beer Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 Beers such as Stella are being brewed to ever weaker recipes in order for the brewers to pay less tax and increase profits. A few days ago I found Bishop's Tipple being sold at 5%ABV when a few years ago the beer was 6.5%. A 20% reduction in strength saves 20% of the duty payable, but is also the equivalent of a landlord adding 7 1/2 gallons of water to each barrel of beer. I don't have a problem with pubs selling weaker beers, but when pale imitations of old favourites keep popping up masquerading as the real thing. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17399368 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxman Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 Stones started doing it years ago. A lot of beers that were brewed under licence over here always used to do it as well such as Heinekan and Carlsberg. In the past their reasoning was that the British were too used to pish water like Skol and Harp to appreciate real lager so they watered it down so lager drinkers wouldn't gag on proper flavour. Spirit manufacturers are also guilty. Gordon's gin at 37.5%....? That's not gin. It's barely even alcohol! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muddycoffee Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 With the advances in modern brewing and yeast strains, it is not neccesary to have massively strong alcohol levels to get the same flavours as was once the case. I personally do not wish to buy and drink beers that are way over 5% in a pub as it is far too strong. Whereas, if I am just having one bottle at home then I might well. I expect many others feel the same and thus there is less demand for "real hitter's beer" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beer Posted March 16, 2012 Author Share Posted March 16, 2012 With the advances in modern brewing and yeast strains, it is not neccesary to have massively strong alcohol levels to get the same flavours as was once the case. I personally do not wish to buy and drink beers that are way over 5% in a pub as it is far too strong. Whereas, if I am just having one bottle at home then I might well. I expect many others feel the same and thus there is less demand for "real hitter's beer" I don't have a problem with that if the tax savings are passed on, but they never are. So the brewer makes an extra £10 per barrel and laughs all the way to the bank. A few weeks ago I bough some bottled Wells Bombardier at ASDA. I got them home and found half the bottles were 5.2%ABV and the rest 4.7%ABV despite them being sold off the same display. Its rather like buying your regular pack of frozen peas and finding they've cut the pack size from 520 grams to 470 for the benefit of the customer, and without reducing the price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
banjodeano Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 Yeah i saw this on the news this morning, the new tax increases start soon, so certain brewers are reducing the alcohol content to save money....we get screwed left right and center with tax in this country.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chem1st Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 Alcohol duty is a ****ing disgrace. It penalise non-muslims. This racist and discriminatory tax should be abolished. Drink duty free. Brew thee own and still two fingers up to taxman. Duty free vodka is now easier to get hold of than ciggies/baccy. If you want weak beer, add lemonade. It is called shandy, and is popular with Southerners. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beer Posted March 16, 2012 Author Share Posted March 16, 2012 Duty free vodka is now easier to get hold of than ciggies/baccy. But it makes you go blind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nagel Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 Alcohol duty is a ****ing disgrace. It penalise non-muslims. This racist and discriminatory tax should be abolished. Yes, it penalises that well known race called non-muslims Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chem1st Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 But it makes you go blind. "Blindo". There may be some bad quality duty free due to a lack of regulation, but there is also very good quality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balpin Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 With the advances in modern brewing and yeast strains, it is not neccesary to have massively strong alcohol levels to get the same flavours as was once the case. I personally do not wish to buy and drink beers that are way over 5% in a pub as it is far too strong. Whereas, if I am just having one bottle at home then I might well. I expect many others feel the same and thus there is less demand for "real hitter's beer" Stop being so daft. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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