A Life on the Hop

"A Life on the Hop - Memoirs from a Career in Beer" recounts the entertaining highlights and challenging low points of Roger Protz's busy and influential career in beer. Well known and admired within the world of beer, Protz has written many indispensible books on the subject and these memoirs will provide fascinating reading not just to his many fans but to all lovers of real ale. During his career, Protz has travelled to most of the great beer-drinking nations - from Britain, through Europe to Russia, Mexico and the USA. Starting in Britain in the 1970s, during the early days of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), he was involved from early on in the battle to save traditional beer from giant brewers. Other significant challenges have included the battle to save Czech Budweiser from the litigious manoeuvrings of the American Bud brewery during the grim years of the 1980s; years which started Protz's long love affair with the Czech Republic. The book also includes entertaining anecdotes from many trips to other parts of the world, including visits to Belgium, where Roger stayed with monks in a Trappist monastery to discover what makes their beers world-famous, and visited lambic brewers to discover the secrets of their fascinating 'wild' beers, made by spontaneous fermentation. In St Petersburg, he sought out the traditional beers, such as Baltic Stouts and Porters, which are under threat from global brewers. During many visits to the USA he saw for himself the micro-brewing revolution bringing taste and flavour back to a country dominated by bland national brands. Among other experiences, he also recounts an hilarious trip on the QE2 for beer tasting afloat! The launch is to be supported by a media campaign by CAMRA.