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The Society for the Preservation of Beers from the Wood (SPBW), founded in 1963, is the oldest consumer-based group interested in stimulating the brewing of, increasing the awareness of, and encouraging the drinking of traditional cask ale. The Society also supports and encourages the use of wooden casks for beer dispense.

History

The SPBW was founded on 6 December 1963 at the Rising Sun in

Epsom, England Epsom is the principal town of the Borough of Epsom and Ewell in Surrey, England, about south of central London. The town is first recorded as ''Ebesham'' in the 10th century and its name probably derives from that of a Saxon landowner. The ...

out of a concern for a perceived decline in both quality and palatability of beer. This was attributed to the increasing use of gas pressure dispense and the introduction of keg beers. Coopering once had a central and extensive role in British breweries. In 1963

oak casks Oak is used in winemaking to vary the color, flavor, tannin profile and texture of wine. It can be introduced in the form of a barrel during the fermentation or aging periods, or as free-floating chips or staves added to wine fermented in a vess ...

were still regarded as synonymous with traditional draught beer, but as metal casks rapidly replaced wooden ones the SPBW relaxed its principles accordingly. Although the Society does not specifically campaign for the use of wooden casks for beer dispense, it supports and encourages breweries and pubs that use them and coopers that produce them. In the 21st century there has been a revival of interest in "beer from the wood", perhaps inspired by the trend for barrel-aged beer, and this has been welcomed by the SPBW. The Society's inaugural national beer festival, "Woodfest 2017" took place in

Castleford Castleford is a town within the City of Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England. It had a population of 45,106 at a 2021 population estimate. Historically in the West Riding of Yorkshire, to the north of the town centre the River Calder joins th ...

Yorkshire Yorkshire ( ; abbreviated Yorks), formally known as the County of York, is a historic county in northern England and by far the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its large area in comparison with other English counties, functions have ...

in July, 2017. Breweries from across the British Isles signed up to showcase their wood-conditioned beers.

Hook Norton Hook Norton is a village and civil parish in Oxfordshire, England. It lies northeast of Chipping Norton, close to the Cotswold Hills. The 2011 Census recorded the parish's population as 2,117. The village is formed of four neighbourhoods: E ...

's "Haymaker" was declared to be Champion beer of the festival.

Aims

The SPBW's aims are similar to those of

CAMRA The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) is an independent voluntary consumer organisation headquartered in St Albans, England, which promotes real ale, cider and perry and traditional British pubs and clubs. With just under 155,000 members, it is ...

, but the emphasis is on activity within its autonomous branches, which is mainly of a social nature. (CAMRA's approach has been called "more vigorous"). The SPBW's National Executive Committee maintains contact with breweries and other relevant bodies on issues of concern. It produces a quarterly magazine, ''Pint in Hand'', and organizes an annual National Weekend.

London Pub of the Year

The SPBW annually chooses a London Pub of the Year (LPOTY). The competition was launched in 1980 as a reaction to a "best London pub" competition in a London evening paper, in which beer did not seem to be a significant criterion. A blog is kept of the LPOTY scoring adventure during the run-up to the award although this lapsed for the 2018 competition. Other branches, in particular the Northern Ireland branch, also present local Pub of the Year awards.

External links

Society for the Preservation of Beers from the Wood (Official site).

Protz on Beer. ''The pub where wood is in pole position.''

Boak and Bailey. ''Return of the Wood.''

British regional breweries using wooden casks

File:Theakston's Brewery, Masham - geograph.org.uk - 615589.jpg, File:Brewery Lane, Cockermouth home of Jennings Brewery - geograph.org.uk - 556793.jpg, File:WadworthBrewery.JPG, File:Samuel Smiths brewery chimney, Tadcaster (24th April 2014).JPG, File:Marston's Brewery, Burton upon Trent.jpg, File:Hook Norton Brewery - geograph.org.uk - 607430.jpg,

References