Getting all pumped up over the question of what makes real ale
IHAVE been slightly surprised recently to be asked by bar staff in two different pubs what real ale actually is, writes Neville Grundy.
One of these also hadn’t a clue how to pour it and (with permission) I stepped behind the bar to demonstrate the technique – not for the first time.
It isn’t hard, but if you do it wrongly, you can end up with a glass of foam.
Considering this results in a lot of waste, it’s odd that someone hadn’t spent a couple of minutes showing her what to do.
This all had me wondering how many other people don’t actually know what real ale is.
In the early 1970s, Camra coined the term “real ale” to describe traditional draught cask beers, to distinguish them from the processed and highly carbonated beers
that were extensively promoted by the giant brewing corporations of the time.
Real ale, or “cask beer” as it’s also sometimes called, is a “living” product, which is usually produced and stored in a cask container.
In comparison with other types of beer that kill off the yeast and artificially inject the beer with carbon dioxide prior to serving, real ale contains live yeast which continues the fermentation process until it is served.
This makes real ale a fully natural product, and at a time when people when are becoming more conscious of what they eat, it makes sense to apply that awareness to beer.
Like most artisan products, real ale requires special handling and storing to ensure a good flavour.
Well-kept real ale served at the right temperature should be lively, naturally carbonated and flavourful, and is rightly seen as representing the pinnacle of brewing art.
To recognise real ale, you should opt for beer served from the traditional handpump or straight from the cask rather than through a keg line.
You can also enjoy real ale served in bottles, as long as they are labelled “bottle conditioned”.
How can you find real ale? Camra has set up an online database which gives detailed information on more than 96% of all real ale pubs in the UK.
It can be particularly useful if you want to find a decent pint when you are away from home, whether for work or pleasure.
Simply go to whatpub. com.
Our local Camra website is at www.southport.camra. org.uk