The Real Ale Company
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Frequently Asked Questions

How can I pay?

We take all major debit and credit cards as well as direct payments via paypal. All payment processing is done via Paypal on their secure servers. Please see the question below about our security.

Is it safe to enter payment details on this website?

Yes! All out payment processing is done using Paypal on their secure servers. As well as this all our checkout pages where information or payment details are entered are protected with GeoTrust SSL pages meaning your information is protected at all times on these secure pages. An SSL ensures users that the connection to a site, the data we transmit, and the sensitive information users submit to us are all secure.

Do you have a minimum order?

Nope, we have now removed this requirement.

Delivery to some area's seems expensive?

We are always looking to reduce our delivery costs but for some areas of the UK we have to pass on the rates we can get from our couriers. We try our best to make these as competitive as possible. Our £6.99 rate for our UK Zone 1 customers for unlimited beers delivered is very competitive rate and is in line or better than other sites offer.

Can you deliver to a different address to the billing address?

Yes just follow the instructions and enter a different delivery address when prompted as part of the checkout process.

Can I track my order?

Yes you can, tracking is provided with all orders. Please see our Track Your Delivery Page by clicking here.

Do you offer international shipping?

We can deliver to some countries and not others. Please check out delivery pages out for a full list of countries we can deliver to.

What is Real Ale?

Real ale is a natural product brewed using traditional ingredients and left to mature by secondary fermentation in the container from which it is dispensed and served without the use of extraneous carbon dioxide.

What is Real Cider?

Real cider is a long-established traditional drink which is produced naturally from apples and is neither carbonated nor pasteurised.

What is Craft Ale?

This is the million dollar question, there’s a big debate within the industry at the moment how to define craft ale. For the purpose of the therealalecompany.co.uk it is all beers sold on the site which do not meet the criteria for Real Ale as laid down by CAMRA. Should a formal definition become available we will adapt our site at that time to fit in with it.

What’s a Polypin?

A Polypin is a plastic bag container with a dispensing tap contained within a cardboard box. The term “beer in a box” is often used. Polypins normally come in 20 litre (36 pints approx) and 10 litre (18 pints approx) sizes. 10 Litre Polypins are also known as a Minipin.

How long does beer last in a Polypin?

There are several answers to this question if you look around. The general advice is that beer in our Polypins will last around 2 to 4 weeks. We ask each of our suppliers who offer Polypins as products to provide their own advice within the product description where this differs. Polypins should be kept in cool storage conditions and should be vented if they do start to swell. To vent put the box with the tap facing upwards and use the tap to release air from the bag.

How long do bottled and can products last?

Each bottled or canned product will have the best before date either on the label or bottle neck.

Not found the answer to your question? Please email us at [email protected] .