UK: Craft beer prices rocket since the start of the year

UK�s craft beer prices have rocketed since the start of the year � giving drinkers a major hangover.

Prices have jumped by up to 12.5 per cent since January, The Morning Advertiser Pint Price Survey has revealed.

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) said many landlords are having to charge more just to stay open in the face of rising raw material costs and tax rises.

The survey said the biggest price rise was for BrewDog Punk IPA, which was �5.64 a pint in January but is now �6.34.

Camden Hells has also climbed to �6.34, up 10.8 per cent from �5.72.

Others have seen more modest increases, just 1.7 per cent for Camden Pale Ale, which has gone from �5.59 to �5.69.

The average price of a draught pint across all types has crept up to �5.17, compared with �5.08 six months ago.

CAMRA chairman Ash Corbett-Collins said: �It�s incredibly frustrating for consumers to see the price of a pint rise yet again.

�It�s really important that we talk about the reasons that the price of beer is rising � it�s hikes in the price of raw materials for brewers, energy costs staying high, pubs being squeezed by a challenging business rates system and rises in National Insurance contributions.

�Increasing the price of a pint is sometimes the only option for pubs, as not doing so risks closing their doors for ever.�

Whitbread, owner of Beefeater and Brewers Fayre, has reported a 16 per cent fall in food and drink sales as it overhauls its restaurants.