News

A team of American and Egyptian archaeologists has found a large brewing complex at Abydos near Luxor in Egypt. It's thought to be the oldest brewery in the world and dates from the time of King Narmer, founder of the First Dynasty. The brewery contained hundreds of pots in which grain and water were heated. Hops were not used at the time. The beer is thought to have been drunk at royal rituals and funerals.

Added: Tuesday, February 16th 2021

For the first time in its 30-year history, Black Sheep Brewery in Masham, North Yorkshire, is offering its Best Bitter in bottle. It's one of the country's best-selling ales but to date it has only been available in cask format. But now the closure of pubs and the demand from drinkers has encouraged the brewery to offer the beer in bottle

Added: Monday, February 15th 2021

Two craft brewers in Hertfordshire -- in common with small brewers everywhere -- are having a tough time. Farr Brew is planning to pour casks of ale down the drain and its cellars are full of unsold stock while 3 Brewers has its brewer furloughed and can't supply the 200 pubs that take its beer. Pictured: Farr Brew pumps on the bar of the Elephant & Castle in Amwell

Added: Friday, January 29th 2021

One of Britain's oldest craft breweries, St Peter's in Suffolk, has been bought by a group of beer lovers following the decision by founder John Murphy to retire. The brewery, based in an old moated hall in the countryside, is famous for its quirky oval bottles and for a range of ales and no-alcohol beers.

Added: Wednesday, January 27th 2021

Two breweries in the English Midlands and the Scottish Borders have brought back two noble beer styles from the 19th and 20th centuries. In Northampton, Phipps has aged a batch of its Stingo barley wine for a year while Broughton in Scotland has kept a batch of Imperial Russian Stout in its cellars for 20 years.

Added: Wednesday, December 16th 2020

Not all pubs are open but there's still plenty of good beer available to help celebrate the festive season. They range from ale from Britain's oldest brewery to beers from modern craft producers. There's a stout, too, plus the revival of an ancient style, Audit Ale, that was once brewed for Oxford and Cambridge colleges that had audit feasts when they finished their annual accounts

Added: Sunday, December 6th 2020

Marston's has launched Horninglow No 3, the third in its special edition of bottle-conditioned beers that are brewed in the historic Burton Union oak barrels. No 3 is a New England style IPA using American hops. The beer is bottle conditioned and at 7.4 per cent ABV it will age for several years

Added: Tuesday, November 10th 2020

A new system of home brewing produces beer in just seven days and is so easy that even renowned fumble fingers can do it without ruining the kitchen. The range includes Pale Ale, IPA, Pilsner and lager...and the manufacturer says the beers will be better if they are allowed to condition for a few days more

Added: Monday, November 9th 2020

Exmoor Ales head brewer Tom Davis has produced a strong version of the regular 6.6 per cent Beast. Megabeast is 10.2 per cent and is brewed with pale, crystal and chocolate malts and has four hops. It's bottle conditioned and the perfect companion for blue cheese

Added: Friday, October 30th 2020

The 2021 edition of the Good Beer Guide, published by CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, says the coronavirus pandemic has caused havoc for British pubs, many of which have not reopened since the first national lockdown was lifted in the summer. And for the first time for many years, the Guide reports a decline in the number of breweries operating in the country

Added: Thursday, October 29th 2020