10 British Beers You Should Try

1. Breconshire Brewery, Welsh Pale Ale, 3.7 per cent

Brewed to an historic recipe by brewer Buster Grant, this refreshing and well-balanced beer is a gentle introduction to your day of beer discovery. Enjoy the light, fresh, almost grassy aspects on the nose, which then give way to a crisp, dry, biscuity finish.

2. Grainstore, Rutland Panther, 3.4 per cent

Big flavours don’t have to come from high alcohol content and this beer is a perfect example. Its gorgeous reddish brown hues concede lovely wafts of chocolate and coffee, which are also delivered on the palate. Extremely moorish, this also has a neat liquorice note right at the end. I consider this the ideal lunchtime pint at just 3.4 per cent.

3. Crouch Vale, Brewer’s Gold, 4 per cent

This golden beer is so fabulously floral you could almost dab it behind your ears. A former Champion Beer of Britain it has high notes of grapefruit and tangerine and a dry refreshing finish that is incredibly addictive; don’t say I didn’t warn you!

4. Otley, O1, 4 per cent

I believe there are "happy beers", and this is one of them. Like liquid sunshine in a glass it has a lot of flowery and zesty notes, balanced out with a cream-cracker richness and long dry finish.

5. Wychwood, Hobgoblin, 4.5 per cent

A proper British beer made contemporary by some irreverent styling, look out for CAMRA volunteers wearing the brewery’s now iconic "What’s the Matter Lager Boy, Afraid You Might Taste Something?" t-shirts. But the proof, as they say, is in the pudding and, because this is a proper British bitter, you do get a bit of fruitcake to go with the mouthwateringly astringent finish that makes it, oh, so drinkable.

6. Cain’s, Raisin Beer, 5 per cent

An incredible beer, brewed with the addition of Californian raisins. It has some similarities to Pedro Ximinez sherry, with its rich caramel, prune and, of course, raisin flavours. Another reason to get your hands on this beer is that the brewery’s future is currently very uncertain, so sup it while you can.

7. Fuller’s, ESB, 5.5 per cent

I’m a firm believer in trying the local beer wherever you go. Fuller’s is London’s last remaining family brewer, and produces startlingly good beers on a consistent basis. ESB stands for Extra Special/Strong Bitter and this is the benchmark. Strong brown sugar and soft cinnamon come through on the nose, followed by sweet orange and caramel on the tongue, rounded off with a cleansing – but gentle – bitterness.

8. Thornbridge, Jaipur IPA, 5.9 per cent

This is a real world-beating beer in my opinion. The IPA stands for India Pale Ale, a style of beer brewed to ship to the colonies, which was preserved for the journey by a high alcohol content and the inclusion of stack loads of hops. The result is a multi-layered beer that entices you with strong lime and caramelised orange on the nose, an almost chewy texture in the mouth and a rich honeyed finish.

9. Hebridean, Beserker Export Pale Ale, 7.5 per cent

Another historic brew, made to a 150-year-old recipe, it may look like a bitter in colour but a little swirl around your glass will see it cling to the sides like a limpet. Rich caramel and warm spices assault the senses and the warming alcohol sensation makes it a very satisfying brew all round.

10. Hog’s Back, A Over T, 9 per cent ABV

A barley wine, which is actually a style of beer, the A Over T stands for Aromas Over Tongham, which is where this Surrey brewery is based. This beer, and the rest of the portfolio, is created by a brewster – also known as a female brewer – which almost single-handedly debunks the myth that women don’t like dark beers. Rich, Christmas pud aromas and chocolate flavours are finished off with an almost dry, sour cherry bitterness that makes the mouth water.


Beat The Economic Down Turn, Make Your Own Beer For Pennies Per Pint

Iraq gets a taste of beer

A beer hall in Iraq has held its own version of Munich's famous Oktoberfest party - complete with frothy steins, sausages, an oom-pah band and dirndl-clad waitresses.

German-born Gunter Voelker, owner of the Deutscher Hof Erbil restaurant in Irbil, in Kurdish controlled Northern Iraq, says he wants to dispel the notion that Iraq isn't a holiday destination and insists beer is bringing people together.

"We can make this festival with Iraqi people, Turkish people, Kurdish people, American people, German people, with (people from) all over the world in peace and in a real good mood," he said after the three-night party ended on Sunday.

Asda Leading The Fight Against Binge Drinking

In the news today, UK supermarket chain Asda is charging just 90p for the four pack of 440ml Skol lager, at 3.2 per cent strength, which works out at 51p a litre.

In comparison, a pack of four 750ml bottles of Evian water costs £2.91, or 97p a litre.

And predictably alcohol concern and the usual suspects are up in arms, but there are a few caveats to this story that they have missed, or more likely conveniently ignored.

apart from the fact that this value lager is almost undrinkable, with no flavour or character to speak of, very gassy and over carbonated, even if we assume your average alcoholic or binge drinker isn't going to be bothered about the aesthetics of their beverage of choice. They should be bothered about the fact that it's only 3.2% alcohol by volume (ABV). Your average premium lager is 5% ABV so to consume the same amount of alcohol as drinking a litre of premium lager, some quick maths tell us he will have to drink.

5 / 3.2 * 100 = 156.25%

Or 1 litre of premium = approx 1.6 litre of Asda's Skol , the result of this is you will have to drink over half as much again of the Asda swill to have the same effect as the premium. I don't think its humanly possible for anyone to drink that much of this insipid pee coloured fizz.

So far from damaging our more vulnerable parts of society, I think they are helping them by cutting down their alcohol consumption. Well done Asda I say.

Today TESCO joined in the price cutting Tesco shoppers can pick up a crate of Carlsberg Export premium lager for £5 until this Sunday.

As there are 18 bottles per crate, each one works out at just 27.8p per bottle.

Staff at the supermarket chain said the crates, which normal retail for £14.99, were selling at a rate of up to 100 every hour. Some stores had to limit customers to buying just two crates.

Get moreinfo on great British Beer Here !

Beer money to save red squirrels

A new drink has been created by a Scottish brewery to help efforts to protect red squirrels.

Part of the proceeds from sales of Red Squirrel Ale will be donated to the Dingwall-based Highland Red Squirrel Group (HRSG).

The Highlands are considered a stronghold for the mammals, which has been threatened by competition and a disease carried by non-native greys.

The ale has been made by Atlas Brewery in Kinlochleven.

I hope there will be plenty of people asking for a pint of Red Squirrel Ale and a bag of nuts
Ian Collier
HRSG chairman

HRSG said it has been estimated that only 160,000 red squirrels are left in the UK.

Loss of habitat has been identified as another factor in their demise.

Thursday's launch of the ale coincides with Red Squirrel Week from 4-12 October.

Ian Collier, chairman of the HRSG, said: "We are really pleased to be in partnership with Atlas Brewery to raise the profile of red squirrels in the Highlands and to take the opportunity to raise funds for the Highland Red Squirrel Group charity.

"I hope there will be plenty of people asking for a pint of Red Squirrel Ale and a bag of nuts."

Norman Sinclair, managing director of Atlas Brewery's parent company, Sinclair Breweries, said the mammal was an iconic Highland creature.

He added: "The red squirrel is such an iconic Highland creature, we felt it was important to do our bit to ensure future generations will still be able to enjoy seeing them in their natural habitat."

source bbc.co.uk

Beautiful Beer's 'Colours of Beer' categorises beer by colour

A new promotion based on categorising beer by colour is currently being trialled by Spirit Group.

An initiative led by British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) campaign group Beautiful Beer, ‘Colours of Beer’ involves a tray designed to hold six third-pint glasses of beers of different colours. The pubs are promoting the holders at a £5.95 price point as a means of encouraging trial and getting consumers to consider the differences between beer styles.

Spirit is the first pub group to get involved with the trial, rolling it out to eight pubs in central London. The seven-week trial ends in mid-October.

Spirit estimates the eight pubs will sell a total of around 700 beer holders.

Total beer sales will be analysed at the end of the trial, along with feedback from hundreds of consumers who completed a questionnaire in the pubs. The pubs’ managers have also been interviewed.

Martin Rawlings, BBPA pub and leisure director, said: “Colours of Beer helps to create interest and news around the category. And what better place to do that than in the Great British pub?”

Dan Robinson, Spirit Group operations director, added that promotion had proved “infectious” with one customer ordering one of the trays usually being swiftly followed by many more doing so.


Article Source www.thepublican.com

Beer 'the best accompaniment to pub food'

ALMR debate turns the tables on wine

Beer has been voted the best partner for pub food following the annual debate of the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers in Leeds.


Following arguments from a series of trade figures, delegates voted beer ahead of wine and cider as the best accompaniment to food in pubs. At the outset the audience voted 47 for wine, 46 for beer and just four for cider - but by the end of the debate beer was the clear champion, taking 47 votes, compared to 22 for wine and 18 for cider.


Speakers included Justin Adams, Greene King's brewing managing director, and Society of Independent Brewers chief executive Julian Grocock speaking up for beer; Henry Chevallier Guild of Aspall Cider and Fenella Tyler from the National Association of Cidermakers speaking for cider; and Ian Harris of the Wine & Spirits Educational Trust and Robin Knapp from Matthew Clark extolling the wonders of wine.

Source www.thepublican.com

UK Pub Closures Running At 5 Per Day

The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA). has said in a recent report that pub closures in the UK were running at 5 per day. Whereas CAMRA the campaign for real ale, puts closure levels at a much more optimistic 57 per month or roughly 2 per day.

So gauging how bad the situation is very much depends on who you talk to, but one thing is for certain, the pub trade in the UK is definitely having a hard time in 2008.

The industry is angry with the government for pressing ahead with tax rises, when it is facing the toughest trading conditions for years. With pressure on household budgets, last year's smoking ban, cheap alcohol offers in supermarkets, and the miserable summer weather encouraging drinkers to stay at home.

Investor concern over the health of Britain's two biggest pubs groups, Punch Taverns and Enterprise Inns, gained momentum over the summer and shares in both have now lost more than half of their value since the start of the year.

The BBPA has recently launched its axe the beer tax campaign demanding an end to tax rises above the rate of inflation, and similarly CAMRA has campaigned for a fair deal on beer tax, including launching a facebook group in July 2008. All with so far little response or action from the government it has to be said.


With little sign of an economic upturn the near future, and consumer confidence remaining low, I predict a tough time for the pub trade for the rest of 2008 and indeed 2009. The only bright light at the end of the tunnel is as with all economic recessions, (yes I know we are all still pretending we aren't in a recession but whatever label you put on it things ain't great are they), businesses that can survive emerge leaner filter and in a great position to profit on the upturn during the recovery.

Hobgoblin to launch in 33cl bottles

Wychwood Brewery will be launching Hobgoblin, its famous 5.2% ruby beer, in a 33cl bottle in Tesco by the end of September. This is the first time that Hobgoblin has ever been packaged in this smaller bottle size.

Hobgoblin is Britain’s fifth largest-selling premium bottled ale and is currently sold in 50cl bottles, either singly, in packs of four or in packs of eight bottles. It is also sold in 50cl cans.

James Coyle, sales director at Marston's which now owns Wychwood, said: “This will be a significant advance for the brand as the new bottle size will allow a fresh group of beer drinkers to discover Hobgoblin’s mischievous charms.

"The 50cl bottle size is used by over 95% of all British bottled beers, but the size discourages many existing beer drinkers from trying something new, and puts off many others from trialling the beer category.

"Hobgoblin’s rich toffeed flavours and brooding hop backbone have no equal, so the 33cl bottles will allow us to introduce our deliciously idiosyncratic hero to a new market.

Hobgoblin has been brewed at the Wychwood Brewery, near Witney, Oxfordshire, since 1988.

How To Taste Beer

Just like it's snobby upperclass cousin wine, there is a correct way to taste and evaluate beer. Just follow these 3 steps.


1 Appearence. Is it suppose to be hazy or cloudy? Perhaps so in a complex hoppy styled craft beer, Or A wheat beer when yeast clouds the glass of amber, But if its hazy or has thrown a sediment and you know that’s not suppose to be there then something may be amiss. It may be old or abused beer.

2 Smell. Keep in mind there are hundreds of styles of beer. Most are not suppose to be winey or sherry like; that’s a sign of oxidation. In other words old beer. Some strong beers are enhanced by a sherry-like character. But if your pilsener is winey, you just spent money on a loser. Does it smell like wet paper or cardboard? Yes, that’s a typical aroma of stale, oxidized, old and abused beer. Loser (and often on “clearance sale”). Butterscotch or sweet corn aroma is desired by some beer drinkers, but to most it is a character accepted without the knowledge that it is actually a fermentation flaw, indicating lack of quality control.

3 Taste. Unless the beer is a style of ale that specializes in wild or eccentric fermentation, sourness is not a good thing. If your pilsener, Oktoberfest or pale ale tastes sour – it’s a beer that has a bacterial contamination that has traveled south. No health alarms here. It’s usually lactobacillus or other bacteria related yogurt, But it doesn’t belong in most types of beer. Return it and get your money back. It may even come from a dirty tap line in a bar. Shame on the publican. The same characters you may have sensed in the aroma usually manifest themselves in the taste. Sweet, malty, bitter, fruity, hoppy, light, medium, full mouthfeel? You may or may not appreciate the levels of intensity or subtleness, but that is what the brewer intended. Take note. Either become a loyal fan of the beer, knowing what character you appreciate or switch to another with the balance you seek.

Finaly read the tasting notes, Just type in the beer brand with the phrase tasting notes into google and read what others have said. Then you will know what to expect.

Follow these steps and you will learn to appreciate your favorite brew, and spot a rougue bad example before you waste your money.

CAMRA Champion Beers of Britain 2008

Champion Beer of Britain: TRIPLE FFF, ALTON'S PRIDE (Hampshire)

Second: Beckstones, Black Dog Freddy (Cumbria)

Third: Wickwar, Station Porter (Gloucestershire)

Mild Category
Gold - Beckstones, Black Dog Freddy (Cumbria)
Silver - Rudgate, Ruby Mild (York)
Bronze - Rhymney, Dark (Merthyr Tydfil)

Bitter Category
Gold - Triple fff, Alton's Pride (Hampshire)
Silver - Lees, Bitter (Manchester)
Joint Bronze - Jarrow, Rivet Catcher (Tyne & Wear) and Surrey Hills, Ranmore Ale (Surrey)

Best Bitter Category
Gold - Skinner's, Betty Stogs (Cornwall)
Silver - Highland, Scapa Special (Orkney)
Bronze - Cairngorm, Nessies Monster Mash (Highlands) and Timothy Taylor, Landlord (West Yorkshire)

Strong Bitter Category
Gold - Thornbridge, Jaipur IPA (Derbyshire)
Silver - Fuller's, ESB (London)
Bronze - Highland, Orkney Blast (Orkney)

Golden Ale Category
Gold - Otley, O1 (Mid Glamorgan)
Silver - Loddon, Ferryman's Gold (Oxfordshire)
Bronze - Skinner's, Cornish Knocker Ale (Cornwall)

Speciality Beer Category
Gold - Otley, OGarden (Mid Glamorgan)
Silver - Wentworth, Bumble Beer (South Yorkshire)
Bronze - Nethergate, Umbel Magna (Essex)

CAMRA Bottled-Conditioned Beers
Gold - Wye Valley, Dorothy Goodbody's Wholesome Stout
Silver - Fullers, 1845
Bronze - Wells and Young's, Special London Ale

Winter Beer of Britain Winner (announced in Jan 2008)
Wickwar, Station Porter

Weak British market hits Greene King beer sales

Greene King, the UK ale brewer, has said a weak market caused its beer volumes to fall in the first quarter.

Greene King, which makes Old Speckled Hen and IPA, said today (2 September) that own-brewed beer volumes fell 3% in the 16 weeks to 24 August.

Its announcement follows a stark warning from Coors Brewers yesterday that input cost rises threatened to "cripple the Uk beer industry".

Greene King said it remained in-line to meet expectations across the company, "despite a lacklustre outlook for the UK economy".

It said of the beer volume decline: "Given near double-digit declines in the on-trade beer market, this is a strong performance. Share gains continue in both the on- and off-trade, and in the standard and premium ale categories."

The ale brewer said consumer spending had continued to contract, but added: "The Greene King model is robust and resilient; strong cashflows allow continued investment in growth areas such as food, accommodation and premium ale; and the tough approach to cost management creates opportunities to drive further value into the business."

Trade body to launch ‘Axe the beer tax’ campaign

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) is to launch a campaign opposing the Government’s plans to increase beer duty at a rate above inflation for the next four years.

Axe the beer tax, which will have its own dedicated mini-site online, was described by the BBPA as a “logical next step” in the trade body’s efforts to ramp up the pressure on chancellor Alastair Darling.

Darling outraged the industry - currently seeing five pubs closures per day - when he announced in the Budget the introduction of a tax escalator for beer duty set at 2% above inflation.

A BBPA spokesman said: “The UK pub industry is seeing a significant rate of closures and fall in beer sales and we believe the large tax increase levied on the industry by Government is a key reason for this.”

Earlier this month, the BBPA released its A Wake up for Westminster report, which stated that Government taxes and red tape were damaging the UK’s pub sector as it grappled with one of its most severe periods of economic pressure on record.

Rob Hayward, BBPA chief executive, said at the launch: “The Government should abandon its plans for more punitive tax rises on beer, and should concentrate on enforcing existing laws rather than introduce new ones.

Axe the Beer Tax will receive its official launch this autumn.

Article Source :- http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2008/09/23/323550/trade-body-to-launch-axe-the-beer-tax-campaign.html