The Covid-19 pandemic has hit businesses across all sectors, including the craft beer industry, but with Innovus’ help, one local brewer in the UK has been able to thrive.

West Sussex start-up Bestens Brewery moved to a new HQ in Lower Beeding back in the summer of 2018, enabling them to base a brewery, shop and taproom on the same site.

From the start, founder and head brewer Paul Swaffield had opted for cans rather than bottles for the Bestens range. Cans are lighter, take up less space and are easier for brewer workers to handle. From a quality perspective, cans can deliver zero UV light penetration, keeping the beer fresher for longer than would be the case with bottles, while the fully hermetic seal between can and lid keeps oxygenation to a minimum, protecting the unique flavour of the beer.

At the time of the move, Bestens had a one barrel brewhouse, and a simple, manual canning system, but as Paul explains, this was proving inadequate for his growing company:

“We had been having problems with inconsistent seals and oxygenation of beer on the very basic manual system that we had at the time. We were also able to only can approximately sixty units per hour, which was far too slow,” said Swaffield.

In 2019, Bestens invested in a major canning equipment upgrade, taking delivery of a new Innovus Engineering CF10 Can Filling and Closing Machine. The CF10 is a fully stainless steel semi-automatic mobile canner, with a capacity of up to 600 cans per hour.

Swaffield added: “Matt at Innovus arranged for us to see a machine in use at another local brewery and have an honest discussion with that brewery. The testimony of the other brewer was key, as he spoke so highly of the aftercare he had received. We have been so grateful for the service and advice that Matt and Nathan have provided since they installed our Innovus machine.”

Investing in canning technology was perfectly timed. In 2020, covid-19 hit the UK and the hospitality industry was devastated. Pubs and bars were closed and sales of beer kegs plummeted as demand shifted to takeaway and delivery beer products.

With their new canning line up and running, and an increased brewery capacity of four barrels, Bestens were able to rise to the challenge of increased demand for canned beers, delivering their range of high quality IPAs, pale ales, porter and stout across Sussex and the UK.

As the Covid-19 lockdown has eased, Bestens has been able to resume regular sales to hospitality venues and shops throughout the county and the wider South-East, and Paul is adamant that without Innovus, his business would not have made it through the pandemic:

“Without our Innovus machine, we would not have survived, it is as simple as that. Innovus have given us the confidence that our beers will reach our customers exactly as we would want them to, and will remain fresh for longer.”