Our Homage to Beer Day Britain
Britain’s Beer Day is being held on the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta, approved 15 June 1215 by King John of England. The Magna Carta (so that no-one will be displeased, we’re using both forms, with and without the article) already mentioned ale in its Article 35: “There shall be standard measures of wine, ale, and corn […] throughout the kingdom…”
What is Beer Day about? In a nutshell: To encourage people to drink beer and make them proud of Britain’s beer through a series of events and actions on the national territory. As noted on the BDB’s website: “Today beer and pubs are still central to the social health of the nation and in economic terms they contribute £22 billion annually to Britain’s GDP. One job in brewing generates twenty-one jobs in agriculture, retail, pubs, and the supply chain.”
From the fields of barley and hops to the bottle we uncap in our favourite bar, beer is indeed a major economic reality. But our tip of the hat to Beer Day, with its medieval historic references, will be to Adnams Jack Brand Crystal Rye IPA with Southwold Jack, the knight with the sword, on the label. Southwold, Suffolk is a place where ale has been brewed since 1345.
This beer delivers aromas of toasted grains (thanks to Pale Ale and Cara Malt, and rye of course) and a taste that mixes the sweetness of caramel and a crisp and lengthy bitterness (thanks to the American hops Columbus, Centennial, Cascade, Amarillo, and Citra). It has something very woody, something like herbs and leaves, that makes it a very subdued IPA, although the final bitterness cuts… like a sword.