Video Killed The Radio Star...

 It is 5 mins of your life you won't get back but if interested: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002jv72 we start at 16:09 or 2:08.52 into the program... 

Otherwise a busy-busy week... The arm wrestle that has been going on between Moondance and Alton's Pride for which beer we ship the most of these last few weeks has been won this week by Moondance, but another close run thing.

Feedback from  trade in general was that overall last week was (as you'd expect into month end) a bit quieter but actually the weekend was decent so the overall effect was pretty good, helped by the weather and we are firmly back into ale season. Obviously you need the right ales on... a couple of places we frequent from time to time who've protested slower ale sales have either re-ordered with us for 3 consecutive weeks or been out when we have rocked up 2 days after our beer has been tapped ["didn't seem Moondance was so slow then..." ... of course there are places we won't work-out as well but these were nice things to see! 

We got hacked a couple of weeks ago... We snagged it before any damage was done - all that had happened was a server in Tunisia had accessed one of our staff emails, we clocked it within minutes (had sent out an email from our domain) that we managed to recall, then immediately shut down everything and reset every password and all the email passwords. It was a pain, but essential. Even in resetting the passwords we made sure they were communicated over the phone not emailed - old school style, but it is what you have to do I guess. Carrier pigeons? We don't store credit card info, our brewery management system is cloud-based, our websales are done by shopify - so your stuff should be safe... That said if ever in doubt don't click! AI makes it so much easier for hackers to hack... looking forward to AI being a proper dynamic defense mechanism too! Maybe take this opportunity to change a few of your passwords too... all good cyber-hygeine.

We have all seen JLR, the Nursery frim, the European flight boarding software [thanks Vlad], and you might not have seen it but Asahi has been down in 30 of its factories in Japan this week massive beer shortage coming... I wonder how fast we can get some Jagged Little Pilsner or Moondanceto Japan... one firm's loss is another firm's win?! But seriously, not cool that hackers are hitting things that resolutely for human good like nurseries and brewers. 

Was sorry to see Liberation Ale closing down after 154 years in Jersey. In short it has really become a private equity play these last few years, as the head company for Buttcombe Brewery and then them acquiring the lovely portfolio of properties held by Cirrus Inns. 

Here is the thing though - well actually 2 things -
1) Brewing outside of the scale of Budwiser basically can pretty much never meet the sort of financial metrics Private Equity demands - it is a super tough but super fun gig that does not pay! so there is usually another angle for them in there - real estate most usually or occaisionally a vanity thing;
2) Private Equity serves its shareholders so can't be called exclusively a force for bad... I mean look at the UK's water management and sewerage, OK, our rivers and beaches are screwed but at least their shareholder's have had some good dividends, and whilst you might get pissed off at the £6 drop off charge at airports, at least the folks from Maquarie Infrastructure are doing great...and jeepers they did a great job for the Isle of Wight with Red Funnel ferries, etc. etc - for avoidance of doubt I am being deeply saircastic here. There are of course some areas in hospitality where a sensible balance can be found - Stonegate has a lot of successful pubs with some fantastic ladlords and ladies, but even their business model like so much PE is highly dependent on cheap debt. I guess at least interest rates are coming the right way (slowly) for us all... Still sad about 154 years of history going... 

Anyway, didn't mean to get so serious! 

Hope storm Amy means folks to want to enjoy your company with a pint or two and a bite this weekend and that we can bring you some beer next week! 

Best wishes,

Xen

P.S. 

I don't know why a storm reminds me of this - maybe the lighthouse element of it? - which might be urban myth but is still something that should make you smile... 

Americans: “Please divert your course 15 degrees to the North to avoid a collision.” Canadians: “Recommend you divert YOUR course 15 degrees to the South to avoid a collision.” Americans: “This is the captain of a US Navy ship. I say again, divert YOUR course.” Canadians: “No, I say again, you divert YOUR course.” Americans: “THIS IS THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN, THE SECOND LARGEST SHIP IN THE UNITED STATES’ ATLANTIC FLEET. WE ARE ACCOMPANIED BY THREE DESTROYERS, THREE CRUISERS AND NUMEROUS SUPPORT VESSELS. I DEMAND THAT YOU CHANGE YOUR COURSE 15 DEGREES NORTH. THAT’S ONE-FIVE DEGREES NORTH, OR COUNTER MEASURES WILL BE UNDERTAKEN TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THIS SHIP.” Canadians: “This is a lighthouse. Your call.”

P.P.S. 

A Tornado walks into a bar and asks for a Hurricane cocktail... 

Barlady says "sorry we don't serve natural disasters here"

Tornado says "no worries I was just passing through anyway"

Barlady sighs and says "yeah - they all say that... and then trash the place anyway"

....

Sorry, not sorry... bon weekend.

X