Great American beer at the Great British Beer Festival

British made real ale and American craft beer peacefully co-
existed at this year's Great British Beer Festival.  Photos by Charlie
Papazian

Bob Pease, Brewers Association Export Development Program Director reports on American beer from small and independent craft brewers at the 5 day Great British Beer Festival that all American craft beer (both cask and bottles) are almost sold out and that organizers are desperately seeking more.

American craft brewers have had a significant presence at this year’s event held at Earl's Court in London.  Avid beer enthusiasts have been appreciating the diverse styles of ales and lagers in the "Bieres San Frontieres" or Beers with out Borders area.  Pease reports “There are signs everywhere proclaiming, ‘We are proud to pour a full pint.’ Ninety percent of the beers here are served as cask or ‘Real Ale.’ The Brewers Association’s American Craft Beer section is one of few places where bottles are available. Beers are sold for 3 pounds ($5.10) for 12 ounce bottle and 7 pounds ($11.90) for a 22 ounce bottle. You can even buy beer to go! One guy bought and loaded into his suitcase about 30 or 40 different American Craft Beers. He was very, very happy.”

Lagunitas Brewing Company, Odell Brewing Company, Stone Brewing Company and Victory Brewing Company, four of several American craft brewers who are participating were featured with great success at a beer and food dinner at the White Horse on Parson’s Green, Pembroke Gastropub at Earl’s Court and Porterhouse in Covent Garden.  Among the attending press were highly regarded and eminent beer writers such as Andrew Pring (editor of the Morning Advertiser), Tim Hampson (Chairman of the British Guild of Beer Writers), Roger Protz and Jeff Evans, both highly regarded and knowledgeable British beer writers.  Also attending were journalists from the Publican, Morning Advertiser, The Grocer and OLN and many more publications.

Video of  Traders’s Day at the GBBF:

Video 2009 GBBF Champion Beer Announcements:

The Great British Beer Festival has been open 10-1/2  hours a day for four straight days and ends Saturday, August 7.  Now that’s hard work.