Beer history comes back to life

Britain has its beer history back. The National Brewing Centre has opened in the cradle of modern British brewing - Burton-on-Trent.

The former Bass Museum closed a couple a of years ago under the cosh of Molson Coors cutbacks - apparently they reckoned they were losing £1m a year. At one time it attraced 120,000 visitors a year, but was much under promoted by the American beer monolith that now owns most of downtown Burton. This proud Midlands town was once home to the great brewers of the 1800s such as Bass, Worthington and Allsops. Today Marston and a handful of craft brewers make a valiant stand against the Coors might.

However, Coors eventually responded pretty wholeheartedly to what appeared to be an unexpected (to them that is) local outcry that followed the closure. Camra also weighed in supported by the British Guild of Beer Writers and eventually the tide of bad publicity reached even the bean counters at Coors HQ in Boulder, Colorada.

Now the international lager brewer has put £200,000 into the new venture, whch will be run by Planning Solutions, a company with a good track record in the visitor venue market. Coors will also further repent their actions by with £100,00 a year funding: so very well done Coors then.

The main attractions will be housed in a Grade II listed former joiner's shop and vistors will be welcomed by 'Pepper's Ghost' a holographic presenter who will take them on a journey through British brewing complete with a model of Burton in its heyday. There will also be vintage vehicles and a steam locomative along with a mock up of a Victorian railway station platform. Adults (children also welcome) will be able to sample four beers in a tutored tasting master class and there will, of course, be bars and resturants to repair to for further refeshments.

Actors in period costume will interact with visitors while keeping in their Victorian era characters. And shire horses Major and Trooper will also be on parade for weekends and school holidays.

It is planned to move the White Shield brewery into the premises. For the past few years former Bass master brewer Steve Wellington has run the micro brewery to keep the famous brand alive and will be able to produce 100 barrels a week, including Red Shield.

Roger Protz, editor of the Good Beer Guide, who campaigned for the museum to be re-opened, said: "This is exciting news. Burton changed the face of brewing in the 19th century with India Pale Ale and then Pale Ale for the domestic market - the first pale beers brewed anywhere in the world. Brewers came to Burton from Austria, Bavaria and Bohemia to see how pale beer was made and used the knowledge to fashion the first golden lagers.

“The museum will celebrate this rich heritage but it will also be a truly national centre that will celebrate beer styles from all over country.Britain remains a major brewing country and the importance of beer - its past, present and future - will be promoted by the museum. All beer lovers should raise a glass in celebration.”

Spot on there Roger. We will.I will certainly be hot-footing to Burton soon clutching my nine quid and a bit of beer money.