SIBA flight of beers

A Craft Beer Experience will be featured at The European Pizza & Pasta Show for the first time this week (November 15 and 16), following a huge growth in interest in craft beer in recent years.

It is being presented in association with the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) and will include a live theatre featuring talks, seminars and exclusive beer and food tasting sessions, hosted by some of the UK’s top beer writers and sommeliers, as well as a new SIBA sampling bar pouring award-winning beers from 18 of the UK’s top independent craft brewers.

SIBA chief executive, Mike Benner, said: “SIBA is delighted to host the Craft Beer Experience at the European Pizza & Pasta Show. It gives us the opportunity to show independent craft beer deserves to be on our menus in restaurants, with research showing craft beer as the UK’s fastest growing drinks trend and more than a third of people saying they would visit restaurants more often if they served a range of craft beers.”

The partnership between SIBA and the European Pizza & Pasta Show came about following increasing demand from consumers for craft beer in restaurants, as well as feedback from show attendees that they would like to see more craft beer. Research by M&C Allegra showed that one in three people would visit restaurants more often if they served a range of craft brewed British beer.

Mike added: “SIBA has curated the content for the Craft Beer Experience Live theatre, which has a packed schedule of informative, educational and inspirational talks and tastings. It’s set to be a must-attend for anyone working in the British restaurant or hospitality industry who is looking to improve their beer offering.”

British beer writer of the year, Pete Brown, will be kicking off proceedings with his Introduction to Craft Beer on Wednesday. This is followed by a seminar on how to choose a craft beer menu, with Lauren Watkins of There’s a Beer for That, a beer and pizza matching masterclass, led by Mike Mason, of Crate Brewery and featuring pizzas from Prestige Food and Wine, and a tasting of bottled and canned beers with beer writer John Porter.

The second day sees beer sommelier Sophie Atherton talk on stocking today’s must-have craft beers and a presentation on the importance of independence in craft beer by Mike Benner, before a beer and pasta masterclass with sommelier Jacopo Mazzeo, pairing craft beers with a selection of pasta dishes from italian producer Surgital.

Both days will also feature a practical presentation aimed at restaurateurs and alcohol buyers by SIBA’s Ian Ward on supplier solutions for independent British craft beer, with the two-day event being rounded off with a meet the brewer beer tasting session with Edinburgh Beer Factory, Elgood’s Brewery, St Austell, Threesods Brewery, Windsor & Eton and Brecon Brewing.