Features

Great lager beers come from Central Europe while Britain is saddled with the mass-produced brews produced by global brewers. But small independent brewers in Britain are now making some fine interpretations of the style -- and king of the heap is Curious Brew, which uses wine techniques including Champagne yeast

Added: Thursday, May 7th 2020

The nation's pubs are shut tight and it's not the first time they have suffered during a time of crisis. During the First World War, the teetotal Liberal politician David Lloyd George (pictured) drove through measures that drastically cut pub opening hours, increased the price of beer and remodelled pubs to make them less cheerful places to visit. Massive rises in beer duty led to stronger beers such as IPA becoming a shadow of their former selves

Added: Thursday, April 9th 2020

Liverpool is famous for its pubs but it's worth wandering into the backstreets to find some hidden gems, such as Ye Cracke (pictured), where John Lennon used to drink when he was at the nearby art college. There's more Beatles memorabilia at the Grapes in Mathew Street, close to the Cavern Club, and at the nearby White Star. The Roscoe Head has a fine offering of beer and needs support in case its owners close it. For the new face of Liverpool, don't miss the Love Lane brewery and tap

Added: Sunday, March 15th 2020

Hinckley in Leicestershire is the birthplace of three men who went on to carve out important roles in British brewing. William Bass,William Worthington and William Butler all have blue plaques on their homes and the local museum has staged a special event to mark their contribution to brewing

Added: Monday, February 24th 2020

Derby has a number of pubs that still serve the legendary Draught Bass from nearby Burton-on-Trent. The pubs include the 16th-century and haunted Olde Dolphin (pictured) along with other historic pubs such as the Smithfield and Old Bell coaching inns.They all prove that whether served from a hand pump or straight from the cask, Bass is still a fine ale

Added: Sunday, February 16th 2020

Batham's and Holden's are two legendary Black Country breweries famous for their dark milds. But bitter and pale beers are now their main products and mild is in deep decline. It was a style once downed in vast quantities by miners and other industrial workers but as heavy industry has disappeared mild has fallen from grace and needs urgent support from lovers of traditional beers. Pictured: Batham's famous Vine pub complete with Shakespeare quotation

Added: Monday, December 30th 2019

A tasting of old Bass beers drew a large audience in Burton-on-Trent, keen to samples beers as old as 150 years. The event was organised by Ian Webster, a local historian, with a number of retired Bass brewers.The event proved that old unpasteurised beers can age with distinction as much as fine wine.

Added: Thursday, December 19th 2019

There's a superb range of beers available for the Christmas period. They include the venerable Old Tom from Robinson's., celebrating 100 years, Chiltern about to celebrate 40 years, the revered Bateman's Rosey Nosey and a remarkable Imperial Pilsner from Camden Town that has been aged in French wine barrels.

Added: Tuesday, December 10th 2019

The Kelham Island Museum in Sheffield is a fascinating view of the city's great industrial past and it was a fine venue for the CAMRA Steel City Beer Festival. Close by, the Kommune collective of restaurants and book shops is home to Hop Hideout, a beer shop run by Jules Gray with a fine range of beers from home and abroad

Added: Monday, November 25th 2019

The old question "What did Porter taste like?" is answered by a collaboration brew between Goose Island of Chicago and Wimbledon Brewery in London.The beer is based on recipes unearthed by historian Ron Pattinson from the old Truman brewery in East London. The name celebrates Obadiah Poundage,a retired London brewer in the 18th century, whose writings gave an insight into how early Porters were brewed

Added: Wednesday, November 6th 2019