the real ale story
  
Real Ale has a shelf life of about a week ~ less when the weather is very hot~ because it is a living product

Towards the end of the barrel the beer can become cloudy ~ as the hops and other fermentable bits fall to the bottom of the barrel.
A good landlord will anticipate this and have a new barrel ready

The traditional way to serve Real Ale is with a 'beer engine' or handpump. In some pubs electric pumps are also used

 

 

 

So why does Real Ale taste so good ?

The water, quality of the barley, variety of hops, amount of sugar, coupled with the skills of the brewer and landlord affect the final taste of the beer

The basic brewing process has not changed for hundreds of years. Your favourite pint should only contain natural ingredients ~  sometimes a seaweed extract is used to create a longer lasting head

Remember that almost all Lager and most Cider is not Real Ale ~ don't be taken in by the flashy adverts

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