Cask Marque and ‘By the Glass’ focus on quality preservation

Both Cask Marque and ‘By the Glass’ are hoping to convince managers and licensees of the importance of keeping the flavour alive in these challenging times for the on-trade.

Beer quality promoter, Cask Marque, is offering a new cellar audit service. The checks will focus on temperature (ideally 11-13 degrees c); the proper securing of gas cylinders; properly insulated beer engines and clean beer lines. The service also includes an educational element about what to look for when doing cellar checks. Cask Marque argues that their approach will both ensure quality and reduce wastage.

Meanwhile, newcomer ‘By the Glass’, is introducing a fresh product to the market, whose purpose is to preserve the quality of opened wine, rather than cask beer. The technology behind the dispensing system involves using nitrogen to protect wine from oxidisation. ‘By the Glass’ says that its system works for up to 14 days and comes as a back-of-bar machine. The Stockport based company argues that its technology encourages drinkers to opt for better quality wines and reduce wastage. ‘By the Glass’ is the trading name of Brandnetics Ltd.

The issue of the quality and variety drinks served in pubs and bars has become more acute in recent times, as a result of competition from supermarkets and the off-trade. For example, Wetherspoon invested in beer-chilling technology as a tactic to keep punters coming through their doors. It remains to be seen how much managers and licensees are willing, or can afford, to invest in the cause of quality control.

18 November 2009