Over the last two weeks I have aluded to working on something I hadn’t yet been able to speak openly about. This week I can, and unfortunately it’s not good news.
Yesterday, Nomadic Beers became the second Leeds brewery within a month to announce permanent closure. You can read the announcement here.
This one hits right at home as, for those who may not know, Nomadic Beers was owned by my partner (life, not business!) Katie. Although I have never had any “official” role with the brewery, through my relationship with Katie, inevitably I have become part of the brewery’s family and the decision to shut has been a devastating one for all involved.
We have created so many incredible memories and a wonderful community at the brewery, not to mention terrific beers. It has been a difficult few weeks as we have worked through the closure of the business.
On a positive note, all of team Nomadic, including Katie, have been able to find work elsewhere and are staying within the industry, so you will find them still either making, selling, or pouring beers.
This has had a direct impact on Leeds Beer Tours too, as Nomadic Beers was the starting point for my Leeds Craft Beer Tour. So, although I have quietly already made the changes, I can now officially announce that Northern Monk is the new starting venue. Due to the route change, I have also had to say farewell to Brew York New Briggate on the tour, with Cross Keys replacing them. The other two venues, Turk’s Head and Friends of Ham, remain as part of the tour. A huge thank you to past and new venues, and the tours I have already run on the revised route have been a huge success.
The entire industry finds itself in crisis and without significant Government reform to tackle the energy crisis, long standing tax disparity, staff shortages, CO2 shortages, fuel duty, ingredient price hikes and more, our proud beer heritage will be a shadow of it’s current self and recovery will be difficult, if not impossible. Suffice to say, if you love beer, pubs, the people involved in the industry, then please get involved in any campaigns that fall your way. Every name, even just a signature on a petition helps. As does visiting your local and enjoying a pint.
In other news, I have finally sorted out the voting link for August’s Beer Name of the Month, so please get voting!
