29 June 2010
PRIME MINISTER CAMERON TAKES 312 TO NUMBER 10
A bottle of Goose Island 312 Urban Wheat beer, from President Obama’s home city of Chicago, is winging its way to Number 10. In exchange, the White House will be home to a bottle of darkly mysterious Hobgoblin ale, brewed in Prime Minister Cameron’s Witney (Oxfordshire) constituency. The exchange of beers was payment of a friendly bet by both leaders on the result of their countries’ World Cup fixture.
The vibrantly fruity 4.2% abv Goose Island 312, allegedly President Obama’s favourite brew, was an inspired choice, tactfully brewed in the ‘English style’ * and winner of the Gold medal in this category at the Great American Beer Festival in both 2006 and 2007. Its hazy straw colour and the ripe lemon aromas from its Cascade and Liberty hops should add further warmth and spice to the Special Relationship between the two countries.
Goose Island 312 will be available in Britain from mid August from www.beerhere.co.uk and through quality independent retailers at £1.70-£2 per 35.5cl bottle, joining Goose Island IPA, Goose Island Honkers and other special seasonal beers in its flavour-packed range.
Though President Obama suggested that Goose Island 312 is best served cold, a serving recommendation for ales now widespread in Britain’s pubs as well**, the power of beer to ensure the special relationship has historical precedent.
For centuries, Prime Ministers, Queens, Presidents and cartoon stars have known the social importance of beer:
George Washington the first President, had a brewery in the grounds of his Mount Vernon home; and the 16th President, Abraham Lincoln, anticipated Britain’s economic crisis whilst offering fellow politicians the following helpful advice:
“I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great
point is to bring them the real facts, and beer”.
Queen Victoria, not the most laddish of royals, was another keen supporter of beer: “Give my people plenty of beer, good beer ... and you will have no revolution among them.”
Whilst Prime Minister Churchill summed up beer’s importance to our troops at the front: “Make sure that the beer goes to the troops under fire before any of the parties at the rear get a drop.”
... and American super-hero, Homer Simpson, quaffed his beloved Duffs with friends, before returning home to the ever-tolerant Marje.
UK importer, Ian Clay of James Clay & Co (www.jamesclay.co.uk), comments: “Prime Minister Cameron is in for a treat. The US craft brewing scene is vibrant, just like this beer.”
(www.gooseisland.com)
* wheat beer (adding wheat to the barley base) is not really an English style
** the industry’s respected Cask Marque quality campaign suggests that cask ales should normally be served at 11-13 degs C, wheat beers and lagers at 0-5 degrees for extra cold products, or 5-8 degrees C for standard lagers or kegged products
Ends
June 2010
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