1. Stop lurking! Stay logged in to search, review beers, post in our forums, see less ads, and more.

    — Todd, Founder of BeerAdvocate

Author: Ron Pattinson

Ron Pattinson is a beer historian and travel writer. Check out his blog, barclayperkins.blogspot.com, for info on his books and the history of beer.

How World War I Changed Pub Culture, and Beer Itself History by the Glass by

WWI had a permanent legacy. UK beer became relatively weak and pubs remained closed for much of the day.

The Mystery of Barclay Perkins’ Sparkling Beer History by the Glass by

Not only was Barclay’s innovative in lager brewing, it was also one of the first breweries to start canning. And there was one beer where these two acts of daring combined: Sparkling Beer.

Kulmbacher: Strong, Dark, and Hoppy History by the Glass by

Before the proliferation of Pilsner, Germany had Kulmbacher—a strong, dark, and surprisingly hoppy lager.

Session Imperial Stout Approaches Its Centennial History by the Glass by

While it may sound like a style that could only be conceived in today’s genre-pushing beer world, Session Imperial Stout is nearly 100 years old.

Live Long and Prosper: How Two Family Breweries Continue to Compete Generations After Opening Feature by

A look at two of the longest-running family breweries in the US—New York’s F.X. Matt and Minnesota’s August Schell—explores the challenges they faced and the ways these companies survived when others disappeared after Prohibition.

Fading in Popularity: East Germany’s Beer Styles History by the Glass by

A document detailing the 22 styles of beer permitted in East Germany offers a glimpse into the former country’s Cold War-era brewing culture.

Fuller’s London Pride: A Variable, Veritable Classic History by the Glass by

While the Fuller’s London Pride poured at pubs across London may appear unchanged over the decades, there was tinkering going on behind the scenes.

Draught Bass: A Neglected Icon History by the Glass by

The quality and popularity of the once-iconic Draught Bass has been on a steady decline since the 1980s. With the brand up for sale, could it be saved?

The Changing Fortunes of Milk Stout History by the Glass by

How a 1911 court case against a South London brewery producing Milk Stout without a license cemented the style’s definition as a beer brewed with lactose.

Milk Stout: Innovative, Energizing, and Nutritious? History by the Glass by

How Mackeson, a provincial brewery on the south coast of England, patented a lactose-based formula in 1909 and created the Milk Stout.

In Remembrance: Best Mild History by the Glass by

In remembrance of Best Mild, a beer popular in 1950s England that was usually a somewhat stronger and darker version of a brewery’s Ordinary Mild.

Living Beer Styles and the Death of William Younger’s XXP History by the Glass by

Following the evolution of William Younger’s XXP over time, from a premium export IPA clocking in at 200 IBU to a standard pub Bitter.

The Return of Whitbread Pale Ale History by the Glass by

Last year Whitbread Pale Ale was relaunched in the UK, brewed by the highly regarded Windsor & Eton. Let’s not worry too much about whether it’s an IPA, Pale Ale, or Light Ale. Just rejoice at the return of Whitbread’s iconic hind logo.

Newcastle Brown Ale: A Quintessential, Atypical Beer History by the Glass by

Known as “the Dog” in its home of England, Newcastle’s ubiquitous Brown Ale was atypical in its strength and production methods when it debuted in 1927.

Gold Label: A Revolutionary Beer History by the Glass by

In the 1950s, Tennant Brothers advertised Gold Label, its pale Barleywine, as a beer “as strong as a double whiskey and half the price.”

The Surprising History of the Session IPA History by the Glass by

Scottish and English brewing records from over a century ago reveal a surprising number of low-ABV hoppy beers that look a lot like today’s trendy Session IPAs.

State-Controlled Pubs History by the Glass by

Beginning as a government effort to curb drinking by WWI munitions workers, state-controlled pubs persisted in some English towns until the 1970s.

The Rise and Fall of Beer Houses History by the Glass by

England’s attempt to create a free market in beer led to an explosion of small, beer-only pubs—and the beginning of the end for Porter.

The History of England’s Tied Houses History by the Glass by

The history of England’s tied houses, or brewery-owned pubs, isn’t quite as black and white as it might seem.

60 Shilling Ale History by the Glass by

Untangling the origins of Scottish 60 Shilling Ale and the now virtually extinct style’s transformation over time.

Dark Mild History by the Glass by

The history of Mild stretches back several hundred years, but why and when a dark version emerged has long been a mystery for beer historians.

Adulterating Germans History by the Glass by

Despite the strict rules of the Reinheitsgebot, in the mid-1800s, Germans were no less prone to tampering with beer than the British.

Canadian IPA Circa 1900 History by the Glass by

The popularity of British imports like Bass Pale Ale made India Pale Ale a popular style in Canada at the turn of the 20th century.

1953 Coronation Ales History by the Glass by

A look at the coronation beers of 1953, the first Strong Ales brewed in Britain after supply shortages at the end of WWII forced brewers to ration ingredients.