Guild chairman's plea for better media coverage

July 10, 2006: The new chairman of the British Guild of Beer Writers has made a plea for media editors to give beer a fairer amount of coverage on pages that are swamped with wine writing.

Freelance writer Tim Hampson, who replaces Morning Advertiser editor Andrew Pring at the head of the organisation, wants to challenge the myth held by many people in the media that people in the UK do not want to read about beer.

"Beer is our national drink - yet more media space and time is given to wine," said Mr Hampson.

"My ambition as new chairman of the guild is to raise the profile of beer and beer writing in the UK, and help people understand that beer has a far greater complexity of colours, aromas, tastes and styles than wine can ever have.

"Beer is a fabulous natural drink, made with wonderful raw materials. The media applauds wine makers, but now the time has come when we should celebrate the skill, science, craft and artistry of brewers who make the thousands of beers that so many of us enjoy.

“We will build a stronger dialogue with other groups promoting beer and we will be approaching the BBPA, Cask Marque, CAMRA and the Beer Academy, who are all trying to do similar things to us, to discuss how we can add value to them and how they in turn can add value to us.”