Have we had an ale revolution in this country? *Positive thread*

[Sunbed]

I don't want to detract from the Favourite Beer thread at all, but I just wanted something clearing up.

When I was a teenager (not long ago) all you could get at most pubs was Carling, Fosters, Carlsberg, John Smiths, Guinness etc. At the time I wasn't really into my beer, so maybe I didn't notice much. But now almost every pub has guest beers/ales which I think is fantastic - so much more variety!

Was there some law that meant guest ales were able to make a niche for themselves somehow? Or has it always been this way and I was simply ignorant in my youthfulness?

Either way I like it how it is now

 

[Sunbed]

The Supply of Beer Act (Tied Houses) 1989 had this biggest recent impact. It reduced the number of tied pubs any single brewer could have to 2000 and ensured greater freedom for distribution of beer. The free house and microbrewery explosion of the 90's was a direct consequence of this act. http://www.reckon.co.uk/open/The_beer_tie_and_competition_law
In the 90's I did some research for a business course at Uni and a Japanese bank Nomura was the UK's largest pub owner. The pub co's can own more pubs than the breweries now I think.

Yes! That was what I was thinking of, thanks.

I think so. The supermarkets also seem to devote a much bigger section to real ales than they used to. I don't know whether it's because I'm only 24 but I always thought of real ale as an "old man's" drink, but the last couple of years or so I've seen it get more and more popular. My boyfriend pretty much only drinks real ale.

Yeh I used to think of ale as a bit of an old mans drink.. my dad liked it after all Now I love it... I actually prefer it from the bottle to draught (it's more lively), at about cellar temperature. I still love a good lager and I probably drink more of it on a whole due to nights out etc

Also... for anyone who likes a lot of choice go to Booths if you're in the North-West. There continental lager and ale section can be huge!