The Craft Beer Channel has launched a campaign to get cask ale the protection it deserves from the UK Government – and eventually UNESCO. It comes as brewers and publicans face spiralling costs.
In a follow-up to their award-winning 2021 series, Keep Cask Alive, Craft Beer Channel founders Jonny Garrett and Brad Evans have teamed up with nine industry partners to make a Youtube documentary series championing traditional British brewing and farming.
Over seven 30-minute episodes, Keep Cask Alive Two sees the pair visit countless breweries, pubs, festivals, factories, and farms to tell glorious stories of cask beer’s history and future, while documenting Jonny and Brad’s attempts to help stop its decline.
Key to their goal is the recognition of cask ale as UNESCO Intangible Heritage. Yesterday the final episode, detailing the campaign’s progress so far, went live, alongside a petition to the UK government. You can read and sign the petition here.
Because cask ale is a production process and serving format, rather than a specific style or product, it is ineligible for Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status.
However, in June 2024, the UK government ratified the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, which aims to protect traditional craftsmanship, oral traditions, social practices, events, and knowledge. Examples of this recognised in other countries include Belgian beer culture, Arabic coffee, sake production, and the French baguette.
The first step will be recognition of cask ale as ‘living heritage’ by the UK government, which is the subject of the petition. From there, an application to UNESCO must include academic research, industry and government support, and swathes of evidence.
The Craft Beer Channel will use the films in the final submission to UNESCO and to encourage the government to back the campaign. It is sponsored by CAMRA, Timothy Taylor’s, Five Points Brewery, Kirkstall Brewery, Shepherd Neame, Fuller’s Griffin Brewery, Crisp Malt, Charles Faram & Co, and Lallemand UK.
“The second series of Keep Cask Alive is the most ambitious thing we’ve ever done,” said Jonny. “It’s been incredible to visit so many parts of the UK, learning the remarkable stories of Britain’s brewing heritage and how some wonderful people are fighting to keep it not just alive but thriving.
“Despite the dark headlines, from Leeds’ Tetley Building to Brighton’s Amex stadium, cask ale is still vibrant and exciting. We hope our stories can show that.”
He added: “Brad and I believe cask is the lifeblood of British pubs. While there are many reasons for its struggles, it’s clear that support from the top is desperately needed.
“We hope that recognition of its impact on British culture and the economy will give the industry more tools and justifications to protect our pubs, breweries and farms, and to push back against duty, VAT and business rate rises that are crippling UK hospitality.”
Brad said: “Cask is such a brilliant and unique thing to the UK, so wouldn’t it be wonderful for it to be the first example of Intangible Heritage to be recognised in the UK? A pint in the pub is a thing that unites us, and brings us together despite our differences.”
