Great beer in Brighton — a mouse click away

January 9, 2006: How does a real ale fan sniff out the latest seasonal beer from their local brewery, or find out who’s currently selling the finest pint — and the worst — in Brighton and Hove?

Real ale fan Melita Dennett has set up BrightonBeer, a special e-mail group for ale lovers to share the latest news on what’s brewing in and around the city.

Frustrated at missing out on seasonal beers which often only appear in pubs for a week or two, and keen to share the latest news on the city’s thriving real ale circuit, Melita hopes that BrightonBeer will attract other beer fans to share their thoughts and tips, and maybe even campaign for more pubs to serve a great pint of traditional British ale.

"Interest in real ales and small independent local breweries is on the increase," she said. "I hope this group will play a part in promoting the great British pint, supporting Sussex's brewers and letting us all in on where to find short-lived seasonal ales."

The move was welcomed by members of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA). “I hope all beer drinkers will use this facility to exchange their views and news about the real ale scene in Sussex," said Peter Mitchell, membership secretary for Brighton & South Downs CAMRA.

Membership of the group is free and open to anyone. To join, simply send an e-mail to brightonbeer-subscribe@yahoogroups.com