Features

The Ferry Boat Inn at Thorganby near York closed on 27 September and will become private housing. Gavin Aitchison reports on the sad end to an unspoilt ale house that has been run by the same family since 1934

Added: Sunday, September 28th 2014

British hops, faced by the threat of extinction, are making a sturdy come back, thanks to the work of Ali Capper (pictured), who farms with her husband Richard in Worcestershire. She has rejuvenated the British Hop Association and working with hop expert Dr Peter Darby has introduced a new variety, Endeavour, which has the citrus notes demanded by many craft brewers

Added: Saturday, August 30th 2014

Centuries ago British brewers guarded their recipes like state secrets. Now work at Shepherd Neame in Kent has broken beer codes to reveal the pale, IPA and stout brewed in the 19th century while at Brakspear in Henley the brewer used a form of shorthand to stop rivals stealing his recipes. Left, three of the old beers recreated by Shepherd Neame

Added: Saturday, August 9th 2014

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

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 expert and Champagne guru Christian Holthausen says beer is more complex than wine due to the use of a wide range of ingredients and can be a better companion at the dining table

Added: Friday, July 25th 2014

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

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

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

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