Features
Unlocking the gates to Traquair historic ale
The brewery at Traquair House in the Scottish Borders dates from the 18th century and was restored by the 20th Laird Peter Maxwell Stuart in 1965. The house and brewery are now run by his daughter Catherine and both House Ale and Jacobite Ale are exported to many countries, including the United States and Italy. The house dates from the 12th century, Mary Queen of Scots had sanctuary there and Bonnie Prince Charlie visited during his campaign to win back the throne
Added: Tuesday, August 5th 2014
Rich in history but Sint Bernard looks to the future for world sales of abbey beer
The brewery that produces the revered Sint Bernardus beer in Watou, Belgium, has its roots in the rich history of monastic brewing in Flanders. But, having lost its links to the Sint Sixtus monastery, it is installing a new brewhouse to keep pace with the world-wide demand for its abbey ales
Added: Monday, July 28th 2014
Wine guru says beer can be best with food
Ramparts brewery salutes Ypres WWI history and the role of British Tommies
Julie Depypere and Maarten Ghequire, from proud brewing backgrounds, have combined forces to launch De Kazematten, a new brewery built into the city ramparts in Ypres/Ieper in Belgium. The first beer, Wipers Time,s commemorates the newsaper produced by British troops during the war, using an old printing press found in the caves
Added: Saturday, July 19th 2014
The pub where wood is in pole position
Neil Midgley loves wood and he uses oak casks made for his pub, the Junction in Castleford, West Yorkshire, to serve a wide range of beers stored in wooden casks in the pub cellar (pictured). A tasting of beer from conventional casks and oak proved that wood can give added dimensions to aroma and flavour
Added: Thursday, July 10th 2014
Beer booms in Baltic but stout hard to find
The Cesu Alus brewery in Latvia dates from the 1590s and has produced beers by spontaneous fermentation, ale techniques and the lager method. The brewery is now part of the Finnish Olvi group, which has invested heavily to boost production. The lager beers are well made and properly matured but Baltic stouts and porters are hard to find these days
Added: Monday, June 23rd 2014
Fat Cats, where drinkers purr with pleasure and salute lost breweries
Colin Keatley restored good beer and choice to Norwich with his first Fat Cat pub. Now there are three Fat Cats in the city, including one with its own brewery. As well as beers from all over Britain and the rest of the world, the pubs pay homage to the great Norwich breweries destroyed by Watneys in the 1960s and 70s
Added: Monday, June 16th 2014
Surrey digs deep to restore hop tradition
Hogs Back Brewery is planting its own hops -- and has restored the Farnham White Bine variety that disappeared decades ago and was the predecessor of the famous Kent Golding. Brewery chairman Rupert Thompson (in panama hat) is seen with a group of volunteers who helped plant the first bines
Added: Friday, May 30th 2014
Flanders Ale salutes Tommies & Belgians
Chiltern Brewery near Aylesbury has created a special strong Flanders Ale that reaches out to all sides involved in the First World War. The style is pale ale that was popular in both Britain and Belgium and it uses both Belgian hops and malt from Germany. Pictured: brewers Tom Jenkinson (left) and Dave McGovern (right) with "assistant brewer" Roger Protz
Added: Tuesday, May 20th 2014
Golden Ale: beer style that's a golden oldie
Golden Ale is thought of as a relatively new addition to the portfolio of beer styles. But when Shepherd Neame was digging into 19th century recipe books it discovered that a golden Brilliant Ale was brewed before IPA and became a brewery best seller. Pictured are the three beers in Shep's Classic Collection of recreated beers from Victorian times
Added: Friday, May 2nd 2014