Brasso

When I was younger we used to sing a humorous little ditty which went: -

Shine your buttons with Brasso,
It’s only three ha’pence a tin,
You can buy it or nick it from Woolworths,
But I don’t think they’ve got any in.

I found out later that this was actually the chorus from a song called My Father’s a lavatory cleaner.

What has this got to do with beer? – you may ask.  Well, good old Woolies is no more and I would never condone shoplifting but Brasso, in my opinion, is a vital part of any well run pub.

There is no finer sight than a row of beautifully polished, gleaming handpulls to entice the discerning real ale drinker.

In my vast experience of drinking around the country I have found, almost without exception, that when walking into an unknown pub, if the handpulls are shiny and bright, the beer will be likewise.
If a licensee takes the trouble to ensure his brass is polished daily then the chances are that they will also take the trouble to look after their beer.

Why not test out my theory?  There are, it has to be said, many pubs that serve excellent beer where the pumps haven’t seen Brasso since Adam was a lad.

If you know a pub whose pumps could do with a little TLC why not enter our simple competition and win a litre of Brasso and a pack of dusters to present to them?

Send your name and phone number to “Brasso” c/o The Wellington, 37 Bennetts Hill, Birmingham, B2 5SN or text “Brasso” to 07952-563223.  The winner will be drawn on 31st January 2010.