News

Four students from the brewing and distilling course at Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh have made a deep bow in the direction of Extra Special Bitter by producinga version that stresses the style's roots in both Britain and the United States. Natural Selection uses British malts and American hops, with a name that also commemorates the scientific discoveries of Charles Darwin. Pictured: Sarah Brown, the project co-ordinator

Added: Saturday, June 13th 2015

The Sailor Boy pub in Hitchin, Herts, has been gutted by fire. The former Enterprise Inns pub had stood empty for several months following a ruling by the local council that it could be turned into a convenience store. Campaigners say the Walsworth area of Hitchin now has no pubs and people will have to travel in to the town centre for a drink

Added: Friday, June 5th 2015

A Good Beer Guide-listed community local, the Prince of Wales in Moseley, Birmingham, has seen Keith and Diane Marsden (Keith pictured left) named Licensees of the Year by the British Institute of Innkeeping. The pub serves a wide range of cask ales, two ciders -- and also has a vast collection of Cuban cigars

Added: Tuesday, June 2nd 2015

Scottish craft brewer BrewDog will invest in a new £25m brewhouse in Ellon near Aberdeen that will increase production capacity five times. £6m has been raised by a "crowd funding" initiative and £3m of that figure will go straight into the new brewhouse, which will have a capacity of 300hl. The new site is projected to come on stream in February 2016. Pictured are founders James Watt and Martin Dickie

Added: Sunday, May 31st 2015

Nicholson's, the 80-strong chain of historic pubs located throughout the UK, has seen a dramatic increase of 27% in the consumption of golden and pale ales. Nicholson's -- part of the Mitchells & Butlers group -- says many younger drinkers moving from lager find golden and pale ales appealing. But its biggest-selling style is still amber-coloured bitter

Added: Thursday, May 28th 2015

Marks & Spencer has launched a new range of bottled beers from leading brewers. While the beers are "own label", the name of each brewery is clearly identified on the labels. Several of the beers feature British malts and hops.

Added: Monday, May 25th 2015

Flying Dog, the American brewery famous for its powerful IPAs and Porter, has scaled down with its Easy IPA at 4.7%. But the brewery inspired by "gonzo journalist" Hunter S Thompson, with labels drawn by thel British satirical artist Ralph Steadman, stays true to its roots with a beer rich in hop and malt character

Added: Sunday, May 17th 2015

Nick Miller, chief executive of Meantime Brewing Co, says the takeover by SABMiller won't affect beer quality: "They haven't got the balls to tell brewmaster Alastair Hook what to brew," he says. The brewery's London Pale Ale, Lager and Stout can now enjoy export to other markets while the Greenwich brewery will become a "centre of innovation" for the global brewer

Added: Friday, May 15th 2015

The Tre Fontane -- Three Fountains -- abbey in Rome has been officially recognised as the 11th Trappist brewery. The monks' 8.5% ale was launched this month with eucalyptus leaves added to the brew.

Added: Tuesday, May 12th 2015

Fast-growing independent brewery Hogs Back in Surrey has launched an IPA, Hopping Hog -- its first ale in keg format. It will also be available in cask and bottle. Brewery owner Rupert Thompson says Hopping Hog is a traditional English version of IPA while he acknowledges that American craft brewers have helped revive the style world-wide with their passion for the beer

Added: Monday, May 4th 2015