BEER NEWS - June 2008

Coors Visitor Centre

The steering group set up by Burton-on-Trent MP Janet Dean to save the Coors Visitor Centre and Museum has appointed Jura Consultants, specialists in the economics of museums and public attractions, to draw up options for new ownership of the centre. Coors Brewers, owners of the complex that began life as the Bass Museum 27 years ago, has announced it will close the centre at the end of June. As a result of massive opposition to its plans, Coors has backtracked and said it will offer substantial amounts of money to new owners -- but it has not withdrawn its closure plans. Jura will put forward proposals to the steering group on 6 June. Janet Dean has also set up a meeting with Margaret Hodge MP, Minister for Culture, Media and Sport, to seek government support for the campaign to maintain a national museum of brewing in Burton.

Grolsch goes blanche

Grolsch has made its wheat beer available in the UK for the first time. Available in Asda stores since 13th May 2008, the company expect much wider availability before too long. Grlosch Premium Weizen is brewed from 60% wheat and 40% barley malt, and beer-pages found it poured a cloudy, pale yellow colour with quite a fluffy and persistent white head. It has an attractively spicy and clove-like nose, with hints of Bazooka Joe bubblegum and coriander. On the palate it is clean and crisp, with a little bit of that herby bite, but mostly a medium-bodied layering of lemony fruit and more spicy undertones. There's just about enough bitterness, in a very drinkable and good quality wheat beer. 5.3% ABV, 50cl, �1.98, Asda, Asda.

Czechs and balances at Thornbridge

Derbyshire's Thornbridge brewery is making two interesting beers from the nearby Taddington brewery available as part of its range, after meeting the brewer Richard Hand and hearing his story. Richard trained as a lawyer, then spent a year in the Czech Republic, learning the language and also the art of making lager - a beer styles the Czechs invented. He set up his brewery in a former malting house and in doing so re-established brewing there after a gap of 100 years. Richard makes two beers at 4.4% and 5% both under the Moravka name - based on a bottom fermenting lager yeast strain and hops from Zatec in Northern Bohemia. Both are unpasteurised, which makes them different to most of those brewed or exported into the UK. For more information, call 01629 64 1000.

Mind your language

Honeydew at Hampton Court

Those of you heading along to hear the likes of Katherine Jenkins, Jools Holland or Van Morrison at the Hampton Court Palace Festival (until June 18th) can also enjoy a refreshing sample of Fuller's Organic Honey Dew beer. As official partner of the Festival, Organic Honey Dew will have exclusive sampling and pouring rights. Around 40,000 guests will have the opportunity to try Honey Dew and a branded bar will sell chilled bottles to the many picnic-ers at the concerts. Fuller�s brands manager, Clare Draper, said: �I cannot think of anything more magical than listening to beautiful music in an idyllic setting and sipping on a cool, satisfying glass of Organic Honey Dew.�

Beer & Sushi

Which beer is perfect for which sushi and why? London's Royal Garden Hotel decided to put this question to the test, choosing eleven beers which they then matched to eleven sushis. Executive chef Steve Munkley and sushi chef Ricky Idris decided to veer away from traditional Japanese beers with a high rice inclusion and sake, and try beers from Germany, Holland, Mexico, Czech Republic, Belgium, Alsace and the UK. Guests were asked to choose their winning combinations, and these turned out to be: Zatec Pils (Czech Republic) with Minted cucumber maki rolls; Sol (Mexico) with Warm grilled eel Nigiri; Schneider Weiss (Germany) with Sea Bass, ginger and soy sauce; Kasteel Cru (Alsace, France) with Chicken teriyaki sichimi roll.

Light beers