Cellar to Glass: One tap, two heads

Greene King's bid to bridge the great cask beer divide - between northern folk who like their head tight and creamy and southerners who prefer it loose and lacey - is now on trial in the brewer's pubs.

St Edmunds is served using a unique beer engine devised by Greene King that enables barstaff to switch between the two different dispense styles - without having to touch the nozzle that usually controls the type of head.

A simple lever on the swan-neck changes the flow while staff must set the nozzle in the base of the glass to create a northern head or angle the glass at 45Þ for a southern.

St Edmunds, a golden ale brewed to 4.2 per cent ABV, is also designed to be served cooler than the average cask beer, at six to 8Þ. The spout is set to one side of the handpump so that customers can see their pint being poured.

"Combining the choice of serve with the growing popularity of light, golden beers and the increasing demand for cooler products, consumers tell us we're really onto something here," says Greene King Brewery Company managing director Justin Adams.

"Our brewing and quality team worked tirelessly over 18 months to create a beer that does not throw a chill haze down to five degrees.

"St Edmunds will also bring contemporary theatre to cask ale as it's served at bar level so drinkers can see it being poured with their choice of head."