Herts Ad beer columnist Roger Protz will give a talk on the history of brewing at the St Albans Beer & Cider Festival.

Roger will discuss the historic Burton Union system alongside Rob Lovatt, head brewer at Thornbridge Brewery.

The system which was developed in the 19th century in the important brewing town of Burton-on-Trent to cleanse fermenting beer of yeast in order to produce new sparkling pale ales.

In January this year, Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company announced it was closing the last of the union sets in Burton but CMBC agreed to donate one set to the Thornbridge Brewery in Derbyshire.

Brewers from Marton’s went to Bakewell to install the set where head brewer Rob Lovatt and his team can now brew special beers, including a Union IPA.

The beer tasting and presentation will take take place at the International Bar on Friday, September 27, with one session at 6pm and one at 7.30pm.

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Tickets and full details are available from www.stalbansbf.org.uk.

There will also be the chance to ask Rob and Roger about their different experiences of the brewing industry.

On Wednesday, September 25, Roger will also host a tasting of Harvey's Brewery beers from Lewes in Sussex with head brewer Miles Jenner.