UK consumers are strongly behind the industry's attempts to save cask beer.
In a survey carried out by the Independent Family Brewers of Britain (IFBB), eight out of 10 those polled said that brewing was a British tradition that needs protecting.
The survey was conducted to celebrate the fourth annual Cask Beer Week, which finishes on Sunday. It also showed that 79 per cent of consumers believe that a pub should stock at least the same amount of cask beer as lager in order to offer a proper choice. Over half of those surveyed also said it was important for a pub to stock a locally-brewed beer.
Stephen Goodyear, chairman of the IFBB PR Committee, said: "The consumer survey results are the boost that the British Brewing industry needs. The public want to drink real beer and the industry must now work to ensure that demands are met. Cask beer typifies the rich heritage of this country and the research carried out by research company Dipsticks has shown that the public wishes to protect and nourish this."
The event itself has been a great success with family brewers across the country getting into the spirit of the week. There was the traditional "Pint Run" in London, with entrants from several family brewers in the south east, while Fuller's handed out special cask beer promotion leaflets at the race.
Hordean-based brewer George Gale is running a series of initiatives, including tutored beer tastings at their pubs, while Badger ales is running a special T-shirt promotion in over 300 pubs.