Don't you just love the fact that there are some good things about?
I just got to watch episode 2 Oz and James last night on the good old IPlayer from the Beeb.
There are some good, well known media people that are taking real notice of beer. Oz and James and Morrissey Fox of course are really helping the beer industry. Fiona Beckett, who is really into wine, is saying stuff supporting beer as well. Recently, an apparently notorious idiot in the wine world tried to slag off beer in the Guardian; his name is Malcolm Gluck. There is a lack of wine fans jumping to his support in the comments, and a large number of beer supporters rounding on his ignorant declaration. The best bit is that fellow wine buff Fiona Beckett pulls no punches with the first comment before more than 150 follow suit.
I recently stopped at a fuel station that had a Spar attached. Of course there were shelves filled with cheap lager and plenty of plonk, but 10 years ago you would not have found 20 plus specialist bottled ales on the shelves, but there they were.
So, yes, inevitably there are pubs closing and some old breweries, and the downturn is affecting trade a little, but there is hope for that growing part of the industry that Oz and James and Morrissey Fox are helping along, that of good British Beer; The proper stuff, not some bland fizzy over chilled amber stuff that might, as an aside, be made from British barley.
Now I like wine as well. Recently I found my all time favourite wine: Nuits St Georges Premier Crus, can't remember the year, but it was fantastic. The problem is that it's also bloody expensive. There are so many excellent beers out there at a fraction of the price and this is the problem for quality wine and cheap beer. Good beer is so much cheaper than good wine, and good beer is little more, if any more expensive than poor beer, you just need to look for it.
I think this contest has an inevitable conclusion.
Thanks to Jeff Pickthall for posting the original link for Mr Gluck.
3 comments:
On the wine front, I heartily recommend Argentine Malbecs - my paricular favourite is from the Michel Torino vineyards. Not sure how much it would cost over in Blighty, but here is about a tenner a bottle.
Fiona Beckett knows her beer:
http://tinyurl.com/98aurk
Malcolm Gluck is somewhat of a laughing stock these days. It reflects badly on the Guardian that they continue to publish his 1970's snobbist views. But as you say, elsewhere things are looking up.
Post a Comment