Chris Maclean: Proud of my beer
The other night I visited a local freehouse near here. It is a nice little pub and I like the company of the landlord. It is small and clean with a wonderfully eccentric selection of obscure beers. I like to try something unusual from time to time, there is no monotony to the range and there is a distinct democratic feel as customers vote in or out the beers they like.
Of the twenty three pubs in this town, thirteen of them are owned by the town's brewery. The remainder are mostly pubcos with a few freehouses scattered on the edges.
The problem is that the extraordinary balance creates a polarisation. There is a significant majority in town that loves the local brew, delights in its consistency in most of the pubs in the area, and are proud of the brands. This is not unusual in many brewery towns. A couple of years ago I visited Southwold and could not get a pint of anything other than Adnams. Not a problem since I like their beer and went there for it.
But sometimes there is a balance of people who fall outside of this group and who go to extremes to distance themselves from the local brew. And this was my problem the other night.
Opponents of the brews I know and love may be inclined to assemble in freehouses, but to hear the dispiriting complaints of some of them upset me. I will cheerfully stand alongside others and discuss the relative merits of each of the types of beer. But I am uncomfortable when I hear people complaining that the beer I sell isn't of the highest quality.
The licensed trade has a long history, often marred by the shysters and horse-traders in the past who have sought to exploit it. Government stamped glasses and weights and measures enforcement are simply reflections of this. Which is one of the reasons why I am a member of the LVA and the BII. I want to be in my profession and to stand proud. I celebrate the diversity of our industry. I just don't like hearing my livelihood besmirched. I like my beer and I'm proud of it.
