Revealed: the best time for a pint is 5.30 on Saturday

IT’S a question that has vexed bar-room philosophers since time immemorial: when, exactly, is it Beer O’Clock?

Now new research has found that the perfect time to enjoy a pint is 5.30pm on a Saturday – and ideally in the beer garden of a country pub, in the company of your partner, and with a bag of crisps on the side.

It should be served with a head of 9mm – or a third of an inch – and should take 28 minutes to quaff.

That’s according to a survey of 2,000 drinkers, nearly half of whom thought that beer is crucial to our national character.

Yet almost a quarter said they rarely drink a faultless pint, with common complaints being the beer is served at the wrong temperature or in a dirty glass.

And in pubs, loud music, high prices and poor selections of beer are all turn-offs.

Mail on Sunday columnist Olly Smith said his formula for a perfect pint is ‘the best available that’s closest to home’.

He said: ‘For me, that’s either Harvey’s Best Bitter for a traditional brew or anything by Burning Sky for their inventive and passionate craft. Of course, if the pint isn’t served in good condition you might as well rinse your socks and drink that instead.’

According to the survey, more than one in five adults think it has become harder to get a decent pint in the past decade.

A spokesman for the St Austell Brewery, which commissioned the research, said: ‘Our research reveals many important factors, ranging from who you’re drinking it with, where you’re drinking it and at what time of the day.’

Roger Protz, editor of the Good Beer Guide, added: ‘In Britain, beer is so much more than just a drink. It’s reassuring to see that Brits are more passionate than ever about doing things properly when it comes to enjoying beer.’