News

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

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