Sunday 5 February 2012

Phew!!

January was one, crazy busy month and hopefully setting us up for a really great start to the year. We're delighted to welcome lots of new customers on board so look forward to trying our beers in pubs all over the place. One day I'll get round to updating the pub map on the website to give a better idea of where you can find Offbeat beers.

There have been a couple of interesting projects I've been involved in this month. First up was the fourth Project Venus brew which took place at Prospect Brewery in Standish, near Wigan. At the first three Project Venus there have been 5 brewsters turn up but there were 15 of us there to make Venus Gold! It's a great opportunity for us female brewers to work together, network, share ideas, discuss problems and look at how we can get more women interested in beer. The resulting beer was launched at Port Street Beer House in Manchester and was
very well received.

Second project was a collaboration brew with Dave from Raw Brewing in Staveley, Derbyshire. We're both hop heads so we planned a recipe out on Facebook and then got together to brew it at Raw. As I write this it's fermenting away happily but look out for this constantly hopped, almost red, IPA!

We have a new special coming online for February and March; Quirky Kiwi NZ Pale. Another big hoppy number but this time with lots of New Zealand Pacific Jade hops and then late hopped with Nelson Sauvin. Would love to know what you think, the first batch is heading out on delivery this week and lots more to follow - look out for it at Liverpool and Bradford beer festivals in February.


Sunday 1 January 2012

Happy New Year! Welcome to 2012

As I am toasting the new year with champagne, cheese and crackers (and once again kicking myself for not keeping some Out Of Step IPA) and thought it seemed like a great time to update the brewery blog.

2011 has been an interesting year, the new brewery plant being installed at Unit 6, Thomas Street in April really kick started Offbeat Brewery and allowed us to achieve better consistency and quality in the brews. Unfortunately a warm spell of weather left us with problems with a cold store that wasn't cold enough and finings that were going off. We persevered, had the engineers out a few times and finally got it working properly and that was that problem resolved.

2012 holds so much in store as we introduce our beers to new pubs and look to expand our customer base. The four regulars (Outlandish Pale, Kooky Gold, Odd Ball Red and Out Of Step IPA) will be made continuously in rotation supplemented by Way Out Wheat and some specials.

First up in these specials will be Stand Upright IPA. Without gushing too much I can't tell you how excited I am about this project to launch a beer alongside Dodgy's new album, "Stand Upright Keep Cool". I loved Dodgy mid 90s, so I'm glad they've put an awesome album together for 2012 and so excited to be making this limited edition Stand Upright IPA for them. With a big blast of Pacific Jade hops from New Zealand its going to be a pretty special beer.

We are hoping to be able to negotiate with the landlords for the brewery units so we can do tours and tastings onsite. We will keep you posted as we have had a number of enquiries from various CAMRA, Round Table and other social groups. We would love to show you round but now need the green light to do so. In a similar vein we also hope to get a premises license so we can at least do mail order sales if not off sales.

On the same note a huge thank you must be extended to Mike and Flick at Hops in Crewe who have been fantastically supportive of Offbeat Brewery since our inception. I cannot tell you how grateful I am to them for handling the off sales for mini casks and the bottles of Far Out Stout. They're great people with a fantastic bar keeping their ales in great condition, so be sure to pay them a visit when you're in Crewe.

I'm delighted by the success and recognition the Offbeat beers achieved in 2011...so unexpected and yet so great to get such positive feedback on them. Here's hoping this will continue, we always want to know what you think.

Huge thank yous go out to Clive who handles the sales operation for the brewery and to Paul, the best dressed delivery man, who drops the odd cask off for me on his travels and gets bombarded with Offbeat news and ideas. Stars both! I also need to thank the volunteers who help me in the brewery...it's a tough, physical job and I'm grateful for the help that has been so freely offered.

Better hope I never win an Oscar as would obviously blether forever!

Have a great 2012 and keep drinking fantastic beers!

Michelle xxx

Monday 28 November 2011

Online reservations are go!

We can't really call it an online shop as that would imply a sale was taking place but we are now taking reservations for mini casks and bottles that you can then pay for and collect at Hops on Prince Albert Street, Crewe. A nice bit of cooperation that gets us round the "Thou shalt not commit retail activities" clause in the lease at the brewery and sends beer hungry customers to one of our favourite local pubs. Sorted! You can click through to the Beer Gear and Shop from http://www.offbeatbrewery.com

Sunday 6 November 2011

has been a good chick

and done all her beer duty calculations and statistics returns. I've also been building an online shop reservations system as unfortunatly the landlord won't let us sell beer from site (a strict 'no retail activities' policy in action apparently!) but luckily our friends at Hops in Crewe have filled the void and have very kindly offered to sell for us from the bar. We're trying to make it as easy as possible and to cause Hops as little inconvenience so you'll be able to reserve what you'd like online and then we'll invoice you so you know the grand total and then it will be ready for you to collect and pay for at Hops on a date you choose having stopped to enjoy a pint! Dead easy :-).

For customers further afield, we're trying to get some mini casks and bottles of Far Out Stout to Ales By Mail who will act as an online shop for us to ship beer around the country for you to enjoy at home.

Tuesday 25 October 2011

Write a review (please!)

As part of our ongoing marketing effort it would be a huge help if you'd had our beers and would write a wee review. Follow the link below;
http://www.thebestof.co.uk/local/crewe-and-nantwich/business-guide/feature/offbeat-brewery/87688/review#write

Monday 24 October 2011

Eugh

First response from my landlord is they're not sure if they would consent to me selling from site.

Sunday 23 October 2011

Awesome weekend

We learned on Friday evening that the Way Out Wheat had won third place in CAMRA's Champion Beer of Cheshire competition which was a fantastic result for this speciality beer. Huge congratulations go to Toby and the Red Willow team who got first place and Dave and the Happy Valley team for second.

Called in at Birkenhead Beer Festival on Friday evening who had Way Out Wheat and Kooky Gold on and then in at Chester Beer Festival Saturday lunch time to check out the Way Out Wheat there. There's loads of our beer round Chester at the moment so be sure to visit Kash (a Way Out Wheat) due soon, the Pied Bull (Out Of Step IPA), Artichoke (Kooky Gold), the Cellar (Outlandish Pale), the Brewery Tap (Outlandish Pale due soon), Bear and Billet (Outlandish Pale). And probably a few others I've forgotten!