Protz's top 10 beers - do you agree?

August 1, 2005: Now here's one that will run and run - Roger Protz has selected what he considers to be the top ten beers to drink in Britain's pubs.

They've been whittled down from those in his new book - 300 Beers to Try Before You Die - which is being launched ahead of this week's Great British Beer Festival.

"You can't beat the conviviality of a good pub serving good beer. But the Great British Beer Festival is the biggest pub in the world!" says Roger.

"It's a brilliant showcase and snapshot of the modern British brewing industry. There's never been a greater choice for beer drinkers in Britain, with milds, bitters, porters, stouts, golden ales, old ales and barley wines."

He suggests that drinkers try some of the favourites at the festival which opens at Olympia on Tuesday. Oh, the list? Here it is:

1. Brakspear Bitter, Oxfordshire
2. B&T Edwin Taylor's Stout, Bedfordshire
3. Cains Dark Mild, Liverpool
4. Crouch Vale Brewers Gold, Essex
5. Fullers ESB, London
6. Harvey's Sussex Best Bitter, Sussex
7. Harviestoun Bitter & Twisted, Scotland
8. Marston's Pedigree, Burton upon Trent
9. Taylor's Landlord, Keighley, Yorkshire
10. Young's Bitter, London

Maybe, to paraphrase the blessed Esther Rantzen, you think differently? Click on the Beer Today Google group and let the debate commence!