Why all beer drinkers should reject minimum pricing.

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So, Scotland set poised to introduce a minimum retail  (I am assuming it is only retail?) price of alcohol of 50p a unit (already increased from a previously proposed 45p). Now, as pubs retail alcohol at well over the minimum pricing level* this policy, should it be introduced in England, should give us responsible pub-goers no concern whatsoever, right? WRONG! Be afraid. Be very afraid! Regardless of the for-and-against arguments of minimum pricing, here are some thoughts from a publican …

2nd Just Beer Beer Festival (JBBF).

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We are holding the second Just Beer Beer Festival (JBBF2) to coincide with the Newark CAMRA Beer Festival next weekend (24th-28th May). Up to 17 beers available at one time served both from handpump and direct from cellar, ensuring the perfect serving temperature. We have once again scoured the country for the best beers and are bringing you some crackers from no less than six brand-new breweries (2012), and three brew-pub beers plus one special: 1 Bartrams  – Megalithic 4.2 …

Exciting times!

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Last month we featured the first two beers from Medieval Beers of Bestwood – Crusader and Chivalry. Yesterday we took delivery of the first beers from the brand-new Navigation brewery in Nottingham. Today we are expecting to receive the first brews from Ilkeston’s North Star brewery and tomorrow two casks from Reedley Hallows of Burnley are arriving. We have the first gyles coming from Hucknall brewery Lincoln Green just as soon as brewer Anthony is operational, hopefully at the beginning …

Just Beer goes lager.

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After 20 months of selling only cask beer, we have decided to introduce a keg lager onto the bar at Just Beer. In keeping with our ideals, this will not be a mass produced product. No, Sireee! After much research, we have managed to source a lager from the brand-new Blázen micro-brewery from the Czech Republic. This is the first time any of their beer has ever appeared in the UK and the 4.5% keg lager, Kočičí Moči (pronounced Kochichi …

Just Beer showing the way?

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Castle Rock have just introduced a great new scheme called NewBrew night whereby, once a month, they feature a brewery that has started up within the last twelve months. YourRound, the web site that started tweeting beer updates on behalf of pubs, yesterday announced their new ‘SmartBeer‘ labelling, a point-of-sale description of the beer on offer, also a great development for beer drinkers. Just Beer has showcased brand-new breweries almost weekly, tweeted new beers as soon as they hit the …

Now on the bar: Let the BF commence…

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●BOTANIST (Richmond, London: Aug 2011) ► Night Porter 5% Dark brown. Traditional London Porter, rich dark and complex, the beer has an outstanding depth of flavour. Pale. Fruits, floral notes, earthy and grassy. Ends in a very big bitterness. ●BURNSIDE (Laurencekirk, Aberdeen: 2010) ► Wild Rhino Blonde 4.3% Pale. Lightly malted, hoppy, fruity with a bit of citrus. ●BY THE HORNS (London: Sep 2011) ► Stiff Upper Lip 3.8% Golden. Well balanced mellow malt gives a rich body whilst Sonnet hops …