendy

With the Bank Holiday upon us and hopefully some time off to enjoy one or two Beer Festivals taking place this weekend, the brewery team has come up with a few pointers on how to get the most out of your visit.

Beer Festival Tips

1. Drink halves in a pint glass. You’ll get more of the aromas
2. Try something new, you’ve not had before
3. To get the best range of beers, get to the festival early, when it starts
4. Do have a taster but it may take more than a mouthful to appreciate the beer
5. There’ll be beers you don’t like. It doesn’t mean it’s a bad beer – necessarily
6. Remember to eat. Beer is great but so is food

Love Beer, Love Brentwood

It’s APA

03 May 2018

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by Wendy

Thank you to everyone who took part in our beer name competition.

After careful consideration, the brewery team has decided to keep it simple and to opt for the new Brentwood American Pale Ale to be called exactly that! APA or American Pale Ale.

Everyone who entered the competition will have received a voucher for a free pint in the Tap Room and a 10% discount of a case of beer from The Brewery Shop.

Tasting Notes:

APA American Pale Ale 5% with citrus and pine notes and a smooth bitterness. It has a slight sweetness on finish from the oats used in the mash.

Available in 36 or 18 pint Polypins.

Here’s the new pump clip to keep an eye out for:

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Perfect for Chesney

20 Apr 2018

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by Wendy

How do you thank a pop star legend who starred in your production of the family musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat? Well, in Brentwood, it’s achieved by presenting that celebrity, Chesney Hawkes, with a suitably stellar gift – a bottle of ‘the one and only’ Van Kannor, luxury, Champagned beer, brewed at Brentwood Brewery. Show producer Mark Reed says he could think of nothing finer.

“I had to give Chesney something as a farewell gift and to say thank you. I couldn’t think of anything better than a bottle of Van Kannor. It was perfect. It said everything about Brentwood and the experience we had with him last weekend,” said Mark Reed.

Joseph Success

More than two and a half thousand people saw Chesney as Joseph in the show’s two performances last weekend at The Brentwood Centre. “It was glorious. We had 150 people on stage and back stage too.

“Chesney is so talented and so easy to work with. He’s the nicest guy going.

“It was a huge demand we put on him as he had very limited rehearsal time with us all but we’ve made a true friend there,” added Mark.

Early Days for Chesney

Chesney’s Dad, who was in the Tremeloes, set the teenage Chesney a deadline of three months over the summer holidays to become a pop star. The rule was if Chesney didn’t make it within that time limit he’d have to return to his studies.

Having cut his musical teeth playing piano and singing in pubs, happily for Chesney, he got his first big break after seeing an advert for auditions whilst in hospital recovering from having his wisdom teeth out. After several rounds of auditions, he landed a top role in rock drama Buddy’s Song, starring Roger Daltrey, setting Chesney on the path to stardom.

Chesney then found fame a couple of years later in 1991 with his number one hit, The One and Only.

Brentwood – so Rock ’n’ Roll

But when it comes to a rock and roll lifestyle, it seems Brentwood and Mark Reed lead the way. Following a self-imposed abstinence for an extended Dryanuary, Chesney was tempted by Mark to break his fast and enjoy a drink at the Brentwood Centre bar. And guess what he had? Only a pint of Brentwood Beer.

Roland

Brentwood Brewing Company MD Roland Kannor said: “What a way to end a dry spell. I understand this was Chesney’s first beer for quite some time, possibly since Christmas, and we’re delighted it was one of our Brentwood Beers that quenched his thirst.

“We also wish to thank Mark Reed for flying the Brentwood flag and for presenting Chesney with a bottle of our finest, luxury beer, Van Kannor. We like to think it’s perfect for all sorts of special occasions.”

Chesney Hawkes is playing a series of gigs throughout the UK this year. Details can be found at www.chesneyhawkes.com.

Van Kannor can be found in the brewery shop or online.

Brewery friend Suzanne Gunn managed to photo bomb this one of Chesney Hawkes with his bottle of Van Kannor. Great work Suzanne.

Love Beer, Love Brentwood

Name Beer, Win Beer

11 Apr 2018

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by Wendy

Brentwood Brewery is holding a competition to name a new beer. The prize? Beer! An 18 pint Polypin for the winner.

All you have to do is email us your beer name suggestion to: [email protected] with Beer Name Competition as the subject.

American Pale Ale

The new beer is an American Pale Ale style or APA with an abv of approximately 5%. The exact abv is to be confirmed.

Head Brewer Ethan, Roland and the brewery team will pick the winning name from your suggestions. The winning name will appear in the next issue of The Beery News which comes out in early May. If you haven’t already signed up to our newsletter, see the homepage of our website.