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beer stories: news
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BEER NEWS - October 2007
Nils Oscar at Upper Glas
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Upper Glas restaurant in Upper Street, London, will team up with Nils Oscars brewery on Wednesday 17th October to offer a unique seven-course beer matching menu. Beers such as God Lager, Pils, India Ale,
Kalas�l, Farm Ale, Imperial Stout and Barley Wine will be paired with courses such as Dill seed Infused Root Vegetables with Beer Marinated Quail & Smoked Quails Egg
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and some other fascinating dishes.
Guests should arrive promptly at 7pm so the beer matching can begin. Tickets are £50 each from Upper Glas, on 0207 359 1932.
Cask ale in decline? We think not...
Industry experts are challenging suggestions that the much maligned cask ale market is in terminal decline. Findings published on 26 September come from a report published by The Intelligent Choice, a
alliance of industry and consumer groups. Written by independent author Pete Brown, the report paints a bright picture.
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Pete Brown said: "We have overwhelming evidence to challenge the doom and gloom
merchants that take one look at market data and conclude the British beer industry is in steep terminal decline."
The report suggests the top-line five percent decline in the ale market gives a misleading impression since most of the losses come from the 'big four' multinational brewers. They dominate the UK beer market and
account for 56 percent of the total ale market, but are systematically withdrawing support from their cask brands.
At the same time, where regional and local brewers are enthusiastically supporting their ales the market is seeing strong volume and growth. In fact, independent and local brewers are growing by an average of
7.5 percent year on year.
An Appetite for Ale
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Britain should put its national drink back on the dining table and reclaim beer as the perfect accompaniment to food say award-winning food writer Fiona Beckett and her publican son Will. The pair were
commissioned by CAMRA to write An Appetite for Ale, the first cookbook to comprehensively explore this potential of beer as a partner for modern British food. "Beer drinking has been woven into the fabric of life in this
country for centuries" says Fiona. "It's high time we valued our national drink as the ideal accompaniment to food that it has always been."
The mother-and-son team have created a whole range of recipes to show the versatility of British ales and other beers from across the globe. Family favourites like Smoky Bacon Bolognese and Smoked Fish pie are
given a beer-friendly twist while beer is incorporated in a range of appetising dishes such as Cottage Pie cooked with Porter and delectable beer jellies and sorbets.
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Other dishes have been created to match particular styles of beer. Combinations that will convert even the most ardent wine lover include Spicy Crab Crostini and witbier, Rogan Josh and India Pale Ale (IPA) and
Chocolate and Cherry Roulade with Kriek. Price £19.99 from bookshops and CAMRA.
Stella on the Superhighway
Stella Artois has just unveiled its new global brand website at stellaartois.com.
The company says it is "Revolutionising the way in which visitors interact with a website. Navigation is through a short film - La Bouteille - that was created specifically for the site and will never be seen in traditional
advertising slots." La Bouteille
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"charts the quest by a barman into the wilds of latter-day Leuven to retrieve a bottle of Stella Artois for a lady, only for his attempts to deliver it to her table being thwarted by the gruff bar
owner." Stella promise 'broadcast-quality' and say that "visitors can immerse themselves in a number of dramatised digital challenges which entertain and inform them about Stella Artois' history and heritage."
Ember Inns Cask Fresh Ale Festival
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Running from 12 October for six weeks, Ember Inns' Cask Fresh Ale Festival encourage guests to try a selection of the best real ales from around the country.
Now in its sixth year, the festival features 132 ales in total, and allows guests to vote for which ale they want sold in their local pub.
This year focuses on the heritage and diversity of the UK's local ales, with the final week of the festival giving guests the opportunity to sample six locally-brewed ales.
Each ale is available to 'try before you buy', and every Wednesday, between 8pm and 9pm, guests will be able to try each week's
guest ales for free at a special tasting night. There are 183 Ember Inns nationwide.
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Tesco supports Batemans
Batemans, the Lincolnshire brewery, has benefited from Tesco East of England's new initiative to increase its sourcing of locally produced products. From November 2007, thirty East of England stores
will carry Batemans core range, including XXXB (Triple XB), Combined Harvest and Victory Ale, as well as its seasonal ales on rotation: Dark Lord, Spring Breeze, Summer Swallow, Autumn Fall and Rosey Nosey.
Sam Nundy, Senior Buying Manager, Tesco East of England says, "I am born and bred in Boston, Lincolnshire and am delighted to be able to support my 'home town' brewery. Batemans has always produced quality
ales and its flagship brand XXXB has sold well with us for several years. We believe that our customers increasingly like to support local producers and we are confident that Batemans expanded range will prove to
be a popular decision."
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