But this growth hides some very sad stories. The increasing number of real ales has mainly been due to the increasing number of small brewers. Around thirty new ones are set up each year, but not all last. The same is sadly true of many fine regional breweries and the last 25 years have seen many breweries taken over and shut down.
One of the biggest culprits has been Greenall Whitley. Their tour of destruction particularly in the Midlands, has led to no less than five breweries being closed, including their own, for Greenalls no longer brew. Similarly, Grand Met of Watneys fame, sold what breweries it had left to Courage, after closing four.
Below in the letter square are hidden the names of nine breweries that have closed since the late seventies.
[The printed edition of ALE ran this as a competition which ended on 25 May.]
R O U K M X S I M P K I S S F A L H B A B H X A D Z O H B S Y D C M V E L W A C U I T D T N H G G W J R B N Y P N R R E D A V E N P O R T S J K U D Z Y M T G Y R X R T I W E M Q R L H D I D C E O O S W P A I N E A P E O Q N P Z E F D N A R Q L R I A E L Q G V F W I E R J L M S L M N B H J A U D Y G K H F MAnswers