Moorhouse’s, the North West’s leading dedicated real ale brewer, is backing National Cask Ale Week (29 March to 5 April) by offering ‘showcase’ events to publicans.
The successful showcase evenings include a film presentation on the Burnley brewery and brewing before a tutored tasting session of the famous five Pendle Witches brews* in either cask or bottle – followed by short beer quiz with prizes. Licensees, if they wish, can also work with the brewery to devise beer with food matches and can charge a nominal fee for the night.
The venue should have at least three hand pumps, be able stock Moorhouse’s beers for a few days, and, ideally, have a separate room available to avoid disrupting normal trade.
Moorhouse's David Grant (L) raises a glass with Bull licensees Lindsay and Jon Cox at a brewery Showcase event.
Over the past few years Moorhouse’s has put on the events across the country, from The Rake in London, the Turf, Oxford and the Guildford, Edinburgh, attracting audiences from both cask ale lovers and novices. The evenings have also been very popular in Wetherspoon’s pubs throughout Lancashire and Yorkshire, increasing business on each occasion.
Managing director David Grant said: “The showcases are free to the publican and ready made for those looking to stage a special event for Cask Ale Week. With or without food they are successful evenings with pub customers and good business drivers. We have several dates available in Cask Ale Week itself or around that time.”
At the Bull in Shocklach, South Cheshire – a country inn with five hand pumps and listed in the Good Beer Guide – a showcase recently attracted an audience of more than thirty people. It included a beer and food pairing using ‘tapas’ sized dishes with traditional British recipes devised by the pub’s chefs.
Bull landlord Jon Cox said: “It was a great night for both our regular real ale drinkers and several who knew little about cask ale. We enjoyed a good boost to our trade on what may otherwise have been a quiet night and it stimulated further interest in our cask ales.”
Contact David Grant on 01282 422864 for showcase details. For information on National Cask Ale Week see: www.caskaleweek.co.uk