Towards the end of September 2020, the annual Cask Ale Week will return across the UK.  No doubt celebrations and participation will be slightly muted this year, sadly due to current restrictions on venturing to pubs, bars and taprooms from the ongoing pandemic.

However, there is still cause to celebrate a strongly British contribution to brewing and beer with Cask Ale.  Whilst opportunities may be limited, they are not completely gone.  Many pubs, breweries and bars across the UK are doing take out beers from cask (as well as other small package and dispense of course) and our brewers are still working hard to produce some excellent beers for your enjoyment.

So, what is Cask Ale?  The waters are muddied a little with cross over with 'Real Ale', which is a term coined by CAMRA, with some people (not completely correctly) using the terms interchangeably.  Hence Real Ale can be served from bottle or can, but there is some reticence in allowing kegged beers (which still meet the technical definition of Real Ale) to be labelled as such.  CAMRA themselves do recognise that key keg conditioned beer can be Real Ale, although some branches and committee members disagree with this.  Cask beer is usually served from a cask handpull or can be served under gravity straight from the cask itself.   Confusingly, it can even be served from a keg font; the handpull is often an affectation; long draws from the cellar can mean many cask beers are actively pumped to the handpull.

Cask conditioned beer (and Real Ale) is a living entity; undergoing secondary fermentation in the container it is served from - in this case, a cask.  This secondary conditioning of the beer allows for flavours and the mouthfeel of the beer to develop and mature whilst it is stored in the cellar, prior to serving.  It is widely regarded as one of the pinnacles of brewing and producing great beer.  It's not a specific style in itself, as it can encompass many different styles including but  not limited to pale ales, saisons, stouts, lagers and barley wines.  The cask beer itself is never served warm (an horrendous misconception), but at cellar temperature (approx 11 to 12 degrees celsius, sometimes even lower at 10 degrees depending on a cellar person's preference) and is then drunk as it gently increases in temperature and the flavour depth develops.

Cask Ale Week runs from Thursday 24th September to Sunday 4th October.

The website, providing details of how to get involved and showing a list of events or other notables is right here: caskaleweek.co.uk.

We have a great selection of pubs on Merseyside that serve well kept cask beer, we've listed a few of these for you to check out, just below.

Venues in Liverpool, Wirral & around Merseyside worth investigating for their Cask offering:

The Angus Tap and Grind - Liverpool
The Baltic Fleet - Liverpool
​The Bard - Prescot
Beer Station - Freshfield
The Belvedere - Liverpool
The Blackburne Arms - Liverpool
The Bridewell - Liverpool
The Caledonian - Liverpool
CASK - Stoneycroft
​Carnival Brewing Taproom - Liverpool
CRAFT Taproom - Wavertree
The Denbigh Castle - Liverpool
The Dispensary - Liverpool
Doctor Duncan's - Liverpool
The Excelsior - Liverpool
The Fly in the Loaf - Liverpool
The Four Ashes - Crosby
The Freshfield Hotel - Freshfield/Formby
Gallagher's - Birkenhead
The Grapes - Liverpool
The Handyman Supermarket - Wavertree
Head of Steam - Liverpool
Kelly's Dispensary - Wavertree
The Lady of Mann - Liverpool
The Lion Tavern - Liverpool
Little Taproom on Aigburth Road - Aigburth
Love Lane Brewery Tap - Liverpool
Maghull Cask - Maghull
Neptune Brewery Taproom - Maghull
The Pen Factory - Liverpool
Peter Kavanagh's Victorian Pub - Liverpool
The Philharmonic Dining Rooms - Liverpool
The Pilgrim - Liverpool
The Roscoe Head - Liverpool
The Ship and Mitre - Liverpool
Tap and Bottles - Liverpool
Thomas Rigby's - Liverpool
Three Piggies - Allerton
Trap and Hatch - Waterloo
The Volunteer Canteen - Waterloo
The West Kirby Tap - West Kirby
The White Lion - West Kirby
Ye Cracke - Liverpool

If you take any good pictures of cask beers out on your travels across Merseyside, tag us in on Twitter or Facebook!

Cheers Everyone!!

Siren Craft have made a really big impact on the UK craft beer and brewing scene since they started producing beers back in 2013, with Maiden and then the likes of Liquid Mistress, Soundwave and Broken Dream hitting shelves and cellars.  

Siren also fostered a sense of community and collaboration, with former head brewer Ryan Witter-Merithew bringing together breweries from across the UK to make beers based on the colours of the rainbow.  This grew and grew, seeing collaborations become international and exposing enthusiasts to many great brewers from across the Atlantic, across continental Europe and over in New Zealand.

You can't underestimate the impact Siren have had over the years.

Add to this that they are now hosting the venture of "Siren In...", as a Committee we've decided to have a bit of introspection and dwell on past fond memories drinking Siren beers.

Ian Goodhead: ​

​Jaipur, Timothy Taylor Landlord, both were mine, but so was "Broken Dream on Cask" - indeed it still holds a special place in the hearts of my heart and indeed that of my Best Man.  When spotted in the wild, it sets up a chain of WhatsApp messages that inevitably ends up in it not lasting long on the pump... Indeed, that happened once over Lockdown with the excellent Craft Taproom - the two milk jugs I recovered were quickly dispatched...

Siren's Pompelmocello was on their beer board and the name got stuck in my head, so I had no option other than to give it a whirl. ​It was the exact beer I needed after a heavy session of DIPAs and impies, so I stood there with a big grin, absolutely content and losing myself in the waves of fruit and lactose sweetness.
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The beer's subsequent success is by no means surprising, and I hope that many folks around the country are now enjoying a similar experience with it!

I know my friends would say that my most memorable Siren memory was at Indy Man 2019 in which I was eagerly waiting for the Maiden on cask to be released (it didn’t come out until later in the day).  I had a 1/3 of Accept All Cookies in my hand, singing a song called Barley wine I made up on the spot in the tune of the song Bottle of Wine by Beck. This is only a vague memory of mine personally, too much of the cookies I guess!

The most memorable and clear memory was back in 2018.  I was asked to pick a beer from the ‘ageing box’ to share; I set my eyes on the the Speyside barrel aged Broken Dream.  I can’t remember if it was 2-3 years aged, but either way it really opened my eyes to how sometimes ageing beer can really add to the flavour.

Our first visit to Siren's Tapyard was a memorable one, everything seemed perfect - the weather, the beers, the food from the Big Butty Bar and the company from people we met there and in the tap (including Darron Anley himself, fetching growlers of beer for a barbeque!).

We ended up staying much, much later than we planned.  Probably had one or two more beers than planned, because Santo and sunshine - why not?  We certainly had a brilliant time and really can't wait to go back down again.

When my husband and I opened our bottle shop, Cat Hop Beers a few years ago, we managed to get hold of some of Siren's Soundwave IPA and it was one of the first beers we stocked at the shop.  The opening night was celebrated with some Soundwave and because of that, we will always have some fond memories of a Siren beer from our first day running the shop!

I have heard positive things about the barrel-ageing programme which was due to restart.  Fingers crossed!

​Bones of a Sailor (pt III) was one of those beers that I wasn't really expecting to be as good as it was.  I bought two bottles in a now sadly departed craft beer venue in Liverpool, one to sample myself and the other a gift for my old man for Christmas.  I wish I'd found another beer to give him for Christmas - does that make me a terrible person?

The barrel-age from Sherry barrels, the generously tart but balanced punch of raspberries and the chocolate and vanilla notes all harmoniously bathed my senses and caused an ache as 330ml, simply was not enough.

I have had many excellent Siren Craft beers and enjoyed the Tap Yard, but trying that beer tops the lot.

Make it again, guys!

Whilst we weren't able to bring you a fresh serving of Liverpool Beer Week in 2020 due to some very unfortunate and unforeseen circumstances (we had SO much planned for you too!), you may have heard that another week long beery event in Liverpool is due to happen!

#SIRENINLIVERPOOL is starting, 14th September online and carries on with some Tap Takeover events and other online goodness which includes interviews, competitions and giveaways.  Full details are over on Siren Craft's website, right here:
https://www.sirencraftbrew.com/stories-and-events/events/siren-in-liverpool 

Not only that, for that week only, you can take advantage of free delivery of their beers from their online store to your door, if you have a Liverpool postcode.

There is a photography competition taking place throughout the week, beginning on Monday 14th September.  The competition will close and the winner announced on the following Sunday, 20th September.  More details are below.

Stay tuned to our Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts and give Siren Craft Brewery a follow to keep up to date with details on the week, as we update them! 

The Competition: 
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To enter: We want to see your best beer memories of Liverpool! Send your photos via twitter, tagging @sirencraftbrew and using #SirenInLiverpool hashtag.  To qualify, the photo must be Liverpool themed, so either in Liverpool, or drinking Liverpudlian beers! Good luck!

But now we're back!  Back with a fresh playlist, back with another quiz and our impeccable patter.  Most importantly, we are back with another superb co-host for the evening.

This iteration of the pub sees us joined by Manchester Union Brewery!  They are the only dedicated lager brewery in the region and are just fresh from running a successful crowdfunding exercise to get a big jolt and push their operations forward.

Part 12 of the #livebeerpub is incoming this Saturday evening; we also have some fantastic co-hosts lined up for you.  Get ready to rumble with the boys from Top Rope Brewing!

Lockdown has been a busy time for the Tag Team of Ben and Neil, with brewing, hosting numerous online interviews with other breweries and drinks makers (including Turncoat Gin, Neptune Brewery and Alpha Delta) and now they are looking forward to hosting a forthcoming Beer Festival that you won't need to leave home for - In Your House.

You can find out more about how they've been coping, what their plans are for going forward and what the 4th July festivities will entail by joining us and them (on Twitter - https://twitter.com/TopRopeBrewing) this coming Saturday.  If you need any beers from them to get in the mood; there are plenty of shops around that have stocked up, but they are also selling online right here: https://www.topropebrewing.com/shop. 

You can find the usual playlist for our weekly jukebox, which Top Rope have helped put together, here:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBvXyqmy0uv2Jj4d9mjzGWGQNn1spIVO6.

Remember, hit play at 7pm and you'll be synched up with the rest of the pub!

Now is the time to support independents.
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A date has now been set, the 4th July, for bars and pubs to be allowed to re-open for business. For the leisure industry, this may come as welcome relief with punters having largely been away for over three months. Many punters too, aside from the odd bar and pub selling “takeaways”, will be relishing the prospect of a pint and a catch up with acquaintances, bar-staff, friends.
This doesn't necessarily mean that all businesses will reopen, however, nor does it mean that customers like us (yup, we're mostly on the customer side of the bar too!), like you and many others out there, will be going to a pub or bar either.  We have to accept we all feel differently, some may still be scared to venture into public spaces, some are still shielding (either themselves or those for whom they care) and others may simply feel it is not a risk they need to take. ​

​​From 4th July onward, things are going to be very unusual. There will need to be some readjustment not just in a business sense, but also in the sense of dealing with being around people again and still in the midst of a serious pandemic. It's not just going to be unusual, it's going to be downright difficult.  Some of us will likely get things wrong initially, but as long as lessons can be learned quickly and safe behaviours are observed, we would expect things to be okay in the medium-term.

Details and protocols are pretty scant from those leading the country, indeed the support from our government has been patchy at best, appallingly negligent at worst.  It is different and testing for all businesses, and it’s important – now more than ever that we try to remember to be kind to other people.  Try not to point the finger at those businesses that choose to open, nor at those that do not feel it is safe enough. We have seen some businesses we loved before lockdown fall by the wayside, we've seen others adapt and others just about cling on. 

The ones that are locally owned, small and are intrinsically into our city and wider area are the ones that have been hanging in there and really do need you right now; you can be sure they'll do their best to open in a manner that's as practical and safe for customers and staff.  Some of the bigger companies have not been so kind and reacted very badly to the lockdown with all its interwoven problems, laying off swathes of staff and not worrying about the effects of such behaviour on local communities and their people.  You must ask yourself, does that behaviour deserve to be rewarded with your support and custom?

The stark contrast is that these aforementioned smaller companies have adapted, bringing positivity and relief to people.  Making deliveries, working longer hours, changing their business practices in order to just keep moving forward.  These are the businesses that have made sacrifices, the ones that have helped each other, us, the NHS, the ones that are what give our community its character.  Now we need to give them some support too, if we can.

Now is the time to support independents.


Find some places you can support here: 
http://www.liverpoolbeercollective.com/beer-availability.html

We're staying down the M62 to enjoy the tantalising company of Manchester's Marble Brewery! 

Marble Brewery has been going for over 20 years now and is approaching it's 25th year in about 18 months, which is testament to the quality of what they do and how they do it.  Internationally respected and with a superb core and extended range, they have produced a number of exciting collaboration brews down the years too.  We are really pleased to have them join us for a few hours at our virtual pub and provide some tunes for our playlist!

To grab some beers from their webstore to make the evening that bit more special, just head over to this site for your goodies. 

As ever, for the #livebeerpub, give us at the Collective (@livbeerco) and Marble Brewery (@marblebrewers) a follow and be sure to use the hashtag "#livebeerpub" in every tweet you want us to see.

The playlist is right here and will be ready to go at 7pm promptly this coming Saturday.
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Photos kindly provided by Marble via Mash Marketers.  You can follow them on Twitter, here: @WhatisMash.

The Salford-based Pomona Island Brewing company have not quite been in business for 3 years but are already making waves with their bold approach to packaging (see photos) and nostalgia and pop-culture beer name references.  The substance behind the style certainly stacks up too, with them making beers in styles that they themselves like to drink.

Do yourself a favour and grab a few beers from them; you can obtain them right here from their webstore if you need a bit of help.  You can then sup a few beers and enjoy some of their track choices on our playlist and find out a little bit more about them and their set up from 7pm on Twitter.  Head over, follow both the Liverpool Beer Collective and the fantastic Pomona Island to find out more! 

The all important playlist is right here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBvXyqmy0uv1x5RP3WVJF1oeiCCp7vkr1

As ever, hit play at 7pm to be synchronised!!

Keep an eye on the webshop over the course of the week, as the brewery are about to release a new coffee stout and Double IPA, which will be available for shipping around Thursday/Friday.

​Stay twitchy!!

Photographs used courtesy of Kevin Fenton.

This week, we are heading back locally and have the 2018 Ratebeer Best Merseyside brewery winning, nautically named Neptune Brewery ready to spread some joy and good vibes during our next session.  The Neptune gang are in the throes of celebrating their 5th year of operations and have just released four great collaboration brews to celebrate this milestone. 

​The Maghull based outfit have brewed with namesake Neptune's Brewery based across the pond, Marble Brewery, Anarchy Brew Co and brilliant previous hosts, Anspach & Hobday.  They have also been getting some great core range stuff back into cans and 5L mini-kegs over the lockdown, which have been flying out of their brewery tap.

​As ever, you can follow the chatter, good vibes and playlist of the #livebeerpub on the Liverpool Beer Collective and Neptune Brewery Twitter accounts.

You can also tune in at 7pm sharp on our playlist to which Neptune have contributed and is linked up right here.
Neptune Brewery have also dropped some of their choices onto a Spotify playlist which has most of the tunes from the playlist on: 
​https://open.spotify.com/playlist/20s8hzfre7FRIoZeVxQhru?si=cqD-3fD1SoCEbIwxE0Tqhg

As an added bonus, there will be a bit of a giveaway on the night too!  Neptune have very kindly offered to give away two 5-litre mini casks, one cask of the lovely Shifting Sands, their delicious Session IPA and one of Ezili, their amazing pale ale (UK delivery only we're afraid).  Details and competition information will be given out on the night!!

In other developing news from Neptune, you'll need to keep an eye on their website in the run up to this session of the #livebeerpub as they are getting a webstore up and running.  It is due for completion at some point this week (slated for 27th May 2020).  

Once the lockdown is ended too, they have a lovely new layout and finish on their Taproom based in Maghull's Sefton Meadows which is well worth a visit on any trip over to Liverpool!

That's right, part 8 sees the UK brewing titans that are Northern Monk joining us to provide you with some distractions, chatter and all round wholesome beery entertainment from 7pm onwards on Saturday 23rd May.

In terms of what's available for you in the run up to Saturday evening, Northern Monk's founder and director, Brian Dickson furnished us with some information: 

"There’s an offer on 6-packs of our new Great Northern Lager on the webshop currently and we’re doing some introductory mixed packs entitled ‘into the haze’ and ‘northern heroes’ made up of some of our core beers, which might be good introductions to NM for any newbies. The latest Patrons release is “Déjà vu”, a peach and apricot sour in the Lucy Ketchin series, which was brewed by distant collaboration with Garage (Barcelona), Frontaal (NL) and Pastore Brewing."

There will also be a launch the first couple of beers in the new OFS series - some unique, experimental beers brewed on Northern Monk's original Old Flax Store kit.  So far they have the following lined up; OFS 000 which is a coconut imperial stout and 001 which is a mango & cacao sour. 

For that ever important playlist, put together by the LBC Committee and a hefty slice from the Northern Monk crew, here is the link: Right Here!!

Buy Northern Monk gear here: https://northernmonkshop.com/
Follow Northern Monk's feed on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/NMBCo