No doubt that you are aware that all pubs, clubs, brewery taps and restaurants are closed until further notice. Same with beer festivals too.

Thus adding to the recommendation that everyone over 70 and/or with health issues are to self-isolate for four month.

With the demographic of SPBW members, this has had a huge effect on us.

Because of that, all SPBW events are either cancelled or postponed. We’ll keep you all updated and inform you when “normal service” resumes.

Keep your spirits up and stay healthy.

Hi all,

I am very sad to announce that it was decided by the committee on the 16th March 2020 to postpone the event. Thankfully we hadn’t spent much money for this by this point.

Thanks to the exponential spread of the virus in the last week, the government recommending people over 70 and/or with health issues and actions in other countries, this has made things far too complicated to be able to gauge and predict how much attendances will drop or if we end up being forced to postpone anyway.

This could have potentially lead to the event losing a lot of money, even we if were to greatly reduce all the orders for beer, glasses, programmes etc.
It is a real shame not only for those on the committee who gave a lot of time and energy and worked very hard for this, but for everyone else, who had wanted to attended this event as volunteers and customers and had already paid for their travel and accommodation.

It is also regretful that we’ve had to cancel our orders for beer, glasses, badges etc, affecting the breweries and suppliers that wanted to support us.
We all hope to be able to hold this event later in the year at the same venue and we’ll keep you up to date with developments.

We’re going to have a few beers whilst the pubs are still open tonight and for the next day or so.

After that, we’ll continue working on the event so that we should be even more ready and prepared by the first setting up day.
Thank for your patience so far and carry on drinking whilst you can and stay in good spirits and health.
Cheers!
Aidan Kerrigan
Woodfest 2020 Organiser and the Woodfest committee

It planned to have a BfTW available on a regular basis on the 1st and 2nd Mondays in the Month at ‘Ye Olde Mitre’, Ely Court, Hatton Garden. This Coincides with regular Campden Hill Branch and NEC meetings.

Noon Horseshoe, 24 Clerkenwell Close, Clerkenwell, EC1R 0AG.

Buffet £10/head. It always includes vegetarian options. Vegans and those with dietary requirements will need to let John know.

Please reserve this by sending cheque payable to SPBW to John Rooth, (see next PiH or email secretary@spbw.beer) or by cash to a member of the NEC. Deadline Monday March 2nd. All are welcome to attend but only pre-payers can participate in the buffet. There will be a couple of pub crawls afterwards

Below are the AGM agenda and the minutes of the 2019 AGM.

The judging of the second Champion Beer of the Wood will be taking place at North Shields today. The judges will be making their selection from beers across the country and deciding which one has most benefited from being served from a wooden barrel. Last year’s champion beer ‘Haymaker’ from Hook Norton brewery is again in the running but with even  more brewers submitting an entry it will be a highly competitive competition. Once again the judges will be led by prominent beer writer and expert Roger Protz

The York branch of SPBW is an active branch that has been at the forefront of developing innovative approaches to introducing people to the delights of Beers from the Wood.

Over the past few months that have teamed up with BISTRO GUY on Gillygate York which is in the shadow of the York City Walls to hold mini beer festivals at which Pizzas are also available.

At each event they have paired some of the best Yorkshires micro brewed beers which are matured in wooden barrels with logfire pizzas.

Included in the line-up have been Elland 1872 Porter CAMRA’s winner the best Beer of Britain 2015 and SIBA North East Winner Keras from Brew York

Details of goods in the shop available online soon.

Enamel badges (SPBW logo or Woodfest)

£5.50 Tie Clips
Ties Windsor purple only   £13.00
T-shirts  £14.00
Sweatshirts    £21.50
Polo Shirts  £19.00
Polo Shirts with pocket  £20.00
Hats Acrylic knitted            £7.50
Baseball Caps (SPBW logo) £10.70
Baseball Caps (WoodFest logo)  £15.20

All prices include post and packing. For colours and sizes please refer to the online shop. Ts, polos and sweatshirts usually come in X, XL and XXL. If you want something smaller or larger, please contact Bill, rather than use the shop. We also have rugby shirts, fleeces, bottle openers, key rings and sew-on badges.