Des de Moor, the storied beer writer, tour guide, walk leader, tutored tasting host and Accredited Beer Sommelier, sadly passed away earlier this month. Here John Keeling, former brewing director at Fuller’s, shares his memories of the much-loved figure.
I was just thinking about a topic for this month’s column when the sad, shocking news about Des de Moor hit like a ton of bricks.
Des was only 64 and should have had many more years of beer writing and judging to come. It was through the world of beer that I came to know Des.
That wasn’t unusual as Des made so many friends in the beer world. Des was such a nice bloke, so everybody became his friend.
I first became aware of Des a good while back when he wrote a review for 1845. Fuller’s 1845 is the brewery’s 6.3% ABV strong ale. It’s a bottle-conditioned ale that is brewed with amber malt and is matured for 100 days before release. It’s won lots of awards, too.
This review must have been published back in the 1990’s with the beer launching in 1995. Back then relations between brewers and beer writers were not on the easy footing they are now.
Then most brewers viewed beer writers with some suspicion. I was not one of these and I have always been interested in other people’s opinions on beer.
What struck me about this review was how technical and accurate it was. And the name at the bottom of the review read ‘Des de Moor’.
I thought that’s an unusual name and it stuck in my memory. He also liked the beer and was complimentary. This helps; flattery always works with me.
I then went on to meet Des at a judging event and various CAMRA festivals. Each time we would have a little chat and then move off.
I then realised I was looking forward to these little chats and looking out for Des at these events. In fact a London beer festival wasn’t a good festival unless Des turned up.
I am currently the President of the London Beer Alliance and have been chairman and founder member but if I wanted to know things about the LBA members, or perhaps the latest gossip then Des was the man to chat to.
In fact, I think the LBA membership owes Des a lot in terms of publicity and advice. Without being a member Des made a great contribution to the LBA.
I then realised I was looking forward to these little chats and looking out for Des at these events. In fact a London beer festival wasn’t a good festival unless Des turned up.
John Keeling
He was very knowledgeable about the history of beer and cask beer. Well, the two go together don’t they… (Yes, I do know that cask has a little revival at the moment).
I particularly remember two events where his knowledge shone. One was cask at Moor Beer Vaults and one was on a tour of old London Brewery sites including the famous Barclay Perkins.
Both events I came away knowing more about the topic and I also persuaded my wife Symone to attend and she really enjoyed them both.
This shows how good Des was taking to both the expert and non-expert. When I was running the Fuller’s Master Cellarman competition, I had the inspired idea to ask a beer writer to join the judging panel just to shake it up and get some non-Fuller’s opinions.
So, who did I ask? Des de Moor. Easy really. This proved so useful for later years we asked Pete Brown and Melissa Cole to join us.
I hope the above gives some insight into Des if you did not know him. They are all personal recollections, but I think lots of people in the brewing industry would have similar stories to tell.
Illustration: Rob Murray Cartoons
