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UK brewer appoints new boss months after ownership change
Casserly has been tasked with moving the 20-year-old Barnsley brewery forward after it came into new ownership earlier this year.
The brewery was sold to boutique investment company Sonas Capital in August 2023 following the retirement of former owners Dave and Christy Hughes.
Arriving at Acorn with many years of experience in hospitality management, Casserly has pledged to champion cask-conditioned ale. Over the years Acorn has won many awards for its range of beers, including the flagship Barnsley Bitter and revered Old Moor Porter.
Casserly joined the York-based Pivovar group at the Sheffield Tap where she worked for four years and rose to the role of assistant manager. She then managed Abbeydale Brewery’s Sheffield Devonshire Cat beer emporium, before returning to Pivovar in 2019 and then moving to Hickory’s Restaurants as head of bartending.
Acorn makes 'top-class core range'
Commenting on her decision to join Acorn, Casserly said: ”I have a passion for hospitality, brewing and beer. I have known and loved Acorn beers for years, so I am delighted to have this opportunity to take the brewery forward, building on the past 20 successful years.”
Reflecting on the current state of the business, Casserly said it produces a “top-class core cask range” but needs to look at new opportunities for development.
She continued: “I would really like to brew a dark mild - Moorhouse’s Black Cat saw me through university. We will continue to develop the highly successful single hop IPA series, perhaps with new processes. Exports are also another opportunity. We already send beer to Italy and will look at building on that within the European and Scandinavian markets.”
Welcoming the appointment Brendan Fitzpatrick, director of Sonas Capital, said: “In Liz, we now have a first-class general manager to lead the excellent Acorn team forward and grow the business in the face of an extremely challenging environment for both brewing and hospitality. Liz brings a wealth of management experience to the post, with the energy, enthusiasm and imagination to match these challenges.”
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