I agree with Ron too- I've had some fine American beers from independent breweries, micros, etc. when I've been over. The few that make bitter brew it to be served too cold though, IMHO...

But how about that crack about the lack of imagination of British brewers? Out-bloody-rageous! You need to come on a pubcrawl with me if you ever visit Manchester, Mr O: it's not all Boddies and Tetleys, you know! As well as a fine and very varied range of bitters, many local, independent brewers do summer ales, winter ales, amber ales, stouts, porters, wheat beers, IPAs- even godawful beers with ginger in them. Some even do decent lagers...

In fact, that's it. I'm going for a pint. Now.

Cheers

Nigel