Beer arrives at wine exhibition

UK trade show to get its first ever ‘Brewhouse’ section

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• The London Wine Fair 2014 will take place from June 2 to June 4 at the London Olympia.

A MAJOR UK wine fair is to have a dedicated beer section for the first time in its 34-year history.

The new ‘Brewhouse’ section at next month’s London Wine Fair will comprise a tasting area dedicated to small batch, specialist and craft beers.
Brewhouse exhibitors include Scotland’s Harviestoun Brewery and Williams Bros as well as Harbour Brewing, Batemans, Fordham & Dominion American Craft Beers, Meantime, Portobello, Freedom Brewery and Liberty Beers.
Beer writer Sophie Atherton will present a series of themed tastings in the Brewhouse section.

There is growing interest in high quality beers and in pairing beer with food.

Atherton said that now is “exactly the right time” for a beer section at a wine event because of the “growing interest in high quality beers and in pairing beer with food”.
“It’s something that other brewing cultures – like the US and, of course, Belgium – are already making the most of,” she said.
“Deciding what beers to stock needs as much thought and consideration as wine menus do.
“We think a visit to Brewhouse will enable buyers to put together some excellent beer selections, to make the most of the growing interest and increased sales the category is experiencing.”
Toby Knowles, managing director at Harviestoun Brewery, said the craft beer section at LWF is a “natural consequence of the dramatic surge in interest in quality artisan beer by traditional wine serving establishments”.
The London Wine Fair will take place from June 2 to June 4 at the London Olympia.