Your Comments, Criticisms and Contributions - May 2002
I have been alerted to the fact that Guinness Nigeria may be gluten-free. Can you confirm? Since I have had to become gluten-free, I have been searching for a beer that I could consume. The only find so far has been Bi-Aglut from Italy, but sadly, they do not export their product. Thank you.
- Wendy Glatz
Nigerian Guinness is brewed from sorghum, but I do not know if that is to the exclusion of any kind of glutenous grain. I would suggest you direct your query to the Guinness website.
Another option is to brew it yourself. Find a local brew-on-premises operation - one of those places where you use their equipment to brew your beer - and challenge the owner to come up with a gluten-free recipe. Options besides sohrgum would include buckwheat.
I enjoyed your article about English pubs.
Coincidentally, my wife and I were in England at the same time you were. We spent most of our time in the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake district. We visited lots of pubs and toured 2 breweries (Black Sheep and Samuel Smith).... I bought the CAMRA Good Beer Guide for 2002 - 5000 Best Pubs. Excellent. If you ever get the chance, try the Narrow Boat (Skipton) and the Golden Rule (Ambleside)
It really is hard to describe what makes the pubs great... Sure the beer is good, but somehow the atmosphere is different - whether it is the old men playing dominos, or just chatting; the simple sandwiches (butties), the small rooms, no music, or the dogs, I do not know. But as much as I like going to my local pub here in Ottawa, it just isn't the same.
Anyway, thanks for your article. It brought back some memories and people need to understand that it is not simply about alcohol.... The atmosphere and the people really make the place.
- Peter Larose
Thank you for your response. Funny, but I also visited Black Sheep and Sam Smith, the latter by design and the former just because I saw the sign for Masham as I was rolling along the motorway. You're right, there really is something about a British pub that's almost impossible to describe. I say 'almost' because it's my job to describe it.
Stephen,
May I urge you to visit The Jerusalem Tavern at 55 Britton St, Clerkenwell, London EC1 on your next walkabout in London? It is one of the truly great Dickensian Pubs in London, full of cask ales, wooden floorboards, an open fire and bangers and mash!!
Well worth a visit? I should say so! But then, we do own it!!
- George A. Wortley, Managing Director, St. Peter's Brewery Co Ltd
Thanks for your email. The Jerusalem was on my list, but sadly was also one of the many pubs I never visited due to lack of time. If I'm able to make it back for the GBBF this year, I'll rectify that omission.
BTW, good to see the St. Peter's ales doing so well in my home province of Ontario. Congratulations.
I am allergic to brewing yeast. Could you tell me if all beer has brewing yeast? If not, could you tell me which ones are safe for me to drink? Thank you.
- Christine
In most of the world's beers, the yeast is filtered out before packaging. However, trace amounts may still be found in even some filtered beers, and depending on your sensitivity threshold, this may be problematic. I would suggest that you consult with an allergist before drinking any beer.
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