BS: American Craft Beers in Britain?

Subject: BS: American Craft Beers in Britain?
From: michaelr
Date: 24 Aug 11 - 06:31 PM

American craft brews are infiltrating the British beer scene, reports The Observer. Yes, British brewers are no doubt quaking: "American 'craft' brews are revealed as the UK's fastest growing beer trend," according to the newspaper. Gone are the days when it was cool to drink Budweiser in Britain: Now Blue Moon, Goose Island, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, and Brooklyn are grabbing the attention of British beer drinkers. Ian Lowe, of the real ale organization CAMRA, told The Observer: "The popularity of American craft lagers is very much down to how they offer similar traits associated with the British brewing scene of older years...They are more heavily hopped and are higher-alcohol-content brews."

Have any of our British brethren noticed this trend, and perhaps sampled some of these brews?

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: BS: American Craft Beers in Britain?
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 24 Aug 11 - 06:43 PM

There's no point drinking A-B 'Budweiser' in Britain when we can get the real thing. However, American Craft Breweries do produce some very drinkable beers of all types (even some drinkable lagers), and I've mentioned quite a few on other threads.

Subject: RE: BS: American Craft Beers in Britain?
From: catspaw49
Date: 24 Aug 11 - 07:32 PM

If they ever make it across the pond, may I suggest ANY product from Great Lakes Brewing Company in Cleveland. Their brews are all pretty fine and they really have me hooked. As with many others, these three are certainly favorites of mine:

Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold Lager

Great Lakes Burning River Pale Ale

Great Lakes Eliot Ness Amber Lager


Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: American Craft Beers in Britain?
From: Bill D
Date: 24 Aug 11 - 07:36 PM

British brewers need not quake....they make lots of good beer. And some US brewers are doing all they can just to supply locally!

I can barely find Dogfish Head...and they are only a state away

Subject: RE: BS: American Craft Beers in Britain?
From: catspaw49
Date: 24 Aug 11 - 08:18 PM

Yeah right.......Must be a hundred places in DC to get Dogfish....LOL.....But if you happen by S&S Liquors at 6925 4th St NW, you can try out some of Great Lakes fare along with your Dogbreath!


Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: American Craft Beers in Britain?
From: Bill D
Date: 24 Aug 11 - 10:19 PM

4th st? Way down there? I never go further than Chevy Chase Liquors just 3 blocks inside the District line on Connecticut Ave. They carry almost everything one can get.

(Dogfish Head is so popular they have expanded the brewery...but it is still hard to be sure of what you'll find....and I think you'll find it easier in Maryland stores)

Subject: RE: BS: American Craft Beers in Britain?
From: DebC
Date: 24 Aug 11 - 10:34 PM

I did see my home-town (Chico, CA) brew, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale in a Tesco's in Stockport. Thought that was pretty cool.

Deb Cowan

Subject: RE: BS: American Craft Beers in Britain?
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 24 Aug 11 - 11:10 PM

I think it is interesting that US craft beers are being sold in the UK. However, when I travel in the US or other countries I ask if there is a local beer and drink it. I also ask if there is a local cocktail, liqueur, etc., and I order it.

Subject: RE: BS: American Craft Beers in Britain?
From: Musket
Date: 25 Aug 11 - 04:00 AM

There are some excellent beers in The USA, (and Canada too,) and I speak as someone who doesn't mind a bit of hay and dead dog in my drink.

Some of the microbreweries knock out some excellent beers to what I have seen and tasted. However, some drinks (lagers in the main) are brewed to taste better when cold and most of the American beers fall into this category. Like their more commercial cousins, they fall flat on the floor if you try them at room temperature, which is how Old Scroat is brewed to be served....

Commercially, they will take off, just like some of the fruity Belgian beers have, but they compliment rather than replace the warmer bitter that blokes with beards rave over.

Subject: RE: BS: American Craft Beers in Britain?
From: GUEST,Patsy
Date: 25 Aug 11 - 10:55 AM

I tend to drink the fruity Bulmers ciders these days, the latest is the Stella Artois Cidre which is not bad and goes with that UK favourite dish - curry so well. Is there a decent US cider on the market?

Subject: RE: BS: American Craft Beers in Britain?
From: Bill D
Date: 25 Aug 11 - 11:50 AM

When Micca was here, he had no trouble finding several perfectly good ciders. (I am not the expert, but I see cider lovers being happy)

Subject: RE: BS: American Craft Beers in Britain?
From: michaelr
Date: 25 Aug 11 - 06:52 PM

Here in NorCal, there is Ace Cider. Made by a British expat, and quite successful. I prefer Strongbow.

Subject: RE: BS: American Craft Beers in Britain?
From: CupOfTea
Date: 27 Aug 11 - 10:15 AM

Great Lakes Brewery in Cleveland makes the city proud with local enterpreneurs making superb beer, winning national & international beer tasting awards. They also foster a home-brewers club at their brewery. A friend (and former Morris dancer) had a photo of his used as a label for one of their short-run special occasion brews. In general course of things, they have some of the spiffiest names & labels in business known for flagrant oringinality.

I'm partial to the Burning River Pale Ale m'self and appreciate the humor involved in the name referencing something that was considered a huge shame to the city of Cleveland - the Cuyahoga River catching fire.

It's sad that as their beer distribution & fame has grown, their resturant has suffered somewhat - particularly in ceasing hosting what had been the best monthly Irish session in the area.

Joanne in Cleveland

Subject: RE: BS: American Craft Beers in Britain?
From: catspaw49
Date: 27 Aug 11 - 10:57 AM

I dunno' if you read my post above Joanne, but I too am a big fan of Great Lakes. Burning River I love for the name but it rates well at the top of American Pale Ales as well. I love the strength of the hops almost like Adams Noble Pils but far more pleasant.   I think Eliot Ness is the most drinkable lager in the country.


Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: American Craft Beers in Britain?
From: Alice
Date: 27 Aug 11 - 11:36 AM

Do you have Moose Drool yet?

Subject: RE: BS: American Craft Beers in Britain?
From: Rusty Dobro
Date: 27 Aug 11 - 04:35 PM

Why on earth would anyone conceivably want to drink American beer in Britain?

Subject: RE: BS: American Craft Beers in Britain?
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 27 Aug 11 - 05:24 PM

"Why on earth would anyone conceivably want to drink American beer in Britain?"

Because there are American craft brewers making some beers which can stand up with the best that the rest of the world has to offer, so I'll drink American, Czech, Belgian, Scots, Welsh even English so long as it's made well.

Subject: RE: BS: American Craft Beers in Britain?
From: CET
Date: 27 Aug 11 - 06:42 PM

Why drink American beer in Britain? For the simple reason that good US and Canadian craft beer is the equal of anything brewed in the UK (and IMHO better - I miss North American beer when I travel. Room temperature beer doesn't thrill me).