Real Ale... Is it Real or just wanting to be posh

[2blue]

Or it's more expensive to buy because it's more expensive to make...

& from the ones I've seen in NE Leeds.... often very, very strong so attract a lot of duty.

 

[nickjdavis]

Worked in a spoons and free house part time when I was 18-20.
Hated the folks who used to ask for tasters. And spend 5 minutes swilling and smelling.
It all tastes like wazz, just pick a pale one or a dark one and jog on.

Sadly one of the outcomes of this "craft beer revolution" is that there are so many poor uninspiring beers out there that you sometimes have to work your way through the swill to get something half decent.

Its a sad fact, but there is much beer produced in folks sheds at the bottom of the garden, or under the stairs in the airing cupboard, that is of a significantly higher quality than those you will find in many pubs across the land.

 

[Kellfire]

Largely true but do seek out Loch Fyne Ales..... draught & bottled. Does Kellfire know anyone in Leeds stocking them??

No that I can think of but not my sort of beer!

 

[Mudball]

So is there a consensus of what 'craft beer' and 'real ale' is?.. if it is craft - i guess it cant be available across the country

Any thoughts on BrewDog... Started with a bang and had all the tree huggers and long beards join in, but now i see them as just another beer company that use esoteric names instead of regular straight forward names

 

[Kellfire]

So is there a consensus of what 'craft beer' and 'real ale' is?.. if it is craft - i guess it cant be available across the country

Any thoughts on BrewDog... Started with a bang and had all the tree huggers and long beards join in, but now i see them as just another beer company that use esoteric names instead of regular straight forward names

Real ale has an unofficial definition of beer that undergoes secondary fermentation in the dispense vessel. It mustn’t be forced carbonated. It’s total nonsense.

Craft beer doesn’t have a strict definition but it’s mostly smaller scale, higher quality and often comes with a sense of community that looks out for others in the craft beer circle. But everyone will define it differently.

 

[jim8flog]

Worked in a spoons and free house part time when I was 18-20.
Hated the folks who used to ask for tasters. And spend 5 minutes swilling and smelling.
It all tastes like wazz, just pick a pale one or a dark one and jog on.

I am a person who asks for tasters simply because the quality and taste is so variable in bitter/ale. I do not take 5 minutes to know if I like it or not though. There has been many a pint that I have regretted not getting a taste of before buying,

 

[SocketRocket]

My local pub has won pub of the year a few times recently, they sell 14 different beers (not including larger and ciders) including two craft beers. Six beers are guests each week.

 

[Hobbit]

I was weaned on Theakston's bitter in the mid 70's when I lived near Ambleside. Probably because of that my personal choices tend to be ales along those lines, e.g. Jenning's. Another beer in the Lakes back then was Hartley's of Ulverston. Not even sure if its still around.

I tend to avoid the big commercial brewers, and probably miss out on some good beers because of that, preferring Ye Olde (independent) pubs that have beers made in little micro breweries out the back of the pub. My bias probably harks back to the 70's and 80's when it was difficult to find a decent beer. So much of it was mediocre, and so much of it tasted very samey irrespective of who the brewer was.

Beers, like wines, are all about personal taste. Drink what you like, you're paying for it.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I was weaned on Theakston's bitter in the mid 70's when I lived near Ambleside. Probably because of that my personal choices tend to be ales along those lines, e.g. Jenning's. Another beer in the Lakes back then was Hartley's of Ulverston. Not even sure if its still around.

I tend to avoid the big commercial brewers, and probably miss out on some good beers because of that, preferring Ye Olde (independent) pubs that have beers made in little micro breweries out the back of the pub. My bias probably harks back to the 70's and 80's when it was difficult to find a decent beer. So much of it was mediocre, and so much of it tasted very samey irrespective of who the brewer was.

Beers, like wines, are all about personal taste. Drink what you like, you're paying for it.

Surely your choice is down to San Miguel or Estrella 🍻😄. I'd be happy with that 👍

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Not a big bitter drinker but I know what I like and I like what I know. I am more than happy to try new beers but have to be in a real bitter drinking mood. Cold winter nights in a good pub with an open fire and well kept beers. What's not to like?

 

[Hobbit]

Surely your choice is down to San Miguel or Estrella 🍻😄. I'd be happy with that 👍

I wouldn't wash the car with SM.. but I have been known to have a few Estrella... I'm lucky to know a young Spanish guy in the village that has set up his own micro brewery, and sells on the market. He does a cross section of beers, anything from a Weiss beers to dark reds and stouts. He also supplies for house parties, inc glasses. What a find!!

 

[Mudball]

Speaking of international beers.. somehow (in my mind) some of the Belgian beers are overtaking the German commercial powerhouses. Some of the Hoegaarden variety of wheat seems to be interesting and there seems to be uptake in 'Blonde' beer too. Not seen many local wheat beers.

As an aside, going to Octoberfest at an old mates. He specifically said, get 'German' beers (nothing else allowed). What would you take? (Octoberfest could be a different thread) BTW, are we allowed Octoberfest once we leave the EU?

 

[Kellfire]

Speaking of international beers.. somehow (in my mind) some of the Belgian beers are overtaking the German commercial powerhouses. Some of the Hoegaarden variety of wheat seems to be interesting and there seems to be uptake in 'Blonde' beer too. Not seen many local wheat beers.

As an aside, going to Octoberfest at an old mates. He specifically said, get 'German' beers (nothing else allowed). What would you take? (Octoberfest could be a different thread) BTW, are we allowed Octoberfest once we leave the EU?

Hoegaarden long ago sold out to AB InBev and aren’t really Belgian anymore in real terms.

 

[Kellfire]

Largely true but do seek out Loch Fyne Ales..... draught & bottled. Does Kellfire know anyone in Leeds stocking them??

I had a look in town today and Little Leeds Beer House in the Corn Exchange had two Fyne Ales in bottles for sale.

 

[Mudball]

Hoegaarden long ago sold out to AB InBev and aren’t really Belgian anymore in real terms.

Did not know that.. but that is the challenge with good drinks.. they get bought and sold.

The other one was Cobra.. never find it in India because it is a British made and bottled beer.. but we classify it as ‘Indian beer’ .. speaking of which don’t remember when i last has a cobra -rather stick to kingfisher with my curry.

Back to cask ones

 

[Tashyboy]

I was weaned on Theakston's bitter in the mid 70's when I lived near Ambleside. Probably because of that my personal choices tend to be ales along those lines, e.g. Jenning's. Another beer in the Lakes back then was Hartley's of Ulverston. Not even sure if its still around.

I tend to avoid the big commercial brewers, and probably miss out on some good beers because of that, preferring Ye Olde (independent) pubs that have beers made in little micro breweries out the back of the pub. My bias probably harks back to the 70's and 80's when it was difficult to find a decent beer. So much of it was mediocre, and so much of it tasted very samey irrespective of who the brewer was.

Beers, like wines, are all about personal taste. Drink what you like, you're paying for it.

Years ago, I was driving a (Austin Montego) me, me dad and his pal went to watch City. I was driving, on the way back over the Pennines on the Stockport to Chesterfield Rd. Me dad asked to call into a pub called the "three stags heads". him and a deceased mate had a few beers there over the years. God almighty, I think Robin Hood had his first beer there, and it still hadnt been decorated. There was a sign over the bar that said " please do not ask for lager as a smack in the mouth often offends". Me dad said have an " old peculiar" I had never heard of it. I had that and he then bought me another as him and his mate were on there fourth. I thought no probs. Bloody hell, I got outside and thought what the hell. Don't think ave had it since.

 

[ScienceBoy]

I have found a few I like.

Whitby Brewery and Bristol Beer Factory are good.

I also like Baytown brewery but going larger I like all the Masham stuff, that place knows brewing! Black Sheep and all that.

 

[Beezerk]

Real/craft ales are pish not posh 🤢

 

[Tashyboy]

Real/craft ales are pish not posh 🤢

😂😂😂😂😂

 

[Kellfire]

Real/craft ales are pish not posh 🤢

And there lies the argument that taste is subjective.