Instead of a newsletter for August 2026… Cask ale in the hottest of summers

Longer, hotter summers are a serious existential challenge to cask ale – a product which already has its fair share of problems. Last year we wrote about the effect of heatwaves on pubs and our drinking habits. But this year, it’s been worse again, with one heatwave after another, and 2026 is set to be the hottest summer the UK has ever known. For our part, we’ve found ourselves treating drinking cask ale like doing our homework before we’re allowed to watch telly, or eating our vegetables before we’re allowed pudding. We feel duty bound to drink at least some cask ale, however hot the weather. But our hearts have not been in it. Great, lovely, enjoyed that… but can I have my pint of Tegernseer Helles or Lost & Grounded Keller Pils now, please? We were interested to see that Tandleman has had similar feelings: In London, of course, when we’d sorted out the post and established our flat was in one piece, we headed to the Aldgate Tap. It was Monday night and quieter than usual and we…