Mixed reaction to Twitter-only beer tasting series

In the tastings, Ales by Mail is inviting the wider drinking public to share the experience of tasting new beers on the social media site.

The first event last week, hosted by beer writer Matthew Curtis and featuring tastings of both canned and bottled versions of Beavertown’s Smog Rocket, attracted one million impressions across 80,000 accounts.

Ales by Mail managing director Paul Kruzycki said: “We know that drinking at home is on the rise, as is the consumption and appreciation of craft beer and the use of Twitter among beer lovers is there for all to see – so this makes sense on lots of levels.”

Real ale pubs have given a mixed response to the Twitter tastings.

Heather Macaulay, licensee at the Bell, in Aldworth, Berkshire, claimed they were “unnecessary”, adding that “if people want to socialise about beer, the best place to do it was at the pub”.

Positive​

However, David Davenport, who runs the Flower Pot, in Maidstone, Kent believed the tastings could only be a “good thing for pubs, as they educate people about real ale”.

He added: “Most people have Twitter on the mobiles these days, so it doesn’t mean you have to be stuck at home while doing the tasting.”

Lisa Wilson, deputy manager at the Brewery Tap, in Chester, Cheshire, agreed that it was a good idea, as it promotes real ales.

“It won’t discourage customers from drinking in our pubs, but I can’t speak for other outlets”.

Beer community​

Meanwhile, Val Spencer, at the Cock Inn, Lavenham, Suffolk, said she would like to experience the tasting before offering any strong opinion.

She explained: “I know there is a strong beer community on Twitter – and I’m part of that – but I’m still very in favour of pubs.

“I haven’t seen it in action though, so let’s see how it goes. Maybe it will be a useful tool to try and entice those beers into pubs?”

The tastings are conducted via the Twitter handle @alesbymail. Participants can tweet using the hashtag #beerybits.