Bristol microbrewery and bar Zerodegrees is to market its craft beers to selected outlets across the city in a move its owners believe could transform the image of lager.
Zerodegrees opened in Bristol nine years ago – the second of the firm’s pioneering projects which combine smart pizza restaurants with a state-of-the-art brewery producing quality lagers.
The converted tramshed at the top of Christmas Steps has developed a reputation for its fresh and flavoursome pints – and now they are to be made available through its wholesalers to other bars, gastro pubs and restaurants in the city.
The microbrewery produces hand-crafted beers which are unfiltered and unpasteurised, unlike those produced by major breweries. The company’s beers, which will be sold under the Zerodegrees brand include Pilsner and Pale Ale, along with speciality beers with ingredients from around the world such as mango beer, which have, until now, primarily been on sale only at Zerodegrees – although recently some have been available at the Arnolfini’s bar and at The Albion in Clifton.
With 35 employees in Bristol and 150 across the UK, the company is expecting to create new jobs in the city and increase its turnover by an estimated £350,000 by engaging with outlets to stock its award-winning craft beers.
Sales for cask beer – of which craft beer is a subset – are on the increase in the UK, with a 1.6% uplift in 2011 according to The Cask Report 2012/13 published last September.
Zerodegrees owner Dipam Patel said: “We are passionate about craft beer and when we set up Zerodegrees, we wanted to give customers an opportunity to learn about the process of brewing great tasting, quality beer. This is why we created a microbrewery with all the inner workings of the brewing process on show.
“What we produce stands apart from mass produced beers because we don’t sterile filter our beers. Craft beer is unpasteurised, free of additives and colouring – making it fresher, more nutritious and more flavoursome.
“Since we set up in Bristol we have seen a movement of customers become far more adventurous in their taste for beer, enjoying the variety, quality and fun that our products offer. We have seen our customers’ choices change and develop, as many now consider specialised beers as an alternative to wine with their meal. It appeals to both men and women, with women showing an increasing enjoyment for our mango beer, for which we are the only producer in the UK.”
