BS: Bottled beers UK

Subject: BS: Bottled beers UK
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 15 Sep 11 - 01:04 PM

There are so many good bottled beers around these days.
My favourites at the moment are, Marston's Old Empire, and Belhaven Twisted Thistle. Both are IPA's
I could list many others I like, Sneck Lifter for instance.
What are you drinking at the moment, and what would you reccommend?

Subject: RE: BS: Bottled beers UK
From: Spot
Date: 15 Sep 11 - 02:12 PM

Hallooo..

Well, at this very particular moment I'm involved with a little Black Bush Irish whiskey, but , re. beers, my current favourite is Bombardier... I recommend 'em all...they are just lovely!! ;-)
I wish one could still get Brakspears Oxford, in cans - that was the BEST for me!!

My problem is that as soon as they start to take effect I stop drinkin 'em, I hate being under the influence!!
(Ok....more practice needed, I know !!)    ;-)

Regards to all.....Spot

Subject: RE: BS: Bottled beers UK
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 15 Sep 11 - 02:25 PM

One of my favourites is Double Drop. Also the Lewis & Gunn but it's too strong to drink many. I also like Hobgoblin, and for a while there was an own label Morrison's "the Best" that was simply delightful. Hen's Tooth is very nice but also very very strong.

Subject: RE: BS: Bottled beers UK
From: MikeL2
Date: 15 Sep 11 - 03:00 PM

Hi

I don't drink bottled beer unless there is nothing else.

I have recently had a few bottles of Black Sheep. It was very good.

And only this week Richard I was at my daughter-in-law's birthday party and they had Hobgoblin on draught and I really enjoyed that. The draught ran out ( no I was not the only one to blame!!) so we had bottles. They were not as good in my opinion...but then I am biassed.

There is no such thing as bad beer....some is just worse than others.

Up here we used to have a saying " there's good and there's bad and then there's Holt's.

Cheers

MikeL2

Subject: RE: BS: Bottled beers UK
From: GUEST,Bluesman
Date: 15 Sep 11 - 03:46 PM

I always enjoyed Piper or Carling Black Label. There was another great beer producted by Scottish Courage in the early 1980's, I can't recall it's name. They had a series of advertisements featuring a bear called George, with a shiny, yellow jacket and a pork pie hat.

Subject: RE: BS: Bottled beers UK
From: Acorn4
Date: 15 Sep 11 - 04:32 PM

I like the IPA type of light beers as well - always avoid anything with "strong" or "gold" in the title.

IPA was originally designed to be bottled and exported so that's probably why it stands up well - I also like "Fursty Ferret".

Subject: RE: BS: Bottled beers UK
From: Newport Boy
Date: 15 Sep 11 - 04:51 PM

There is no such thing as bad beer....some is just worse than others.


One of the first occasions I went for a drink with my father was an evening trip on the paddle steamer from Newport to Clevedon - about an hour and a half at Clevedon. We weren't first off the boat, and we strolled up the pier and into the bar, where Dad bought the pints.

When we finished our glass, he looked at his watch and said "There's hardly time to walk along to the Little Harp, we'll have another here." So I got two more.

After we'd had a sip or two, Dad said "I don't reckon much to this beer - I'll be glad when we've had enough!"

Phil

Subject: RE: BS: Bottled beers UK
From: Bill D
Date: 15 Sep 11 - 05:39 PM

"I have recently had a few bottles of Black Sheep"

I had some nice people bring me some Black Sheep...and some Rigwelters... several years ago. There ARE lovely beers over there. ...and some fine ones here in the US also. I'm very glad to be able to try them all.

Subject: RE: BS: Bottled beers UK
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 15 Sep 11 - 06:18 PM

Maybe, White man, you should "follow the bear" - into extinction.

Subject: RE: BS: Bottled beers UK
From: Cats
Date: 15 Sep 11 - 07:40 PM

Sharps Doom Bar. Excellent.

Subject: RE: BS: Bottled beers UK
From: GUEST,Bluesman
Date: 16 Sep 11 - 04:05 AM

Still can't recall the name of that beer from the 1980's with the bear in the advertisements called George, with a shiny, yellow jacket and a pork pie hat.Did you ever try this one Richard, It may be to your taste.

http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?q=the+bishops+finger&hl=en&safe=off&sa=G&biw=1016&bih=540&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=aeum3jGefuuBQM:

Subject: RE: BS: Bottled beers UK
From: GUEST,Bluesman
Date: 16 Sep 11 - 04:07 AM

Sorry that link didn't work, here it is again.


http://www.bishopsfinger.co.uk/

Subject: RE: BS: Bottled beers UK
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 16 Sep 11 - 04:09 AM

George was the Hofmeister bear.

Subject: RE: BS: Bottled beers UK
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 16 Sep 11 - 04:24 AM

Yes Paul we know. Don't encourage him, he's trying to wind up Richard.

Subject: RE: BS: Bottled beers UK
From: GUEST,Bluesman
Date: 16 Sep 11 - 04:28 AM

That's it Manitas, thank you so much for that. I haven't seen it in years.

Subject: RE: BS: Bottled beers UK
From: melodeonboy
Date: 16 Sep 11 - 04:35 AM

"There is no such thing as bad beer....some is just worse than others."

You've obviously never tried John Smith's! :)

Subject: RE: BS: Bottled beers UK
From: melodeonboy
Date: 16 Sep 11 - 04:40 AM

My favourite draught beers are Shepherd Neame (particularly Master Brew) and Goacher's. I never find, however, that Shepherd Neame beers taste all that good when they're bottled. If I drink bottled beer, I normally aim for Brakspear's or Badger (or anything bottle conditioned if it's available).

Subject: RE: BS: Bottled beers UK
From: Max Johnson
Date: 16 Sep 11 - 05:30 AM

I drink Black Sheep and Lancaster Bomber locally, so choose something else if it's bottled.
My favourite ale is Taylor's Landlord, and the bottled stuff is good, but just not as good as the draught in good condition, so it's usually:

Fuller's 'London Pride'. or
'Badger' (which I've only ever seen in Aldi).

Subject: RE: BS: Bottled beers UK
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 16 Sep 11 - 07:57 AM

My favourites are

Abbot Ale
Old Golden Hen
Old Peculiar
Tanglefoot
Bombadier
Pedigree

My most favourite ever, has to be Bishops Tipple

Slightly off track. I overheard that Stella Artios Cidre bottles were exploding, so beware.

Subject: RE: BS: Bottled beers UK
From: A Wandering Minstrel
Date: 16 Sep 11 - 08:16 AM

In defence of Holts their "Two Hoots" is quite drinkable

among my own favourites are:

Rebellion Red
Wainwrights Light Ale
Adnams Broadside
Ringwoods Old Thumper
and the delightfully named ...
Piddle

Subject: RE: BS: Bottled beers UK
From: JohnDun
Date: 16 Sep 11 - 07:31 PM

I have sampled many ales over the years and there are a few that I have never forgotten (for various reasons).   An old army saying was that you had loads of mates but only a handful of friends.   My old friends would be.....

Summer Lightning   - the pub in St Albans I used to drink this in kept it at the end of the bar furthest away from the door to stop it from running out too quickly.

Damson Porter   - the most beautiful plummy flavoured dark beer I have ever tasted. Such a refreshing change from the coffee/chocolate flavours normally associated with porters.

Waggle Dance    - The Steamboat in Blythe many years ago. I was playing 'winner stays on' pool and beat the whole pub pool team twice while drinking this.   Then I fell over and was put to bed by the landlady and a few regulars... next morning breakfast was interesting, but I made it.

Then my mates...   Old Speckled hen,    Hen's Tooth,    Old Peculiar,    Hobgoblin.

And finally, my special friend,   not easy to find but....   Wiscombe Park 'Suicider' - made my legs go wobbly, slurred my speech and made me book into a hotel for the night to sleep it off.

Subject: RE: BS: Bottled beers UK
From: Teribus
Date: 17 Sep 11 - 04:20 AM

"Also the Lewis & Gunn but it's too strong to drink many"

Do you perhaps mean Innis & Gunn?? Great stuff - Matured originally in used whisky barrels, for 37 days (Blonde) of 77 days (Dark). They also have one now matured in used rum barrels but I have yet to try that.

The creation of this beer has led to what must be a fairly novel type of recycling. The brewery uses the empty whisky barrels to mature their beer and the whisky distillery takes the barrels back again once the beer has been bottled to age a new batch of whisky.

Subject: RE: BS: Bottled beers UK
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 17 Sep 11 - 05:46 AM

A lot of people make the mistake of equating strength with quality. While a lot of good beers are pretty potent, I submit Manns Brown Ale as being a particulary flavoursome brew - And at only 2.8% ABV you can drink it all noght :-)

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: BS: Bottled beers UK
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 17 Sep 11 - 11:06 AM

No-one has mentioned Owd Rodger.

RtS

Subject: RE: BS: Bottled beers UK
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 17 Sep 11 - 11:54 AM

Sneck Lifter?. I had four pints of Sneck Lifter once. I don't remember anything very much after that.

Remember the days when we all used to go mad for Newcastle Brown?

Bluesman. The nearest thing to genuine English real ale that you should ever be allowed to foul with your presence is Watneys Keg, preferably laced with a strong infusion of sulphuric acid. That's if anyone still has the gall to make Watneys that is.

Subject: RE: BS: Bottled beers UK
From: melodeonboy
Date: 17 Sep 11 - 12:44 PM

Oh! So they made Watney's with gall! No wonder it tasted like shit! :)

Subject: RE: BS: Bottled beers UK
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 17 Sep 11 - 03:44 PM

And I thought it was because Watneys came straight out of thr Thames.

Subject: RE: BS: Bottled beers UK
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 17 Sep 11 - 03:52 PM

Well it was right beside the river at Mortlake.
I once had a bottled beer made by Lion Breweries Blackburn, and to this day it remains the worst beer I ever tasted.

Subject: RE: BS: Bottled beers UK
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 04 Oct 11 - 05:59 AM

I had some bad news a few days ago. Dogfish Head are no longer distributing in the UK (or several US States). Apparently demand in their home area is too great.

Subject: RE: BS: Bottled beers UK
From: Michael
Date: 04 Oct 11 - 06:50 AM

There are a couple of cheap stores in UK that sell some decent bottled beers,not passed 'sell by dates' the range changes, but recently Hobgoblin, Goliath, Mann's amongst others. Prices from 99p. That's in B&M Bargains and HomeBargains.

Cheers
Mike

Subject: RE: BS: Bottled beers UK
From: Brian May
Date: 04 Oct 11 - 03:44 PM

Plus one for Theakstons Old Peculier (yes that spelling is correct), I have 4 left in my cupboard and it's lovely.

Better on draft, but most acceptable in bottles.

Plus one for Black Sheep's Riggwelter too, made by a brother of the Theakstons above.

The old standby (in my life) is Old Speckled Hen - comes in cans or bottles, it's lovely.

So much beer . . . so little time ;o)

Subject: RE: BS: Bottled beers UK
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 04 Oct 11 - 04:04 PM

There's no such thing as bad beer ...

Although it's American and subject to slightly different tastes, perhaps, I think one can (it was never bottled so far as I know) of "Olde Frothingslosh" would quite likely change your opinion.

Labelled as "pale stale ale" with a lovely picture of "Miss Frothingslosh" in all her 350(?) pound glory on the can, it was made stale and got worse on the way to the store.

I'm not sure, but I may still have a can or two on the shelf, although mine's now about 40 years old and I doubt that aging has improved it - or made it worse than when new.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Bottled beers UK
From: Spleen Cringe
Date: 04 Oct 11 - 07:03 PM

Funny you should mention IPA in the OP, John. There seem to be a lot more of them around these days, which is a good thing - IPA is a great summer beer. I went to a beer festival a couple of months back and spent all evening trying different IPAs. This meant I couldn't remember the names of any of them the next day. Bah!

I had a nice blond beer by Wychwood, makers of Hobgoblin this weekend, called Wychcraft. Very refreshing when you're in the mood for something a little light and zingy.

The Dunham Massey Brewery here in Manchester does some lovely beers - Ruby Sunset (a ruby beer as the name implies...) is very tasty. And the Lade Inn microbrewery in the Trossachs is worth investigating if you're ever in the area - they do a lovely amber ale called Ladeback. They do a folk night, too...

Subject: RE: BS: Bottled beers UK
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 05 Oct 11 - 04:13 PM

St Peter's Brewery near Bungay in Suffolk brews the most delicious and authentic beers I've ever tasted. They do Strong English Ale, and their dark porter is to die for. I've visited their premises, an old moated manor house. You can buy cases of the stuff online. YUM!

Subject: RE: BS: Bottled beers UK
From: Rusty Dobro
Date: 05 Oct 11 - 04:19 PM

Adnams Broadside takes some beating, but if you get the chance, try its Suffolk neighbour St Peter's Ale. Even if it wasn't a lovely beer, the glorious bottles, modelled on an antique American design, would make it worth a try.

Subject: RE: BS: Bottled beers UK
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 05 Oct 11 - 04:42 PM

Our (great) minds think alike, Rusty! But have to disagree about Adnam's Broadside. To my taste, it's a bit too sweet. I like my bitter bitter! However, it has won several awards, including a Gold Medal.

Subject: RE: BS: Bottled beers UK
From: scouse
Date: 06 Oct 11 - 04:58 AM

I'm simply amazed at the amount of good English Ales about at the moment..We have a wee shop here in Leiden (Netherlands) called the "Tucker Box." run by an Ex-pat from Oz.My mate goes over to England for him to get the Beer for the place. I was absolutely stunned to see the different Beers he brings back and don't get me talking on the Ciders I'd be here all day. Long may it continue and thank the Lord for CAMRA!!
As Aye,
Phil.
P.S. I'm an Amstel man myself!!