Opinion
Topical articles and pieces from a personal point of view.
The potent artistry of beer
I felt real excitement when Pillars brewery released their Vienna Lager in collaboration with the William Morris Gallery. Morris’ Wandle design adorns...
Is the Good Beer Guide trusted?
There was a motion before this year’s Members’ Weekend, AGM and Conference that I feel bears some looking at, and not just because I’ve had experience...
Unlikely union to be celebrated
Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company (CMBC) has found a new home for one its historic Burton union sets, a fermentation system that has been in use at...
The slaughtered orchard
It’s Cider & Perry Month. Let’s talk about Heineken grubbing up 300 acres of cider apple trees in Llantilio Crossenny, near Abergavenny. It’s taken lo...
Cider-glazed pulled pork with apple slaw
Last weekend I was lucky enough to visit Guernsey for a christening and enjoyed the first really lovely spring evening of the year, sipping the local...
Don't frighten the ponies
Britain is a great brewing country but, shush, please keep quiet about it. It’s not something spoken about in polite company. In late April I joined s...
Is everything okay with Adnams?
I often think about Adnams beers with fondness. The Southwold-based brewer has a particular knack for making delicious cask ales with a rich barley ma...
A bitter sweet symphony
It’s June 1997, and The Verve released their hit single Bitter Sweet Symphony. It is really quite a bleak song to be honest, but the title perfectly c...
Keeping balance in a bitter world
I’m conscious that I use the word “balance” a lot when I’m writing about beer. It’s not because I lack the ability to stand on two feet or am apt to f...
When is a pub not a pub?
I’m fascinated by pubs. One of the main reasons I love them so much is because they are all different (not counting the dull repetition of bland chain...
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