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There's been a couple of threads like this before but you can't beat a good discussion about beer.
Currently a huge fan of:
William Bros Seven Giraffes
Timothy Taylor Landlord
Brewdog JackHammer
Cairngorm Trade Winds
Stewart Pentland IPA
Fallen Smokehouse Porter
Peroni Gran Riserva
Pretty much everything by Harviestoun.
Anyone else got any favourites at the moment?
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale.
When I first started drinking, American beers over here were all pretty similar bland light beers from the multinationals... changed times.
Fix - a dark Greek beer that recently (to my knowledge) has been appearing sporadically in a few off licences.....sexy as hell.
Also, March of the Penguins...don't know much about it apart from it's well tasty :thumbsup:
Landlord I put up with John Smiths....bogging stuff!Quote:
Originally Posted by Pretty Boy
These 2 definitely and most Williams Bros beers, Ceaser Augustus, Birds and Bees are both barry for the summer...Quote:
Originally Posted by Pretty Boy
Discovered a lot of nice local ales since moving down to Surrey including Hogsback T.E.A, Hamerpot, Hambledon bitter which are all nice enough.
Was recently in Belgium with work and discovered a real love for both draft Juliper and Leffe - beautiful beers.
Before moving from Scotland, our local pub in Dundee had a great range of beers on tap including Brooklyn, Anchor Steam, Fraoch, Kelpie, Sierra Nevada and Mikkelour.
I used to be a fan of real ale but sadly I just find it's not served cold enough for my liking so never bother with it anymore.
I'm a massive fan of Innis & Gunn - both the taste and its local origins.
I love all the flavours I have tasted so far and have just noticed there is a Scottish Pale Ale variety which I have yet to sample.
I concur I love Innis & Gunn, mostly bottles I drink but I have had the odd pint of draught.Quote:
Originally Posted by Future17
London Pride is a lovely pint.
Rarely seen it here though.
Belhaven Black is by favourite beer right now.
Dark, rich and most hellish tasty.
:yum yum:
One I forgot from my list which I discovered at the start of the week was Fuller's Honeydew. Beautiful summer pint!
I'm not a Lager fan but do enjoy a pint of West St Mungo Lager.
I grew up in Liverpool drinking a pint of Golden (1/2 Lager over 1/2 Bitter) or a Brown Bitter ( 1/2 bitter in a pint glass topped with a bottle of brown)
I'm not a big real ale drinker, but, do enjoy a nice porter type pint now and again.
Don't get involved much during the summer, but, I do enjoy Orkney Dark Island, Black Paw Dark Seam, Mordue Workies Ticket and Batemans 4XB. Not had Batemans for years though, not sure it still exists.
Despite having tried hundreds and hundreds of craft beers over the last couple of years, I think that if I could only drink one beer for the rest of my life then Sierra Nevade Pale Ale would be a genuine contender. So consistent, so refreshing and balanced, and despite Sierra Nevada being such a big brewery now, they have not compromised on quality.Quote:
Originally Posted by hibsbollah
Was it Duke's that you drank at?Quote:
Originally Posted by The Story So Far...
Funnily enough I'm wearing my Mikkeller t-shirt today. I was out at his bars on Copenhagen in May - just simply phenomenal.
On Wednesday it was Brodie's Haggis Basher takeover in Edinburgh. Really good to get an extensive selection of Brodie's stuff up here. His Fruits of the Forest sour is just immense. Was very impressed with the Kiwi PA too.
I had my very first Pliny the Elder by Russian River last week. I can see why it has the reputation it does. Still not sure that it beats Stone Ruination for me if you're after an imperial though.
On the Scottish side of things, everything coming out of Cromarty just now is excellent.
Have you found anywhere that sells full pints? Anywhere I have seen it on draught, it's always half pints - I presume because of the strength.Quote:
Originally Posted by Scouse Hibee
Oh aye and Orkney Skull Splitter too, quite an apt name if imbibed to excess!Quote:
Originally Posted by HUTCHYHIBBY
It was, aye. They're probably the best bar in Dundee as far as I'm concerned with the array of beers (both craft and more well known) they have and they regularly rotate them.Quote:
Originally Posted by Calvin
I've not heard of a lot of the ones you've just ran off so it gives me some new ones to seek out :greengrin
Pretty sure I had a pint in the Canon's Gait though that was a couple of years back.Quote:
Originally Posted by Future17
All of the Fuller Thomson pubs are really quite good. They had Lagunitas IPA on in their Edinburgh bars this week which suited me well - first time I've seen it for a wee while.Quote:
Originally Posted by The Story So Far...
It's Edinburgh Independent Beer Festival this week. Probably the best week of the year to be in Edinburgh.
Fair shout - not been in there. Had half pints a few places. Apparently Malones is getting I&G on draught so will see what they offer.Quote:
Originally Posted by Scouse Hibee
The Hollyrood 9a is good for craft beer. It had a few of the other Sierra Nevada beers including The torpedo and their wheat beer not long ago. Not that far from Easter Road either.Quote:
Originally Posted by Calvin
15 cans of Carling for a tenner out of Sainsburys at Straiton. There's no many left, and I mean in the fridge here, plenty up at Straiton:greengrin
Just spent the whole day in Dunbar with family (missing the match fortunately) and was introduced to this in can form.Quote:
Originally Posted by Golden Bear
This will be the stout of choice from now on. It has a subtle taste and goes down well yet isn't watery. Lovely ice cold too:thumbsup:
Had sierra nevada last night, brilliant pint.
My fridge is typically full of warsteiner, bitburger, jever, augustiner, paulaner or something like that. You can't beat the crisp refreshing taste of a German bier on a hot summers day.
On the beer side of things I like a red cuillin, innes and gunn beers, the punk or hardcore ipa's by brewdog and most of the Williams bros stuff I've tasted.
Had an Espresso Stout from some Japanese brewery last night.
Very pleasant.
Not that you'd think it from my avatar but I'm a big fan of tryst beers just now. Their hop trial varieties over the last couple of years have been fantastic. Other than that if I had to pick my top 3 favourite craft brews just now it would be kernels table beer, black isles yellowhammer and oakhams citra.
Regularly drink-
Brewdog Punk IPA
Black isle blonde
Innis and gunn
There are some excellent Scottish beers around just now. As part of my job I occasionally test beer and had one in recently that was quite tasty, Knops Californian something or other, think it's a new brewery and I've not seen it around yet.
Californian common, was a style developed during the gold rush I think. They've been around a while but bob knops has just moved out to new premises at archerfield after previously brewing at TSA.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr Grieves
On a similar vein i noticed last night that Wetherspoons Cider Festival continues until next Sunday. Sampled a couple, Philospher probably the best and easy to drink although its around 6-6.5%
That's the one! I hadn't heard of them before, nice beer.Quote:
Originally Posted by South Sub
Musselburgh broke and black cork are decent beers too, I think they're looking to expand now that they've moved to their own premises so id expect to see more of their beers appearing out and about now.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr Grieves
Quote:
Originally Posted by HUTCHYHIBBY
:agree: Sampled a few in Corstorphine this afternoon myself, nice to have some decent cider away from the mass produced ****** that I sometimes revert to on a sunny day.
Hitachino Nest?Quote:
Originally Posted by Pretty Boy
On the note of California Common, that's an alternative name for steam beer, of which Anchor Steam is the original and best example.
Currently drinking a Fantom Saison. Not a huge Belgian fan (Lambics excluded) but this has just enough sourness.
Craft beer has really taken off in Wellington in the last couple of years and now I struggle to drink any of the mainstream beers (admittedly after a period of resistance, mainly due to the craft beers being pretty expensive - about $10 / £5 a 425ml glass is standard here). IPA's seem to be my favourites. A few good ones I've had are............
http://cdn.beerstore.com.au/sites/be...1309224571.jpghttp://static2.stuff.co.nz/1366540458/008/8579008.jpghttp://www.tuatarabrewing.co.nz/asse...bleWebsite.png
Agree. My drink of choice. My fridge is well stocked and live in London so get it in a few locals.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hibbyradge
Bombardier and Black Sheep also deserve a mention. Old Hookey is good as well.
I'm beginning to see Deuchars down south a bit more although the way some of the southerners pronounce it is hilarious: Doo-shaars, doychers... I've even been corrected by a bar maid for pronouncing it properly.
Those sound pretty good, I'll look to get my hands on some. Shipping time is the only thing that holds us back from getting more NZ beers over here. Saying that, I'm reasonably familiar with Epic and 8wired, Rennaisance too.Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve-O
NZ breweries have an advantage in my eyes in that they can use Nelson Sauvin, my favourite hop, as fresh as it comes.
Yip, 8 Wired Tall Poppy is good, as is their Rewired, and Super Conductor (which I see is for sale via Brewdog's website, if you're interested). Epic is probably the one I go for most. Hop Zombie is great, and the Epic Pale Ale is good too. Liberty are another NZ brewery that have a few good ones, and there's also Croucher, as well as Parrotdog. Parrotdog Bloodhound is a really nice beer. I live about a 5 minute walk from both Parrotdog and Garage Project breweries and at both of them you can get beer fresh from the tap in a 2 litre bottle. :agree:Quote:
Originally Posted by Calvin
Do they have any of those NZ beers in the pubs in the UK?
Only 8wired and Epic. As far as 8 Wired goes, I've had Hopwired, Super Conductor, Tall Poppy, Saison Sauvin, ReWired and iStout in the BrewDog Aberdeen bar recently, but haven't seen Epic for a while. However I've never even heard of any of the others you mention. There's a possibility that they don't even ship or distribute to the UK but I'll keep an eye out for them in the bottle shops.Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve-O
:agree: drinking a malinsons nelson sauvin just now, beautiful. I spent a couple of years in nz ten years ago and craft brewing was getting pretty big back then, I imagine there's some fantastic beers made there now, I'm going to keep am eye out for the ones you've mentioned.Quote:
Originally Posted by Calvin
Just found out that The Scottish Real Ale Festival has been on at The Corn Exchange all w-end, thats a bit of a blow, usually make an effort to attend on at least one of the days :-(
Does anyone else on here have Untappd?
I was there on the Saturday :cheers:Quote:
Originally Posted by HUTCHYHIBBY
So we've all had a teetotal few weeks? :greengrin
I can't get enough of Black Racer by Bear Republic just now. The new BrewDog AB:14 is really unique too so have been sampling a fair bit of it. Our collaboration with the aforementioned 8wired has launched too, but I'm really not a pilsner man.
It's the GBBF down in London next week and I'm very tempted to head down. Some of the American beers that they have on draft look simply amazing.
I'm tempted to head along to the GBBF the night before the game at Wembley next week, looks worth a trip. I'm staying in Shoreditch though which makes it a bit of a trek!Quote:
Originally Posted by Calvin
I reckon you could get across London in half an hour, and will probably be worth it. Shame that they're still keg-sceptic. There are a few good beer bars in Shoreditch at least.Quote:
Originally Posted by HUTCHYHIBBY
It opens to the public at 5pm I arrive in London early in the morning, I think the damage will already have been done by the time it opens!
I've read a lot about The Wenlock Arms near Old Street, might just pay that a visit instead.
Ah of course. I think I have a trade ticket if I want it, and if I do I'll probably head down. Not so keen now I've realised the football's on though.Quote:
Originally Posted by HUTCHYHIBBY
Wenlock Arms is quite traditional I think, although it's not a bar I've ever visited.
Tonight I shall mostly be drinking
Attachment 10806Attachment 10807
And given I'm on holiday just now I might have quite a few :greengrin
You should take the ticket and give it to some welcoming fellow in the vicinity :greengrinQuote:
Originally Posted by Calvin
Found out tonight that my boss has taken the ticket. Next time!Quote:
Originally Posted by The Story So Far...
Been necking a fair few pints of Avalanche by Fynes Ales recently, very nice.
Alright? and Cream Ale by Mikkeler werw also most enjoyable.
Oh and Titan IPA by Great Divide. For those who like their hops!
If you like that then try Hercules, their IIPA. Their chocolate oak aged yeti stout is unreal too.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pretty Boy
Hopefully I'll get to try the latest Mikkeller spontan series this week.
If you like your niche and obscure beers, my mate has just opened a new boozer at Abbeyhill (the old Station Bar) gone through a serious bit of renovation, kept some of the old features and re-opened as the Safari Lounge, loads of decent beers on draft and bottles.
Was in before the malmo game, they've done a good job, had a pint of Houstons peters well. 3 cask ales, west and custom lager from belhaven on keg. Will be back there for sure, food was decent too :aok:Quote:
Originally Posted by Godsahibby
These guys are very good too, from New Zealand. Had one tonight called "Oh, Brother", and IPA. Liberty Brewing Co. are the brewery, few of their beers pictured below. Can also get Brewdog on tap here now which I am pretty pleased about :agree:
http://hashigozake.co.nz/images/libertylineup.jpg
Only seen this twice and neither was in Edinburgh. Absolutely loved it! Tesco have it in cans but it's just not the same.Quote:
Originally Posted by Golden Bear
Anybody know of any Edinburgh pubs that have Belhaven Black?
The Worlds End has the cask version.Quote:
Originally Posted by hibbybob
I tried McEwans Red the other day. Is this just a rebranding of Export? Because that's what it tastes like. Also tried Caledonian Three Hops Lager. Was ok but nothing special.
A couple recommendations guys: Game Bird by the Borders Brewery and Northern Light from Orkney. Couple of really nice ones and they're usually on tap if you're ever passing by Allanton!
Live very close to a Brewdog bar. Think it was only a one off but they had a rhubarb and demerara sugar porter that was brilliant.
I see Brewdog are doing a takeover of Dukes Corner in Dundee this weekend and I'm not there :(
Had a couple of pints of Kelpie last night which I was amazed to find on draft down here - love that stuff :thumbsup:
Hobgoblin is a decent pint, brewed in my home town
Rhubarbarian? The Aberdeen bar did that before I worked there (so a long time ago!)Quote:
Originally Posted by Northernhibee
The Leith Beer Co has it Bob, used to be the Waterline.Quote:
Originally Posted by hibbybob
just had a bottle of Iron Maidens "Trooper" ale....very nice..
Cheers, I'll give it a go.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hiber-nation
Possibly! Was fantastic anyway.Quote:
Originally Posted by Calvin
I've been all about Oskar Blues brewery from Colorado this past couple of weeks. I've tried 9 or 10 of their beers and never been disappointed. Their G'Knight red ale aged in Port barrels is one of the best beers I've had this year. Saying that, I'm going to an Evil Twin beer dinner on Friday so that could change yet!
I really need to get back to Scotland - we don't get any exciting craft beers down here unless I head into London - plenty of local ales but I do miss having something like a Fuller Thompson on my doorstep.Quote:
Originally Posted by Calvin
It's the same in most places though - up here I only ever drink at BrewDog even on my days off as even though most bars and pubs are beginning to latch onto craft beer a bit, still only have a very limited selection. Edinburgh and London are the only real exceptions to this in my experience.Quote:
Originally Posted by The Story So Far...
However I suppose even the one FT or BrewDog bar is better than nothing at all! Is it mostly local cask stuff down there or do you get a decent kegged selection?
Long White Cloud from the Tempest brewery is a thing of beauty, tastes a lot like grapefruit, fantastic beer. Another personal favourite of mine is Black Cork from Knops Brewery, I wrote an article on the revival of real ale when I was at university and, rather annoyingly, the guy I was writing the article with didn't spell my name right when it was put online! Here is a link to it and it explains what the Black Cork is: http://www.impulsemag-online.com/?p=3731 and it should be Stephens not Stevens :greengrin
Primarily local casked ales to be honest - we do get the odd gem kegs but it's mostly just really nice continental beers on tap rather than any craft beers (our local at the moment has Goesser, Leffe, Veltins and Weihenstephaner).Quote:
Originally Posted by Calvin
I found myself being excited the other day that our Union suddenly had Tiger on tap...
The term "craft beer" is it just a modern take on what used to be known as beer from micro breweries?
With a knicker surcharge added for the hipster.Quote:
Originally Posted by Scouse Hibee
That's certainly part of it, but it's a broader term. I would certainly still class Sierra Nevada as craft beer despite their brewery being absolutely massive, and Goose Island are owned by InBev yet are still a craft brewer.Quote:
Originally Posted by Scouse Hibee
For me it comes down to ethos. Not making lowest common denominator stuff full of cost cutting measures and preservatives.
There are a lot of microbreweries that I wouldn't class as craft so while there's a lot of overlap, they're not interchangeable.
May have been mentioned already but there is a cracking wee beer shop at the shore beside the Sainsburys express. I try to pop in every few months to treat myself and try to pick up a few obscure beers I havent tried before.
Off the top of my head the best I have tried from there are Jaipur and Big Swell IPA. Love the Stewart beers with Radical Road being the one I've enjoyed the most. Also enjoy most of the Williams brothers beers, Good Times and Ceasar Augustus (Had to Google Ceasar Augustus as I couldnt remember the name and seen Grozet which was pretty nice too!) The one Williams brothers I just couldnt take to though was Roisin which is made with tayberries IIRC, that had stuff floating around in it which put me right off!
Tonight I'm currently drinking a bottle of Avalanche by Fyne Ales which is not bad. Went to Morrisons to get the fridge stocked up today with some Harviestoun Wild Hop IPA which is a favourite of mine, Sierra Nevada which I tried a few weeks ago after reading this thread and a couple of bottles of IPA to try, I think the name is Shepard Neame, will report back if its any good!
:cheers:
Had a bottle of March of the Penguins by William Bros. Best stout I have ever tasted, lovely stuff, really brilliant.
Went straight back to the Beerhive and bought another 6 bottles.
It is Zwanze day tomorrow, pretty exciting!
I'm liking the 4 newish Williams- prodigal sun, hipsway, gonny no brew that and the honey thief.
Only £1.32 a bottle in Tescos tonight for Northern Light, Raven Ale, Nimbus and reduced prices on most Williams Bros beers and many more :wink:
1.83 for black isles yellowhammer! Good value seeing that for less than 2 quid.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hiber-nation
Couple of pints of Harviestoun Natural Blonde last night.
Think it was good but the excessive whisky consumption that came later has left the memory a tad hazy.
BrewDog is absolutely everywhere here in Wellington now. Not that I'm complaining, the Punk IPA is a nice bevvy.
Well the combination of Zwanze Day and my last night in Aberdeen has given me a hangover right up there with the best today. Must have drank 30+ beers last night, the pick of which was a Hair of the Dog Doggie Claws Barleywine from 2003!
Belhaven Best (Scotland)
Peroni (Italy)
Keith's I.P.A. (NS, Canada)
Oh hell, I'm thirsty now. :greengrin
Looking forward to the opening of Growler on morningside road- they'll have a few casks, craft kegs and cider on for filling up 1, 2 or 3 litre bottles for off-sales only. Spoke to Stuart the guy running it briefly last week and he hopes to be open in the next few days. Seems a pretty good idea.
Sounds good, the options are expanding so rapidly in Edinburgh!Quote:
Originally Posted by South Sub
I went to The Kernel's brewery yesterday morning which was pretty cool. Then went to a wee pub for a gig last night whose two and bottle list was unexpectedly brilliant. Londoners really do have the right idea! Ended up with a Hackney Hopster by London Fields.
If you like real ale, craft beers and hard to come by beers, you are well served on Easter Road. Cornelius at the top of the road is a shop I frequent often solely to buy Augustina Helles which is a personal fav. I stay in Blackburn and I often travel into Edinburgh just to buy a few bottles. But I usually pick up a few real ales and craft brews.
Down the road, you have the mash tun which is my pre/post match boozer due to their fantastic real ales and craft beer selections. Annoyingly Hearts/Celtic seem to take over that bar when we play them.
Had a few pints of Zig Zag Stout when I was down in Carlisle last w-end. Went down nicely, not sure who or where its brewed though.
Quote:
Originally Posted by HUTCHYHIBBY
A couple of pubs in Liverpool sell it, not a bad pint brewed by Milk House/Street I think in Somerset.
That sounds familiar.
On The Williams Bros Midnight Sun in Wetherspoons on Sauchiehall Street, £1.90 a pint, cannae complain at that! 5.6% and it going down TOO nicely!
That's a bargain! One of favourite beers and they're practically giving it away! :thumbsup:Quote:
Originally Posted by HUTCHYHIBBY
I think its called The Monday Club! :-)
Well I did enjoy my two months of sobriety but I just had a Sierra Nevada Northern Hemisphere Harvest Wet Hop Ale which was pretty nice. A couple of my friends have been studying for their Certified Cicerone exam so I've been drinking a lot of Belgian and German styles with them lately but I just can't get into them. I've been brainwashed by hoppy beer!
Had that on tap in the restaurant I was in in Orlando last night and it was really nice!Quote:
Originally Posted by Calvin
Also tried Red Hook, Sam Adams Winter Ale and Blue Moon Rounder all on tap in the past week - a magic alternative to the usual draft pish you once got in the USA.
Had a session on Old Rosie cider in Wetherspoons: flat, cloudy, 7.3%.................great stuff!
A very dangerous brew! :-)