[Archived] Real Ale

[Doug]

That should put the cat amongst the pigeons on here. Dissing the little micro breweries for pumping out dodgy cask ale for all they are worth and giving a plug for the larger commercial breweries mass producing sour brown liquid will leave some around here literally apoplectic with rage.

Not sure how you came to that conclusion. I thought your education in cask conditioned ale was coming along a treat! I'm sure others will have understood what i was attempting to point out.

Just to expand a little on my post, the small micro brewer may not have the confidence/purchasing power to ensure his ingredients are consistant. For example, Thwaites will send their representative to select the hops they would like, to the hop farms at harvest time. He will carry out his tests to select his choice of, for example, Goldings Hops. When he has selected the one that he feels will be closest to his beer recipe, he will order a years supply, taking into account his sales forecast. This should ensure a more consistant beer. The small micro brewer might order his Goldings on a brew by brew basis, and the hop merchant will supply any Goldings that he may have left over once the big boys have had submitted their orders. So, he may get Goldings grown by Mr.Jones in a partialy shaded field in Herefordshire, with an Alpha Acid content of 6%, and his next supply could, for example, come from Mr. Smiths farm, in Kent, that has full sun, and an Alpa Acid content of 7.5%.. Both are Goldings but will have different flavour characters due to their individual growing conditions, bit like grapes in wine if you like.

Hope that clears that up a bit. As stated previously, I do prefer a blond with plenty of hoppiness at about 3.7% - 4.0%.

[PAFELL]

That should put the cat amongst the pigeons on here. Dissing the little micro breweries for pumping out dodgy cask ale for all they are worth and giving a plug for the larger commercial breweries mass producing sour brown liquid will leave some around here literally apoplectic with rage.

Not really. We like to support the micro brewery because they are a micro brewery. Bare in mind that the big companies were once micro breweries.

We use a lot of beer from some of our local breweries, such as, Dark Star, Isfield, Rother valley, Hastings, Franklins.

But then one of us finds a decent beer on various beer festivals we go to, so we try to get it in. I like Thornbridge, Magic rock, Salopian breweries. Each could be described as micro breweries - but they do some fantastic beers.

We recently tried Lancashire Gold from Number 39 in Darwen in our club. It took awhile to settle, But was sold out in 24 hours. Three B's is well worth a visit in your area (Tockholes) Last time I went they had 9 of their own beers on, all good.

[PAFELL]

Not sure how you came to that conclusion. I thought your education in cask conditioned ale was coming along a treat! I'm sure others will have understood what i was attempting to point out.

Just to expand a little on my post, the small micro brewer may not have the confidence/purchasing power to ensure his ingredients are consistant. For example, Thwaites will send their representative to select the hops they would like, to the hop farms at harvest time. He will carry out his tests to select his choice of, for example, Goldings Hops. When he has selected the one that he feels will be closest to his beer recipe, he will order a years supply, taking into account his sales forecast. This should ensure a more consistant beer. The small micro brewer might order his Goldings on a brew by brew basis, and the hop merchant will supply any Goldings that he may have left over once the big boys have had submitted their orders. So, he may get Goldings grown by Mr.Jones in a partialy shaded field in Herefordshire, with an Alpha Acid content of 6%, and his next supply could, for example, come from Mr. Smiths farm, in Kent, that has full sun, and an Alpa Acid content of 7.5%.. Both are Goldings but will have different flavour characters due to their individual growing conditions, bit like grapes in wine if you like.

Hope that clears that up a bit. As stated previously, I do prefer a blond with plenty of hoppiness at about 3.7% - 4.0%.

Have you ever tried Trinity 3% by Redemption. One of the best, low strength beers I have had. Loads of hoppy flavour. We had it on our past two beer festivals. Normally we don't repeat a beer. But one of our members Father died and he wanted to buy a firkin, of his choice, for the club. He chose that.

[ABBEY]

3% ? Better off with vimto

[Al]

3% ? Better off with vimto

I can't understand this obligation to quote the strength of ales. Surely it's the taste that counts not the alcohol content. Personally I prefer a lighter one, with taste, that I can drink more of before I fall off my stool.

[thenodrog]

3% ? Better off with vimto

Session beer Abbey. I rem one of the best session beers that I tasted about 15 years ago was Bellhaven Best and thats about 3.2 . Went down a treat then but last visit to Scotland I had it and it was awful.

[Mike E]

Is there a site or something where you can check which pubs sell certain beers on the pump, etc? I'd rather like to try Jaipur (as some have suggested), but only way I KNOW I can get it in a bottle by mail.

[LeChuck]

I had a pint of Jaipur in Manchester on Friday. £4.50 mind! It was good though. This was in Trof if you're planning on going.

[MCMC1875]

Is there a site or something where you can check which pubs sell certain beers on the pump, etc? I'd rather like to try Jaipur (as some have suggested), but only way I KNOW I can get it in a bottle by mail.

You are best off visiting pubs that sell lots of different cask ales. I've seen draught Jaipur in The Forts Arms, Clayton (about £2.70 a pint!) and The Continental, Preston. The Dog Inn, Whalley is another good pub. Some cask ale free houses take requests for ales from customers.

[Willie Eckerslike]

Clitheroe beer festival next Friday and Saturday

This link gives a list of beers (no Jaipur I'm afraid) but you might spot some favourites

http://www.eastlancscamra.org.uk/files/festivals.php

Train goes straight to Clitheroe from Darwen and Blackburn

[Mike E]

Unfortunately I'm in devon next weekend but thanks guys. Guess you gotta get lucky or try the bottle and buy a barrel.

[PAFELL]

Unfortunately I'm in devon next weekend but thanks guys. Guess you gotta get lucky or try the bottle and buy a barrel.

Whereabouts in Devon

[PAFELL]

Clitheroe beer festival next Friday and Saturday

This link gives a list of beers (no Jaipur I'm afraid) but you might spot some favourites

http://www.eastlancscamra.org.uk/files/festivals.php

Train goes straight to Clitheroe from Darwen and Blackburn

Very very interesting list of beers. Notice 3 B's, Hopstar, Jubilee Towers from the Blackburn / Darwen area have some beers there. Had Big Red 4% by Ossett at our beer festival. Nice beer.

Had beers from Redwillow before, but not Feckless 4.1

Sadly I can't get north next week. If I could I would certainly go to this festival.

[Mike E]

Whereabouts in Devon

Woolacombe for a wedding

[PAFELL]

Woolacombe for a wedding

If your able to pay a visit to ilfracombe. It might be worth paying a visit to a pub called SHIP & PILOT. Hard to miss, as it is painted bright yellow on the outside. Have about 4 ales and ciders on. Not been myself. But recommended by CAMRA'S good beer guide.

[MCMC1875]

Fri 24 May - Mon 27 May Forts Arms (Clayton-le-Moors) Beer Festival. 40+ beers.

Thu 30 May - Sun 2 Jun Continental (Preston) Beer Festival. 100+ beers, food (inc hog roast), live music.

[PAFELL]

Fri 24 May - Mon 27 May Forts Arms (Clayton-le-Moors) Beer Festival. 40+ beers.

Thu 30 May - Sun 2 Jun Continental (Preston) Beer Festival. 100+ beers, food (inc hog roast), live music.

Be interested to see the beer list.

[Willie Eckerslike]

Corporation Arms, between Ribchester and Longridge - beer festival 24th, 25th and 26th May

Live music. Number 35 bus direct from Blackburn Boulevard - last bus back is midnight!!

http://www.corporationarms.com/beerFest.php

Is there a site or something where you can check which pubs sell certain beers on the pump, etc? I'd rather like to try Jaipur (as some have suggested), but only way I KNOW I can get it in a bottle by mail.

Jaipur on at Corporation Arms beer festival this week Mike

[dave birch]

Jaipur on at Corporation Arms beer festival this week Mike

Aahh, The Corp, the last Pub of the last Crawl that I did before heading over here.

Memories

[PAFELL]

Corporation Arms, between Ribchester and Longridge - beer festival 24th, 25th and 26th May

Live music. Number 35 bus direct from Blackburn Boulevard - last bus back is midnight!!

http://www.corporationarms.com/beerFest.php

Jaipur on at Corporation Arms beer festival this week Mike

Going to one on Eastbourne sea front, (western lawns - for those in Sussex) on Saturday evening.

Jaipur on at Corporation Arms beer festival this week Mike

Aahh, The Corp, the last Pub of the last Crawl that I did before heading over here.

Memories

If you like Jaipur - hard not to of course. try it's little sister KIPLING. Very nice.

[thenodrog]

How many of these beer festivals are being seen as 'an earner' and how many are put on by enthusiastic landlords to really give their more discerning customers a treat? Personally any beer festival which insists on plastic glasses can do one for me.

[PAFELL]

How many of these beer festivals are being seen as 'an earner' and how many are put on by enthusiastic landlords to really give their more discerning customers a treat? Personally any beer festival which insists on plastic glasses can do one for me.

I suggest it is rare for a beer festival to have plastic glasses. Normally it is just Police who insist on them, if near a football ground on match day, for example. Though I know of a club in Brighton that is 3 miles away from the ground where - Police again, insist on them. Having worked on 4, not counting the ones my own club run. I have never had to use plastic at a beer festival. Recently in Eastbourne, we were asked to use them. But won the argument against them. Often on beer festivals, your glass is part of any fee. You use and you take that glass home with you. don't judge before going to one. Judge afterwards. I do though use third of a pint glasses. Which will allow folk to try 3 different beers, for the price of a pint.

Of course it is an earner. But selling one pint behind the bar is an earner. Considering you have lighting, rent / mortgage, bar staff to pay, cleaner in some places - of course the beer at the pump costs more than what it is bought for. many beer festivals are run and helped by folk who give their time for nothing. Saying that, it is also a good laugh at times as well.

Sadly a lot of folk do not realise what goes on in the pub or club, before opening time.

The day that does happen, is the day when folk will really appreciate their local. To the extent they will ask, if there is anything they can do to help. Some will, say. 'its their job'. Which it is.

But often a pub or club would shut without the folk who offer to help out. Wages are terrible, about 12 to 15,000 a year, unsociable hours etc. On Sunday, we have roast spuds and parsnips on the bar and the tables. This is done by the farmer who grows and cooks them - he does not charge for the spuds or parsnips, his time. he considers it a pleasure. Because he loves the club

Plastic glasses, like you, I have no time for them. But when the law says you have to use them, so be it. I would rather sell ale in plastic glasses, than none at all.

A drinker often only sees things from one side of the bar - I see both sides, as I am first a drinker and then a barman.

Go try a beer festival. If you like your local. Ask if there is something you can do to help out.

[PAFELL]

Received a gift this morning from Tiny Rebel brewery from Newport in Wales. 6 bottled beers, 2 each of URBAN PALE ALE 5.5% - HADOOKEN 7.4% (heard there is a band of the same name) BELGIAN GOLDEN STRONG ALE 10% (This one not even on their website yet)

This is a brewery worth keeping an eye on. Tried their beers on tap at Sussex beer festival in Hove this year. They are a fairly new brewery, who have just got their first tap. Beers are slowly hitting beer festivals.

[old darwen blue]

10%? I sense a headache coming on.

[PAFELL]

10%? I sense a headache coming on.

I am fortunate. I don't get hangovers with ale. Glass of water in the morning and I am fine. Just not fit to drive. But as I don't start work till 9.30am, I live by the beach, So a walk along the prom always helps as well.