Beer News

News

You'd be baamy to miss Black Sheep's ale

Rob and Jo Theakston have launched a new hoppy, golden pale ale, Hoptacular, at their brewery in Masham, North Yorkshire. Four hops are used to give the 3.6% beer a big bitter and fruity appeal, with much of the character coming from fermentation in traditional "Yorkshire Squares"

Added: Wednesday, July 1st 2015

Comment

Doom Bar: between Rock & a hard place

Molson Coors has admitted that the bottled version of its best-selling Doom Bar has been brewed for the past two years in Burton-on-Trent. Yet bottle labels announce in bold type ROCK CORNWALL. And an advertisement in Waitrose Weekend, illustrated with a bottle of Doom Bar, says Sharp's creates beer "alive with Cornish energy" at Rock. Other big brands, including Foster's, Kronenbourg and Stella Artois, also stress their places of origin but brew in Britain

Added: Monday, June 29th 2015

Feature

Magna Carta ales: a toast to liberty

As celebrations get underway to commemorate the signing of Magna Carta 800 years ago, breweries have produced special beers to mark the occasion. Some use medieval recipes to incorporate such ingredients as rosemary, yarrow and other herbs and spices added at a time when hops were not available or were unknown

Added: Sunday, June 14th 2015

Feature

Home brewers are cutting with the grain

Posy Parsons (left) and Claire Russell are bringing full-mash and full-grain brewing to the home with easy to use kits that offer malted barley and hop pellets rather than syrups. They hail from the U.S. and Australia respectively where they fought their way through the fizz to discover good beer and brought their passion to the UK.

Added: Thursday, June 4th 2015

News

Pale ales triumph in major pub group

Nicholson's, the 80-strong chain of historic pubs located throughout the UK, has seen a dramatic increase of 27% in the consumption of golden and pale ales. Nicholson's -- part of the Mitchells & Butlers group -- says many younger drinkers moving from lager find golden and pale ales appealing. But its biggest-selling style is still amber-coloured bitter

Added: Thursday, May 28th 2015

News

M&S launches new British beer range

Marks & Spencer has launched a new range of bottled beers from leading brewers. While the beers are "own label", the name of each brewery is clearly identified on the labels. Several of the beers feature British malts and hops.

Added: Monday, May 25th 2015

News

Flying Dog 'session IPA' says take it easy

Flying Dog, the American brewery famous for its powerful IPAs and Porter, has scaled down with its Easy IPA at 4.7%. But the brewery inspired by "gonzo journalist" Hunter S Thompson, with labels drawn by thel British satirical artist Ralph Steadman, stays true to its roots with a beer rich in hop and malt character

Added: Sunday, May 17th 2015

Comment

Mild: it's not as dead as the Dodo

An article in Guardian Online by Tony Naylor suggested that Mild ale was in such steep decline that CAMRA's Mild Month promotion was a waste of time. But there's life in the style yet, with many more brewers producing it. Simon Yates of Banks's Brewery (pictured) thinks Mild will be rediscovered -- and his brewery is the biggest producer of Mild in the world

Added: Wednesday, May 13th 2015

News

Italian monks' beer given Trappist approval

The Tre Fontane -- Three Fountains -- abbey in Rome has been officially recognised as the 11th Trappist brewery. The monks' 8.5% ale was launched this month with eucalyptus leaves added to the brew.

Added: Tuesday, May 12th 2015

Guest Column

It's Magna Carta time for British beer

Beer Sommelier Jane Peyton calls on all beer lovers to join the festivities starting on 15 June to celebrate Britain's national drink. She has chosen that date as it also marks the signing of Magna Carta, which supported English ale

Added: Tuesday, May 5th 2015