Draught Bass A Neglected Icon

Here’s another sad tale of an iconic British beer that’s at best idling, more likely lingering, before death.

- Ron Pattinson

Draught Bass, the tap version of Bass’ classic Pale Ale, was a highly-prized beer. (Though not the same as the draft Bass Ale sold in the US.) This was a cask beer. One that once had a mighty reputation.

Originally the same strength as its bottled counterpart, Draught Bass had its gravity whittled down by world wars, but the drop was less than for most beers. I think I know why: Drinkers regarded it as special and were prepared to pay more.

Beer writer Martyn Cornell recounts his father’s experience in the 1950s, when he and his pals would occasionally drink Draught Bass as a treat. It was quite a bit more expensive than Ordinary Bitter. In 1951 Bass cost 19 pence (d) per pint while a standard Bitter was just 14d.

Bass was a tricky beer to get right. Not everyone mastered the skill required to serve it in top condition, as this job advertisement attests: