Your country needs brew

International interest in Oxfordshire’s Wychwood Brewery has rocketed following a meeting between British prime minister David Cameron and US president Barack Obama.

In an attempt to enhance the “special relationship” between the UK and the US amid the Gulf Oil crisis, Mr Cameron presented President Obama with a bottle of Hobgoblin, brewed in his Oxfordshire constituency of Witney.

The hoppy handover was part of a small World Cup wager on the outcome of the England v USA game in South Africa. As the game finished as a draw the two men ended up having to buy each other a drink.

President Obama handed over a bottle of Goose Island 312, which is brewed in Chicago and looked rather uncertain when Mr Cameron responded that he should drink his English ale at room temperature.

Mr Obama joked: "I advised him that in America we drink our beer cold, so he has to put this in the refrigerator before he drinks it."

Stephen Oliver of Marston’s Beer Company, who own the Wychwood brewery, said "Sharing a beer has always been a great way to build a special relationship, even between world leaders! We are honoured that Mr Cameron chose a bottle of Hobgoblin to represent the best of British brewing to share with President Obama. We may also now include President Obama’s serving suggestion on our bottle labels."

Wychwood head brewer Jeff Drew said: “Orders have gone through the roof – we have always been extremely popular; the beer has a fanatical following, now drinkers on both sides of the Atlantic are starting to ask for Hobgoblin.”

Ben McFarland, 16.07.2010