Go To:
Back Issues | Current Issue
February 1998 Home
Beer News From Across The Pond
Beer News From Around the Globe
Industry Book Review
Alcoholic Beverage Taxation and Control Policies: An International Survey
Taste of the Month
Some Foods and Drinks Make Bigger Impressions Than Others
Quote & Comment
SBWoB's Newest Addition
Feedback
Your Comments, Criticisms and Contributions
Selected Events
What's Hot in the World of Beer this Month
Search the World of Beer Archive
Click on any of the book covers below to get ordering information.
 |
Stephen Beaumont's Brewpub Cookbook |
 |
A Taste For Beer |
 |
Great Canadian Beer Guide |
 |
A World of Beer |
Beer News from Across the Pond
A Taxing Situation
The new year did not bring all good news to brewers, publicans and beer drinkers in the United Kingdom, as the concerted efforts of brewer Shepherd Neame and others failed to stop the imposition of a new penny per pint tax on beer. The new duty came into effect with the start of 1998.
The BBC News Service reported on January 1 that the tax hike has been described as "a present for smugglers" by publicans already coming off the worst holiday season in five years. The fear is that the increase, which is higher on stronger beer, will move more drinkers towards cheaper French brews, currently estimated to be coming across the channel at the rate of 1.3 million pints per day.
According to a BBC report dated January 22, Shepherd Neame fought the tax in England's High Court, claiming that it contravened EU law and the Treaty of Rome. However, the Court refused Shepherd Neame's application to have the matter referred to the European Court of Justice and ruled that the rise did not breach EU rules because it was instituted only as a response to inflation.
Officials at Shepherd Neame have said that they will renew their application in the Court of Appeal, reports the BBC.
Seasonal Chouffes
A personal e-mail from Brasserie d'Achouffe director Christian Bauweraerts brought good news to World of Beer last month, as he announced the brewery's intentions to roll out a complete selection of seasonal beers in 1998.
Two of the planned seasonals are already well-known in Belgophile beer circles: Chouffe Bok 6666, the brewery's top-fermented, 6.6% alcohol by volume (ABV) fall brew, and N'Ice Chouffe, the formidable 10% ABV ale brewed for winter. Added to the schedule this year will be their Bière de Mars (March Beer), a 7.5% ABV ale flavoured with woodruff, and a Bière du Soleil (Sun Beer), a relatively light brew at 4.5% ABV. (The modest alcohol count of the Bière du Soleil would be unremarkable were it to come from most any other brewer, but for Achouffe, which offers no other brew below 6.6% ABV, it represents a dramatic deviation from the norm.)
Given Achouffe's history of producing fascinating and flavourful ales, I will be looking forward with great anticipation to tasting these new brews. Brasserie d'Achouffe's representative in the United States is Dafoe International (248-648-5230). Achouffe beers are also available in Canada (Maritimes, Quebec, Ontario & BC), the United Kingdom, Italy, Japan, Switzerland and a dozen other countries, including, of course, Belgium. For more information, visit their web site at http://www.achouffe.be.
Feedback?
We're very interested in your news, notes, comments and questions, so please feel free to contact SBWoB by clicking on the link below. Or you can add your comments when you sign up for the World of Beer Update, a mid-month e-mail newsletter that brings even more of the world of beer to your computer.
Send Feedback To: beaumont@worldofbeer.com
Stephen Beaumont reserves all rights that pertain to the text of his articles, in any form that it appears.
