Copyright (c) 2026 Protz On Beer, by Roger Protz https://protzonbeer.co.uk/columns en-gb Sun, 28 Jan 2024 12:33:00 GMT Des de Moor on the long history of beer brewed for the India trade in the 19th century and the difference between those historic brews and modern IPAs. He discusses the role of conventional brewers' yeast and such wild strains as Brettanomyces that would have given sharply different flavours to the Victorian styles Sun, 28 Jan 2024 12:33:00 GMT https://protzonbeer.co.uk/columns/2024/01/28/pale-ale-and-the-long-voyage-to-india https://protzonbeer.co.uk/columns/2024/01/28/pale-ale-and-the-long-voyage-to-india For six years, Friends of the Iron Duke have campaigned to save the closed Art Deco listed building and to reopen it as a pub. The local council and its preservation trust have refused to put the pub out for tender and have now reached an agreement with a company called Zak's to turn the site into an American-style burger restaurant. Caroline Jones of Friends of the Iron Duke tells the story... Thu, 15 Jun 2023 12:43:00 BST https://protzonbeer.co.uk/columns/2023/06/15/battle-royal-over-iconic-art-deco-pub https://protzonbeer.co.uk/columns/2023/06/15/battle-royal-over-iconic-art-deco-pub Ash Corbett-Collins, CAMRA's Young Members Coordinator, says it is vital that the Campaign attracts the thousands of young beer lovers who are not yet members. They are needed to strengthen the Campaign at all levels and support beer festivals and other activities that attempt to attract drinkers Wed, 18 Apr 2018 07:30:00 BST https://protzonbeer.co.uk/columns/2018/04/18/camra-reach-out-to-young-drinkers https://protzonbeer.co.uk/columns/2018/04/18/camra-reach-out-to-young-drinkers Brewers are still using sexist images to sell beer, says Katie Wiles -- and it demeans women drinkers. Recent examples (left) are from Robinson's and Moorhouse's while an Italian beer has caused an uproar with a crude label suggesting a woman drinker is performing fellatio. And an Irish brewery is using a sexist image for its Dublin Blonde Lager. Thu, 26 Oct 2017 09:31:00 BST https://protzonbeer.co.uk/columns/2017/10/26/time-to-kick-sexism-out-of-beer https://protzonbeer.co.uk/columns/2017/10/26/time-to-kick-sexism-out-of-beer Writer Katie Wiles challenges the myth that women don't like beer. She talks to a number of women drinkers who say they prefer flavour-rich beer to wine and they enjoy drinking in pubs, which are no longer a male preserve. And, Katie argues, there's no such thing as a "woman's palate"! Mon, 25 Sep 2017 10:31:00 BST https://protzonbeer.co.uk/columns/2017/09/25/cheers-ladies-really-love-beer https://protzonbeer.co.uk/columns/2017/09/25/cheers-ladies-really-love-beer Paul Nunny of Cask Marque says it's time drinkers stopped knocking cask beer and spoke up about its values and success. He adds that both price and quality need to be addressed and points out that while cask beer is usually the cheapest beer on the bar it's a premium product. Thu, 26 Jan 2017 10:11:00 GMT https://protzonbeer.co.uk/columns/2017/01/26/nunny-time-to-stop-knocking-cask-ale https://protzonbeer.co.uk/columns/2017/01/26/nunny-time-to-stop-knocking-cask-ale The second Milano Beer Week will be held in the Italian city from 21-27 September, Maurizio Maestrelli reports. It will showcase beers from the hundreds of craft breweries operating in Italy as well as beers from Britain, the United States and many European countries. It will prove that beer is now firmly rooted in Italy's quest for good food and drink Sun, 23 Aug 2015 17:56:00 BST https://protzonbeer.co.uk/columns/2015/08/23/come-to-milan-city-of-beer https://protzonbeer.co.uk/columns/2015/08/23/come-to-milan-city-of-beer Dave Bailey, who runs Hardknott Brewery in Cumbria, describes the thought that went into brewing Nuclear Sunset on the 70th anniversary of the dropping of the A-bomb on Hiroshima in Japan. Dave's brewery is close to Sellafield in Cumbria and he is acutely aware of the strong feelings aroused by proponents and opponents of the nuclear industry Wed, 05 Aug 2015 07:47:00 BST https://protzonbeer.co.uk/columns/2015/08/05/a-beer-i-brewed-with-grave-misgivings https://protzonbeer.co.uk/columns/2015/08/05/a-beer-i-brewed-with-grave-misgivings Beer Sommelier Jane Peyton calls on all beer lovers to join the festivities starting on 15 June to celebrate Britain's national drink. She has chosen that date as it also marks the signing of Magna Carta, which supported English ale Tue, 05 May 2015 11:30:00 BST https://protzonbeer.co.uk/columns/2015/05/05/it-s-magna-carta-time-for-british-beer https://protzonbeer.co.uk/columns/2015/05/05/it-s-magna-carta-time-for-british-beer The Campaign for Real Ale's annual conference this weekend won't debate sexism in the brewing industry. Beer writer Melissa Cole argues CAMRA is dodging the issue and urges all organisers of beer festivals and other consumer events to say "No" to the likes of Top Totty Wed, 15 Apr 2015 13:13:00 BST https://protzonbeer.co.uk/columns/2015/04/15/time-for-brewers-to-kill-sexist-images https://protzonbeer.co.uk/columns/2015/04/15/time-for-brewers-to-kill-sexist-images Jane Peyton calls on the government to promote our national drink by making it available at parliamentary and embassy dinners and events. The French, she says, wouldn't serve imported wine at official functions yet all too often British government event serve wine rather than home-grown beer. Sign her petition! Thu, 30 Oct 2014 13:39:00 GMT https://protzonbeer.co.uk/columns/2014/10/30/time-to-put-beer-on-the-top-table https://protzonbeer.co.uk/columns/2014/10/30/time-to-put-beer-on-the-top-table Beer Sommelier Jane Peyton says it's time to bang the drum for British hops and to wax lyrical about the need to have balanced beers in which malt and hops are in harmony. She has no problem with the big citrus character of New World hops but says drinkers must be encouraged to enjoy the more subtle yet distinctive character of home-grown varieties Mon, 13 Oct 2014 08:43:00 BST https://protzonbeer.co.uk/columns/2014/10/13/time-to-make-british-hops-hip https://protzonbeer.co.uk/columns/2014/10/13/time-to-make-british-hops-hip So what is "craft beer"? Georgie Denny and Deborah Finding of design research agency The Big Picture find out how drinkers define -- and choose the beer of the moment, such as BrewDog with its redesigned labels Mon, 15 Sep 2014 11:53:00 BST https://protzonbeer.co.uk/columns/2014/09/15/craft-the-word-on-every-drinker-s-lips https://protzonbeer.co.uk/columns/2014/09/15/craft-the-word-on-every-drinker-s-lips Beer sommelier Jane Peyton of the School of Booze says it's a great time for drinking beer -- but there's a schism in the ranks as real ale and craft keg drinkers bandy insults. She argues that all lovers of good beer should join forces Mon, 18 Aug 2014 20:15:00 BST https://protzonbeer.co.uk/columns/2014/08/18/stop-the-squabbles--we-need-a-united-front-to-champion-all-good-beer https://protzonbeer.co.uk/columns/2014/08/18/stop-the-squabbles--we-need-a-united-front-to-champion-all-good-beer Justin Hawke of Moor Beer argues that adding finings and other clearing agents strip beer of flavour and character. His beers are naturally hazy, find favour in pubs and win beer festivals prizes. Sat, 16 Nov 2013 11:37:00 GMT https://protzonbeer.co.uk/columns/2013/11/16/seeking-clarity-on-cloudy-beer https://protzonbeer.co.uk/columns/2013/11/16/seeking-clarity-on-cloudy-beer Marston's brewer Simon Yates hails the complex lemon and lime aromas and flavours of the Wakatu hop from New Zealand that he's using in the latest of his Single Hop beers, available in September and October Sat, 24 Aug 2013 04:43:00 BST https://protzonbeer.co.uk/columns/2013/08/24/kiwi-s-new-hop-takes-a-whack-or-two https://protzonbeer.co.uk/columns/2013/08/24/kiwi-s-new-hop-takes-a-whack-or-two Simon Jenkins reports on Dan Jones's new brewery Hamelsworde in the 'wild frontier' between West and South Yorkshire. Dan, a keen home brewer, has gone commercial with a range of beers that includes Wheat, Stout and IPA Mon, 08 Apr 2013 13:45:00 BST https://protzonbeer.co.uk/columns/2013/04/08/god-s-own-county-goes-beer-crazy https://protzonbeer.co.uk/columns/2013/04/08/god-s-own-county-goes-beer-crazy Pub owner Dawn Hopkins on the dire impact the Beer Duty Escalator is having on pubs, customers and the people who run them. As next week's budget looms, she says it's time for the government to help struggling pubs. Dawn is pictured speaking at the Save the Pubs rally in London earlier this year Thu, 14 Mar 2013 08:39:00 GMT https://protzonbeer.co.uk/columns/2013/03/14/time-to-rescue-the-poor-battered-pub https://protzonbeer.co.uk/columns/2013/03/14/time-to-rescue-the-poor-battered-pub Brewer and pub owner Stuart Bateman on why he likes real pubs, real people and real games -- and tells the powers-that-be to look on the traditional pub as the solution, not the problem Sat, 02 Mar 2013 08:12:00 GMT https://protzonbeer.co.uk/columns/2013/03/02/take-me-to-a-pub-with-a-dart-board-and-spare-me-virtual-reality-gizmos https://protzonbeer.co.uk/columns/2013/03/02/take-me-to-a-pub-with-a-dart-board-and-spare-me-virtual-reality-gizmos Simon Jenkins on how a collaboration between Sierra Nevada of California and Thornbridge of Derbyshire has produced a hands-across-the-pond new beer Mon, 18 Feb 2013 16:30:00 GMT https://protzonbeer.co.uk/columns/2013/02/18/american-and-english-craft-breweries-scale-new-peaks-of-beery-delight https://protzonbeer.co.uk/columns/2013/02/18/american-and-english-craft-breweries-scale-new-peaks-of-beery-delight Beer writer Matthew Kirkegaard pens an Open Letter to SABMiller's Australian boss at Carlton & United on how CUB could be misleading the drinking public by marketing a beer it brews as though it comes from a small independent company. Matt calls for more transparency for the consumer Thu, 31 Jan 2013 07:39:00 GMT https://protzonbeer.co.uk/columns/2013/01/31/dirty-work-down-under https://protzonbeer.co.uk/columns/2013/01/31/dirty-work-down-under Louise Ashworth (centre) on how she designed a beer with brewster Sara Barton (left) and sommelier Jane Peyton that is fruity rather than hoppy Sun, 20 Jan 2013 14:12:00 GMT https://protzonbeer.co.uk/columns/2013/01/20/not-feeling-bitter-brewing-a-beer-for-women-who-are-not-mad-about-hops https://protzonbeer.co.uk/columns/2013/01/20/not-feeling-bitter-brewing-a-beer-for-women-who-are-not-mad-about-hops Guest Beer Writer Simon Jenkins reaches for a soothing pint when his publisher goes out of business Tue, 15 Jan 2013 09:55:00 GMT https://protzonbeer.co.uk/columns/2013/01/15/who-needs-royalties-we-do-it-for-love https://protzonbeer.co.uk/columns/2013/01/15/who-needs-royalties-we-do-it-for-love