Sheffield brewer supports push to recognise '˜genuine' craft beer

Abbeydale Brewery Marketing Manager Dan Baxter in the brewery at Heeley in Sheffield
Picture by Dean Atkins — Abbeydale Brewery Marketing Manager Dan Baxter in the brewery at Heeley in Sheffield Picture by Dean Atkins

Abbeydale Brewery, based in Aizlewood Road, is one of 152 companies to pledge its support to the Assured Independent British Craft Breweries label, designed to give customers more clarity about what they are buying.

The initiative, run by the Society of Independent Brewers, or Siba, aims to differentiate between mass-produced beers and those made by genuinely independent craft breweries in the UK.

Sheffield-made beers on sale at Beer Central, made by Bradfield Brewery, Kelham Island Brewery, Stancill Brewery, Lost Industry, Emannuales and Sentinal Brewery.

Market research by Siba showed 46 per cent of drinkers regard craft beer as ‘made by small brewers rather than large corporations’ - although 10 per cent of those surveyed said they were unsure what the term craft beer meant.

Managing director of Siba Mike Benner said: “The passion and innovation of independent brewers together with increasing consumer demand for diversity, provenance and excellence has created the craft beer revolution.

“It is the biggest thing to have happened to British beer for many years and has helped to revitalise the UK beer market and turn it into the most exciting beer scene in the World.

“Hundreds of passionate and genuine independent brewers have brought thousands of world-class beers to communities across the UK. However, as the craft beer market has grown it is being flooded with beers from across the world, often from large global brewers.

“We have launched our ‘Assured’ initiative to help consumers make informed decisions about where their beer comes from and who has brewed it.”

Sheffield was named the world’s best beer city because of its range of breweries in a report earlier this year.