Many years ago we could get bottled beer that was still alive and kicking, having had the yeast allowed into the bottle (or reintroduced as a different strain) so that a secondary fermentation could occur in the bottle.
Bottle conditioned beers (BCB's) could be allowed to age like a fine wine. The law requires that bottled beers have a "sell by" or "best before" date but this can be meaningless to something that improves with age. Indeed, certain bottle conditioned beers are only at their
best after several years. Such beers have a natural sediment and require a steady hand when pouring - unless of course you like the sediment. Worried? Don't be. The sediment is only brewers yeast, something you would have to pay for in a health shop!
Many public houses around the province could never have the custom for real ale served from a cask via a hand pump. However, they did have a growing custom for bottle conditioned beers that could sit on the shelf for a long time while it just got better. Worthington White Shield was the mainstay of campaigns many years ago by the N. Ireland CAMRA branch (who have since failed to agnise it even though nationally it gets full publicity). Many pubs who stocked such beers went on to serve cask conditioned ale. In those days, about ten years ago, there were only several BCB's. Today they number in several hundred! If you are interested then try the latest edition of Jeff Evans book "The Good Bottled Beer Guide" available from CAMRA from this September.
I, for one, would like to see BCB's brought back to the province's pubs, clubs and restaurants - not just off-licenses. If I ever get enough time then I guess I will have to start a one man campaign.
If anyone remembers
White Shield in pubs or at the Belfast Beer Festivals and would like to
see it (or any other BCB) then get
in touch please.
