Stockists

Feb

2021

Spotlight On… Eltham Wines and Beers

Eltham Wines and Beers is a craft beer bottle shop in South East London with an excellent selection running from traditional English, German and Belgian beers through to modern milkshake IPAs. Beerblefish general manager Glenn caught up with the shop’s owner, Mits Patel, to find out more about his journey to being the local area’s leading craft beer shop.

Can you tell me about your background?
I come from a family of storekeepers so once I finished university, it seemed natural that I would use my skills to help the family business. Our original family store (which we still operate) is in Kew and we started Eltham Wines in 2011.

Did you start on day one with this great range of beer?
No. We took over a store that used to be a Threshers, but it had remained empty for a while so we had no stock and no customers. We started by stocking regular beers.

So how did you get into craft beer?
My own craft beer moment came when I was served BrewDog on a flight to India. It tasted great! On the business side, we noticed the craft beer trend about five years ago, so we started stocking more and more craft beer and have built it to what you see today.

You’ve mentioned a couple of challenges already, but are there any other obstacles that you faced?
We had to really understand beer. The burgeoning brewing scene meant that there were thousands of options, so we had to identify the right mix of stock. Of course the right mix varies from location to location, but we’re at the point where we should meet most needs of our customers.

You mention your customers… how would they describe your business?
They are amazed by the volume of new stock combined with the general range of styles.

What do you think makes your bottle shop successful?
Our point of differentiation is that we’re a specialist who deals with hard to find beers. No one else in the area can beat our range, hence we get word of mouth recommendations from satisfied customers. Instagram has been good for us too.

What does the future hold?
We’re looking to start an online store. Maintaining inventory levels across both the online store and the physical store will be challenging, but it should be a good opportunity.

You have stocked a range of Beerblefish beers. Is there one that stands out?
The original heritage range and (in particular) the 1820 Porter.

Do you like darker beers yourself?
Stouts are actually a favourite of mine!

What beer trends have you noticed recently?
Strong beers tend to attract higher Untappd ratings. The strongest beer that we’ve had is a 16.5% beer from Buxton.

Many thanks to Mits for undergoing Glenn’s interrogation!

Nov

2020

How to Have a Beerblefish Christmas

There really aren’t all that many sleeps to go now until Christmas day! For many people, this is likely to be an odd festive season, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to make the best of it. At Beerblefish HQ, we’ve been planning what we’ll be offering in the run up to Christmas so that you can get all the beer and gin you need in plenty of time.

Gift Ideas

We’ve just added a load of extra gift ideas to the webshop. There is a variety of gift packs to choose from, with both gin and beer options available, and why not add a t-shirt? Don’t forget that we can send Christmas gifts direct to your loved ones – just tick the “ship to different address” box at checkout and put in their details. If you’d like us to put a message in with the gift, please leave us a note in the free text box. We don’t usually put prices in our packages unless you ask us to, so there’s no worry on that front.

Markets and Fairs

We’re going to be busy over the next few weeks to give you as much opportunity as we can to get your hands on your festive beer! Here’s the calendar (so far) in the run up to the big day:

Sunday, 29 November – 10-14.30 – Stroud Green Market (Stroud Green Primary School, corner of Perth and Ennis Roads, N4 3HB)
Saturday, 12 December – 10-16.30 – Forty Hall Christmas Fayre (the courtyard at Forty Hall, Forty Hill, Enfield, EN2 9HA – ticketed event, please book in advance)
Sunday, 13 December – 10-14.30 – Stroud Green Market (Stroud Green Primary School, corner of Perth and Ennis Roads, N4 3HB)
Sunday, 13 December – 10-15.00 – Forty Hall Farmers’ Market (Forty Hall Farm, Enfield, EN2 9HA)

We might add one or two more in if we get the opportunity but, as with everything these days, it’s all subject to COVID-19 restrictions, so keep an eye out on our social media and our events page for all the latest information.

Brewery Shop

The brewery shop will be open as usual on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 12 to 5pm for takeaways of beer and gin. The last day we’ll be open before Christmas is likely to be Saturday, 19 December – keep an eye out for more info nearer the time.

Special Events

On 30 November, our friends at The Little Green Dragon Ale House in Winchmore Hill are running a virtual Christmas Beer Tasting with renowned beer judge, taster and writer Christine Cryne which will feature our 1820 Porter. To register and buy a tasting pack, go to the pub’s webshop – packs will be available for collection on Friday, 27 November or delivery to postcodes local to the pub.

Surprises

We’ve still got a few exciting products up our sleeves (no, not literally) that we’re hoping to get to you before Christmas – watch this space in the next couple of weeks!

Oct

2020

Spotlight on… Lamorbey Wine, Sidcup

Spotlight on… taking a risk

Before setting up Lamorbey Wine, Bob was a number cruncher, sitting at a desk working on spreadsheets in the City. He knew that redundancy was coming up so he started thinking about what he might do next.

“I enjoyed wine and realised that there was a gap in the market in Sidcup. By the time I took redundancy, I was ready to take a risk, so I set up Lamorbey Wine from scratch.”

Spotlight on… rolling up the sleeves

Bob told Glenn that the challenges he faced in setting up included finding the right location, fitting out the shop and sourcing appropriate stock. “Whilst my city role would’ve seen me assign areas outside of my expertise to others, I had to handle all of this myself.”

Spotlight on… tapping into heritage

The name “Lamorbey” refers to the name of the local village which was swallowed up by Sidcup and the area even featured a hop farm (until about 100 years ago) so you’ll find “wild” hops growing in the area, just like we have near the brewery.

Bob Cuthbert from Lamorbey Wine, Sidcup with a range of Beerblefish products

Spotlight on… beer in a wine shop!

Bob’s favourite beer style is a good old fashioned bitter, although he also enjoys Belgian ales too (especially Saison Dupont). “Speaking of bitters, I have stocked Beerblefish’s take on this style, Edmonton Best Bitter.” Bob has also stocked Lady Mildmay, Hoppy Pale Ale No.6, 1820 Porter, 1853 ESB, 1892 IPA and Cashmere Brut IPA. “Cashmere Brut IPA in particular has been very popular and feedback from customers is that Beerblefish make beers (and gin) of very good quality.”

“I used to stock a range of Belgian ales, but my customers are more interested in beers from local microbreweries – which is great to see.” Bob encourages people to be adventurous so that they try a range of beers. “Hopefully one day Beerblefish will release a Lamorbey Lambic for my customers!” You never know, Bob, you never know!

Spotlight on… what the future holds

Bob told Glenn, “In terms of the coming year, I’ve shelved my plans for world domination until after the pandemic as (thankfully) I’ve been quite busy. Of course, government dictated rules and regulations can change at a moment’s notice so who knows what the future holds?”

Spotlight on… bottle shop romance

Glenn always likes to ask our stockists how many couples they know have met in their place – and Bob’s has to be the best answer yet: “Me and Jackie for starters!”

Spotlight on… the secrets of success

Bob says his shop is successful because, “Customers appreciate my personal service, quality products and fair prices.” Glenn asked Bob how a regular customer would describe his shop: “Essential!”

Glenn finished by asking Bob if there is anything else interesting that customers should know. Bob says, “Pop in and say hello, you might just be surprised!”

Oct

2020

Holding Back the Tiers

With the way things have gone so far this year, we’re not that surprised that we woke up this morning in a Tier 2 “High Alert” zone – to be honest, it would probably take an alien invasion or the discovery of wizards in one of the fermenters to really shock us at this point! (But wouldn’t that be cool, eh?! Wizards in the fermenters…)

Wizard in the fermenter: what it might look like…

We’re fortunate to be in a much better place this time around than we were at the start of the national lockdown in March – now that we have a premises licence and our online shop, we’re pivoting like a ballerina and using our yoga-like flexibility (obtained from P.E. with Joe, obviously) to make sure we can serve our customers whatever the circumstances.

We’re still opening the brewery three days a week – Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 12 to 5pm – for beer and gin takeaways. You can rock up on the day and take your chances on stock, or you can call in advance to reserve stuff from our weekly beer list. You can also order and pay online for brewery collection (but note that this won’t include our special brewery-only discount on bottles and cases). We usually put the weekly beer list up on a Wednesday – look out for it on social media and on the homepage of our website.

You can order from the shop for UK-wide delivery too – you can have mixed 6 and 12 packs of 500ml bottles, mixed 3 and 6 packs of 750ml bottles, individual 750ml bottles and bottles of our Limited Edition Hopped Gin delivered to UK addresses for a £5 flat rate – or delivery is FREE if you spend £70 or more!

Individual 500ml bottles and our 5 litre mini casks are available for brewery collection only. We can’t send mini casks, and individual bottles are complicated because packing boxes are for multiples of 6 (and if they aren’t full, there’s a much greater risk of damage to your beer in transit, which no-one wants).

While we’d love to see you at the brewery, don’t forget to support your local pub too. Everyone in hospitality is having a hard time at the moment, and it really is a case of “use it or lose it”. Many of the pubs we supply are still open and have COVID-secure systems in place to make your visit safe and compliant with the current regulations. Please pay them a visit, whether it’s to drink in or pick up a takeaway – and if you can bear to spend more time with people from your household, please take an inside table; there’s a risk that lots of available seats in pubs will be empty because of the “no mixing with other households indoors” rules.

Richard Reeve, owner of the Little Green Dragon, his wife Sujal and daughters Jasmin and Anya

Liz Twort, owner of the Hackney Carriage Micropub

Kate and Richard Smith, owners of Holtwhites

The great news if you want to meet your mates for a pint is that lots of pubs have upped their outdoors game in the last couple of months – many now have undercover outdoor areas with heating so you can enjoy your drinks in comfort while still getting to catch up with friends.

Finally, look after each other – the first phase of lockdown wasn’t much fun for anyone and, although the restrictions are a little lighter this time around, there are still many people who might be feeling a bit isolated. Make sure you pick up the phone to them and make sure they’re alright – let’s look after each other!

Sep

2020

Spotlight On… Monks Inn, Hemel Hempstead

Spotlight On… becoming a novice

Clint told Glenn that his background was as an IT director in the City. His relationship with the beer industry started when he was the juniors chairman at Watford Rugby Club. A first team player suggested running a beer festival in order to raise money. “Thankfully (through the club) I knew Craig Douglas who ran the amazing Bree Louise at Euston so he was able to offer advice,” he says. “Our festival would have 36 beers and 38 ciders.” Then in 2018, Clint’s brother, Des, suggested that they set up a micropub. “Des needed to take me to one so that I could understand the concept, but I was sold once I saw it.”

The brothers decided to set up in Hemel Hempstead as there weren’t any other real ale venues nearby. Prior to them taking over the pub, the space was a Jennings betting shop.

Spotlight On… new habits

Clint says the name “Monks Inn” comes from two separate places. “Firstly, it reminds me of what I want in a pub – a venue which focuses on beer and conversation (no music or slot machines). Secondly, I am from Durban and a local venue called “Monks Inn” was a rite of passage, of which I have many fond memories!”

While Clint loves what he and Des have created at Monks Inn, it’s a small space so he decided to get a warehouse. “This allows us to buy in bulk, but then we turned the warehouse into a pub too!” To help attract people, they set up a stage so that they could host bands. “We’re actually looking to open a third Monks Inn, but we’re just waiting to see how the current Covid-19 situation plays out.”

Spotlight On… taking the chants (sorry, not sorry…)

Clint puts Monks Inn’s success down to serving great beer and says, “we have created an inclusive venue that anyone (no matter your personal situation) can feel safe sitting around having a beer and a chat.” He says that he knows of romance blossoming for at least one same-sex couple at the pub.

Clint says, “I support brewers that graft away to all hours. I won’t deal with pompous brewers who overcharge.”

Glenn asked Clint how a regular customer would describe his pub. “Good product, good service and old school ethics.”

Clint says he loves all good beer, but if we were to ask him what would be his last beer before passing, “It would have to be a pint of mild, especially Rudgate Ruby Mild.”

The Monks Inn has stocked a range of Beerblefish beers, but Clint says Hoppy Pale Ale No.4 was the most popular so far. He says, “the customers are happy with the beer, but we would love to see more dynamic pump clips!” (Don’t worry, Clint, we’re already on the case!)

Clint says, “Dark beers are very popular with my customers. We are adventurous and like to try different beers.”

Glenn asked about the challenges facing the Monks Inn. “The obvious one is Covid-19. Whilst everyone is impacted to a certain degree, it had me on life-support for several weeks. Thankfully I’m on the mend and I’m working towards being superfit so that I can surf Jeffreys Bay!”

In conclusion, Clint has a simple message for everyone: “Support your local pubs! Support your local breweries!”

Many thanks to Clint for talking to Glenn, and we wish him a speedy continued recovery.

Jul

2020

Spotlight On… The Little Green Dragon Ale House

“Once upon a time, in a land far, far away (oh, OK, Winchmore Hill), there was a dashing knight named Richard who roamed the land on his trusty steed (yep, we know, it’s a bike) to visit all the magic potion sellers (micropubs) within these shores. On his quest, he met a little green dragon, who told him that he, too, could be a magic potion seller. So he went back to Winchmore Hill with the little green dragon, set up a magic potion shop and lived happily ever after.”

In the third of our series on our regular stockists, brewery manager Glenn talked to Richard Reeve, the founder of The Little Green Dragon Ale House in Winchmore Hill, Enfield, North London to find out all about this local gem!

Spotlight on… hatching the dragon’s egg

Richard’s background is working in IT where he managed to work around the world (although, sadly, mostly in places like Stevenage and Coventry). He was always interested in beer, even before it became fashionable. Then in 2014 a friend recommended that he check out a new thing called a “micropub” in Margate. On googling “micropubs” he found that there were a few others around too.

Spotlight on… fledgling pedal power

Fast forward a few months and Richard decided to cycle around all of the micropubs, of which there were about 100 in 2015. He incorporated a fundraising element by raising money in support of those affected by Alzheimer’s.

Around three-quarters of the way around, Richard had a Eureka moment and realised he could do something similar. Although his background wasn’t in running pubs, he had helped at beer festivals, so he wasn’t flying completely blind. He started to piece together the necessary equipment and was keeping an eye out for an appropriate space.

Richard with his wife, Sujal, and their daughters Jasmin and Anya

Richard says, “Somehow, small but concrete achievements such as obtaining my personal alcohol licence and accumulating equipment seemed to help psychologically, and reassure me that I would make it happen and it wasn’t just a pipe dream.”

Spotlight on… taking flight

A local pub called “The Green Dragon” had closed and Richard wanted to preserve its heritage by incorporating the name into his pub. A few people questioned his rationale for starting up a micro pub, and the concept itself, but Richard had done his research and firmly believed that the community would enjoy the new format

The Little Green Dragon will be celebrating its third birthday in August. The pub was crowned CAMRA’s Greater London Pub of the Year in 2018. Richard feels that a big part of his success is the great community feeling that he has helped foster, although we think that his excellent beer selection is also critical.

Spotlight on… the magic potion

Richard enjoys dark beers, especially a dark smoky porter. Richard was worried that customers might not share his taste in beer, but the local community gets behind his selections.

“I wanted to offer something different to the mainstream pubs. This begins at the beer menu (which features some local breweries as well as beers from larger regional players), but homely furniture conveys the feeling that you’re in a friend’s living room. Strangers walk in and feel comfortable here. We rotate our beers, although we do get some beers back on a regular basis. Our biggest selling beers are sessionable pales and bitters.”

Richard says, “I like dark beers so it will be no surprise that my favourite Beerblefish beer is the Blackbeerble Stout!”

He thinks that younger people are starting to explore traditional ales, but isn’t sure if this is a natural evolution of their taste in beer or whether traditional styles have evolved and now appeal to younger drinkers. There’s also a lot of interest in sour beers, which seem to be particularly popular with the pub’s women customers.

Glenn asked Richard what the coming year holds for The Little Green Dragon. “Your guess is as good as mine! We miss the community that we’ve built up so we will keep on with takeaway and delivery, we’re restarting onsite sales and we’ll also look at doing outdoor events.”

Spotlight on… dashing knights and beautiful maids

We always like to ask if any romance has blossomed at a venue. Richard says, “Haha. Loads of people have met others and have become good friends, although I’m not sure on the romantic side. It would be really nice if a couple met at The Little Green Dragon”.

Spotlight on… fairy tale endings

Richard told Glenn that the Little Green Dragon is featured in a movie about the rise of micropubs, although the launch date has been postponed due to Covid-19. A local poet and a local singer have both incorporated the Little Green Dragon into their work.

The Little Green Dragon is gradually reopening its doors after the lockdown and has a range of different events going on from fundraising through to guided beer tastings, so keep an eye out on the pub website and social media for all the latest.

Mar

2020

Spotlight On… Holtwhites Bakery & Deli, Enfield

In the second of our series on our regular stockists, brewery manager Glenn talked to Kate, the co-founder of Holtwhites Bakery & Deli in Enfield to find out about all things bread!

Spotlight On… Bready Beginnings

Kate told us that she can’t remember what her life was like before setting up the bakery with her husband, Richard, in 2011. She said, “Life was slightly crazy because I was running a micro-bakery from home, I had young children, I was working as a social researcher and Richard was a Spanish teacher.”

Kate and Richard were baking for friends and word got out. They would bake on Friday nights and it got to the point that they’d have 60 people lined up outside their house on the Saturday, waiting to pick up their weekend loaves. Having a deli was part of their original plan, as it made sense to serve tasty cheeses and other delicacies.

The couple lived just around the corner from the shop they set up in, so they knew the area and the space seemed perfect. As they lived on Holtwhites Hill, it made sense to use a local name for the new venture.

Spotlight On… Rising to the Challenge

Glenn asked Kate about the challenges she’d faced in setting out: “On opening day, I’d never operated a till!” On a more serious note, Kate said that being responsible for the livelihood of her staff is a massive responsibility, but there is a good network of support amongst bakers so she and Richard could ask questions when they needed to.

Spotlight On… the Proof of the Pudding

Kate and Richard pride themselves on only using the best quality ingredients and traditional, “slow” baking methods which means that their products look, smell and taste great naturally. They aim to delight their customers with great customer service and want their shop to be a warm and welcoming haven for people who love good food.

Kate said she thinks the business is such a great success because, “It’s a labour of love. We really believe in the product.” She thinks that regular customers would describe the bakery as a nice place with a lovely community atmosphere.

Spotlight On… Going Against the Grain

Of her products, Kate’s favourite bread is the sourdough rye and the 100% wholemeal. Portuguese custard tarts are very popular with the customers. She’s seeing a big interest in Scandinavian baking at the moment, along with a surge in interest in vegan products – Kate thinks that’s down to people converting to veganism (rather than the bakery attracting new customers who are vegan). Around thirty per cent of the coffees that Holtwhites sell are served with oat milk.

Spotlight On… Liquid Bread

Holtwhites started stocking Beerblefish bottled beers before Christmas to complement their existing line up of craft ales. So far, they’ve had 1820 Porter, 1892 IPA, Infinite Improbability Saison, Amarillo Single Hop and Cashmere Brut IPA.

Kate told Glenn that her customers love Beerblefish beers, saying, “When we first started stocking the beers, one customer noted that he was a fan already.” Apparently, the Cashmere Brut IPA has also attracted a core following!

Spotlight On… Blooming Romance

Glenn asked Kate if any romance had bloomed in the bakery: “Besides staff… I’m not aware of any customers getting together, although it is a friendly atmosphere in here so it may have happened!”

Feb

2020

Spotlight On… The Hackney Carriage Micropub, Sidcup

Spotlight on… Starting Out

Liz told us that her life before The Hackney Carriage was a calm, organised, normal family life. Having visited a micropub, she spotted the opportunity to offer others a safe place to catch up with a friend for a drink. As Liz had been an estate agent for 18 years, she knew how important the location was, so she did some demographic research before settling on Sidcup.

Deciding on a name was easier – Liz’s husband, Mark, is a black cab driver, so The Hackney Carriage Micro Pub was born.

Liz said there were plenty of challenges in setting up: at first, the locals didn’t understand the micropub concept, and it took them a while to realise that Liz was trying to create a quieter, more inclusive environment than they might find in a larger venue.

Liz also encountered sexism along the way, telling us, “People automatically assume that it’s my husband’s business, so they ask to deal with him.” The new venture also turned her week on its head: “You can’t just meet friends at the weekend, as this is now the busiest part of the week!”

Spotlight on… Community

On the micropub’s success, Liz said, “I truly believe that the success of the pub is the community. My husband and I are always around to meet customers and interact with them.” Liz even occasionally drives a customer or two home. “We have one customer who is elderly and gets the bus to us when he can, and I often will take him home. We appreciate everyone, as this is a community pub and we support each other.” The Hackney Carriage’s regulars describe the pub as a community hub; many have found new friendships and met neighbours who they never knew before.

Liz is proud that the pub is there for the community, no matter where they are in life. They have welcomed many newborn babies since opening, and new puppies get a treat on their first visit. Liz said, “I recently agreed to close for our first wedding, as they are regulars and have asked to hold their reception here, which is an honour.” The pub has also opened up for local community network and workshop events and, sadly, also hosted family funerals for regulars.

Spotlight on… Beer

The micropub is a real ale haven, particularly since bar manager Ben is a strong beer connoisseur. This led to the team creating “Strong Beer Thursday”, which has been very popular with customers.

The Hackney Carriage has stocked most of Beerblefish’s beers in the three years since it opened. Liz said, “They are always of the best quality, and we have also asked them to do a house bitter, which our customers love!”

Spotlight on… Romance

As it’s Valentine’s weekend, Glenn asked Liz whether romance had been in the air at The Hackney Carriage. She said, “Over the last three and a half years we have had one couple meet and move in together. Now I’m waiting for the wedding so I can buy my Cilla hat!”

Spotlight on… Success

Liz has a few words of wisdom for anyone thinking about starting a micropub: “It may look fun but it’s not easy; a busy micropub consumes most of your time and energy. I truly believe my success is due to the time and devotion I invest in my community hub/pub.”

Many thanks to Liz for taking time out of her busy day to talk to us!

Jan

2020

Tryanuary – why you should drink beer this month!

In the dark days of the new year there’s often an innate urge to do something different from last year. A new year, a new you. We’re bombarded with media exhorting us to give this up or abstain from that to begin the new revolution around the sun in a healthier, fitter and more prosperous way than we ended the last one.

When it comes to beer, though, giving up drinking altogether for a month could have an impact on your ability to drink beer when February comes. We’re not talking about the health impacts here – we agree that alcohol should be consumed in moderation and that everyone who chooses to drink should drink responsibly – we’re talking about the brewing and licensed retail industries.

Breweries, bottle shops, pubs and bars typically have a field day in the run up to the festive season. Family get togethers, office parties and general joyousness lead to good sales figures and happy bank managers. However, once the Christmas decorations are back in the attic, these businesses’ sales often fall off a cliff. After the turn of the year, a combination of customers’ lack of funds and general new year’s resolve can cause small, independent businesses real damage. If we then add in pledges to not drink for a month, it can make an already bleak outlook seem even worse.

In 2015, a group of volunteers set up Tryanuary to help support the beer industry through the challenges brought by this leanest of months. The idea is to try new beers throughout the month, with special events posted on the Tryanuary website to help beer enthusiasts find their way to new brews.

With pub closure figures still increasing, it’s a case of use it or lose it. If you really want to give up alcohol for a month, then the Tryanuary campaign suggests you still visit your local and have a non-alcoholic beer, a soft drink or a bite to eat instead of your usual tipple.

As for us, we’ll be offering up something interesting for our customers to try at our Tryanuary Tap Room and Bottle Shop on Saturday, 25 January and at Stroud Green Market on Sunday, 26 January.

Remember, a pub (or a brewery) is not just for Christmas!

Aug

2016

Beerblefish on Master of Malt

We are very excited that our beers are now available from our friends at Master of Malt!

With six of our bottled ales to choose from!

https://www.masterofmalt.com/distilleries/the-beerblefish-brewing-company-beer-brewery/

Are you old enough to be here?

Stockists

Spotlight On… Eltham Wines and Beers

How to Have a Beerblefish Christmas

Gift Ideas

Markets and Fairs

Brewery Shop

Special Events

Surprises

Spotlight on… Lamorbey Wine, Sidcup

Holding Back the Tiers

Spotlight On… Monks Inn, Hemel Hempstead

Spotlight On… The Little Green Dragon Ale House

Spotlight On… Holtwhites Bakery & Deli, Enfield

Spotlight On… The Hackney Carriage Micropub, Sidcup

Tryanuary – why you should drink beer this month!

Beerblefish on Master of Malt

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