Keep your beer miles low

Last Thursday I had a excellent pint of Adnams Bitter in the Cherry Tree in Woodbridge, Suffolk. I followed it with a delicious pint of Broadside and a superb pint of Oyster Stout, a rare treat. However, I kept off the Explorer. Why? Beer miles.

Explorer is made with imported hops - that is one of the marketing points. Evidence of climate change is increasing daily and cask ale brewers should be highlighting the fact that their beers involve less transport and therefore cause fewer greenhouse gas emissions than imported lagers or than beers made in Britain with imported ingredients.

There is much talk about the need to insulate your home and everyone is conscious of the environmental impact of cars and aeroplanes, but we should also take note that around one third of the average person's carbon footprint comes from the food and drink that he or she consumes. To help reduce our personal contribution to CO2 levels in the atmosphere we should all eat and drink only British products as far as possible.

Drink real ale to (help) save the planet!