The conversation over beer doesn’t have to be about beer

The fifth edition of The Cask Report is out today. As author Pete Brown explains, “It’s primarily aimed at publicans who may (or may not) be interested in stocking cask ale, but some of it may be of interest to others who write about beer, or are interested in it.”

He also provides a quick summary in his blog:

  • Cask ale drinkers are more than twice as likely to go to the pub regularly as drinkers who don’t drink cask ale
  • The number of cask ale drinkers has fallen overall – but the number of young people drinking it (18-24) has risen for the second year running
  • This represents a broader recruitment trend – of all people who say they drink cask ale, 10% of them started drinking in the last year. 37% started drinking it in the last ten years. Cask ale drinkers are leaving the market at one end, but they are entering it at the other – a clear sign of the revival of interest in cask ale
  • 2500 more pubs are stocking cask ale this year
  • Cask ale’s share of on-trade beer has increased to 15% – getting on for one in six pints served in the pub
  • He’s got more bullet points, including that “for most drinkers, the dynamic in the market is about ‘familiar’ versus ‘unfamiliar’ beers.” An important lesson for those selling beer; maybe even those writing about beer. But prefaced with a observation worth remembering: “Only the beer industry and beer geeks debate the merits of micros versus big regional brewers.”

    Seems to me you could substitute other topics that are non-issues for most beer drinkers. Like the differences between “microbrews,” craft and faux craft. Or between porter and stout. Of course, I’m hardly one to talk (or write). This blog is for people fully engaged with beer, and not unlike conversations I might have over beer. But is something to remember when my family lets me go out in public.