...they do want the government to fix prices in their favour though...

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We believe in freedom of speech and artistic expression. We don’t believe in mindless censorship.

This is the wonderful Brew Dog, of course, speaking about the Advertising Standards Authority. So it's a shame that their view on minimum pricing is so illiberal and self-serving:

The proposals will mean that the multi-national corporate hammerheads no longer allowed to discount their liquid cardboard to embarrassingly pathetic levels it will act to level the playing field in the off trade. Craft brewers can’t, and shouldn’t, discount their beers and sustain losses. With less of a price differential now in the off trade between industrial and craft beer it will be far easier for the consumer to trade up to awesome craft brews

So much for believing in choice and freedom (although I love the beer).

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The proposals will mean that the multi-national corporate hammerheads no longer allowed to discount their liquid cardboard to embarrassingly pathetic levels it will act to level the playing field in the off trade. Craft brewers can’t, and shouldn’t, discount their beers and sustain losses. With less of a price differential now in the off trade between industrial and craft beer it will be far easier for the consumer to trade up to awesome craft brews. - See more at: http://www.brewdog.com/blog-article/brewdog-backs-minimum-pricing#sthash.gFpG6bsC.dpuf

“We believe in freedom of speech and artistic expression. We don’t believe in mindless censorship.
Read more at http://www.thedrum.com/news/2013/07/24/brewdog-responds-asa-those-mother-fukers-don-t-have-any-jurisdiction-over-us#0zmcl8rJoPq3WzuD.99

Sinking German Battleships - in a beery sort of way!

Opened the birthday bottle of Sink the Bismark last night - shared a (small) glass with Glen, after all:

Armed with their 40% ABV beer, German brewers have infiltrated our front lines, slipped under the defences and straight onto the radars of you – the noble beer drinkers of the Empire.

We ask of you to keep calm and carry on whilst saluting the valiant efforts of Tactical Nuclear Penguin whose fall has allowed the Germans to recapture the world record for the strongest beer.

We are wheeling out the big guns this time. Sink the Bismarck is a quadruple IPA that contains four times the hops, four times the bitterness and frozen four times to create at a staggering 41% ABV.

A beer to be treated with caution!

So what's it like? First you need to think what it's like drinking a glass of whiskey or brandy - the fumes rising from the warm liquid, the intense alcohol hit as you sip and the lingering aftertaste. Sink the Bismark is like that - only it tastes of really hoppy beer. I could get all whimsical and speak of some honey flavours, even a bit of licorice but mostly the drink is like beer on steroids - all those flavours wrapped up in a spirit strength, impact filled package.

Definitely not a beer for the faint-hearted! As the masters at Brew Dog said of another beer:

This is an extremely strong beer, it should be enjoyed in small servings and with an air of aristocratic nonchalance. In exactly the same manner that you would enjoy a fine whisky, a Frank Zappa album or a visit from a friendly yet anxious ghost.

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