Used and abused and dressed up in all manners, the brewing industry uses the buzzword ‘innovation’ to introduce to market everything from Guinness’ widget (correct) to a new SKU (not so fast). Marketing editor Pete Brown sorts the wheat from the chaff, and finds that craft brewers, with a need to experiment and an ability to do so at less cost, have the edge. (BG Mar/Apr 2011)

Pete Brown evinces evangelical zeal in his passion for matching beer with food. Here’s the thing: people really don’t know that much about matching wine with food, he says, presenting an opening for the harmonisations and contrasts possible with the fruits of grain and hops.