Best of British Beer celebrates its 15th birthday
The Newcastle under Lyme based business turns 15 this week and the team are raising a glass to their busiest year yet!
What started off in a garden shed in 2011 has grown into the country’s biggest provider of online beer gifts, championing independent breweries and giving them an additional route to market.
Founders Will and Gill Sherwin never imagined that their idea would be so popular. “I think we started the business at just the right time, when demand for craft beer was starting to take off.” Will said. “Back then, the number of small breweries had doubled in just a few years to around 2,000 and everyone wanted to be part of the adventure.”
Best of British Beer has just recorded its most successful year to date, with income topping the £3million mark for the first time, an increase of 11% on the previous year.
One of the secrets to the employee-owned Company’s success has been to work with Staffordshire based businesses wherever possible. “Our boxes are made a few miles away, our main lager supplier is Freedom brewery in Abbots Bromley, the beer and gin we use for personalisation are provided by Staffordshire Brewery in Cheddleton and even the crisps we put in our gift boxes come from Rugeley.” Gill explained.
As part of their birthday celebrations, the team have created 15 collaboration brews with some of their favourite brewery partners from all over the country. What started as a plan to produce a couple of limited-edition beers quickly developed into the need for 15 different recipes, names and label designs.
“We’ve tried to create 15 different beer styles to give our customers maximum choice. “ Will explained. “We’ve had a lot of fun thinking up ideas for each label and we’ve taken inspiration from a number of different sources.”
There’s a ‘Zoom Call Dachshund’ lager which refers to an online incident with Gill’s mum’s dog, and a ruby ale that celebrates the life of Philip Astley, the Father of the modern circus, born less than a mile from our office. There are two beers that reflect the pottery industry, the label on Willow Ale is a reimagining of the famous pale blue Wedgwood design and Backstamp Bitter celebrates the Stoke tradition of ‘plate turning’ to see where the product is made.
The Best of British Beer 15th birthday collection is available to buy online for £32.99
You can also pop into their Silverdale warehouse and pick one up at the special price of just £30.00
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