by Keith Hillman

Created on: July 06, 2010

Imagine a bar one thousand feet long! Try to picture an army of six hundred beer pumps standing to attention, their polished wooden handles topped with a crown of polished brass. Erect, proud, awaiting your order! Each of them proudly wearing its badge of honour, the pump clip A bold and colourful emblem which draws the drinker’s eye and tempts the tipplers taste buds. Such is the scene up and down the British Isles as each summer the traditional Beer Festival becomes the focus of attention in villages, towns and cities up and down the land. Homage to the ancient art of brewing and a reminder of something which sets us apart from other nations. Such is the importance of the pint of frothing ale to British society.

It’s hard to imagine ending the working day without downing a pint before journeying homeward. Standing at the bar or perched on a stool, the weary worker orders a beer, holds it up to the light to admire its rich tone then lowers it to take in its hoppy aroma before taking that first glorious sip. The pressures of the day evaporate as the golden throat tickler works it magic.

British beer is a unique product often derided by the lager drinkers on the continent and beyond. Yet its history goes back centuries and many of the most popular ales are still produced to the recipes first used in the seventeen hundreds. To this day, the beer is still fermented in the cask, which adds to its unique character. The different sizes of casks are still known as pipkins, firkins, hogsheads and tuns. The modern trend to chill cold drinks has been resisted, as the full flavour of the ale will only emerge when it’s served at room temperature.

The British pub still retains its importance at the hub of rural and urban communities, and despite the fashionable drinks that come and go, traditional beer still remains central to the pub experience. And still it grows in popularity. Once it was drunk pretty exclusively by working class males, but now its appeal has broadened and it’s enjoyed right across the social scale by both men and women. As well as the large national brewers, micro breweries continue to grow in numbers and it’s not unusual to find public houses which brew their own ales.

Hobgoblin, Long Willey, Piddle on the Pump, Bishops Finger, Old Thumper, and Bombadier. There are literally thousands of beers produced in the UK yet no two have the same flavour or character. There is no doubt that without the proud tradition of brewing real ales, Britain would be a poorer place. It’s what makes us different, and in these days of multiculturalism, that’s a difference worth hanging on to!   

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