Franconian Beer Message Board

Real ale tradition

Posted by Barry on 2010-10-09 08:52:03

Whilst sorting through some books to donate to charity, I came across a pile of old Camra Good Beer Guides. The oldest was dated 1980 and contained a long-forgotten (by me) article - 'Michael Jackson's History of Inns, Taverns and Public Houses', which seems really to encapsulate the difference between British real ale and the beer tradition of Germany (and most of Europe). The first paragraph reads: 'Most of the World's beers are brought to matuerity at the brewery and this has been so since the lagering techniques of Munich, Pilsen and Vienna swept across an industrially burgeoning Continental Europe in the mid 1800s. Only we happily insular British (B: are we really?) have continued on any scale to condition our draught beers in the cask - and therefore to finally bring them to maturity in the pub. The pursuit of this tradition has been at the heart of Camra's efforts of this decade and it has thus been in the pub that consummation, so to speak, has taken place'. There is more, a lot more, but this really seems to sum up the difference. A few thoughts spring to mind from this. The first is the suggestion that the Continental European (his description) method of lagering has more to do with industrialisation, mass production, etc. than necessarily optimisng the quality of the product. Second, it seems to assume, that prior to this change, Continental European production and dispense must have been similar to that of the UK. Third, if lagering is a by-product of industrialisation and mass production, why don't the small breweries that mainly only supply their own pub serve via anstich (ok, I know we have the points that the beer doesn't last in the barrel, etc.)? Just thought I'd provide a little food for thought, as we seem to be having a lean time on the forum at present!

Real ale tradition by Nick B. on 2010-10-23 03:19:42

Real ale tradition by Barry on 2010-10-23 07:14:24

Real ale tradition by JosB on 2010-10-23 14:05:06

Real ale tradition by Nick B. on 2010-10-24 04:52:07

Bottom Fermentation Prior to Industrialisation by Nick B. on 2010-10-24 05:04:36

Bottom Fermentation Prior to Industrialisation by DonS on 2010-10-24 09:56:27

Real ale tradition by JosB on 2010-10-24 15:10:24

History of Bottom Fermentation by Nick B. on 2010-10-24 23:48:19

Real ale tradition by Barry on 2010-10-25 02:06:44

Real ale tradition by Nick B. on 2010-10-25 02:48:36

Real ale tradition by Barry on 2010-10-25 09:09:53

Real ale tradition by A Harvey on 2010-10-25 11:43:41

Real ale tradition by Barry on 2010-10-26 04:43:36

Real ale tradition by Mark Andersen on 2010-10-26 06:16:36

Real ale tradition by Nick B. on 2010-10-26 06:34:29

Real ale tradition by Barry on 2010-10-26 12:21:16

Real ale tradition by Mark Andersen on 2010-10-26 13:58:48

Real ale tradition by Uncle Jimbo on 2010-10-26 15:38:58

Real ale tradition by Nick B. on 2010-10-26 23:12:13

Real ale tradition by Barry on 2010-10-27 03:01:33

Real ale tradition by Uncle Jimbo on 2010-10-27 06:02:17

Real ale tradition by JosB on 2010-10-27 15:22:05

Real ale tradition by Mark Andersen on 2010-10-28 14:09:43

Real ale tradition by Barry on 2010-10-29 12:38:43