You are currently browsing the daily archive for July 29th, 2008.
You could never accuse Rupert Thompson of being half-hearted about real ale. Of course, his great skill has been marketing the stuff, most famously with the great Hobgoblin ad tagline: “What’s the matter, lagerboy? Afraid you might taste something?” His passion for real ale never stopped him being a realistic businessman, though, and when the Marston’s takeover of the Refresh brands he built up came along, he saw what was best for the future of his ‘children’. Now, with Refresh fully integrated into the Marston’s operation, Rupert is looking ahead to new projects, in drinks or retail marketing. I wish him all the best for future and hope our paths cross again in the future. I last met him earlier this year at the launch of the (controversially) lower-ABVed Hobgoblin and he was, as ever, excellent company, opinionated and incisive about the beer industry. I wonder what the next project will be?
The future of Cains, the iconic Liverpool brewery, is in the hands of the Bank of Scotland, which could decide not to continue with existing loan arrangements and the place the brewery in severe trouble. There also appears to have been some issues with HM Revenues and Customs. From a drinker’s point of view the loss of Cains would be a terrible blow to the British brewing industry. With brews such as its Raisin Beer and Finest Lager it has made a big impact on the UK real ale scene, and the Dusanj brothers have always seemed good and enthusiastic custodians of Robert Cain’s legacy. Let’s hope the money men thrash out a way forward.
