North is a clear winner in the search for a decent pint – as we all know
THE recently-published Beer Quality Report 2017 shows us where the dirtiest pints are pulled in the country: it’s in the South West where 40.8% of pints were pulled through unclean lines.
The best area was the North East with 29%, which represents three pints in every 10.
A North-South divide is apparent in England, with the North East, the North West and Yorkshire in the top three, and the results getting worse the further south you go.
This would seem to reinforce the Northern stereotype about Southern beer.
Poor beer quality can also be caused by a cask or keg being kept on too long.
To stop using a cask which is past its best but isn’t empty involves a financial loss; the beer has to be poured down the drain and the cost comes out of the licensee’s pocket.
The temptation is to leave it on longer to squeeze out a few more pints, but a poor quality product will not encourage repeat purchases, so the problem is likely to get worse.
Many people, faced with a substandard pint, will tend to leave it, walk out and not come back: one poor pint can potentially result in the loss of dozens of future sales.
The problem with just walking out is that the problem isn’t addressed.
You’d probably return a stale loaf costing a pound to the shop; it seems odd not to do the same with a pint costing perhaps three times that amount.
In local news, as has been previously reported, Sefton Council has granted the Blundell Arms in Birkdale asset of community value status which provides extra protection from development under the Localism Act 2011.
This is a tremendous achievement by Jason MacCormack.
He is now crowdfunding to raise the money needed for a full structural survey.
To help, please go to tiny.cc/ j9wpky.
There are two beer festivals this weekend in the Preston area:
Beer Festival VI at Fulwood & Broughton Cricket Club: April 28-30, Highfield, Garstang Road, Fulwood, Preston, PR3 5JE.
Go to tiny.cc/hkxpky for more information.
Whittingham Beer & Sausage Festival at Whittingham & Goosnargh Sports & Social Club: April 28-30, Old Whittingham Hospital Grounds, Whittingham, Preston, PR3 2JE.
Details at www.whittingham club.com/beerfest
The Southport and West Lancs Camra website is at www.southport.camra.org.uk
For previous Camra pub reviews in this paper, please go to: tinyurl.com/vis-pubs