A beer from Barnsley has been declared a top brew in a fiercely-fought international contest, known as ‘The Brewing Oscars’.

Acorn Brewery’s flagship Barnsley Bitter (3.8% abv) scooped a gold medal at the prestigious International Brewing Awards, the world’s longest running beer contest judged by professional brewers from the UK and abroad.

And the victory follows hard on the heels of the Acorn’s recent double success at the SIBA (Society of Independent Brewers & Associates) North East Region Beer Competition with gold wins for both bottled and keg versions of the famous tipple brewed in Wombwell. Next week (MARCH 18/19) they will be judged in the SIBA National Indie Beer Awards, at the annual BEERX event in Liverpool.

The biennial International Brewing Awards – founded in 1886 and run by the BFBI trade body – attracts hundreds of entries internationally across nine broad categories with 36 classes. Acorn took gold in the Cask Class for 2.9% to 3.8% strength ales.

Welcoming the award, managing director Dave Hughes – who founded Acorn in 2003  – said: “This is a wonderful win for us. Particularly as it is our first time in the awards, judged by brewers and regarded as the ‘Oscars’ of the industry, where we competed against some much bigger brewers. Barnsley Bitter is a traditional Yorkshire bitter and was our inaugural brew. Today it remains our top-selling brand, despite the fiercely competitive market which constantly demands new brews. We are very proud to  be keeping Barnsley in the spotlight of the brewing world with this major recognition from professional brewers.

“This win is testimony to our brewer Steve Bunting, who began brewing alongside me 23 years ago and remains totally dedicated to the integrity of our flagship brand, brewing with quality and consistency. It is also very gratifying to have this award for our cask version just as our bottled and keg versions also go forward for national judging at the trade’s prestigious UK awards. This is a very exciting time for the Acorn team as we continue growing our business in the toughest of economic climates .”

Barnsley Bitter (3.8%abv) is full-bodied ale, brewed with the original 19th-century Barnsley Brewery yeast strain married with  Maris Otter, Crystal and Pale Chocolate supplied by nearby Thomas Fawcetts, Castleford and traditional English Challenger hops from Charles Faram of Worcester.  Chestnut brown, Barnsley Bitter has a rich malt character showcasing nutty and toffee notes from Maris Otter malt while dark fruit sweetness is balanced by a firm, traditional English hop bitterness.

Over the years, Acorn Barnsley Bitter has won a constant stream of accolades, including: the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) Great British Beer Festival Champion Beer of Britain Silver 2006, Silver 2015, Bronze 2018, CAMRA Champion Beer of Yorkshire 2023 and SIBA North East Gold 2019, 2023, 2024.  

Ends

/Acorn International Brewing Awards

Notes to editors:

Acorn Brewery : Founded by ex-chef Dave Hughes in 2003, over the years Acorn Brewery has expanded from the original 10-brewers-barrels to today’s 25bbl plant which has the capacity to produce 125bbls (36,000 pints) per week to directly supply pubs throughout the North of England and Midlands and wholesale distribution further afield. Several new brands have been introduced in recent years and Acorn has produced a record setting series of single hopped IPAs (India Pale Ale) for several years.

International Brewing and Cider Awards: Ruth Evans MBE, Chief Executive of the BFBI and Director of the International Brewing and Cider Awards, said:  “Our international panel of brewers and cider makers have judged a fantastic array of beers and ciders from around the world.  The results reflect the quality of entries this year – ensuring a high level of debate amongst the judges, debate being at the core of our judging process.”

For further information contact: Steve Hobman, Rhino Public Relations 07751 578605 or stevehobman@rhinopr.co.uk 

We’re excited to announce the return of our popular Decades Range for the year ahead.

This special series gives our customers the chance to name one of our beers. Each beer in the range is inspired by the music of a different decade, celebrating the tracks and styles that helped define an era. The full lineup for the year is:

• January – 1960s
• March – 1970s
• May – 1980s
• July – 1990s
• September – 2000s
• November – 2010s

All beers in the Decades Range will be 3.4% pale ales, brewed to be light, flavourful and highly drinkable.

For each release, the naming competition will run two months before the beer is due to be released. For example, the competition to name March’s beer will take place in January.

Full competition details, including how to enter and tips on how to give yourself the best chance of winning, will be shared on our Facebook page.

We’re thrilled to announce that Acorn Beer Club is officially making a comeback — and we can’t wait to welcome you back into the brewery for an evening of beer, good food, and great company.

After a long break, we’re bringing back everything you’ve loved about Beer Club — with a few updates to make it even better!

To attend, all you need is a ticket — no membership number required anymore.
By purchasing a ticket, you’re automatically joining the Acorn Beer Club (for free!) and unlocking a host of benefits.

What to expect

• A FREE pint of any beer 4.5% ABV or under on entry
• A choice of fresh cask & keg beers, plus cans and bottles
• 10% discount in the brewery shop
• Card payments now accepted
• Family- and dog-friendly atmosphere
• Doors open from 4:00PM, last orders at 9:30PM, and we close at 10:00PM

Expect:

• A buzzing taproom atmosphere
• Background music, friendly faces & a proper pint
• A relaxed space to chat, try new beers, and enjoy the brewery experience
• Beer + General Knowledge Quiz
• Q+A with our founder, Dave

Tickets are on sale now — grab yours while they last!
Purchase tickets

Job Title: Brewery Operative / Drayman

Address: Unit 3, Aldham Industrial Estate, Mitchell Rd, Wombwell, Barnsley S73 8HA

Working hours: Working Hours: Full-time, 40 hours per week. Monday to Friday with 1 in 3 weekends required.

Salary: Competitive

Introduction

The award-winning and well-established Acorn Brewery of Barnsley is seeking a well-organized and enthusiastic individual with a flexible attitude to join the small brewery based team. The role involves safely delivering beers to customers and conducting daily tasks and checks within the brewery, with the opportunity to learn the brewing process

Roles & Responsibilities:

-Checking beers to ensure continued quality is achieved

-Washing and filling casks

– Delivering cask and bottled beer to pubs and restaurants across the north of England

– Safely loading and unloading the vehicle

– Occasionally working in a customer-focused environment, acting professionally and courteously at all times

– Accurately checking goods upon delivery

– Safely handling materials and components manually

– Cask cleaning

– Acceptance of deliveries

– Any other duties as deemed necessary by your manager

Skills and Experience:

– An interest in Cask beer

– A knowledge of the brewing process is desirable

– Full UK driving license held for a minimum of 2 years

– Quality, customer-focused, and results-oriented

– Enthusiastic with a flexible approach to working, including working hours

– Physically fit as heavy lifting is involved

– Forklift license is desirable but not necessary

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday
• Weekend availability

Licence/Certification:

• Driving Licence (required)

Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 31/10/2024

Expected start date: From November

Yorkshire’s multi award-winning Acorn Brewery is set for growth with a change of ownership at the 20-year-old Barnsley brewery.

Launched in 2003 on an ex-Firkin 10-brewers-barrel plant, Acorn’s cask-ales quickly gained renown to see expansion to a 25-barrel brewery in Wombwell. Today there is the capacity to produce 170 brewers-barrels (278 hectolitres) a week with  annual turnover of some £1m.

Now, directors Dave and Christy Hughes have decided that new ownership is needed to take the business forward. The brewery has been sold to Sonas Capital; a Greater Manchester based company specialising in developing successful small businesses (SMEs).

Over the years, Acorn has been much celebrated for its traditional Barnsley Bitter (3.8%abv) and Old Moor Porter (4.4%abv) in its core range.* Most recently Barnsley Bitter took overall champion at the SIBA (Society of Independent Brewers) North Beer Competition.

With the sale, the employment of the seven strong brewery team has been secured and a general manager will be recruited. Founder Dave Hughes will continue in a consultancy role for the forseeable future while Christy will take retirement, due to recent ill-health.

Dave Hughes said: “We have enjoyed 20 successful years since launching in Barnsley with just my late first wife Judy and our current brewer Steve Bunting. In recent years, with Christy heading marketing and sales, we have continued to drive the brewery forward, despite being badly hit by the Covid pandemic. Throughout lockdowns we continually brewed, pouring the beer away, to regularly refresh our unique original Barnsley Brewery yeast strain from the 1800s, so we recovered quickly. Now we feel we have taken the business as far as we can and we are handing it on in very good shape to Sonas.  

“We wish to thank the team for their loyal support across the years. I look forward to continuing to work with them in my consultancy role. We must also thank our valued suppliers, loyal trade customers and, of course, our ever-faithful fans for their ongoing support for our beers.”

“This is a very exciting time for Acorn and we would like to reassure those suppliers, licensees and beer fans that the brewery is going into good hands. We are confident that Sonas will continue to reflect our passion with the energy and impetus to take the business forward, maintaining our highest standards of products and service under our banner of Tradition and Innovation.”

Acorn directly supplies outlets across the North of England and further afield through wholesalers and pub companies. The core of the business remains cask-conditioned ale but bottled and keg beers are also produced. Barnsley Bitter and Old Moor Porter are exported to Italy in keg and bottle in summer with some supplied in cask for the winter months.

Brendan Fitzpatrick of Sonas said: “Acorn has an outstanding reputation for their product quality and great service and we see the business as a perfect fit for our portfolio. We are dedicated to empowering companies through investment and strong marketing to realise their full potential.

“Dave and Christy Hughes are delighted to be working closely with the founder of Sonas Capital, a boutique investment business who just also happen to love beer, as they begin their transition away from the business. Dave will move to a more technical and creative role alongside the brewing team whilst the Sonas team will focus on the development and growth of the business in what are challenging times for the industry.”

Acorn was advised on the deal by Brian McCann and Angela Downey from Shareholder Strategies as well as Ryan Marr from Jolliffes Solicitors. Sonas Capital was advised by Guy Bartlett from Fidelis Advisory and Tom Sutcliffe from Excello Law.

Acorn is acclaimed for brewing more than 150 single hop variety IPAs (India Pale Ales) since 2006 – only the hops change for each carefully crafted cask brew and each release has been warmly welcomed. To mark the brewery’s 20^th anniversary a celebratory pale ale ‘Two Decades’ (4%abv) will be brewed for the Wetherspoons annual beer festival in October.

As many of you may be aware the management couple, Carol Symonds-Thompson and Stuart Thompson have taken the decision to move on from their time at the Old No7. We would like say what a wonderful job they have done over the past 4 years, including winning CAMRA Pub of the Year 2020. We would like to thank them for their continuous service they have given each and every one of the Old No7 Customers.

Following the news Acorn Brewery took the decision to also move on from the ownership of the Old No7. We have had an outstanding 10 years from the pub and can not thank the team and all our customer enough for always supporting us. We will be handing over the reins to Darren & Deborah Booth.

An agreement has been made that will ensure that Acorn Brewery will continue to supply the Old No7 with their cask ale range for years to come.

We would like to wish Darren & Deborah all the very best of luck in their new adventure, we hope that the pub provides you with the happy times it has done for us over the years.

Once again thanks you everyone for your on going support.

In the current climate we would like to re-assure all of our customers that we are taking the current situation with COVID-19 very seriously and are taking all precautions to help prevent any potential spread of the virus.

The team at Acorn have been provided with the latest government & NHS guidelines.

Given that the work we carry out, to provide you all with amazing beers, the hygiene standards that the team adhere to are of an extremely high standard. We will continue to produce our beer and delivery them to all the fantastic small businesses. 

If we are delivering to you, there are a couple of steps we are asking you and your team to follow to ensure we keep the potential risk to a low. 

1. All our drivers have been provided with hand sanitiser, however, we would like to ask that you make them aware where they can wash and clean their hands  when they arrive with your delivery
2. We are sure that you and your team are applying a high level of due diligence when handling cash and deliveries meaning you and your team are washing your hands before handling any payments, empty casks and our delivery device.
3. If you have any requirements for our team when making your deliveries please let them now. 

Hi all Acorn Family & Friends.

We have an important update on the future of Acorn’s Beer Club. It’s been over 18 months now that Beer Club has been up and running & during this time the whole team have enjoyed getting to know our members and being able to enjoy a few lovely pints with you all.

After many management meetings to scope the forthcoming years of Acorn Brewery we have taken the very hard decision to change Beer Club. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to remove brew days to accommodate the transformation of the brewery into a space for members of the public to attend the Beer Club, that being said we do not want to remove the opportunity for us all to get together on a permanent basis.  So how is it going to work? This year Acorn Brewery will open its doors to two festivals. One in April and one in September. The festival will be open Friday and Saturday, with a wide selection of Acorn & Guest Ales, along with a small selection of spirits. There will be entertainment as well as a selection of street food available.  

We will be looking to hold a Beer Club ‘Social’ on other dates throughout the year at the Old No7. as well as arranging trips to events within the beer world & ale trails for instance. Details of which will be shared via Social Media. This will still give people the opportunity to catch up and enjoy a pint or two & us the opportunity to meet with you all.

We understand that this may not be the news that members wanted to hear, but we hope that everyone understands the reasoning behind the decision & look forward to some exciting events to come.

If you have any questions at all please contact christy on info@acorn-brewery.co.uk

Job title: Brewery Operative / Drayman

Address: Aldham Industrial Estate, Mitchell Rd, Wombwell, Barnsley S73 8HA

Working hours: FT Hours 40 Hours P/Week

Salary: Competitive Salary rates

Drayman / Brewery Operative Vacancy Available

Introduction: The award-winning, well established Acorn Brewery of Barnsley are looking for a well organised, enthusiastic individual with a flexible attitude. The role will include safely delivering beers to customers, as well as conducting daily tasks within the brewery.

Roles & Receptibilities:

• Delivering alcohol to pubs and restaurants within a designated area
• Safely loading and unloading of vehicle
• Working within a customer focussed environment. Acting in a professional and courteous manner at all times
• Accurate checking on goods on delivery
• Safe manual handling of materials and components
• Cask Cleaning
• Acceptance of deliveries  
• Any other duties as deemed necessary by your manager.

Skills and Experience

• Full UK Driving License held for minimum of 2 years
• Quality, customer focussed and results orientated
• Enthusiastic and have a flexible approach to ways of working, including working hours
• Physically fit as heavy lifting involved
• Forklift license desirable but not necessary