Cellar Awareness Course – Check + Completed.

Three brave members of our sales team,  Giles, Derek & Chrissie, set off on a Cellar Awareness Course. Clipboards at the ready, name badges on, coffee in hand.

What followed was a thorough, practical, no-nonsense deep dive into the mysterious underworld of the cellar — with a very healthy dose of “this is why safety actually matters”.

They were immediately reminded that the cellar is not just a cold room with beer in it. Oh no. It’s a finely balanced ecosystem where safety, yield and quality rule supreme. One wrong move and you’re not just wasting beer — you’re risking people, product and profit.

They tackled shared dispense, learning that responsibility for equipment isn’t optional and that every bit of kit has a job, a reason, and a very clear way it can go wrong if ignored. Suddenly, valves, coolers and lines felt a lot more alive.

Then came the Python systems. Not the snake (thankfully), but just as costly if mishandled. The team explored why they matter, how much they cost, and the differences between remote coolers — with a timely reminder that line cleaning isn’t a “nice to have”, it’s non-negotiable.

Next up: Key Keg. Quick, sharp, and straight to the point — with a strong focus on safety. No faffing, no shortcuts.

Then came the curveball… NoLo. Unexpectedly fascinating. The team explored why the journey from producer to outlet is just as critical as it is for cask ale. Cue a thoughtful moment at the end, where it was rightly pointed out – by our very own Giles – that putting 0% products on degraded lines could lead to ABV creep — which is not ideal when you’re selling alcohol-free.

The day wrapped up with clear priorities:

• Cellar cards must be present and correct
• BBPA Code of Practice 6 is essential reading
• CO₂ detectors are an absolute must — not just in our estate, but across our free trade customers too

The team emerged significantly wiser, and with a renewed respect for the cellar — a place where great beer is either protected… or ruined.

All in all: practical, eye-opening, and time away from the day job very well spent!