Roger Protz

St Albans is a city rich in history, with its origins in the Iron Age and known as Verulamium following the Roman conquest in ad 43. Much of that history is enshrined in its amazing pubs, which include old coaching inns, a pub where soldiers fighting in the Wars of the Roses relaxed with ale, and Ye Olde Fighting Cocks, dating from the seventeenth century and possibly even earlier. Pubs connected to the railway age opened in the nineteenth century and there have been further additions in both the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. These include the Farriers Arms, where the longest surviving branch of the Campaign for Real Ale was formed in the 1970s. Today, St Albans has fifty pubs, more per square mile than any other town or city in Britain. Commercial brewing was established in the city during the seventeenth century, with the Kinder family opening the St Albans Brewery on Chequer Street. Their history and that of more recently founded breweries are documented here. Roger Protz has lived, worked – and drunk – in St Albans for fifty years. Packed with anecdotes and fascinating facts, this lavishly illustrated guide details the city’s pubs and brewing heritage.

The pilgrims in Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales begin their journey in a London inn and they stay at many more as they wend their way to Becket's tomb. Leading beer writer Roger Protz remains faithful to the route, visiting pubs of historic interest and breweries old and new before embarking on the Pilgrims' Way from Winchester to Canterbury, revealing fascinating history as well as a few more spots to sample a pint.The Canterbury Ales is a feast of a book for those who love good beer, pubs, breweries … and Chaucer's literary masterpiece.

World's Greatest Beers is the first multi author selection of beers across the globe outside of competitions. - Each beer chosen has been discussed and cross referenced by the authors- The book is also mindful of how accessible these beers are to the consumer - it is a guide to purchase as well as an appreciation.

Fully-illustrated, with modern and archive photography of the breweries, their pub estates, people and beers, this book will examine the past, the present and the future of these great brewing companies and help to highlight the important part they continue to play in the nation's brewing story and in their local areas.

- The World Beer Guide will incorporate decades of Roger's beer experience alongside new trends and modern processes- Each region across the globe will be given detailed analysis and information- The book will also explore how the smaller breweries are still competing with the large co-orporations

Fully-illustrated, with modern and archive photography of the breweries, their pub estates, people and beers, this book will examine the past, the present and the future of these greatbrewing companies and help to highlight the important part they continue to playin the nation's brewing story and in their local areas.

The Great North Road is part of British folklore, the Route 66 of Britain, except instead of gas stations and diners we have magnificent coaching inns, part of the living history of our islands. Taking in the history of these buildings (including a feature on highwaymen, who often concealed themselves in secret rooms and tunnels in these inns,) as well as the literature that has celebrated them - from Charles Dickens through to J B Priestley - Roger Protz describes these coaching houses with an expert and discerning eye, producing not only a great pub guide but a gazetteer of the history and culture that are draped along this iconic road.

UK brewing has seen unprecedented growth in the last decade. Breweries of all shapes and sizes are flourishing and the range of home-grown beers available in pubs and shops has never been so diverse. British beer consumers have never had it so good and, headed by real ale, a 'craft' beer revolution is sweeping the country. CAMRA have brought together some the Britain's top beer writers and spoken to key figures in British brewing - hop growers, maltsters, brewers, pub owners and critics - to celebrate Britain's Beer Revolution. These experts look behind the beer labels and shine a spotlight on what makes British beer so good. National and regional brewers with generations of tradition rub shoulders with new micro-brewers, and popular classic beers jostle for space at the bar with modern interpretations and innovative new masterpieces. All the brewers featured are dedicated to one thing...Making great British beer. This book won the authors the British Guild of Beer Writers silver award for Best Beer & Travel Writer in 2015.

300 More Beers to Try Before You Die! takes beer lovers on an exciting new odyssey through 300 of the best beers from around the world. A companion volume to the successful 300 Beers to Try Before You Die!, and complied by award-winning beer writer Roger Protz, the book features everything from new American ales to rediscovered classics like English strong mild; and inventive new twists on age-old recipes from experimental brewers in Europe; and much, much more. The beers are organised by style so you can jump right in with a beer you've tried before or find something a little bit more adventurous for your taste buds. The book also includes a glossary of beer terms and a full beer index. This must-own book is perfect for beer novices and experts alike and makes a great gift.

Beer has been made in the small Midland town of Burton-on-Trent for centuries: ale brewed by the monks at Burton Abbey was sent to Mary, Queen of Scots in captivity. Then, in the eighteenth century, the introduction of Burton Ale began the town s rise to brewing prominence, a fame which was cemented forever with the production of the first cask of the world-famous India Pale Ale. Today, brewing continues to thrive in the area, and a small renaissance has taken place with the arrival of a clutch of new breweries alongside such national institutions as Marston's. Raise a glass to Burton's unique and heady history, and celebrate its diverse and delicious heritage with this fascinating and richly illustrated historical compilation by The Good Beer Guide's editor, Roger Protz.

From Belgian fruit beers to hoppy cask ales, small-production microbrews to Czech Republic lagers, this is a personal and comprehensive portfolio of international beers compiled by one of the world's leading beer writers. In this unique and beautifully illustrated collection, he has distilled decades of beer knowledge into an entertaining and indispensable guide to the ales that no beer lover should miss. The book divides beers by type, including bitters, best bitters, pilsners, brown and mild ales, pale ales, extra strong beers and bitters, old ales and barley wines, golden ales, porters and stouts, alt and amber ales, fruit beers, and beires de garde, each comprising an alphabetical listing of the beers. Many of the entries are fully illustrated, and each beer comes complete with a box panel for adding your own tasting notes. Information on the country oforigin, beer strength, brewery, and a detaileddescription of the beer and its history are also given."

"A Life on the Hop - Memoirs from a Career in Beer" recounts the entertaining highlights and challenging low points of Roger Protz's busy and influential career in beer. Well known and admired within the world of beer, Protz has written many indispensible books on the subject and these memoirs will provide fascinating reading not just to his many fans but to all lovers of real ale. During his career, Protz has travelled to most of the great beer-drinking nations - from Britain, through Europe to Russia, Mexico and the USA. Starting in Britain in the 1970s, during the early days of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), he was involved from early on in the battle to save traditional beer from giant brewers. Other significant challenges have included the battle to save Czech Budweiser from the litigious manoeuvrings of the American Bud brewery during the grim years of the 1980s; years which started Protz's long love affair with the Czech Republic. The book also includes entertaining anecdotes from many trips to other parts of the world, including visits to Belgium, where Roger stayed with monks in a Trappist monastery to discover what makes their beers world-famous, and visited lambic brewers to discover the secrets of their fascinating 'wild' beers, made by spontaneous fermentation. In St Petersburg, he sought out the traditional beers, such as Baltic Stouts and Porters, which are under threat from global brewers. During many visits to the USA he saw for himself the micro-brewing revolution bringing taste and flavour back to a country dominated by bland national brands. Among other experiences, he also recounts an hilarious trip on the QE2 for beer tasting afloat! The launch is to be supported by a media campaign by CAMRA.

Brings together the two subjects - cricket and beer. This work details some of the great cricket victories, traces the story of the birth of the modern game at the Broadhalfpenny ground in Hampshire opposite a pub, the Bat and Ball, and shows how the tradition of good beer and cricket is kept alive at many grounds.

Around the world, young brewers, with passion, reverence and commitment, are bringing flavour back to beer after decades of domination by global giants and their bland products. Such is the fervour for IPA that the journey started by India Pale Ale in Victorian England is far from over. This is a long-awaited book from Roger Protz, a highly respected authority on beer, on the rebirth of IPA or India Pale Ale – one of the most popular styles in today’s craft beer revolution. Around the world, young brewers, with passion, reverence and commitment, are bringing flavour back to beer after decades of domination by global giants and their bland products. Such is the fervour for IPA that the journey started by India Pale Ale in Victorian England is far from over. 1. How the revival started: Covers the fascinating events that caused IPA to take off in the early 1990s, both in London at seminars and festivals, and in the US. By 2014, IPA is the leading category at the annual Great American Beer Festival. The renaissance is now worldwide, with IPAs brewed in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan and elsewhere. 2. The history of IPA – its rise and fall were equally spectacular: Starting out as a beer for India, the style was first developed at the turn of the 19th century by a small brewery, Hodgson’s, in East London. A three or four month journey to India was ideal for the style of beer and soon other breweries were sending large supplies to India. But IPA’s hey-day is brief. By the end of the century, American and German brewers were sending lager beer to India and supplying ice to keep it cold. British brewers retreated and classic Victorian IPAs were dead. 3. How IPA is made: Covers the 19th-century method of brewing IPAs in Burton; and other recipes from craft breweries now using Victorian recipes. 4. Classic IPAs: Classic IPAs from the 19th century – Ballantine’s IPA in the US, Worthington’s White Shield in England and McEwans in Scotland. 5. The great revival: The role of New World hops from the US and New Zealand in creating dynamic new aromas and flavours for modern IPAs. Country by country tasting notes and key recipes for some 250 of the world’s best IPAs, including the US, Britain, Canada, Australia & New Zealand, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, and Japan. 6. New beers on the block: The worldwide popularity of IPA has led to imaginative spin-offs from the traditional style.