Good points, well made

As ever, Durham Brewery's Steve Gibbs raises interesting points in his newsletter. Firstly, do the newly-revealed top ten beer brands — Stella Artois, Carling, Foster's, Carlsberg, Budweiser, Kronenbourg 1664, Carlsberg Export, Grolsch, Becks and John Smith's — sell so well because people genuinely love them or because they are brainwashed by very expensive advertising? Knowing how, last summer, every other drinker seemed to be sloshing back pints of Magners on ice, I think I know the answer to that one. Secondly, if cider is made from apples and perry from pears, why call some versions of the latter pear cider? Answers to Steve (via his good friend and associate Sir John Barleycorn) at sirjohn@durham-brewery.co.uk