Opinion
Topical articles and pieces from a personal point of view.
Why campaigners still need to keep on protecting pubs
The story of the Crooked House rightly dominated the headlines last year. The pub, in Himley, near Dudley in the West Midlands, was sold to a develope...
Jersey’s beer scene
Before I started this post, I worked out how many places on the island you could buy a decent pint of beer. For a relatively small landmass, just nine...
Fancy a Bass?
We’re losing pubs, we’re losing breweries and we’re also losing something less tangible – our brewing heritage. With around some 2,000 breweries in op...
Follow the money
When Black Sheep brewery announced it was lining up administrators in May 2023, it showcased the dire market conditions the beer industry presently fi...
It’ll be lonely this Christmas?
A pub in Northern Ireland has gone viral with a low-budget Christmas advert. Charlie’s Bar in Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, spent £700 on the ad, which f...
Does Ringwood’s demise prove cask is in decline?
The Carlsberg Marston’s tour of destruction rolls on with the beer-and-pubs juggernaut announcing the closure of its Ringwood plant in Hampshire. Six...
Mature cheddar and Nelson’s Revenge chowder
As I write this in early December, it is decidedly chilly and very wet outside in Jersey. The perfect weather for soup. Now, there are cold soups like...
Fresh twist for old beers
Ancient beer styles are being revived to great acclaim and, encouragingly, they are produced by large breweries that are prepared to add small batch a...
Inside the Bass House
I read the story of Vic Long this month. He was celebrating his 50th anniversary behind the bar at the Ship Inn in Portishead, Somerset. Some of the r...
Reverse ABV creep and why it’s happening
In August 2023 the British government launched an overhauled alcohol duty system, affecting all UK producers of beverages from wine and spirits, to be...
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