A healthy respect for real ale

Alan Dunn is Head Brewer of The Black Sheep Brewery – famous for its Best Bitter (3.8% ABV) and the stronger, chestnut ale Riggwelter (5.9% ABV). He comments:

“One of the healthiest things about beer is that it’s a natural product made from malted barley, hops and water.

“Beer is a rich source of B Vitamins, silicon – which protects our bones – and antioxidants: provided, of course it is drunk in moderation.

“The darker the beer, generally the richer the malt content and therefore Vitamin B6, so Riggwelter is our healthiest choice in those terms. Our lighter, golden ales, such as the new Golden Sheep are richer in hops which have been shown to have anti-inflammatory and antibiotic properties.

“Cask conditioning is to beer, what the champagne method is to wine – champagne ripens naturally in the bottle, whilst quality real ale matures in the cask. It is a real, living product, not made from chemicals and artificial ingredients.

“Enjoy it in a measured, discerning and sociable way and it can be very much part of a healthy lifestyle.”