The future of cask beer quality and dispense has received a major boost today with the launch of Cask Beer Uncovered, a new e-learning programme targeted at staff in the hospitality industry.
Cask Beer Uncovered has been developed by Cask Matters, a partnership of industry and consumer organisations, brewers and retailers who care about the future of the national drink. The goal is to put 100,000 bar staff through the programme over the next three years. The course is completely free of charge to retailers and their staff and represents a £2 million investment by Cask Matters.
Positive industry response
Industry response has been overwhelmingly positive. A pre-launch trial with Punch Taverns has given encouraging feedback and already a significant number of operators have committed to build it into their staff training.
Cask Beer Uncovered comprises five short online films which guide the viewer through every aspect of cask beer, with content delivered by brewers, publicans, bar staff and beer drinkers. Each film lasts around five minutes and is followed by a multiple choice test. Staff who score at least 75% across all five modules can print off a personalised Cask Beer Uncovered certificate. The films cover:
- Ingredients and their impact on beer flavour, the brewing process
- Cask beer conditioning in the pub cellar
- Choosing the right range of cask beers and the importance of throughput and quality
- Serving the perfect pint of cask beer
- Advice on promoting cask beer to customers and matching beer with food
Engaging bar staff with cask beer
Paul Nunny, speaking on behalf of the Cask Matters Group said:
“Cask Beer Uncovered is a new way of engaging bar staff with cask beer, telling them everything they need to know about serving a great pint, in an entertaining way that will make learning about our national drink a lot of fun. The course will help bar staff to communicate with their customers in a more confident manner about beer leading to increased sales and better customer service.
“This new training programme has generated excellent take up among younger members of staff, who live their lives online and appreciate the flexibility offered by e-learning. If we can embed knowledge and passion about cask beer in this next generation of licensees, our investment in Cask Beer Uncovered will have been worth every penny.”
Pub companies who have already committed to running Cask Beer Uncovered include: Carlsberg UK, Enterprise Inns, Fuller Smith & Turner, Hydes, J W Lees, Marston’s, Punch Taverns, Spirit Pub Company, Shepherd Neame, Harveys, St Austell, Star Pubs & Bars, Stonegate Pub Company, Thwaites and Wadworth
Cask Beer Uncovered is open to all retailers, free of charge. Funding for the programme has come from: Adnams; Caledonian Brewing; Carlsberg UK; Daniel Thwaites; Fuller, Smith & Turner; Greene King; Marston’s Beer Company; Punch Partnerships; Frederic Robinson; Shepherd Neame; St Austell; Wadworth; Wells & Youngs; SIBA; CAMRA and Cask Marque. CPL Training has provided its internet platform to deliver the training.
For more information and to register click here