Yet Another Cycling Forum

Off Topic => The Pub => Food & Drink => Topic started by: ian on 16 October, 2016, 07:06:33 pm

Title: Beer!
Post by: ian on 16 October, 2016, 07:06:33 pm
I think the Gin! topic needs a complementary Beer! thread. So I'm starting one. Not of that ratebeer pretentious nonsense. It either kicks the big fandango or it don't.

For breakfast I had a black IPA - Fourpure and Cloudwater Optare. Very moreish. But it was breakfast and I needed to get back on the bicycle when it stopped raining, so I stuck with an half. I'm a big fan of the Fourpure Juicebox IPA at the moment.

For pudding later, I had a third of blueberry cheesecake imperial stout (this (http://www.omnipollo.com/beer/anagram/)). At 12% it's a bit hefty. I wouldn't drink a pint.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Kim on 16 October, 2016, 07:11:51 pm
Ob-xkcd:

(https://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/beer.png) (https://xkcd.com/1534/)
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 16 October, 2016, 07:26:00 pm
Black Knight, Cotswold Brewery
went down very well at Culham Station Inn on Friday.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: tiermat on 16 October, 2016, 07:38:58 pm
None today as I know I would fall asleep half way through it. Yesterday, though, I had a "La Vergen Jamonera" with my cold cuts platter lunch, then had a "Maris the Otter" followed by a H!PA, from Helmsley Brewery, in the evening. The Last Vergen was dark, flat and damned tasty. Maris the Otter underwhelmed but the H!PA was lovely.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: woollypigs on 16 October, 2016, 08:58:42 pm
Out of the 10 or so beers I tried at yesterdays beer festival the Almasty Brewery - The American - A transatlantic Pale Ale, tickled my fancy the most.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Oaky on 17 October, 2016, 11:07:41 am
Nicest one I had recently was Pacific Ale by Stone and Wood.  An Aussie pale ale, slightly cloudy (with not a little of the wheat beer vibe about it).  Very moreish and easy-drinking.

If you like that sort of thing,  there's a logging app called Untapp'd which you can use to track your beers.  (It's colloquially known as "beer Strava" in the yacf Mid-Essex chapter).  I can see from that that around 75% of my top ten or so highest rated beers are wheat beers of some form or another (witbier, hefeweizen etc..) with the rest of them being a mix of stouts, porters and belgian types.

My favourite beer that I have recorded in there is the East End Witte (brewed in Pittsburgh).  It's also incredibly easy-drinking.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 17 October, 2016, 11:17:59 am
For supper, a Siren Barrel-Aged Peach IPA and a Beavertown Lupaloid IPA. Both very good. The Siren didn't taste very IPA but was very peachy. Thought it would be a more complicated, but instead rather easy drinking peachy fun. The Lupaloid is very good old skool IPA and comes in a marvellously purple can. Which I like.

I had to explain to someone the other day why Beavertown = De Beauvoir Town. Posh people, eh.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Oaky on 17 October, 2016, 11:24:41 am
The best name I can remember was "Comrade Bill Bartrams Egalitarian Anti Imperialist Soviet Stout", which I tried at a local beer festival a few years back.  Sadly this pre-dates my usage of the app, and was the first or second beer tasted during a fairly hefty session, so I have no idea whether I liked it or not.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 17 October, 2016, 11:35:04 am
I'm a dark ale person rather than IPA person. Half a bottle of Old Crafty Hen last night, which went nicely with dinner.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Basil on 17 October, 2016, 12:02:04 pm
I'm a bit of a beer slut really.  I'm just happy with bottled Old Speckled Hen.  I tend not to buy Crafty, as it always makes me fancy another and it's too strong for me.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Hot Flatus on 17 October, 2016, 01:13:09 pm
Fourpure Juice box wins because it comes in a large can
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mr Larrington on 17 October, 2016, 05:24:59 pm
So did a Watneys Party Seven ergo I call your large can conclusion "dubious".
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 17 October, 2016, 07:47:16 pm
One of my homebrew sloe and rosehip beers this evening. It's had an excellent secondary fermentation, with a very good head. Flavour is very fruity, but not distinctly rosehip or sloe. It's quite reminiscent of one of the Belgian kriek or geuze sthle beers with a bit of a sharpness to it.

I'll do this recipe again.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: mike on 17 October, 2016, 07:51:51 pm
the pub 20 yards from me is more of a cider place but they do serve Green Devil IPA from Oakham and it's far too tempting (and too bloody strong) for me.  It's very like an american IPA, too hoppy and sharp for more than 1 or 2 but really good when you've got a thirst on.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Bledlow on 17 October, 2016, 09:10:06 pm
For breakfast I had a black IPA - Fourpure and Cloudwater Optare.
How can pale ale be black?  ???  If it's black it ain't pale ale, India or not. And I must admit that I hate the name, as I do many beers nowadays. I hope it tasted good enough to make up for the misnaming.

I thoroughly approve of the thread, though.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 17 October, 2016, 10:48:38 pm
A black IPA is just a hoppy black ale. IPA is shorthand for hoppiness, innit.

To be fair, I'm more of a fan of the actual pale ales rather than dark ones. My favourite styles are session IPAs and saisons. For a session IPA, you can't improve on Bullfinch's Rascal (they've run out, partly I suspect my fault, but they're brewing some more) and Burning Sky's Arise. Actually, both breweries do a fabulous range. Brew by Numbers are doing a fabulously murky pale ale at the moment. Well, it's more opaque than pale. If you did a wee that murky you'd be on the market for two new kidneys. Oddly, even Brewdog have yet to commission me to write copy for them.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: woollypigs on 19 October, 2016, 09:35:20 pm
What about this as a bike ride ?

http://www.math.uwaterloo.ca/tsp/pubs/

24727 pubs in 45495239 meters :)
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 21 October, 2016, 11:15:03 pm
Brewdo Collab Fest  :P
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 21 October, 2016, 11:45:29 pm
Had a bottle of my homebrew IPA today, much better after four weeks in the bottle, hopiness really improved.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Hot Flatus on 22 October, 2016, 08:32:04 am
I raided Morrisons Craft beer shelf yesterday. They had a 4 for £6 offer. I tried Sierra Nevada, Lagunas, Brewdog Punk, and Blue Moon.

The Blue moon and Brewdog won. Morrisons in Nailsworth are now out of stock  ;D

I've got to say, I'm  annoyed with myself for taking so long to discover these. I've a lot of catching up to do.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 22 October, 2016, 11:41:32 am
Haven't tried the blue moon, but I do like the Laguna's and the punk. Say what you like about their marketing but the do make a good beer
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: tiermat on 22 October, 2016, 12:10:54 pm
Blue moon is as much as craft beer as Double Diamond was a real ale. The brewery is the beer equivalent of a flag of convenience. Avoid.

Punk IPA, on the other hand is gorgeous. As is Dead Pony Club. For a real treat try having a DPC with a really good curry, your mouth will thank you!

My beers, over the last two days have been :

Helmsley HIPA
Flying Dog session IPA
Thornbury Jaipur
Arcor

Of them, I liked the Jaipur the best, a real IPA.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Hot Flatus on 22 October, 2016, 12:19:25 pm
Blue moon is as much as craft beer as Double Diamond was a real ale. The brewery is the beer equivalent of a flag of convenience. Avoid.

Don't care.

It tastes nice.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: TimC on 22 October, 2016, 06:06:23 pm
Another fan of Blue Moon here. Even though some of these beers have got popular enough to now be beneath contempt for the true believers, it is good to see that American bars can now easily equal British pubs for the range and quality of their beer offerings. Yes, the style's different. Long live variety.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Graeme on 22 October, 2016, 06:29:24 pm
Beer! I feel the title of this thread is perhaps sufficient comment. However, in the spirit of reflecting on fermented isotonic sports drinks... I am looking forward to my trip to Masham on Monday as I route check Mr Deano's fabulous 'Peculier Old 200' Audax, and again on the 29th as I spend a day drinking Theakstons and stamping the brevet cards at the White Bear control.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 22 October, 2016, 06:47:24 pm
This weekend is Brewdog Collab fest, where each of their UK bars got together with a brewer to make 27 new beers. Yesterday we tried getting through them. I was in bed by 8pm  :-[
There were a lot of stouts. I would say these were generally of better quality than the non stouts.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mr Larrington on 22 October, 2016, 06:50:01 pm
Soaring to unparalled levels of Git there, Graeme!
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Deano on 22 October, 2016, 06:52:12 pm
Soaring to unparalled levels of Git there, Graeme!

I'm even giving him a beer allowance. Your audax dollars at work!
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 22 October, 2016, 07:34:34 pm
I'm drinking 'Plum Porter' from Titanic brewery. Not heard of either before.

Not sure about it yet. It seems to actually be flavoured with plums and has a bit of a 'newky brown' nose. I suspect it might be better served not so cold, so I'm leaving the bottle out of the fridge.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: nicknack on 22 October, 2016, 07:55:07 pm
A new micropub opened in Queenborough the other day so I popped in on the way home this evening. Totally unsurprised to find a bunch of acquaintances in there. Managed a couple (Gadds Seaside and Kent Brewery Session Pale)before being dragged home by Mrs n for Strictly. A carry out of Hopdaemon's Incubus softened the blow though. I'm definitely liking this idea of opening a pub any old where.
Regarding the craft v. real ale debate - I couldn't give a tinker's toss what it's called - if I like it I'll drink it. I've been taking advantage of Morrison's offers too - mainly with tins from Pistonhead.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 22 October, 2016, 09:36:22 pm
Week commencing 31st Oct, I'll be back in Aberdeen, staying close enough to a 6-degrees north pub to pop in, they do good beer as well
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 22 October, 2016, 11:16:56 pm
Week commencing 31st Oct, I'll be back in Aberdeen, staying close enough to a 6-degrees north pub to pop in, they do good beer as well
Give us a shout if you fancy company...
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: PaulF on 23 October, 2016, 05:46:03 pm
Appropriate for here: Single Speed Equinox from Fixed Wheel Brewery was on at my local last night. Hoppy, American style IPA, fruity and very pleasant.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 24 October, 2016, 04:54:09 pm
This weekend is Brewdog Collab fest, where each of their UK bars got together with a brewer to make 27 new beers. Yesterday we tried getting through them. I was in bed by 8pm  :-[
There were a lot of stouts. I would say these were generally of better quality than the non stouts.

We got through 10 of them yesterday evening, I liked them all. Would have tried a few more, but the world was starting to list to starboard. There were a couple of good ones that the Sheffalump Brewdog didn't have on tap and they'd run out of the local Iced Tea Dead People.

Castlegate & Stewart Brewing
They’re Coming to Get Rhu Barbra (4.5%) Sour pale ale with rhubarb

Clapham & Anspach & Hobday
The Marmalade Saison (5.6%) Saison with Bermondsey marmalade

DogHouse Glasgow & Fyne Ales
Heather Loch Beer (5.5%) Smoked pink peppercorn and heather-infused witbier

Dundee & Alechemy
Chocorange is the New Black (4.7%) Orange-infused milk stout

Glasgow & Dead End Brew Machine
The Glasgow Project (6.4%) Cherry and bourbon oaked saison

Norwich & Brew By Numbers
17|08 Table Saison – Mustard & Sea Salt (3.0%) Mustard & sea salt saison

Shoreditch & Weird Beard
Dead By Dawn (5.5%) Cherry breakfast stout

Soho & Fourpure Brewing Co
Mangoes into a Bar (5.0%) Sour mango wheat beer

Southampton & Dancing Man Brewery
Black's the New Orange (4.1%) Orange Jaffa Cake stout
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mr Larrington on 24 October, 2016, 05:57:00 pm
Whatever happened to BEER tasting like, well, BEER ???
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Thor on 24 October, 2016, 06:06:53 pm
Managed a couple (Gadds Seaside and Kent Brewery Session Pale)before being dragged home by Mrs n for Strictly.

A clear case of "from the sublime to the ridiculous".
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: tiermat on 24 October, 2016, 06:13:32 pm
Whatever happened to BEER tasting like, well, BEER ???

Exactly, it should taste of malt and hops. None of this namby  pamby adding a fucking fruit salad. If I want fruit, I'll go to the greengrocers, if I want beer I'll go to the pub. As if sticking half a fruit salad in my beer (yes, I am looking at you, Sol and Blue Moon), forget about it.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: nicknack on 24 October, 2016, 06:28:59 pm
Whatever happened to BEER tasting like, well, BEER ???

Exactly, it should taste of malt and hops. None of this namby  pamby adding a fucking fruit salad. If I want fruit, I'll go to the greengrocers, if I want beer I'll go to the pub. As if sticking half a fruit salad in my beer (yes, I am looking at you, Sol and Blue Moon), forget about it.
If you like - but it's not as though beer tasting beer is exactly unavailable. There are gazillions more varieties about now than when I was a callow yoof. The new weird tasting stuff is in addition to the beery beer - not replacing it. Which, to my way of thinking, is an extremely good thing.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mr Larrington on 24 October, 2016, 07:38:51 pm
I remember many years ago buying a pint of what appeared to be Perfectly Normal BEER which turned out to have been infused with fucking banananananas >:(
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 24 October, 2016, 07:52:11 pm
Whatever happened to BEER tasting like, well, BEER ???

Exactly, it should taste of malt and hops. None of this namby  pamby adding a fucking fruit salad. If I want fruit, I'll go to the greengrocers, if I want beer I'll go to the pub. As if sticking half a fruit salad in my beer (yes, I am looking at you, Sol and Blue Moon), forget about it.

It is all beer. It's the great thing that a few simple ingredients can be moulded into such a variety of styles and tastes. Ordinary beer is available for the purists.

Larrers, I did buy a couple of bottles of Siren's Blacklight Banana.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mr Larrington on 24 October, 2016, 09:04:34 pm
Dunno what the filthy bananananana-tasting horror was that I had foisted on me but it was at least fifteen years ago and on draught in the White Lion of Mortimer in Crouch End.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Graeme on 24 October, 2016, 09:55:28 pm
On my way home from my first trip to Masham this week. What exactly is the law regarding fermented sports drinks and cycling?
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 24 October, 2016, 11:20:41 pm
Week commencing 31st Oct, I'll be back in Aberdeen, staying close enough to a 6-degrees north pub to pop in, they do good beer as well
Give us a shout if you fancy company...

What day's best for you? I'm up there monday, depart friday, weds best avoided as we close out on Thurs, but Thurs ok as Fri is just report writing.

With a colleague who will be happy to drink beer an eat bar food
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Jakob W on 25 October, 2016, 08:39:36 am
Dunno what the filthy bananananana-tasting horror was that I had foisted on me but it was at least fifteen years ago and on draught in the White Lion of Mortimer in Crouch End.

Probably Wells's Banana Bread Beer. I must admit I quite like it, though it would be a bit of a shock if unexpected.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mr Larrington on 25 October, 2016, 09:10:35 am
I reckon that if they'd mentioned banananananas on the pump I wouldn't have bought it.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 25 October, 2016, 09:25:08 am
I've not drunk the Blacklight Banana (http://www.sirencraftbrew.com/blacklight-banana-collaboration-with-garage-project/) yet but it promises 'blowtorched bananas.' My working day would be a lot better if I got to blowtorch fruit. I'd like to singe a kiwi fruit. Maybe scald a lemon. With water, there's no point telling them off. I know, that's scald, you idiot.

On my northern adventure I also scored some Honey Whisky Smoked Imperial Porter and Black Forest Strannik Imperial Stout from Northern Monk and a couple of bottles of Mandarin IPA from Mad Hatter.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 25 October, 2016, 09:53:18 am
not a great fan of the bananananana beer, or Badger's peach infused beer  :sick:, but I do quite like the Ruddles Rhubarb
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Oscar's dad on 25 October, 2016, 10:26:57 am
The best name I can remember was "Comrade Bill Bartrams Egalitarian Anti Imperialist Soviet Stout", which I tried at a local beer festival a few years back.  Sadly this pre-dates my usage of the app, and was the first or second beer tasted during a fairly hefty session, so I have no idea whether I liked it or not.

You liked it, I was there.  But I don't remember exactly where.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 25 October, 2016, 11:07:10 am
I did quite like the names Mangoes into a Bar, Heather Loch Beer, They're Coming to Get Rhu Barbra and Iced Tea Dead People. They didn't have I'm A Lumberjack (But I'm Oak Aged) on, unfortunately. Or Brimful of Masha.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Hot Flatus on 25 October, 2016, 11:22:15 am
I'm all for innovation.
 
My approach is this: I try something. If I like it I continue to use/drink/eat it. If I don't like it I don't.

But I certainly don't preclude trying anything, on the grounds of bigotry or narrow-minded dedicated views on what something 'should' be.

I've just stocked up on Blue Moon.  :P
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: citoyen on 25 October, 2016, 11:32:59 am
American beer enthusiasts get so uptight about their definitions of beer styles and whether or not something deserves to be considered a 'craft beer' that they make CAMRA look entirely reasonable and well-adjusted members of society.

I've never tried Blue Moon, but Lagunitas IPA is quite drinkable, even if it is just a pseudo-craft brand of Heineken.

Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: tiermat on 25 October, 2016, 11:33:49 am
I'm all for innovation.
 
My approach is this: I try something. If I like it I continue to use/drink/eat it. If I don't like it I don't.

But I certainly don't preclude trying anything, on the grounds of bigotry or narrow-minded dedicated views on what something 'should' be.

I've just stocked up on Blue Moon.  :P

Well done, you. You must be so proud of yourself :P

Seriously, though, I wouldn't call what I was saying bigotry, nor narrow mindedness, I know what I like. How do I know what I like? Simple, I try something new and, if I like it I will keep on drinking it, if I don't, I won't. Oh, hang on that is exactly what you said....
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: tiermat on 25 October, 2016, 11:35:23 am
Hmmm, yes, the American definition of a craft beer, it is bonkers!

A craft brewer is one that produces <6 million barrels per annum! WTF?
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: citoyen on 25 October, 2016, 11:40:07 am
A new micropub opened in Queenborough the other day so I popped in on the way home this evening. Totally unsurprised to find a bunch of acquaintances in there. Managed a couple (Gadds Seaside and Kent Brewery Session Pale)before being dragged home by Mrs n for Strictly. A carry out of Hopdaemon's Incubus softened the blow though. I'm definitely liking this idea of opening a pub any old where.

Hmmm. Queenborough is a nice kind of distance from home for a bike ride... what's the pub called?

Gadd's Seasider would be worth the trip even if it were a lot further away.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Hot Flatus on 25 October, 2016, 11:46:58 am
I'm all for innovation.
 
My approach is this: I try something. If I like it I continue to use/drink/eat it. If I don't like it I don't.

But I certainly don't preclude trying anything, on the grounds of bigotry or narrow-minded dedicated views on what something 'should' be.

I've just stocked up on Blue Moon.  :P

Well done, you. You must be so proud of yourself :P

Seriously, though, I wouldn't call what I was saying bigotry, nor narrow mindedness, I know what I like. How do I know what I like? Simple, I try something new and, if I like it I will keep on drinking it, if I don't, I won't. Oh, hang on that is exactly what you said....

Nope. You were telling other people what they should drink. What is good and what isn't. What beer is, and what it isn't.

I expect there is a word for that.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Hot Flatus on 25 October, 2016, 11:50:32 am

I've never tried Blue Moon, but Lagunitas IPA is quite drinkable, even if it is just a pseudo-craft brand of Heineken.

It's mass-produced. That probably is enough for it not to be called craft. But I'm not going to let that alter my opinion on it. It tastes as good as many 'craft' beers I've tasted.

Others are better, to my taste, but they can't be found for £1.50 in my local supermarket in a tiny town/village.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Oaky on 25 October, 2016, 11:52:04 am
The best name I can remember was "Comrade Bill Bartrams Egalitarian Anti Imperialist Soviet Stout", which I tried at a local beer festival a few years back.  Sadly this pre-dates my usage of the app, and was the first or second beer tasted during a fairly hefty session, so I have no idea whether I liked it or not.

You liked it, I was there.  But I don't remember exactly where.

Interestingly, I can remember where:  Chappel Beer Festival (the one with the ferrets).
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Bledlow on 25 October, 2016, 11:52:54 am
Whatever happened to BEER tasting like, well, BEER ???
I've been thinking while reading some of the descriptions that they sound like beer for people who don't like the taste of beer. Ale-pops?
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Oscar's dad on 25 October, 2016, 11:55:31 am
The best name I can remember was "Comrade Bill Bartrams Egalitarian Anti Imperialist Soviet Stout", which I tried at a local beer festival a few years back.  Sadly this pre-dates my usage of the app, and was the first or second beer tasted during a fairly hefty session, so I have no idea whether I liked it or not.

You liked it, I was there.  But I don't remember exactly where.

Interestingly, I can remember where:  Chappel Beer Festival (the one with the ferrets).

My 50th birthday!   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Hot Flatus on 25 October, 2016, 11:58:03 am
There is nothing new in putting fruit in beer. Belgians have been doing it for a long time. Never had kriek?
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: tiermat on 25 October, 2016, 12:10:07 pm
I'm all for innovation.
 
My approach is this: I try something. If I like it I continue to use/drink/eat it. If I don't like it I don't.

But I certainly don't preclude trying anything, on the grounds of bigotry or narrow-minded dedicated views on what something 'should' be.

I've just stocked up on Blue Moon.  :P

Well done, you. You must be so proud of yourself :P

Seriously, though, I wouldn't call what I was saying bigotry, nor narrow mindedness, I know what I like. How do I know what I like? Simple, I try something new and, if I like it I will keep on drinking it, if I don't, I won't. Oh, hang on that is exactly what you said....

Nope. You were telling other people what they should drink. What is good and what isn't. What beer is, and what it isn't.

I expect there is a word for that.

Whatever, you read how you want to read it, I don't, honestly, expect _anyone_ to take my view on food and drink seriously.

As for your views, I expect there is a word for that. Several in fact, some not repeatable in polite company.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Oscar's dad on 25 October, 2016, 12:16:01 pm
I recommend drinking beer as opposed to pontificating about it.  A low stress approach.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 25 October, 2016, 12:17:00 pm
All the beers I mentioned taste like beers. They're all malt, yeast, water, and hops. Yeah, they might throw some other stuff in. But it's all done by people who are enthusiastic about drinking and brewing beer. Had no one bothered to tip sour cherries into lambic, we'd not have some of the fabulous tart krieks. Someone at some point had to decide to start throwing hops into the mix. I expect there were anti-hop purists. Sours, lambics, saisons, etc. are now readily available. Compared to how grim the UK beer situation used to be, it's heaven. Just strolling through a market in Sheffield the other day and hey, look, a beer stall. Hundreds of different beers. It's possible to walk into a small brewery tap room and drink a half-dozen different styles, from basic pales through to funky sours. Good god, you can even get a pint of mild again. My grand-dad is probably clawing his way out of his grave right now.

What makes me a bit sad is watching people chug the nasties like Stella, which tastes pretty much like I'd expect toilet cleaner to taste like, or Carling/Fosters, which taste like nothing. Or those nasty sweet cider concoctions. I like the occasional pint of cider. I had a sip of Magners the other day. O jaysus. Other than a too vivid flashback to drinking two litre bottles of Woodpeckers behind the garages as a youth misspending his time, that was horrid. And people who think Guinness is a nice stout. I think they're just serving the water they've washed out the beer garden ashtrays in. A stout is supposed to have some body to it, Guinness just tastes like water with nasty bitter, burnt edge. No comparison to a pint of cherry-tinged breakfast stout.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: andrew_s on 25 October, 2016, 01:15:12 pm
My approach is this: I try something. If I like it I continue to use/drink/eat it. If I don't like it I don't.
These days there are far too many beers appearing all the time to try tasting them all, and at a certain point you have to be guided by previous experience.
Mine is that what I call gimmick beers (i.e. flavoured) are OK for the first half pint or so, but that's enough. That does include Belgian Kriek or German Rauchbier, usually, though it does depend on my mood at the time.

These days, I'm drinking a lot more cider than I used to, any time the beer's a bit boring (17 ciders & perries on at the local on Sunday, not counting the fizzy stuff).
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Bledlow on 25 October, 2016, 01:35:17 pm
There is nothing new in putting fruit in beer. Belgians have been doing it for a long time. Never had kriek?
Yeah - thoroughly fermented, & all things that you can grow alongside yer barley - just like hops. And y'know - kriek & even framboise are still recognisably beery.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: sg37409 on 25 October, 2016, 01:40:32 pm
Got my ticket for http://www.revolutioncraftbeer.com/
No sign of blue moon or lagunitas.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Jakob W on 25 October, 2016, 02:42:43 pm
Hmmm, yes, the American definition of a craft beer, it is bonkers!

A craft brewer is one that produces <6 million barrels per annum! WTF?

AIUI this limit is essentially set by the requirement for Sam Adams to still be able to call themselves craft brewers...

You see the same thing in the UK; as independent brewers grow, the production limits on beer duty relief start to look more onerous...
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: citoyen on 25 October, 2016, 02:55:55 pm
It's mass-produced. That probably is enough for it not to be called craft. But I'm not going to let that alter my opinion on it. It tastes as good as many 'craft' beers I've tasted.

A lot of so-called craft beers are shite. I blame fucking hipsters getting into brewing. It seems they have got bored with beer and have now moved on to gin though, so maybe the beer market will start to calm down a bit.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: citoyen on 25 October, 2016, 02:59:14 pm
I'm rather partial to St Austell Proper Job, which is an authentic bottle-conditioned British IPA from a medium-sized independent British brewer and priced at four 500ml bottles for six quid from Tesco. It's not exciting, it doesn't contain fruit, it won't blow your head off with its ridiculous alchohol content, it isn't made with 16 varieties of New World hops or single estate malts, it's just decent beer. Fuller's Bengal Lancer is good too, for much the same reasons.

I like the more wilfully esoteric stuff as well, but the great thing about beer is that it covers such a wide variety of styles and you're not obliged to limit yourself to a small section of the market.

I've been thinking while reading some of the descriptions that they sound like beer for people who don't like the taste of beer. Ale-pops?

Brewdog Punk IPA fits that description for me. Pleasantly citrussy but about as complex as orange Fanta. If only Brewdog's beers lived up to their marketing spiel.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Oscar's dad on 25 October, 2016, 03:03:29 pm
I'm rather partial to St Austell Proper Job, which is an authentic bottle-conditioned British IPA ...

 >:( Oh no, now you've done it  >:(

Don't get me started on Cornish beer.  It's fine in Cornwall but then Beer Miles start making the whole thing frankly ridiculous.  I shall be in the bad mood for the rest of the day - thanks!
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: citoyen on 25 October, 2016, 03:07:52 pm
It's fine in Cornwall but then Beer Miles start making the whole thing frankly ridiculous.

I'm broadly in agreement with you on that subject. When I'm in the pub, I'll always choose a local beer if I can help it. Buying from the supermarket... well, the beer hasn't travelled nearly as far as a lot of the other stuff in my trolley. And at least Cornish beers have spent fewer miles on the road than American beers.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Oscar's dad on 25 October, 2016, 03:25:28 pm
The whole Beer Miles thing started for me some years ago when huggy OTP and I were on our bikes in deepest, darkest Suffolk and fancied some lunch plus beer.  The pub (which was a freehouse) we stumbled across only did Black Sheep beer ... from Yorkshire ... which is a lovely drop ... in Yorkshire.

Given that Suffolk, or indeed East Anglia, is knee deep in breweries both of the micro and grown up size, it struck me as ridiculous that rather than beer be transported from miles away the local breweries couldn't supply beer agreeable to the locals at a sensible price.  Once my consciousness was pricked I became aware of the amount of long distance beer you can buy in East Anglian pubs, Cornish stuff (often Doombar) being the most blatantly bonkers.  And I have been ranting ever since  ;D 
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Poacher on 25 October, 2016, 03:57:28 pm
If you buy Doombar in bottle, it probably hasn't travelled that far, having been brewed in Burton-on-Trent:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-33175395
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Oscar's dad on 25 October, 2016, 04:01:20 pm
If you buy Doombar in bottle, it probably hasn't travelled that far, having been brewed in Burton-on-Trent:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-33175395

Which I think simply makes matters worse  ::-)
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Wowbagger on 25 October, 2016, 04:02:15 pm
The whole Beer Miles thing started for me some years ago when huggy OTP and I were on our bikes in deepest, darkest Suffolk and fancied some lunch plus beer.  The pub (which was a freehouse) we stumbled across only did Black Sheep beer ... from Yorkshire ... which is a lovely drop ... in Yorkshire.

Given that Suffolk, or indeed East Anglia, is knee deep in breweries both of the micro and grown up size, it struck me as ridiculous that rather than beer be transported from miles away the local breweries couldn't supply beer agreeable to the locals at a sensible price.  Once my consciousness was pricked I became aware of the amount of long distance beer you can buy in East Anglian pubs, Cornish stuff (often Doombar) being the most blatantly bonkers.  And I have been ranting ever since  ;D

In January, Carnardly and I partook of the Settle-Carlisle railway and had lunch in Weatherspoons, in Carlisle. There were four real ales on offer: Doom Bar, Youngs, Greene King Abbott and (IIRC) Harvey's. That's Cornwall, Suffolk, London and Sussex. Bonkers.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mr Larrington on 25 October, 2016, 05:20:46 pm
Youngs is brewed in Bedford these days.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: TimC on 25 October, 2016, 05:22:20 pm
It's in the nature of any hobby that the reputation of certain products will spread because of their good qualities, and people further away will want to try them. Enjoying a pint of Black Sheep in Suffolk doesn't mean that Mauldon's is any less appreciated, or will suffer because you supped a foreign pint.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Hot Flatus on 25 October, 2016, 05:27:57 pm
Wetherspoons are pretty good for offering local beers.  In fact, it was doing audax rides that ended in a JDW pub that opened my eyes to the fact that they are not all about pure horror.

Anyway, I really like the fact there is now a plethora of choice brought in by the craft beer explosion. I think this kind of cross fermentation  (pun) thing is good. It's how culture develops. I like that British real ale culture has been taken on by the Yanks and then fed back to us with their own take on it. They are ingenious experimenters not bound by the sort of dullard closed-minded attitude and cultural bigotry that has been expressed upthread. Of course, success will always be emulated and industrialised but so what.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Hot Flatus on 25 October, 2016, 05:30:10 pm
It's in the nature of any hobby that the reputation of certain products will spread because of their good qualities, and people further away will want to try them. Enjoying a pint of Black Sheep in Suffolk doesn't mean that Mauldon's is any less appreciated, or will suffer because you supped a foreign pint.

How do you feel about Greene King?  ;D

Actually, the best pint I ever had was just a simple pint of Adnam's Bitter. It was in that pub opposite the brewery. Some beer can't be bottled well, and doesn't travel.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: citoyen on 25 October, 2016, 05:36:27 pm
I like that British real ale culture has been taken on by the Yanks and then fed back to us with their own take on it. They are ingenious experimenters not bound by the sort of dullard closed-minded attitude and cultural bigotry that has been expressed upthread.

The best American brewers understand that you can't just draw a woman with a nose on the side of her face and call yourself Picasso.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Oscar's dad on 25 October, 2016, 05:40:39 pm
It's in the nature of any hobby that the reputation of certain products will spread because of their good qualities, and people further away will want to try them. Enjoying a pint of Black Sheep in Suffolk doesn't mean that Mauldon's is any less appreciated, or will suffer because you supped a foreign pint.

It's just wrong  >:(  And I won't be persuaded otherwise  ;D

Oh and by the way, I am a great fan of 'spoons for what it's worth.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Hot Flatus on 25 October, 2016, 05:41:27 pm
I like that British real ale culture has been taken on by the Yanks and then fed back to us with their own take on it. They are ingenious experimenters not bound by the sort of dullard closed-minded attitude and cultural bigotry that has been expressed upthread.

The best American brewers understand that you can't just draw a woman with a nose on the side of her face and call yourself Picasso.

I've had several really good pints recently from British brewers, Amarillo from a London brewer, and Kowabunga from Cromarty brewery.

Neither of those beers would exist without the input of US brewers into beer culture.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: TimC on 25 October, 2016, 05:46:33 pm
It's in the nature of any hobby that the reputation of certain products will spread because of their good qualities, and people further away will want to try them. Enjoying a pint of Black Sheep in Suffolk doesn't mean that Mauldon's is any less appreciated, or will suffer because you supped a foreign pint.

How do you feel about Greene King?  ;D

Actually, the best pint I ever had was just a simple pint of Adnam's Bitter. It was in that pub opposite the brewery. Some beer can't be bottled well, and doesn't travel.

Greene King? I'm not sure I've ever had a pint of their products - but I've been persuaded to do a visit to their brewery with my local next month! Adnams' beers seem very good (though I'm no beer expert), and their shops are alcohol (and foodie) wonderlands, and I'm lucky that there's one not two miles away in Hadleigh.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 25 October, 2016, 05:56:45 pm
I had a pint of Greene King IPA once. Erm.

I had to wash my mouth out with the contents of the Regents Canal (by Broadway Market, of course). Tasted much the same come to think of it.

I confess I'm often to be found in various taprooms (or Bottleshop). Fresh beer, reasonably priced, and not very many beer miles at all (more a case beer-metres – sorry, I have no idea how long a foot is).

No one needs to be a beer expert. This is not the thread for ratebeer pseuds. I draw the line at Stella and other cooking or footwashing lagers, mind. A man has to have some standards. Or so I've been told.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: citoyen on 25 October, 2016, 05:57:38 pm
Neither of those beers would exist without the input of US brewers into beer culture.

Totally agree that the American craft brewing movement has been a hugely positive influence but unfortunately it is also responsible for inspiring an awful lot of shite beers (British and American) made by hipster wannabes who haven't got a fucking clue what they're doing.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Oscar's dad on 25 October, 2016, 05:58:49 pm
It's in the nature of any hobby that the reputation of certain products will spread because of their good qualities, and people further away will want to try them. Enjoying a pint of Black Sheep in Suffolk doesn't mean that Mauldon's is any less appreciated, or will suffer because you supped a foreign pint.

How do you feel about Greene King?  ;D

Actually, the best pint I ever had was just a simple pint of Adnam's Bitter. It was in that pub opposite the brewery. Some beer can't be bottled well, and doesn't travel.

Greene King? I'm not sure I've ever had a pint of their products - but I've been persuaded to do a visit to their brewery with my local next month! Adnams' beers seem very good (though I'm no beer expert), and their shops are alcohol (and foodie) wonderlands, and I'm lucky that there's one not two miles away in Hadleigh.

I don't mind GK beer, if you want to visit Wally at The Cat's (features in OD's Top 5 Most Favourite Pubs) you've no choice as that's all he serves - that and kitten killer.

We did the GK brewery tour once, it was quite interesting.  Our guide said that when they take over a brewery they sack all the staff except the head brewer.  Then they analyse the water of the now defunct brewery so they can replicate it at Bury St E.  Then once the head brewer can produce exactly the same beer at BSE as (s)he did at the original brewery they get their P45.  How true the story actually was and whether it still is I don't know but it kind of fanned the flames of GK's reputation.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Jakob W on 25 October, 2016, 06:10:47 pm
GK IPA won CAMRA champion beer of Britain at least once; it's not my favourite example of the style by any means but I don't get the hate it sometimes inspires.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Von Broad on 25 October, 2016, 06:41:40 pm
Neither of those beers would exist without the input of US brewers into beer culture.

Totally agree that the American craft brewing movement has been a hugely positive influence but unfortunately it is also responsible for inspiring an awful lot of shite beers (British and American) made by hipster wannabes who haven't got a fucking clue what they're doing.

Fashion, trends, bandwagons and marketing I'm afraid.

There are beer wars going on our there at the moment, it's all getting a bit heated in the streets!
[And no, not going there...not going to mention the C word!]

One thing that has to be mentioned that has changed though and been concurrent with the Craft Beer movement [meaningless phrase really] is the different way of dispensing beer - namely the preponderance of k-keg (https://www.keykeg.com/) and E-keg systems as well as the traditional cask conditioned system. Baring in mind a keg beer with probably last a good two weeks as opposed to a few days on cask, you can see the attraction from a business point of view. Cask is fine, but it takes plenty of looking after and you've got to shift it. With the keg stuff, you can have smaller quantities lasting longer so you can have different varieties available at the same time. I went to a craft beer palce the other day that had 20 beers on!!

Persoanally, I'll try anything [and often do] but with the best will in the world I just can't stand beers that are too carbonated, too citrasy [the hop] and too cold - which sadly rules out most of the newer beers styles for me. It's just not my bag. Getting hold of my own personal Nivarna  (http://www.greatheckbrewery.co.uk/images/GH-PC-VOODOO-01.jpg)is getting increasing rare.

What is interesting is see, is a lot of guys who are lager drinkers, being very at home with a fashionable hopey, carbonated keg beer. Many more women are also drinking beer than have previously, and bottles are very in with the youngsters. So brewers are looking at much wider, diverse markets these days.

But I do wonder how significant the SBR  [small brewers relief] is to the survival of many of these micro breweries. I was reading a while back that Batemans [trad ale brewery from Lincolnshire, XXXB lovely pint] actually cut their production back to come in under the threshold of a specific SBR tariff for tax purposes.

Another interesting paradox is the ever decreasing number of public houses in the country while on the other, the increasing number of micro breweries emerging. Brewing is one thing - selling the stuff is another. I do quite a lot of work for a local micro brewery, helping with the fit-out of their tasting bars/bottle shops. They have big [for them] expansioni plans, and are borrowing money all over the place. It's interesting to see it all unfolding. I really wish them well [hell I should do, I drink there]. But I do wonder about the longevity of what's going on at the moment. [Who was it who said 'If you see a band wagon, chances are it's too late?]

Going back to fashion, trends, bandwagons and marketing......all these things level out in the end and there has to be saturation point sooner or later, and the best stuff[well...what you can sell I suppose] will survive. In the Meantime....if you like beer - get drinking  :)
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: TimC on 25 October, 2016, 06:41:52 pm
It's in the nature of any hobby that the reputation of certain products will spread because of their good qualities, and people further away will want to try them. Enjoying a pint of Black Sheep in Suffolk doesn't mean that Mauldon's is any less appreciated, or will suffer because you supped a foreign pint.

How do you feel about Greene King?  ;D

Actually, the best pint I ever had was just a simple pint of Adnam's Bitter. It was in that pub opposite the brewery. Some beer can't be bottled well, and doesn't travel.

Greene King? I'm not sure I've ever had a pint of their products - but I've been persuaded to do a visit to their brewery with my local next month! Adnams' beers seem very good (though I'm no beer expert), and their shops are alcohol (and foodie) wonderlands, and I'm lucky that there's one not two miles away in Hadleigh.

I don't mind GK beer, if you want to visit Wally at The Cat's (features in OD's Top 5 Most Favourite Pubs) you've no choice as that's all he serves - that and kitten killer.

We did the GK brewery tour once, it was quite interesting.  Our guide said that when they take over a brewery they sack all the staff except the head brewer.  Then they analyse the water of the now defunct brewery so they can replicate it at Bury St E.  Then once the head brewer can produce exactly the same beer at BSE as (s)he did at the original brewery they get their P45.  How true the story actually was and whether it still is I don't know but it kind of fanned the flames of GK's reputation.

I'll ask! I'm not proud, and can quite easily get a taxi home...
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: nicknack on 25 October, 2016, 06:51:41 pm
A new micropub opened in Queenborough the other day so I popped in on the way home this evening. Totally unsurprised to find a bunch of acquaintances in there. Managed a couple (Gadds Seaside and Kent Brewery Session Pale)before being dragged home by Mrs n for Strictly. A carry out of Hopdaemon's Incubus softened the blow though. I'm definitely liking this idea of opening a pub any old where.

Hmmm. Queenborough is a nice kind of distance from home for a bike ride... what's the pub called?

Gadd's Seasider would be worth the trip even if it were a lot further away.
It's the Admiral's Arms. Have a squint at their facebook page for opening times.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 25 October, 2016, 08:22:16 pm
If you buy Doombar in bottle, it probably hasn't travelled that far, having been brewed in Burton-on-Trent:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-33175395

Which I think simply makes matters worse  ::-)

My wife used ot work for Whitbread, in dispensing technology - a pint of Stella in 9 secs, but I digress - the point is that they bought Flowers amongst other brands and moved it to their brewery in South Wales.  Despite their attempts to recreate the relevant water etc it never tasted the same.

Not so much that beer doesn't travel, more that a brewery doesn't travel.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 26 October, 2016, 08:31:12 pm

Another interesting paradox is the ever decreasing number of public houses in the country while on the other, the increasing number of micro breweries emerging. Brewing is one thing - selling the stuff is another. I do quite a lot of work for a local micro brewery, helping with the fit-out of their tasting bars/bottle shops. They have big [for them] expansioni plans, and are borrowing money all over the place. It's interesting to see it all unfolding. I really wish them well [hell I should do, I drink there]. But I do wonder about the longevity of what's going on at the moment. [Who was it who said 'If you see a band wagon, chances are it's too late?]


Things will always change, you can say the same about beer that you can say for food. I grew up on fish fingers, now I can't get away from artisanal artichokes. My parents didn't even trust pepper on the grounds it smelled a bit foreign. You wanted a choice of beer back then, it was Kimbo or Mansfield, which was like selecting which lock on the Erewash Canal to drink from. Things have come along. The market will support what it will support. I like it and I like the fact it's moved the emphasis away from drinking purely to get pissed. For some people, anyway.

Any pub that is reliant on cheap, mass produced beer and a menu that consists of three flavours of crisps and scampi snacks is probably doomed. Supermarkets and shops are always going to undercut. A lot of them can't adapt to a changing market, a friend of ours used to run a pub in SE London. The brewery landlords simply restricted everything, you stocked what they told you, when you told you, even down to the menu. So what could have been a thriving pub in an up-and-coming part of London wasn't. Given property prices, they were probably trying to kill it, indeed it closed for 'refurbishment' in July and has yet to reopen. Be interesting if it ever does, or whether a planning notice appears on the door. More flats.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: andrew_s on 27 October, 2016, 01:10:26 pm
Despite their attempts to recreate the relevant water etc it never tasted the same.

Not so much that beer doesn't travel, more that a brewery doesn't travel.
There's more to it than the water.
Wye Valley Butty Bach (for example) has quite noticeably gone off since new, bigger plant was installed at the same brewery.

I put it down to different mash tuns heating up & cooling down at different rates to the originals.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 28 October, 2016, 08:24:25 pm
...As is Dead Pony Club...

Live Dead Pony Club is quite nommy.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 28 October, 2016, 08:26:15 pm
Of them, I liked the Jaipur the best, a real IPA.

The stolen recipe inspiration for Punk IPA.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 29 October, 2016, 08:21:17 pm
Tonight I had an organic, unfined porter from Pitfields brewery in Epping.

Nice, chocolatey, coffee-ey, slight smokiness.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 30 October, 2016, 06:43:30 pm
Some Anspach & Hobday Session Cream Ale, Burning Sky Arise, and Chorlton Sour, followed by a nice autumnal ride home. I was hoping for some Marmalade Saison but that's not coming on till next weekend.

Just to rile you beer purists, some Mangoes into a Bar, Passionfruit Wheat, Black IPA (Optare), Kentucky Triple, Bermondsey Mule Grisette and one that I forgot at the Fourpure tap on Friday.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: CAMRAMan on 30 October, 2016, 06:58:58 pm
Morrisons have their own brand beer brewed by Ringwood & Marstons breweries. Not half bad and currently less than half price at 78p/bottle. The Dark Ale in particular is really rather good.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 02 November, 2016, 08:02:36 pm
Some Belgish IPA tripels in Brussels. I wasn't sure about the concept (what it says on the label, a hopped up tripel) but they were rather scrumptious. Then some St Bernardus Abt 12 because no Westy was to be found.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: giropaul on 02 November, 2016, 08:47:03 pm
Some Belgish IPA tripels in Brussels. I wasn't sure about the concept (what it says on the label, a hopped up tripel) but they were rather scrumptious. Then some St Bernardus Abt 12 because no Westy was to be found.

You probably know that St Bernardus brewed for St Sixtus ( westvleteren) for many years. Westveleteren is usually only available in small quantities from the Monastery ( or odd bottles from the cafe), but just now they are selling mail order for a very limited time to pay for some emergency roof repairs. You need very deep pockets though!
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 02 November, 2016, 09:36:38 pm
Yeah, that's why I seek out the St Bernardus as it's fairly common and very nice.

I got a Westy-12 six pack once from the monastery (or rather, I co-opted our Belgy sales person at the time to do a drive by, cheeky bugger kept the second pack).

There are occasional free-ranging bottles. I got one in a cafe in Turnhout and another two in Mechelen. I don't really know any great beer places in Brussels, plus I had people in tow and they were willing to drink Stella.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 02 November, 2016, 10:16:26 pm
Some Belgish IPA tripels in Brussels. I wasn't sure about the concept (what it says on the label, a hopped up tripel) but they were rather scrumptious. Then some St Bernardus Abt 12 because no Westy was to be found.

Have you found Brussels Beer Project?  :P
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 02 November, 2016, 10:17:58 pm
...I don't really know any great beer places in Brussels...

Oh, man  :facepalm:
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 02 November, 2016, 10:22:00 pm
I don't spend a lot of time in Brussels, and well, I'm thought leading. It's a full time job. I know lots of places to get beer, of course.

I found the Brussels Beer Project in London, they do periodic tap takeovers.

ETA: advise me! I'll be passing through on my way to and from Leuven with a couple of hours to kill in a few weeks.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Jurek on 02 November, 2016, 10:30:36 pm
Some Belgish IPA tripels in Brussels. I wasn't sure about the concept (what it says on the label, a hopped up tripel) but they were rather scrumptious. Then some St Bernardus Abt 12 because no Westy was to be found.

Beer Hound.
That is all.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 02 November, 2016, 10:38:03 pm
ETA: advise me! I'll be passing through on my way to and from Leuven with a couple of hours to kill in a few weeks.

Chez Moeder Lambic (me) or Moeder Lambic Fontainas (Mrs P) http://www.moederlambic.com/
Poechenellekelder http://www.poechenellekelder.be/
Nüetnigenough http://www.nuetnigenough.be/
Restobieres for food & beer  :P http://www.restobieres.eu/en/
Morte Subite (just for the atmos)
Delirium Café - loadsa beers
A la Bécasse
La Porte Noire
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 02 November, 2016, 11:16:49 pm
Some Belgish IPA tripels in Brussels. I wasn't sure about the concept (what it says on the label, a hopped up tripel) but they were rather scrumptious. Then some St Bernardus Abt 12 because no Westy was to be found.

You probably know that St Bernardus brewed for St Sixtus ( westvleteren) for many years. Westveleteren is usually only available in small quantities from the Monastery ( or odd bottles from the cafe), but just now they are selling mail order for a very limited time to pay for some emergency roof repairs. You need very deep pockets though!

I was a bit disappointed by Westvleteren when I finally got some.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Jakob W on 03 November, 2016, 08:41:28 am
Likewise; my dad the vicar went on retreat at the monastery (beer provided with meals!) and came back with a couple of 6-packs. It was a very nice example of an abdijbier, but not the transcendental experience all the 'best beer in the world!!1!1!' hype had led me to expect.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 03 November, 2016, 09:48:22 am
It's a very good trappist beer but that's about it, but it's the victim of online hype and being the 'best beer in the world' which it isn't. But if you get the opportunity, it's never going to be a disappointing drink once you push the hype to one side.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Jakob W on 03 November, 2016, 10:13:50 am
Yeah; I suppose the fact that you can normally only get it by ordering in advance for pickup from the monastery hatch gives it a certain hipster scarcity value. One of these days I'll manage a Trappist brewery tour of the low countries...
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 03 November, 2016, 10:22:40 am
Indeed, scarcity drives it. They should hire more monks or something. I mean, seriously, what is these guys' business plan! [/american]

I wouldn't drive out in the Belgish wilds to get it, but hey, if you have a sales minion driving by and he owes you a favour... It's not like the Belgians are short of good beers. Reminds me, I'm going to Leuven, the home of Stella.

Erm.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Jakob W on 03 November, 2016, 10:56:13 am
When I spent time in Belgium I was mostly working on site in the glorious industrial estates of Zeebrugge; thankfully I was put up in Bruges, so even though I mostly got to see it in the dark I was able to try the various beer bistros in the evenings. Not forgetting the free booze in the Eurostar business class lounge.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: andrew_s on 03 November, 2016, 03:23:45 pm
if you have a sales minion driving by and he owes you a favour...
I gather that the order process is along the lines of...
Phone up & ask what they are selling that week (not always the 12), put your order in (with car registration), turn up at the abbey on collection day in that car, and collect/pay for the beer.

So you would need to know the car the minion was driving.

I preferred the 12 to the St Bernardus Abt, but I don't reckon there is such a thing as the "best beer in the world" - it depends too much on what you feel like when you drink it.
If you do want to try it, the café by the abbey seems the only reliable place (except for end September/early October, when the close for 2 weeks).
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: citoyen on 03 November, 2016, 03:33:50 pm
I don't reckon there is such a thing as the "best beer in the world"

Orval comes pretty close though.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mr Larrington on 03 November, 2016, 06:17:51 pm
Indeed, scarcity drives it. They should hire more monks or something. I mean, seriously, what is these guys' business plan! [/american]

You should offer them your Thought Leading services.  Payment in kind, obv.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 03 November, 2016, 08:29:55 pm
He'd need a tidy tonsure.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Hot Flatus on 03 November, 2016, 08:34:54 pm
Saltaire Brewery Cascade American IPA.

It's a bit meh, but not unpleasant.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: woollypigs on 03 November, 2016, 08:39:56 pm
Saltaire Brewery Cascade American IPA.

It's a bit meh, but not unpleasant.
Yeah I was thinking the same.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Hot Flatus on 03 November, 2016, 08:45:48 pm
Have you tried Withens from Little Valley Brewery?

Same price in local co-opt, but much much better.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 03 November, 2016, 08:57:06 pm
ETA: advise me! I'll be passing through on my way to and from Leuven with a couple of hours to kill in a few weeks.

Chez Moeder Lambic (me) or Moeder Lambic Fontainas (Mrs P) http://www.moederlambic.com/
Nüetnigenough http://www.nuetnigenough.be/
Restobieres for food & beer  :P http://www.restobieres.eu/en/ they do amazing duck in kriek :P
La Porte Noire
Poechenellekelder http://www.poechenellekelder.be/ (tourist central)
Morte Subite (just for the atmos, you only need to go once)
Delirium Café - loadsa beers
A la Bécasse

I've re-ordered them, in order of excellence :)
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: andrew_s on 05 November, 2016, 06:13:13 pm
Historical beer in the pub today
Oakham Attilla (434 -453 AD), and Milton Marcus Aurelius (161-180 AD)
I preferred the former.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 05 November, 2016, 07:15:04 pm
Amongst other Wild Beers today:

(https://c7.staticflickr.com/6/5539/30760705526_f562edc037_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/NSdE4Q)
IMG_7700_01 (https://flic.kr/p/NSdE4Q) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: markcc on 06 November, 2016, 09:38:52 pm
ETA: advise me! I'll be passing through on my way to and from Leuven with a couple of hours to kill in a few weeks.

Chez Moeder Lambic (me) or Moeder Lambic Fontainas (Mrs P) http://www.moederlambic.com/
Poechenellekelder http://www.poechenellekelder.be/
Nüetnigenough http://www.nuetnigenough.be/
Restobieres for food & beer  :P http://www.restobieres.eu/en/
Morte Subite (just for the atmos)
Delirium Café - loadsa beers
A la Bécasse
La Porte Noire

Phew!  Good to see you've missed the best places in Brussel.  More for the rest of us.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 07 November, 2016, 07:46:14 pm
ETA: advise me! I'll be passing through on my way to and from Leuven with a couple of hours to kill in a few weeks.

Chez Moeder Lambic (me) or Moeder Lambic Fontainas (Mrs P) http://www.moederlambic.com/
Poechenellekelder http://www.poechenellekelder.be/
Nüetnigenough http://www.nuetnigenough.be/
Restobieres for food & beer  :P http://www.restobieres.eu/en/
Morte Subite (just for the atmos)
Delirium Café - loadsa beers
A la Bécasse
La Porte Noire

Phew!  Good to see you've missed the best places in Brussel.  More for the rest of us.

Well,  come on then
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 08 November, 2016, 07:15:25 pm
...Leuven...

Podge's Leuven Bar Guide (https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?msa=0&mid=1IE3G4yvwqED4dDB9wWL_hFSlD7k&ll=50.87796300000003%2C4.699045000000069&z=14)
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 14 November, 2016, 08:32:40 pm
Blimey, I don't think I'm going to be in Leuven that long, it's only a day trip and I have to find the Eurostar home.

I am liking the Wild Beers, we periodically get a case of varied stuff. As I've been floating around the Caribbean, mostly lubricated by Peton (which I suspect only tastes good if you are sitting on the side of a catamaran dangling your feet in the waves after a hard day's snorkelling), it's time to re-medicate with some proper foo-foo beer. I just put some Siren/Cigar City Caribbean Chocolate Cake Stout in the fridge.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: markcc on 15 November, 2016, 10:58:10 am

Well,  come on then

I'd say that Cantillon is the best place in Brussels itself - you can usually buy stuff to drink that Jean van Roy doesn't sell anywhere else and there's always the chance that there's something nice to take away.  Zwaanse 16 can be bought to drink right now I think. 

Les Briggitines is a great place to eat.

Just west of Brussels in Eizeringen is "In de Vezekering tegen de Grote Dorst" - one of the world's essential beer pilgrimages.  It's only open for a few hours on Sundays mind.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 15 November, 2016, 04:45:11 pm
The Siren/Cigar City Caribbean Chocolate Cake stout was absolutely lush. Sadly, I only have two bottles. I did find some Buxton The Living End bourbon cask-age imperial stout in the booze coffin though.

Hey, I'm still on holiday till Thursday.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: lahoski on 16 November, 2016, 04:37:35 pm
The Siren/Cigar City Caribbean Chocolate Cake stout was absolutely lush.

What a surprise!  :P

Imperial stouts are where it's at. I don't get out of bed for anything south of 6% these days. Unless it's a Berliner Weisse. Or free.

Uprising Scumbag Maggot and Vibrant Forest Black Oktober are worth a punt - no poncey barrel ageing thobut.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Jakob W on 16 November, 2016, 08:39:01 pm
Brooklyn East IPA tonight; my dad was visiting and dropped off a selection of Trappist beers along with various other Low Countries goodies, so will have to try them soon.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Hot Flatus on 16 November, 2016, 11:01:13 pm
Ive just had 4 pints of Landlord.

Its a bit pedestrian compared to all your fancy 'craft' beers, but it did the job as well as any other.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Jakob W on 24 November, 2016, 08:58:50 pm
Chimay Bruin - very pleasant indeed (though alas only the one on a school night).
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: giropaul on 24 November, 2016, 09:16:52 pm
A Vedett followed by a Piraat. Local crafty barn conversion place has started selling most of the best Belgian beers. Not good news for my weight/wallet!
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: sojournermike on 24 November, 2016, 09:24:28 pm
This week has been fueled primarily by Hop On Board - this is a bad thing, not because of the beer, but it's only available on trains
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 24 November, 2016, 09:27:46 pm
Oooo, in addition to the Ginvent Calendar, I spy a Brewdog beer-vent calendar waiting in the porch. And some Wild Beer. And some Siren. And some Omnipollo. Stocking up for Christmas. Going to have get some cheap stuff for guests.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 24 November, 2016, 09:31:57 pm
A Vedett followed by a Piraat. Local crafty barn conversion place has started selling most of the best Belgian beers. Not good news for my weight/wallet!

tried vedett for the first time last week, good beer
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 24 November, 2016, 09:44:43 pm
Where's a good place to buy a decent selection of craft beer online these days?
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 24 November, 2016, 09:57:39 pm
We just buy it from the brewers, they mostly have their own online shops these days. Brewdog do quite a lot of guest brews (and there's, I think, 20% discount for shareholders) – conveniently my wife's office is opposite a Bottledog. Bottleshop has interesting stuff but isn't especially cheap (but the taps, oh the taps). There's about a thousand other online craft beer stores these days. Plus every other shop in London seems to stock something (which might not be so practical). I'm finding my new Beard of Authority™ means I can pass the hipster detectors and get into places like Hackney Wick.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Feanor on 24 November, 2016, 09:59:48 pm
Where's a good place to buy a decent selection of craft beer online these days?

I thought *we* should be asking *you* that!
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 24 November, 2016, 10:07:45 pm
Where's a good place to buy a decent selection of craft beer online these days?

I thought *we* should be asking *you* that!

I haven't bought any beer online since this time last year, usually getting it from specialist bricks & mortar merchants. Not so handy for sending in a parcel as a chrimbo present though ....
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 24 November, 2016, 10:08:47 pm
I was gonna get myself a bottle of Shnoodlepip from Brewdog until I saw it was 12 squids a bottle!
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: tiermat on 24 November, 2016, 10:21:31 pm
Beerhawk have a good selection, and aren't too much of a rip off.

They also do a really cool beervent calendar, one of which is waiting for me, in the dining room.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 24 November, 2016, 10:54:36 pm
Beerhawk have just received a big thumbs down for telling me 'an error has occurred' when I pressed the big button to place the order.
Helpful, and not at all irritating...

ETA: eventually it went through, just before I started throwing my toys out of the pram.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: sg37409 on 25 November, 2016, 01:23:14 pm
Off to the Edin Craft Beer Revolution festival tonight. Promises to be more hipster than camra.
Auch well, just have to make the best of it.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 25 November, 2016, 01:33:26 pm
It's the one where you get as many tasters as you want (rather than having pay or do stupid shit with tokens)? If so, it's the awesomes. Far better than having to buy each drink because you get to taste loads more without your head falling off and rolling away.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Jakob W on 26 November, 2016, 09:36:23 pm
Some head-banging Nicaraguan Rum Cask Stout at the Euston Tap; this may go some way towards explaining why I'm quite so mellow at being sprawled in the vestibule of an overfilled train home...
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Thing2 on 26 November, 2016, 10:49:19 pm
we are just tasting a selection of sours at mraz brewing company. Definitely Californian sours, quite tasty but no subtlety. The lemon drop saison is a nice example though.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 28 November, 2016, 11:44:10 am
I was gonna get myself a bottle of Shnoodlepip from Brewdog until I saw it was 12 squids a bottle!

Back at Wild Beer, but still £12 for a 750 ml bottle (which isn't so bad).

In other beery booze news, some Tropigamma and Lupaloid IPAs at the Beavertown tap on Saturday (yes, yes, I braved Tottenham)*. Also some splendid cans from Modern Times in San Diego. Much recommended, especially the pale ale. I have some coffee stout which I've not yet drunk. Oh and some Thornberry Eldon bourbon imperial stout, which whilst not up there with the best imperial stouts, made for a nice nightcap yesterday. Oh and on the fruit themes, some pineapple and grapefruit IPA from Roosters, which was basically beery Lilt. Unsubtle, but a nice antidote to grim UK autumn evenings. I'm still in Caribbean mode evidently.

*and some mystery beer, there were some unlabelled (hence unsellable, the bloke didn't know what they were either) cans which upon asking they gave to us (my wife excels at getting free beer) - Holy Cowbell and 8-Ball, I think.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 28 November, 2016, 03:10:34 pm
Spill the Beans Coffee Porter from Aldi. Only 99p a bottle (which are a civilized 330ml). Quite pleasant, not too sweet or heavy. Not enough charcoal overtones for my liking but decent enough, especially at the price.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: SoreTween on 30 November, 2016, 10:13:32 pm
Back at Wild Beer, but still £12 for a 750 ml bottle (which isn't so bad).
Yes it is.  That's not drinking beer prices, it is willy waving prices.  Sure, try it as a treat, an experiment, a toe in the water of 'how the other half live'.  Then have a drink.

Beer is about the journey not the destination.  The best beer to me is when I walk into a pub and see one I haven't had before.  I just don't get it when someone I'm with has an Adnams, Sussex or Doom because they like it and don't 'know' the other beers available.  I accept that's as much my problem as theirs.  Personally I relish the unknown.  The only ones I rarely choose are wheat beers, something about them doesn't work for me but I'll not criticise the brews or those who enjoy them.  Extreme hops, mad fruit, traditional, stouts, milds, porters - I'll try them all.  I may even try another Guiness if I'm ever in Ireland, I certainly wont anywhere else.  I've drunk willy waving priced beers and may do again.  The only expensive beer I'd have again , and this is at the sane end of the WW scale, is Brewdog Coco Psycho.  Jeepers that's good.  Much of the brewdog stuff is so stronly flavoured I take some convincing it is naturally flavoured and not the result of a bucket of <whatever> extract bunged in the tun.

Speaking of sump oilGuiness, could everyone who when abroad seeks out the Irish Bar please form a queue, your B Ark is ready for boarding.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 03 December, 2016, 06:51:53 pm
Christmas beer bought  :P

(https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5661/30587501513_88a1c4550d_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/NAUWxK)
IMG_7843_01 (https://flic.kr/p/NAUWxK) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 03 December, 2016, 06:58:45 pm
Some Flat Pack Fruit Bat (Brewdog/Omnipollo), Siren Half Mast, Evil Twin Citra Sunshine Slacker and Even More Better Than Jesus, Northcote Blonde, Bad Co. Summer Breeze Fruit Beer, Cronx Lemon Saison, and Burning Sky Gaston. Pedalling home up that bloody hill was even harder work than usual...

I know, craft beer in Croydon! What's the world coming to. Now I have to drink it.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 03 December, 2016, 09:32:45 pm
The Flat Pack Fruit Bat is alright :P
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 03 December, 2016, 09:41:10 pm
I'm hot and cold on the Omnipollo beers tbh (though I love their can and bottle designs).  Always worth a try though. I liked the Flat Pack Fruit Bat, though I think I prefer the Beavertown Tropigamma.

Currently on the Cronx Lemon Saison which is very good. Croydon residents could do worse than visit the beer shelves in Freshfield Market, a somewhat surreptitious find. I would have bought more but there's several miles of uphill pedaling to get it home and getting the train would be cheating.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 03 December, 2016, 10:02:32 pm
...though I think I prefer the Beavertown Tropigamma...

That was recommended by the barperson in CASC this afternoon, but I thought it was a bit strong for a starter so I had a Cloudwater Ghriette. It was OK, light & easy-going.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: andrew_s on 04 December, 2016, 12:33:48 am
Thomas Hardy's Ale (2008), 11.7%
like christmas pudding in a bottle
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 04 December, 2016, 11:40:05 am
...though I think I prefer the Beavertown Tropigamma...

That was recommended by the barperson in CASC this afternoon, but I thought it was a bit strong for a starter so I had a Cloudwater Ghriette. It was OK, light & easy-going.

They're not exactly lightweight, but the Cloudwater double IPAs are excellent.

For balance, the Siren Half Mast comes in at a lowly 2.8% but was surprisingly tasty (I think I've had it before). A bit like Kernel's Table Beer (also around 3%).

Apparently I've a small case of Flat Pack Fruit Bat in the tender care of Parcel Farce at the moment (they were supposed to re-deliver on Friday, supposed...) And some other stuff. I'm hoping they've put something weird in my Brewdog Beervent, I've had a Santa Paws, Punk IPA, and an Elvis Juice so far.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: tiermat on 04 December, 2016, 12:42:58 pm
I have started on the beer calendar and so far have had:

Expressway - Two Roads
High Wire Grapefruit Pale Ale - Magic Rock
Hipster IPA - Evil Twin
Sister Agnes - Marble

Today's beer is a Boston IPA and I have a Wayniac, a couple of Northern Monk beers and a Sharps IPA, in the fridge.

Of the ones I have already consumed, I would heartily recommend the Sister Agnes, it's an Old Ale with Morello cherries. Not a session ale, most definitely not a Lambic, but just so goddamn gorgeous. 9.7% and £4.50 a bottle, I got mine from Raynville in Leeds.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 05 December, 2016, 04:32:17 pm
Mmm... smokey nominess  :P

http://wildbeerco.com/beers/smoke-n-barrels-autumn/
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 09 December, 2016, 08:00:40 am
Brewvent turned up an Abstract 21 liquorice blackberry imperial stout. Like liquorice allsorts. In beer form.

Burning Sky tap takeover tonight at Bottleshop. It would be churlish not to go.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: tiermat on 09 December, 2016, 09:42:25 am
Further on into December, and the beers, this week I have had:

IHL - Camden, a lager brewed with IPA ingredients
Flying Dog - Easy IPA, a session IPA.
Richmond Brewing company - Stump Cross Ale
Some Belgian Trappist beer.

They are listed in order of preference, the IHL I would drink again, the Easy was a bit wishy-washy and I am not a huge fan of Belgian beers.

The Wayniac remains unopened!

Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 10 December, 2016, 02:29:02 pm
Burning Sky were very good – one of my fave brewers at the moment – they have a new Imperial Stout, Saison Reserve, and Cuvée. All excellent. As are their other saisons and their session IPA Arise, which is my second favourite session IPA after Bullfinch's magnificent Rascal.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: SteveC on 10 December, 2016, 04:39:43 pm
Beer is about the journey not the destination.  The best beer to me is when I walk into a pub and see one I haven't had before.  I just don't get it when someone I'm with has an Adnams, Sussex or Doom because they like it and don't 'know' the other beers available.  I accept that's as much my problem as theirs.  Personally I relish the unknown.
I have a friend in the village who doesn't like to change beers during the evening. So he always drinks the Timothy Taylor's Landlord, despite the pub usually having two other beers on. I will always go for the one I've not had before. OK, the Landlord is (almost) always on form and very drinkable but...
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 10 December, 2016, 10:07:50 pm
Some Magic Rock beers at Brewdog Castlegate today: Salty Kiss, Inhaler, Punchline, Highwire Grapefruit, Hypnotist  :P
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 12 December, 2016, 06:41:58 am
In very recent times an Old Growler, dark adn rich and yesterday a Thornbridge Cocoa Stout, yummy chocolatey, darkness.

Also a dependable Fullers London Porter.

I also have a Taddy Porter, a Krombacher Dark, and an Imperial stout on the shelf for the holiday period

Are you seeeing a winter theme yet? 
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 14 December, 2016, 06:54:54 pm
Schlenkerla at CASC last night - more smoky nominess  :P
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 14 December, 2016, 07:02:56 pm
Some Magic Rock beers at Brewdog Castlegate today: Salty Kiss, Inhaler, Punchline, Highwire Grapefruit, Hypnotist  :P

I like their can design.

In the meantime, some Omnipollo 3.5 Pineapple Gose, and lots of Modern Times and Green Flash. I might have to work out an excuse to visit San Diego in 2017.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 15 December, 2016, 08:29:27 pm
De Ranke XX Bitter. Om nom nom  :P
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: campagman on 22 December, 2016, 05:41:45 pm
I've seen Brewdog mentioned on here quite a bit. Have you thought about investing? (https://www.brewdog.com/lowdown/blog/brewdog-bond-2016)
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 22 December, 2016, 05:53:50 pm
Pingu & I are already shareholders.  We only bought shares to get the 5% discount in the bar (there was only 1 at the time) which has since gone up to 10% due to the subsequent share offers.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Jakob W on 22 December, 2016, 08:53:05 pm
Based on a discussion in the pub last night I went to look at how much my Fuller's Vintage Ale stash was worth. Crikey! Buying a couple of bottles a year and forgetting about them would seem to be a worthwhile investment...
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 24 December, 2016, 11:50:46 pm
Christmas beer harvest.

(https://c2.staticflickr.com/1/632/31039221593_cab10224e5_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/PhQ8bZ)
IMG_7936_01 (https://flic.kr/p/PhQ8bZ) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mr Larrington on 25 December, 2016, 10:08:25 am
That's breakfast sorted, then!
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 25 December, 2016, 01:57:09 pm
Should I be worried that I've drunk all those (not the same bottles, I've not broken into your house in the last few minutes, or have I)? Actually, I don't think I've had the Mad Hatter (I think) on the far left. They do a splendid mandarin IPA though, and I forget the name, but also a Belgian style tripel. The Burning Sky Cuvée is very good.

Reminds me to crack open my bottle of Thornbridge/Brooklyn Serpent later. I did start with a Siren Half Mast earlier, sadly in the space of turning around to tend the turkey, the stupid fat cat sent it flying (though by some miracle the glass bounced unscathed off the tile floor). Good job is wasn't a serious beer or Bad Cat would have been in the pot.

(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn190/ianp_photo/IMG_1495.jpg)

This was very, very good too.

(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn190/ianp_photo/IMG_1493.jpg)

Some awesome stuff lined up for later. Not to mention four new bottles of gin for the collection.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: nicknack on 25 December, 2016, 07:23:43 pm
The 48 bottles of assorted Belgian/Dutch goodies are going down a treat - with the aid of son and daughter's other half. Currently enjoying La Trappe Tripel. In Christmas stocking were Dockyard Gin (Chatham) and HMS Victory Gin (IOW Distillery - 57%) - my kids know me well.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 31 December, 2016, 09:29:00 pm
Williams Bros Fraoch. It's been a long time  :P
Weird Beard Sally Squirrel - nice & brown.
St Andrews Brewery Crail Ale - beery.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 31 December, 2016, 09:38:04 pm
In addition to the Redwillow Shameless and BAD Co Easy Rider, it's now a Ubrew Octobear (sorachi hopped saison). And yes, there's an octobear on the can, as there should be. Rather splendid so far and these are just the appetisers. I should eat dinner before we venture into the porch o' booze. At this time of year and with the temperature being low, it's basically a big fridge. Of course, when I wore a lab coat, we had proper cold rooms to keep the lab keg(s) perfectly chilled.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 01 January, 2017, 01:09:21 am
Bell's Kalamazoo, brewed with brewers licorice [sic]. Nice 'n' sleazy black.
St Andrews Brewery IPA - as before, beery. I don't think I'll bother with them again.
Siren Broken Dream breakfast stout. Is it too early? I think not.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Jakob on 01 January, 2017, 07:47:45 am
(https://static.wixstatic.com/media/211ed9_46e72ba012a64495ab34ee041277487c~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_522,h_552,al_c/211ed9_46e72ba012a64495ab34ee041277487c~mv2.png)

Somehow, our neighbourhood has turned into microbrewery central and RB is one of my favourite. They didn't have their stout on tap today, so I had to suffer with the Cream Ale.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: campagman on 02 January, 2017, 08:32:12 pm
You might find this (http://cloudwaterbrew.co/blog/looking-back-whilst-pushing-forward) blog post interesting.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 02 January, 2017, 09:24:06 pm
Argy Bargy, an Arbor, Steel City, Hopcraft collab black barleywine. Rather tasty though at 10% a bit of a sipping beer. We did (hic) a barleywine thing at Rattle n Hum  in NYC a while back, some awesome stuff. From what we remember.

As it's officially not a school night and I'm waiting for the bread to cook so I can have dinner, some Calypso, Siren's Berliner Weisse. Thinking summery thoughts. Siren Craft are consistently good, they're up there with Burning Sky in my boozy estimation.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Torslanda on 03 January, 2017, 10:46:26 pm
A little late to the party, I picked up some "A-HOP-alypse Now!" from Aldi.

Have yet to sample it but if the beer is anything like as good as the label . . .
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Jakob on 21 January, 2017, 01:24:49 am
Had an out-of-country friend visiting the kendo club last night, so we went out for a drink after practice. I had completely forgotten how terrible standard North American draft beer can be. Yuck.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 21 January, 2017, 08:32:49 pm
Wiper and True Reverie. Really rather good. Up there with the BBNo pale ales. I'd happily be tasered by some of Bristol's finest officers of the law for another bottle.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: SoreTween on 22 January, 2017, 10:23:52 am
An evening in the Three Tuns for the Mari Lwyd (http://chepstowwassailmari.co.uk/) started with a Baa IPA brewed all of a mile away.  Not the most IPA of IPAs but enjoyable. Next was an Untapped Border Bitter (beer miles about 18), a really good amber ale. Then at BM=7 was Kingstone Llandogo Trow, a real treat of a brew heading in a dark direction. Last, back at home, was a bottle of Brains Dark Ale which rounded things off nicely (BM=40).
South Wales is dripping with breweries at the moment  :)  There's at least another half dozen in cycling range.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 22 January, 2017, 08:09:47 pm
Was mostly drinking Maisel's Weisse last week. Not very exciting but better than Fohrenburger.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 23 January, 2017, 10:11:59 am
Don't normally rave about lager, because once you get out of Carling/Fosters mass-produced bilge territory, even the craft stuff is a bit samey. That said, I had a cracking Arbor Mighty Mighty White Thing unfiltered pilsner last night which was splendid and may force me to change my mind. Great name for a lager too.

Bristol beat London this weekend.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: tiermat on 23 January, 2017, 12:15:01 pm
Try Freedom's lager, it is unbelievable!
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 04 February, 2017, 04:29:27 pm
Our local Brewdog are having a The Kernel tap takeover today.
I keep thinking they ought to be really good but have been underwhelmed so far, so today was the day. I had a taste of Table Beer, Biere de Saison and Pale Ale and find them all a bit insipid. The 2 black beers Pingu had: Export India Porter and Export Stout London 1890 I would say are very good, but I don't drink black beer. So I think I've learned that I don't need to bother with Kernel any more.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 04 February, 2017, 04:32:03 pm
OTOH Brewdog's Self Assembly Pope tastes like a coconut Magnum.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Hot Flatus on 04 February, 2017, 05:24:35 pm
Went to the Ale House in town for a cheeky fish finger sandwich. Its about as unpretentious and unhipster establishment as you can get. Bit grimy. No exposed brickwork or filament lightbulbs. No distressed wood bar or earnest tattooed skinny teenage barman whose full-testosterone beard looks out of place on his just-pubescent body. Just big fat grumpy Nigel, who looks like Dave Gilmour may have looked if he'd grown up on a farm and stayed there.

Today, amongst the regular ales, was Siren Soundwave.

Oh my farking god what a pint.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Ashaman42 on 05 February, 2017, 12:47:18 am
OTOH Brewdog's Self Assembly Pope tastes like a coconut Magnum.

SOLD!!
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 06 February, 2017, 11:31:07 pm
I find the Kernel OK, they do some decent pale ales, never quite so convinced by the their others – that's not to say they're bad but I wouldn't go out of my way for them. I don't mind the table beer though, it's quite sessionable. BBNo do a better range and they're not sniffy about opening a tap room.

Bullfinch's Rascal is back in bottles, which saves me having to lug foamy containers all the way from Herne Hill to the dark heart of Surrey. Win because it's the best session IPA evah.

I've never had a coconut Magnum, but Self Assembly Pope is very good.

As for Siren, still one of my fave breweries. Reminds me that I've yet to drink the Blacklight Banana.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: tiermat on 11 February, 2017, 12:46:53 am
Whilst in that there London, I met up with my mad Saffer friends and we repaired to The Queens Head, on Acton Street, a short walk from KGX

I started with a pint of Tiny Rebel's Hank, but it left me a little disappointed, so moved onto Fallen's Dragonfly, which is lush! I throughly recommend both venue and beer!
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 12 February, 2017, 06:39:58 pm
Was going to go to the Pressure Drop tap take-over, but I was feeling too old to go out in the cold, and I've a porch full of chilled beer. I found a 2010 bottle of Goose Island Fleur that had been neglected. I think that should have been drunk some time ago. It had gone a bit weird but I didn't die after drinking it. Unlike the time I drank that 1977 vintage can of Mansfield Bitter at the inlaws when I genuinely did die.

Plenty of Bullfinch Rascal because I bought all the bottles. Tried a Beavertown Heavy Water Stout with Sour Cherries and Sea Salt. Wasn't really swayed, too much salt and not enough cherry. The Beavertown Tempus Deimos was a lot better. And a bottle of Wild Beer's Sourdough.

Also the tequila barrel-aged gose and bourbon-barrel aged berliner weisse at the Beavertown tap yesterday. Very good. And a Lupaloid IPA. Sadly no Tropigamma to be had.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 20 February, 2017, 06:08:48 pm
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3827/32151081084_68820ac808_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/QZ5Ghd)
IMG_8245_01 (https://flic.kr/p/QZ5Ghd) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr

 :P
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: jsabine on 20 February, 2017, 11:38:37 pm
That's an, um, historic looking bottle.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: andrew_s on 21 February, 2017, 02:52:08 pm
It also looks like it's empty, and that the glass hasn't been used (or not for a stout anyway).

So, was it drinkable?
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 21 February, 2017, 08:10:05 pm
That bottle was sitting on a shelf and Pingu was being a cheeky git.
(If I remember correctly just out of shot I was flipping him the bird for his insolence)
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Aunt Maud on 23 February, 2017, 02:45:31 pm
Phew, thank the lord !

It's beer o" clock.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 25 February, 2017, 04:49:52 pm
Went to Craft Beer Rising, sadly spoiled by a simmering week long cold that decided to come to a boil en route, turning my nose into a veritable Niagara Falls of snot by the time I arrived. Then I started feeling like someone had driven a steamroller over me. And then reversed it over me to be sure. Not even restorative beer or three could resurrect me so I crawled home. Quite enjoyed a Brewheadz (never heard of them before) Fired Up Donkey red rye IPA. After that everything started to taste like the insides of my nose. Not a good thing, though still better than Stella.

Which is why I'm here listening to my head bubbling away and writing this rather than schlepping over to Fourpure to catch the end of Saturday's beer mile as planned. Bah. As my wife says of this parlous state of affairs: "you must be ill then."

I may try further self-medication with IPA later.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 25 February, 2017, 05:32:49 pm
Oh dear, that is rotten :(
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 25 February, 2017, 05:58:03 pm
Bloomin' well is. I'm staying in a hermetically sealed bubble from now on. I think snot came out of my eyeballs. I have all the plagues.

I think I shall attempt to cure myself with tropical IPAs. I have Beavertown Tropigamma, some Brewdog Flatpack Fruitbat, and some Tiny Rebel tropical IPA. I must have more in the beer coffin. I'm sure they contain lots of vitamin C*.

*my most distinguished moment as a proper scientist was inadvertently discovering the biosynthetic pathway for ascorbic acid in plants, a bit of a metabolic mystery. All written up I submitted it to Nature and awaited my admittedly not-quite-Nobel Prize glory. A week later a letter came back from the editor saying sorry, we're just about to publish exactly the same thing from another lab. Bah.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 25 February, 2017, 06:12:16 pm
We've just been to Brewdog where Fierce were having a beer launch. I had Citrus Tart which was very limey and very tart indeed. I also wanted to take home a bottle of the Tropical Tart but the barman wouldn't let me, cos <reasons>. :(
Pingu had Moose Mousse which was nice and chocolatey. 
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 25 February, 2017, 06:25:17 pm
Moose Mousse sounds a bit wrong. Reminds me that in my dedication to finding a cure, I had some Fourpure Limehaus kolsch last night which was rather refreshingly tart. A bit too summery for February mind.

I've added some Siren Pompelmocello, Green Flash Tangerine Soul Style IPA (I think I drank all the Passion Fruit Kicker), and Fourpure Juicebox to my tropical cold cure. I figure that if I can get my blood to an ABV of ~7% that virus will stand no chance.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Hot Flatus on 25 February, 2017, 07:22:30 pm
There comes a point with some of these craft beers when you realise that what you are drinking are alcopops.

Anyhoo, Ive just been to Aldi and bought a single bottle (95p) of their American style IPA. Will it trump Brewdog Dead Pony (£1.50) as my staple beer?

Tune in later to find out...
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: giropaul on 25 February, 2017, 07:36:41 pm
As it's the first weekend of the Belgian Classics it has to be an appropriate bottle this evening. I have found Orval, Straffe Hendrick and Rodenbach. Probably the Orval then.
Also time for some shopping again :-)
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 25 February, 2017, 07:37:21 pm
There comes a point with some of these craft beers when you realise that what you are drinking are alcopops.

Anyhoo, Ive just been to Aldi and bought a single bottle (95p) of their American style IPA. Will it trump Brewdog Dead Pony (£1.50) as my staple beer?

Tune in later to find out...

I once had an Omnipollo pecan marshmallow imperial stout with ice cream froth on top. I have a beard now and I hang out in Shoreditch Hoxton Dalston so it's allowed.

Fruity IPAs are great. Juicebox and Soul Style are both excellent. They're more IPA than fruit, but the citrus works perfectly.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Steph on 25 February, 2017, 07:47:56 pm
Interesting post above about all lagers tasting the same. On my Aussie ride, I spent a couple of evenings in the Tanglehead pub/microbrewery in Albany. Their products all tasted the same.

In my first book, to answer the remark about standard yank 'draft beer', I waxerd as lyrical as I could about real ale, and a now-deceased yank asked rhetorically if there was a difference between beer and "imported beer". Two replies arrived, one pointing out the USA doesn't exactly rank in the top flight of brew-nations. The other compared yank "draft beer" to sex in a canoe...
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Hot Flatus on 25 February, 2017, 08:28:58 pm
Interesting post above about all lagers tasting the same. On my Aussie ride, I spent a couple of evenings in the Tanglehead pub/microbrewery in Albany. Their products all tasted the same.

In my first book, to answer the remark about standard yank 'draft beer', I waxerd as lyrical as I could about real ale, and a now-deceased yank asked rhetorically if there was a difference between beer and "imported beer". Two replies arrived, one pointing out the USA doesn't exactly rank in the top flight of brew-nations. The other compared yank "draft beer" to sex in a canoe...

Its a really weird thing but I used to enjoy the diversity of flavours of British real ales.

Since discovering craft beer (including Fourpure Juicebox etc) all British real ales now taste the same to me  :)
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 25 February, 2017, 08:50:24 pm
I confess I find British real ales a bit drab. My palette ain't subtle. I want big flavours. The sort of flavours that knock down tower blocks. I want beers that stomp downtown Tokyo (and yes, I know all the craft beer bars in Tokyo and Godzilla is under strict instructions not to stomp them as I'll be there this summer).

American 'domestic' beer, now that's a horror. I asked Jean-Claude van Damme, as a semi-professional Belgian, about that Coors Ice advert and his succinct response was 'they paid me and I didn't have to drink it' (for the record, I've no idea if my long running correspondence with Jean-Claude is with the actual Jean-Claude, or someone is yanking my chain, but then I've passed the point of caring about the distinction).

I'm on the medicinal Flatpack Fruitbat (I should credit Omnipollo as it's a collaboration with Brewdog). A raspberry smoothie IPA. Take that with your Greene King IPA, beer purists. That said, they should have used some oatmeal to give it a bit more mouthfeel. But it's plenty lush.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Steph on 25 February, 2017, 09:01:39 pm
I tend not to go to pubs, because poverty. Every now and again, though, I will be at a festival, and Shrewsbury in particular has a superb beer festival (and cider, and wine) attached. My palate goes in cycles. I will be addicted to big heavy bitters in the style of Hobgoblin, and then stouts, such as Banks and Taylor's Edwin Taylor's Extra Stout, and then it will be Summer ales, citrus ales, Trappiste, Tripel, or gueuze lambic. Then it will be straight back to very dry IPAs. If we are to talk lager beers, I do have a real liking for Spaten bock.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 25 February, 2017, 10:38:00 pm
...Greene King IPA...

 :sick:
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: andrew_s on 25 February, 2017, 11:34:46 pm
Greene King IPA used to be a decent beer, once, as did Boddingtons. (early 1980s)

Back in the present day, today's beers, in a real pub, have been Uley Severn Boar (nom nom nom) and Brass Castle Bad Kitty (nom nom nom), plus Exmoor Beast (nom) in Wetherspoons.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: nicknack on 26 February, 2017, 07:56:39 am
Greene King IPA used to be a decent beer, once, as did Boddingtons. (early 1980s)
I have a hazy recollection of Doombar tasting of beer once upon a time.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 26 February, 2017, 01:17:13 pm
I only had Greene King IPA once. I was waiting for a train at Penshurst in darkest Kent and the pub opposite seemed like a better place to hole up. Ah, an IPA, thought I.

Jesus, it was like dishwater that someone had pissed in.

I can't believe Boddingtons was ever a decent beer.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: andrew_s on 26 February, 2017, 04:55:06 pm
I can't believe Boddingtons was ever a decent beer.
It was good before I went to the Antarctic in October 1981, and on the slide when I got back in May 1984.
In the interim there had been some sort of marketing tie-in with Whitbread for national distribution, rather than Manchester only. This progressed to a take-over a few years later. I blame the rapid increase in production for the slide in quality.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: SteveC on 26 February, 2017, 06:25:52 pm
When I went to uni in Manchester in '77, Boddies was an excellent session bitter.
After Whitbread's got involved it seemed to have had an intimate encounter with some crazy foam and has been :sick: ever since.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mr Larrington on 26 February, 2017, 09:55:01 pm
(Sing)

Twenty pints of Boddingtons, every Fruday night!
Twenty pints of Boddingtons, then it's outside for a fight!
Etc.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 03 March, 2017, 04:04:31 pm
I have to drink all these tonight. Wish me luck.

Quote
Dugges - High Five
Dugges x Stillwater - Mango Mango Mango
Dugges x All In - Tango Twang
Dugges - Tropic Folk
Dugges - Tropic Thunder
Omnipollo x Veil - Amun
Omnipollo - Magic #3,5 Pineapple Gose
Omnipollo - Mazarin
Omnipollo - Nebuchadnezzar
Omnipollo - Noa
Omnipollo - Selassie
Omnipollo - Perikles
Omnipollo - Leon
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 03 March, 2017, 05:15:55 pm
I hope they do thirds.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 03 March, 2017, 06:07:23 pm
Given that some of them top 10% boozeahol it's probably a good job they do.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 03 March, 2017, 07:09:32 pm
Given that some of them top 10% boozeahol it's probably a good job they do.

That's what I meant [hic]
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 06 March, 2017, 09:00:59 pm
All very good, though I confess I didn't drink them all (I've tried several before).

Shoutouts for the weekend though: Verdant x Howling Hops Eight Mansions (from the little beer stand in the food market behind the Royal Festival Hall), a DIPA that was deceptively moreish, brilliantly balanced without overloading the hops. In the same class as the Cloudwater DIPAs.

And then a Northern Monk Black Forest Strannik Imperial Stout from my porch, which was pretty awesome. Guinness it most definitely ain't.

Oh and Wild Beer Black and Blue, which sounded a bit odd being a 'raw' beer unboiled and sans hops. But was actually quite drinkable if you like sour beers.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 09 March, 2017, 08:21:38 pm
Harbour Brewing tap takeover tonight.
Raspberry & vanilla beer - too much vanilla for me,  I didn't need more than a taste.
Walloonie - om nom hops,

Had another 6dn/Magic Rock collaboration Magic Six which is still nom.

Magic Rock are the aces.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Hot Flatus on 09 March, 2017, 09:06:57 pm
Just cracked open a can of Fourpure Indy Lager.

It could just be bog standard Stella/Heineken/Anything.

It's shit.

Looking forward to a trip up to Manchester in May. I'm going to get wandered in the Cloudwater tap room before going to watch Leftfield at the Apollo.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 10 March, 2017, 01:26:59 pm
Spiced Oot by Speyside Craft Brewery. It was, er, spicey  :P
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 10 March, 2017, 09:31:46 pm
Indy Lager is a lot better than Carling and Stella, but that's not really an achievement. But it's still lager and as mentioned earlier, it's hard to make a lager excel. Lager is a drink for thirsty people on hot days, when you're not too demanding, you just want cold and wet. The only decent one I've had lately has been Arbor's Mighty Mighty White Thing.

I scored a couple of cans of Beavertown's Double Chin on the through St Pancreas. And some Siren Liquid Mistress. And some Lupaloid. I stopped at that point as my Brompton had a seriously look, being as it was already loaded with my bags from a trip up north.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Hot Flatus on 10 March, 2017, 11:11:13 pm
I've had some really nice lagers from the craft brew supplier, but the Indy Lager was sub-Stella. About on a par with canned Fosters. I couldn't finish it. It was utter utter shit. Which is odd because Fourpure are normally pretty decent.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Jakob W on 11 March, 2017, 03:47:31 pm
I had some Brewdog lager or other last week, and it was a bit meh; I'd assumed it would be full-on, but it was rather bland. Brooklyn Lager OTOH is lovely.

I did like the Brewdog Elvis Juice though... grapefruity.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 12 March, 2017, 09:13:35 pm
Mmm, 1500% ABV beer  :P Don't get much for your money, though.

(https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/702/32588249333_51fc1f7aaf_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/RDHiaP)
IMG_8254_01 (https://flic.kr/p/RDHiaP) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 17 March, 2017, 08:47:38 pm
Well, I was going to hit Fourpure and maybe muddle up to BbNo, Bottleshop, and Anspach & Hobday, but my dear wife as the intestinal ailment I had earlier in the week (and put down to food poisoning but it seems was some kind of virus). Anyway, sick coming out of one's nose, as it so often does, results in an evening being replanned. Even if it's not your nose.

I did stock up at the rather marvellous Freshfield Market in downtown Croydon (I'll keep plugging them because not every convenience store has a splendid stock of craft beer and weird tropical fruit, and well, it's Croydon and it needs all the help it can get).

Anyway, one Ilkley Alpha Beta (http://www.ilkleybrewery.co.uk/our-beers/item/alpha-beta) rye session IPA which was very good. Currently on a Wild Beer Smoke n Barrels (http://www.wildbeerco.com/beers/smoke-n-barrels-autumn/). It's very smoky rauch beer affair. I can't fault it, it does taste of bonfires, toffee, and autumn, but it's a little bit too smoky for my taste. Anyway, if you like a smoky beer, give it a punt, it's like liquid kippers (there's a reason I don't write the copy for the labels). I have a bottle of their lobster beer (http://www.wildbeerco.com/beers/of-the-sea/) which I've not yet been brave enough to try (on account of the fact that I don't much like sea food).
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Hot Flatus on 17 March, 2017, 09:07:15 pm
Wild Beer do a very good job. I've been impressed.

Of all the breweries I've tried some stand out,:Cloudwater, Siren, Wild Beer....

Beaver town are pretty consistent but a bit more towards the Brewdog end of things.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 17 March, 2017, 09:30:03 pm
I do like Wild Beer, their core stuff is very good (try Fresh (http://www.wildbeerco.com/beers/fresh/), which is most quaffable). And I like their willingness to experiment even if it doesn't always work. Burning Sky do things in a similar mode (though they're not as far along, but they're doing a lot of barreling and aging) – and they also make the awesome Arise session IPA. And I do love my session IPAs.

Siren, I've mentioned, and are my consistent favourite brewery. Cloudwater, seek thee out their double IPAs.

I like Brewdog, they do some good stuff and have a solid core range. They want mainstream and aren't shy about it, and to be honest a mainstream that isn't just a line of InBev/SABMiller beer taps is to be welcomed. Being able to score a Dead Pony (not literally) in the Gatwick Premier Inn makes life a little more bearable. Fourpure are similar but they do a wider range of more off-piste beers in their taproom which makes the trip to a South Bermondsey industrial estate worthwhile.

Mostly I just like having a massive selection of beer that isn't crap. How people drink a pint of Carling (or, for god's sake, Budweiser) I'll never know.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 17 March, 2017, 10:17:30 pm
I do like Wild Beer. I want to like Cloudwater but I can never find anything of an ABV less than #getshitfacedquick :(

I didn't have the lobster beet, but I did have Breakfast of Champignons,  which was less bad than expected.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Hot Flatus on 17 March, 2017, 10:18:15 pm
I like the Brewdog stuff too. But I like the unfiltered less homogenised stuff a but more.

The problem for me is that discovering all these delicious beers has made me find many of the real ales available in local pubs a bit meh. A year ago I loved them. Now I just find them about as interesting to drink as a glass of orange squash. My local pub used to serve four local beers, all from two tiny brewers. The pub has changed hands and now they serve Hooky and Butcombe. They taste pretty much the same and much the same as a whole load of other stuff.

After 20 years I've changed pubs because of this.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 17 March, 2017, 10:19:07 pm
I like the Brewdog stuff too. But I like the unfiltered less homogenised stuff a but more.

The problem for me is that discovering all these delicious beers has made me find many of the real ales available in local pubs a bit meh. A year ago I loved them. Now I just find them about as interesting to drink as a glass of orange squash. My local pub used to serve four local beers, all from two tiny brewers. The pub has changed hands and now they serve Hooky and Butcombe. They taste pretty much the same and much the same as a whole load of other stuff.

After 20 years I've changed pubs because of this.

I find real ale a bit warm & flat now...
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 17 March, 2017, 10:21:39 pm
Get thee to the Moorings  :P
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Hot Flatus on 17 March, 2017, 10:25:31 pm
I'm not sure I've said this, but I'm going to Manchester in a few weeks, and I've discovered that the Cloudwater brewery is located there and has a taproom
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 17 March, 2017, 10:27:25 pm
I'm not sure I've said this, but I'm going to Manchester in a few weeks, and I've discovered that the Cloudwater brewery is located there and has a taproom

We were in Manchester last year but didn't make it there, too many other places to visit and not enough time.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Hot Flatus on 17 March, 2017, 10:31:43 pm
Well, I'll have plenty of time  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 18 March, 2017, 10:29:26 am
I have Guinness, for this afternoon
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 19 March, 2017, 12:00:42 pm
I do like Wild Beer. I want to like Cloudwater but I can never find anything of an ABV less than #getshitfacedquick :(

I didn't have the lobster beet, but I did have Breakfast of Champignons,  which was less bad than expected.

Beer with mushrooms is a bit too much for this bunny. I presume the lobster will just be a salty beer. I've had beers made with sea water and they're in the OK-for-one category.

I had a Cloudwater Pale Ale last night for a modest ABV of 3.5% (ish) which was rather murky and quite nice, though not quite up there with the BbNo and Wiper and True low ABV pales. Their DIPAs are for sipping. I confess to liking the lighter beers, sometimes I want to drink an actual pint without my head falling off.

Not really a fan of real ale or casks. I can drink it, but I prefer something with a little more pizzazz.

As for the Guinness, please don't subject your taste buds to that. It's awful stuff. Unpleasantly metallic taste up front, followed by a bitter, burnt malt aftertaste, and a poltergeist has more body to it. There's so many fantastic stouts and porters.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 19 March, 2017, 04:24:12 pm
I do like Wild Beer. I want to like Cloudwater but I can never find anything of an ABV less than #getshitfacedquick :(

I didn't have the lobster beet, but I did have Breakfast of Champignons,  which was less bad than expected.

Beer with mushrooms is a bit too much for this bunny. I presume the lobster will just be a salty beer. I've had beers made with sea water and they're in the OK-for-one category.


It does claim to have actual seafood in it, or at least cooked in it:
http://www.wildbeerco.com/beers/of-the-sea/
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 19 March, 2017, 05:02:12 pm
I do like Wild Beer. I want to like Cloudwater but I can never find anything of an ABV less than #getshitfacedquick :(

I didn't have the lobster beet, but I did have Breakfast of Champignons,  which was less bad than expected.

Beer with mushrooms is a bit too much for this bunny. I presume the lobster will just be a salty beer. I've had beers made with sea water and they're in the OK-for-one category.

I had a Cloudwater Pale Ale last night for a modest ABV of 3.5% (ish) which was rather murky and quite nice, though not quite up there with the BbNo and Wiper and True low ABV pales. Their DIPAs are for sipping. I confess to liking the lighter beers, sometimes I want to drink an actual pint without my head falling off.

Not really a fan of real ale or casks. I can drink it, but I prefer something with a little more pizzazz.

As for the Guinness, please don't subject your taste buds to that. It's awful stuff. Unpleasantly metallic taste up front, followed by a bitter, burnt malt aftertaste, and a poltergeist has more body to it. There's so many fantastic stouts and porters.

My next homebrew will be a porter. But I do still like guiness, the West Indies Porter being my favourite of their resurgent variants
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Wowbagger on 19 March, 2017, 06:36:02 pm
I started with a Badger Golden Champion and followed it up with a Spitfire. I am going to have to have a third pint to take away the taste of the Spitfire - it isn't a patch on the GC, which is interesting because normally I find it a perfectly acceptable pint.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Hot Flatus on 19 March, 2017, 08:23:40 pm
If you are into supermarket sourced real ales, Proper Job is my tipple of choice. Even better on tap.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 19 March, 2017, 09:42:50 pm
Veltins. In a tapas bar. In Berlin.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 24 March, 2017, 09:29:57 pm
I couldn't meet my wife because stupid work. Now, as I squeeze the pips of thought leadership, she's texting me all the beers she's drinking at the Waterloo Tap. Not literally, because you can't make beer out of electrons, you need other stuff. I am reliably assured.

This is cruel and unusual and up with we shouldn't put. I am going to the porch. I may be some time.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 24 March, 2017, 09:37:52 pm
I couldn't meet my wife because stupid work. Now, as I squeeze the pips of thought leadership, she's texting me all the beers she's drinking at the Waterloo Tap. Not literally, because you can't make beer out of electrons, you need other stuff. I am reliably assured.

This is cruel and unusual and up with we shouldn't put. I am going to the porch. I may be some time.

Fuck working on a Friday night when you could be drinking beer with your best beloved!
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 24 March, 2017, 09:51:30 pm
Well, she was supposed to come home but claims to have been abducted. Hmm.

On the plus side, to continue my theme of geographical incongruity, I'll be drinking Belgian beer in, erm, Philadelphia tomorrow night. I also emailed some requests to the hotel (and told them to polish my bike).

In the meantime, a Beavertown Applelation (http://www.beavertownbrewery.co.uk/beer/applelation/) which is like cider for grown ups.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 24 March, 2017, 10:09:26 pm
I shall be in the centre of Oslo on Sunday night if anyone can recommend somewhere for a swift half and some food.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: woollypigs on 24 March, 2017, 10:13:07 pm
Oslo = take your card with the biggest over-draught limit with you. erm for a place to drink, dunno been way too long a time since I have been there and spending £13 on two schooners.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 24 March, 2017, 10:28:11 pm
Given the £ to $ exchange rate, those $13 Belgian dubbels and tripels are going to thump home like Rocky's right hook.

For Oslo:

Olympen Mat og Vinhus – interesting beer selection (best to ask, it's never what they say it is) in interesting surroundings.

Håndverketstuene (I had to Google that) - beer and beer food.

Schouskjelleren Mikrobryggeri. It's spelled exactly the same after you've been there.

There's a goodly number of Oslo craft beeriums these days.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 24 March, 2017, 10:28:43 pm
Hence the swift half. Work is paying but I can't take the piss too much!

Thanks Ian, I'll take a look.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 24 March, 2017, 10:35:34 pm
Expenses will indeed soften Rocky's blows. Plus my boss will be buying. It's the rulez.

She's still drinking beer so I'm calling it a session. One more. That was hours ago. There's two cans of Northern Monk Tropical Death Party in the fridge (a double pina colada black IPA with coconut and pineapple weighing in at 10% apparently). Sounds awesome. I should ensure it's securely stowed in my belly.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 24 March, 2017, 10:42:23 pm
A couple of nice Rob Hill beers yesterday: Scapa Special and Pale Ale  :P
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 24 March, 2017, 10:48:19 pm
Oh Ian, you are an excellently bad man, they are all within 15mins walk of my hotel. I hope both of my colleagues are up for beer....
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 24 March, 2017, 11:31:09 pm
The hotel just emailed me to say they've stocked up my fridge. May as well make them work for those gratuitous tips.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 25 March, 2017, 10:12:26 pm
Adnams Broadside this evening. Nice and rich porter. Thinking whether to flavour mine with coffee or star anise
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 30 March, 2017, 06:10:13 pm

Olympen Mat og Vinhus – interesting beer selection (best to ask, it's never what they say it is) in interesting surroundings.


We all liked it and the resident foodie was well impressed! Some pics:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/shares/C14X89
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Ashaman42 on 30 March, 2017, 08:38:09 pm
Brighton Tap Takeover this weekend which should be jolly. Was rather good fun last year.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 30 March, 2017, 09:11:22 pm

Olympen Mat og Vinhus – interesting beer selection (best to ask, it's never what they say it is) in interesting surroundings.


We all liked it and the resident foodie was well impressed! Some pics:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/shares/C14X89

Good. It's one of my favourites, eclectic beer in eclectic surroundings. In the meantime, this (http://www.monkscafe.com/on-tap/) is what I've been doing.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 30 March, 2017, 09:48:13 pm
Doesn't seem much of dark stuff there, lots of blond belgians
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 30 March, 2017, 09:53:57 pm
It varies, it's one of my favourite places in Philadelphia and around the corner from the hotel I usually stay at. Saisons are in vogue at the moment everywhere (I'm not complaining).

That final Pliny the Elder did seemed a far better idea the night before the morning after.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Hot Flatus on 02 April, 2017, 01:37:36 pm
I've been mining a rich vein of craft beers this weekend.

It started with Cloudwater Pale. Faultless. Then a local brew, Deya Steady Rolling Man, just a bit better. More body, livelier.

And now. OMBMFG. I've died and gone to heaven. Tiny Rebels Clwb Tropicana. Beer that tastes like Benylin. And I fucking love Benylin.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: andrew_s on 07 April, 2017, 01:07:23 am
Having been notified of this cheeky little 11.5% number in the pub at Tewkesbury, tonight's ride (40 m there, 17 back) was a sampling mission, since I didn't expect it would last until Saturday.  [edit: first pint 18:00 Thursday, final pint 12:00 Friday, according to report]
(http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t207/andrew_sw/IMG_20170406_crop_zps0nmmqgm5.jpg)
(Howling Hops Imperial stout)
Very nom nom.
What I didn't understand was how a couple of the others could say that it didn't taste its strength, when it took me 2h40 for 2 pints.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 07 April, 2017, 10:07:15 pm
Had some nice beers with that ElyDave that they have nowadays in Six Degrees North on Wednesday night:

Black Lodge Amos the Nipper - roasted fig porter
6DN Equinox
De Ranke XX Bitter

All rather nommy  :P
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 08 April, 2017, 10:30:11 am
they were very good.

I started with the Wanderlust Wheatbeer which was pleasantly fragrant and hoppy
I had the same porter which was excellent

The XX Bitter  - that takes a bit of getting used to, I think they emptied the hop cupboard for that one.

And nice to meet up with one of the Pingu's
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 08 April, 2017, 05:27:20 pm
I had half a pint of mild last night (the splendidly named Born to be Mild). That was a blast of nostalgia, reminded of nights out with my grandparents when I was little to the local football club where I'd get cheeky sips of my granddad's pint. Mind you, while it wasn't bad, I can see why it's not the most exciting beer on the block.

Plenty of Rascal, Lake Street (a black rice IPA), Wolf, Milou, and several others courtesy of Bullfinch in Herne Hill. If you're ever in the area or having a stroll around Brockwell Park, it's well worth a visit. Excellent beer in a chilled out railway arch and they've got a sleepy dog called Dexter. I'm not sure, tbh, that's it's a real dog as I've never seen it actually move. Canopy is just down the road, but it's closer to the station and a bit louder and I don't find their beer (while not bad) quite as good.

Tonight I'm going out in Croydon (as my wife has a concert at the minster), so wish me luck. The Croydon craft beer scene is, erm, not exactly happening. There's the Cronx in the Box Park that does some good guest beers and that's about that to the best of my knowledge.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 08 April, 2017, 09:38:05 pm
We are currently drinking Burning Sky Cuvee. It's frikkin awesome!  This may or may not be due to it being a very tired post 200km beer.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Hot Flatus on 08 April, 2017, 09:48:23 pm
Just drunk a pint of Sweaty Cassock's 'Ooh you are awful!'

Light notes of citrus, honey, asafoetida and tar.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 09 April, 2017, 08:27:31 pm
Out on the road bike this evening, I stopped in at the Draymans in Ely. A pint of Coal Line Porter went down very easily, lots of nice fruitiness an a hint of chocolate, just like a porter should have
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 09 April, 2017, 11:20:22 pm
Blasts from the past at Brewdog Castlegate today: The Physics, Hop Rocker and original Punk (6%, not dry hopped).
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 10 April, 2017, 12:01:53 pm
We are currently drinking Burning Sky Cuvee. It's frikkin awesome!  This may or may not be due to it being a very tired post 200km beer.

Nope, it is in fact awesome.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 10 April, 2017, 04:15:17 pm
not drunk yet, but I've just found out that Hop Fiction and Elvis Juice are now available in cand.

that's 4 x Hop fiction awaiting my dad's visit on Friday.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 10 April, 2017, 04:58:49 pm
We are currently drinking Burning Sky Cuvee. It's frikkin awesome!  This may or may not be due to it being a very tired post 200km beer.

Nope, it is in fact awesome.

I need to buy more then :P
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 22 April, 2017, 11:31:36 pm
Ahem...

(https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2880/33339012684_9fa7b12a6e_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/SN49Xw)
Awesome sauce! 😀 (https://flic.kr/p/SN49Xw) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Wowbagger on 03 May, 2017, 06:40:03 pm
Crouch Vale Amarillo. It describes it as "Golden Premium Ale" which puts it one step up from Brewer's Gold which, as everyone knows, is officially the Best Beer Ever*. It's 5% alcohol. It is very good indeed. I bought a few bottled in Waitrose as they were on special offer. I have never seen this stuff on draught, but if I do I shall have some.

*Back-to-back winner of the CAMRA Champion Beer of Britain award, 2006 & 2007.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 05 May, 2017, 06:54:17 pm
(https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/18199084_1861976367402615_4587665448691575137_n.png?oh=d4d8083b1c014b1197174b79fcecf6ad&oe=597BE58C)
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 05 May, 2017, 07:14:39 pm
Just back in the UK after a week of cerveza, I need something with whump tonight (plenty of excellent gin, mind you).

Still, in a couple of weeks I'll be in San Diego. I have a tap room hit list.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Ashaman42 on 05 May, 2017, 08:00:19 pm
I'm going to have a couple Brewdog Elvis Juices when I get in.

I don't like grapefruit generally but tried it because of the name a couple weeks ago. Didn't like the first half glass but it really grew on me.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: nicknack on 06 May, 2017, 09:54:18 am
Turnstone (Whitstable micro brewer) Yellow Sea at the Tankerton Arms last night. A nice tart, vaguely wheatish, unfined ale.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 06 May, 2017, 08:28:33 pm
First up a Northern Monk Communion pale ale. Rather refreshing after dragging it (and several other beers) up a giant hill. Really liking their stuff. If you see a can of their Tropical Death Party, send it my way, I drank all mine.

I also snarfed a bottle of Burning Sky Cuvee 2016, some Prairie Ace, and Modern Times Fortunate Islands, in addition to a selection of cans which explains why my bike was so heavy.

And I'd forgotten that I'd already bought two cans at lunch time (the rather splendid Magic Rock's Human Cannonball and Un-Human Cannonball).

I have to practice lying now because my wife will phone later and ask me what I'm drinking. Oh, just some cheap lager I found in the porch... She finds out I'm glugging a bottle of Cuvee or an Un-Human Cannonball and I'll be moving to the local Travelodge when she gets back.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 06 May, 2017, 11:00:42 pm
Mmm Cuvee...

This afternoon we went to the tap takeover by Rocket Brewing from Denmark. They do sour beer but quite flat lambic style. The Prune Balloon was quite pruney. The Nebula cherry beer was quite nice, as was the Life On Mars Bergamot sour, but my favourite was the Cape Hop. Though I think if they'd put cherries in that it would have been a winner.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 06 May, 2017, 11:22:39 pm
Saving that for pudding. Currently Chorlton melon sour lager which is rather quaffable but needs a summer evening BBQ rather than cauliflower bhaji though it'll be gone before the bhaji is cooked. Contains 'incapacitated lactobacillus'. That's what happens when you swim in booze. No need to lie to my wife as she got bit by a bug and swelled up like a zeppelin and is thusly testing out Swiss healthcare. I hope they don't turn her lilac like their cows.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Hot Flatus on 07 May, 2017, 08:25:53 am
First up a Northern Monk Communion pale ale. Rather refreshing after dragging it (and several other beers) up a giant hill. Really liking their stuff. If you see a can of their Tropical Death Party, send it my way, I drank all mine.

I also snarfed a bottle of Burning Sky Cuvee 2016, some Prairie Ace, and Modern Times Fortunate Islands, in addition to a selection of cans which explains why my bike was so heavy.

And I'd forgotten that I'd already bought two cans at lunch time (the rather splendid Magic Rock's Human Cannonball and Un-Human Cannonball).

I have to practice lying now because my wife will phone later and ask me what I'm drinking. Oh, just some cheap lager I found in the porch... She finds out I'm glugging a bottle of Cuvee or an Un-Human Cannonball and I'll be moving to the local Travelodge when she gets back.

I really like Northern Monk New World, but haven't tried much else of their output. Magic Rock are also at the top end of canned beers. Still addicted to Tiny Rebel's  Clwb Tropicana, but I've taken the executive decision that my relatively recent discovery of the UK US style beers has led to probably a four fold increase in my home drinking, and therefore I need to cut back considerably.

However, it's also led to the complete abandonment of drinking at my local as I really don't see why I should drink mediocre beer like Hook Norton and Butcombe often badly kept to boot, so actually as you were.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 07 May, 2017, 12:06:03 pm
I develop a sense of profound existential disappointment when someone arranges to meet me in a pub and there, through the door, I see the brightly lit Fosters pump or some other cooking lager. But no worries, they also have Doom Bar or Greene King IPA. There will be people drinking cider out of glasses filled with ice. It's the sort of place that, when I finally pitch up in Hell, Finestre – the Demon of Such Things – will arrange to meet me each lunchtime. She'll probably have already bought a round.

I can, on the other hand, predict the pub's closure and conversion into contemporary 'luxurious' fuck hutches to the millisecond.

I drank the Cuvee and it's as nice I remember (we went to the release night at Bottleshop). I saved the Human and Un-Human Cannonballs to share with my lilac wife as the cans are (a) big and (b) Un-Human Cannonball rocks up at 12% boozahol.

Northern Monk do a lot of collaborations, all their patrons' project beers have been quite literally awesome sauce. And the can artwork is fantastic. I also like the Magic Rock can design with all the little creatures. I'm going to have to make an opportunity the next I'm up north to visit their tap rooms.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 07 May, 2017, 11:29:23 pm
I had a flight of Dry & Bitter beers in CASC this afternoon. Two IPA-ish things and a porter. They did what they said on the tin hipster chalkboard menu :P Mrs P had another cherry sour thing from Rocket which was better than the one she had yesterday at 6DN from the same brewery. It had much more of a cherry flavour.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: woollypigs on 08 May, 2017, 01:48:15 pm
I have nothing to do with this at all

http://uk.reuters.com/article/us-denmark-beer-idUKKBN1810XK

Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 08 May, 2017, 03:21:44 pm
The default beer in Serbia is Lav which, if you've tasted it, you'll know how apt the name is. Made by Carlsberg, I think which tells you everything you need to know. I believe lav means 'lion' in Serbian, so charitably it literally is cat's piss.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 08 May, 2017, 04:56:44 pm
So don't drink the beer next week then?
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 08 May, 2017, 05:07:02 pm
Novi Sad has a new clutch of craft pivo bars, so you can avoid the Lav. The other local pivo is Jelen, which is marginally better wishy-washy lager, probably OK for degreasing bike chains though I wouldn't see the point of drinking it other than micturition practice.

OK, a little harsh, there's something to be said for the local brews in situ, but the taste and refreshment doesn't transfer.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 12 May, 2017, 01:08:52 pm
So, it seems I have one night in Novi Sad and one night in Belgrade, any pointers welcome :)
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 12 May, 2017, 04:25:10 pm
Skripa pub I mentioned. It's the only one I remember the name of in Novi Sad. I can ask if you want more recommendations, the Serbian contingent claim it's gone craft-beer-crazy, though they just might be trying to persuade me to come back. I've not really spent any time in Belgrade, other than passing through. I think I did my schtick at a conference in the National Library once.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 12 May, 2017, 09:37:41 pm
Starting out late with a (late) Athletic Breakfast from Ubrew. Not bad, oatmeal IPA (porridge, geddit).

I could be drinking Cloudwater-Mikkeller, of course, had my wife not got zeppelin leg from her spider bite and refusing to leave the house on account she has to wear slippers outdoors. She's from Essex, for fuck's sake, that's called getting dressed up in Shenfield.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: tiermat on 15 May, 2017, 07:33:05 pm
I am having no luck with getting someone to go to BeerTown, in Malton, at the weekend :( This is a shame as they will have beers from Magic Rock, Omnipollo, Northern Monk and many more.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 15 May, 2017, 07:37:44 pm
Got a full house of Cloudwater-Mikkeller DIPAs in the end (though I had to wait for Saturday). I'm not sure of their definition of 'session' at 9% a pop, but all rather lush.

Oh, and a Stone 020202 Vertical Epic Ale for supper. With any luck, and assuming my wife's leg doesn't fall off, I'll be sitting in a Stone taproom in not many days time. I counted 206 beer venues in San Diego so I'm going to be busy.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 15 May, 2017, 09:54:56 pm
Red Deer Ale from Alingsas in Sweden. STaying here for a few days.

Nice, copper coloured, malty, not overly hopped
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 16 May, 2017, 04:17:24 pm
We seem to be close to Samo Pivo (1st bar on this list) so looks like we might go for a nosey in there tonight. :P
http://jetsettingfools.com/5-craft-beer-bars-belgrade-serbia/
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 16 May, 2017, 07:43:29 pm
We seem to be close to Samo Pivo (1st bar on this list) so looks like we might go for a nosey in there tonight. :P
http://jetsettingfools.com/5-craft-beer-bars-belgrade-serbia/

Git  :P
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 27 May, 2017, 04:17:12 pm
Baku - don't bother.  A pale imitation of beer
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Jaded on 28 May, 2017, 09:33:35 pm
In the Black Isle pub, about to start my second pint of Club Tropicana.

I may not be able to post soon...
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Hot Flatus on 28 May, 2017, 10:14:16 pm
Clwb Tropicana from Tiny Rebels?

After Cloudwater DIPA its mh favorite beer.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Jaded on 28 May, 2017, 10:57:03 pm
Looks like it.  :)
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 28 May, 2017, 10:58:00 pm
Nom  :P
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mr Larrington on 29 May, 2017, 08:06:09 am
Club Tropicana, drinks are free?
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Hot Flatus on 29 May, 2017, 08:47:35 am
Ive stopped going to my local of 20 years. Its now shit. The beer is now shit and the landord has turned the pub into a shrine to his own ego, with photos of him next to famous rugby players or racehorses (no idea if famous). When you go for a pee there are hand drawn comedy caricatures facing you. Of him.Plus, when I go in he comes up and sticks his big ugly face in mine, shakes my hand for six times longer than is necessary and says "How are you?" like an insincere acquaintance addessing a bereaved person at a funeral

Ive started going to the Kings Head on the other side of the valley. Beer is great and the landlord stays the fuck out of my face.

Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Jaded on 29 May, 2017, 09:04:36 am
It is weird seeing photos of odd horses and last century rugby players on the walls of a hundreds of years old pub.
In better news the Club Tropicana was immense.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Hot Flatus on 29 May, 2017, 09:15:05 am
Now you just need to get yourself to the Cloudwater barrel store in Manchester.

Told you this stuff is good. There is also Deya brewery in Cheltenham and Lost and Grounded in Bristol. Fancy a trip down there in my van?
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 30 May, 2017, 08:40:30 pm
Mmmm, Cloudwater.

I didn't come close to doing San Diego justice. Too much awesome to contend with. Looking at the paltry twelve taps back home at the weekend, even the tiniest bar managed 22 (the rather nice and local Hopping Pig on 5th). Not to mention the Lost Abbey's Deliverance (http://lostabbey.com/beer/deliverance-ale/) which was my favourite beer. Even the hotel boasted more beer on tap than I could try. It's not often a brief evening perambulation can take in Modern Times, Mike Hess, Belching Beaver, Rip Current...
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 02 June, 2017, 06:30:28 pm
My wife ran away to hobnob with oncologists in Chicago (she gets cancer, I get ebola). But she forgot that she's left two bottles of Prairie's absolutely fucking awesome Bible Belt* in the fridge. O sweetly diabolical temptation. Must. Resist.

Quote
*Prairie Artisan Ales and Evil Twin Brewing have joined forces again on a variation of their first collaboration. The new beer is Barrel-Aged Bible Belt, a 12 percent ABV imperial stout brewed with cacao nibs, chili peppers, coffee and vanilla beans before being aged in Heaven Hill whiskey barrels for between seven and nine months. As the name suggests, the base beer is Bible Belt, a 13 percent imperial stout first released in 2014 that combines Evil Twin’s Even More Jesus imperial stout (12 percent ABV) and the same spices and other adjuncts that are used in Prairie’s Bomb! imperial stout (13 percent ABV.)
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Feanor on 02 June, 2017, 06:34:34 pm
A local brewery in Zion National Park, Utah has beer names taking the p*ss of the Mormons :-)
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Basil on 02 June, 2017, 06:49:14 pm
Must. Resist.


Are you mad?  Good luck with that.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 02 June, 2017, 07:32:31 pm
A local brewery in Zion National Park, Utah has beer names taking the p*ss of the Mormons :-)

Well, the common name for Utah beer is 'Mormon Piss Water' owing to the fact the strongest stuff they'll serve on draught is 3.2% boozahol. Mind you, at least they let you drink it these days, I remember the first time I dolled up in Salt Lake City and settled in the bar for a drink. You have to be a member, sir. OK, we're do I sign up. He gives me the membership form and I fill it in and hand it back. OK, come back in 24 hours, says he. So I murdered him and helped myself to as much Mormon Piss Water as my bladder could hold.

Must. Resist.


Are you mad?  Good luck with that.

I'm not. My wife would be, it's rare and prized stuff. I discovered it on tap in the excellent little brasserie by Gare de Lyon in Paris of all places (apparently Jean Reno's local).
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Hot Flatus on 02 June, 2017, 08:10:19 pm
She's forgotten you say?

Only a cad would remind her...
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 02 June, 2017, 10:06:16 pm
She's not forgotten they're there, she's just forgotten she's left the fridge door to temptation open. Of course, if I drink them and there's no more supply (these were a fortuitous find and only £9 a bottle so I think we bought them all) I'll have to fly to Oklahoma to try and obtain more, which is a bit extreme. Or risk being killed to death and then resurrected through some voodoo ritual and killed some more. You don't mess with girls from Southend-on-Sea.

Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Hot Flatus on 02 June, 2017, 10:24:35 pm
Carefully prise off the metal cap. Decant contents. Drink. Enjoy.

Then refill bottle(s) with Brewdog, doesnt matter which one. Carefully replace cap and put bottle(s) back in fridge in exact position they were found.

When the time comes, ruefully observe that, like so many things, 'milieu' is clearly important to the appreciation of Prairie's Bible Belt

Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 02 June, 2017, 10:38:18 pm
I'll just leave this here...

(https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/516/32406911630_c742ba4087.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/RnFTMG)2017-02-08_06-52-21 (https://flic.kr/p/RnFTMG) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr

If you're wondering why the choice on my side of the cupboard is a bit shit, it's because someone drank the good stuff.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 03 June, 2017, 11:24:49 am
It survived unscathed. Mind you, she's not back for another week... I could swap it out for some Tennent's Super laced with vimto (that's not a product idea, InBev – I think and hope I hallucinated it, but I'm sure I saw an advert for 'fruit lager' on a passing bus the other day). I settled for a can of the excellent Magic Rock Cannonball instead. I may have to visit the beer shop and stock on alternative forms of temptation.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: SteveC on 03 June, 2017, 12:55:55 pm
I'm sure I saw an advert for 'fruit lager' on a passing bus the other day
There was some in our local Morrison's this morning. I did not investigate.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 03 June, 2017, 08:49:50 pm
I googled and oh god, it's true. Lemon and lime lager. I suppose it's the old lager and lime that had some vague appeal as a teenager, mostly because it cut the taste of the rancid lager with a good half bottle of Rose's lime cordial. The reviews seem to agree that it's a 'shitbrew' and in Finland, simply and aptly "yäk". I've nothing against fruit beer, I have in front of me a gooseberry gose (Magic Rock Salty Kiss) which is perfect refreshment after a day pootling around on a bicycle). Recreating it with chemicals, yäk indeed.

I may have acquired additional beer on my travels. If you saw the bloody hill I had to haul it up, you'd understand that I've earned every single bottle and can.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 03 June, 2017, 09:30:01 pm
I have a trip to Covington, LA in July. Anyone know if I can buy any decent kind of beer around there?
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 03 June, 2017, 09:36:48 pm
Mmm, Magic Rock Salty Kiss is indeed, magic.

Covington, that where the Chevron office is? Can't tell you anywhere there but if you go to New Orleans I can recommend eating in SoBou, their Cherries Jubilee bread pudding is amazeballs.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 12 June, 2017, 08:15:53 pm
I drank a can of Grolsch at the weekend. We'd been on a long hike (about 30 miles, so refreshment was necessary for the hour or so train trek home) and it seemed the least worst of the uninspiring selection in the petrol station off-licence near the train station.

God, was that foul. And to blame it on God, seems – for once – unfair, I'm sure he'd have nothing to do with it. Tasted of corrosion and chemicals, no malt, no mouthfeel, a bad chemical simulacrum of hoppiness, and a mouth slap of harsh surgical spirit to finish on. Surgical spirit that I suspect had been used to clean out an abscess. I've no idea if proper Grolsch brewed on the continent is any better, vague memory says yes, but this must have been made out of packets and concentrates, probably diluted with urine. Passionless and pointless, and it made my taste buds depressed. The kind of beer that after your first mouthful makes you check the sell-by date.

Fortunately better stuff at home. And Verdant Headband pale ale yesterday, which is what beer ought to taste like.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Jakob W on 13 June, 2017, 08:49:45 pm
Grolsch was my go-to everyday lager when I lived in NL, so I don't remember it being terrible. The seasonal specials (autumn bock and the like) were pretty tasty as well.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 13 June, 2017, 09:42:09 pm
I have a for a while contemplated a crap lager fest where I rank the worse of brewed-under-licence bilge. Fosters, Carling, Stella, and their micturitional kin. The sort of foul fluid that sprays from the severed aorta of dying pubs, their final customers trying to staunch the flow with soggy salt-and-vinegar crisps and a packet of pork scratching that is on the verge of becoming an archaeological find. Beers where the main flavour isn't hops, it's distilled despair, and even that is stale. But wait, I'm too cruel, there's also hints of domestic abuse, sodden piss-soaked crotches, and leave-it-Darren-he's-not-worth-it.

My wife, ever supportive of my quests, says do it when I'm not here, correctly recognising for the self-abuse it undoubtedly is, the sort of thing that should be done alone, in front of a computer, with one hand occupied. So I might. The suffering, I suspect will be existential, like the time recently when I watched all the Nic Cage movies I could find over a weekend. That's was like the cinematic equivalent of running the bad lager gamut and ending up submerged in an ocean of Fosters with only a leaking snorkel. The rum-flavoured one. If you've seen Left Behind, you'll understand, and I'll arrange a care package. Some things can't be unexperienced, sadly. They say these things build character but that's a bit like saying hey, I'm going to build a house with this bulldozer. My previous quests have involved writing a multi-volume sci-fi novel à la Hamilton and attempting to read Dan Brown's Inferno. I'm not sure where this challenge falls in the spectrum of stupid compulsions that pop into my head.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 13 June, 2017, 10:14:32 pm
A coffee infused stout from Fierce.  Very yummy, subtle coffee, liquorice, warmth.  At 12.6% I only had the one half with dinner as I have to get up in the morning, but I could have happily poured myself into it all night.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Hot Flatus on 13 June, 2017, 10:34:22 pm
Ive just had a pint of Dogbolter.

Yes. Dogbolter.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 13 June, 2017, 11:07:38 pm
Ive just had a pint of Dogbolter.

Yes. Dogbolter.
Stuck in a time warp back to the 90's?
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Hot Flatus on 14 June, 2017, 06:19:48 am
90s? 80s more like.

Nope. Its being brewed again but not by the Firkin people
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: menthel on 14 June, 2017, 10:54:36 am
90s? 80s more like.

Nope. Its being brewed again but not by the Firkin people

I thought I recognized the name, not thought about firkin beer for a long time...

It all brings back memories of teenage years, drinking whatever beer I could afford and smoking benson and hedges.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Hot Flatus on 14 June, 2017, 11:09:32 am
Its a 6% stout-type beer.

Needless to say, I really dont remember very much about it.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mr Larrington on 14 June, 2017, 11:36:06 am
"Good stuff, Dogbolter", said our chum Carl1to a barman in the Ferret & Firkin many moons ago, "but things do start to get a bit hazy after seven or eight pints."

The barman began to look nervous.

1: rr will doubtless recall the Carl of whom I speak
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: rr on 14 June, 2017, 01:42:53 pm
"Good stuff, Dogbolter", said our chum Carl1to a barman in the Ferret & Firkin many moons ago, "but things do start to get a bit hazy after seven or eight pints."

The barman began to look nervous.

1: rr will doubtless recall the Carl of whom I speak
The joke candidate who got elected? No current relevance then, I often think of him when I see Trump. That and the Ann Diamond incident.

Edit/ just remembered he beat Mr Larrington representing the BEER party and the .... Right candidate-- my grate friend the sherfield streaker in the presidential election.

Sent from my XT1562 using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 15 June, 2017, 06:07:06 pm
90s? 80s more like.

Nope. Its being brewed again but not by the Firkin people

90's in my case at the Forum and Firkin in Bath

Today however I am partaking of a Sixpoint Resin at a 'spoons while waiting for my flight , a cheeky little number, 9.1% of hoppy, resiny, piney, tongue slapping goodness
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: menthel on 19 June, 2017, 12:11:37 pm
Had a llittle treat of a Bacchus Cherry beer yesterday. So nice, bitter cherry and underlying beer tastiness. Made a nice father's day tipple treat!
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 19 June, 2017, 11:05:18 pm
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4235/34581962673_9d4fe733d1_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/UFTAFK)
IMG_8942_01 (https://flic.kr/p/UFTAFK) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Hot Flatus on 19 June, 2017, 11:07:05 pm
Rattus Norvegicus, tonight. Billed as 'hazy, grapefruit IPA'.

It was more like Dogbolter. Nice though.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Ashaman42 on 20 June, 2017, 06:54:18 am
Disco Forklift Truck last night. A fruity mango IPA - was rather yum.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 20 June, 2017, 09:09:16 pm
I have a beercicle, put a bottle of homebrew in the freezer after my ride, made a lemon balm martini instead and just remembered the beer.

Oops.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 22 June, 2017, 09:28:53 pm
Some Hazy Jane from Brewdog that I've not drunk yet.

Some Gypsy Hill Hepcat session IPA on tap which was very good.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 23 June, 2017, 07:22:43 pm
Hazy Jane was nice for those who like their IPAs murky (and I like mine filthy and dank). Tasted even better because it was free.

I have discovered more beer in the garage. It seems when we emptied the beer porch (on account of warmth) it all got transferred to the relative cool of the garage and forgotten about. And not a small amount of beer. Apparently we're staying in to drink it. It's going to be a long evening.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 25 June, 2017, 09:39:32 pm
Hazy Jane was nice for those who like their IPAs murky (and I like mine filthy and dank). Tasted even better because it was free.

So I see the free Vermont IPA we were supposed to receive has morphed into Hazy Jane. The cynic in me says it was supposed to be Vermont but it went wrong so they rebadged it.  :-\
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 25 June, 2017, 11:01:54 pm
So, beer heads. I've done a quick Google but failed.
Does anyone have any fool proof trick for opening a bottle of frisky beer? Do you favour the slowly, slowly catchee monkey, or whip the top off quick like a plaster?

I tried the first one tonight, on a bottle of Cuvee, and although I avoided a fountain of beer, it still fizzed enough to get the sediment (pour les vitamins) up to the neck of the bottle.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: andrew_s on 26 June, 2017, 12:29:21 am
Gas is more soluble in cold water than warm.
Chill it cold, open & pour, then allow to warm to the correct temperature for drinking.

I wouldn't bother to do that either
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 26 June, 2017, 10:26:42 am
Hazy Jane was nice for those who like their IPAs murky (and I like mine filthy and dank). Tasted even better because it was free.

So I see the free Vermont IPA we were supposed to receive has morphed into Hazy Jane. The cynic in me says it was supposed to be Vermont but it went wrong so they rebadged it.  :-\

Says New England IPA and I don't think Vermont qualifies as New England. Brewdog already did a Vermont IPA (in collaboration with Cloudwater). Anyway, while not awesome, it was a decent and very drinker hazy IPA. The Cloudwater one was better, of course.

Had a Weird Beard Gumball DIPA yesterday. Never really rated Weird Beer but it was rather pleasant. Could perhaps have been a bit drier, but then I suppose they called it 'gumball' for a reason. On and a Time and Tide Bucky, a hogweed and sea buckthorn pale ale which was interesting on account that I don't get a lot of hogweed in my diet.

As for lively beer, I just stick my mouth over the top. Sometimes I cannonball the contents. Other times it comes out of my nose. If I'm lucky I manage to match the pressure and let it calm down.

Then I hand the bottle to our esteemed dinner guests.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 26 June, 2017, 07:44:10 pm
So the body of the email says Vermont and the voucher underneath says New England, ha.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Bledlow on 26 June, 2017, 08:22:02 pm
Hazy Jane was nice for those who like their IPAs murky (and I like mine filthy and dank). Tasted even better because it was free.

So I see the free Vermont IPA we were supposed to receive has morphed into Hazy Jane. The cynic in me says it was supposed to be Vermont but it went wrong so they rebadged it.  :-\

Says New England IPA and I don't think Vermont qualifies as New England.
Officially it does. The US Census Bureau, assorted other official bodies such as the regional tourist board, the Bureau of Economic Analysis, etc. all include it in New England.

New England seems to be unusual among multi-state US regions in that it is the same in all the different official US classification systems.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 26 June, 2017, 08:27:28 pm
At 6DN this coming weekend

(https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/19437236_733045983562585_2291593620512452317_n.png?oh=5e44e0181a6c7a44f1236b8a365bef0d&oe=59E44498)
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 26 June, 2017, 09:36:36 pm
Hazy Jane was nice for those who like their IPAs murky (and I like mine filthy and dank). Tasted even better because it was free.

So I see the free Vermont IPA we were supposed to receive has morphed into Hazy Jane. The cynic in me says it was supposed to be Vermont but it went wrong so they rebadged it.  :-\

Says New England IPA and I don't think Vermont qualifies as New England.
Officially it does. The US Census Bureau, assorted other official bodies such as the regional tourist board, the Bureau of Economic Analysis, etc. all include it in New England.

New England seems to be unusual among multi-state US regions in that it is the same in all the different official US classification systems.

I don't think Vermonters would agree but they'd do so in a mildly hippyish fashion. New Hampshire definitely not, but they demand to live free or die, though when it comes down to it I suspect they're more amenable to negotiation. Maine, no one is sure about, it's the bit up north that doesn't have any roads and might actually be Canada.

As for NE proper, there's Rhode Island, which while claiming size isn't important, worries about it a lot; Connecticut thinks it is New England and everyone else is pretending; and Massachusetts no one likes.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 03 July, 2017, 08:51:17 pm
Hazy Jane was nice for those who like their IPAs murky (and I like mine filthy and dank). Tasted even better because it was free.

I picked mine up this afternoon  :P
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: andrew_s on 06 July, 2017, 10:59:42 pm
Currently, one is slurping of a Kernow Imperial Stout, at a mere £3 a pint.
Truly excellent, even at the £4 is cost at the White Bear last week
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: lahoski on 07 July, 2017, 08:49:41 am
Mad Hatter's Orange & Basil. Sour IPA. Amazeballs, as they say.

Also, I can't remember what it was called but I had a sour with honey the other day. That was rather good - it was from a Canadian brewery, which is a shame. As in, where am I gonna find it, rather than it's a shame that Canadians made it.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 07 July, 2017, 12:28:14 pm
sat in Kristiansand airport with a bottle of Nogne O IPA, with those O's with a line through that someone with the name Neilson should be able to pronounce.

Anyway, a nice, 7.5% murky IPA, piney, bitter-sweet grapefruitiness and a lingering toasty bitter aftertaste.

Last time I went through Stavanger I bought a bottle of their ten year celebration IPA at 10%.  I wasn't man enough to drink it on my own so shared it with my dad.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: giropaul on 08 July, 2017, 05:17:12 pm
It may interest some here that Guiness has  brewed an 8% beer for John Martin ( beer genius from Belgium - well actually the original founder was English, now in the hands of the 3rd generation) for many years.
This excellent beer is now being sold in the U.K. By Guiness themselves as Antwerpen. I recommend it to you! Quite rightly it acknowledges John Martin on the label.
If you like it you may want to look into Anthony Martin - the current head of the company, and his range of beers. I like the Gordon's Titanium which is double figures strength!
He is also a stand-out example of how to run a socially responsible company successfully..
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 08 July, 2017, 08:27:44 pm
I came home to find a Magic Rock 'care package' was waiting on the porch steps. Some good stuff in there (I helped someone out with a report and it turned out they live near the brewery, so when they asked how they could thank me...)

Sadly, it's warm from sitting there all day, so I'll find something else to drink while it chills. A Chorlton Mandarina lager. More of a keller beer I'd say, but it's hitting the spot after a day of random cycling.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Wowbagger on 20 July, 2017, 08:01:30 pm
Waitrose are currently selling Broadside for £1.35 a bottle. Cheers!
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 20 July, 2017, 11:59:34 pm
Waitrose are currently selling Broadside for £1.35 a bottle. Cheers!

Better from the bottle than the draft in my experience
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: menthel on 21 July, 2017, 01:35:59 pm
Just looking for my most localest brewery and it turns out to be Park Brewery. http://www.theparkbrewery.com/our-beers/

Anyone had any of their beers? Looks like its not open apart from open days which is a shame- both Wimbledon Brewery and By the Horns are generally open and in fact have taps for the drinking of beer in!
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 06 August, 2017, 08:26:22 pm
De Dochter van de Korenaar Bravoure. Smokey beer FTW  :P :)
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Jack Standish on 07 August, 2017, 07:16:03 am
I used to love beer with the passion of a Bavarian in the desert. But lattely i've given up on trying to find a good pub (https://restaurantguru.com/pub-and-bar-near-me) or bar that has good beer. Maybe my sense of taste has changed, but when I go to a bar like the Beer House (https://restaurantguru.com/London-Beer-House-London) I already know that the beer wil ltaste like metal with piss. Excuse my language.
The only decent kind of beer I've had was in a little German town I visited on a business trip. The place is called Radeberg, they have thrir own brewery, and it is actually decent. But i can't, naturally, get their beer anytime. I would.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 08 August, 2017, 06:37:53 pm
There's a zillion tap rooms and craft beer bars in London now so I don't know what you're drinking. German beer is OK but I find mostly a bit unexciting. I remember drinking far too much Radeberger Pils on a boat-hotel back in Prague many, many years ago when it cost about 30p a bottle. Actually, I don't remember it too well.

Hit the London Craft Beer festival over the weekend which was nice – unlike most, the beers are served in generous taster portions so you can try more without getting too drunk. Cloudwater, Verdant, Wild Beer, Weird Beard, Brewdog, Siren, Põhjala, Northern Monk, Wiper and True, Moor, Fourpure, Burning Sky, and oh, I lose track. Hard to choose a favourite, though you can't go wrong with a Cloudwater DIPA, and the two new Verdant IPAs were also lush. I did like the Põhjala rye sour though, unusual and complex and a change from the usual hop onslaught.

Off to the French Riviera tomorrow – I'm not overly optimistic from my Googling that I won't be taking the Kronenbourg purge. It'll probably taste better in the sun.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Jaded on 09 August, 2017, 05:03:01 am
Had a beer canned for me this evening.

Not seen that before. We were in a brew house and tasting beers when i noticed a customer had a pint sized shiny tin with nothing on  it apart from some Sharpie writing. I asked and the bar person said they would can any beer that wasn't available on the shelves.

So I chose one that wasn't on the shelves and took it home in a tin.

Marvellous.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 15 August, 2017, 06:26:51 pm
Huzzah, we found the only craft beer bar in Nice, which was nice after taking the Kronenbourg purge. Twelve taps, some French brews, along with Cloudwater, Northern Monk, and Tiny Rebel (and there can be few things as refreshing as a pint – an actual pint, none of that 50 cl crap – of Clwb Tropicana after a long, hot day hiking in the hills, followed by a splash in the sea – and I needed extra sustenance because I got chased by a jellyfish).
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Hot Flatus on 15 August, 2017, 07:14:51 pm
I had a pint of Clwb Tropicana in the Vocation brewery bar in Hebden bridge last weekend. That was after a 2/3 of Vocations Pride and Joy.

Now I find myself sipping a can of Vocation Life and Death in my campervan in Dorset. I bought it in Tesco in Dorchester for £1
80 (the only Tesco that looks like the rail gatehouse to Auschwitz but with fountains)

Its a funny old world. So much good beer at such reasonable prices. But nothing, and I mean nothing, beats a 1/3  of Cloudwater dipa from the taproom.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 29 August, 2017, 11:46:06 am
A quick third in Bottleshop on Sunday (ok two, a cherry sour from Redchurch and the rather excellent Wiper & True Hard Shake) led to Anspach & Hobday, and then, well, Brew by Numbers happened to be open. Then they were having a little beer festival at Spit & Sawdust and we happened to be walking past. Which might have explained how we came to be sitting outside Bullfinch at 10pm drinking a jelly and ice cream pale ale. Sunday lunchtime drinking, don't do it kids.

Laughing at Twitter gripes about The Rake selling £13.40 pints. Those are pints of Cloudwater DIPA, I'm not sure it's exactly reasonable to compare with a pint of Fosters (and at 9%, I don't think you're suppose to knock it back by the pint).
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Jakob W on 29 August, 2017, 01:37:26 pm
I suppose there's a degree of old fogeydom going on there; intellectually I know inflation is a thing, but somehow it's still a surprise when there's no change from £20 for a round of drinks...
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 29 August, 2017, 03:38:38 pm
A distributer worked out the costs – the pub's gross profit for a keg (30 litre) was in the order of £22. Double IPAs aren't cheap to make and small breweries don't have the benefits of scale and these are small volume brews. No one is making a lot of money out them. A bit silly to compare with a pint of cooking lager. You're more likely to drink a double IPA by the third (indeed, they won't serve you a pint at that ABV).

If people want 'cheap' lager (which isn't even that cheap, and unlike Cloudwater doesn't taste nice), there's no shortage of venues. Personally, as I'm not trying to get drunk, I'd rather pay for quality than volume, though I suppose the latter says something the British attitude to alcohol.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: pcolbeck on 30 August, 2017, 05:19:37 pm
I was in Brugge on Sunday. That is all.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: pcolbeck on 30 August, 2017, 05:21:46 pm
I used to love beer with the passion of a Bavarian in the desert. But lattely i've given up on trying to find a good pub (https://restaurantguru.com/pub-and-bar-near-me) or bar that has good beer. Maybe my sense of taste has changed, but when I go to a bar like the Beer House (https://restaurantguru.com/London-Beer-House-London) I already know that the beer wil ltaste like metal with piss. Excuse my language.
The only decent kind of beer I've had was in a little German town I visited on a business trip. The place is called Radeberg, they have thrir own brewery, and it is actually decent. But i can't, naturally, get their beer anytime. I would.

You should have tried getting a decent pint in the 80s. It's so much better now.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: andrew_s on 30 August, 2017, 09:04:54 pm
I was in Brugge on Sunday. That is all.
Visit Kemelstraat?
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: madcow on 30 August, 2017, 09:18:29 pm
Waitrose are currently selling Broadside for £1.35 a bottle. Cheers!

Booths ( the northern Waitrose) had Sole Bay on offer at £7 for 8 bottles.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 09 September, 2017, 04:08:13 pm
I was in Brugge on Sunday. That is all.
Visit Kemelstraat?

Drool  :P
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 09 September, 2017, 07:57:30 pm
I have the evening to myself and I have spent the day beer foraging. It's going to be mayhem at the Asbestos Palace. I swear Little Monster Cat walked past earlier wearing a helmet. I do seem to have neglected to buy any food on my travels. Oh well, I'm kicking off with a Cloudwater-Other Half NYC Collab - ™Life. Very nom. Cool can too.

The other night I had a £20 pint (well, a third of it).
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 29 September, 2017, 09:14:27 pm
Saison à la Provision. Burning Sky. Awesome. Very Belgish.

One of my favourite breweries. I have a Pretty Mess IPA cooling in the fridge and a Burial Vault. If my pizza dough doesn't hurry up and prove, I might have to drink them.

Their cuvée is rather splendid too.

I also have two cans of Even More Jesus, but I'm not nearly ready for that, plus it will make me sad for Bible Belt (barrel aged Even More Jesus) which I can't currently find. And that's awesome. Though Pirate Noir is awesome∞+1.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 30 September, 2017, 10:14:56 pm
westmalle dubbel on sale in waitrose at the moment, plus Leffe Blonde at 4 for £4
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 03 October, 2017, 08:34:25 pm
I have thusly acquired a large bottle of Burning Sky Saison Anniversaire and a large bottle of Saison Reserve.

I wish it wasn't a school night.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Hot Flatus on 03 October, 2017, 10:06:31 pm
They have been having Burning Sky on a lot at the Alehouse in town, I see from their facebook page.

Bodes well. It's my day off tomorrow...
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: lahoski on 04 October, 2017, 10:37:35 am
It might not be the *most* exciting thing in the world. But we have a Brewdog in Oxford now and I, hipster that I am, seem to be finding plenty of excuses to go there.

Especially when they open on a Sunday and serve brunch.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: menthel on 04 October, 2017, 12:02:24 pm
I have been drinking some St Austell Sayzon. Its not quite a farmyardy as a real Saison but its very refreshing.

Also been trying out the local brews from Park Brewery which are rather nice.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 04 October, 2017, 07:20:31 pm
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4454/37411627266_5ebbd2957d_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/YZWnoj)
IMG_9645_01 (https://flic.kr/p/YZWnoj) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Hot Flatus on 06 October, 2017, 01:26:56 pm
(https://s1.postimg.org/5y67zpusr3/20171006_131002.jpg)
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 14 October, 2017, 09:48:49 pm
For those who like the malt rather than the hops to the fore, I can recommend the rather splendid Brighton Bier's Downtown Charlie Brown. But you're not having mine as I'm drinking it.

ETA: my chief smutology advisor tells me that 'Downtown Charlie Brown' is slang for oral sex. I swear most of this is made up. As a once-upon-a-time literary pornographer-in-chief (erotica, dear), I made up all kinds of sex things. I possibly know more synonyms for 'erection' than any person alive. It occasionally comes in useful.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Hot Flatus on 14 October, 2017, 11:28:57 pm
You seem like the sort of person who may have been caught doing a 'Brown Derby, in public.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 15 October, 2017, 11:46:05 am
It's the only dessert to follow a big Bender-in-a-Bun.

Apropos of nothing (there I go again), Wimpy was the first and only restaurant I went to before I was 18. Once a year, during Christmas shopping.

Alas, post eighteen I ventured out the into the world and discovered Berni Steakhouse. It was gateway to a world of Little Chefs and Harvesters.

This is why I'm the classiest and most sophisticated person here.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 15 October, 2017, 10:57:44 pm
I've probably not promoted Burning Sky enough, but as I've not yet quaffed the Reserve and Anniversaire (I sadly have to wait for my beloved to be in the same country and at the same time*), I have a Saison Automne in front of me and it's rather spiffing.

I made the mistake of looking at RateBeer earlier. What a bunch of knobs. It's all that tastes of goat leather and foraged grass nonsense. Fuck off back to the wine snobbery world.

*she did text me last week to say he was five miles and one airport security perimeter away.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Jaded on 15 October, 2017, 11:30:07 pm
I've probably not promoted Burning Sky enough, but as I've not yet quaffed the Reserve and Anniversaire (I sadly have to wait for my beloved to be in the same country and at the same time*), I have a Saison Automne in front of me and it's rather spiffing.

I made the mistake of looking at RateBeer earlier. What a bunch of knobs. It's all that tastes of goat leather and foraged grass nonsense. Fuck off back to the wine snobbery world.

*she did text me last week to say he was five miles and one airport security perimeter away.

Well, your wife is fairly understanding.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: David Martin on 15 October, 2017, 11:45:32 pm
I'll just leave this here...

(https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/516/32406911630_c742ba4087.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/RnFTMG)2017-02-08_06-52-21 (https://flic.kr/p/RnFTMG) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr

If you're wondering why the choice on my side of the cupboard is a bit shit, it's because someone drank the good stuff.
I thought the Radical Road was alright at the Dundee food and flower festival. The only 'garden' festival where you have to stop tasting things because you are driving home.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Hot Flatus on 20 October, 2017, 03:05:47 pm
Stroud Brewery Hazy Vermont.

Let's just say, it's the only thing I'm going to be drinking for the foreseeable future. Almost Cloudwater quality.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 26 October, 2017, 08:34:04 pm
Vibrant Forest's Kaleidoscope is a very good hazy IPA for Cloudwater fans. I had one the other day.

Also go for anything by Verdant, everything I'd had has been fantastic.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 04 November, 2017, 08:25:01 pm
Some more Saison Automne, because it is autumn and seems to go well with fireworks and the smell of a forthcoming fire brigade call out (which has just reminded me to close the window vents).

My wife is giving me a running commentary of her adventure in a Marseilles beer cave. No bats apparently. Some fantastically murky beers. I'm not sure I need pictures. I need samples.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: menthel on 06 November, 2017, 10:31:35 am
A bottle of Orval (my first but not my last- a wonderful beer) and Twickenham Honeyed Mild- was a bit too sweet for my taste, the first half was enjoyable but sickly second half.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 06 November, 2017, 08:21:50 pm
Happy Seasons, a Cloudwater gig with a Beijing brewery. Apparently brewed with lychees. I couldn't taste them, but then I was reminded that lychees don't actually taste of anything so I shouldn't be surprised. Still, quite tasty as a pale ale but probably not worth the effort of the adding the lychees.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Hot Flatus on 06 November, 2017, 10:28:35 pm
Happy Seasons, a Cloudwater gig with a Beijing brewery. Apparently brewed with lychees. I couldn't taste them, but then I was reminded that lychees don't actually taste of anything so I shouldn't be surprised. Still, quite tasty as a pale ale but probably not worth the effort of the adding the lychees.

Not true.

They taste of eyeballs.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 11 November, 2017, 03:48:27 pm
or do eyeballs taste of lychee?
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 12 November, 2017, 06:36:18 pm
Neither tastes of much.

Had a fabulous Northern Monk Attack on Blue Falcon blueberry IPA in the bar under Hungerford Bridge yesterday evening. Then we perambulated over the new Mother Kelly's by Vauxhall. Nice selection of beer, let down by crappy bar staff who (a) didn't know anything about the beer or (b) how to serve*. Can't say I'll be keen to repeat the experience.

*Firstly, take note of the people waiting and serve them in that order, don't just wander off and serve a random chap who just turned up. Etc. Secondly, how does it take twenty minutes to serve a three modest groups. I don't know either.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Ham on 12 November, 2017, 09:18:57 pm
Yesterday due to road closed shenanigans I drove past The Pretty Decent Beer Co (https://www.prettydecentbeer.co/) and - despite almost bursting into laughter with the sheet hipster quotient of the three denizens there as I walked in, I walked out with a goodly number of bottles are, well, pretty decent beer. I commend it to the house.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: menthel on 13 November, 2017, 09:54:48 am
Had a 0 ending age related piss up in a brewery on Saturday. Was at By The Horns in Tooting, their beers have always differed in quality and success but the Lambeth Walk porter is always great and the lime and lemongrass flavoured Samba King has been improved to a point of now being great on tap. The stiff upper lip is also always good but I didn't have a chance to get in an Old Smoke as they don't seem to do it anymore. Was Tea Flavoured IPA that was the nectar of the gods when drunk with Fish and Chips.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: lahoski on 13 November, 2017, 11:16:43 am
Last night... Redchurch In Barrels: Plums.

Cor, blimey. Pinot noir barrel-aged sour with plums. That was a bit filthy. And tasted of all of those things.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: campagman on 17 November, 2017, 06:37:48 pm
I'm looking forward to a trip to the Hull Beer festival tomorrow. Not sure what to expect but it's in the Minster and Hull is the Capitol of Culture so may be special.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 18 November, 2017, 07:07:53 pm
Adnams Blood Orange Wheat Beer - in a can, from M&S.  :sick:  v. sweet o the nose, not hoppy/bitter enough for me, the orange comes on at the front, but then fades into a sort of tizery blegh.

Elgoods Warrior - nice and local, being from Wisbech, a generally trad English bitter, but stronger. Nice malty, biscuit hoppiness and a decent hit of bitterness.

Yeasty Boys Gunnamatta, earl grey flavoured IPA, a much better solution to getting oranginess into a beer.  Nice floral nose, good hit of hoppy bitterness and then the bergamot hits at the end.  A bit more body and it would be perfect.   Having brewed earl grey wine before, I might give this a go as well some time
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: andrew_s on 18 November, 2017, 08:41:49 pm
Uley Pigor Mortis and Fixed Wheel Mild Concussion (White Bear, Tewkesbury), and Purity Saddle Black (Boat, Ashleworth)

Followed up by finding a sleeping partridge in the middle of the road on the way back, and having to move it into the verge.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 18 November, 2017, 08:55:26 pm
On the way to my Mum's in deepest darkest Fife there is a petrol station with a shit hot craft beer & gin selection.
I had this lot last night, followed by a Plum Gose which I was obviously too merry to take a photie of.

(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4544/24634471568_af2570fe08.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/DwS79q)IMG_20171117_205832 (https://flic.kr/p/DwS79q) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr

(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4553/38506616561_f23e499e91.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/21EGty6)IMG_20171117_215939 (https://flic.kr/p/21EGty6) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr

(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4563/24634478658_f73103e5f6.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/DwS9fE)IMG_20171117_230053 (https://flic.kr/p/DwS9fE) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 18 November, 2017, 09:20:30 pm
I had a Beavertown Smoked, I think from Oddbins in Aberdeen, which was very good.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 18 November, 2017, 09:26:06 pm
I had a Beavertown Smoked, I think from Oddbins in Aberdeen, which was very good.

Smog Rocket?
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 18 November, 2017, 10:13:29 pm
Probably, rings a bell
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 20 November, 2017, 09:28:45 am
A Modern Times City of the Dead, Omnipollo Hazelnut Cupcake, and Marble Imperial Chocolate Stout.

For Sunday lunch. Probably a good job I wasn't cycling.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: tiermat on 20 November, 2017, 04:31:50 pm
Just to go against the grain of these craft beers at £2-3/can, may I suggest that the panel tries the selection from the local Aldi?

Way better than your cheap bitter or lager (and some expensive ones). No pretensions, they don't shout about them being craft, cos basically they aren't (Marstons and at least one other brewery are involved). At between 0.99 & 1.29 for 330 or 500ml bottles they are great swigging beers, or even very good for cooking with. I particularly like the Coffee Porter and the Empire IPA.

PS I am not really a cheapskate, I have 6 bottles of Sister Agnes set by for Xmas.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 20 November, 2017, 04:39:26 pm
£2-3 a can. Ho ho. I bought a couple of £8 330ml bottles. They are barrel-aged imperial stouts though and clock up somewhere north of 10% abv. You don't get many of those to an evening.

The stouts in the post above were about £15/pint, though sensibly consumed in thirds.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: tiermat on 20 November, 2017, 04:51:57 pm
Sister Agnes is between £5 and £7 a 300ml bottle, depending on where you buy it from. There is a place and time for those, but for everyday quaffing I am going to keep with the Aldi ones (until they run out or turn rubbish).

Mrs T was not best pleased when I returned from the shop with them as she had just bought me a can of Orinoco Stout and one of Medusa, from Sainsburys, for £2 each!
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 20 November, 2017, 08:22:23 pm
I do tend to go for quality over quantity these days, I'm at the age where hangovers can be fatal (or at least feel that way). That said, I can quaff some supermarket brews. I don't mind the Oakham stuff (Citra and Scarlet Macaw) and several others. I did try the Marstons stuff and it was pretty bland.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Jakob W on 20 November, 2017, 09:30:11 pm
I bought a couple of bottles​ of Fuller's Vintage Ale (2017 edition) at Waitrose, as well as a bottle of their limited-edition Imperial Russian Stout. At £5 and £8 respectively, they're at the top end of what I'd normally spend, but the Vintage Ale especially I tend to buy a couple and drink one; a couple of years down the line the bottles are howfuckingmuch?!, so it's nice to be able to pull one from the cupboard as a treat.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 21 November, 2017, 06:47:11 pm
I still have a bottle of Fullers 2014 Vintage Ale, I've seen the prices in the Kings Cross Fullers Pub  :o

This year, my own brew for Christmas, a strong bitter and a barleywine at about 10-12%, both <<<£8 a bottle, and that includes the hand-made labels.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 21 November, 2017, 08:10:54 pm
Oh my, twelve taps of Cloudwater.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: nicknack on 22 November, 2017, 05:16:19 pm
On the quaffing front, I'm enjoying Black Sheep's Glug M'Glug dark IPA (6.2%) and PIstonhead's Full Amber (6%) - in tins both 3 for a fiver in Morrisons.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: tiermat on 22 November, 2017, 06:44:03 pm
The Black Sheep one is rather enjoyable, for quaffing beer, isn't it?
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 23 November, 2017, 08:33:48 pm
Stavanger Juleol tonight, at about £11 a pop, nice beer a rich fruity Christmas ale, not much hoppiness
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 24 November, 2017, 09:16:55 pm
Siren Sheltered Spirit – Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Porter with tamarind. I've no idea what the tamarind does but it's immodestly awesome. Probably shouldn't have drunk it between coming back from the swimming pool and shoving pizza in the oven given the ABV.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 25 November, 2017, 05:31:56 pm
Little creatures pale ale tonight, nice, light, bitter, hoppy.

Also stopped into the local for a pint of Ipswich something-or-other a nice dark fruity liquoricy porter
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 26 November, 2017, 11:47:37 am
Oh, continuing the Siren theme, Acid Jam. Scores high on awesometer, not as sour as I expected, more barley wine-ish, and is effectively like having the one of the best parties ever in your mouth.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: dim on 26 November, 2017, 03:27:08 pm
something new at my local Tesco Express (I bought one and will try it later... 8 1/2 % so it most probably tastes like petrol):

delirium beer:

(https://img.tesco.com/Groceries/pi/098/5412186000098/IDShot_540x540.jpg)
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: nicknack on 26 November, 2017, 06:19:11 pm
something new at my local Tesco Express (I bought one and will try it later... 8 1/2 % so it most probably tastes like petrol):

delirium beer:

(https://img.tesco.com/Groceries/pi/098/5412186000098/IDShot_540x540.jpg)
It does not taste remotely like petrol and is dangerously addictive.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 26 November, 2017, 07:25:22 pm
Delirium is a very nice beer. I just sorted through the fridge and there's nothing with an ABV less than about 9%. Fortunately, there's probably something more easily quaffable in the now :smug: cold porch.

I learned the other day that Carlsberg Special Brew, the leading tramp nectar, was brewed to celebrate Churchill's 1950 visit to Copenhagen. I always figured Churchill as a pint-of-port man.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: andrew_s on 27 November, 2017, 01:40:14 pm
the Vintage Ale especially I tend to buy a couple and drink one; a couple of years down the line the bottles are howfuckingmuch?!,
2003 is currently priced at £360 a bottle (https://shop.fullers.co.uk/collections/vintage-ale/products/vintage-ale-2003-rare). So far, I've resisted the temptation to try to cash in, and just drunk the stuff.
https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=28061.msg1599132;topicseen#msg1599132

I'm fairly sure I've got a bottle or two of 2007 still (£110)
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Jakob W on 27 November, 2017, 09:32:16 pm
Yes,quite; I seem to have a couple of bottles of the 2007 and the 2012 left, as well as a couple of decade-old bottles of Golden Pride. Maybe I'll do a tasting this Christmas.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 30 November, 2017, 08:30:55 pm
Some awesomes at the Cloudwater tap takeover last night (it was Cloudwater collaborations). Some splendid stouts, a Lervig Black Forest Gateaux imperial stout which was lush (but tasted more like cherries and licorice to me) and a To Øl Christmas Cake imperial stout which was certainly festive.

A prosaically named Proteins and Lipids IPA (collab with Modern Times) was the best of several excellent IPAs.

On the subject of Manchester breweries, I was horrified to learn however that Boddingtons is still a thing.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 30 November, 2017, 09:22:20 pm
Sweden next week, let's see what they have to throw in my direction
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 30 November, 2017, 09:39:01 pm
Lucky bugger
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 30 November, 2017, 10:35:48 pm
Lucky bugger

Norway last week, mixed bag.  Stavanger Jul Ol was my fave; Isbjorn beer least so, but it has sparked a few homebrew ideas.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: tiermat on 01 December, 2017, 08:08:58 am
Lots of Wylam beers, last night. Not surprising, really as our Xmas party was at the brewery! I can report that Jakehead is just as awesome as ever.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 03 December, 2017, 07:47:03 pm
Black Sheep, Glug McGlug this evening, interesting dark reddish brown IPA. Starts off a bit minty/Herby, rosemary, then malty, Holly, finishing with a bit of chocolatey liquorice flavour.

Good value from Morrison's at three for a fiver right now.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Jakob W on 10 December, 2017, 06:38:53 pm
Greene King Festive Pudding Ale. Pretty tasty - reminds me a bit of Fuller's ESB, but stronger (6%). And at £1.50/500ml on special at my local Morrisons I think I'll be back to stock up...
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: pcolbeck on 13 December, 2017, 01:53:43 pm
I'm sick of pale ales.

I like a nice IPA as much as the next person or a pale ale on a summers day but recently they have taken over seem to have pushed out all other styles.
Was in Morrisons yesterday and they had about thirty different IPAs including ten from the USA and about two of anything else.
It's the same at pubs the guest beer is almost always a pale ale.
Its the middle of winter FFS lets have some normal bitters and Christmas ales.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Riggers on 13 December, 2017, 01:53:48 pm
I bought yesterday from the Harvey's Brewery shop, a couple bottles of their Christmas and Elizabethan ales. Yummy.

https://www.harveys.org.uk/shop/christmas-ale/ and https://www.harveys.org.uk/shop/elizabethan-ale/

Elizabethan: A full, malty palate with a lingering bitterness and warming spirit content.
Christmas: It is heavily hopped, dark and strong, like Christmas Pudding in a glass!
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: lahoski on 13 December, 2017, 02:24:53 pm
There are definitely seasonal beers about. I somehow think lowest common denominator pubs and horriblemarkets probably don't give a toss though. Think about the number of people stocking up on 24-packs of Fosters for Christmas...

I've taken a little slide back to session-able trad. beers. Monday's Snow Day involved a few pints of Abingdon's finest... Loose Cannon's Detonator and their Robust Porter. The benefits of working in education, eh?

It's okay though. I had a Ten Finger Discount from Siren / To Øl at the weekend. Possibly the nicest IPA I've had in aaages. 100% Citra and cedar wood.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 13 December, 2017, 05:28:10 pm
Ten Finger Discount is fantastic (as is Middle Finger). Try Tickle Monster though.

I am have happy to disclose that I just found six entire bottles of Bible Belt and two cans of Even More Jesus. Heavens to Betsy, that'll tick my religious sentiments box this Christmas. Sadly no Pirate Noir. A man can't have everything. Have quite a range of imperial stouts. On the downside they start at 9% and scale up to 16.5%...
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 24 December, 2017, 05:29:29 pm
In a moment of distraction the other day I ended up with a Marston's Pedigree IPA (at least I think that's what it was). Some kind of Marston's IPA.

It was probably the most fucking awful thing I've ever tried to drink. Like grandad sick brewed with some dank hops that had been trod in to the brewery floor for a couple of weeks and then dry manured for a final kick. I gave up. It's a bad day when you have to switch to Moretti.

On the plus side, they have Bible Belt on tap at the Bar under the [Waterloo] Bridge last night along with some splendidly murky IPAs (Odyssey, Northern Monk, Fuerst Wiacek). That kicked off Cringletide properly.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 31 December, 2017, 07:03:28 pm
Last night a scotch ale from Pisa. Don't ask*. It was very good though! If my Google fu is up to the task (https://www.gildananibirrai.com/index.php?page=le-birre-eng). They also had a very good strong golden ale from the same brewery. Proof that Italian beer doesn't start and stop with Peroni and Moretti.

Oh yes, and we went back to Waterloo for more Bible Belt. Also ran through a couple of flights of various in Brewdog Shepherd's Bush to get us in the mood for Bill Bailey the other night. It was most efficacious even if we couldn't say efficacious after that final 13.5% stout.

Tonight, it's the porch of awesome beer starting, erm, about now.

*OK, if you insist, the Italian beer place in Mercato Metropolitano down in E&C, they do a good selection of Italian craft beers which, let's face it, aren't exactly common.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Ham on 01 January, 2018, 09:49:17 am
(last week, pre-antibiotics and enforced wagon-time)

There's summat not quite right about this  ;D

Anyone got  a better translation than "Clean Pig"? 

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Ae2_luSdMWQnkt2e1iKXdrVkwZ6wp436JgX0g6bVxzIpxQz0je5LtlJf8Gni27C0cMcCOsHsZr6US3rARy_e_vz3R4gze6YNHF3OXVapAmdZlUDT7zmFbThV2dQpbP8llcr8x9Ae5B4U-qZHsnxIQiNCW0ilA-6HH-9R9pusscrSshf6UQZpSkmOfAViS5RZAVhvbmiscGN37AHfrKLw07rYFto58EC1S4QM8E2Mz9Xzbh4owglF0oQjcKWmRT06gsdQggwbZqBjKkhtJ68U0SmtpI3HUHgA0Gi_D6rvFE9btTSRRYw4aJTyatQlR4pUIhZatBPQ-zB9lGabRoafRW8y9vL-RFFtaNDJQpItcQKD93ubL0P9fWbK6jBPZ2hdunCH_a6Ie7Bx0g_WEdm2Pr7avI7KveDImHYXNl0OGBXGq5qCSYqpz31yyXz3elNQc9VdDdA_Ug6faFHvFxQJ47UoIRHwuTM0MkbSAWyTvuL9m0yOgUJp0JCadhPrGPPpT_Uyz8TuLbAUl_dJwCjwlj2v98DT6-m_BUnKnk4eWxl3Lvh_fVadAybAadUB2Ov6tVMiYrPRvnVc5nZIlwUUrDg4d1nCPtvUf9LTbHehZiGJBXg-WQZzr02opLbgruceBn1irp_YtFtHz5pzkBjDP6yeiM7K-awivg=w653-h870-no)
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: pcolbeck on 02 January, 2018, 12:59:23 pm
In a moment of distraction the other day I ended up with a Marston's Pedigree IPA (at least I think that's what it was). Some kind of Marston's IPA.

Pedigree isn't an IPA its just an amber beer and is really nice. Sounds like you had Marstons EPA (English Pale Ale - apparently). I've never had that so cant comment on if its awful or not and will take your word for it :)
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 02 January, 2018, 01:26:00 pm
Hmm, having Googled, I'm not sure what the foul bilge was other than it said Marstons. Perhaps EPA. I don't think I've ever liked Pedigree either for that matter, but if foul, stale-tasting bilge of the worst sort. I've not had a beer that bad since the inlaws served me a can of Mansfield bitter that went out of date in 1977. Mansfield bitter is close to undrinkable when fresh. Three decades in the can doesn't improve it.

Having just perused the Marston's web site, seriously chaps, you called a beer 'Pearl Jet.'
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Jakob W on 13 January, 2018, 10:56:46 pm
Sarah Hughes Snowflake Winter Warmer: at 8% I only had a half, but it was a perfect example of a barley wine: sweet, rich, and vinous. So good in fact I went back the following day for more; sat by the pub's fire with a book, it doesn't get much better.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Jaded on 14 January, 2018, 07:07:53 pm
(http://www.alfiecat.co.uk/yetacf/P1140001.jpg)
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 14 January, 2018, 07:13:23 pm
The Founders Canadian Breakfast Stout I had last night was quite wonderful (an imperial stout aged in bourbon barrels that had been used to store maple syrup, no actual Canadians were harmed in the process).
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Bledlow on 29 January, 2018, 09:04:02 pm
..
*OK, if you insist, the Italian beer place in Mercato Metropolitano down in E&C, they do a good selection of Italian craft beers which, let's face it, aren't exactly common.
I recall strolling through Florence in December 1987 & finding a real ale bar selling local products a-plenty. And then I started seeing others. In the seven years since my previous visit they'd become common - & popular. In early 2002 I visited Livigno & found the self-proclaimed highest brewery (a brewpub, to be precise) in Europe, a bit over 1800 metres up, brewing what seemed to be trying-hard-to-be-trendy-craft-beers. Some of 'em were nice.

Aha! Still there - https://www.livigno.eu/en/food/Birrificio-Livigno_2223 (https://www.livigno.eu/en/food/Birrificio-Livigno_2223)
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Oaky on 29 January, 2018, 09:10:28 pm
(last week, pre-antibiotics and enforced wagon-time)

There's summat not quite right about this  ;D

Anyone got  a better translation than "Clean Pig"? 

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Ae2_luSdMWQnkt2e1iKXdrVkwZ6wp436JgX0g6bVxzIpxQz0je5LtlJf8Gni27C0cMcCOsHsZr6US3rARy_e_vz3R4gze6YNHF3OXVapAmdZlUDT7zmFbThV2dQpbP8llcr8x9Ae5B4U-qZHsnxIQiNCW0ilA-6HH-9R9pusscrSshf6UQZpSkmOfAViS5RZAVhvbmiscGN37AHfrKLw07rYFto58EC1S4QM8E2Mz9Xzbh4owglF0oQjcKWmRT06gsdQggwbZqBjKkhtJ68U0SmtpI3HUHgA0Gi_D6rvFE9btTSRRYw4aJTyatQlR4pUIhZatBPQ-zB9lGabRoafRW8y9vL-RFFtaNDJQpItcQKD93ubL0P9fWbK6jBPZ2hdunCH_a6Ie7Bx0g_WEdm2Pr7avI7KveDImHYXNl0OGBXGq5qCSYqpz31yyXz3elNQc9VdDdA_Ug6faFHvFxQJ47UoIRHwuTM0MkbSAWyTvuL9m0yOgUJp0JCadhPrGPPpT_Uyz8TuLbAUl_dJwCjwlj2v98DT6-m_BUnKnk4eWxl3Lvh_fVadAybAadUB2Ov6tVMiYrPRvnVc5nZIlwUUrDg4d1nCPtvUf9LTbHehZiGJBXg-WQZzr02opLbgruceBn1irp_YtFtHz5pzkBjDP6yeiM7K-awivg=w653-h870-no)

Hogwash?
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 05 February, 2018, 09:53:57 pm
tonight, 6 degrees north, a peloton pilsner, nice and sharp and decent body, followed by a chapeau triple - wow! is all I'm going to say to that one.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mr Larrington on 12 February, 2018, 03:32:28 pm
In a moment of distraction the other day I ended up with a Marston's Pedigree IPA (at least I think that's what it was). Some kind of Marston's IPA.

Pedigree isn't an IPA its just an amber beer and is really nice. Sounds like you had Marstons EPA (English Pale Ale - apparently). I've never had that so cant comment on if its awful or not and will take your word for it :)

When I was still drinking BEER Pedigree was just a bog-standard bitter, but today I saw a lorry with "Marstons Pedigree Amber Ale" written on the side in large, friendly letters so I imagine They are applying the name to other Stuffs as well.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: jsabine on 13 February, 2018, 12:10:31 am
In a moment of distraction the other day I ended up with a Marston's Pedigree IPA (at least I think that's what it was). Some kind of Marston's IPA.

Pedigree isn't an IPA its just an amber beer and is really nice. Sounds like you had Marstons EPA (English Pale Ale - apparently). I've never had that so cant comment on if its awful or not and will take your word for it :)

When I was still drinking BEER Pedigree was just a bog-standard bitter, but today I saw a lorry with "Marstons Pedigree Amber Ale" written on the side in large, friendly letters so I imagine They are applying the name to other Stuffs as well.

Don't think so (or at least not yet) - I think it's just an attempt to add a description to the brand rather than relying on the name alone ...

Mind you, they appear to have gone in the other direction with some of the other Marston's brews - http://protzonbeer.co.uk/comments/2016/11/02/marston-s-a-curious-rebranding
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 14 February, 2018, 08:00:45 pm
Somehow, can't think why  O:-) I ended up at 6-deg north again this evening.

Beef stew, with an oaked porter, followed by a wee sniffer of a 12% Imperial stout by the name of Death.  If this is death, I hope there's an afterlife.  Both beers by Northern Monk.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 14 February, 2018, 08:20:23 pm
Maybe one of these days we'll get a pint with you...
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 14 February, 2018, 08:32:55 pm
I had a third of Death at the weekend. Splendid. Try the Glory, if you get the chance.

We did the Bermondsey beer mile for the first time in a while at the weekend. Even more stuff has popped up, it's a fair challenge again. Southwark Brewing (a bit unexciting, we skipped), Bianca Road (a bit off the main drag, but a nice blood orange IPA), London Beer Factory (they're barrelling stuff, but have taps, Hazy Days and Spring Thyme are nice), a cider place we skip because madame doesn't like apples, Anspach & Hobday (a Red IPA), Bottleshop (the aforementioned Death and Glory), UBrew (we skipped, owing to the two hefty thirds we'd just had), Moor (obviously co-locating from Bristol, another nice black IPA), BBNo (x2, we did the second, some kind of fruity hefe weisse), (no) Kernel (because sulky pants), Affinity (Belgian golden ale, they have some really interesting stuff), Spartan (just getting going, it seems, don't have any brewing equipment; a smoky pale ale), eeBria (Redwillow tap takeover, I think we had a tasty session IPA), Partizan (oh I can't remember, but I think I enjoyed it, and a squashsage roll that I'd forgotten about in my pocket), and Fourpure for the new taproom extension opening (and three new beers which I'm sure where nice but I don't remember other than an imperial bourbon maple stout, oh and tour of their new kit).

I couldn't manage that every weekend, but I'm limbering up for Craft Beer Rising.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 14 February, 2018, 08:37:55 pm
Maybe one of these days we'll get a pint with you...

Definitely, I've been somewhat disorganised in planning Aberdeen evenings these last couple of trips
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 14 February, 2018, 08:39:13 pm
Maybe one of these days we'll get a pint with you...

Definitely, I've been somewhat disorganised in planning Aberdeen evenings these last couple of trips

 :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 14 February, 2018, 08:40:18 pm
We did the Bermondsey beer mile...

That sounds like a looong mile  :)
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 14 February, 2018, 08:46:54 pm
Google says it's about 1.3 miles. A bit extra to get to Bianca, but we had quesadilla to sustain us. As it was a soggy and very cold Saturday afternoon, not especially busy either (other than Fourpure).
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 15 February, 2018, 07:43:48 pm
Windswept Clavie smoked porter. Om nom nom...  :P
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 16 February, 2018, 08:31:35 pm
Mr Smith Gose to...

Watermelons. If you like. I do. A bit summery for the conditions mind, the sort of beer from barbecues and warm evenings.

I think in an attempt to moderate my cold, I need to step up a level to the sort of IPA that can destroy a city block or three.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: CAMRAMan on 17 February, 2018, 11:38:25 am
Pedigree is now bottle conditioned, I noticed the other day as I poured a bottle.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 18 February, 2018, 06:40:33 pm
Quite enjoyed working through the stock at Ghost Whale in Brixton yesterday. A good selection of bottles and a couple of taps.

As a friend of mine lamented, he remembered the once-upon-a-time when he got mugged in Brixton, as was tradition back then. And all they took was his takeaway jerk chicken.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: madcow on 24 February, 2018, 10:03:03 pm
Quite enjoyed working through the stock at Ghost Whale in Brixton yesterday. A good selection of bottles and a couple of taps.

As a friend of mine lamented, he remembered the once-upon-a-time when he got mugged in Brixton, as was tradition back then. And all they took was his takeaway jerk chicken.

If only KFC hadn’t run out of chicken.

Anyway tonight we have been sampling “Dead Pony Club “ and Harviestoun “Bitter and Twisted” in celebration of a rare Scottish victory over England.  Of the two , the Harviestoun brew is the better .
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 02 March, 2018, 09:10:51 pm
Fourpure Deep South peach sour. Not so sour, very fruity. Deceptively quaffable.

Pressure Drop Dandelion and Burdock Porter. Not lying. If you like D&B, it's pretty awesome. Go to their tap room, they're very nice people.

We did Craft Beer Rising last weekend. It's a bit commercial these days, but some good stuff. We got bundled into an American Beer Association tasting which was very good and very free. Though the couple next to us 'didn't like dark beer.' WTP. In this case Wrong Fucking Place, guys. My favourite was Six Points Hootie Hoo which was an awesome nuclear hop blast. We got extra dark beers for some reason (thanks guys). Very much also enjoyed the Port City Monumental IPA too. Nice place to go if you're in Alexandria, VA, btw (my employers have mothership hovering overhead).

Owing to my wife's fluttering eyelashs we seem to have secured brewery tours in USAnia and free stuff in the mail. She's utterly shameless. Long may it continue.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: D.A.L.E. on 04 March, 2018, 01:04:19 pm
I had a third of Death at the weekend. Splendid. Try the Glory, if you get the chance.

Ha, came on this thread to say I had a can of Death (https://honestbrew.co.uk/shop/northern-monk-death-imperial-stout/) last night. Very nice...
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 06 March, 2018, 07:43:53 pm
Good Night, Future Boy! Beavertown-Cloudwater collab, snarfed out of their taproom fridge because it had a nice can. I'd not read the label.

I can't say I've rated lager-IPA confluence before, so I wasn't ready to be blown away.

I wish I'd bought more cans. All of them.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 06 March, 2018, 08:09:40 pm
Oh rly? How many % was that? Beavertown sensible or Cloudwater daft?
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 06 March, 2018, 08:27:48 pm
Cloudwater isn't daft, you just have to drink it slower. Actually, they do some OK ABVs, I have a couple in the 5-6% range hiding somewhere about the house.

Anyway, I think it was 5.8% or thereabouts. Basically brewed with pilsner malts but hopped up (and not overboard). We also got some Do Not Open Until 1985 (also a Cloudwater collab) – a DIPA at a more morning unfriendly 9%. Also very good, but I liked the IPL better. The best DIPA and IPAs at the moment are from Verdant. Consistently awesome.

Also had some BbNo DDH Pale Anniversary Ale which everyone has raved about, but I thought it was mostly OK. I'm not complaining but socks failed to be blown off.

In other news, the micropub near us is doubling its number of keg lines to four. I've never seen anyone else drinking the keg stuff, so that might be my fault.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 06 March, 2018, 08:42:49 pm
Two Roads Tanker Truck sour series, Plum Gose.
Cat not to scale.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4791/25788840507_81702646ca.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/FhSxPa)2018-03-06_08-39-16 (https://flic.kr/p/FhSxPa) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 10 March, 2018, 08:04:09 pm
Partizan tap takeover at 6°N. Om nom nom.

(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4796/40732763451_be852b9566_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/254q4t2)
IMG_0549_01 (https://flic.kr/p/254q4t2) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 11 March, 2018, 06:44:48 pm
Their actual taps (https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5796374ae4fcb5993a4b9f82/t/5a4e2f3e0852294d69f26c50/1515076895032/IMG_9961.JPG?format=2500w) in the their new(ish) tap room are appropriately cool. Their porter is quite nice. Also, they did couple a collabs with Modern Times including a nice IPA.

Had some nice Trois Dames stuff at the Bottleshop (and caught the owner eagerly grabbing several bottles as a belated delivery came in).
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 11 March, 2018, 11:21:48 pm
I thought the porter was a bit sweet. Mrs P described it as bein like 'flat coke'. I wonder what she's sticking up her nose these days. The stout was good. Anyway, we both liked the 6% IPA  :P
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: woollypigs on 12 March, 2018, 06:01:44 pm
^ Grew up on that stuff :)
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 12 March, 2018, 06:13:40 pm
I thought the porter was a bit sweet. Mrs P described it as bein like 'flat coke'. I wonder what she's sticking up her nose these days. The stout was good. Anyway, we both liked the 6% IPA  :P

I think most porters tend towards the flat coke spectrum and there does seem to be a trend toward the sweet. Not my favourite beer style, but I thought the Partizan one was interesting. Much prefer the imperial stouts.

Anyway, stars of the weekend were Verdant's I Played Bass on the Tune and BbNo's Grape DIPA. The Lervig / Oud Beersel Acid Crush was pleasant and I wasn't sure how that would go (IPA meets lambic, erm).

Also very good was Arbor's Super Yakima, a very balanced DIPA and a step back from some of the attempts to cram as much hops as possible, which was no bad thing and a good way to end the weekend.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mr Larrington on 12 March, 2018, 07:00:26 pm
A one-litre can?

(Boggles)
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 13 March, 2018, 05:22:44 pm
Belgian monks not happy:

Belgian monks round on supermarket for selling their brew at £9 a bottle (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/13/beer-brewing-belgian-monks-accuse-retailer-ethical-breach-westvleteren)
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 13 March, 2018, 05:32:03 pm
Blimey, I had to send our Belgish sales rep to stand outside the gate on a wet Wednesday afternoon.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 13 March, 2018, 09:09:46 pm
^ Grew up on that stuff :)

It did not feel good this AM.....  :-X

It didn't look that good the night before.

Do they still make Skol lager? Good god, google says they do.

Quote
A lager of the highest quality brewed only with the finest ingredients to give a satisfying and refreshing taste.

As per other threads, b*****ks.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 15 March, 2018, 09:21:10 pm
Windswept Clavie smoked porter. Om nom nom...  :P

And again  :P
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 18 March, 2018, 12:28:33 pm
Windswept Clavie smoked porter. Om nom nom...  :P

And again  :P

And again  :P
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 18 March, 2018, 11:16:10 pm
Burning Sky tap take over at 6 Degrees North tomorrow  :P
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 28 March, 2018, 01:21:53 pm
Bourbon-barrel aged Dieu du Ciel Péché Mortel. I fear there's no better way to drink coffee.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 30 March, 2018, 11:21:52 am
Burning Sky tap take over at 6 Degrees North tomorrow  :P

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/887/41111733571_30cf387162_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/25CUo5B)
burning_sky (https://flic.kr/p/25CUo5B) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 02 April, 2018, 06:42:46 pm
I hope you had the Cuvee, it's excellent. They're all pretty good.

Excited and then disappointed to see Bomb! on tap at Ghost Whale yesterday. Disappointed because the tap spluttered and dribbled less than a mouthful into my glass.

That did have (1 pint!*) cans of Bible Belt though, but it wasn't in the fridge. It's in mine now. One of my favourite imperial stouts, though not as good as their Pirate Noir, which I will continue to rave about.

*US marginally teeny pint.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 03 April, 2018, 05:19:57 pm
(https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/vp/c7078d23e11c6183656225bb91097d49/5B69A13D/t51.2885-15/e35/30077555_573352836370354_8245357023768608768_n.jpg) (http://www.brlo.de/en/)
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: nicknack on 04 April, 2018, 09:03:51 pm
Bush Amber (Brasserie Dubuisson). A rather pleasant 12%er.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 05 April, 2018, 08:38:27 pm
Failed to get Cantillon at Six Degrees North this evening, so we're making do at home  :P

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/876/41215881272_e3764da237_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/25N7ayC)
IMG_0605_01 (https://flic.kr/p/25N7ayC) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 05 April, 2018, 09:57:58 pm
I hope you had the Cuvee, it's excellent. They're all pretty good.

We had a bit of everything. Mrs P had a bit of Cuvée several times.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 08 April, 2018, 07:21:32 pm
Failed to get Cantillon at Six Degrees North this evening, so we're making do at home  :P
...

If it was that Six Degrees North, any quivering of the beer force may have been induced by me.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 12 April, 2018, 09:53:40 pm
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/783/40521462395_771e54fd1b_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/24JK62n)
IMG_0617_01 (https://flic.kr/p/24JK62n) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mr Larrington on 13 April, 2018, 12:26:28 pm
An ooly ginger gueuze?
</Stanshall>
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: CAMRAMan on 13 April, 2018, 12:33:47 pm
I had a very nice pint or two of Paranoid (Paranoia?) Black Chilli Porter t'other night in Brum. A liquorice initial taste before the chilli kicks in.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 13 April, 2018, 04:53:06 pm
For the record, last Saturday I had a 17% imperial stout.

For breakfast.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: lahoski on 16 April, 2018, 01:35:16 pm
Aw man, I thought I'd done well by having some (super exclusive) Caribbean Chocolate Pancake Stack from Siren for (almost, but not quite) breakfast.

Must. Try. Harder.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 16 April, 2018, 09:00:38 pm
A selection of the Bruery's (http://www.thebruery.com/type/barrel-aged/) finest barrel-aged specimens. Oh my. Not cheap in 100 ml measures (as they roll in north of 12%, it's not exactly drink-a-pint territory), but oh so worth it.

Breakfast again, mind. But it was 2pm and I had a falafel wrap. I know, dissolute hipster.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: tiermat on 18 May, 2018, 05:11:45 pm
Currently really enjoying a pint of Allendale Anvil at Durham's newest pub, the Waiting Room at the station.

A lovely surprise, it's not at all hipster, serves good beer and isn't the usual train station expensive (£4.20 for this pint!)
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 18 May, 2018, 08:13:55 pm
A pint of Bullfinch's splendid Rascal session IPA as I belatedly finish up work and spin some tunes. It's a nice break from the sometimes endless 9% hazy, dank DIPAs that seem set on depleting the world's hop output. I mostly like them, but they can be a bit hit and miss and they don't age. Really, check the best-before, or you end up with a £8 can of something that might be salvaged by turning it into a lemonade shandy. A really expensive lemonade shandy.

That said, Un-Human Cannonball is out. Mega-yay. Do they even have hipsters in Huddersfield?
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: telstarbox on 19 May, 2018, 04:58:48 pm
Enjoying a Belhaven Speyside Blonde on our front step. Very slight whisky flavour.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Jakob W on 19 May, 2018, 06:25:50 pm
A glass of Thornbridge 'Mr Smith Gose to...', a watermelon sour (winner of a 2017 home brewer's competition, and brewed by Thornbridge as a special). I will confess to picking it up as much for the name as anything else; I'm not sure I've ever had a trad gose, and certainly not a watermelon one. A little googling showed me 'gose' isn't cognate with 'gueuze', so I learned something there. It's not unpleasant, if something of an acquired taste, and works well for the warm weather we've got. Not sure I'd get it again, but I might try some other goses.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: woollypigs on 19 May, 2018, 07:44:58 pm
Leffe, enough said.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 19 May, 2018, 07:50:49 pm
A glass of Thornbridge 'Mr Smith Gose to...', a watermelon sour (winner of a 2017 home brewer's competition, and brewed by Thornbridge as a special). I will confess to picking it up as much for the name as anything else; I'm not sure I've ever had a trad gose, and certainly not a watermelon one. A little googling showed me 'gose' isn't cognate with 'gueuze', so I learned something there. It's not unpleasant, if something of an acquired taste, and works well for the warm weather we've got. Not sure I'd get it again, but I might try some other goses.

I love a gose, not sure I would go for watermelon though....

Ones you might like to try:
Magic Rock Salty Kiss
Two Roads Tanker Truck Sour Series - Plum Gose, see also their Persian Lime Gose
Wild Beer A Wild Goose Chase. They do a load of goses, try also Sleeping Lemons (available in normal and export strength), Sleeping Limes (just released, waiting on mine being delivered), not had their Tom Yum yet either.
Victory Brewing Kirsch Gose
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 21 May, 2018, 08:17:23 am
It's actually quite nice, doesn't have that inauthentic and overpowering watermelon flavour. Summery, of course. A good sour or gose on a warm summer evening is perfect. That said, I find sours in general a bit hit and miss, especially if there's ageing involved, they're one of the more difficult beers. They show that you can hide a lot of sins with sufficient hops.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: tiermat on 21 May, 2018, 09:40:37 am
So, say a chap is visiting that there London, for work reasons.

Say said chap happens to be going to conference in Kensington but staying out near Excel (for reasons too boring to detail)

Where would you recommend said chap goes for a decent beer?

Said chap has visited the Beer House @ London Bridge and The Craft Beer Company @ Limehouse, both of which delivered, but said chap enjoys trying new places
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Ham on 21 May, 2018, 09:48:59 am
If said chap is near Excel, said chap is reasonably close to another sad chap who could suggest places, including their own hallowed halls....
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: tiermat on 21 May, 2018, 09:59:17 am
If said chap is near Excel, said chap is reasonably close to another sad chap who could suggest places, including their own hallowed halls....

Normally I said chap would say "Have at it", but he will be accompanied by his chums, for both evenings :(
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: jsabine on 21 May, 2018, 10:11:21 am
If said chap is prepared to cross the river from Excel, a third chap is happy to make a strong recommendation for the River Ale House in East Greenwich - newish micropub in a former knicker shop, frequently referred to by the third chap's wife as 'YourHis New Favourite Place.'

A short bus ride from North Greenwich tube station or from the south end of the cable car: choosing to walk is a bit grotty but might open up the possibility of a mini crawl including the Meantime Brewery, and/or the Meantime bar at North Greenwich.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Ham on 21 May, 2018, 10:22:48 am
why not drag 'em here ? https://www.whatpub.com/pubs/ELC/14563/fox-haggerston  ;D

Was going to suggest The Wanstead Tap, and The Pretty Decent Beer Company but (a) limited days open and (b) not necesasrily worth the schlep, although quite fun for us locals.

There's also Tap East in Stratford Westfield
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 27 May, 2018, 09:51:13 pm
For isotonic porpoises.

(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1726/27520941457_53e25e3857_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/HVW25D)
IMG_0809_01 (https://flic.kr/p/HVW25D) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 29 May, 2018, 10:23:01 am
Brasserie de Meaux, who gave us a nice tour. Straightforward artisanal beers done well (cerise, wheat, blonde, amber, and dark) and a nice break from the triple hopped DIPA monsters and the like.

Now I've found a bar in Chicago that promises 119 beers on tap...
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 02 June, 2018, 09:04:15 pm
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1746/28646674138_9bdcda1941_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/KDpGbN)
IMG_0861_01 (https://flic.kr/p/KDpGbN) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 03 June, 2018, 06:56:25 am
A wild beer orangey/guava-ey thing last night while bottling my homebrew.

Sounded nice in principle, too sweet in practice.

Had a bottle of my barleywine during the week, maturing very nicely.  Now tasting very rich and raisiny and the hops have mellowed
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Ashaman42 on 03 June, 2018, 05:39:38 pm
A couple pints of Badger Pale Ale and one of Fursty Ferret. In a sunny beer garden. Super.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: tiermat on 04 June, 2018, 08:32:51 am
Stopped off at a deli/petrol station /beer shop, on the way back from York, yesterday.

I managed to get my hands on a can of unhuman and neo-human Cannonball.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 04 June, 2018, 07:37:05 pm
Stopped off at a deli/petrol station /beer shop, on the way back from York, yesterday.

I managed to get my hands on a can of unhuman and neo-human Cannonball.

I came home to a fridge filled with this awesome:

Human Cannonball
Un-Human Cannonball
Neo-Human Cannonball
Hedonistic Escalation
Damn, Son.


On the front of the fridge are four post-its that read DO. NOT. DRINK. IT.

Had some good stuff on my travels in Chicagoland. I'm off to Portland and Seattle this summer. I may need that 1000-tablet bottle of ibuprofen that I sourced from Walgreens the other day...
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 04 June, 2018, 09:42:29 pm
a Beavertown somethingorother session IPA (neck oil?), decent light IPA, hoppy, slighlty fruity
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 08 June, 2018, 10:02:55 pm
Made a start on the Magic Rock with Damn, Son. I wasn't that impressed at first, but warmed up a little it's really quite lush. It's not sour though (if you want a sour, you'll be disappointed), just a murky fruity IPA, reminiscent of Brewdog's Pump Action Poet but with a bit more fruit to it.

I could, but probably shouldn't, drink a bathtub full of it. I'm not brave enough to hit the Cannonballs yet.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: tiermat on 09 June, 2018, 06:09:58 am
I am building up to the Cannonball, too.

Today, however, in celebration of our 16th wedding anniversary, myself and Mrs T will be visiting the new House of Trembling Madness, which only opened yesterday!
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 24 June, 2018, 11:56:04 pm
Cantillon Mamouche at 6 Degrees North  :P (£15 a pint, the bar manager said his boss had advised him to sell it at 50% more than that  ::-) )
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: tiermat on 25 June, 2018, 07:07:37 am
Over the weekend I had, in no real order:

The Great Cornholio by Tiny Rebel
Unhuman Cannonball by Magic Rock
Life and Death & Pride and Glory by Vocation.

The latter 2 are my goto, ideal for smashing whilst watching the football, the former two I drank while watching a movie on Friday night.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: EllysH on 25 June, 2018, 09:15:20 am
I am building up to the Cannonball, too.

Today, however, in celebration of our 16th wedding anniversary, myself and Mrs T will be visiting the new House of Trembling Madness, which only opened yesterday!
Is the new trembling any good?

Sent from my PLK-L01 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 25 June, 2018, 10:10:18 am
I was going to drink the first of the Cannonballs last night, but bottled it as I have things to do today and an international flight. I did have the Hedonic Escalation though and it was very nice.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: lahoski on 25 June, 2018, 11:17:20 am
I think I might have to track down some Cannonballs. It's the problem with living in the craft beer desert that is Oxfordshire.

In other news, a cheeky and frivolous to Stone Brewing Berlin yesterday to cushion the impending doom of SXF yielded some of the best beers I've had so far this year.

Stone Pilot Series Golden Kraut - 8.5% golden ale w/ juniper, caraway and sage. The herbs were just strong enough to taste throughout the glass but subtle enough for it to be dangerously drinkable.

Guezerie Tilquin/Brasserie Artisanale de Rulles Stout Rullquin. Apparently it's La Rulles Brun blended 7 parts with 1 part one-year old lambics, aged in oak barrels and then refermented for 6 months. Reminiscent of a Flanders red but more  like tamarind or pomegranate molasses than balsamic vinegar.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 25 June, 2018, 12:19:17 pm
I think I might have to track down some Cannonballs. It's the problem with living in the craft beer desert that is Oxfordshire.

In other news, a cheeky and frivolous to Stone Brewing Berlin yesterday to cushion the impending doom of SXF yielded some of the best beers I've had so far this year.

Stone Pilot Series Golden Kraut - 8.5% golden ale w/ juniper, caraway and sage. The herbs were just strong enough to taste throughout the glass but subtle enough for it to be dangerously drinkable.

Guezerie Tilquin/Brasserie Artisanale de Rulles Stout Rullquin. Apparently it's La Rulles Brun blended 7 parts with 1 part one-year old lambics, aged in oak barrels and then refermented for 6 months. Reminiscent of a Flanders red but more  like tamarind or pomegranate molasses than balsamic vinegar.

Ooh - we're planning a visit to Stone later this week  :P
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: PaulF on 25 June, 2018, 01:04:07 pm
I think I might have to track down some Cannonballs. It's the problem with living in the craft beer desert that is Oxfordshire.


Whereabouts are you? There’s always a good selection at Bellingers in Wantage (the Vauxhall dealer, I kid you not!) and Q garden centre just outside Didcot. Plus Whitehorse Brewery in Stanford
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 25 June, 2018, 02:42:30 pm
If you ever get the opportunity go to Stone's place in Escondido. It's well worth the $30ish in an Uber/Lyft.

Of course there's no shortage of places to drink good beer in San Diego (there's downtown Stone tap by Petco stadium – though head to North Park for Modern Times et al. and a splendid pub crawl).
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 26 June, 2018, 09:30:58 pm
We have found the Stone tap at Prenzlauerberg :P
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 26 June, 2018, 09:50:02 pm
I'll be ABZ bound in a few weeks - Fierce Beer?
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 26 June, 2018, 10:01:13 pm
I'll be ABZ bound in a few weeks - Fierce Beer?
Could be persuaded...
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 26 June, 2018, 10:01:41 pm
We have found the Stone tap at Prenzlauerberg :P
That was brilliant. Going back.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mr Larrington on 27 June, 2018, 11:20:43 am
We have found the Stone tap at Prenzlauerberg :P

So that stuff about San Diego was an Alternative Fact perpetrated by Mark Zuckerbot?

Iz disappointed.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: lahoski on 27 June, 2018, 04:44:53 pm
Whereabouts are you? There’s always a good selection at Bellingers in Wantage (the Vauxhall dealer, I kid you not!) and Q garden centre just outside Didcot. Plus Whitehorse Brewery in Stanford
Abingdon - so all quite handy. Ta for the tips.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: lahoski on 27 June, 2018, 04:45:47 pm
We have found the Stone tap at Prenzlauerberg :P

It's amazing how these things just seem to happen. Every time.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 27 June, 2018, 05:04:46 pm
I'll be ABZ bound in a few weeks - Fierce Beer?
Could be persuaded...

I went to Fierce Beer on their opening night. It's true. I didn't know you chaps were in Aberdeen. Sorry if I drank all the beer.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 27 June, 2018, 10:55:04 pm
I'll be ABZ bound in a few weeks - Fierce Beer?
Could be persuaded...

I went to Fierce Beer on their opening night. It's true. I didn't know you chaps were in Aberdeen. Sorry if I drank all the beer.

 :facepalm:
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 28 June, 2018, 10:06:39 pm
I'll be ABZ bound in a few weeks - Fierce Beer?
Could be persuaded...

I went to Fierce Beer on their opening night. It's true. I didn't know you chaps were in Aberdeen. Sorry if I drank all the beer.
How could you have missed the fact we live in Aberdeen?
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 28 June, 2018, 10:07:34 pm
We have found the Stone tap at Prenzlauerberg :P

So that stuff about San Diego was an Alternative Fact perpetrated by Mark Zuckerbot?

Iz disappointed.
Yes, there didn't seem to be a FB page for that particular tap room...
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: tiermat on 29 June, 2018, 09:06:27 am
I am building up to the Cannonball, too.

Today, however, in celebration of our 16th wedding anniversary, myself and Mrs T will be visiting the new House of Trembling Madness, which only opened yesterday!
Is the new trembling any good?

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Yes! So good I went back the following weekend (and am heading there next weekend)
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 29 June, 2018, 05:02:15 pm
I'll be ABZ bound in a few weeks - Fierce Beer?
Could be persuaded...

I went to Fierce Beer on their opening night. It's true. I didn't know you chaps were in Aberdeen. Sorry if I drank all the beer.
How could you have missed the fact we live in Aberdeen?

I'm the world's worst internet stalker, sorry. Plus I'm not very bright. Which everyone should already know.

Mmmm, Stone tap at Prenzlauer Berg... I see they also have one at Liberty Station in San Diego now, which is nice (they have a cool craft beer bar there anyway). For the record, I don't just attend conferences in SD to drink beer but it helps. Last year, when I wandered down to the bar in my Marriott I was greeted with a selection of twenty-four options. It sort of went sideways from there.

Very much looking forward to be in Portland and Seattle in a couple of months.

I think after a week of generic African lager (admittedly satisfying when you're there) I might have to crack the first Cannonballs tonight.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: tiermat on 30 June, 2018, 05:54:50 am
Last night I got around to trying a new (to me) Tiny Rebel beer, Peaches and Cream IPA.

It doesn't lie, it has tonnes of peaches, and hops.  Just the right balance, I would say.  Oh and it has a drawing of Princess Peach on the label.

Still not got to the Unhuman Cannonball...
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 30 June, 2018, 08:14:18 pm
I just went with a nice chilled Lagunitas IPA this evening
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 05 July, 2018, 02:31:47 pm
O beer woe! Beavertown Extravaganza or not? No Cloudwater! No Verdant! Capitalist pigdoggery!
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Andrew Br on 05 July, 2018, 04:08:26 pm
The current interest in "craft" beers is a mystery to me.
Make a beer, add something exotic, boil it and then put it in a fancy can and charge lots seems to be the MO
I've got some Adnams Clementine Pale Ale. It's nice but way, way too expensive.
After a week in Suffolk, the two best pints have been London Pride although Adnams Freewheel has been good as well.


Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Hot Flatus on 05 July, 2018, 05:26:52 pm
Problem is the big brewers have got in on the craft beer scene.  Beavertown is being bought out at the moment.

Real craft brewers don't actually make any money. Cloudwater are a good example of this.

Funky can does not mean the contents are any good.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 05 July, 2018, 06:56:32 pm
The current interest in "craft" beers is a mystery to me.
Make a beer, add something exotic, boil it and then put it in a fancy can and charge lots seems to be the MO
I've got some Adnams Clementine Pale Ale. It's nice but way, way too expensive.
After a week in Suffolk, the two best pints have been London Pride although Adnams Freewheel has been good as well.

I'm not sure I'd call Adnams 'craft' and it's not really just a case of bunging some fruit in. Though it can work, as anyone who's had a good Belgish kriek can verify. It's just about seeing what you can do making something that tastes good and is far away from tasteless mass produced 'beer' that used to fill every pub. Sure, not every one will be brilliant, but part of the fun is trying something new. Yes, it costs more, but much of it is produced o a very small scale by people who perhaps are more passionate about what they do than about how much money they can make out of it. I'd pay more for that.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: woollypigs on 05 July, 2018, 08:09:53 pm
Well I for one like this new trend, it caused Timothy Taylor to brew one I liked. Sadly it will probably only be seasonal.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 05 July, 2018, 10:42:28 pm
Swannay Abune, om nom nom  :P
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: lahoski on 06 July, 2018, 08:37:39 am
Why do people always pick on craft beer over value? It's probably one of the most fairly priced products. Hardly anyone (except Logan Plant) is making a ridiculous amount of money in the industry and as ian rightly said it's mostly produced with a real enthusiam for the product.

Traditional British ale has an artificially low price. There's a lot of underpaid workers and a lot of unpaid work goes on in small breweries. Craft beer has made some steps in changing that. A good number pay the (actual, not Tory) living wage and frankly it's reinvigorated drinking culture in many ways. Much like the 'artisan' gin boom.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: lahoski on 06 July, 2018, 08:40:53 am
On another note, after five whole dry days supervising human spawn in the Lakes, I'm going to funnel as much beer down my throat as possible. Hopefully there's some sessionable beers in t' fridge at home, otherwise this could get messy.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 06 July, 2018, 10:08:50 am
Yes that, I do try where possible to avoid big chains (which is harder and harder) when I purchase. It's nice to give money to smaller producers of food and drink rather than large faceless companies, and when I do have buy things from big companies I try and at least pick the least worst. It's often the only power we have. And I like beer (and gin) and there's practically an infinite variety (you should see my beer coffin, it's full of frothy, hoppy, and soured goodness). And I'm old and sensible enough for it to not be about the hangover (or rather, it is about the hangover), so I'm not aiming to drink ten pints, I've rather savour something significant.

That's what troubles me about Beavertown. Heineken aren't interested in beer. OK, it's an investment and it's not like the private equity that funds Brewdog et al. much care about beer either, other than it gets their paws on something they seem incapable or unwilling to brew themselves. I can sort of say 'fair enough' as I don't actually mind the entrepreneurial instincts of folks like Brewdog (the ubiquity of Punk IPA is welcome, it might not be the best, but it's consistently drinkable). But equally, does it always have to be world domination. It's not like Logan Plant can plead poverty. Oh, I don't know, that's modern life, a romp through the swamp of hypocrisy.

Anyway, next time you're mooning over a £9 can of barrel-aged soured goji berry septuple hopped beer, remember that even beer brewing hipsters need to pay a mortgage. Or rather, mum and dad. Who they will pay back. Probably. Not. Anyway, think of the hipsters and grab that beer.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Jakob W on 08 July, 2018, 09:37:32 pm
Camden Strawberry Hells Forever - very nice and refreshing; the strawberry flavour is nice and subtle, but makes it less bland than the standard Hells. I hadn't realised Camden had been bought out by InBev, boo, though being available in Sainsbury's should perhaps have been a clue...
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: jsabine on 09 July, 2018, 02:15:34 am
'kinell, Punk IPA can really hit the spot when you're in that sort of place ... A couple of chilled cans earlier really didn't touch the sides, though the Oakham Citra a bit later was slower and more savoured.

(Truth is, I think most things would have worked earlier, as long as COLD and WET were primary attributes. But the Punk was pretty much spot on.)
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Jakob W on 09 July, 2018, 10:43:07 am
Touring in NL last week the 20 or 25cl measures of Heineken fulfilled just that function - small enough to stay ice cold, and indeed not to cause problems if the first one is simply necked back. Dutch pilsner isn't normally my favourite style, but is dashed refreshing when you've just done a couple of hours across the polders in 30+°C heat.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Ashaman42 on 11 July, 2018, 07:54:44 pm
So our new local crafty beer shop has a couple cannonball variants.

 From memory human cannonball and neo human cannonball. Both are nearly £8 a can but I've heard people raving.

Which one do I go for first?

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Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 13 July, 2018, 04:28:15 pm
Probably safest to buy both. I’ve not yet drunk mine and the fridge is 6000 miles away so I won’t be drinking it any time soon (not back till the end of the month). Alas, I have been kidnapped by a local taxi driver and stranded in a Mikeller bar. I’m sitting outside, it’s about 28 degrees, and I have a cold glass of Mr Cloudy. Warn your kids that a career in thought leadership is tough. Oh, and the mothership is paying.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 13 July, 2018, 05:18:43 pm
Git.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Ashaman42 on 13 July, 2018, 05:40:18 pm
Actually buying both is a good plan. Of course by the time I get back there he won't have them in stock I'm sure.

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Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 14 July, 2018, 05:16:40 am
Git.

It's awful I know. Google also tells me there's a craft beer bar behind my hotel. So I won't even need the taxi this evening.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Ashaman42 on 14 July, 2018, 02:13:17 pm
Only un-human cannonball available this time round so I grabbed one. I'll try and catch the other variants some other time.

You can tell it's a strong beer. Yowzers.

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Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 14 July, 2018, 09:03:23 pm
Git.

It's awful I know. Google also tells me there's a craft beer bar behind my hotel. So I won't even need the taxi this evening.

Where are you this time?

I must admit to being a little underwhelmed by the Mikkeler bars in CPH and Berlin, though admittedly I've not made it to Mikkeler & Friends (too early for opening) and I did like Warpigs, even though the food was a bit meaty for my tastes.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 15 July, 2018, 06:07:34 am
Bangkok this weekend (flying to Jakarta tomorrow). I confess, I do find Mikkeler a bit hit-and-miss (beers and bars) but they usually have something interesting and it was a break from the local generic lagers (admittedly refreshing when it's 30 plus degrees and 90% humidity). I'm on my own for the weekend, so I just want to find places with decent beer where I can chill out, have a bite to eat and read a book, rather than compete with loud boozed-up crowds. No 'funky massages' (as my Thai colleague describes them) in Patpong for me (and I'm trying to avoid the football too, which has proved more difficult, I couldn't even get away from it in Hanoi).
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 19 July, 2018, 08:18:20 am
My grand tour of national non-descript lagers ended with the evocatively named Bintang – alas, my next and final stop (Malaysia) doesn't appear to have a national non-descript lager. Shame, I've managed Singha, Chang, Leo, Hanoi, Saigon, Beerlao, Cambodia, and Manila (some try harder with the names than others). Honestly, I need a a full on DIPA at this point. I may have booked a hotel next to a large craft beer bar. May as well enjoy my last Bintang or three in the airport lounge.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 19 July, 2018, 05:38:45 pm
Going to Egypt next week. Doubt I'll be getting any beer there....
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 19 July, 2018, 07:05:47 pm
There are several nondescript local lagers in Egypt plus imported stuff. Mostly hotel drinking though there are bars and nightclubs (in Cairo anyway).
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 25 July, 2018, 04:01:05 pm
last week some Fierce stuff, and some other stuff in CASC, I vaguely remember it was stuff that has been wittered on about expressly recommended from this place, and it was good.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 28 July, 2018, 10:17:44 pm
We went to Overworks in Ellon to look at barrels drink some soor beers  :P

The view from the bar:

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/937/43694543411_7ae36ca6e5_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/29z8XsK)
overworks_01 (https://flic.kr/p/29z8XsK) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Ashaman42 on 28 July, 2018, 10:33:34 pm
Had a nice pineapple sour at our local crafty beer place earlier and I bought another can of un-human cannonball home to drink tomorrow at some point.

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Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Ashaman42 on 28 July, 2018, 10:34:01 pm
Most likely to be quickly followed by a nap if last time is anything to go by.

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Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: lahoski on 01 August, 2018, 05:28:52 pm
Does anyone have and beer or brewery recs for Washington and Oregon? I've got an imminent two week trip incorporating Seattle, Bellingham, Portland and Bend...
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mr Larrington on 01 August, 2018, 07:03:30 pm
I have in the past consumed a goodly quantity of Full Sail's IPA, hailing from Hood River OR.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Jakob W on 01 August, 2018, 07:05:43 pm
From what I gather of the PNW, you need but fling out your arm and you'll hit another craft brewery... I'm afraid I can't make any recommendations, but have fun!
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 01 August, 2018, 07:48:32 pm
There's more than sixty breweries alone in Portland, not many fewer in Seattle. Plus taprooms and bars. Google and invest in one of those 1000-packs of ibuprofen from Walgreens. I've not been for a few years (I'll be visiting later in the summer) and obviously my memories are a little blurry.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: woollypigs on 01 August, 2018, 08:09:22 pm
@lahoski rotten you will be spoiled, remortgage your house and remember people will pay good money for a spare kidney. As Ian said there silly amount of breweries in both states/cities.  American beer isn't fecking close to water anymore. They do like their hobs and server them colder than we tend to have them. But then again I tend to go for pale ales and IPAs, which often tend to up the % a bit.

Here is something to help you plan :)

http://www.brewtrail.com

https://washingtonbeer.com/breweries/

https://oregoncraftbeer.org/breweries/

hick erm I mean enjoy !
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: lahoski on 02 August, 2018, 01:09:36 pm
Good websites! Not sure about remortgaging given today's interest rate rise but we've got two spare kidneys between us. So far our plan seems to one thirds camping* and walking in t' mountains and two thirds traipsing around breweries so a little off-books surgery might be necessary.

There's more than sixty breweries alone in Portland...

We've got two days, should be a'ight I reckon.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 06 August, 2018, 12:09:01 pm
Did the London Craft Beer thing on Friday which was very nice. I can't list everything, but some splendid selections. On the downside, the food was shit, I mean seriously what kind of idiot makes their business around selling hot dogs and doesn't have mustard and ketchup. Why bother with the hot dog while you are at it.

Popped a can of Neo-Human Cannonball last night. Very tasty. A lot better than the Human Cannonball which was nice, but I think a little overrated. Not tried the UnHuman yet. Stumbled across a craft beer shop in Forest Hill on the way home from the cinema (when did that appear?). It's become impossible for me to get home without a pannier full of boozy gains. Every route now proffers temptation. And that's before I get to Freshfield in Croydon. There's also a glimmer of hipsterism in Croyders itself, there's an Arts & Craft place (the same as the ones in Streatham and West Norwood) with a couple of taps the ubiquitous street food. Nice to sit outside in this weather, going to be a bit cramped inside in winter mind.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: LEE on 06 August, 2018, 12:53:54 pm
I'm very lucky that our cycling club uses a CAMRA multi-award-winning pub as "HQ".

Anyone (who appreciates well-kept beer) within reach of North-West Hampshire could do much worse than head to The Wonston Arms.

It's a pub.  It's not a restaurant.  The landlord, Matt, was tired of looking at the boarded up pub in the village, bought it, and has made it a wonderful focal-point for village life.  You know..like pubs used to be.

The Wonston Arms (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/food-and-drink/features/camra-reveals-britains-16-best-pubs-region-surrey-merseyside/wonston-arms-wonston/)
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: pcolbeck on 06 August, 2018, 04:39:30 pm
Just read that a pint of is > £6 in many London pubs now. That's just mad !
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: LEE on 06 August, 2018, 04:41:34 pm
Just read that a pint of is > £6 in many London pubs now. That's just mad !

Just another reason not to bother going (though I will be going to Norway for a few weeks next year...and will be dreaming of good old budget London prices).
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 06 August, 2018, 06:46:38 pm
Just read that a pint of is > £6 in many London pubs now. That's just mad !

That's cheap. For good stuff.

Tbh, they cherry-pick the top price and go 'that's everywhere in London,' which it isn't. Yeah, buying a bottle of Heineken at some nightclub or a roof top bar is going to be expensive (£4.50 for a can of Punk at Bar Elba and you'd don't even get a meet-n-greet with Napoleon). Plus comparing a barrel-aged 13% barley wine with a pint of Stella isn't a fair price comparison. The former might set you back £15-20 a pint but then you're not going to be ordering pints. I hope.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Ham on 07 August, 2018, 08:15:11 am
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BX4adeRG60k/W2lGFyB1dgI/AAAAAAACzzk/9wQwQmOWeYULZbivJ5Rws55hl7Ky1wLZgCKgBGAs/s800/IMG_20180805_184552.jpg)

A disappointment. Tasted as if it had chemical additives in it, hint was in the name, I suppose.

I would have put it down to barrel dregs, but apparently it was a new barrel and according to the legend on the label, is meant to be cloudy. I persisted for almost half before giving up. Possibly the first time ever for a pint that wasn't "bad", maybe it was.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 07 August, 2018, 08:25:27 am
On a cycling theme Verdant's Maybe One More PSI is a lush boozy smoothie. Popped a can last night as it was a birthday and well, if needs must. I've had it before and it's definitely one of the best DIPAs, up there with better effort of Cloudwater.

Though if you like murky, dank DIPAs, check out Other Half Brewing in NYC. It's well worth a visit to their tap room. Then do KCBC. Hic.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 07 August, 2018, 08:31:30 pm
Argyll brewery Jarl, light, hoppy, sessionable

Vital Spark, same outfit, dark and rich. Worth finding, not sure if they travel
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 07 August, 2018, 08:34:56 pm
Argyll brewery Jarl, light, hoppy, sessionable

Vital Spark, same outfit, dark and rich. Worth finding, not sure if they travel

Jarl and Avalanche are often found in Krakatoa in FurryBootToon  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: pcolbeck on 08 August, 2018, 10:38:21 am
Last night I had a bottle of Vedett Extra Blond with my tea. Smashing ! I think this may be my new favorite pilsner type beer. Nice bottle as well.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 09 August, 2018, 08:30:45 pm
Tonight, now returned home with sore legs, a St Peters Plum Porter, first time I'd seem this one.

Smells very jammy, damson-ish, rich and sweet, almost like a fruit juice with very little hoppiness. Quite pleasant.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Wowbagger on 22 August, 2018, 06:37:40 pm
Fullers 1845 currently on special offer in Southend Waitrose - 3 bottles for £5. It's years since I have seen 1845 on sale in WR. Last time I bought some was on an even better offer (4 for £6) at Asda's in Chepstow, at The Things' camping weekend.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 23 August, 2018, 01:16:27 am
Alas, there are only six breweries and taprooms within a 5 minute walk of my hotel.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: nicknack on 25 August, 2018, 10:42:04 am
Alas, there are only six breweries and taprooms within a 5 minute walk of my hotel.
:thumbsup:
However, from the sort of opposite point of view - I was playing in a "sports bar" last night (The Ashes in Maidstone, if anyone's interested) and, in common with sports bars everywhere (AFAICT) it served 5 kinds of shit lager and 1 fizzy 'bitter' (Tetleys Smooth). Is it a fact that folk who go to pubs to watch sport only like shit lager? Why? What's the link? Anyway, it ensured that I made 1 pint of St Miguel last all evening.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: menthel on 26 August, 2018, 03:45:04 pm
Wimbledon brewery do some great stuff. Its not crazy and out there but it is consistently good and they are a great bunch with it. They make my favourite beer- their Copper (in cans) is superb. Fruity, light and with just the right amount of bitterness to drink 2-3 without much effort.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: woollypigs on 26 August, 2018, 03:54:51 pm
I spend a few hours in Leeds yesterday and visited a place or two - North Bar, North Brewery, Belgrave Music Hall, Head of Steam and Brew Dog. Sadly the two we tried in Brew Dog were the two most boring of all the ales we sampled.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Wowbagger on 26 August, 2018, 07:00:17 pm
Alas, there are only six breweries and taprooms within a 5 minute walk of my hotel.
:thumbsup:
However, from the sort of opposite point of view - I was playing in a "sports bar" last night (The Ashes in Maidstone, if anyone's interested) and, in common with sports bars everywhere (AFAICT) it served 5 kinds of shit lager and 1 fizzy 'bitter' (Tetleys Smooth). Is it a fact that folk who go to pubs to watch sport only like shit lager? Why? What's the link? Anyway, it ensured that I made 1 pint of St Miguel last all evening.

There's a tendency for them to like shit politics as well, I think.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 29 August, 2018, 06:42:45 pm
Alas, there are only six breweries and taprooms within a 5 minute walk of my hotel.
:thumbsup:
However, from the sort of opposite point of view - I was playing in a "sports bar" last night (The Ashes in Maidstone, if anyone's interested) and, in common with sports bars everywhere (AFAICT) it served 5 kinds of shit lager and 1 fizzy 'bitter' (Tetleys Smooth). Is it a fact that folk who go to pubs to watch sport only like shit lager? Why? What's the link? Anyway, it ensured that I made 1 pint of St Miguel last all evening.

Being married to a musician who occasionally does gigs at similar places, I can vouch for the shit pub beer phenomenon. Whoo, Fosters, Stella, Carlsberg, Carling and Carling Ice, you spoil me! Or the more extravagant selections of Budweiser and Coors, probably all brewed in Milton Keynes or somewhere equally exotic. OK, it probably is more exotic than Milwaukee.

There's something grim about ending up having to buy a £6 pint of Peroni just because it's the least worst option.

I will say that on Sunday night we shouldn't have finished on the barrel-aged barleywine and the double IPA, but hey, the barman was buying...
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Jakob W on 30 August, 2018, 11:58:51 pm
A pint of Backyard Brewery Mandarin, and a pint of Titanic Stout. The former was nice enough, and the stout was excellent.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Ashaman42 on 31 August, 2018, 06:34:58 am
Mini beer festival on Brighton Pier last night. 8 breweries each with a couple taps and some bottles/cans.

The first one I had, a cherry sour from the North Laine brewery was absolutely delicious.

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Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: telstarbox on 11 September, 2018, 06:34:23 pm
Has anyone tried any of the new low/no alcohol beers? In particular Adnams' Ghost Ship 0.5% (the full fat one is lovely).

A few ratings in this article: Love lager – but want to drink less? Adrian Chiles’s guide to great alcohol-free beers

https://www.theguardian.com/food/2018/sep/09/adrian-chiles-top-10-alcohol-free-beers?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Copy_to_clipboard

Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 11 September, 2018, 06:44:51 pm
I have that article book marked. We have a case of Nanny State in the beer cellar for isotonic purposes or that last drink before bed I would normally regret. Been meaning to try some others but not got round to ordering any yet.
Tried the 0.5% raspberry one from Brewdog a few weeks ago but wasn't that impressed as it didn't seem like beer.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 11 September, 2018, 06:49:19 pm
The Erdinger one is OK.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 11 September, 2018, 07:05:16 pm
I personally don't particularly like them. It, at best, tastes like alcohol-free beer and frankly there's better tasting things that are alcohol-free. Possibly I have PTSD after inadvertently drinking some alcohol-free Bitburger the other year and it tasted so weird it came out of my nose at some velocity. Even more of the problem for the other side of the table who received a faceful of the fizzy nasal ejaculate. That's probably not a phrase you ever want to Google.

There's quite a few 2.8 per cent beers I like, and session beers in general. I think it's actually more skilful to make a good low ABV beer than a nuclear hop bomb.

I did the Beavertown Extravaganza at the weekend which was quite nice – only a couple of brewers had bailed, so there was plenty of selection. I had to adjust the world's vertical hold several times on the way home. Everyone, of course, queues at the popular places, so we made a point of visiting the lesser-visited stands. I'd recount what I drank but I was, of course, drinking.

Next weekend, we'll be swapping craft for cask as there's a beer festival nearby. It's good excuse to wander through Downe, taking the opportunity to piss on Farage's fence on the way. I'd do it more voluminously on the way home too, but we live in the other direction.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 16 September, 2018, 07:35:19 pm
Brew York - Rhubarbra Streisand.
I really like rhubarb, but I've yet to find a rhubarb beer I like much. This one is a bit fake tasting. And my gods, the smell was vile when first poured from the can, though it seems to have dissipated now. I think maybe I should stop trying rhubarb beers.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Basil on 16 September, 2018, 08:20:53 pm
There's a beer festival in Carmarthen in a couple of weeks.  Of course there's a bus from the village organised. I keep having to tell people that ' No thanks, I don't want a seat.'
I just don't get beer festivals. You walk in. There's eleventy hundred beers that you've never heard of.  I have quite a low tolerance,  so will only be able to try a several of halves.  The chances of finding one I like early on is not very likely.
I'd much rather sit in my favourite pub and drink stuff I know I like.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 17 September, 2018, 10:42:56 am
Well, craft-beer festivals are a good excuse to try a wide range of beers. Barrel-aged mead, anyone? I did. A lot of it isn't something you'll readily find in the shops, so it's a bit of an adventure.

The cask beer ones (like I went to on Saturday) are a bit duller, the beer is a bit samey and the staff have to explain that the one cloudy beer isn't poisonous, it's mostly just an excuse to end a long walk with several beers and some cheese rock on a 'village' green. Most of the interesting sounding stuff had run out. As had the bread which meant I had to have a cup full of sausages with mustard in the bottom. It'll be a hipster trend shortly.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 22 September, 2018, 08:33:51 pm
A Loka Polly Simcoe DDH Pale Ale. Apparently brewed in an old stable in Mold. Who knew. Sounded like it came from Finland or somesuch.

Rather spiffing, doesn't overdo the hops, but matches a good IPA without the epic ABV. Which means I can have another. Yes, I've been shopping.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: campagman on 26 September, 2018, 07:49:46 pm
I'll be volunteering behind the bar at Amber Valley Beer Festival on Fri/Sat.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 26 September, 2018, 08:29:32 pm
This unit was manufactured in the Amber Valley (it's not actually amber, is it?). Belper is where my posh gran came from (for some measure of posh, she smoked like a chimney and squeezed out twelve kids in what appeared to be a competition with the Irish family across the road). Basically, to the people of Heanor, Belper is the poshest place ever. But remember, they're comparing it with Ripley, Alfreton, and Il'son.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: SteveC on 26 September, 2018, 08:36:16 pm
This unit was manufactured in the Amber Valley (it's not actually amber, is it?). <snip>
It's another of those Celtic words for river, like Avon.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 28 September, 2018, 08:40:23 pm
So basically it's the River River. It mostly avoided the part I lived in, we had the River Erewash which might have actually been amber. Ambergate is even posher than Belper. The Erewash is only called that to discourage foreigners who dunt say it rate. I'm from a town that foxes a universal translator.

In other news, another shout out to Brasserie de Meaux, not just because we made the owners give us a tour in English, but because I'm drinking their beer right now while giving up pretending to work and it's rather nice so you should drink it too. Admittedly that might require a trip to an industrial estate in a town 30 km to the east of Paris, but really, what else were you going to do tonight?
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 29 September, 2018, 10:29:01 pm
Viven smoked porter. Om nom nom  :P
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: campagman on 30 September, 2018, 08:09:40 pm
Some guys from the Monster Raving Loony Party were in the AVBF on Fri (there party conference was in Belper this w/e). I asked about Screeming Lord Such but then told he died 19 yrs ago, oops!
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 06 October, 2018, 07:52:09 pm
Leffe Blonde on offer in Waitrose again, £4 for a four-pack of the small bottles
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: woollypigs on 06 October, 2018, 09:20:00 pm
oooooh look what I found in town today

https://beermonkeybrewco.com/ - New brewery in town with a wee little bar, had a natter with some of the staff and got a free tour of the brewery :)

http://www.thegrowlingshrew.com/ - New bottle shop, with local craft beers and a few foreign (aka from outside Yorkshire) and you can your growler filled there too
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 06 October, 2018, 10:01:47 pm
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1960/44420770444_6d5d17855f_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2aFj4su)
IMG_9370_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2aFj4su) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr

Arf @Mrs P  :)
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 14 October, 2018, 10:49:37 pm
Left Handed Giant  :P From Cudzo-land, moi luvver.

(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1972/45322894561_75965fc6b8_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2c42Fwz)
IMG_9417_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2c42Fwz) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 15 October, 2018, 09:31:39 am
I drank the cycle one yesterday. Seemed pleasant enough, but then everything tastes a bit snotty at the moment.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Riggers on 16 October, 2018, 11:21:38 am
I had a bottle of Harvey's brewery extra double imperial stout. Gorgeous. 9% of liquid smoky treacly goodness!!!! It takes 18 months to ferment and settle before bottling.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Ham on 02 November, 2018, 07:52:27 pm
Just tried a Brewdog Nanny State (0.5%) and was most pleasantly surprised. I'll do that again.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 02 November, 2018, 09:15:14 pm
Magic Rock Saucery session IPA. Rather good. Before that a very fruity Bramble Sour from Gypsy Hill. Beers and tunes (Meg Myer's Take me to the Disco) and the smell of slow roasting veg (that is fated to be pizza topping in about 30 minutes). It might be the end times of Brexiting Trumpogeddon, but occasionally you can shuffle all that shit to one side for enough minutes to qualify as contentment.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 02 November, 2018, 09:33:20 pm
Speaking of Magic Rock, I am saddened by the passing of their old can designs, i.e. the blobby things. :(
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 02 November, 2018, 09:40:20 pm
Surely not! I love their can designs.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 02 November, 2018, 10:26:37 pm
Tis true. I love Salty Kiss but it'll never be the same now...
https://www.magicrockbrewing.com/blog/core-cans-re-design/?age-verified=fbaa15b825
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 30 November, 2018, 07:57:59 pm
(Belatedly)

The new can design is still cool, but yes, the ghost blobs. Sob.

She's put 'don't drink this!' post-its on stuff in the fridge again. Control freak.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: menthel on 03 December, 2018, 10:29:43 am
I had a white stout by Park Brewery in the rather lovely Albion pub in Kingston on Friday. All the coffee/chocolate flavours without the cloying sweetness/heaviness or high alcohol levels of a traditional stout.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 09 December, 2018, 06:54:35 pm
We popped into our local* micropub for a quick drink on the way home after a hike in the wilds of, erm, Hertfordshire yesterday. Suitably lubricated by about 9pm we got up to head home and get some food. Just as we did that, the landlord put on a new beer. To Øl's Jule Mælk, a festively 15% imperial milk stout. We got home a little later than intended...

*not entirely local, but it's between the train station served by the faster East Grinstead-bound trains and the bus stop that has a service with a stop a few minutes from The Asbestos Palace, and well, what better way to wait for a bus.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 09 December, 2018, 07:03:37 pm
Einstock Icelandic White Ale yesterday, nice. 

Was going to go for a wild beer chocolate, milk, soemthing else stout, but it was more than I could conceptually deal with
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Jakob W on 18 December, 2018, 02:01:58 pm
Last night at the Euston Tap, a variety of things; I quite liked the peanut butter milk stout in a sweet-toothed novelty kind of a way, but the spiced chocolate mocha stout with an unpronounceable South-American-looking name was a bit much. I did find myself wishing they offered thirds, which would have allowed me to try more of the headbanging stuff.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 18 December, 2018, 08:06:25 pm
Pint of Beavertown Gamma Ray at lunch today, OK for an americanian hoppy thing.  Went well with smoked bratwurst, poached eggs, onions and hollandaise
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Hot Flatus on 18 December, 2018, 09:40:35 pm
Jeez. Imagine the farts from that combo  :facepalm:
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 18 December, 2018, 09:41:24 pm
I'll tell you tomorrow  ;D
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 30 December, 2018, 06:28:36 pm
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/30/trappist-monks-devise-system-to-make-beer-without-wasting-water
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 30 December, 2018, 06:36:13 pm
Loving the barleywines at the moment. Excellent one from Lervig the other day at the Beer Merchants Tap in the tragically hip Wickney Hack. And I've snarfed a bottle of Magic Rock's Strongman.

We did wander down the Bermondsey Beer Mile before Christmas (cut a bit short as both Affinity and Partizan had closed already for the holidays, humbug). I suspect we still got enough beer in. And sausage rolls. Lots of sausage rolls. You need to cover all your essential food groups on one of these boozy adventures.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Tim Hall on 02 January, 2019, 10:55:17 am
Out for a New year's Day stroll yesterday, we popped in to a Thee Pubbe at Teddington Lock. I chose a pint of Fuller's Imperial Stout.

"That's the best value alcohol we do" said the barman "£4.50 a pint"

I agreed it was reasonable and asked how strong it was. 10.7% abv. Stuff me. I've seen wine at 11% before and here I am sinking a pint of it. The equivalent of three pints of cooking bitter.

It tasted wonderful, strong burnt caramel, although my companion said it was "minging". "That's one word for it" said the hungover barman.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 02 January, 2019, 11:07:11 am
...
To Øl's Jule Mælk, a festively 15% imperial milk stout.

More of this on NYE. Mind you, at 15% I only drink it in thirds (for the princely sum of £4).
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Jakob W on 02 January, 2019, 01:27:54 pm
Out for a New year's Day stroll yesterday, we popped in to a Thee Pubbe at Teddington Lock. I chose a pint of Fuller's Imperial Stout.

"That's the best value alcohol we do" said the barman "£4.50 a pint"

I agreed it was reasonable and asked how strong it was. 10.7% abv. Stuff me. I've seen wine at 11% before and here I am sinking a pint of it. The equivalent of three pints of cooking bitter.

It tasted wonderful, strong burnt caramel, although my companion said it was "minging". "That's one word for it" said the hungover barman.

Given that Fuller's sell it in bottles for £8/500ml, that is indeed a stupendous bargain. If it's anything like their other strong beers (1845, Golden Pride, etc.), only favoured pubs will be getting it on cask, so alas I'm unlikely to find any on tap up here in the frozen North Midlands, and by the time I'm next in that London the season will have passed  :(
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Tim Hall on 02 January, 2019, 02:19:54 pm
Out for a New year's Day stroll yesterday, we popped in to a Thee Pubbe at Teddington Lock. I chose a pint of Fuller's Imperial Stout.

"That's the best value alcohol we do" said the barman "£4.50 a pint"

I agreed it was reasonable and asked how strong it was. 10.7% abv. Stuff me. I've seen wine at 11% before and here I am sinking a pint of it. The equivalent of three pints of cooking bitter.

It tasted wonderful, strong burnt caramel, although my companion said it was "minging". "That's one word for it" said the hungover barman.
Given that Fuller's sell it in bottles for £8/500ml, that is indeed a stupendous bargain. If it's anything like their other strong beers (1845, Golden Pride, etc.), only favoured pubs will be getting it on cask, so alas I'm unlikely to find any on tap up here in the frozen North Midlands, and by the time I'm next in that London the season will have passed  :(

Ah.  Adding that snippet to more information - that the pub is going to close shortly for a couple of months for an extensive refurbishment - and the picture becomes more complete.
Interestingly, the person in the queue in front of us asked for Guinness, of which there was none, so settled for Imperial Stout. That's 10.7% abv in place of 4.1%
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: menthel on 03 January, 2019, 10:01:06 am
I got a full 24 can slab of Mogwai Beer Satan for xmas. It fulfills two loves in my life, fruity IPAs (with bonus chili) and MOGWAI!
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: menthel on 21 January, 2019, 11:12:35 am
Anyone in the Kingston area should make their way to the Albion just behind the leisure centre. What a lovely selection of beers! I had their own porter, a cranberry gose and then Titanic brewery's plum porter. All were amazing.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 23 January, 2019, 10:23:37 pm
T'Verzet Moose Blues - a wee bit on the sweet side but quite nommy nonetheless  :P
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Jakob W on 24 January, 2019, 05:11:45 pm
Saw that my local still had some bottles of Backyard Brewery's _Bad Santa_ in their fridge, so had one; they'd had casks of it in December, but it was never on when I was in. Very tasty, and deceptively so - I'd not have guessed it was the 6.8% it actually clocks in at.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: andrewc on 25 January, 2019, 11:06:42 am
London Pride beers sold to Japanese firm http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-46999208


 :(
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Jakob W on 25 January, 2019, 01:06:20 pm
Bit sad that - were they the last big brewer still under family control? Though at least Asahi are making all the right noises about respecting the brewery's heritage etc., so hopefully it will just carry on much as before, but just owned by someone else.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: menthel on 25 January, 2019, 01:32:46 pm
Just copying Young's...  :P
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Jakob W on 25 January, 2019, 01:50:00 pm
Don't get me started on Young's - I used to drink in the Brewery Tap in Wandsworth...
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: menthel on 25 January, 2019, 02:30:13 pm
I grew up round the corner from the brewery, had family work there and its pretty much in the family blood. A pint of Ordinary doesn't taste the same without the Wandle water.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 25 January, 2019, 04:27:18 pm
I think Fullers were in an awkward place – they tried to big up their independence as a craft brewer though they never really fitted that mould, so they were caught somewhere between the trendily tragic hipster brews that fill my fridge and industrial granddad pints and pubs.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: nicknack on 25 January, 2019, 04:56:50 pm
Bit sad that - were they the last big brewer still under family control?
Depends what you call a big brewer. Shepherd Neame still have the Neames in control.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 25 January, 2019, 06:54:53 pm
We got new next door neighbours before xmas. Hadn't met them but knew from old neighbour that the female worked for Brewdog at Ellon.
Last night we met her when she appeared at the door asking if we were going to be about today and if so could we sign for a delivery.
Happily I had a flexi day planned for today, so yes.
I only signed for a delivery and she gave us all this beer. Yes, that's FIVE tins of Ten Ton Truck at 10% a pop.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4902/46873958021_958b330936.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2eq6hE2)2019-01-25_06-44-07 (https://flic.kr/p/2eq6hE2) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr

I like my new neighbour :P
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Jakob W on 26 January, 2019, 09:42:46 pm
I think Fullers were in an awkward place – they tried to big up their independence as a craft brewer though they never really fitted that mould, so they were caught somewhere between the trendily tragic hipster brews that fill my fridge and industrial granddad pints and pubs.

I was surprised that the pubs and hotels side of their business was so extensive, but then a load of brewers had previously gone down that route, so I guess those financial incentives are still there. Of their hipster brews I've only tried the 'Fuller's and Friends' collaborations that they've done, and thought they were pretty good. Their real ales have always been a cut above, so I really hope their new overlords keep the Griffin brewery going as at present.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 27 January, 2019, 05:11:17 pm
The started putting unfiltered London Pride in little cans and it isn't half bad, the more restrained English hops are sometimes the antidote you need to the usual bombast.

Asahi, on the other hand, is generic bland lager number 5835. Despite their corporate overlords, Beavertown still seem to be cranking out some good brews and to be honest, there's no point buying these things if you're going to mess them up in ways that defeat the object of buying them in the first place. Meantime, for instance, was bland when they were independent, and they're still bland now.

I was forced – forced – to seek shelter from the cold rain in The Experiment (shared taproom for Pressure Drop and Verdant) yesterday evening. Some young woman, who I've never met, made me eat a slice of vegan pizza. It wasn't disappointing, it was exactly as bad as I feared.

Madame Pingu, what no Tokyo* Death?
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 27 January, 2019, 06:17:41 pm
Madame Pingu, what no Tokyo* Death?

Beggars can't be choosers.... I was quite pleased to receive more than just a 4 pack of Punk.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 27 January, 2019, 07:13:43 pm
Oh, I wouldn't complain either. The nice chap at the Three Hounds Beer Company bottleshop in Beckenham gave me a free can of Lervig Perler For Svin because it was about a day out of date. I felt bad because he said 'he usually drank any out-of-date cans himself' so basically I'd stolen his beer. That said, I'd just spent about £50, so I think he did alright out of the deal.

Anyway it was still a very good NE IPA and he was very nice, so if you live in the area, go and give him your custom. Quite annoyingly the place wasn't there when I lived in the area, I used to swim at the Beckenham Spa across the road every day, and exercise makes me thirsty.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 31 January, 2019, 05:57:23 pm

I only signed for a delivery and she gave us all this beer. Yes, that's FIVE tins of Ten Ton Truck at 10% a pop.

I like my new neighbour :P

I like your new neighbour too!

Just a pint of Marston's 61 Deep today, nicely fruity, decent hop kick but not OT
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 31 January, 2019, 06:00:48 pm
Loving the barleywines at the moment. Excellent one from Lervig the other day at the Beer Merchants Tap in the tragically hip Wickney Hack. And I've snarfed a bottle of Magic Rock's Strongman.

We did wander down the Bermondsey Beer Mile before Christmas (cut a bit short as both Affinity and Partizan had closed already for the holidays, humbug). I suspect we still got enough beer in. And sausage rolls. Lots of sausage rolls. You need to cover all your essential food groups on one of these boozy adventures.

I made an excellent homebrew barleywine in November 2017, finished the last three bottles with my dad and sisters OH this Christmas, it had matured very well.  It's definitely on the list for a re-brew
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Wowbagger on 31 January, 2019, 09:05:51 pm
Yesterday I had a pint of Rhythm Stick, from the Billericay Brewing Co (obv.). It was touted as an "amber" ale and it was really excellent.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Jurek on 31 January, 2019, 09:16:53 pm
Yesterday I had a pint of Rhythm Stick, from the Billericay Brewing Co (obv.). It was touted as an "amber" ale and it was really excellent.
I'm enjoying the nomenclature of your beer, the place from whence it came, and the convoluted connection to the late, great Ian Dury.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Jakob W on 01 February, 2019, 08:37:38 am
Refills requested by waving your empty glass and intoning 'hit me!'?
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 01 February, 2019, 06:54:59 pm
Loving the barleywines at the moment. Excellent one from Lervig the other day at the Beer Merchants Tap in the tragically hip Wickney Hack. And I've snarfed a bottle of Magic Rock's Strongman.

We did wander down the Bermondsey Beer Mile before Christmas (cut a bit short as both Affinity and Partizan had closed already for the holidays, humbug). I suspect we still got enough beer in. And sausage rolls. Lots of sausage rolls. You need to cover all your essential food groups on one of these boozy adventures.

I made an excellent homebrew barleywine in November 2017, finished the last three bottles with my dad and sisters OH this Christmas, it had matured very well.  It's definitely on the list for a re-brew

I has acquired a couple of bottles of Cloudwater's new bourbon barrel-aged barleywine. It's nearly Miller Time and my watch informs me that I've hit all today's fitness goals. It's quite possibly time to be bad.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 01 February, 2019, 08:13:39 pm
A Brew Dog jet black heart for me this evening. Next choice is whether to leave the framvoise in the fridge for post audax tomorrow and have a single malt, or to drink it this evening at the risk of needing to buy another beer tomorrow.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Hot Flatus on 01 February, 2019, 10:01:01 pm
The Alehouse in town trying it's best to make decisions difficult. Amongst the 12 or so ales were Cloudwater, Siren, and Wiper and True. All on cask.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Wowbagger on 01 February, 2019, 10:43:39 pm
Yesterday I had a pint of Rhythm Stick, from the Billericay Brewing Co (obv.). It was touted as an "amber" ale and it was really excellent.
I'm enjoying the nomenclature of your beer, the place from whence it came, and the convoluted connection to the late, great Ian Dury.

I have had a few of their beers over the years but this is the only one that has really impressed me. The others have been of the OK-but-nothing-special variety. But as a native (born at 23, Tye Common Road) I have to offer my support.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: nicknack on 01 February, 2019, 11:37:35 pm
Arrived at my favourite Sheppey boozer (Admiral's Arm) late this afternoon to find it lit by candlelight. Power cut. They were still serving though it was a tad chilly in there. Managed a Wadworth's Dirty Rucker and a Thornbridge Rocky Road Lucaria (weird beer masquerading as a chocolate dessert) before the electrickery man popped in and said there was no chance of power being restored tonight. So they called it a day.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Jurek on 04 February, 2019, 06:40:35 pm
Yesterday I had a pint of Rhythm Stick, from the Billericay Brewing Co (obv.). It was touted as an "amber" ale and it was really excellent.
I'm enjoying the nomenclature of your beer, the place from whence it came, and the convoluted connection to the late, great Ian Dury.

I have had a few of their beers over the years but this is the only one that has really impressed me. The others have been of the OK-but-nothing-special variety. But as a native (born at 23, Tye Common Road) I have to offer my support.
If memory serves, we've stopped by 23 Tye Common Road on one of your rides.....
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Wowbagger on 07 February, 2019, 05:34:19 pm
Yesterday I had a pint of Rhythm Stick, from the Billericay Brewing Co (obv.). It was touted as an "amber" ale and it was really excellent.
I'm enjoying the nomenclature of your beer, the place from whence it came, and the convoluted connection to the late, great Ian Dury.

I have had a few of their beers over the years but this is the only one that has really impressed me. The others have been of the OK-but-nothing-special variety. But as a native (born at 23, Tye Common Road) I have to offer my support.
If memory serves, we've stopped by 23 Tye Common Road on one of your rides.....

We did! I think there were four of us - Andrij and Del being the other two.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Jakob W on 16 February, 2019, 11:18:14 pm
Popped in to my local on the way back from getting bread and milk and was bemused to see the business manager from our local primary school behind the bar. 'Hello,' sez she, 'this is my mum and dad's pub!'. I had a very pleasant pint of Backhouse Brewery mild (though at 4.8% it's not exactly mild strength), then a half of a coconut porter and another of something hazy and hoppy. I really should go more often.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 01 March, 2019, 11:18:56 pm
https://www.tinyrebel.co.uk/beers/tiny-rebel-and-big-drop/

0.5%, very chocolatey  :P
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 02 March, 2019, 09:44:00 pm
A gueze this evening, finally found a beer swmbo didn't turn her nose up at
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 02 March, 2019, 09:51:52 pm
That's quite a beer style for someone who doesn't like beer! Which gueuze?
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 03 March, 2019, 07:23:48 am
That's what I thought as well, I have a hit and miss relationship with them myself, finding some of them cloyingly sweet.  This was from waitrose, so by definition not likely to be extreme in nature. It was fairly dry, only slightly oaky and a nice satisfying 7%.

The ones I dislike are the excessively sweet jobs with about 3% alcohol and masses of unfermented stuff
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: lahoski on 03 March, 2019, 10:25:38 am
That's the Boon Oude Gueze right? I think lambics are quite a good way to get non-beer drinkers into beer*, at least for more foodie people anyways. The funk is more reminiscent of the more interesting end of cider and white wine - which is in some ways more familiar. And they lack the bitterness. I love that one - it's easy-drinking but still satisfyingly interesting.

*That and ridiculous imperial stouts. Like the Evil Twin's Maple Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Mexican Biscotti Toasted Coconut Cake Break. It's still technically beer.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 03 March, 2019, 05:06:55 pm
That's the one, I did try the Sink the Bismark some years back, but I think that was a too hoppy
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Jakob W on 12 March, 2019, 01:44:19 pm
In my local the other night: a half of cherry cocoa porter (nice but nothing special), and a third of Siren/Civil Society Cradle of Culture (sour DIPA); not necessarily the kind of thing I'd usually go for, but very pleasant to sit and sip.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 12 March, 2019, 08:22:37 pm
In Pingvinen, Bergen:
7 Fjell Laibik, a raspberry & liqorice sour. Not very sour but acceptable. Followed by 7 Fjell Dopamine, an APA. Shoulda had the first one 2nd cos it was bettter.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 12 March, 2019, 09:57:35 pm
In Pingvinen, Bergen:
7 Fjell Laibik, a raspberry & liqorice sour. Not very sour but acceptable. Followed by 7 Fjell Dopamine, an APA. Shoulda had the first one 2nd cos it was bettter.

Git!  :-*
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 12 March, 2019, 10:37:37 pm
The person who looks after the cask beers at Krakatoa is leaving on Thursday  :(

And he's gone. I'm very concerned about the future of cask beers in this pub  :-\
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 25 March, 2019, 10:02:45 pm
Apparently, the Bottleshop (SE1, Canterbury, Margate) has gone into liquidation and closed up shop, which is a bit sad, though I'm not sure a surprise. They were primarily a specialist wholesaler in a crowded market that has less need for specialist wholesalers. Plus you can't go anywhere without stumbling over a craft beer shop, as my wallet is well aware. Even in SE1 there's a rash of new taps rooms and bars (Moor, Cloudwater, etc.) with longer opening hours to compete with direct sales, and they were never cheap. Spending loads of cash to get beers 'super-fresh' was also a bit of a gimmick that ate up their CrowdCube funding. But still a bit sad (obviously more so for their employees), they were one of the originals on the Bermondsey Beer Mile and always a good place to try some awesome beers and the staff were always great.

Reminds me, I went to Brewdog in Shepherd's Bush and it was a bit crap, the usually sorry bar service that could have graced any generic London pub (wrong beer twice, zero apologies), immodest pricing, and food (and I wasn't expecting much) that was industrial catering fare. I suppose that's mainstream for you.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Hot Flatus on 25 March, 2019, 10:38:55 pm
Did a Sunday night ride out to the Salutation at Ham for a few pints with my mate. Camra pub of year 2015.

Got very excited when I saw Deya 'Steady Rolling Man' on menu. Less excited when told it was £3 for half a pint (5.2%). Round these parts good craft beer tops out at about £3.80.

Even less excited when they told me they couldn't find the barrel. So, I tucked into their own brews, Tileys.

First one was Tileys Amarillo centennial. To me, Amarillo usually means full fitness, but it was thin and sour. So I then had their standard bitter. It was ok.

Bit disappointing really. The Alehouse in town does much better beer.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 29 March, 2019, 05:48:32 pm
Fuck's sake, Magic Rock taken over by Australian Lion group.
 >:(
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 01 April, 2019, 09:33:47 am
To be fair, once you reach a particular size, if you want to get bigger that's mostly your only option to access additional capital. It cool if you want to stay small and do your thing and I'm glad many do, but equally I've no big issue if some want to move up a level – I'll be happy to get Magic Rock in the average pub rather than the usual grim selection, and it's not really in the interest of the big brewers to mess with their acquisition.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: nicknack on 04 April, 2019, 08:59:30 am
Thornbridge takeover of our local micro last night. About a dozen different beers on offer. We came away with a bottle of Serpent (https://thornbridgebrewery.co.uk/products/serpent-9-5-brooklyn-brewery-collaboration) which we'll crack with our son tomorrow.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: The Family Cyclist on 04 April, 2019, 09:03:14 pm
No names to be named but someone turned the fridge too high (low?) so when they went for a beer this eve it had a floating beerberg in it!
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 06 April, 2019, 11:15:58 am
Jings! So much beer in FurryBootToon this weekend  :P
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 06 April, 2019, 04:36:37 pm
Brewdog have bought the Stone Brewery in Berlin. They get the keys on 1st May. We were going back at the end of June.
Grumph  >:(
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 06 April, 2019, 04:56:03 pm
 A couple of nice beers in Alingsas this week, nothing uite dark enough for me but the coppery coloured one I had was decently malty with a bit of bite and my colleague reported the lager as decent
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: tiermat on 06 April, 2019, 05:01:38 pm
Fuck's sake, Magic Rock taken over by Australian Lion group.
 >:(

Bound to happen, I think the only reason it hasn't happened to Beavertown is because a) they have rock star backing and b) they are shit.

I was at a "meet the brewer" thing on Thursday, with Black Sheep (the brewery, not otp) and found it interesting how they were trying to spin them doing to other breweries (York) what S&N did to cause Paul Theakston to set up the brewery in the first place.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Karla on 06 April, 2019, 05:11:26 pm
Fuck's sake, Magic Rock taken over by Australian Lion group.
 >:(

Bound to happen, I think the only reason it hasn't happened to Beavertown is because a) they have rock star backing and b) they are shit.

I was at a "meet the brewer" thing on Thursday, with Black Sheep (the brewery, not otp) and found it interesting how they were trying to spin them doing to other breweries (York) what S&N did to cause Paul Theakston to set up the brewery in the first place.

Given that York had gone into administration along with its parent company, I don't see a Black Sheep buyout as a bad thing.  Then again I'm out of touch here on the Kazakh-Uzbek border.  Can you tell me more?
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Jakob W on 06 April, 2019, 06:02:35 pm
I thought Beavertown had a big (51%?) stake bought by Heineken?

From the comments the Stone Brewery owner made this week it looks like he'd gone out of his way to insult and alienate the whole German beer community anyhow, so the buyout isn't entirely unsurprising. (When *Brewdog* buy you out and it's seen as a sign of moderation, well then...)
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 06 April, 2019, 09:24:06 pm
Jakob that was my thought: will Brewdog fare any better
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: lahoski on 07 April, 2019, 08:36:12 pm
Beer Twitter has suggested that it's a move to consolidate their European brewing operations in advance of Brexit... ?
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 08 April, 2019, 10:46:48 am
Beer Twitter has suggested that it's a move to consolidate their European brewing operations in advance of Brexit... ?

That's pretty much what they said – there's no guarantees of easy distribution post-Brexit so it makes sense to consolidate operations within the EU (booze distribution is alway fraught, they've done well to get their US stuff to nine states so far). They're buying the facility, not the venue, and probably for a lot less money than it cost Stone to build it. Behind the marketing bluster, Brewdog is run by savvy business types.

Never sure about the venue, it clings to the southern edge of Berlin and isn't the easiest place to get to by public transport. That might work in Escondido were everyone drives and the weather is generally clement, less so when transposed to a chilly European city with very different culture to SoCal. Stone never seemed to maximize their investment, which is probably more where they have struggled – they've not cracked any European market (ironically I've seem Stone Berlin stuff more in the US) – compare and contrast with Lagunitas, Sierra, Goose Island (who have all relied on big backers/acquisition to get distribution). Brewdog know how to market and distribute.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 12 April, 2019, 07:20:49 pm
Ordered a whole case of Burning Sky Cuvee 2018. The dangers of shopping from the pub. I got carried away after using my Brewdog AGM discount and suddenly remembered I hadn't had any Cuvee for ages.
Oh well, never mind. :P
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: rogerzilla on 18 April, 2019, 08:44:55 pm
I was given a case of Brewdog beers as a present.  The lighter ones are too hoppy/floral for my liking but 5am Saint is pretty drinkable.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 20 April, 2019, 07:21:06 pm
Drinking a bottle of that Burning Sky Cuvee 2018.
 :P
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: CAMRAMan on 22 April, 2019, 09:43:05 pm
Just back on the way home after n pints of  Batham's bitter. Superb beer served in pubs from the 80s. Which is good. If you're male and of a certain outlook. I fit some of those. Criteria. Hic!

Bathams is a small Dickensian- run brewery in the Black Country.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 03 May, 2019, 08:28:44 pm
This not the beer you're looking for.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/33889215548_3a9140de9d_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/TCF66N)
IMG_2836_01 (https://flic.kr/p/TCF66N) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr

(It's next door  :P)
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 08 May, 2019, 07:29:41 pm
Punk AF (0.5%) is launched tomorrow which I'm quite excited about as I'm hoping for more hops than Nanny State.

Also released next week is OverWorks Thorn Blossom – Scottish Sour Ale fermented with sea buckthorn and heather, aged in foeder, which sounds interesting :P
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 08 May, 2019, 10:11:28 pm
I don't normally rate low alcohol-free/low ABV beer, if I don't want the booze I'd usually settle for something else than what's at best a passable beer substitute.

But I did have a rather fantastic Tiny Rebel/Big Drop Not So Imperial Mocha Vanilla Shot Stoutat the weekend, which was pretty drinkable.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 08 May, 2019, 10:26:21 pm
I don't normally rate low alcohol-free/low ABV beer, if I don't want the booze I'd usually settle for something else than what's at best a passable beer substitute.

I like it for when I'm not ready to stop drinking yet but I know I'll regret having another.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 08 May, 2019, 10:57:31 pm
I created a temporal regret re-locator. This nudges any regret into the future, for instance, the following morning when my alarm clock goes off.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: pcolbeck on 18 May, 2019, 09:23:03 pm
Just went into the garage to check on the washing machine and the beer cupboard has suffered a front leg collapse and dumped all the beer bottles on the floor and some have smashed, a tragedy!
I think I might have to replace the Ikea plastic legs (it was recycled from our last kitchen update) with some stronger wooden ones.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Clare on 18 May, 2019, 09:37:01 pm
OMG, do you have enough left to get through the rest of the show?

Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: pcolbeck on 18 May, 2019, 09:44:52 pm
OMG, do you have enough left to get through the rest of the show?

Don't panic I think its mainly the tonic that's smashed and I'm drinking a nice bottle of red tonight anyway :)
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Clare on 18 May, 2019, 09:48:35 pm
Phew.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 21 May, 2019, 06:13:42 pm
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-48341171 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-48341171)

Saw this today.

Enjoyed a nice Thornbridge Green Mountain at the weekend.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 01 June, 2019, 10:05:25 pm
Banana, which doesn't contain any banana, but tastes quite banana-y. A banana milkshake APA claims the can and who am I to argue. By The Horns. Yeasty esters.

I've completely forgotten (I was doing the nodding but not actually listening thing that terrible husbands do) which beers my wife told me not to drink before she vamoosed on her latest trip. She was very prescriptive, I do remember that much. There might have been threats of divorce and being fed to hungry raccoon dogs. Oh well. Never mind. Nice doggie.

I cycled 800m today, so need sustenance. That 800 vertical meters. Failed to achieve escape velocity. I think I went past Highgate Cemetry so slowly that some of the residents could have overtaken me. Owing to a navigational error, they got two opportunities too.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: pcolbeck on 08 June, 2019, 07:33:12 pm
Black Sheep 54deg North small batch lager.

This stuff is really good !
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 25 June, 2019, 10:35:35 pm
Nothing yet, but Untapped just introduced me to a whole stack of excellent looking pubs just in Prenzlauer Berg in Berlin that I didn't know existed, including a Helsinki brewery tap.
We're going this weekend. The problem is there are too many good bars to investigate.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 05 July, 2019, 09:19:13 pm
Prenzlauer Berg is Berlin's hipster central these days. It's pretty cool and I have the beard.

Beer. I forgot beer. A horrid oversight. I was going to go to Ghost Whale on the way home, but I wasn't thinking and went another way. I mean, we have lots of the beer but it's all in my wife's don't-drink-that-when-I'm-not-here category and she's not here. Basically, I have to drink the stuff I think she won't notice and risk the wrath. Or go out tomorrow and replace it before she gets back.

I found a couple of cans of Dead Pony as a temporary restorative while I work up my bravery. There's Bible Belt in the fridge... oh heavenly temptation.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: andrewc on 24 July, 2019, 07:16:27 pm
In this awful weather here is a Publick Service Announcement.    My local Co-op is selling Moorhouse Pendle Witches Brew at £1 for a 500ml bottle.  Yours may be doing similar.  It's not the best beer you'll ever drink, but it's perfectly quaffable, especially at half price.


https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/109/340/
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: menthel on 16 August, 2019, 12:40:28 pm
Went to the local good pub yesterday, The Albion in Kingston. Its bloody great. I don't know what breweries the beers I had were from but I bloody loved the cherry/blackcurrant sour and the raspberry wheat beer was astounding. And they do amazing burgers too. If you live in the area, go there!
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Beardy on 28 August, 2019, 07:02:14 pm
So. I have a confession.
With all this hot weather I’ve found myself reaching for the lager when I’ve gone to the off license. This is a worrying development.
Therefore in order to salvage some of my northern bearded sandal wearing credibility I feel I need to find some craft brewed lager. Please add your suggestions below.
Thank you.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 28 August, 2019, 08:32:04 pm
Cloudwater/Beavertown Good Night, Future Boy! (any of the Cloudwater lagers, you probably won't get this one because I drank it all, every single bottle)
Arbor Mega Mega White Thing
Lost and Grounded Keller Pils.

Any of the dry-hopped lagers have a bit more omph.

I don't mind a lager but I still find them hit and miss, it's a style that's hard to do well and not end up with something that's only good because the mass-produced competition is so bad and you might as well have plumped for a cheaper bottle of Budvar or Pilsner Urquell.

These days, for top refreshment, I mostly prefer a session IPA – there's a load but you can't go wrong with Magic Rock's Sourcery or Burning Sky's Arise. Wild Beer's Bibble and Fresh are also eminently drinkable and wildly available. Brewdog's Dead Pony Club, also – though I've never much rated their lagers.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Hot Flatus on 28 August, 2019, 10:14:56 pm
Vocation Pride and Joy too. Available in Morrisons ffs. I still cant quite believe that.

I'm on La Chouffe tonight after going into a french supermarket looking for rose jam as requested by my beloved but coming out with a fine selection of Belgian beers for me instead.

One current and one former yacf member will remember an evening in Amsterdam in 2008 when much La Chouffe was consumed under the assumption that it would be a standard 4 to 5 %. A mistake one only makes several times.

I have vague memories of earning a La Chouffe keyring for over-consumption.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Jaded on 06 September, 2019, 04:20:15 pm
It is astonishing no one fell in a canal.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Ashaman42 on 06 September, 2019, 06:04:15 pm
Omnipollo Aniara Sour might be £5 for a third of a pint but goodness it's tasty.

And now a pint of Cloudwater Pale which is also tasty if somewhat less robust.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: bludger on 06 September, 2019, 07:29:08 pm
I tried the low alcohol version of old speckled hen last night. It's vile.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 06 September, 2019, 10:59:05 pm
Vocation Pride and Joy too. Available in Morrisons ffs. I still cant quite believe that.

I'm on La Chouffe tonight after going into a french supermarket looking for rose jam as requested by my beloved but coming out with a fine selection of Belgian beers for me instead.

One current and one former yacf member will remember an evening in Amsterdam in 2008 when much La Chouffe was consumed under the assumption that it would be a standard 4 to 5 %. A mistake one only makes several times.

I have vague memories of earning a La Chouffe keyring for over-consumption.

Vocations Heart & Soul is scrummy too. We liberated a pile of cans from a Coop at the end of our South Downs walk at the weekend and made merry on the train home from Eastbourne.

As for Le Chouffle strength brew, I remember (barely) the time we rolled up at a little restaurant in Shepherdstown, WV and for some reason they had an entire large keg of Chimay Blue which they were serving by the 16oz glass. Well, when in West Virginia. There's a Bavarian theme hotel there. Honestly, that shit was real before we hit the Chimay.

Then there was the time in Nashville when we discovered a beer called Golden Monkey. Should have checked the ABV on that one. I ended up in an Uber with two burlesque dancers and a man called Dan who had apparently misplaced his guitar somewhere in Tennessee. He couldn't be more precise than that.

And let's not do Pliny the Elder in Monks Cafe, Philadelphia. I've said that lots of times now. We shouldn't get on to Belgish war stories.

In the alternative spirit of low ABV semi-sobriety, I'm drinking a 2.8% micro-IPA, Gipsy Hill's Carver and it really is rather good.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Ashaman42 on 06 September, 2019, 11:44:54 pm
Ian, have you been to Bottle Grove in Eastbourne? It's worth checking out.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 07 September, 2019, 10:29:34 am
Alas no, I don't really know Eastbourne, though it looks like it would have been a good find. As it was, we staggered down from the Downs, found sustainables in the Coop and a train fortuitously preparing to leave for London. That seems to be our usual, though we did the back route through Jevington this time, not all seven sisters and their mean aunt.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: andrewc on 08 September, 2019, 09:44:41 am
https://twitter.com/andrewxclark/status/1170372644203401216?s=21 (https://twitter.com/andrewxclark/status/1170372644203401216?s=21)



Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 27 September, 2019, 10:25:41 pm
Waitrose are doing a special election of craft beer (Wild, Fourpure, Fierce, Gipsy Hill, Magic Rock, and a few others). I bought it all. Are you having a party? remarked the young lady behind the till when confronted by a trolley entirely full of beer and a singular tub of cream cheese.

I think it was the cream cheese that gave the game away.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 27 September, 2019, 10:54:54 pm
Tomorrow night we have tixs to the Cantillion Zwanze night at 6 degrees North.
Not used to drinking in the evening. Should be a good selection of beers though.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 01 October, 2019, 08:00:33 pm
In Geeraardsbergen this week. 

CAn't remember what I drank yesterday, but this evening a Spartan Dark and now tucking into an Achel Trappist. 

Just testing you see, to decide what comes home with me on the eurostar
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: nicknack on 01 October, 2019, 08:48:28 pm
We went to Bewdley the other week and popped into the brewery. The tap wasn't open so we came away with a few bottles. They've all been jolly good but I've just opened their Decennium. This is a bit special. A 10 percenter. Really nice. I could drink too much of this if I had more than the one bottle.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 01 October, 2019, 09:52:25 pm
This is what we got on Zwanze Day
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48828816246_cde1af30dc.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2hoQrUb)2019-10-01_09-50-50 (https://flic.kr/p/2hoQrUb) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 03 October, 2019, 07:44:46 pm
This evening, an Orval and now following that with a Trappist Rochefort 10o. It's rather rich, but here in Belgium very cheap
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 03 October, 2019, 09:11:15 pm
This is what we got on Zwanze Day
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48828816246_cde1af30dc.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2hoQrUb)2019-10-01_09-50-50 (https://flic.kr/p/2hoQrUb) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr

The Alvinne stuff is pretty good, I had a selection the last time I was in Philadelphia. It went part of the way towards explaining my $130 bar tab.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 06 October, 2019, 08:01:03 pm
a cherry lambic this evening, liberated last week.  juicy.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 25 November, 2019, 10:14:07 pm
I'm just putting it here, but I had a couple of Lickinghole Creek beers at the weekend.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Jakob W on 26 November, 2019, 12:42:36 pm
You're just trying to get us to Google that, aren't you?

I'm currently drinking a pint of Beowulf Dark Raven, and very nice it is too.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 27 November, 2019, 08:45:36 pm
It's a real thing, named after the brewery's proximity to, ahem, Little Lickinghole Creek (where it forks into Tarred Rat Creek). Between Richmond and Charlottesville. They sure know how to name things thereabouts. I hate to think what they were doing for entertainment back in the day.

Anyway, nice beer.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Jakob W on 03 December, 2019, 06:41:13 pm
The big Morrisons in town has Siren Broken Dream at £1.75 a can, so I picked up a couple. Good for these dark winter nights...
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 14 December, 2019, 06:05:21 pm
Homeopathic beer this evening - Wellraiser hopped water.

A freebie from Ocado, no sugars, no calories, no real flavour.  There's a slight hoppiness there, but without the beery body it's oddly disconcerting.

By all laws of homeopathy, should I now be pissed as a fart?
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: CAMRAMan on 16 December, 2019, 08:16:11 pm
Lidl's Purple Panther porter. Not bad at all, especially at £1.09 a bottle.

Lidl's Woodgate vintage cider is Westons' in disguise and very drinkable, although at 7%+ it's not a quaffer. £1.19 a bottle.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: sg37409 on 20 December, 2019, 01:10:33 pm
Hi - Has anyone had any experience of a Krups Sub home-tap system ?

I didnt even know these things existed. They seem to have good reviews
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 20 December, 2019, 05:34:41 pm
I'm not sure what they achieve, beer is fizzy out of the can or bottle and there seems limited beer support (Heineken, oh my inner beer snob recoils). I suppose if you want to pour pints at a party.

For bigger parties, you can hire Lindrs (or similar) which are awesome as they use standard kegs and you can get models that compress the gas so you don't need a separate supply, so connect to the keg and go. You can even get 10l Keykegs these days. Still a bit much for a night in front of the TV though.

(A friend of my wife's had one in his garage, which he's converted into a bar. Hmmm.)
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 20 December, 2019, 05:46:08 pm
I just looked them up. Seems like a lot of money for very cold beer and not much of a choice (though Beer Wulf had Wild Beer and Brewdog offerings which surprised me but most of the rest was guff).
Most of what's on offer I don't see what the advantage would be over just drinking it tinned.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: sg37409 on 20 December, 2019, 07:15:15 pm
The beers seem expensive.   Chouffe was 18 quid.   Lagunitas also.   I like a hieneken occasionally but wouldn’t have 2 pints at one go.   

I don’t think it’s just a colder beer you’d get.   It would hopefully be closer to a draught beer
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 20 December, 2019, 09:31:35 pm
Yes but I'd still rather have good beer out of a tin than not very good beer on draught.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Rowan on 09 January, 2020, 11:27:27 pm
On the home brew stout these days, so much better than anything commercial - it dose not generate hangovers anywhere near as easy, it's tastier, richer and only about 50p a bottle.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ElyDave on 21 January, 2020, 06:33:19 pm
A Bad Kitty vanilla porter with lunch today, very nice, chocolatey, rich, vanilla there but subtle and not sweetly dominating.   I wouldn't normally indulge at lunchtime, but it was a day off and lunch in Cambridge at Stem and Glory. They have some other interesting beers as well
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Ham on 22 January, 2020, 12:59:29 pm
Recently in Istanbul, I was told by a local work colleague about a micro brewery in the area I was staying - Beşiktaş, a non-touristy but close to painfully-almost-trendy area, especially if you go to the carsi  ;D (the market place centre, which I did). As I passed by the "Craft Beer Lab" I noticed the brewing vats on display. I thought, not unreasonably in my view, that this indicated I had found said microbrewery.

The staff at the door confirmed that they did not brew their own, but they also confirmed that they sold beer for drinking. Sounded good to me. So I headed down into the bowels where the bar was.

What EXCITING beers did they have on tap?

(click to show/hide)

My selected tipple was from a local brewery, and very pleasant indeed

(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SY_2z5844E4/XihDlQt6rMI/AAAAAAADMAo/I0LxgdP7pRoUNHE1bC1gGaL46iiWO4a3gCKgBGAsYHg/s800/IMG_20200107_203652.jpg)

Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 27 January, 2020, 10:07:12 pm
Well, we didn't have a lot of walking distance venues to choose from in Maspalomas since the 2nd one on our list had closed but we kept going back to B2 Burger Bar because they had not only Belgian, but Canarian craft beer.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49446813742_debc5c8a05.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2ikrR2q)IMG_20200124_221248 (https://flic.kr/p/2ikrR2q) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49446596361_65eb2b4f40.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2ikqJpt)IMG_20200124_212622 (https://flic.kr/p/2ikqJpt) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49446590531_ba46c7b5c0.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2ikqGEX)IMG_20200124_204826 (https://flic.kr/p/2ikqGEX) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49446824407_03a1de826c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2ikrUci)IMG_20200123_215014 (https://flic.kr/p/2ikrUci) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49446604551_b6ac1692f8.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2ikqLQF)IMG_20200123_205816 (https://flic.kr/p/2ikqLQF) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 27 January, 2020, 10:10:53 pm
And

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49446139363_a8394c7c47.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2ikooyc)IMG_20200121_205531 (https://flic.kr/p/2ikooyc) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49446616456_1392f9c4d4.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2ikqQnW)IMG_20200121_205515 (https://flic.kr/p/2ikqQnW) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49446638956_c14969467a.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2ikqX4S)IMG_20200118_204828 (https://flic.kr/p/2ikqX4S) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49446864972_4ed4a37c0d.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2iks7fG)IMG_20200118_195546 (https://flic.kr/p/2iks7fG) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49446165068_6df2f4d80b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2ikowco)IMG_20200118_192327 (https://flic.kr/p/2ikowco) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 27 January, 2020, 10:14:09 pm
Neither of us had heard of the style Catharina sour before, so that was edutainment.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 28 January, 2020, 08:33:45 am
And they had Punk IPA on draft  ::-)
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 31 January, 2020, 08:52:43 pm
Verdant Mary Lou. Hoppier than a rabbit on a trampoline.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 01 February, 2020, 11:01:40 pm
Life in a Scotch Sitting Room

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49474375226_bea97fa37a_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2inT76q)
IMG_5585_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2inT76q) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr

71 Brewing in Dundee.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Wowbagger on 05 February, 2020, 11:43:13 pm
That's an interesting address. Not far from me is a road called Aylesbeare. I'm disappointed that no-one thought to open a pub there.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: jsabine on 06 February, 2020, 09:14:28 am
I'm not certain that I'd want a beer based on an ill ursine.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: andrewc on 17 February, 2020, 02:30:21 pm
https://twitter.com/neptunebrewery/status/1229366716720975872?s=20    Bounty, Chocolate and Coconut Stout.......      Fairly local to me so I'll keep an eye out.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: andrewc on 17 February, 2020, 10:02:44 pm

https://twitter.com/JohnnyXGaskell/status/1229498182226317312?s=20

Excellent repurposing of beer barrels  :D


(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ERAOEeWXUAIqoOc?format=jpg&name=4096x4096)
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: cycleman on 18 February, 2020, 07:06:51 am
Larger dispensers  :demon:
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 20 February, 2020, 10:40:46 pm
Smoked malt FTW. This week I have been spoiled  :thumbsup: Schlenkerla Eiche at Six Degrees North, Windswept Clavie at Krakatoa and De Dochter van de Korenaar Bravoure & Charbon at home  :P
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 20 March, 2020, 09:01:42 pm
Well, we didn't have a lot of walking distance venues to choose from in Maspalomas since the 2nd one on our list had closed but we kept going back to B2 Burger Bar because they had not only Belgian, but Canarian craft beer.
...

I think got many of those in La Palma the other week. One of the breweries was on the other side of the island but someone put a bloody huge caldera in the way.

In other news, I think tonight is the night for some special beers. Prepare the beer coffin, I am going in. (Warming up with a pleasing Mondo Oatmeal and Raisin Stout.)
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: madcow on 28 March, 2020, 11:53:10 pm
For those oop north-Booth's supermarkets have Wainwright on offer at 8 bottles for a tenner.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mr Larrington on 29 March, 2020, 01:07:07 pm
My grate frend Mr Birb notes that Hook Norton Brewery are still selling to the public, both from the brewery shop and for delivery if one is local.  After all, BEER is food.  Especially in Oxfordshire.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 08 April, 2020, 08:43:22 pm
Special lockdown delivery from a local brewery  :P

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49750241802_31d3b3984c_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2iNfZBG)
IMG_5767_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2iNfZBG) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: andyoxon on 08 April, 2020, 09:13:22 pm
Appeared on our doorstep, from local microbrewery.   :thumbsup:  they temporarily ran out of stock due to the home del being so popular.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49750786146_8703138f75.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2iNiMqW)IMG_beer (https://flic.kr/p/2iNiMqW) by ao (https://www.flickr.com/photos/145942400@N06/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: woollypigs on 08 April, 2020, 09:22:38 pm
My delivery been delayed because of high demand, I'm totally out of beer :(
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: TimC on 08 April, 2020, 10:34:11 pm
I haven't had a beer for three weeks (and I normally drink 10-15 pints a week). But Laithwaites is keeping me in wine. Happy days (to a degree)!
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: andyoxon on 08 April, 2020, 11:34:18 pm
I haven't had a beer for three weeks (and I normally drink 10-15 pints a week). But Laithwaites is keeping me in wine. Happy days (to a degree)!

and me in beer...  ;)   see founder & brewer  https://lcbeers.co.uk/team/
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 09 April, 2020, 06:53:56 pm
On the porch step today, one box of Howling Hops and one of Tiny Rebel. That's 48 cans.

It is a four-day weekend in the plague bunker.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: markcjagar on 17 April, 2020, 05:38:30 pm
Oh golly, I received deliveries from both Abbeydale and Thornbridge today.

From Thornbridge came 12 cans of Jaipur and 2 of both Cocoa Wonderland and Pink Grapefruit Halcyon.

From Abbeydale I got 6 cans of Indulgence and a 5L keg of Heathen.

This almost makes up for the lack of pub trips whilst I'm out on the bike.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 17 April, 2020, 05:59:34 pm
Darn it, the pub was only doing takeaway today and they closed at 1730.

Fortunately, we appear to be attending a virtual beer festival, which involved a box of cans arriving on the doorstep yesterday. As far as I can tell, this is identical to simply drinking beer at home.

Good god, I want to go to an actual pub filled with loud people who I'll hate.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 17 April, 2020, 08:35:14 pm
Good god, I want to go to an actual pub filled with loud people who I'll hate.

I've been trying to create the Thursday evening Krakatoa beer experience in lockdown with varying degrees of failure.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49785771281_1e110304e0_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2iRp6hV)
IMG_5819_01 (https://flic.kr/p/2iRp6hV) by The Pingus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 17 April, 2020, 09:23:25 pm
Apparently, the virtual beer festival is tomorrow tonight so I can't drink that. I think she's taking this too seriously. Apparently it's this (https://www.beer52.com/ferment/article/646/beer52-cyberfest-world-s-first-online-beer-festival).

Fortunately there is other beer.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 17 April, 2020, 10:30:42 pm
I'm not sure I get the live stream with a bunch of people you don't know concept.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 19 April, 2020, 12:44:20 pm
Didn't bother. Drank the beer and made a curry instead.

I'm even missing overpriced 'street food.'
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 24 April, 2020, 07:26:58 pm
Oh look, Mr Cloudwater has left me a present.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 24 April, 2020, 07:27:24 pm
Omnom nom
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 24 April, 2020, 09:09:36 pm
I'm missing their taproom.

Into The Groove IPA goes very well with a hypervolume We Appreciate Power.

Will save the barley wines until after dinner. Sense comes before insensibility.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: markcjagar on 25 April, 2020, 05:14:47 pm
I cracked the 5L mini-keg of Heathen on Thursday, I'm making very good headway and will definitely have it drunk within 3 days...
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 25 April, 2020, 06:25:44 pm
Wild Beer have started selling mini kegs *much excite*
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: markcjagar on 29 April, 2020, 06:20:41 pm
Can of Guinness with a wigit thingy, lovely
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 15 May, 2020, 08:45:54 pm
I'm quite enjoying my Howling Hops (no tap room, they have a tank room), so much another box arrived today. Tropical Deluxe is quite quaffable.

I'm missing my Pressure Drop though.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Ashaman42 on 15 May, 2020, 09:30:03 pm
I had a Moor Beer case from Flavourly earlier. Tried the Raw, which is an unfiltered best bitter, and Hoppiness, which is a hoppy IPA. Both yum but preferred the latter. Have two other varieties in the box to try but that's for another day.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Wobbly John on 19 December, 2021, 06:39:56 pm
Resurecting an old thread to say that: If you like 'flavoured' ales, Aldi have on offer at the moment (£1.29) a Toffee Ale and a Plum Porter that are rather good.  ;)
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: robgul on 19 December, 2021, 07:06:07 pm
Resurecting an old thread to say that: If you like 'flavoured' ales, Aldi have on offer at the moment (£1.29) a Toffee Ale and a Plum Porter that are rather good.  ;)

I'm rather partial to Plum Porter (and Damson Porter) - our local breweries seem to feature them quite often.

When the unpleasantness started last year one of our neighbours sorted out home delivery from a local brewery (North Cotswold) - he gets a list of that weeks brews on a Tuesday, normally about 4 of their own plus a guest or two (and some cider, but who drinks that?)   You place an order through the "nnnn Beer Club" WhatsApp groups (about 8 memners) and lo and behold on Friday about lunchtime the delivery appears.  A 4 pint plastic bottle for £10.00.  [An 18 pint box is available at even less per pint  together with 500ml bottles at a higher price]

The "service" has continued post lockdown which is pretty good - for me it's controlled volume per week  :thumbsup: and no hassle of fetching it.

This coming week there should be a ruby Christmas beer along with the usual IPA style stuff - I'll probably have 2 x 4pts  ;D
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 19 December, 2021, 07:30:57 pm
Windswept brewery, where we have got our xmas mini keg from for the past few years didn't have anything particularly enticing on and then I left it til a bit late, so have done an order from Brew Toon in Peterheed in the vain hope it might arrive in time.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Snakehips on 19 December, 2021, 09:59:16 pm
Resurecting an old thread to say that: If you like 'flavoured' ales, Aldi have on offer at the moment (£1.29) a Toffee Ale and a Plum Porter that are rather good.  ;)
Thanks for the tip.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 20 December, 2021, 09:42:48 am
Windswept brewery, where we have got our xmas mini keg from for the past few years didn't have anything particularly enticing on and then I left it til a bit late, so have done an order from Brew Toon in Peterheed in the vain hope it might arrive in time.

A terrifying mountain of beer is growing in the porch. We won't be thirsty during the next lock down.

We should, at some point, buy food.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: citoyen on 20 December, 2021, 10:16:19 am
We should, at some point, buy food.

Beer is liquid food. Highly nutritious. Practically a complete meal in a bottle.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mr Larrington on 20 December, 2021, 11:25:18 am
We should, at some point, buy food.

Beer is liquid food. Highly nutritious. Practically a complete meal in a bottle.

Indeed.  Inspector Morse told us, or rather Sergeant Lewis, this was so, and he wouldn’t tell porkies.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pedal Castro on 20 December, 2021, 12:08:46 pm
Bought a 6 pack of the Beer Masters winning brew. I won't say what as that would spoil it for anyone not yet watched the final episode of Bake Off for beer!
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: citoyen on 20 December, 2021, 12:24:39 pm
Bake Off for beer!

Hello hello... what is this? Sounds like I'm missing something I need to see.

Took delivery of my birthday present from my brother yesterday - a case from his local brewery (Hesket Newmarket). Question is, do I hold off tucking in until my actual birthday (29th) or do I come up with some lame excuse to start early, eg it needs to be drunk while it's fresh...
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mr Larrington on 20 December, 2021, 12:29:39 pm
I have fond memories of the Old Crown in Hesket Newmarket, especially the Doris' 90th Birthday Ale :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: citoyen on 20 December, 2021, 12:33:10 pm
I have fond memories of the Old Crown in Hesket Newmarket, especially the Doris' 90th Birthday Ale :thumbsup:

It's a smashing pub, and the beer is superb. The food in the dining room out back is pretty good too.

No Doris's in the case, unfortunately, but all their beers are excellent so I don't think I'm in for a disappointment.

Quite tempted to open one for lunch right now, tbh.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: andrewc on 20 December, 2021, 12:35:58 pm
I remember stopping for a few scoops there when doing the Reiver's Way, many years ago.  Lovely countryside that I should re-visit.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mr Larrington on 20 December, 2021, 12:37:48 pm
They've expanded their range somewhat since I was last there, which was rather longer ago than I care to contemplate.  The order of business was to ride there from my grate frend gNick's gaff just north of Durham in order to work up a suitable thirst, spend the evening in the Old Crown and the night in Ma Stobart's B&B next door, then ride back to gNick's the following day.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pedal Castro on 20 December, 2021, 12:56:14 pm
Bake Off for beer!

Hello hello... what is this? Sounds like I'm missing something I need to see.

Took delivery of my birthday present from my brother yesterday - a case from his local brewery (Hesket Newmarket). Question is, do I hold off tucking in until my actual birthday (29th) or do I come up with some lame excuse to start early, eg it needs to be drunk while it's fresh...

It's on Amazon prime.
 Beer Masters (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beer-Masters-Search-Europes-Great/dp/B09KM49LJ1/)
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: citoyen on 20 December, 2021, 01:01:33 pm
It's on Amazon prime.
 Beer Masters (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beer-Masters-Search-Europes-Great/dp/B09KM49LJ1/)

Ta! Will have a look at that.

James Blunt though...
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: citoyen on 21 December, 2021, 12:57:44 pm
No Doris's in the case, unfortunately...

My mistake - there was one lurking in there after all.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 21 December, 2021, 05:47:28 pm
so have done an order from Brew Toon in Peterheed in the vain hope it might arrive in time.

Yay! It arrived and as another bonus the mini keg was the one I actually wanted (Mango Unchained) that was out of stock and not the one that I ordered instead. Someone else might be disappointed but not me :)
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pedal Castro on 21 December, 2021, 05:52:28 pm
so have done an order from Brew Toon in Peterheed in the vain hope it might arrive in time.

Yay! It arrived and as another bonus the mini keg was the one I actually wanted (Mango Unchained) that was out of stock and not the one that I ordered instead. Someone else might be disappointed but not me :)

Brew Toon!  ;D
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 21 December, 2021, 05:55:44 pm
From the Blue Toon!
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Hot Flatus on 21 December, 2021, 05:56:10 pm
I've not really drunk anything for 3 months, but I'm a little bored of the fruity unfined happy craft offerings now.

I'm hankering after a really good pint of British IPA.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 20 January, 2022, 09:38:18 pm
This is quite quaffable  :P

https://jackieos.com/beer/off-the-beaten-path-2/



Waits for ian's tale of a lock-in at Jackie O's involving bears, guns and a bevvy of young line dancers.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 20 January, 2022, 10:11:22 pm
Sadly, though I may be familiar with their beer, I've never been to Athens, OH (though I did once spend a summer in Athens, GA)
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 10 February, 2022, 09:10:25 pm
More noms  :P

(https://belgiuminabox.com/shop/14764-thickbox_default/de-dochter-van-de-korenaar-noblesse-vsop-33-cl.jpg) (https://www.dedochtervandekorenaar.be/en/)
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: ian on 12 February, 2022, 08:57:11 pm
Cloak+Dagger Lazy Hustle All Day Saison, very nice, so nice esters going. I quite fancy a Belgish beer splurge – it's been an age since I was last in Belgium.

Really rating Cloak+Dagger and 360 Degrees at the moment (lovely taproom too, chaps).
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 12 February, 2022, 10:33:40 pm
...I quite fancy a Belgish beer splurge – it's been an age since I was last in Belgium...

Hell yeah!  :P
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pedal Castro on 13 February, 2022, 02:57:42 pm
I've booked Ypres campsite for early July.  ;D
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Wowbagger on 05 March, 2022, 08:12:28 pm
Forummers with long memories may recall that in the early days my avatar was a picture of a beer pump with the caption "A pint of Curly, please, Alf!"

Well, it's come true...

https://www.blackjack-beers.com/shopbeer1/the-curly-hetchins-12x440ml-can-case

(https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5331c48ee4b054ff7c329f3e/1645802834712-1VQA8Y0MZK6OWUHSWD3B/mock440mlBeerForRichsDad.jpg?format=1500w)

I have never tasted any.
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Ham on 17 March, 2022, 06:48:58 pm
My local micro-brewery have created a brew "As a tribute to one of our favourite Google reviews"

(click to show/hide)


Damn fine it is, too (https://prettydecentbeer.co/collections/front-page/products/i-could-get-better-in-t-sco-for-a-quid-a-session-pale-ale-4-5)

ETA, the review in question appears to have been removed, which is a shame.

EATA - just bought myself some of this https://prettydecentbeer.co/collections/cans/products/resist-a-ukrainian-anti-imperial-stout-5 (https://prettydecentbeer.co/collections/cans/products/resist-a-ukrainian-anti-imperial-stout-5) - talk about win win!
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Pingu on 17 March, 2022, 11:59:51 pm
Holy Goat Seabeast. Not too shabby  :P

(https://holygoat.beer/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Seabeast_bottle.png) (https://holygoat.beer/beer/seabeast/)
Title: Re: Beer!
Post by: Mr Larrington on 18 March, 2022, 12:40:15 am
Disappointed that the label doesn’t feature a narwhal.

RAAAAAWWWWWRRRRR!