English Beer
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Everyone jokes about warm beer in England, and you may in fact get served a pint that is a bit close to tepid for your liking, but this is rare. While most pubs will serve you chilled beer, it probably won't be the ice-cold variety that Antipodeans are more familiar with.
More than 1,000 different brands of beer are brewed in Britain daily, with the most common being lagers and ale. British beers - particularly some of the independent labels - are world-renowned, and the beer lover will soon discover some new favourites. Unfortunately, far too many travellers to the UK stick to the mass-produced beers that they drank back home, or local versions of insipid international brews.
'Real ale' is making a comeback in Britain (and throughout the world), with traditional methods, the eschewing of additives, and a renewed emphasis on quality over quantity being at the forefront. Real ales typically undergo a secondary fermentation or maturation process in the keg or bottle, which can result in a more distinct flavour and body.
Ten Great Beers
We have done an office poll, read the books, tasted the beer - and have decided to share these ten beers (in no particular order) with you all. Some you will have heard of, others will hopefully become favourites...
- Newcastle Brown Ale - a northern favourite, with a rich malty flavour.
- Worthington White Shield - a pale ale from the Bass stable.
- Marston Pedigree - a Burton bitter of renown.
- London Pride - a Fuller's brewery mainstay.
- Spitfire - from Shepherd Neame, brewing since 1698.
- London Ale - a Young's export special variety.
- Abbot Ale - Greene King produced.
- John Smith Bitter - produced at the excellent brewery in Yorkshire.
- Tetley Bitter - another Yorkshire classic.
- Guinness - OK, an Irish name of world-wide renown, but the real deal matches the hype. Fly to Dublin and visit the brewery. A new 'ice cold' variety is just as tasty.
Also -
For more information on real ale, beer festivals, and historic pubs, visit the Campaign For Real Ale site.
Visit our Pub Of The Month or our guide to London's Historic Pubs.
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