Beer inspectors lambaste landlords for selling ‘bathwater' beer

Beer inspectors have lambasted UK pubs for selling "bathwater" beer as temperatures soar.

Spot checks at 200 boozers by independent quality assessor Cask Marque found too many pubs serving warm pints.

While real ale manufactures recommend a temperature between 11-13ºC for the perfect pint, inspectors found pubs in Sailsbury, Wiltshire and Keswick pulling pints as warm as 23ºC.

In one extreme case a pub in Dartford served an inspector a 30ºC pint, which is the same temperature as a hot tub or jacuzzi and not far off the typical temperature of bathwater, at around 32ºC.

Overall, Cask Marque reckons customers have a one in two chance of receiving a dodgy "warm" pint at present as summer temperatures soar.

Cask Marque director Paul Nunny said: "Landlords must keep a close eye on their cellar temperature and make certain cooling equipment from the cellar to the bar is fully operational."

There are 3,700 Cask Marque accredited pubs in the UK. Licensees deemed to be serving the perfect pint receive a "quality standard" plaque from the organisation to display at their premises.

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By Chris Druce

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