Small Beer, the brewery that crafts classic beer styles below 2.8% ABV, is aiming to boost the cask beer category by putting its renowned Steam beer on draught.
The founders of the South London brewery are paying tribute to a rich lineage of British brewing at a time when many breweries are moving away from cask beer in favour of keg.
“There’s something quite magic about cask beer,” said James Grundy, co-founder and head of sales at Small Beer. “It requires a lot of care and attention from the brewer, the distributor, and the publican, but when this happens, there’s nothing quite like it.”
Data from the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) shows that cask beer numbers failed to recover after coronavirus restrictions were lifted. Before the pandemic, cask ale accounted for 67% of the beer produced by SIBA breweries, but this fell to 46% in 2021.
Felix James, co-founder and head brewer at Small Beer, said: “There’s no doubt that keg beers are in high demand, but as a brewery that takes great pride in sourcing the best quality malt and hops from British farmers, we feel a social responsibility to champion cask beer for a new generation of craft beer drinkers to enjoy.”
This is not the first time that Small Beer’s founders have paid tribute to Britain’s brewing history. The brewery gets its name from a historic type of beer that was consumed by the British public — and even children — before clean drinking water became widely available.
“Small beer was the original session beer: it stems from Shakespeare’s heyday when it was a staple of everyday British life,” said James. “The ambition for our brewery was to re-invigorate the lost art of crafting beers that nourish and hydrate. All of our beers are brewed under 2.8%, which is perfect for modern drinkers who live fast-paced lifestyles.”
Small Beer Steam is a unique beer that bridges the gap between a lager and an ale, with a robust body, a deep amber hue, and vibrant finish. Time Out championed it as one of the best lower-alcohol beers and said: “It tastes incredibly complex for just 2.7%, full of dried fruit flavours and delicious maltiness.”
Sustainably brewed in Bermondsey and hand-filled in the brewery, the casks are going out to pubs across the country, including two historic London pubs: The King’s Arms, on Roupell Street, and The Roebuck, on Dover Street.
Small Beer is on a mission to change the future of drinking culture forever. Since 2017, its journey has been driven by a commitment to innovation, quality, and sustainability.
In 2019, Small Beer became London’s first brewery to achieve B Corp certification, which recognises companies that use business as a force for good. As a member of the 1% For the Planet network, Small Beer donates 1% of its revenue to the Horniman Museum in South London.
