The taxpayers’ subsidy for the bars and restaurants in the Houses of Commons has risen to £5.8m a year, despite promises by parliamentary official to cut public funding for politicians’ meals and drinks.

They did not mention the price of a pint, but after a quick search of the parliment website (hat-tip @arfurD)

The Strangers bar (where MP can bring guests) sells Guest Ales/ Cellarman’s reserve £2.40 a pint.

You can view the full list here.

Or the other prices for the various outlets that we subsidise.

 
Maybe I should have gone into politics instead of sheds.

I wonder how many pints get quaffed in a year by our MPs at their bars?

From Wednesday 23rd to Wednesday 30th November we’ll be holding our stout and porter festival!

We’ll be celebrating the best in dark beers here at the City Arms!

We’ll have 16-18 different stouts and porters for you to choose from. These will be available on both the stillage and hand pull.

These beers will be limited edition so make sure you get your hands on them whist they’re around! We’ll be introducing some well known and some more obscure beers from all over the UK.

Some great beers

Purbeck, Studland Bay Wrecked
Blackwater Brewery, Pre-Raphaelite
Thornbridge, SeaForth
Banks and Taylor, SOS
Brentwood, Lumberjack
Brentwood, Spooky Moon
Brentwood, The Dodo
Salopian, Vortex
Salopian, Shropshire Gold Stout and Porter Fest 2011
Brentwood Weald Porter 4.9%
Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby Mild 6%
RCH Old Slug Porter 4.5%
Banks & Taylor Black Dragon Mild 4.3%
Burton Bridge Damson Porter 4.5%
Blindmans ,Icarus 4.5%
Amber Winter Ruby 5%
Neathergate Umbel Magna 5%
Titantic Plum Porter 4.9%
Montys Midnight Stout 4%
Waen Blackberry Stout 3.8%
Waen chilli Plum Porter 6.1%
Bristol Beer Stout 4%
B&T Edwin Taylors Stout 4.5%
Mighty oak Oscar Wild 3.7% Dark
Otley Oxy moron 5.5%

From SA Brain

Welsh brewer SA Brain and Co Ltd today announced that it is to extend production facilities at the Cardiff Brewery by installing a new craft brewery.

The brewery will complement Brains’ existing plant and enable them to brew a diverse range of craft cask, keg and bottled beers.

Bill Dobson, Head Brewer at Brains, explains: “The beer market is always changing and there is a growing interest in more diverse beers and different beer styles. We have seen this through the growing popularity of our seasonal ales and a demand for a wider choice on the bar, especially from the younger drinker.”

“This new brewery means we will be able to meet these growing needs by brewing on a much smaller scale, at the same time developing our capability to innovate new products and to experiment with limited editions and one-offs.”

David Bonney, Commercial Director at Brains, added: “This investment demonstrates our commitment to the development of our cask and keg beers – a key element of our growth strategy – enabling us to remain at the forefront of new product development.”

Brains hopes to have the new plant up and running by the end of March 2012. The company will continue to brew its range permanent and seasonal beers – which includes the renowned SA, the award winning SA Gold and the legendary Dark – at the Cardiff brewery.

Brains Dark, has been named the ‘World’s Best Dark Mild Ale’ and ‘Europe’s Best Dark Mild Ale’ at the World Beer Awards 2011.

Well done to all at S A Brain – it’s in some great company some of the other beers in the groups are brilliant – Rodenbach Grand Cru 6% & Thornbridge Bracia 9% to name just two.

The award means that it now ranks as one of the world’s 50 best beers.

An international panel of judges described the beer as having a “fresh tobacco nose with liquorice and burnt fruit. Toasty, not too sweet. Nice and dry. Light hops. Coffee, chocolate, bitter hops and roasted grain. Dry Finish.”

Richard Davies, sales and marketing director at Brains said: “We’re thrilled that Dark has won such a high profile award against the best international competition. It proves that regional family brewers can compete with the biggest and best in the world.”

Dark was the heart of Brains for most of its history. It dominated production at the Old Brewery and up until the 1980’s was Brains’ best-selling ale. Today the beer is sold in pubs and supermarkets throughout the UK.

For more information

1
BRAINS DARK 3.5% ABV
Brains Brewery, Cardiff. Est. 1882
2
HARVIESTOUN NUMBER OF THE BEAST 3.6% ABV
Harviestoun Brewery, Clackmannanshire. Est. 1985
3
BATEMANS XB 3.7% ABV
Batemans Brewery, Lincolnshire. Est. 1874
4
EVERARDS WHAKATU 3.7% ABV
Everards Brewery, Leicestershire. Est. 1849
5
JW LEES THE GOVERNOR 3.8% ABV
JW Lees Brewery, Manchester. Est. 1828
6
BANKS & TAYLOR’S ALBION ALE 4.0% ABV
B & T Brewery, Bedfordshire. Est. 1981
7
KALAMAZOO BLACK SILK 4.0% ABV
Bell’s Brewery, Michigan, USA. Est. 1985
8
SALOPIAN VAPOUR TRAIL 4.0% ABV
Salopian Brewery, Shropshire. Est. 1995
9
THORNBRIDGE BROTHER RABBIT 4.0% ABV
Thornbridge Brewery, Derbyshire. Est. 2005
10 WADWORTH OCTOBERZEST 4.0% ABV
Wadworth Brewery, Wiltshire. Est. 1885
11
COACH HOUSE WHIPLASH 4.1% ABV
Coach House Brewery, Cheshire. Est. 1991
12
SHEPHERD NEAME WHITSTABLE BAY 4.1% ABV
hepherd Neame Brewery, Kent. Est. 1698
13 WELLS NAKED GOLD 4.1% ABV
Wells & Young’s Brewery, Bedfordshire. Est. 2006
14
BUTCOMBE RARE BREED 4.2% ABV
Butcombe Brewery, Somerset. Est. 1978
15
COTLEIGH COMMANDO HOOFING IPA 4.2% ABV
Cotleigh Brewery, Somerset. Est. 1979
16
DOUBLE MAXIM ANDERSONS BEST SCOTCH 4.2% ABV
Double Maxim Brewery, County Durham. Est. 2007
17
TRING PUDDING PORTER 4.2% ABV
Tring Brewery, Hertfordshire. Est. 1992
18
ROOSTER’S LAST STAND 4.3% ABV
Rooster’s Brewery, North Yorkshire. Est. 1993
19
VALE LONG DARK NIGHTS 4.3% ABV
Vale Brewery, Buckinghamshire. Est. 1995
20 WOODFORDE’S KETT’S REBELLION 4.3% ABV
Woodforde’s Brewery, Norfolk. Est. 1980
21
OAKLEAF 10 LITTLE ACORNS 4.4% ABV
Oakleaf Brewery, Hampshire. Est. 2000
22 WHARFEBANK TREACLE TOFFEE STOUT 4.4% ABV
WharfeBank Brewery, West Yorkshire. Est. 2010
23
BOX STEAM PISTON BROKE 4.5% ABV
Box Steam Brewery, Wiltshire. Est. 2004
24
MORDUE RED RYE RIWAKA 4.5% ABV
Mordue Brewery, Tyne and Wear. Est. 1995
25
OKELLS SAISON 4.5% ABV
Okells Brewery, Isle of Man. Est. 1850
26
STONE SAN DIEGO SESSION IPA 4.5% ABV
Stone Brewery, California, USA. Est. 1996
27
TITANIC FIT-OUT 4.5% ABV
Titanic Brewery, Staffordshire. Est. 1985
28 WYCHWOOD GINGER BEARD 4.5% ABV
Wychwood Brewery, Oxfordshire. Est. 1983
29
EVAN EVANS 1767 4.6% ABV
Evan Evans Brewery, Carmarthenshire. Est. 2004
30
HEREFORD WYVERN WARRIOR 4.6% ABV
Hereford Brewery, Hereford. Est. 2000
31
HILDEN TWISTED HOP 4.7% ABV
Hilden Brewery, County Antrim. Est. 1982
32
ST PETER’S GOLDEN ALE 4.7% ABV
St Peter’s Brewery, Suffolk. Est. 1996
33
ADNAMS AMERICAN STYLE IPA 4.8% ABV
Adnams Brewery, Suffolk. Est. 1872
34
BEND ECLIPSE CASCADIAN DARK ALE 4.8% ABV
Bend Brewery, Oregon, USA. Est. 1995
35
BREWSTER’S AMERICAN CHOPPER 4.8% ABV
Brewster’s Brewery, Lincolnshire. Est. 1998
36
EXMOOR HART 4.8% ABV
Exmoor Ales, Wiveliscombe, Somerset. Est. 1980
37
BELHAVEN ST ANDREWS ALE 4.9% ABV
Belhaven Brewery, East Lothian. Est. 1719
38
FAT HEAD’S YAKIMA SUN 5.0% ABV
Fat Head’s Brewery, Ohio, USA. Est. 2007
39
MOORHOUSE’S PENDLE PORTER 5.0% ABV
Moorhouse’s Brewery, Lancashire. Est. 1865

40
RCH FIREY LIZ 5.0% ABV
RCH Brewery, Somerset. Est. 1982

41
ST AUSTELL PROPER BLACK 5.0% ABV
St Austell Brewery, Cornwall. Est. 1851

42
THWAITES DANIEL’S HAMMER 5.0% ABV
Thwaites Brewery, Lancashire. Est. 1807

43
TRADITIONAL SCOTTISH ALES TAKING THE PITH 5.0% ABV
Traditional Scottish Ales, Stirlingshire. Est. 2005

44
HOOK NORTON FLAGSHIP ALE 5.3% ABV
Hook Norton Brewery, Oxfordshire. Est. 1850

45
ODELL 90 SHILLING 5.3% ABV
Odell Brewery, Colorado, USA. Est. 1989

46 WHITE HORSE HORSE RUSTLER 5.4% ABV
White Horse Brewery, Oxfordshire. Est. 2004
47
BRAKSPEAR TRIPLE 5.7% ABV
Wychwood Brewery, Oxfordshire. Est. 1983
48
BEARTOWN WOJTEK 5.8% ABV
Beartown Brewery, Cheshire. Est. 1994
49
CALEDONIAN COSSACK IMPERIAL RUSSIAN STOUT 6.0% ABV
Caledonian Brewery, Edinburgh. Est. 1869
50
MORLAND OLD CRAFTY HEN 6.5% ABV
Greene King Brewery, Suffolk. Est. 179

The current count is eighty-eight bottles! Due to be topped up with a few more of our favourites as we get closer to the festival.

American

Anchor Brewing – San Fransisco
Steam Beer – 4.8%
Liberty Ale – 5.9%
Porter – 5.6%

Brooklyn Brewery – NYC
Brown Ale – 5.6%
Black Chocolate Stout – 10.0%
East India Pale Ale – 6.8%

Flying Dog Brewery- Maryland
Doggie Style – 5.5%
Road Dog Porter – 6.0%
Raging Bitch – 8.3%
Tire Bite – 5.1%

Goose Island – Chicago
312 Urban Wheat – 4.4% (as served in the White House!)
Honkers Ale – 4.3%
India Pale Ale – 5.9%

Sierra Nevada
Pale Ale – 5.6%

Belgian

De Koninck – 5.0%
Duvel – 8.5%
Kwak – 8.4%
La Chouffe – 8.0%
Mc Chouffe – 8.0%
Houblon Chouffe – 9.0%
Vedett Blonde – 5.0%
Vedett White – 4.7%
Belgoo Magus – 6.6%
Van Honsebrouke Brigand – 9.0%
Van Honsebrouke Kasteel Blonde 7 – 7.0%
Van Honsebrouke Kasteel Brune 11 – 11.0%
Cantillion Geuze – 5.0%
Cantillon Kriek – 5.0%
Cantillon Rose de Gambrinus – 5.0%
Cuvee Des Trolls – 7.0%
Delirium Tremens – 8.5%
Duchesse de Bourgogne – 6.2%
Mongozo Coconut – 4.5%
Rochefort 8 – 9.2%
Rochefort 10 – 11.3%
Saison Silly – 5.0%
Brasserie Dubuisson Scaldis Ambre – 12.0%
Urthel Hop It – 9.5%

Abbey & Trappist

Chimay Red Cap – 7.0%
Chimay White Cap – 8.0%
Chimay Blue Cap – 9.0%
Karmeliet Tripel – 8.4%
La Trappe Blonde – 6.5%
La Trappe Tripel – 8.0%
Maredsous Blonde – 6.0%
Maredsous Brune – 8.0%
Maredsous Triple – 10.0%
Orval – 6.2%
Westmalle Dubbel – 7.0%
Westmalle Tripel – 9.5%

For the Full list go here.

Almost 100 new breweries have opened across the UK in the past year, with a “staggering” 5,500 beers now in regular production, a new report showed today.

The Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) said there were now 840 breweries following a surge in beer production.

Roger Protz, editor of Camra’s Good Beer Guide, said: “The choice and diversity of beer in Britain is staggering and, in reality, if one hardy soul was to attempt the challenge of sampling every beer produced in Britain, including seasonal offerings, you’re going to be looking at an estimated 25-year stretch.

“Such a range is exactly what discerning beer drinkers expect in the current climate, and in spite of economic difficulties and pub closures, Britain’s pioneering brewers are more than rising to the challenge.

“Never will anyone alive today have seen 5,500 regular beers produced on these shores at any one time.”

He added: “Areas such as Yorkshire are recording startling brewery growth, with over six times more brewers in the region than when the first Good Beer Guide was compiled in the 1970s. Not only are there an exploding number of breweries operating in Britain, but also the quality of real ale has never been better.

“Speciality brewers are using the finest raw materials – malt and hops -to make their ales. Britain is a great place to be drinking good beer.”

The Good Beer Guide included a league table of the most prolific brewing counties, topped by Yorkshire, with more than 600 regular beers brewed.

The top 10 is listed as:

One of my locals the City Arms in Cardiff is having one – and if it’s anything like their American festival will be great –  Iam looking forward to it.

OK they are not German but that's the spirit : photo from rob www.travelswithbeer.com

Summer turning into Autumn means only one thing at the City Arms….it’s nearly time for Oktoberfest!!

OKTOBERFEST AT THE CITY ARMS – Friday 23rd September to Sunday 9th October

Come and join us for an authentic Oktoberfest experience, we’ll have six German beers on draught and eighteen German bottled beers including four specially brewed Bavarian Oktoberfest beers.

There’ll be live music on the 23rd and 24th (that’s the first Friday and Saturday nights) and in case you miss that we’ll have the Bavarian bierkeller tunes blasting out across the two weeks.

Find out more on their Website

photo from Rob over at Travelswithbeer.

The first one was after a recommendation from Ben from @pimpmydibber it was called Kash and it was brilliant.

Ben met up with me for a quick half I had not seen him for about 8/9years since he left Cardiff – so it was nice to catch up and talk beer and of course sheds.

It’s the brewery tap of Runcorn based Craft Brewery Blueball Brewery – I was chatting to the brewer Alex for a good hour and he loves his craft beer after spending many years in the USA.

They do a wide range of beers mostly served from Keg and the designs of the Clips are retro USA featuring starlets – they are a bit risque – but the beer is top class

The Spank was one of the best IPA I have had in while

slowly followed by their Blonde Bombshell

I also liked their sour Komrades Kolsch – but they are all a bit strong for session beers.

I tried their smoked beer but it was too much – I think Rob would like it mind

The first recorded evidence of Beer was written by the Sumerians in Mesopotamia in 4000 BC. They called it “Kash”. We thought it fitting to name our Bar after this ancient word.

Our primary focus is Beer. We have a very personal and passionate interest in Beer and run our very own Mircrobrewery in Cheshire, Blueball Brewery

I did venture to a few other pubs that day – including the Spitting Feature Brewery Tap but I ended back at the Kash after I got lost after an afternoon of ale- higly recommened to any craft beer fan.

Other beers of the day

Titanic Plum Porter

Peerless IPA