BEER NEWS - October 2006

Innis & Gunn Oak Aged Beer has been named 'beer of the festival' at this year's annual BeerFest in Calgary, beating off competition from 99 other brews from all over the world. Dougal Sharp, managing director and brewmaster of Innis & Gunn, was on hand to showcase his revolutionary beer and to accept the award. Innis & Gunn Oak Aged Beer, first launched from its Edinburgh heartland in 2003, is oak aged like no other beer,

matured for ten times longer than most beers using first-fill bourbon casks of American oak. These give Innis & Gunn (6.6% abv) a fascinating flavour of toasted vanilla and caramel, set off by the delicate citrus nuances of the hop. "We started distributing our Oak Aged Beer in Canada in 2005," commented Dougal, "and we expect to be the best selling Scottish beer in Canadian liquor stores by the end of 2006. In Canada there is a real interest in flavourful, innovative beers. Our beer has developed a real following there and our stand at the show was besieged by consumers eager to sample and discuss its unique qualities and find out more. It was a great experience." Bottles of Innis & Gunn's 7.2% abv 'Vintage 2005 Oak Aged Beer', a limited edition brew matured for a mighty 154 days in oak, are now collectors' items and sell in Canada at $100 a bottle.

Michelin-star Chef Michel Roux of Le Gavroche in Mayfair, who in February introduced Liefmans Kriek cherry beer to his special 8 course 'tasting menu', has now pushed a step further with the creation of a Gavroche beer list covering an eclectic range of styles. "In the past, beer has often been neglected in top restaurants in Britain," comments Michel Roux, "and perceived merely as a thirst-quencher. I believe that beer should be regarded as a sophisticated gourmet drink. When we partnered Liefman's cherry beer with spicy seared tuna on our seven course menu, several guests were uneasy and told us that they didn't drink beer. But once they tasted the combination, 99% of them have been converted. It makes me happy because it has helped us to jump the initial hurdle of beer scepticism, whilst giving us the confidence to go on to the next stage." The beers on Le Gavroche's list include: Kasteel Cru from Flanders, Gulpener Korenwolf from Holland, Rochefort 8 from Belgium, Innis & Gunn from Scotland, Powerr Station Porter from England, Duvel from Belgium and Liefmans Kriek, also from Belgium.

The new Chairman of the British Guild of Beer Writers is freelance beer writer Tim Hampson (pictured right). The announcement was made at the organisation's AGM in London. Tim Hampson said: "The Guild will challenge the myth held by many in the media that people in the UK do not want to read about beer. Beer is our national drink - yet more media space and time is given to wine. My ambition as new Chairman of the Guild is to raise the profile of beer and beer writing in the UK and help people understand that beer has a far greater complexity of colours, aromas, tastes and styles than wine can ever have." Hampson went on to say, "Beer is a fabulous natural drink, made with wonderful raw materials. The media applauds wine makers but now the time has come when we should celebrate the skill, science, craft and artistry of brewers who make the thousands of beers that so many of us enjoy."

A new movie, centered around the Munich Beer Festival, opened on August 25th, distributed by warner Bros. The synopsis reads: "When American brothers Todd and Jan Wolfhouse (Eric Stolhanske and Paul Soter) travel to Germany to spread their grandfather's ashes at Oktoberfest, they stumble upon a super-secret, centuries old, underground beer games competition - Beerfest, the secret Olympics of beer drinking. The brothers receive a less than warm welcome from their German cousins, the Von Wolfhausens, who humiliate Todd and Jan, slander their relatives, and finally cast them out of the event. Vowing to return in a year to defend their country and their family's honor, the Wolfhouse boys assemble a ragtag dream team of beer drinkers and gamers: Barry Badrinath (Jay Chandrasekhar), the consummate skills player with a dark past; Phil Krundle (Kevin Hefferman) AKA 'Landfill,' the one-man chugging machine; and Steve 'Fink' Finklestein (Steve Lemme), the lab tech with a Masters degree in All Things Beer.

This Magnificent Five train relentlessly, using their hearts, minds and livers to drink faster, smarter and harder than they ever have before. But first they must battle their own demons... as well as a bunch of big, blond, German jerks who want to destroy the team before they can even make it back to Munich. Revenge, like beer, is best served cold." See www.beerfestmovie.com

The millionth person to visit the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) Great British Beer Festival was welcomed through the doors of Earls Court on Thursday by the author of the Good Bottled Beer Guide, Jeff Evans (left in picture). Andrew Weaver, 32, from Larkfield in Kent (right in picture), said he was �surprised and delighted� as he received a signed copy of the Good Bottled Beer Guide, a copy of the Good Beer Guide by Willard Clarke, a festival glass and a drink on CAMRA. Andrew said: �This is absolutely terrific. It is the first time I have come to the festival and I could not be more happy that I am the millionth person to come through the doors.� CAMRA Chief Executive Mike Benner said: �The Great British Beer Festival has been running for 29 years now

and to welcome our millionth visitor in that time is a real milestone for us. "The move to Earls Court from Olympia in 2006 has been a tremendous success and we expect record-breaking numbers by the end of the Festival on Saturday."

Independent family regional brewer Batemans, based in Lincolnshire, is bringing back its award-winning Combined Harvest ale in cask this September - it is available all year in bottle. Most premium ales are brewed using only malted barley, but this multi-grained beer has a blend of malted oats, rye, and wheat as well as barley. A slightly lighter beer, Batemand say it is "particularly popular with women." The cask version has an ABV of 4.4% the bottle a slightly higher ABV of 4.7%. Combined Harvest joins Batemans� seasonal bottled beer range which also includes: Spring Breeze, Summer Swallow, and the soon-to be-released Autumn Fall. The Batemans bottled beer range is unusual in that it is both Vegetarian and Vegan approved.

Combined Harvest will be available in cask from wholesalers, as well as Batemans own outlets. The bottled version is available nationally through major multiples.