therushden wrote:surely it'd be better having bottled beer as it wouldn't go off and wouldn't they make more profit on it?
These also have a "best before" date and add very little, or nothing to a barrellage deal as breweries are trying to shift volume based upon an agreed price per barrel (so long as you sell an agreed amount per year). Typically, it's only pegged barrels (I use the word BARREL, which is 36 gallons, but typically FIRKINS are used and they are 9 gallons, or 72 pints) of keg beer that go off anyway due to oxidation (once the peg's inserted it allows air to enter), so once the barrel has been pegged it needs using up. This time can differ according to the beer itself and the temperature it's kept at. Real ales are a different thing altogether. Basically the breweries. by selling their cheap stuff to supermarkets at a loss, rely on the higher prices they charge pubs/ clubs and bars to get their money back and make a profit. The only brewery I've heard of that doesn't do this is Samuel Smiths, their policy is one price for all (hence they don't have any deals with supermarkets cos they want it below cost).
In years gone by, excess beers (pre-gassed) were re-blended and this went under the name of "PORTER" and sold off cheap (to the railway porters), which you can still get
