lifestyle

A Crafty Plan: Co-operative Launched To Help Independent Breweries

The team behind Yorkshire brewery, Crooked Brewing, is launching a new initiative to help support similar-sized brewers across the country.

The Small Brewery Project has been launched to bring together small independents, combining their expertise and passion, to reach a wider customer base and new stockists, offering them support and much needed income as they begin their recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

There are 13 breweries already signed up to the roster including:
Another Beer, York, North Yorkshire
Bianca Road, Bermondsey, London.
Black Storm, Whitley Bay, North Tyneside
C84 Brewing, Cropton, North Yorkshire
Crooked Brewing, Church Fenton, North Yorkshire
Donkeystone, Oldham, Greater Manchester
Green Duck Brewery, Stourbridge, West Midlands
McColls, Evenwood, County Durham
Neckstamper, Leyton, East London
No Frills Joe, Greenhithe, Kent
Piglove, Leeds, West Yorkshire
Horsforth Brewery, Leeds, West Yorkshire
Three Fiends, Holmfirth, West Yorkshire

The beers will be immediately available to purchase through the new Small Brewery Project online hub, with customers able to pick and choose, or buy curated boxes based on taste, strength and style.

Speaking of the new initiative, Crooked Brewing managing director, Steve Dawson said: “We know as much as anybody how badly the pandemic has affected both the hospitality industry and breweries alike. It is from this that we decided to do something to help others in our position, understanding that together we are stronger!

Oldham Brewery Donkeystone, said:“At Donkeystone we’re proud to be a small independent craft brewery and working with similar like-minded businesses is fantastic. Giant breweries receive the lion share of the trade in the UK and whatever schemes look to help independents we will always get behind!”

“Our aim is to bring forward the unsung heroes of the brewing world and to champion breweries who don’t routinely feature in your local off license. It makes a big difference to the small, independent producers you are supporting, that you will be drinking their beers and telling other people about it.

“The more people who are interested in it, the more it will grow and ultimately it’s the people who can help shape the future of the Small Brewery Project. What’s more, if there is someone making good beer, who is independent and not well known, tell us about them.”

Leeds Piglove Brewing said:"At Piglove Brewing we are extremely happy to be part of such an initiative. The last few months have been very difficult for small business and local shops, so this would be an amazing opportunity to come back on track together with our friends."

A spokesperson from Horsforth Brewery added, "As a micro-brewery and strong supporter of other small breweries ourselves, I’m really proud of what Crooked Brewing is doing. We’ve had such a tough year and shelf space is getting harder to find for the lesser well-known breweries despite brewing some of the best beer in the country, a project like this can be the boost we all need."

Anybody looking to support the Small Brewery Project and any of its partners can buy beers directly from thesmallbreweryproject.com or contact the team via social media if you have a brewery you think would love to join the team.