On pale ale I’ve been engaged in
research and contacted several brewers here and in the US on their definitions,
the idea being to build up a composite picture of what seems to me the broad
spectrum of the contemporary beer style with reference to its past (but not
dwelling on it). I’m especially indebted to Simon Yates, head brewer at
Marston’s in Wolverhampton and the chap who’s been producing essential
information on the hop varieties used in Marston’s single hop series. He has
supplied me lots of information, but what brought a wry smile to my face was
his mention of Watneys Pale Ale. It’s not a beer I ever had (same goes for Red
Barrel — were they the same?), but even in my non-beer drinking youth I was
aware that there was something off about Watneys. Simon also mentioned the fact
that the Scaffold (of Lily the Pink
fame) sung on an advert for the brewery, which went out on the TV. I don’t know
much about the Scaffold except that they seemed a bit of a joke band and
featured Paul McCartney’s brother, but they didn’t seem to mind being
associated with Watneys (perhaps this was just before the Red Barrel fiasco).
However just for the record here are the words of the ad, which makes me think
that Stella had travelled a long away when they turned to French movies for
their inspiration…
We’ll drink a drink a drink/To
make you think a think a think/Of Watney’s Pale,
The greatest a-a-ale,/So you
can keep your medicinal compound
Now we’ve discovered Watney’s Pale.
W-e-e-e’ll drink a drink a
drink/To make you think a think a think,/Of Watney’s Pale,
The greatest ale.
