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No real ale in brewing capital venue

I went last week to the Meadowside Leisure Centre in Burton upon Trent to attend a function. I know this kind of municipal venue rarely do real ale(s) these days and maybe the majority of punters don't give a shit. But I thought well, it is BURTON and they'll probably put up a good pint of Marston's or something there...

The bar there had no real ale !! This in the brewing capital of Britain and

- to add insult to injury - the entire bar area was decorated all over with sepia-tinted pics of its proud brewing tradition - Bass brewing in particular with wooden barrels, drays and brewery buildings. Lager or nasty keg beer - take it or leave it. So I drank red wine rather than Worthington fizz. But it's sad, very sad !

CR

Reply to
Chris Rockcliffe
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Sadness indeed. Having lived in Watford for 24 years I have learned to drink bottled beer, even lager, and now living in Swindon I have Archers, oh deep joy. Not too sure about Arkells though.

Also, digressing a little, in Sainsbury's they are selling Burton "Old Empire 3for 2, at 5.7% and really tasty.

Keith

Reply to
Keith Ginger

Sainsbury's have some excellent "3 for 2 " offers on other beers as well - e.g. Old Speckled Hen at the moment. Also they have a better BCA range than Tesco, who IMO seem to have rather given up on bottled ale.

As for Meadowside Leisore Centre, they probably get huge discounts for selling crap.

Brian

Reply to
BrianW

BrianW5/12/04 11:08 PM

I do not know how that particular bar is managed, or who is managing or supplying it, but these municipal kinds of places invariably do not sell real ale. There seem to be several reasons for it:

The bar staff at these joints haven't got a clue how to manage casks. They don't have hand-pumping facilities. Depending on bar usage - They perhaps wouldn't sell enough, quickly enough on a regular basis to avoid wastage. Profits can be a lot higher on low maintenance fizz. Not enough people drinking enough or caring enough to give a shit any more.

I was just sounding off... very aware that I was paying a visit to what was once one of the most famous ale brewing towns in the world and the most famous in the UK - and offered shit beer. Ignominious and sad.

CR

Reply to
Chris Rockcliffe

Chris Rockcliffe11/12/04 10:10 AM

Thinking again about what was on offer - Coors, Carling BL, Worthington - it was obviously supplied by Coors - based in Burton itself. I understand they also now own the Bass brand.

CR

Reply to
Chris Rockcliffe

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