Join the National Party – Beer Day Britain June 15th 2016
by Jane Peyton
I remember distinctly years ago the time I ordered my first beer in a pub – Tetley Light Mild – and was instantly hooked. I enjoyed everything about the theatre of the pour – the landlord pulling the hand pump and filling the glass then presenting me with the most gorgeous vision – a pint of tan coloured beer with a voluptuous foamy head. This was a Yorkshire pint of beer and it was love at first sight. Then I tasted it and that was the start of a passionate relationship which grows by the day. That’s what beer does to people. If you are reading this, then you probably feel the same way.
How lucky are we to be living at this time when Britain’s brewing scene is the most dynamic and exciting it has ever been with more breweries per capita than any other country? When it comes to beer, Britain has much to be proud of. In prior centuries British ships spread the desire for beer to all hemispheres of the world. More styles of beer invented in Britain are now brewed regularly around the world than those of any other brewing nation. These include Pale Ale, India Pale Ale, Mild, Brown Ale, Stout, Porter, Imperial Russian Stout, and Barley Wine.
There are so many reasons to revere the national drink and now we have Beer Day Britain – national beer day on June 15th to celebrate the libation that gives us so much pleasure. I am the instigator of Beer Day Britain. I chose June 15th as the date because this is also the date Magna Carta was sealed in 1215 and there is a beer connection. Article 35 of the great charter stated:
‘Let there be throughout our kingdom a single measure for wine and a single measure for ale and a single measure for corn, namely the London quarter.’
Ale was so important in 1215 that it was mentioned in one of the most significant legal documents in history – and its importance has not waned. People had been talking for years about having a national beer day for Britain but no-one ever did anything to make it happen. The other two brewing powerhouse nations – Germany and Belgium – have a special day. Guinness has a special day – St Patrick’s Day – and now, since 2015 when Beer Day Britain happened for the first time, Britain does.
The aim of Beer Day Britain is for people to buy and drink beer. For brewers and pubs this is a business opportunity so will you join in and help the event to grow and help to spread the word? These are suggestions of things to do if you can:
Beer Day Britain will only succeed if brewers, pubs, and beer drinkers become enthusiastically involved. So please download a Beer Day Britain logo from www.BeerDayBritain.co.uk and email me with your plans to mark the day so I can publicise them on social media. Contact details below.
Don’t miss out on the national party!
Cheers to Beer, Jane Peyton, instigator and project manager of Beer Day Britain.
Email: jane@BeerDayBritain.co.uk Telephone: 0773 404 9411.
Twitter: @BeerDayBritain Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beerdaybritain
Alternatively you can submit details of your activity direct to Jane via the webform below:
