Posts by: Roger Protz
Stranger things have happened
The buzz word on Beer Street is collab. It’s short for collaboration and means a beer produced by two or more breweries that share malts, hops and yea...
Hasta la vista heritage
The American writer Mark Twain famously observed when a newspaper published his obituary “reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated” and real...
Just malt and hops make the perfect pint
One of the joys of pubs being fully open following the dread days of Covid and lockdown is the ability to enjoy fresh draught beer that’s a simple sym...
Real ale champion and Kegbuster creator dies
Bill Tidy, who has died aged 89, was a comic genius who tickled the nation’s ribs for decades with such hilarious strips as the Cloggies, the Fosdyke...
Caley saviour dies aged 83
Russell Sharp, who helped save and revive the fortunes of the Caledonian brewery in Edinburgh, has died aged 83. The success of the Caley, as it’s pop...
Open letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt, MP
Dear Chancellor, Britain’s pubs and breweries are in crisis. In 2022 554 pubs closed and it’s estimated that 21 are closing every week this year. Las...
Fury over bulldozed pub
The loss of any pub saddens me. The destruction of a successful pub makes me boil with rage. The Bree Louise in Cobourg Street, North London, was just...
Beer Style of the Year: Stout
At a time when sales of such beers as IPA and golden ale seemed unstoppable it looked at first that the return of dark beer was an aberration. But it...
Searching for prized old ale
An American friend, Julie Johnson, once told me the difference between our two countries is that the US has a past but Britain has history. As she wri...
Think local, drink local
It’s been a grim year for breweries, especially those owned by giant global producers. In short order, Heineken announced the closure of the Caledonia...
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