BEER NEWS - January 2007

A sensational cache of bottled beers dating back over 130 years has been discovered in Burton upon Trent, the home of Great British brewing. Found recently in the Worthington's White Shield brewery vaults, many are still in fine condition with their corks and wax seals still in place. The find includes many vintages, including Worthington's White Shield, one of Britain's oldest bottle conditioned ales and 2006 CAMRA Champion Bottle Conditioned Beer of Britain. Other commemorative ales brewed to celebrate royal marriages, visits or births were also found with the oldest being an 1869 Harry Ratcliff's Ale - to mark the birth of a son into the Ratcliff family, brewers who eventually became part of the Bass, Ratcliff & Gretton empire in the late 19th century. Another bottle of particular interest is the 1982 Prince's Ale mashed by the late Earl Spencer, Princess Diana's father, to commemorate the birth of Prince William. This Celebration Ale was a limited edition, also brewed in Burton. Worthington White Shield's

head brewer, Steve Wellington, comments: "It was always rumoured that there were some vintage beers on site but uncovering such an interesting collection is fantastic. I believe this is one of the most exciting and unique discoveries ever made in British brewing. "Contrary to a widely held belief that beer cannot age for as long as wine, most of these bottles seem to have developed subtlety and complexity over the years. The younger ones display attractive floral zestiness whilst the older brews show Christmas pudding flavours more akin to Malmsey Madeira or Vintage Port."

Harviestoun Brewery, famous for its multi-award winning beers, such as Bitter & Twisted, Schiehallion and Old Engine Oil, has just launched new packaging across their range of beers for both the on and off-trade. Harviestoun has long been brewing distinctive and fresh beers, and from December, the packaging across the whole range reflects this. Not only is the whole range instantly recognisable, but if you are in the unlucky position of never having savoured a Harviestoun beer, we�ve made it easy to pick the one you�ll like with three simple taste descriptions on each label and pump clip. Each bottle also includes a nibble of the history behind the brewery and some of the inspiration that led former owner and Head Brewer Ken Brooker to come up with the unusual and individual characteristics of the brews and the names he gave them.

Also featured is a tribute to Harvie, the fieldmouse who was the original resident of the first brewery in a shed in Dollar, prior to the move to the new purpose built brewery in Alva. As a tribute to Harvie he is the lead image on Harviestoun's best selling beer - "Bitter & Twisted".

Roger Ryman, St Austell Brewery's Director of Brewing, and the man who has helped spearhead the Brewery's renaissance, has been crowned the Brewer of the Year by the highly influential British Guild of Beer Writers. The prestigious accolade recognises Roger as the UK's number one in his field for 2006 - beating off competition from both the brewing giants and independent companies - and highlights the amazing work he has done since joining St Austell Brewery in 1999. More than 170 journalists, brewers and pub operators attended a glittering awards dinner at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel in South

Kensington, London, where Roger was announced as the overall champion, winning praise for the award-winning beers he has created, including St Austell Brewery's flagship Tribute Ale, Admiral's Ale and Proper Job IPA. Judges praised the way Roger had "brought a very traditional family brewer into the 21st century" including by "firming up old favourites" such as HSD and Tinners while experimenting and explore exciting new styles of beer. Roger was also described as the driving force behind the highly successful annual Celtic Beer Festival, which was held for the eighth time earlier this month. British Guild of Beer Writers chairman Tim Hampson said: "Roger Ryman works very hard for the company and the industry as a whole and is absolutely passionate about his subject. He is a great ambassador for brewing."

Thornbridge brewery in Derbyshire runs various beer-related events in the adjacent Thornbridge Hall. Amongst those planned for 2007 they are hosting a Beer Appreciation day to be run by the Beer Academy. Even better, they have reduced the normal cost of this one-day course from �145 to �95. The course will cover: Brewing, beer presentation, beer and food, beer and health, European beer styles and UK trends, including a tasting of 13 beers. To book your place on this course please ring: 01629 640 617.

Cakes and Ale is a new title published by The National Archives. Once upon a time in Britain, cake and ale were considered essential parts of a healthy diet. Late Victorians and Edwardians were fattened with rich, fruity cakes, and ailing ladies imbibed milk stout as a tonic. Cakes and Ale is a cultural history of a turn-of-the-century era of feasting, when the first domestic goddesses began cooking in their own kitchens but servants were still on hand for many to mix drinks at glamorous parties. An affluent and leisured new middle class was keen to impress, and working people could enjoy an unprecedented variety of foods and drinks. Manufacturers responded with the glorious printed advertisements and seductive images that illustrate this book and speak volumes about the contemporary social scene. In whisky and beer advertisements gentlemen sport top hats and working men flat caps, Scotsmen always wear kilts and butlers a wily smile. Blazoned alongside them are the plays-on-words that amused and persuaded their

audiences. Cookery books were suddenly widely available, with pictures of bowls of punch, crusty pork pies and towering jellies and blancmanges to emulate for seasonal meals. The title is in bookshops priced £14.99, but is on offer via the National Archives website for £9.99.