Britain’s brewery boom means London’s Olympia is awash with new flavors this week – but only some visitors are happy to swap their real ale for a craft beer. Chocolate-orange flavor and fruitcake flavor beers are just some of the unusual creations offered to connoisseurs this week at the Great British Beer Festival.
Craft beers are pasteurized while a real ale is still fermenting in the barrel ” The final product is distinct.
The Olympia conference center in London, The range of more than 900 genuine ciders, ales, and Perrys of more than 300 UK beer producers, is more varied than ever. The rise of independent breweries has brought new drinkers bored with bland beers.
“When some people think of real ale, they associate it with a bloke in the pub with his dog and his crossword, but it’s not like that anymore,” said Jane Monaghan, an administrator from Birmingham and a participant at the event. It is organized through the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).
Jane joined Camra about ten years ago but noted that the scene had changed significantly since joining. “When we went to the first branch meeting 10 years ago, the age range was probably around 50 to 60, but it’s come down since,” she added, adding that females are now getting involved.
The Great British Beer Festival was at Olympia Halls of Exhibits, London.Photograph: Martin Godwin for the Guardian
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Jake Foster, 19, from Wolverhampton, is among the latest real ale drinkers to join the ranks. It was visits to the local pub with his uncle that led him to ales. He says: “It’s far more common for young people to drink real ale than it used to be. Three or four of my friends only drink real ale, and they’re all 19 to 20. It’s because of the choice that’s on offer now ” it’s massive.”
Kimberley Owen, 32, of Leamington Spa, says: “It’s just become more accessible, there are lots of local breweries around us to choose from.”
Paul Scrivens, 31, who has volunteered at the festival’s actual cider bar, told the press that choosing which ciders to display was becoming increasingly difficult because of the increased number of producers. “Obviously there’s a limited number that we can showcase, but this year we’ve got ciders from around 100 producers ” out of 600.
“We try to make sure that the bar is geographically representative, so we’ve got a couple of Scottish ciders and perrys that aren’t very widely available. We’ve also got cider that’s straw-pressed in Devon.”
Although the Devon cider was said to go well with drinkers, the more exotic flavors available aren’t loved by older drinkers who are more traditional. “It’s all the craft beers bringing in the odd flavors,” said Dave Porritt, 64, from north-west London. “That’s not for me. “It’s a bit too American.”
Craft beer has been a source of contention in the real ale community. The hip, young beer has been growing in recent years of popularity ” March in March, the Office of National Statistics announced that it was added to the goods basket that are used to calculate an inflation rate. However, craft beers shouldn’t be mistaken for real ale as per Bill Fleming, a retired teacher from Falkirk. “Craft beers are pasteurized, whereas a real ale is still fermenting in a barrel ” The end result is a different one. “I stick to real ale; it’s what I’ve always drunk ” There are a lot of real ales to sample before you decide to move on to the next beer type.”
Despite the ferocious debate on craft beers ” and whether Camra should be campaigning for it and real ale,” many believe they have given the traditional ale an extra boost. “Twenty years ago, there was a tiny choice of inferior beers,” said Jack Wheatcroft, 67, from Reading. “Now there’s far more on offer “It’s about having a go.”
The London Borough of Hackney is an example. Now five breweries claimed Clive Prince, 75, from south-east London. “It’s fantastic. “We go to the festival of beer there as well as the one in Battersea,” wherever we can go using our bus passes.”