2017 Highlights – another rewarding year for The Craft Beer Man

It’s been a busy year for The Craft Beer Man and as we approach December it’s time to reflect on 2017 as I plan for what I hope will be another successful year in 2018.

On our travels my team and I have made countless new contacts, both business and social, which have led to new opportunities and markets.  With the Craft Brewing industry booming for the past 15 years and looking set to continue on a strong upwards curve, I feel exceptionally positive. The explosion in interest has helped craft brewers such as me to develop new and dedicated customer followings. I will certainly be aiming to ride the wave in 2018.

Mobile Bars

It’s been a great year for mobile bar bookings! Whenever I take a mobile bar to outdoor events I cannot help but notice that people attend specifically to taste new beers and ales and sample food from excellent pop up kitchens who are also making their mark on the festival scene. Our services are proving very complementary!

This year’s line up of events included Greenwich+Docklands International Festival (GDIF) during July. I organised, managed and staffed 2 bars over a period of 4 days with one bar located at the View from the Bridge and the second at Cutty Sark gardens.

My team was also at Otford Fete, Carshalton Environmental Fair, Moosefest and Knockholt village fete to name but a few. The diversity of these events is met with our ability to run and manage mobile bars of all sizes. My knowledgeable, friendly and experienced team can design a bespoke package around any requirement and organisers passed on their sincere thanks to us for taking the hassle out of running bars at their events.

Ongoing investment in equipment during the year makes it easier to serve our beers in higher quantities and at greater speed.

Weddings

Setting my sights on providing more mobile bars at weddings in 2018 I am delighted to report several bookings already on the calendar. There is no restriction on what we can serve – craft beers if that’s what people want – or a fully stocked bar service including ale, lager, cider, red, white and sparkling wines and soft drinks. I also supply spirits such as craft and specialist gins, whiskies and rums.

Tour Guiding

My tour guiding portfolio has been building well during the year in and around London’s historical pubs and heritage sites. I’ve guided all sorts of groups from friends and clubs to corporates and got great feedback from guests. This has really encouraged me to upscale my regular tour guiding in 2018 and I have now gained a mini bus licence so that I can extend tour operations out into Kent and even further afield if I am asked to do so! More information will follow on the website where a Tours page will be live early in the new year.

 

Brewery consultancy

I am the holder of the Institute of Brewing (IBD) qualification in Brewing, as well as a Brewing, Food & Beverage Industry Suppliers Association (BFBI) qualification in Cellar services. As a result I can step in to micro breweries and assist and advise as required and have been fortunate to work alongside several local breweries across Kent and London, supplementing their own resources and knowledge base during 2017. Consultancy projects are favourites of mine and I welcome the opportunity to help both professional and home brewers with any brewing challenges and new product developments.

Equipment Hire

I’ve also been busy supplying equipment to organisers of fetes and parties who want to run and staff their own bars. I bring along everything you need and set it up ready for you. Some organisers have asked me to recommend and supply beers too. Such has been the demand that I have invested in yet more equipment such as stillages, cooling jackets, chillers and anything else needed to run a beer event.

It’s quite a cathartic exercise looking back over the achievements of the past year – it undoubtedly helps to shape the emphasis of the business for 2018. One thing is for sure however – the focus remains firmly on offering a full range of bar services and experiences to help our many and varied customers to get the most out of events and your love of craft beer and real ales!

 

Chris Cheeseman

The Craft Beer Man