Discussion
While the definition of what IS a craft beer isn’t clear, or at least clearly defined - the definition is what is NOT craft is, and that is anything owned by a large macro beverage company. Unfortunately (just as the big companies want to happen) some of the macro owned brands have already been mentioned on this thread, which is no fault really of the general punter as unless you go digging then it’s not obvious. There is a handy chart here to help you make some decisions about which beers not to buy if you want to support the independent breweries.
Edited by eatontrifles on Sunday 10th November 23:12
Rollin said:
C70R said:
I've become a bit of a craft beer nause since two excellent indie taprooms with regularly rotating stock opened up near me in SW London. Quite often find myself heading there with friends, as opposed to the traditional boozers.
I'd recommend downloading the Untappd app. It helps keep track of what you have previously had (if, like me, you're always looking for something new), and can help predict whether you're likely to enjoy something before you drop £8+ on a can.
I've logged a few hundred beers on there (mainly heavy, hoppy, cloudy, DIPAs), and my 2019 highlights so far have been:
- Fruit, Car, Sight, Exhibition, by Verdant
- Double Dry Hopped Double Mosaic Dream, by Other Half
- Tremendous Ideas, by Cloudwater
- Chinook Mosaic Double IPA, by Polly's Brew Co.
- People Do Odd Things, by Verdant
- The Strongest of the Strange, by Verdant
- Three's Company, by Cloudwater
- Hop City DDH IPA, by Northern Monk
- THAT CHIHUAHUA, by Garage Beer Co.
- Is There Music In Your Dreams?, by Wylam
If you like your beer in the same style as I do, I'd recommend seeking out beers from Verdant, Cloudwater and Northern Monk (among others). All of those should be readily available in good UK taprooms, and they seem to be releasing nothing but great beer of late.
I have a couple of similar places about 300m from where I live. Dangerous.I'd recommend downloading the Untappd app. It helps keep track of what you have previously had (if, like me, you're always looking for something new), and can help predict whether you're likely to enjoy something before you drop £8+ on a can.
I've logged a few hundred beers on there (mainly heavy, hoppy, cloudy, DIPAs), and my 2019 highlights so far have been:
- Fruit, Car, Sight, Exhibition, by Verdant
- Double Dry Hopped Double Mosaic Dream, by Other Half
- Tremendous Ideas, by Cloudwater
- Chinook Mosaic Double IPA, by Polly's Brew Co.
- People Do Odd Things, by Verdant
- The Strongest of the Strange, by Verdant
- Three's Company, by Cloudwater
- Hop City DDH IPA, by Northern Monk
- THAT CHIHUAHUA, by Garage Beer Co.
- Is There Music In Your Dreams?, by Wylam
If you like your beer in the same style as I do, I'd recommend seeking out beers from Verdant, Cloudwater and Northern Monk (among others). All of those should be readily available in good UK taprooms, and they seem to be releasing nothing but great beer of late.
The one on the Bermondsey beer mile is great (and the mile itself is recommended to any Londoner), but the variety is often limited to 5-6 drafts.
C70R said:
Just spotted you're in Manchester - have you been to the Cloudwater taproom yet? It's on my list if I find myself in that neck of the woods.
The one on the Bermondsey beer mile is great (and the mile itself is recommended to any Londoner), but the variety is often limited to 5-6 drafts.
Yep. That's where I go to get my cans.There's also Alphabet Brewing and Pomona Island nearby. The Seven Brothers one sees you drinking your pint next to the tanks they are brewing it in.The one on the Bermondsey beer mile is great (and the mile itself is recommended to any Londoner), but the variety is often limited to 5-6 drafts.
There's a pretty epic Pub crawl from the taps mentioned in the Piccadilly Station area and on into the Northern Quarter.
Edited by Rollin on Monday 11th November 13:29
Rollin said:
Yep. That's where I go to get my cans.There's also Alphabet Brewing and Pomona Island nearby. The Seven Brothers one sees you drinking your pint next to the tanks they are brewing it in.
There's a pretty epic Pub crawl from the taps mentioned in the Piccadilly Station area and on into the Northern Quarter.
Do you have details of the pub crawl you mention?, I work in Salford and enjoy popping into 7 brothers.There's a pretty epic Pub crawl from the taps mentioned in the Piccadilly Station area and on into the Northern Quarter.
Edited by Rollin on Monday 11th November 13:29
Gaz3376 said:
Rollin said:
Yep. That's where I go to get my cans.There's also Alphabet Brewing and Pomona Island nearby. The Seven Brothers one sees you drinking your pint next to the tanks they are brewing it in.
There's a pretty epic Pub crawl from the taps mentioned in the Piccadilly Station area and on into the Northern Quarter.
Do you have details of the pub crawl you mention?, I work in Salford and enjoy popping into 7 brothers.There's a pretty epic Pub crawl from the taps mentioned in the Piccadilly Station area and on into the Northern Quarter.
Edited by Rollin on Monday 11th November 13:29
I use these guys- they do email you quite a bit but the special offers they have generally work out around £1-£1.30 a can. Some good beer too.
www.flavourly.com/CRAIG8S8D
I think I get some sort of credit if you use this url
www.flavourly.com/CRAIG8S8D
I think I get some sort of credit if you use this url
Nezquick said:
I'd like details of that pub crawl too if you have it? I work in Manchester and love my craft beers (Cloudwater stuff is fantastic).
Start at Cloudwater to avoid any queues and walking through dodgy bit of town in the dark.Alphabet Brewing
Beatnikz Republic bar
Northern Monk
Port Street Beer House
Castle Hotel
57 Thomas Street
Mackie Mayor
Smithfield Market Tavern
Seven Brothers Beer House
There's plenty more bars on that route, but they are my favourite beery ones.
You could also squeeze in Bundobust for some grub too.
oxford drinker said:
Big fan of Verdant (Cornwall) for their double IPAs, and also Vocation (Hebden Bridge) for pale ales. Closer to home for me, the well-established Siren Craft and up-and-coming Tap Social.
Siren are bloomin' excellent.Availability of their Soundwave on tap is getting much better in London. Even my local has it!
This is the Bermondsey Beer Mile I mentioned earlier.
https://www.bermondsey-beer-mile.co.uk/
It's actually my preference to do it the other way around - starting early doors at Fourpure and working back towards London Bridge throughout the afternoon.
https://www.bermondsey-beer-mile.co.uk/
It's actually my preference to do it the other way around - starting early doors at Fourpure and working back towards London Bridge throughout the afternoon.
C70R said:
oxford drinker said:
Big fan of Verdant (Cornwall) for their double IPAs, and also Vocation (Hebden Bridge) for pale ales. Closer to home for me, the well-established Siren Craft and up-and-coming Tap Social.
Siren are bloomin' excellent.Availability of their Soundwave on tap is getting much better in London. Even my local has it!
Siren and Buxton are two of my commonly bought brands. Consitently good beers.
I was until recently suspicious of pretentious titles and anything ‘artisan’ or ‘craft’ on the belief it was generally just rebranding and profiteering of normal beers going into fancy cans.
Then someone bought me a subscription from beer52.com and my word I am on board now. Awaiting my third box and barring some weird limoncello ipa and a blackberry milkshake ale they’ve all been lovely so far.
Then someone bought me a subscription from beer52.com and my word I am on board now. Awaiting my third box and barring some weird limoncello ipa and a blackberry milkshake ale they’ve all been lovely so far.
No Face said:
I was until recently suspicious of pretentious titles and anything ‘artisan’ or ‘craft’ on the belief it was generally just rebranding and profiteering of normal beers going into fancy cans.
Then someone bought me a subscription from beer52.com and my word I am on board now. Awaiting my third box and barring some weird limoncello ipa and a blackberry milkshake ale they’ve all been lovely so far.
A friend of mine got suckered into Beer52 by one of their 'free' introductory offers.Then someone bought me a subscription from beer52.com and my word I am on board now. Awaiting my third box and barring some weird limoncello ipa and a blackberry milkshake ale they’ve all been lovely so far.
He stored up a couple of boxes for a session we had watching the rugby a few weeks ago, and they were very disappointing in my view. Very few really excellent beers, evidenced by poor scored on Untappd.
I think they tend to focus on variety and novelty (which they arguably do well at), rather than high quality beer.
Edited by C70R on Tuesday 12th November 12:34
C70R said:
A friend of mine got suckered into Beer52 by one of their 'free' introductory offers.
He stored up a couple of months for a session we had watching the rugby a few weeks ago, and they were very disappointing in my view. Very few really excellent beers, evidenced by poor scored on Untappd.
I think they tend to focus on variety and novelty (which they arguably do well at), rather than high quality beer.
I had tried beer52 and was disappointed- lots of very strong and weird flavoured ales.He stored up a couple of months for a session we had watching the rugby a few weeks ago, and they were very disappointing in my view. Very few really excellent beers, evidenced by poor scored on Untappd.
I think they tend to focus on variety and novelty (which they arguably do well at), rather than high quality beer.
Flavorly as I posted above is much better and cheaper
Rollin said:
Nezquick said:
I'd like details of that pub crawl too if you have it? I work in Manchester and love my craft beers (Cloudwater stuff is fantastic).
Start at Cloudwater to avoid any queues and walking through dodgy bit of town in the dark.Alphabet Brewing
Beatnikz Republic bar
Northern Monk
Port Street Beer House
Castle Hotel
57 Thomas Street
Mackie Mayor
Smithfield Market Tavern
Seven Brothers Beer House
There's plenty more bars on that route, but they are my favourite beery ones.
You could also squeeze in Bundobust for some grub too.
I went to Peakender - http://www.peakender.co.uk/ - earlier this year, and I highly recommend it for anyone who is into 'craft' beers.
I used to subscribe to Beer52, but wasn't a fan. I've had the odd box from Flavourly, which is better. However I'm lucky enough to live/work near some excellent bottle shops who are quite happy to put boxed or recommendations together based on my preferences and whilst I may get a few less than I would in a subscription box, the quality is much, much higher (IMHO)
I used to subscribe to Beer52, but wasn't a fan. I've had the odd box from Flavourly, which is better. However I'm lucky enough to live/work near some excellent bottle shops who are quite happy to put boxed or recommendations together based on my preferences and whilst I may get a few less than I would in a subscription box, the quality is much, much higher (IMHO)
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