2012 A Bier Huis review

So here we are into 2013 and with even more fun and events but what happened in 2012 well lets look back!

Jan - Our first month of trading without the excitement of Christmas as with January it started off slow and there were a couple of times when I thought what on earth have I done but as the month trotted along it was all systems go the shop was looking fuller and with new customers arriving everyday. The end of the month saw our first meet the brewer night it was with Little Valley and we tucked into all their beers and heard how they set up and got going it was a great night and there was plenty of beer flowing and a good gathering of 17 meant that this was something that was wanted.

Feb - Saw a big pile of snow drop on Ossett just in time for the 2nd Beer festival I had a great time drinking and a lot of money was raised for the Lion's we were not involved in the festival but maybe next time in Feb 2014. The same weekend we also took part in the Riding's centre Yorkshire market its a friendly little set up but the snow put a lot of people off. It also saw the arrival of Buxton and Great Newsome beers to our shop and in late Feb we held our first ladies night with Body Shop there was a mass of stuff being applied and it made the shop smell nice for a couple of days :)

Mar - We had stout week to promote good stuff rather than the black stuff from Dublin and at the end of the month we had Cider and Cheese night which people are still taking about and fear not it will be back again sometime this year. Nicola our lovely host paired a load of different ciders with cheeses to match. That stinking bishop still gives my tongue nightmares.

Apr - James from Two roses in Barnsley came and did a meet the brewer session great story behind the set up and a huge range for everyone to sample. Really good evening was had by all

May - We held our first beer festival Mild Fest with Wakefield CAMRA the full house signs were up and we had 4 draught milds and 11 in bottles. It will take place again in 2013 17th May has been pencilled in. A couple of weeks after this we went from mild to full on craft as Brewdog came to do a tasting session. Some quality beers were served including AB:08

June - It was the Queens jubilee and as Ossett held a picnic in the square we joined other local businesses to do our first full outdoor bar. Ossett, Leeds and krombacher were all on draught and of course we sold out. The week after was the start of Euro 2012 we had a beer from each country playing apart from one but we kicked Croatia out and replaced them. It seems to go down well with people travelling from all over for a Euro box I can't see us doing one for the world cup but you never know. In between all of that we headed down the road to Horbury for their street festival on fathers day weekend. Which gave us our busiest day ever today. And then as June ended we flocked to Ossett with the help of hundreds of people the town was a wash with wool and sheep everything was covered and we were there with our mungo's mash which sold out by lunch time.

July - Inbeween the rain the sun did shine and it shined for Ossett Gala again we gave the people draught beer and plenty of it. The night before I was in deepest Holmfirth at a hen party I wasn't the stripper more pity them but was doing Champagne tasting see its not only just about beer.

August - It was all about London as I headed to the big smoke but not for the games but for the Great British Beer Festival in its old but new home. Plenty was drunk and I even picked up some Dogfish head beer.

September - Was massive we were invited to do the bar at the vicar's garden party and again it was one of those odd days where the sun was out. It was the same the week after as we did the scarecrow festival in Ossett everyone was loving the North Yorkshire Cereal Killer (get it) that we had on draught. One first trip to Barnsley followed the Sunday after as we were at Wentworth Castle lovely place with a cracking food and craft market and we will be there again next year. Then came holmfirth food and drink festival the people were loving the sun and were loving us so much we had to stay for an extra hour as people were lapping up the udder cider and draught beer. We should be their again in 2013.

Then it came as months of planning Oktoberfest Ossett. Beers were sourced from Germany for all of the beer tents and Clarks in Wakefield produced Hoppy Oktoberfest for us ready for our big night we were rammed for this as people from right across Yorkshire turned up to tuck into the beers and plate fulls of German sausage and mash from Crocodile sisters. The music was on and it went well into the night. More next year for sure!

And not forgetting the Revolutions meet the brewer night that certainly boost their sales

October - Well we managed to see off about 500 bottles of Oktoberfest beer just in time for the first batch of Christmas beer to arrive which only lasted a few days. That's the power of Five Towns beers when they arrive here. In the middle of it all we went to the Cricketers in Horbury to sample our beer Hoppy Oktoberfest I managed to have a pint before it had ran off. It was good! Then with cooker in tow and a boot full of beer we went to Ripley castle for two days where the mulled cider had the first outing of the year.

November - Christmas prep was now in full swing as we hit the Dewsbury homemade festival where we sold lots of Christmas gift packs and trialled mulled beer it went well but needs a lot of mulling! As the Christmas beers were arriving they were being stripped off the shelves but we kept up.
We were also back at Wentworth castle and at the Ossett Christmas light switch on where the rain tried but failed to put a damp squid of things as we were selling plenty of mulled cider and wine even the local MP loved our mulled cider compared to the out of towners who came to sell cider.
Which then lead us to our first bottle launch with Geeves coming to launch Smokey Joe and also do tasting of their other newly launched beers. The smokey Joe is dam fine and has lead to an increase in sales of all our smoked beers. From the really smoked one to the lighter one you should give them a go.

December - Blimey we knew we were going to be busy but not this busy! We smashed daily taking records all over the place and doubled our record taking day for it then to be beaten again. From gifts to cases to mini casks we were selling it. And Christmas eve saw the last couple of bottles of Christmas theme beer leave us not bad out of 600 bottles. But if that wasn't all we were doing events here, there and everywhere. The first Sunday saw us freeze in Holmfirth Sunday Christmas market at least we were busy to keep us that little bit warm. I did manage to nip to the Nook for ten Min's to have a quick pint and warm up by their open fire.

We then BOB alonged to Ossett the -5 temp kept a lot of people away but we were packed as people popped in for mulled cider, warm cherry beer and some sizzling chorizo and again we went well pass the 7pm end of events. The next night 26 of us headed down the hill to Ossett Brewery on our 1st brewery tour. A look around and then 2 hours of drinking fine beer was had. More tours next year.
The last weekend before Christmas saw two events take place first up was our Belgium beer night where we sampled 15 different beers in all different styles followed by our party on the Saturday where we fuddled and chatted.

So that was last year and 2013 has lots to offer so keep in touch to find out more. Remember we couldn't have done it with you. Enjoy your beers and ciders.

LOTS OF GREAT OKTOBERFEST BEERS IN STOCK FROM 12^Th Sep

Events – Come and see us with our bar or bottle stall at the following

Sat 8^th – Ossett Scarecrow festival – Bar Service

Sun 16^th – Wentworth Castle nr Barnsley – Bottle stall

Sat/Sun 22^nd/23^rd Holmfirth Food & Drink Festival

 

Or come to the shop for the following

Thurs 27^th 7:30pm Revolutions Tasting Event

Tickets £2 or free with Oktoberfest ticket

Meet the brewers and sample the beers

 

Friday 28^th 7:30pm till Late Oktoberfest Ossett

German/Yorkshire beer & Sausage night

Tickets £15 include a drink, glass, bangers and mash plus more

Plus try our own beer “Hoppy Oktoberfest”

Just thought I haven't updated this for ages. So much going on.

Some really great beers in stock at the moment in fact 300 of them!

If your local then get down to Ossett Albion or Town and buy a programme and see our advert and use it. They need your support and our support if the adverts work then they will be run again next season.

Our events page has been updated to include our out and about events and the oktoberfest night we are holding in the shop see the following pages.

http://www.bierhuis.co.uk/bier-huis-events

http://www.bierhuis.co.uk/bier-huis-events/oktoberfest

April News

Well I thought I would post you all the new products that have come our way of late.

Local Beer
Five Towns & Revolutions both from the Wakefield area. Both make some really good beer. I think most people in the area will have sampled a five towns beer in the last few years. Well the good news is Malcolm is now doing some bottling. Outwood bound and Niamh Nemesis are the first ones we have had. First batch gone waiting for the next lot to arrive.

Revolutions are newer and are based at whitwood which is near Castleford. 5 brews in the bottles at the moment. With another to come. Including Record store day beer revolver. If you like stouts and porters you wont go wrong with both Clash & Manisfesto

Next up is Elland I was pleased when I found out they were bottling. Again their 1872 porter is world class. The other two beers are Amnesia & Ushuaia these are lighter beers. Pretty good stuff.

Still in Yorkshire but a little further a field is Wold Top we go and collect these from them as they no longer deliver their beer to West Yorkshire. Sadly their fav of mine Mars Magic has now finished but we still have some left. That's been replaced with Headland Red. They also have done a IPA which is also gluten free.

The next is North Yorkshire brewing co I've added Hunny Bunny (honey beer) and there best seller Flying Herbert to our range. Blond for cheese is being stopped but I still have a case left. And once Crystal Tips is run out with us that will be getting a break.

Also in changing news Sam Smiths Pale & Organic Best is being stopped. I still have some best if you like that. The good news is that they have sort of mergered them to create Organic Pale Ale. As normal its a 5.0% beer

Other British beers we have in at the moment is St Peters you may know that I love St Peters beers and I love there pub in London lots if you ever get down there make sure you visit its not far away from another fav of mine the Craft Beer co pub. Any way we have there fruit beer new in at the moment. Its pretty good stuff so give it a try.

While I'm on about fruit beers we also have a Pineapple beer in from Belgium a lot of you like the banana and the plum beer so I thought I would get the pineapple in. Some other new beers from Belgium include Gulden Draak, Juplier pils & Strandgaper if you buy 3 bottles of those you get a free glass. you can also get a free glass when you buy Ayinger celebrator dark German bock beer. Also have a few other new German beers. Now with some of these beers the bottles need to go back to German. We pay for the bottles extra on some of these so rather than pass the cost on and letting you bung it in the recycling box. You are charged an extra 10 or 15p and then you get that back when you bring the bottle back. No rush on bringing them back.

As you know we don't just do beer we have cider as well and I have got some cider from Hogans. Those local will have seen draught Hogans appearing in Ossett Brewery pubs well we have the bottles.

Our food range is now fully stocked and there are some delightful new jelly's and chutneys most are gluten free. Just like 5 of our beers 2 from Hambletons, 2 from Wold Top and now 1 from Germany its a pils.

Tasting nights are proving a big success and the next two are booked in 26th April Two Roses and May 31st Brew dog. If you wish to come along. Get your tickets now!

And there are plenty of other new beers I havent touched on.

World Exclusive beer

Loads of new beers coming to bier huis

Rat & Ratchet - Ratsuptin Only a stock of 24 out of 200 only place in the world to buy these retail

5 Towns Brewery - Outwood Bound & Niamh's Nemesis again the only shop to be stocking these beers.

Some old favourites from Concrete cow will be back and we are the only place outside Bucks that stocks those beers.

3 beers from Manchester area will be arriving as well including Boggarts Rum Porter.

In cider news - Some new ciders will be arriving along with 3 from Hogans.

Don't forget 29th March it cider & cheese night from 7pm get your tickets now just £2.50 each you will get to try some of our range.

As its St Patricks on the 17th March we will be holding a Stout week. Ireland's favourite drink however we font stock Guinness but many other great stouts from around the world.

Sadly there are a few Best before dates up on a couple of lines nothing wrong with those beers and for me they should really have a longer date on them as the some of the beer we have go until 2016. So these are reduced in price to clear and they will be replaced with some other new beer.

New year

Well we have been open now for nearly 6 weeks and have seen a busy Christmas period with plenty of gifts being sold.

Our Valentine range is starting to come together and is slowing hitting the shop. As you know all our gifts are creating in store.

And again we wont just be focusing on the men you can get something for females even if they don't like real ale. We have plenty of other delightful types of beers to try.

Also the New Year sees us start our monthly Thursday night event with these so far being the dates.

Little Valley Tasting - Thursday 26th Jan 7pm
Ladies night with Body shop and tasting - Thursday 23rd Feb 7pm

Tickets are on sale for these events and are £5

This covers the licence we need, A free drink & nibbles plus 10% discount on anything you buy. Plus lots of tastings. Places are limited so get your ticket now.

And if you haven't popped in then where have you been we are now up to around 170 beers from around the world along with all our other goodies.

And if you still want more we will be at the Ridings Shopping Centre in Wakefield on Sunday 5th Feb for the Yorkshire Market.

Bier Huis Opens Saturday

Well at last we open our doors on Saturday morning at 10 am and for those who still are unsure where we are. We are in the old portfolio shop at the seemore centre next to Coral bookmakers. In downtown Ossett.

We have had to rush the opening due to a slight error with Royal Mail and not delivering our events licence for the stall at the lights switch on. The stall will still be there and you can purchase a great range of chutney, honey, mustard's and loads of other good stuff but not the beers!

Hopefully everything will arrive on time and fingers cross we have a great range from loads of Yorkshire breweries, a good selection of UK beers some you know some you won't and then a lovely choice of weird and wonderful beers from around the world. If it arrives I recommend the Coral tonica from Madeira. Tasty dark beer.

I have managed to source a selection of ciders none of this magners muck and even some from Yorkshire.

And as the customer is mainly right I have draught drinks for sale in 2 pint cartons. 2 ales and 2 ciders which will rotate.

And if that is not enough I have a great selection of Yorkshire produce. Henderson's Relish, Yorkshire crisps, Yorkshire chorizo now with a spicy version as well. Plus chutney's, mustard's as well as some Wakefield honey.

As for Saturday there will be loads going on so keep checking Facebook or twitter for updates.

And at this point I would like to thank Mark and Caitlin who came along and helped painted the wall. Ian & Steve who with a lot of planning sorted the grilles on the window out. Phil from Holland who popped in with some lovely beers from Belgium. And everyone that has come along and purchased from us and helping to get us set up.