Brew LDN provided a boost to ‘moral and trade’
Exhibitors at this year’s event, held at Printworks in South London on Friday 6 May and Saturday 7 May, included Magic Rock Brewing, Laine Brewing Co, Timothy Taylor’s, Camden Town Brewery, Hawkes Cider and Doubled-Barrelled Brewery.
Reading-based Doubled-Barrelled Brewery’s marketing manager Ryan Kenealy stated the event allowed exhibitors to “forget” about the challenges currently facing the sector, talk with “like-minded people” and provide a boost to both trade and moral.
He added: “It’s a great mix of trade and customers. It’s good for us to show our full product range and what we can do for trade customers and what our taproom does; it’s a hotspot of craft beer lovers so it’s ideal for us.
“These places allow us to showcase [variety] and give us a bit of positivity that the hard work we are doing behind the scenes is worth it, despite all the doom and gloom.”
Community event
In addition, he urged Government to attend events like Brew LDN to see “what the industry means to people” and provide more “clarity” for the sector as well as a hospitality minister to ensure a “voice for the industry”.
Moreover, Ross Atwell brand content deployment manager for Camden Town Brewery explained the variety of different beers and companies at events like Brew LDN was important in bringing the community together.
He said: “[Events like this provide] one, better consumer feedback and two, to talk to people about our beers, which is huge.
“We’re making beer for the people so we need to know what they like and what they don’t like.
“It’s great to get out and share some love with everyone.
“Camden has a great spirit of generosity and that’s something that we are going to be bringing forward in our upcoming campaigns.”
Beer line up
Atwell added the brand was looking to support on-trade customers with new product launches as well as backing pubs during up-coming sporting events.
Craft cocktail brand Vacay, which were recently named as one of 20 shortlisted companies in BrewDog CEO James Watt’s investment scheme the Next Unicorn, as well as representatives from the Campaign For Real Ale (CAMRA) were also in attendance.
Brew LDN director Toby Chantrell said this year’s event saw a smaller floor plan but had a “more independent” line up and further “diversification” with wine, cider, spirit and snack stands in addition to beer exhibitors.
He continued: “Every year is an evolution of what it was the year before.
“This year we wanted to ensure we had more accessible stand spaces at a lower price to encourage more independent brewers.”
