I LIKE DRINKING LAGER. There I said it. Lager is – at its best – crisp and beautifully refreshing with a subtle flavour, a wonderful drink for the genuinely thirsty. I’m sure the related articles will show that I’ve made this point before.

But things are changing – over the last year I have started drinking a lot more ALE too in a conscious attempt to expand my palate. I am still a bit wary of ale as a session drink, the flavours are stronger and tend to build up in my mouth too much and make me feel a bit unpleasant after a third pint. But I’m hoping that a trip today to the Great British Beard Beer festival will help me overcome that. At the very least it’ll be a chance to drink a good few intriguing and unusual beers – and I’ll be taking a notebook for FT purposes too.

(Of course, where there are FT writers and a notebook there is often a LIST)