RugbyRebels

One of the better fixtures of the old board, anyone had any especially good beer/visited any excellent pubs recently? I had a skin full of Red Willow Headless at the club on Saturday night. They're a cracking little microbrewery, sadly their beers are seldom seen beyond the North West, 'though they do supply Virgin Trains' Tilting Ale.

I have of late been very impressed (through the medium of drinking lots) with the Cairngorm Brewery, Wildcat in particular, just the right hoppysweet combination for me. Discovered it whilst walking in Cairngorms around Braemar but was delighted to find that it is sold in branches of Dobbies Garden Centres.

There is a great store here in the town that gets a lot of imported beer. In recent weeks I have had Hobgoblin - I really enjoy that, Old Speckled Hen - which is a nice change and several European beers. However, if you ever get the opportunity to get it, you really should try a Japanese lager called The Premium Malt's (sic) Made by Suntory, it really is the bogs dollex!!

There's an Ontario brewery called Beaus that makes a "lagered ale" called Lug Tread. It comes in a 600ml bottle (just having one beer love) and has a picture of a tractor on the cap. It's super duper.

There's a fantastic brewery on Vancouver island called salt springs. Only had it one night in 2011 and I still rave about it. Excellent microbrewery stuff.

My go to beer at the moment is an Affligem Tripel. Belgian beers are the best by far.

Zhivago wrote:My go to beer at the moment is an Affligem Tripel. Belgian beers are the best by far.

I like Belgian beers, particularly some of the lambics - I was at a conference in Brussels last summer and took a day off to visit a lambic brewery in Pajottenland, the place was like a veritable museum; apparently nothing had been cleaned or moved for close to 200 years! Have to say I still feel that a quality British cask ale beats all comers in the beer stakes!

Zhivago wrote:My go to beer at the moment is an Affligem Tripel. Belgian beers are the best by far.

Same name, "beer" that is, but almost a different drink in many ways. They taste great, but it's not what I look for in a pint.

Billyfish wrote:

Zhivago wrote:My go to beer at the moment is an Affligem Tripel. Belgian beers are the best by far.

Same name, "beer" that is, but almost a different drink in many ways. They taste great, but it's not what I look for in a pint.

Agreed, additionally the difference in beer culture impacts the nature of the drink itself - if you were to attempt a British pub session with many Belgian ales you'd be passed out in a puddle of your own making by 7:30, whereas their strength (which also influences taste) is suited to sipping over a couple of sedate hours passed in a cafe.

Lovely local brew here these days called Young Master.lovely stuff!

Flanking_Now_Hooks wrote:

Billyfish wrote:

Zhivago wrote:My go to beer at the moment is an Affligem Tripel. Belgian beers are the best by far.

Same name, "beer" that is, but almost a different drink in many ways. They taste great, but it's not what I look for in a pint.

Agreed, additionally the difference in beer culture impacts the nature of the drink itself - if you were to attempt a British pub session with many Belgian ales you'd be passed out in a puddle of your own making by 7:30, whereas their strength (which also influences taste) is suited to sipping over a couple of sedate hours passed in a cafe.

Undoubtedly true, the richness/sweetness as well as the %boozeness. No doubt also there will be the equivalent of a session beer out there as the variety is huge and localised.

Billyfish wrote:

Flanking_Now_Hooks wrote:

Billyfish wrote:
Same name, "beer" that is, but almost a different drink in many ways. They taste great, but it's not what I look for in a pint.

Agreed, additionally the difference in beer culture impacts the nature of the drink itself - if you were to attempt a British pub session with many Belgian ales you'd be passed out in a puddle of your own making by 7:30, whereas their strength (which also influences taste) is suited to sipping over a couple of sedate hours passed in a cafe.

Undoubtedly true, the richness/sweetness as well as the %boozeness. No doubt also there will be the equivalent of a session beer out there as the variety is huge and localised.

Variety is huge indeed and I miss it when I'm back home. There's something about having a choice of about 150 beers that is pretty special.

But yes, you will get hammered quick on such beers as strong - 6% is the lowest I go normally. 9% is about right.

In that-there-London there is a chain of bars called The Craft Beer Company. Well worth a visit if you are interested in varieties of beer and cider.

There are a host of breweries in "Beermondsey" (see what they did there) such as Kernel and Partizan. Railway arches across south London seem to be breeding small breweries as Brixton Brewery which are producing high quality ales.

Eugene Wrayburn wrote:In that-there-London there is a chain of bars called The Craft Beer Company. Well worth a visit if you are interested in varieties of beer and cider.

There are a host of breweries in "Beermondsey" (see what they did there) such as Kernel and Partizan. Railway arches across south London seem to be breeding small breweries as Brixton Brewery which are producing high quality ales.

Had a few from Kernal, lovely stuff.

Flanking_Now_Hooks wrote:

Eugene Wrayburn wrote:In that-there-London there is a chain of bars called The Craft Beer Company. Well worth a visit if you are interested in varieties of beer and cider.

There are a host of breweries in "Beermondsey" (see what they did there) such as Kernel and Partizan. Railway arches across south London seem to be breeding small breweries as Brixton Brewery which are producing high quality ales.

Had a few from Kernal, lovely stuff.

They serve them in Hawksmoor steak restaurants, which is fantastic. Do visit the brewery of a saturday if you can. it's mayhem.

The Tiny Rebel Brewery is worth a check if you ever find yourself in Newport and need beer to soften the blow.

The Late Knights Brewery in Penge, London is worth a look. They've got a nice wee pub at Gipsy Hill station that does tasting thirds and the Penge Porter is excellent. Not sure about the steam beer though, it tastes nutty which is just strange.

Doom Bar, lovely drop.
Old Speckled Hen, perhaps the best beer ever invented.
although Rev James gives it a run for its money

Can't beat a pint of Abbot.

switchskier wrote:The Late Knights Brewery in Penge, London is worth a look. They've got a nice wee pub at Gipsy Hill station that does tasting thirds and the Penge Porter is excellent. Not sure about the steam beer though, it tastes nutty which is just strange.

Beer Rebellion is wicked. Hard to believe it started as a pop-up and was so popular they decided to stay. The burgers are incredible too.

WaspInWales wrote:Can't beat a pint of Abbot.

Consistently good as with all Greene King range, including the Morland beers.
Their newer pub restaurants better than most too.
(deciL )

Guzzled a few Liverpool Organic Cask Pilsners yeterday, lovely stuff!

There is nothing that really comes close to a pint of Harvey's for me. Lewes is a lovely place too and the brewery is worth a visit.

Nice to go back to an old favourite from time to time. Enjoyed a few Fullers London Pride a while back and had a couple of Marston Pedigrees the other week that went down very well.

Harviestouns Bitter & Twisted is a current fave.

Just supped a decent Kentish Ale from Sainsbo's, a left-over from New Year.Shepherd Neame the brewer - so probably the same brew as Spitfire (also 4.5% in the bottle.) Always a popular choice - though occasional sulfery nose I recall.
The stronger Bishop's Finger good too, though not for quaffing.