Contents
p5
Sally Toms declares herself unfashionable and bemoans about uninformed bar staff
On a recent holiday to the South West of England with my other half, I could not resist popping in to a brewery (and he did not resist).
At St Austell Brewery in Cornwall we were greeted by the affab...
By Sally Toms in the section
From the Editor
p7
Michael Jackson on Finland, seagulls’ eggs, Imperial Stout and a brush with death
This was farther than I had ever been. It was my longest and strangest journey yet.
It was farther than the Land of the Midnight Sun, where, deep inside the Arctic Circle, I ate seagulls’ eggs, and s...
By Michael Jackson in the section
The Beer Hunter
p16
Shepherd Neame in Kent is doing a fine job of being all things to all people. Dominic Roskrow reports
If ever there was a case of having your cake and eating it, it’s Kent’s Shepherd Neame.
On the one hand its publicity people are sending out press releases showing how Britain’s oldest registered bre...
By Dominic Roskrow in the section
British Breweries
p20
Andrew Catchpole visits the Boon Rawd brewery in Bangkok, birthplace of the successful Thai lager – Singha
Bangkok takes pride in the soubriquet of consistently hottest city in the world.
Walking the traffic-choked streets, as the mercury nudges 35ºC, with the afternoon humidity rising like a runaway saun...
By Andrew Catchpole in the section
International Focus
p24
Altbiers are the dark, top-fermented ales popular in Düsseldorf and the Rhineland, as Adrian Tierney-Jones
reports
Several brewers will tell you that yeast is the unsung hero of the brew-house. Malt is the soul of beer, hops the grapes, while even the liquor, especially in the old Burton breweries, has its halo. P...
By Adrian Tierney-Jones in the section
International Focus
p28
The Aztecs claim to have invented beer, and Mexico’s modern brewing scene is thriving. Gary Monterosso reports
Think of some of the world’s cradles for brewing history and there’s little doubt that Germany, Belgium and England would be among the first to come to mind.
Yet, evidence exists that the Aztecs, lon...
By Gary Monterosso in the section
International Focus
p30
Marston’s is the official beer of this winter’s cricket Ashes series between England and Australia. Dominic Roskrow spoke to Justin Way, Marston’s marketing manager, about the deal
If you’re English and you follow cricket, then the events of 18 months ago are no doubt indelibly scratched on your memory. You probably own the dvd and replay it after every England one day game defe...
By Dominic Roskrow in the section
News Analysis
p32
Jeff Evans attends a tasting of the Fuller’s Vintage Ales, 1997-2006
I love the phrase “vertical tasting.” There’s something laughably paradoxical about it. Brewers like to use it when presenting beers of different vintages, so you can see how a brew has matured from y...
By Jeff Evans in the section
Spotlight
p34
Scotland has undergone a real ale revolution in recent years. Dominic Roskrow reports
What a difference a decade makes. At least in the story of cask ale it does.
In the mid 90s there was more chance of seeing scantily-clad rah-rah girls doing the conga on Scotland’s beaches than find...
By Dominic Roskrow in the section
Regional Focus
p38
Here’s something else we stumbled across whilst trawling the ‘net for beer related oddities: the world’s first inflatable pub.
Designed and built by Airquee Ltd, the 40ft long pub can be erected in u...
By in the section
Beer Matters
p38
Whilst doing a bit of Christmas shopping at BotW HQ, we happened upon ultimate gadget site Firebox.com and discovered a beer belly you’ll actually want.
This ingenious device (right) may look like a ...
By in the section
Beer Matters
p39
REDHOOK
We have two worthy winners this issue, the Hidden Brewery from United Kingdom and Red Hook Ale from the United States, whose interactive website (www.redhook.com) is one of the best we’ve see...
By in the section
Beer Matters
p39
In Calgary, Alberta USA a man suspected of stealing a loaded beer truck was nabbed after a police dog followed a trail of beer to find him.
The police dog was called out to a parking lot in the weste...
By in the section
Beer Matters
p39
A Vermont brewpub ran dry – quite literally – after staff forgot to pay the water bill and the supply was cut off.
The doors were closed for a few days recently at the Black River Brewing Company in ...
By in the section
Beer Matters
p40
We’ve talked about which beers to pair with your meal, but which beers should you use in your meal? Ben McFarland provides some recipes
Like Gordon Ramsay when he’s in a particularly grumpy mood, beer isn’t always the easiest thing to work with in the kitchen.
While masters of the culinary arts are forever sloshing wine into their ga...
By Ben McFarland in the section
Beer and Food
p43
Pete Genders and The Beer Cellar achieved nationwide publicity earlier this year when it launched a Da Vinci Code tour around the city of Lincoln. The tours continue, but there’s far more to this specialist beer retailer than
conspiracy theories. Richard Jones reports
Here’s something you didn’t know about movie megastar Tom Hanks. During his stay in Lincoln for the filming of the Da Vinci Code, he ate at local pub / restaurant the Wig and Mitre. Upon learning the ...
By Richard Jones in the section
Spotlight
p44
Nigel Huddlestone gets to grips with Joseph Holt of Manchester
Head clockwise around the Manchester inner ring road and eventually you’ll come to the ghost of the Boddingtons brewery, unloved and abandoned, a sorry contrast to the sparkling Manchester Evening New...
By Nigel Huddleston in the section
Spotlight
p47
Bev Escott has made a business out of her collection of beer adverts. Dominic Roskrow reports
Bev Escott is a hoarder. She has collected and stored classic old magazines ever since she was a student at art college. She continued her hobby in to her marriage and through to motherhood.
But she ...
By Dominic Roskrow in the section
Spotlight
p48
Jack Curtin talks to Fritz Maytag, a man largely responsible for the growth of the microbrewery movement in the United States
The legend of Fritz Maytag and his Anchor Brewing Company is essentially true.
The 28-year-old Maytag, heir to a family washing machine fortune, was sitting in his favourite watering hole, the Old Sp...
By Jack Curtin in the section
Modern Pioneers
p50
There's more to this Californian city than meets the eye. Jeff Pickthall reports on a thriving beer culture
It is easy to make a list of things for which San Francisco is famous: steep hills; the Golden Gate Bridge; Dirty Harry; Haight Ashbury and the Summer of Love; the earthquake and fire; the Castro, gay...
By Jeff Pickthall in the section
Beer Journeys
p54
Britain’s independent family brewers are under increasing amounts of pressure, but many of them are doing better than ever. Glynn Davis reports
'Yet another casualty as family sells’, ‘Is the end near for Britain’s independent breweries?’ and ‘Trouble’s brewing – but independent beer makers fight on’ are among a host of recent headlines that ...
By Glynn Davis in the section
Beer Trends
p57
We thought we’d stub out our year-long series on collectibles with a look at the weird and wonderful world of ashtrays
As this is the last in the current series on collectibles, it seemed appropriate to turn our attention to a part of the beerdrinking culture which is also coming to an end.
Smoking is banned in the w...
By Andrew Burnyeat in the section
Collector's corner
p58
La Rulles is an unusual Belgian microbrewery in that it favours hops instead of spices. Adrian Tierney-Jones reports
It’s Saturday lunchtime in the quiet village of Rulles in the Belgian province of Luxembourg. There’s a sleepy feel to the sultry summer air that wouldn’t be out of place in an English village. Which ...
By Adrian Tierney-Jones in the section
Spotlight
p60
Yeast is a vital and complex part of beer production. Roger Protz looks at the history of this ingredient and how brewers keep it happy
What are the essential ingredients used in the production of beer?
Barley malt, of course, and other grains and special sugars that combine to make a sweet extract known as wort.
Then hops, the salt...
By Roger Protz in the section
Beer Production
p64
In recent years there has been a surge of mid-strength beers, occupying the space somewhere between low
alcohol and regular strength pints. But are they any good? Nigel Huddleston reports
What’s green and promises not to get you too drunk?
Were the question from the British tradition of rubbish not funny jokes the answer might be something like “a frog that’s left its wallet at home,”...
By Nigel Huddleston in the section
Beer Trends
p74
In the first of a new series we talk to a key beer industry person. This issue Dominic Roskrow talks to Jonathan Neame, chief executive of Shepherd Neame
How is business for Shepherd Neame at the moment?
We feel we are in a very strong position. We do not share the gloom and doom that you find elsewhere. We feel our position is actually getting strong...
By Dominic Roskrow in the section
Last Shout
