St Austell Brewery is celebrating another record year – selling a whopping 14.5 million pints of ale in just 12 months, an increase of almost two million pints. 

The news comes as the Cask Ale Report 2010 shows Britain’s national drink is enjoying a surge in popularity, at a time when the beer market is declining. 

The report is great news for brewers, stating there were 120,000 new cask ale drinkers and 3,000 new pubs stocking it in the past year. 

Jeremy Mitchell, St Austell Brewery’s Marketing Director, said: “This report simply confirms what we already knew – this is a nation of beer lovers, with Cornwall leading the way. 

“Real ale is a tradition that is very much alive and well, as we’re proving year on year with our sales figures. 

“We have seen sales of our own cask ales increase in all distribution channels; our 176 pubs, free trade customers in the South West and also through national sales. 

“We’re delighted to think that new customers are trying our beers, including lots more women and young drinkers.” 

Sales of St Austell Brewery’s cask ales are up 14.5% on 2009. In the 12 months up to August 2010, the company sold 50,342 brewers’ barrels of ale – that’s 14,498,496 pints. Over the same period in 2009, it sold 12,661,056 pints, or 43,962 brewers’ barrels. 

Tribute alone sold 10.3 million cask pints in 2010, compared to 8.9 million the previous year – a 15.8% increase. These figures come on top of a growth of 19% in 2009. 

The family-owned company is continuing to expand brewing capacity in St Austell and has invested almost £3 million over the last three years.