Durham microbrewery ventures East with first export deal

A microbrewery near Durham has sent a container-load of beer to Shanghai as part of its first ever export deal.

Sonnet 43 Brew House, based in Coxhoe, secured the agreement after exposing its beers to Chinese wholesalers during a Northern Powerhouse UKTI trade mission to the Food & Hotel China (FHC) exhibition in Shanghai.

The order was for all nine of Sonnet 43’s beers, including can and bottle formats, with the shipment due to hit the bars of China’s biggest city by the autumn.

Brewery manager Alan Brown said: “This is a very exciting opportunity for Sonnet 43. After six years in the brewing trade in the UK, we are now exploring our export options and are keen to venture east.

“There is a thirst for quality British beers in China and a big market for English products over there so we’re hopeful the beers will get a good reception and flourish.”

He added: “The outlook seems positive as we have already had enquires for sending more beer over.”

Sonnet 43’s brewery is capable of producing 15,000 pints a week. The firm has been in operation since 2012.

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