Isle of Man brewery Okells recruited what it thinks was the

Head brewer Dr Mike Cowbourner said: "As a regional brewer, we knew we had to come up with something really different, if we were going to capture the imagination of both the trade and consumers in the UK. We believe that the sheer size and quality of our panel has provided the necessary input to help us develop a truly outstanding brew." * * * * * In Majorca, you can forget your San Miguel and any other foreign lager brands because tourists and locals alike are turning to Marston's Pedigree. Marston's reckons 3.4 million Brits visit the popular Balearic island every year and the majority now prefer ale to lager. The Burton brewer cites Tony's Bar, 10 miles from Palma, as a typical example of where Pedigree is outselling the combined sales of all lagers. Owner Tony Almond, pictured, said: "It [Pedigree] has been great for business. I've even got a neon sign hanging outside, and a recent merchandise promotion has sent sales through the roof." The bar is one around 50 Mallorcan bars that stock the brew. * * * * * Camra has published the Good Beer Guide to Belgium & Holland in recognition of the rising popularity in beers from the two countries. The guide is particularly devoted to Belgium, which is home to 117 breweries and more than 1,000 regular beers. Also included is a list of 640 top-rate specialist beer cafés and brewpubs. Editor of the guide, Tim Webb, said the reason for Camra going European was because "the world is losing most of its finest beers to the accounting fashions of bottom-line bandits and brand-obsessed executives, who drink wine with their friends and bottled water at lunch. These are not people to leave in charge of your laundry, let alone the future of the world's great drinks. The fight to save good beer needs to be fought in every capital throughout the western world." * * * * * Hopback Brewery is sure to turn a few heads with its new delivery van ­ a £22,000 Mercedes Sprinter with a colourful livery that even extends to the roof. The Downton, near Salisbury, brewery, which produces the multi-award winning Summer Lightning, took delivery of the van last week. Sales and distribution manager Greig Futcher commented: "The Mercedes attracts attention wherever it goes and even our drivers are fighting over who is next behind the wheel. It really is an inexpensive form of all-year-round advertising." Futcher (left) is pictured with joint managing director Richard Harvey outside Hopback pub, the Bull, in Downton.