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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

The demolition of the Crooked House in the Black Country has spotlighted the way in which more and more pubs are being destroyed by speculators. As a general election approaches, political parties should be asked to commit to appointing a Pubs Minister who will protect pubs and will also tackle such burning issues as high business rates, VAT and excise duties that penalise pubs and advantage supermarkets

Added: Sunday, September 3rd 2023

Most of the top-selling lagers in Britain have reassuringly Continental names but most of them are brewed not in Europe, let along Australia, but in giant beer factories in this country. And almost without exception, they are lower in alcohol than the original beers whose names they mimic -- which means big savings in excise duty for the brewers. Heineken is spending millions launching Cruzcampo -- 4.4% in the UK, 4.8% in Spain

Added: Saturday, April 15th 2023

After the dread days of Covid and lockdown, it's good to be able to visit pubs and enjoy draught beer, especially traditional ale, made from malted grain and hops -- no funny bits, including beetroot

Added: Friday, April 14th 2023

The Bree Louise was an award-winning pub close to Euston station in North London. It was closed in 2018 and knocked down to make way for the new high-speed train service to Birmingham, HS2. Now there is speculation that HS2 may be cancelled or trains will start in the suburbs, not at Euston. So the pub and surrounding buildings need not have been destroyed

Added: Friday, February 10th 2023

Global lager giant Molson Coors plans to close the National Brewery Centre in Burton on Trent and turn it into offices for its staff. The centre traces the history of brewing in Burton, including the rise of IPA in the 19th century. It has a large number of displays including old brewery vehicles and steam locos. The Heritage Archive of documents will be moved to Bass House and Town House but no site has been earmarked for artefacts

Added: Tuesday, September 20th 2022

The Land of Liberty, Peace & Plenty is a pub of historic importance. It was built in the 1840s to support a Chartist community in Heronsgate, Herts, and has traded ever since. It has won a large number of awards from CAMRA and is currently the Herts Country Pub of the Year. But the owners are thinking of selling as they haven't recovered from Covid lockdowns and say most of their former regulars stay at home and drink cheap supermarket alcohol

Added: Sunday, July 10th 2022

BrewDog was meant to offer something different in the world of beer. It attracted young drinkers with Punk beer and encouraged them to invest in the brewery with an Equity for Punks scheme. But now employees have accused founders James Watt and Martin Dickie (pictured) of creating a toxic atmosphere at the company with a "growth at all costs" attitude. And a large parcel of shares have been sold to investment companies based in the tax haven of the Cayman Islands

Added: Wednesday, July 7th 2021

While the government has banned pubs from selling take home beer, retail outlets -- including petrol stations -- are free to sell alcohol. Twice as many pubs closed in 2020 compared to the previous year and it's expected many more will close as a result of the restrictions. Pictured, the King William IV in St Albans, now closed, while three retail outlets yards away can sell alcohol all day and evening.

Added: Friday, January 8th 2021