[Archived] Real Ale

[Al]

Are you really serious?

[J*B]

Expect your fosters to slowly worsen, the new glasses they're sending out are awful. The pint goes dead half way through if your not throwing it down.

[Doug]

In answer to Glenn's original post, there are a few real ale drinkers, but a lot more lager drinkers.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

I remember San Miguel when it was less prolific. Used to be a novelty beer. Now it's commercialised it's just the same dishwater as most other lagers on tap.

I know this topic is about real ale but I'm going to go off topic and say that the best commercialised lager on tap, by far, is Fosters. They've got it just right in the last few years IMO.

Fosters? You can't be serious. It's p--s. Nearly as bad as Carling.

[PAFELL]

Fosters? You can't be serious. It's p--s. Nearly as bad as Carling.

Its worse than carling. When I drank lager in pubs, I would drink carling (yes I know wash mouth out) Take Fosters if nowt else, under sufferance.

[Doug]

If there was nowt else to drink other than lager I would hope Warstiener would be available. It is IMO a vastly superior lager beer than the more common varieties available on the average bar.

[thenodrog]

If there was nowt else to drink other than lager I would hope Warstiener would be available. It is IMO a vastly superior lager beer than the more common varieties available on the average bar.

Funny how tastes differ. I can't abide Warsteiner.... or to give it it's colloquial term 'Wifebeater'.

[Doug]

Funny how tastes differ. I can't abide Warsteiner.... or to give it it's colloquial term 'Wifebeater'.

'Warstarter' where I live.

Stella has the wifebeater tag here. But, I believe they have changed the recipe (probably by simply reducing the ABV), to change it's reputation.

Oh, and I had a few Robinson's 'Dizzy Blonde' tonight, very drinkable 3.8% 'bellywash'.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Funny how tastes differ. I can't abide Warsteiner.... or to give it it's colloquial term 'Wifebeater'.

I can't either. That one really upsets my hiatus hernia/stomach.

[thenodrog]

'Warstarter' where I live.

Stella has the wifebeater tag here. But, I believe they have changed the recipe (probably by simply reducing the ABV), to change it's reputation.

ooops you are correct. warstarter it is. Didn't look quite right when I typed it.

[J*B]

Met either rog of the rovers or Clitherover last night. Unsure which - but I can confirm they where enjoying a real ale in the De Lacy Arms, and looked/(probably felt) far better than me, as I was on Stella.

[Doug]

Tonight I have mainly been drinking, Wells Bombadier, Robinson's Dizzy Blonde and Wainwrights. OooooH Yesssssss!

[PAFELL]

Tonight I have mainly been drinking, Wells Bombadier, Robinson's Dizzy Blonde and Wainwrights. OooooH Yesssssss!

Had a few bottles of Hobgoblin last night - not bad. What I call a tv beer

[Biddy]

Currently enjoying a Timmy Laylor Landlord and a Cornish cream tea. They go surprisingly well together!

[philipl]

American micro-breweries

http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2012/05/17/152845779/more-breweries-less-beer?sc=fb&cc=fp

[Doug]

American micro-breweries

http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2012/05/17/152845779/more-breweries-less-beer?sc=fb&cc=fp

Can we get American Micro Brewery ales over here?

[thenodrog]

American micro-breweries

http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2012/05/17/152845779/more-breweries-less-beer?sc=fb&cc=fp

Piece of advice once given to me which I have never forgotten and a great rule to follow for small businesses..... 'When all the experts are rushing one way, walk slowly in the other direction.'

[philipl]

From Andrew Sullivan's blog:

The Democracy Of Beer

Anyone can brew:

Without the right soil and good weather, even the most talented vintner can’t produce great wine. Beer offers competitors a level playing field. Most brewers—commercial and amateur—get their hops and malt from a handful of suppliers, so terroir plays a minor role in the quality of the final product. The only real wild card is water, which can always be manipulated with a little chemical know-how. If everyone starts with the same resources, the best brewer should win most of the time.

The judging is more egalitarian as well:

If you Google "beer rankings," the first hit is BeerAdvocate.com, the site that gave [ the unofficial best beer in the world] Pliny the Younger its fame. Although Beer Advocate takes its name from Parker’s Wine Advocate, the approach is entirely different. You won’t get the opinion of a single supertaster, or even a panel of experts. It’s a raucous compilation of thousands of opinions from ordinary schlubs just like you. As the art critic Clement Greenberg noted "[Q]uality in art is not just a matter of private experience. There is a consensus of taste." The beer world takes that consensus seriously.

[wilyrover]

Went to Clitheroe Beer Festival yesterday. Place was heaving and there was some good ale on sale. Cracking day out.

[Doug]

From Andrew Sullivan's blog:

The Democracy Of Beer

Anyone can brew:

Without the right soil and good weather, even the most talented vintner can’t produce great wine. Beer offers competitors a level playing field. Most brewers—commercial and amateur—get their hops and malt from a handful of suppliers, so terroir plays a minor role in the quality of the final product. The only real wild card is water, which can always be manipulated with a little chemical know-how. If everyone starts with the same resources, the best brewer should win most of the time.

The judging is more egalitarian as well:

If you Google "beer rankings," the first hit is BeerAdvocate.com, the site that gave [ the unofficial best beer in the world] Pliny the Younger its fame. Although Beer Advocate takes its name from Parker’s Wine Advocate, the approach is entirely different. You won’t get the opinion of a single supertaster, or even a panel of experts. It’s a raucous compilation of thousands of opinions from ordinary schlubs just like you. As the art critic Clement Greenberg noted "[Q]uality in art is not just a matter of private experience. There is a consensus of taste." The beer world takes that consensus seriously.

This sounds very much like its taken from a 'home brew' site.

Edit: Just googled him, he's a journo! Must be a mate of Nicko's! He will probably follow it up with 'anyone can do brain surgery' or 'anyone can defuse a bomb'!

[Glenn]

Hard hat on but agree about some of the US micro-breweries producing remarkably fine real ales.

I have had an awful pint of speckled hen which put me off. Will have to try it again.

Can we get American Micro Brewery ales over here?

I'm quite partial to most of FlyDog's bottles and Dogfish Head's 50 Minute IPA, though it seems every "trendy" bar in Leeds has suddenly got a deal with either Brookyln or Sierra Neveda, neither of which I'm that fond of. There are loads of places in Leeds doing Blue Moon, but frankly it's a bit over-fruity for me (once describe as a marriage of cheap lager and a glade air freshener).

If there was nowt else to drink other than lager I would hope Warstiener would be available. It is IMO a vastly superior lager beer than the more common varieties available on the average bar.

Not all lagers are evil, just ones aimed at the UK market. Try Jever or Fruh, two excellent German pilsners that you can find over here in bottles.

Hard hat on but agree about some of the US micro-breweries producing remarkably fine real ales.

I have had an awful pint of speckled hen which put me off. Will have to try it again.

Can we get American Micro Brewery ales over here?

I'm quite partial to most of FlyDog's bottles and Dogfish Head's 50 Minute IPA, though it seems every "trendy" bar in Leeds has suddenly got a deal with either Brookyln or Sierra Neveda, neither of which I'm that fond of. There are loads of places in Leeds doing Blue Moon, but frankly it's a bit over-fruity for me (once describe as a marriage of cheap lager and a glade air freshener).

If there was nowt else to drink other than lager I would hope Warstiener would be available. It is IMO a vastly superior lager beer than the more common varieties available on the average bar.

Not all lagers are evil, just ones aimed at the UK market. Try Jever or Fruh, two excellent German pilsners that you can find over here in bottles.

[Doug]

Went to Clitheroe Beer Festival yesterday. Place was heaving and there was some good ale on sale. Cracking day out.

Can you remember the names of any of the beers you tried?

[wilyrover]

Can you remember the names of any of the beers you tried?

Bowland had a couple of good ones, especially the Gold. So did our own Three B's. Queen Bee was the latter one. Prospect Brewery had some good stuff too. But I can't remember what the Porter was called, it was that good.

[Cow]

I've got Directors Bitter on draft in my kitchen/bar. Got a mate that drinks those yellow tins. Idiot.

[Dreyski]

I'm quite partial to most of FlyDog's bottles and Dogfish Head's 50 Minute IPA, though it seems every "trendy" bar in Leeds has suddenly got a deal with either Brookyln or Sierra Neveda, neither of which I'm that fond of.

I've not been able to find Dogfish Head for several months - shame, as the Raison D'Etre is one of the best beers I've ever tasted. Last weekend, though, I picked up some ales from Anchor brewery (Anchor steam ale and Liberty ale) and it's fast becoming one of my favourite options for the carry home.