Real Ale in a Bottle

EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT REAL ALE IN A BOTTLE

WHAT IS REAL ALE? | WHAT IS REAL ALE IN A BOTTLE? | IS IT BETTER? | ARE THERE ANY OTHER ADVANTAGES? | IS IT NEW? | WHO BREWS REAL ALE IN A BOTTLE? | ARE THE BOTTLE VERSIONS OF WELL KNOWN CASK BEERS REAL ALE IN A BOTTLE? | IS IT JUST BRITISH? | AREN'T ALL FOREIGN BEERS LAGERS? | HOW CAN YOU RECOGNISE IT? | HOW TO POUR IT? | CAN THE SEDIMENT BE DRUNK? | WHERE CAN YOU BUY IT? | WHAT ARE THE BEST KNOWN EXAMPLES?

HOW CAN YOU RECOGNISE IT?

Look for this CAMRA logo on the label.

Alternatively, there are often clues to look for on the label.  One or more of the following phrases usually means you've got real ale in a bottle:

- real ale in a bottle

- bottle conditioned or bottle fermented

- live or live beer

- unfiltered

- refermented or secondary fermentation in the bottle

Flemish/Dutch

- hergist in de fles

- nagisting in de fles

- bier op gist

- niet gefilterd (ongefilterd)

French

- refermentée (refermentation) en bouteille

- biere sur lie/levure

- non filtree

German

- hefe, or mit hefe (as in hefeweissbier)

- ongefilterd

- flaschengärung

- naturtrüb

- nachgärung

Alternatively, look at the bottom of the bottle.  It's often possible to see a fine layer of sediment.  Less often, there is an obvious yeasty sludge.