Rupert Ponsonby is a founder member of the Beer Academy and a long-time beer apostle. He has an explanation for this upsurge of interest. "Thanks to the likes of Cask Marque [which checks beer quality and only gives its accreditation to establishments that serve beer of good quality] we are starting to see cask ales served in better condition. A great cask ale is one of life's most complex and satisfying drinks. There's an increasing realisation that 'beer' doesn't just mean the five beers people see regularly advertised on the television. It can have some of the same connoisseurship values as wine."