Beer/Real Ale

[Ferret]

Saracen43, Sunchaser is a nice pint. A woefully inappropriate name though!

 

[telstarbox]

Non real ale, try Pilsner Urquell, Staropramen and proper Budvar from Czech if you like staroslav you'll like these more.

Indeed - all three were sampled in Prague a couple of years ago although they are all available in Manchester too.

 

[83G/84D]

Doom Bar, Exmoor Beast & belgian beer Duvel.

 

[Clip]

Doom bar is a favourite of mine at the moment. I do enjoy a lot of IPA's too and sierra Nevada do some lovely ales.

Unless its bottles at home then I normally visit the craft beer company pubs in London, always at least 30 small batch beers on tap and plenty of bottles from round the world. Well worth it

 

[richw]

I've gone a different route from lager, really went off lager. I am now trying loads of different ciders, since my trip to Normandy where I visited a couple of cider farms!
With regards to real ales, I quite like Skinners Betty Stoggs.

 

[ilkestonian]

Wychwood gets a second vote from me.
Hook Norton's Old Hooky is a great ale too.
Greene King Indian Pale Ale
Spitfire.
Batemans XXXB
Bombardier.
and in the absence of all the above, a pint of Guinness slips down the right way.

Knowing Derby very well, I've more than once asked for a pint of "Bomb-Bar-Dee-ay" rather than "Bomb-Ber-Deer" if you see what I mean.

Got strange looks...

 

[sprinterguy]

My favourite ale occasionally changes from time to time, but always cirulates around the ruby-coloured portion of the ale spectrum, more or less. My favourite for a while now has been Hook Norton's "Old Hooky", but it may have been pipped to the post for the top spot just this last weekend when I sampled a couple of pints of the "Lord of the Ales" from Skye Brewery.

As with other posters on this thread, I could go on and on about my favourite ales - I could pick and choose a wide array from most of the lists that have already been put up here!

 

[breadfan]

Too many to mention, although Yorksrob has it well covered.

I'd add Fullers beers in general to that list, along with Youngs bitter.


Best advice is to find a bar that is well known for WELL KEPT real ales and have fun trying them all, real ale goes off quickly and needs looking after, sadly not everywhere that sells it takes care of it. I've never drunk around Manchester but apparently there are some good places around Victoria.

Failing that find somewhere having a beer festival (Newcastle is soon) and enjoy!

Fullers- yes, especially London Pride which I reckon is one of the best, well balanced beers going. Youngs- not what it was and I tend to avoid their pubs now the beers are brewed in Bedford.

Manchester. KNOTT, under the arches of Deansgate viaduct (Marble brewery beers on there, also often a Pictish brewery beer. These are two of the best breweries in the UK. Food is also good there. ANGEL, near Victoria on the Oldham side- plenty of choice and all well kept in my experiences. Carry on a bit up the road to MARBLE ARCH, home of the Marble brewery. Great pub, rumour has it that the tiling etc used to build the pub was, erm, intended for use constructing Victoria station.

Hi,

Just been to a real ale festival this weekend!!

My votes are

Copper dragon, golden pippen
Harvest pale,
Peak ale.

Cheers

Which beer festival did you get to?

There's plenty of good, bad and downright ugly ones out there.

Meanwhile, my brewery recommendations are;

Pictish
Marble
Bowland
Castle Rock
Red Willow
Saltaire (for novelty beers)
Thornbridge
Oakham
Hardknott
Fyne
Kirkstall
Leeds
Acorn
Salamander
Black Jack
Salopian
Brimstage
Hop Back
Rat
Dark Star

 

[bnm]

If I'm in an ale drinking mood I tend to go for 'golden' types. Exmoor Gold, Cotleigh Golden Seahawk and Butcombe Blond are favourites.

If it's lager then my favourites are Steinlager from New Zealand and Nastro Azzurro from Italy.

 

[Cab2Cab]

Which beer festival did you get to?

St Neots, just south of Peterborough (Thaz frum Narth tu mi ole mucker).

There's plenty of good, bad and downright ugly ones out there.?

I take it your talking about females and not beers then!! ( LOL),..........................it's only a joke!!!!! (ladies on this forum).

 

[Kneedown]

glancing through this thread is making me thirsty!

Mws Pws (Purple Moose)

No visit to my relatives on Sir Mon would be complete without a detour to Porthmadoc and the Bragdy Mws Pws for the purpose of loading the Landy with a few crates of Glaslyn and Snowdon ale's.
My all time favorites, especially when the evening is rounded off with a glass or two of REAL Welsh gold..... Penderyn single malt!
They will deliver but the courier cost is about the same as a crate IIRR.

My more freely available favorites are.....

Badger Brewery:-
Fursty Ferret, Golden Champion, Golden Glory (Peachy) Blandford Flyer (Gingery)

Wychwood Brewery :-
Hobgoblin, Ginger Beard (mega-Gingery)

Brains SA.

Batemans XB/XXXB.

Theakstons XB.

Castle Rock (Nottinghamshire) :- Screech Owl.

On the subject of Owl's, Joseph Holt's "Two Hoots" is a nice tipple, and currently on offer in Morrisons i think!

 

[balne-wonderer]

Leeds Best
Black Sheep
Old Mill Bitter
Old Mill Blonde Bombshell
Red Shield

some of my favourites.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Knowing Derby very well, I've more than once asked for a pint of "Bomb-Bar-Dee-ay" rather than "Bomb-Ber-Deer" if you see what I mean.

Got strange looks...

thats how Americans pronounce it too.

 

[stuartmoss]

I very much recommend the documentary 'Beertickers' which is quite often on the documentary channels.

I also recommend the iPhone apps 'BeerTicker' and 'CaskFinder'.

I'm a big real ale fan, I've only started ticking / scooping in the last 18 months, but I'm on 294 different ones in that time. I can HIGHLY recommend products of the following breweries:
The Ilkley Brewery (Dark Summit is my personal favourite real ale).
Kirkstall Brewery (Three Swords my favourite of theirs)
Ossett Brewery - lots of good ones
Knaresborough Brewery - based in Blind Jack's pub in the market square
York Brewery - they do a lovely chocolate porter
BrewDog - Sensational high percentage beers, love all of them.

I mostly like the very dark heavy ales, and the very pale dry ales (particularly triple IPAs), usually 5% or above, as they have the most flavour.

My least favourite are the Ruby ales, particularly the ones you get around Edinburgh, which remind me of ash trays! Each to their own I suppose.

You may like the image linked here: https://dl.dropbox.com/u/2481695/Linked Photos/Rail Forums/BeerChart.jpg which gives a good 'family tree' of beer types.

Happy drinking folks!

 

[Jordy]

You may like the image linked here: https://dl.dropbox.com/u/2481695/Linked Photos/Rail Forums/BeerChart.jpg which gives a good 'family tree' of beer types.

There's a larger version of that image available here

 

[stuartmoss]

There's a larger version of that image available here

I don't suppose you would know where I can get that as a full sized frame picture? or even a poster?

 

[DarloRich]

Hope this thread is acceptable.

Which beers do you like? In an attempt to break out of a lager rut I've been attempting to find other beers and so far I've enjoyed:

Thornbridge Chiron (American pale ale)
Staroslav (Aldi own-brand Pilsner)
Blue Moon (wheat beer)

ere lad get tha sel some proper northern mens ale doon yer!

tha wants Timothy Taylor Landlord, Black Sheep, Theakstons, Yorkshire Terrier fromt York brewery, Double Maxim, bottle of dog

I tells ye t'void them southern nancys ales. terrible. owt south ft Donny is just rubbish ant they know sod all bou t'ale. I mean tha dont even serve it wit bloody sparkler t'on!

( excepted from south of Doncaster rule are Castle Rock, Tribute, Doom Bar or Exmoor Gold. oh and Spitfire is ok in an emergency! If in Scotland Arran is good, so is Cairngorm, Caledonian is nice)

NEVER EVER EVER EVER drink anything by Woodfordes, Greene King, Fullers, Everads or Adnams. Urine would be better.

that should keep you on the right track - you can thank me later.

 

[306024]

ere lad get tha sel some proper northern mens ale doon yer!

tha wants Timothy Taylor Landlord, Black Sheep, Theakstons, Yorkshire Terrier fromt York brewery, Double Maxim, bottle of dog

I tells ye t'void them southern nancys ales. terrible. owt south ft Donny is just rubbish ant they know sod all bou t'ale. I mean tha dont even serve it wit bloody sparkler t'on!

( excepted from south of Doncaster rule are Castle Rock, Tribute, Doom Bar or Exmoor Gold. oh and Spitfire is ok in an emergency! If in Scotland Arran is good, so is Cairngorm, Caledonian is nice)

NEVER EVER EVER EVER drink anything by Woodfordes, Greene King, Fullers, Everads or Adnams. Urine would be better.

that should keep you on the right track - you can thank me later.

Well I'll thank you for trying Urine.

All of which shows it is all down to taste, as Landlord, Black Sheep and Theakstons are all over-rated in my opinion. And of course there are numerous excellent ales from round here anyway if you know where to look.

As for the rest of that post I ain't got a bleedin' clue what it's on about

 

[DarloRich]

Well I'll thank you for trying Urine.

All of which shows it is all down to taste, as Landlord, Black Sheep and Theakstons are all over-rated in my opinion. And of course there are numerous excellent ales from round here anyway if you know where to look.

As for the rest of that post I ain't got a bleedin' clue what it's on about

well your opinion is wrong!

(i was, of course, playing up to the southern based northerners stereotype about beer. There is, apparently, some good beer in the south. Or so i am told!)

 

[Drsatan]

(i was, of course, playing up to the southern based northerners stereotype about beer. There is, apparently, some good beer in the south. Or so i am told!)

All of these ales, which I'd highly recommend, are brewed south of Doncaster (or wherever the North-South border is)

• Flack's Double Drop
• Flack's Black Jack. It's a Porter-type ale which I've heard is very unusual now
• Fuller's London Pride
  • Harvey's Best
  • Harvey's Sussex Old Ale
  • Otter Amber Ale
  • Bay's Topsail

 

[balne-wonderer]

ere lad get tha sel some proper northern mens ale doon yer!

tha wants Timothy Taylor Landlord, Black Sheep, Theakstons, Yorkshire Terrier fromt York brewery, Double Maxim, bottle of dog

I tells ye t'void them southern nancys ales. terrible. owt south ft Donny is just rubbish ant they know sod all bou t'ale. I mean tha dont even serve it wit bloody sparkler t'on!

( excepted from south of Doncaster rule are Castle Rock, Tribute, Doom Bar or Exmoor Gold. oh and Spitfire is ok in an emergency! If in Scotland Arran is good, so is Cairngorm, Caledonian is nice)

NEVER EVER EVER EVER drink anything by Woodfordes, Greene King, Fullers, Everads or Adnams. Urine would be better.

that should keep you on the right track - you can thank me later.

the man knows his ales. although I don't mind the broadside by adnams.

you ever had old mill bitter? brewed in snaith, e yorks. spanking stuff.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Well I'll thank you for trying Urine.

All of which shows it is all down to taste, as Landlord, Black Sheep and Theakstons are all over-rated in my opinion. And of course there are numerous excellent ales from round here anyway if you know where to look.

As for the rest of that post I ain't got a bleedin' clue what it's on about

black sheep in Yorkshire is brilliant. doesn't travel well though.

 

[306024]

well your opinion is wrong!

Oh no it isn't, but if you're buying then yes it is

As I travel better than Black Sheep appears to I'll try it again next time I'm up north.

Adams Broadside and Harveys Best are both full of flavour and two of my favourites from the larger brewers. Despite being a Londoner I'm none too proud of London Pride though. If you ever venture to Lowestoft (the back of beyond) then sample Green Jack beers in The Triangle. Well worth the journey.

 

[Jordy]

I don't suppose you would know where I can get that as a full sized frame picture? or even a poster?

Try http://www.luckies.co.uk/funny-gift/beers-art-print-by-pop-chart-lab/

 

[IanD]

Jst been to a wedding reception at the Saltaire Brewery and can now add Saltaire Pride, Empire IPA and Kala Dark IPA to my list of favcourites with Kala darks coming out top of the 3.

(Still not sure whey they do that Chocaholic or Raspberry Beer, like carrot cake it is just plain wrong! Carrot in cake - no! Chocolate in beer - no!! Raspberry in beer - no!!!)

 

[JoeH]

The chart is quite interesting but makes several errors and is clearly written from the perspective of a North American so it's probably of limited use to Europeans. What I mean by that is the styles are named and categorised in a typical American way which lacks historical perspective. Also they frequently use commonly available North American beers as example of the styles instead of the more authentic European examples which are more widely available to us.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

(Still not sure whey they do that Chocaholic or Raspberry Beer, like carrot cake it is just plain wrong! Carrot in cake - no! Chocolate in beer - no!! Raspberry in beer - no!!!)

I wouldn't be so dismissive of raspberry in beer. While the particular example you bring up might be less than stellar, some beers considered amongst the finest in the world use fruit including raspberry. They are far from the sweet, syrupy, 'girly' beer that most would imagine.

 

[RPM]

Hook Norton "Old Hooky" is the ultimate ale in my opinion. The best brewery tour too. "Double Stout" is also fantastic.

Wadworth "6x" a close second.

St Austell "Proper Job" is an amazing hoppy IPA.

Adnams "Ghost Ship" - not your ususal real ale, but a remarkable drink - fragrant with a strong elderflower flavour.

 

[Robinson]

Anyone got any particular recommendations from East Anglia? I'm doing the Peddars' Way/Norfolk Coast Path soon and inevitably that'll involve plenty of beer stops; I guess Adnams and Woodforde's will crop up at some point but I was wondering what else to expect...

(And no one say Greene King; I can just about tolerate Old Golden Hen from them; anything else = )

 

[Donny Dave]

Anyone got any particular recommendations from East Anglia? I'm doing the Peddars' Way/Norfolk Coast Path soon

My sister says ignore any and all ales from the area and instead concentrate on Aspalls cider.

 

[VauxhallandI]

Anyone got any particular recommendations from East Anglia? I'm doing the Peddars' Way/Norfolk Coast Path soon and inevitably that'll involve plenty of beer stops; I guess Adnams and Woodforde's will crop up at some point but I was wondering what else to expect...

(And no one say Greene King; I can just about tolerate Old Golden Hen from them; anything else = )

Woodforde's Wherry is pretty quaffable IMO

 

[LE Greys]

Anyone got any particular recommendations from East Anglia? I'm doing the Peddars' Way/Norfolk Coast Path soon and inevitably that'll involve plenty of beer stops; I guess Adnams and Woodforde's will crop up at some point but I was wondering what else to expect...

(And no one say Greene King; I can just about tolerate Old Golden Hen from them; anything else = )

Woodforde's Wherry is pretty quaffable IMO

Agree 100%. If the King's Arms in Blakeney is still the same as it was ten years ago, stop off there. I'm now trying to remember where that decent fish and chip shop is in Sheringham (I used to take my holidays in Norfolk, but am now sadly off the beer for good ).

 

[Tracked]

(Still not sure whey they do that Chocaholic or Raspberry Beer, like carrot cake it is just plain wrong! Carrot in cake - no! Chocolate in beer - no!! Raspberry in beer - no!!!)

Disagree over Saltaire Triple Chocaholic, had some yesterday for the first time in a couple of years and it's nice. Saltaire Brewery generally are good, though I don't like the fruit beers. Leeds Brewery and Copper Dragon also have a few different beers that are worth having. Doncaster Brewery's Mucky Bucket is a good new beer, best described as dark pale ale

York (Centurion's Ghost, Guzzler), Kelham Island (Easy Rider), Abbeydale (Moonshine), Ossett (Treacle Stout), Elland (1872 Porter, Eden), Wentworth (Oatmeal Stout) and Acorn (Gorlovka) to namecheck more local ones to me.

Caledonian Brewery - not just Deuchars, their other beers are good
Fullers are Ok, Meantime Brewing did some good beers (london porter) but haven't tried for a while.


Avoids: Greene King & Marstons - something about the taste to them both, GK owns a few other breweries but brews them on it's own site (went to Nottingham Beer Fest a few years ago, there'd been a few from there that had gone) and they have that GK taste to them - have bought beers before without knowing this, but realised on tasting