Formby pub takes part in nationwide competition to create a new beer

IT'S surely every pub-goer’s dream, to help create a great beer with the country’s top craft brewers; to name the beer; and to see their name ‘in lights’ in pubs across the country…

Suffolk brewer Greene King has launched a search for a lucky member of the public to name and help create their very own cask beer which will be served in pubs throughout Britain and in The Freshfield in Formby.

The competition was launched by rugby star Lawrence Dallaglio, who has recently been involved with Greene King in the creation of a new beer – Dallaglio’s Heroes. And now customers of The Freshfield can follow in his footsteps…

Encouraging support for the local pub and for cask beer – the pub’s biggest asset – the winning beer will go on sale in pubs from 20 October 2009 and the successful ‘brewer’ will see their name – as well as the brand name they have come up with for the beer - on the bar of The Freshfield and on pump clips across the country.

From Aromatic spices to Zesty orange, entrants will be invited to choose the aroma, taste, colour and alcoholic content of their beer.

Lawrence Dallaglio says:- “It was fantastic to be involved in the creation of my very own beer and it is a real thrill to be able to walk into a local pub and order a pint of Dallaglio’s Heroes at the bar. ‘Brew Us a Flavour’ is a great opportunity for the nation’s would be brewers and I wish them luck!”

Entry forms will be available in The Freshfield from Monday, 29 June 2009 throughout the whole of July 2009. A panel of experts will judge the competition and the winner will be invited to the Greene King brewery to work with the most talented brewers in the country and to witness the brewing process.

Licensee of The Freshfield Jo Yates says:- “It would be fantastic if one of our locals was chosen as the competition winner and had their brew proudly displayed on the bar here and in hundreds of other pubs.”

Greene King has been brewing in Bury St Edmunds since 1799 and the brewing heritage of the town dates back as far as 1086.

The brewery produces 20 different cask beers a year including some of the country’s best known and award winning ales including Greene King IPA, Old Speckled Hen and Abbot Ale.

ZZZZ CARS

MORE than 6 million (13%) British motorists narrowly escaped adding to the thousands of fatigue related road accidents that occur each year, after admitting they’d fallen into a slumber while driving in the last 12 months.  The research from Kwik-Fit found that 10% of motorists felt ‘drowsy whilst driving’ and a further 3% said they’d been on the verge of falling asleep behind the wheel.

Sleepiness is proven to reduce the reaction, vigilance, alertness and concentration abilities needed to drive safely. It also impairs the speed at which information is processed and so affects the quality of decision-making. Ultimately it increase your chances of having an accident. 

Drowsy drivers shouldered most of the responsibility for their tiredness themselves - with 41% blaming the monotony of the journey for their stupor. Indeed according to the Sleep Research Centre at Loughborough University driver fatigue causes up to 20% of accidents on ‘monotonous’ roads. A further 39% cited a general ‘lack of sleep’ and 32% blamed too few breaks on their journey.

Worryingly, with a scorching summer now upon us, 15% of drowsy drivers blamed ‘stifling in car temperatures’ for their fug. This is perhaps not surprising, given that the research also found that 89% of motorists have NEVER had their air conditioning unit recharged. Most manufacturers recommend that - in order to cool the car efficiently - air conditioning units should be recharged every two years.

David White, customer services director at Kwik-Fit:- “Staying awake while driving is largely a matter of driver discipline.

Taking regular breaks, making sure you get enough sleep the night before a long journey and stopping for a sleep if you are tired are all imperative.  However our research shows that a fully functioning air conditioning unit might help to prevent you from feeling drowsy in the first place.

Air-conditioning units can actually lose up to 30% of their gas every 2 years, and in order to reach a comfortable temperature in the summer they really need to be regularly recharged.  Whilst having a cooler in-car temperature might make you less likely to feel sleepy you should never rely on turning up the air conditioning unit as a ‘wake up call’. There’s only one safe cure if you’re feeling sleepy behind the wheel. Pull over and have a sleep."