THE boss of Spain’s best export – Estrella beer – has already fired a warning shot at UK brewers labelling them ‘dishonest’ for for making ‘Spanish’ Madrí – a beer actually brewed in Yorkshire.
Now a British beer expert was weighed in to the argument calling the whole debacle the ‘Lager Letdown – The scandal of European beers brewed in the UK ‘.
Roger Protz, author of The World’s Greatest Beers didn’t pull any punches either in what he has labelled as ‘fraud’.
Protz slammed the trend of poor quality beers being quickly brewed in the UK, yet passing themselves off as premium products from around the globe.
Writing a column in the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) magazine – Beer, Protz bemoaned modern brewing processes that has seen typical brew times drop from as much as 90 days, down to as little as seven.
“People are prepared to pay the premium because they think they are getting a genuine European or Scandinavian beer. Madri shows just how they are being fooled.” said Protz.
“Of all the big lager brands on sale in Britain, only Peroni is a genuine import. Fosters and Moretti are brewed in Manchester, Carlsberg and San Miguel in Northampton, American Budweiser and Stella Artois at Magor in Wales; and Kronenburg at one of the plants owned by Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company.
But as Swift Half has previously reported the UK versions are often infinitely inferior to their foreign counterparts. The brews are nearly all weaker in ABV and lack depth of flavour often due to the brewing processes being shortened in what some might label a cash grab.
According to Protz brewers claim the drop in alcohol strength is due to them looking after drinkers health.
However Protz was quick to rebuff their claims “The brewers aren’t concerned with drinkers’ health. They reduce the strength because they can save a fortune in excise duty.”
Protz claimed in an example that a brewer could potentially save £4m a year in duty simply by reducing the ABV from 3.6 to 3.4 on a 100,000 barrel run.
He finished off by championing truly independent manufacturers.
“It’s about wealth not health. Don’t be fooled by the global brewers propaganda and stick to genuine lager and ale made by independent brewers.”
Probably a good time to enjoy a drop of the fantastic Perlenbacher Festbier from good old Lidl.
