It’s a real shame to read that real ale drinking is on the decline amongst the young. I’m a real ale drinker myself (heading over to the Great British Beer Festival this evening, in fact) and whilst I’m happy to drink a pint of decent lager every now and then, I’m much more of a fan of real ales.
The BBC article says it’s down to peer pressure and huge competition from the big international breweries pushing their lagers, but it’s also down to pubs who just don’t know how to look after a real ale. Every now and then I come to regret ordering a pint of something promising when the bar maid looks at the hand-pulled pump with a worried – almost fearful – expression, and then proceeds to poor a cloudy pint that tastes foul, simply because it’s not cared for, nor – often as part of a vicious circle – does it get the turnover needed to keep the beer fresh.
Still, finding a nice pub (such as The Old Bell, Fleet Street, or (keeping it in the family), my Uncles pub The Masons Arms, Taunton, where beer is well cared for and delightful to taste. A pint of a decent bitter has such a refreshing taste, with lots going on across your taste buds. Lagers are positively bland in comparison.
So, if you’re normally a fan of lager, ask a friend who does drink a bitter where to go for a good sample, and discover a British tradition that is positively wonderful, and deserves wider acclaim.
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