Adnams Beer from the Coast

Suffolk Punch (That's Beer To You and Me)

Many years ago, when I was a younger man, my pint of choice was a pint of light and bitter. I simply followed the lead of the men in the local pub I drank in. Some drank brown and bitter, some drank light and lager, some drank mild. Younger readers won't know what I am talking about, but some of the older readers may recall the days when pub tables would be littered with empty bottles of light and pale ale, brown and green bottles butted up to ashtrays and pint pots. It was an ace drink, and you often got more than a pint as a good barman would fill your glass to over halway, then give you the full half-pint bottle of light ale to top it up. Happy days.

I hadn't supped on a pale ale for years, and after I drank a bottle of Adnams Lighthouse Pale Ale I thought, what a shame. it's delicious: spicy with a hint of caramel. It took me back. It's shame you don't find beers of this quality in many pubs any more. Perhaps if you did the pubs would be crowded with happy punters.

I followed up the Lighthouse with what Adnams describe as a dark mild - Gunhill. They blend four different malts and have produced a rich beer, warming and with hints of chocolate. Really superb, and rather a case of these - or indeed any of the Adnams range - than a case of lame, chemically-inspired lager.

I'm converted. Truly: a great British firm making good stuff should be supported. Go out and have a look around their brewery. If you are in East Anglia go to an Adnams pub. Fully good and fully endorsed.