A West Yorkshire brewer has marked his half century with a nod to real ale tradition.  Ian Cowling, who runs Keighley’s Old Bear Brewery, was very proud to  receive his own wooden firkin as a 50th birthday gift.
The firkin was made by North Yorkshire’s Theakston Brewery cooper, Jonathan Manby, as a demonstration at September’s Keighley Beer Festival. Theakston’s is one of only two Yorkshire breweries still delivering ale in wooden casks; Old Peculier was available at Keighley Beer Festival “from the wood”.  Each wooden barrel takes around two to three …

Here we have proof that New Full Measure has influential readers. Pictured reading the last issue outside the Houses of Parliament is Leeds North West MP, Greg Mulholland. Greg is Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Save the Pub Group and also an Executive Member of the All Party Parliamentary Beer Group.

That’s an advertising slogan used by Carlsberg UK not that long ago to promote Tetley Bitter. You might remember it. The idea was that Tetley’s was an uncompromising northern pint; it should not be drunk by southern softies. It should be drunk by folk who own flat caps and own whippets. You get the idea.

By now it is well known that Carlsberg plan to close the Joshua Tetley brewery in Leeds some time before 2011 …

Doesn’t it come round quickly? Everyone’s favourite beery event of the year is being planned again for 2010, so put a note in your diary for 18th to 20th March when Leeds Beer, Cider and Perry Festival is planned to take place.
It will be held in the usual place, Pudsey Civic Hall, which is close to New Pudsey Station and served by regular buses and trains from both Leeds and Bradford.
As ever there will be an exciting range of around 150 real ales from around the country available in …