With a bit of straw & half a dozen orange boxes for display and a trestle table, on 4th December 1999 Utobeer began beermongering at Borough Market. With just over 40 carefully selected Unusual Traditional and Organic beers from UK, Belgium and Germany – we would either sell them or have one hell of a party. Fortunately people did want to buy beer and Utobeer have traded at Borough Market ever since There have been several site moves and the legendary blue shelves have had a couple of upgrades. The range has grown into the hundreds and our reach is now truly global.
Things have changed a lot in 20 years. We were one of only two beer shops in Greater London, there were only five breweries (that fell to two a few years later). Many of our former colleagues have gone off to become brewers, bottle shop owners and even beer writers all over the World, IPA was Greene King, American beer was Bud and English beers were bitter. TV was five channels, you smoked in pubs (and on Borough Market) and we had a spaniel as a mascot. Beer was world, specialist, artisan, boutique or freaky – we had yet to settle on Craft.
Over the years we have launched brands, witnessing both successes and failures and made some lifelong friends. Today as we witness a global interest in the Craft beer market our commitment to great beer remains as strong and passionate as ever.
BRING A BOTTLE!
We would be delighted if you could join us on the 8th December at The Rake in Borough Market between 12pm-7pm to take part in our celebratory bottle share.
Mike Hill & Richard Dinwoodie, Utobeer Ltd.
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For more information, contact Glyn Roberts (glyntroberts@gmail.com)