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Martyn Cornell, a brilliant beer writer, researcher and historian of brewing, has died suddenly aged 72. He is pictured above left with his brother Dave. Martyn spent many years researching the origins of beer styles, in particular porter and stout from the 18th century. His blog Zythophile was a must-read for all lovers of beer. He died on the eve of a major new book on the history and revival of porter and stout

Added: Friday, June 6th 2025

Ken Don was head brewer at Young's from 1980 until it closed. He then spent many weeks at Charles Wells Brewery in Bedford where his beers were transferred. He had to train his yeast culture to work in Wells' conical vessels. The beers continued to be brewed at Bedford when Marston's bought the plant but it was then sold to Estrella Damm. Young's beer are now at Banks's but will find end at Marston's in Burton, a long way from their ancestral home

Added: Tuesday, June 3rd 2025

Covid still has an impact on sales of beer today. As a result of pub lockdowns drinkers bought beer from supermarkets and chose global lagers sold at huge discounts. Now in pubs many people you would expect to drink cask ale are still choosing lager while small brewers find the route to market hard

Added: Sunday, November 10th 2024

Not content with closing Jennings, Ringwood and Wychwood, Carlsberg now plans to close Banks's in Wolverhampton, the 100,000 barrel a year brewery famous for Black Country Mild and Bitter. The Danish lager giant plans to invest £6m in expanding Marston's in Burton, its last remaining ale brewery, but it's likely that many current ale brands will disappear.

Added: Thursday, October 24th 2024

There's a growing media storm warning of the dangers of drinking alcohol. Most of the advice is based on ignorance and much of the material in newspapers comes as a result of clever campaigning and influence by the temperance movement using a number of names that cover its real intentions

Added: Wednesday, September 4th 2024

Last month Bateman's Brewery in Lincolnshire celebrated its 150th anniversary with a special lunch attended by several hundred fellow brewers, retailers and beer writers. The media was noticeable by its absence. It could have interviewed Stuart and Jaclyn Bateman (pictured), the fourth generation of the family but chose to stay away. Britain is as great brewing nation but is badly served by the media

Added: Monday, May 6th 2024

Adnams, the revered Suffolk brewer, has reported its needs financial support as a result of falling sales caused by Covid, lockdown and the cask ale sector in decline.

Added: Tuesday, March 19th 2024

A cash-rich City of London investment group has bought two big regional brewers and closed two London micros. Breal Group noiw owns Black Sheep and Purity and says it's on the lookout to buy further breweries that may be in trouble as a result of Covid and lockdowns.

Added: Saturday, March 9th 2024

Des de Moor's new book is a well-researched history of brewing in Britain, the development of cask-conditioned ale and its struggle to revive after Covid. The design of the book is odd -- with long sections on lager as well as ale -- before readers get to the promise of the title but in general this is a thoughtful, stimulating and provocative analysis

Added: Monday, October 30th 2023

Scottish brewer Innis & Gunn has launched 12 Moons, a lager that's aged and matured for 12 months. Dougal Sharp, the founder of I&G, thinks it may be the longest-lagered beer in the word. Samichlaus, brewed in Austria, is aged for 10 months while the Czech Budweiser Budvar Reserve enjoys 200 days in the lager cellar.

Added: Monday, September 11th 2023