Brewing up a real treat for ale fans; Raise A Glass.

Byline: By Laurence McCoy

A TRIP to the local is in danger of becoming a thing of the past, with beer sales slumping and an estimated five pubs a day pulling their last pint and closing the doors for good.

It may be the credit crunch, it may be that it is just so much cheaper to drink at home, but figures just out reveal that beer sales in pubs, bars and restaurants fell 8.1 per cent between July and September compared with the previous year - the biggest drop-off in sales in the third quarter for a decade.

Meanwhile, pub closures are running at a record high of 36 a week, according to the British Beer & PubAssociation's quarterly Beer Barometer.

The landlords are quick to blame punitive taxes on beer for the decline. As for the punters - where's the incentive to trek out to the pub for a couple of bland and tasteless lagers when they can pick up a couple of tinnies at the supermarket for a fraction of the price?

While lager sales are dropping, however, there are signs of a resurgence in interest in "real" ales, with more than 70 new independent breweries starting up in the last year. The Campaign for Real Ale's 2009 Good Beer Guide says that while lager sales are plunging, independent brewers enjoyed an annual sales increase of 11 per cent in 2007.

The guide's editor, Roger Protz, says the reason is simple: "More and more drinkers are looking for taste and character in beer rather than the tasteless fizz offered by global brewers."

Starting today in Birmingham, there's a chance to see just how far "craft" brewers have come as a real ale festival gets under way at 13 Wetherspoon's pubs.

Around 50 cask-conditioned beers from across the world will feature in the 18-day event, including beers from Japan, Australia, Denmark, USA, Poland and Belgium, as well as the UK, with star beers selected in partnership with CAMRA members.

Ian Gardner, manager of The Briar Rose in Bennetts Hill, said: "The festival will give people the opportunity to enjoy a superb selection of UK and international beers, which are not normally available in the area. It promises to be great fun." The line-up includes Mikkel's Viking's Return (Denmark), Yo-Ho Yona Yona (Japan), Firestone Walker California Pale Ale (USA), Barons Black Wattle Original Ale (Australia), Anker Gouden Carolus Ambrio (Belgium) and Namyslow Original Plum Beer (Poland).

UK beers will include; Badger Toad's Croak (Hall & Woodhouse), Jolly Ploughman (Tom Wood's), Iron Curtain Russian Stout (Titanic), Old Tom Chocolate Ale (Robinsons), Thistle Do (Harviestoun), Bonkers Conkers (Greene King), Smokey Pete (Caledonian) and Mumbo Jumbo (Hydes).

PUBS TAKING PART

THe Briar rose in Bennetts Hill, Wetherspoons in Paradise Place, the square Peg in Corporation sheet, the dragon Inn in Hurst street, the Figure of eight and the solomon Cutler, both in Broad street, the Pear tree in Alcester road south, Kings Heath, the Hornet in Alum rock road, all in Birmingham, as well as the spread eagle in Warwick road, Acocks Green, the Charlie Hall in Barnabas road, erdington, the elizabeth of york in st Mary's row, Moseley and the White swan in station road and the Assembly rooms in Poplar road, both in solihull.

All beers will be priced from pounds 1.49 to pounds 1.89 a pint.

CAPTION(S):

WE'RE GOING DOWN THE PUB...international brewers Mikkel Borg Bjergso, of Mikkeller's Brewery in Denmark, Richard Adamson of Barons Brewing in Australia, Toshi Ishii, of Yo-Ho Brewing Company in Japan, and Matt Brynildson of Firestone Walker Brewery in the USA. Their beers are all featured in the Wetherspoon's real ale festival in Birmingham.