Beer is a rich source of a nutrient that can help prevent weak bones -- but it depends what type you drink, researchers at the University of California, Davis, say. Beer is a rich source of dietary silicon, which can help cut the chance of developing diseases such as osteoporosis, the researchers conclude.
But not all beers are the same and those containing malted brley and hops have higher silicon content than beers made from wheat. The research, published in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, examined 100 commercial beers and their production methods.

Dorset brewer Hall & Woodhouse is to invest £5 million in a new 21st century brewery at its existing site in Blandford St Mary. The new plant will be dedicated to brewing its range of cask and bottled Badger beers.
The beers will continue to use high-quality ingredients, including Dorset spring water that has been naturally filtered for up to a century through the Cretaceous chalk downs and drawn from the brewery's own wells. Work on the new brewery will start in October this year.
Brewery vice-chairman Mark Woodhouse said: "Hall & Woodhouse has been brewing Badger ales for more than 225 years and this excitingt development ensures we will be doing so for many more generations to come. I believe an investment of this magnitude also demonstrates our commitment to brewing and the growth of our premium bottled and cask ales."

CAMRA -- the Campaign for Real Ale -- has reached an agreement with the Office of Fair Trading to stay its appeal to the Competition Appeal Tribunal challenging the OFT's initial response to the campaign's super-complaint in October 2009. CAMRA's appeal is now put on hold until 1 August this year to enable the OFT to consider further evidence of anti-competitive behaviour by the large pub-owning companies. The OFT will now conduct an open public consultation before reaching a final decision.
CAMRA's super complaint argued that anti-competitive practices are inflating beer prices in pubs by around 50 pence a pint, restricting consumer choice and leading to chronic under-investment in the nation's pubs.
The campaign's chief executive, Mike Benner, said: "We are delighted that the OFT has responded to our appeal by agreeing to conduct an open consultation and I will encourage all parties to use this opportunity to submit further evidence of anti-competitive practice. The consultation will lead to a new and final decision from the OFT."
Mike Benner added that he hoped the re-examination of the pubs market will lead to the OFT acting against anti-competitive behaviour in order to deliver a fair deal for consumers.
CAMRA's fund-raising appeal for the reform of the beer tie, which raised more than £8,000 since January, will be suspended during the consultation period. The funds will go towards CAMRA's legal fees. The campaign says it reserves the right to re-activate its appeal should it be dissatisfied with the OFT's final decision following the conultation.

Proving it's not all doom and gloom in the brewing industry, Lincolnshire family brewer George Bateman & Son has reported record beer sales for 2009. Batemans saw a 5% increase in its beer trade, distributing more than 40,000 barrels through its retail estate of 65 pubs as well as supermarkets, national drinks distributors and other leading wholesalers.
Managing Director Stuart Bateman said: "I believe that one of the keys to our success is that we have better and more innovative licensess today. And our customers and suppliers tell the brewery team they like dealing with us, rather than a faceless corporate group. We have increased our training levels through both the brewery and the pubs and we believe our licensees feel very well supported. We also happen to brew great tasting beer!"
Bateman's beer are now available in 14 markets, including Australia, Brazil, Channel Islands, Cyrpus, Denmark, France, Finland, Ireland, North America, Norway, Russia, Scandinavia, South Africa and Spain. The brewery's Christmas ale, Rosey Nosey, had another bumper year in 2009, performing exceptionally well through major multiples and selected independents. All Bateman's bottled beers are vegetarian and vegan friendly.
*There's more good news further south in Suffolk, where Adnams of Southwold has announced it's to hold its beer prices for a further 12 months until the end of
2010. Following a price freeze throughout 2009, Adnams beer prices have been held for its tied and free trade customers since March 2008 -- that's excluding duty rises.
Adnams owns 74 pubs in East Anglia and London while its cask and bottled ales, including Bitter, Broadside, Explorer and East Green, are available throughout the country.

I had one of the most memorable days of my drinking life on Friday when I went to the Shoulder of Mutton in Castleford, West Yorkshire. I was in Yorkshire for a beer talk and tasting at The Works in Sowerby Bridge and went to Castleford the following day at the invitation of landlord Dave Parker, known to all and sundry as "Tetley Dave".
Dave is a former Tetley drayman. After a number of run-ins with Enterprise Inns, owners of the Shoulder -- who at one point tried to evict him with 24 hours' notice -- Dave now owns the pub and is his own master. As well as selling vast amounts of Tetley Dark Mild and Bitter, he has beers from many Yorkshire micros. When I arrived in the pub, I was confronted by a pump clip bearing my image. The beer is called Jolly Roger and is brewed by the Great Heck Brewing Co. It's porter-style beer, creamy and luscious,just like me.
The pub,based in a wasteland of former coal mines and potteries,is a great, no-nonsense old boozer. The George Formby Society performs there every Wednesday -- how I would have loved to see them -- but Dave was persuaded to get out hus ukelele and play a few old Formby numbers.
In the course of a few riotous hours I met local TV celebrity Ian Clayton, a local historian, retired miners, workers from Thomas Fawcett's maltings and brewers from Coors of Tadcaster and Sam Smith's. The Coors man told me that Tadcaster alone brews 1.4 million barrels of Carling a year. I've never drunk it -- perhaps I'm missing something (but I suspect not). I also met a woman known as the Beer Monster who claims to have sampled 1,500 beers -- or was it 15,000? -- and Viv Nicholson, the woman who famously won a fortune on the Pools in 1961 -- worth £3 million in today's money -- and blew the lot. She lives in Castleford and drops into the Shoulder on a regular basis where everyone is happy to buy her a gin.
An amazing pub with amazing beer and people and masses of old Tetley memorabilia. If you're ever in the area, don't miss it.

As a result of continuing industrial action in Belgium by workers employed by AB InBev, the brewer says it's running short of malt at the plants that produce such delights as Stella Artois and Jupiler. The workers are protesting against plans by the global giant to close plants in Belgium, with the loss of many jobs.
It will come as a surprise for beer lovers to learn that Wife Beater actually uses malt. Come on InBev, you can do better than this -- surely there's plenty of rice, maize and grits you can use.

My branch of Sainsbury's is selling the 2009 Fuller's Vintage Ale for £1.68 -- that's half price. There were only two bottles left and I naturally snaffled both of them. I imagine they are walking off the shelves at this price but it might be worth checking out your nearest branch to see if there are any left.
Not good for Fuller's but a wonderful bargain for beer lovers.