New products
We’ve been busy searching for new alcohol-free craft beers to add to our range. One of our objectives when starting this company, was to identify any locally produced alcohol-free craft beer. Sadly, for the moment at least, none of the local brewers produce such a product. However, we have found an alcohol-free range which is being imported from Poland by the marvelous local brewery Hobsons, famous for the quality of their range of ales and beers. Hobsons went to considerable time and effort looking for alcohol-free beer that was worthy of selling through their brand and the independent craft ‘Blonie’ Brewery (just outside Warsaw) certainly fits with the quality and taste of their three alcohol-free beers.
I'm also pleased to report we've identified one brewery, outside of Shropshire, but within our region; the Birmingham Brewing Company produce an alcohol-free ‘Sober Brummie’ beer, which we will be stocking very shortly.
Oktoberfest
On the subject of ‘Sober Brummie’, as part of our offering at the forthcoming Oktoberfest in the Quarry Park, Shrewsbury on 30 September & 1 October, we will be selling this beer draught, straight from the keg, as well as a wide range of our other craft beers in cans. The show will be a real step outside of our ‘comfort zone’. We are frantically preparing and planning to make sure we show off the best of ourselves at this cool, fun event.
Shop premises
We have finally identified and agreed a location for a retail shop in Shrewsbury for our business. From the outset of this search, we had a very firm view of where we wanted to be, a location which confirmed our commitment to being a small independent business. We won’t, for the moment at least, specify exactly where the shop is. For now, it's enough to say we will be joining a whole host of other wonderful independent businesses in Shrewsbury.
As part of opening the shop, we have decided to diversify and offer more alcohol-free drinks (cider, gin etc.) and complementary products; locally produced ‘posh’ crisps as well as merchandise provided by the independent breweries we are using. The shop will also provide us with a base to be able to offer advice face-to-face and for customers to sample some of our products before they purchase.
Stop press - new shop expected to open Saturday 8 October, location TBC.