Apologies if posted before, but I note breweries are now reducing alcohol content in a bid to reduce tax.
Drinks will be taxed by alcoholic strength from 1 August when a new alcohol duty regime comes into effect.
Under the new tax system, producers will save between 2p and 3p per bottle or can. Brands which have allegedly already reduced alcohol content include Spitfire, Old Speckled Hen, Foster's and Bishops Finger.
Work from the alcohol research group at the University of Sheffield said that if breweries reduced alcohol percentages by just 0.35 they could save an estimated £250m on tax.
The whole ABV thing has got me. Go in a micro pub and have 4 pints of 4.5% ale. Do the equivalent with a branded lager and only one will make me feel like I have had a few
Apologies if posted before, but I note breweries are now reducing alcohol content in a bid to reduce tax.
Drinks will be taxed by alcoholic strength from 1 August when a new alcohol duty regime comes into effect.
Under the new tax system, producers will save between 2p and 3p per bottle or can. Brands which have allegedly already reduced alcohol content include Spitfire, Old Speckled Hen, Foster's and Bishops Finger.
Work from the alcohol research group at the University of Sheffield said that if breweries reduced alcohol percentages by just 0.35 they could save an estimated £250m on tax.
Alcohol Duty has always been calculated on ABV. The new system seeks to simplify the existing structures.
I realise that, but from a beer drinker's point of view the product is changing because of companies reaction to the increased taxation. Some foreign beers made under licence in the UK already bear little resemblance to the original products - perhaps it would be honest to call it something different. Well that's certainly the case if this charming chap is to be believed with his analysis of Stella.
Another day, another Trillium. This is one of their “little” series of beers - IPAs all in the 5.5% range. Wee Kiwi - made with Nelson Sauvin & Riwaka hops. Fruity up front but with quite a dry finish. Good for a hot day, like today.
Visited Paestum in Italy last Sunday, a wonderful site with three Greek temples. Took three hours to walk around so a beer was definitely called for. Found one from a local brewery that turned out to be a bottle conditioned red ale; very nice! Unfortunately, the waitress tipped the sediment of my wife's beer into her glass, so I did my own!
This has to be one of the best sours I’ve had for a while. Not too sour, the fruit isn’t overdone. Really well balanced and very smooth to drink for a sour. Lamplighter Luminary 3 - 2023
I've drank lager mostly over the last 30 years but something made me try a Guinness again about Feb/Mar time for the first time since I was 19 and I bloody loved it.
Have drunk more Guinness than lager since. Been an absolute game changer for me, so much less bloating for days after and my belly copes with it so much better.
I've drank lager mostly over the last 30 years but something made me try a Guinness again about Feb/Mar time for the first time since I was 19 and I bloody loved it.
Have drunk more Guinness than lager since. Been an absolute game changer for me, so much less bloating for days after and my belly copes with it so much better.
And the extra bonus from drinking lots of Guiness is that the next day you can tarmac your drive!
Just had a 6% Mana smoothie sour by Liverpool brewery Azvex. Very smooth and fruity especially for a summer’s evening.
I was over on Untapped a couple years ago and someone posted something very similar with the caption, "looks lile orange juice, smells like orange juice, tastes like orange juice", then gave it five/five. I thought, if you're so desperate for orange juice, why not just buy a ltr? It will be a game changer for you!
I've found the quality of Aldi beers to be quite patchy and they stopped doing my favourite Phantom pale ale a while ago. However, I'm now working through their Lock Ten range and finding them to be pretty good. The four styles of pale ale are well flavoured, I've just got the lager to try now.
I've found the quality of Aldi beers to be quite patchy and they stopped doing my favourite Phantom pale ale a while ago. However, I'm now working through their Lock Ten range and finding them to be pretty good. The four styles of pale ale are well flavoured, I've just got the lager to try now.
I like the bottled Dorset IPA they do in Aldi - not yet tried the Lock Ten range. Might pick some up later.
Rubis from Fox Farm brewery in Connecticut. One of the nicest looking breweries I’ve been to, hidden in the middle of nowhere. Beer’s good as well - the is a raspberry/cherry sour. Everything about it is perfectly balanced. Light sourness, not over fruity, nice dry finish.
I have a good friend coming over from the states at the end of the month and he can't drink. So what non-alcoholic beers do you all recommend? Preferably ones that are easy to get hold of! Thanks
Guinness 0/0 is very good, Aldi Rheinbacher lager is pleasant if well chilled, but doesnt bear much resemblance to a pilsner. Days pale ale and Ghost Ship are very good (Tesco, among others). Doom Bar is too malty for my taste. Of course you can get Becks zero, but on the basis that Becks is flavourless and awful I have assumed the 0% is even worse. Brewdog AF beers are all revolting, but Im not a big fan of brewdog beers anyway.
I have a good friend coming over from the states at the end of the month and he can't drink. So what non-alcoholic beers do you all recommend? Preferably ones that are easy to get hold of! Thanks
Carlsberg zero tastes like normal carlsberg... Good for a BBQ so get a few in. Guinness zero is superb
Think I may have said this before but Brooklyn - Special Effects I enjoy. Readily available in Tesco. Advertised as a “hoppy lager” but more of an American pale ale.
Best AF lager - Lucky Saint. Also readily available in supermarkets
Was at Olympia for GBBF (The Great British Beer Festival) on Wednesday. Not been for a few years, and seemed quieter than before, which made it much nicer than when the bars were rammed.
Quite steep to get in, £14 entrance fee for CAMRA members (£16 for non members).
Comments
Go in a micro pub and have 4 pints of 4.5% ale.
Do the equivalent with a branded lager and only one will make me feel like I have had a few
From Gov.UK
At the current VAT rate, and assuming 100% pass through wherever alcohol is purchased, from 1 August 2023 the tax on a typical:
- 4% ABV pint of draught beer will be 0 pence higher.
- 4% ABV 500ml bottle of non-draught beer will be 5 pence higher.
- 5% ABV pint of draught cider will be 2 pence higher.
- 5% ABV 500ml bottle of non-draught cider will be 5 pence higher.
- 40% ABV 25ml serving of whisky will be 3 pence higher.
- 5.4% ABV 250ml can of spirits-based RTD will be 6 pence lower.
- 11% ABV 250ml glass of still wine will be 5 pence higher.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/changes-to-alcohol-duty-rates/alcohol-duty-rate-changes#:~:text=Impact on individuals, households and families&text=At the current VAT rate,will be 5 pence higher.As the Brasilians do it over here, buy a 600ml bottle and share
Mrs Elfs is with her friends on the next table, I'm buying my own!!
Have drunk more Guinness than lager since. Been an absolute game changer for me, so much less bloating for days after and my belly copes with it so much better.
Best AF lager - Lucky Saint. Also readily available in supermarkets
Quite steep to get in, £14 entrance fee for CAMRA members (£16 for non members).