Beers, standard or craft, what are your favourites?
Discussion
I was weaned all those years ago on Wadworth's 6X and still have a tipple when I find it available. I was also introduced to Courage Director's which, if kept properly, is another good pint - sadly not many hostelries can look after it. I then took up with Flowers Original, sadly now defunct.
In moving East from the West Country many years ago the choice of beers became more limited but Greene King Abbot Ale became and remains my session beer of choice.
In terms of bottled and craft beer then I keep a varied stock which usually includes:
Wychwood Hobgoblin
Hook Norton Old Hooky
Moreland Old Speckled Hen & Old Crafty Hen
Adnams Broadside
Elgood's Warrior
Hogs Back Traditional English Ale & Old Tongham Tasty
I also keep some 'lighter' types for more summery drinking - Peroni & Corona Extra.
Large bottles of Leffe are available for serious sessions!
In moving East from the West Country many years ago the choice of beers became more limited but Greene King Abbot Ale became and remains my session beer of choice.
In terms of bottled and craft beer then I keep a varied stock which usually includes:
Wychwood Hobgoblin
Hook Norton Old Hooky
Moreland Old Speckled Hen & Old Crafty Hen
Adnams Broadside
Elgood's Warrior
Hogs Back Traditional English Ale & Old Tongham Tasty
I also keep some 'lighter' types for more summery drinking - Peroni & Corona Extra.
Large bottles of Leffe are available for serious sessions!
Truckosaurus said:
I had been drinking real ale for 20 years (whilst living in both The North, midlands and The South) before realising there was a difference to how northern and southern beer was served.
Finger on the Pulse as always....
They tend to serve it without a sprinkler on the tap down south so you get a flat beer as apposed to us northerners who like a bit of head Finger on the Pulse as always....
For Lager I usually punt for San Miguel or Kronenbourg - they are my favourites and have loads more flavour than Stella, Fosters or Carling. I don't really like Carsberg at all. Brooklyn lager is also quite nice.
For ales - I tend to go for pale ales/IPAs, although I have been seeing a lot of red ales/IPAs about recently. These are heavier/tastier than pale ales without the licorice taste that darker ales tend to have (which I loathe). The first red ale I tried was Sharps Wolf Rock (they sell it in tesco) - it's very nice.
I also like Begian beers like Leffe Blonde - although they can be a bit sickly after a while.
For a refreshing pint - you can't go too wrong with a wheat beer. They tend to have a nice fruity/citrus tang to them.
For ales - I tend to go for pale ales/IPAs, although I have been seeing a lot of red ales/IPAs about recently. These are heavier/tastier than pale ales without the licorice taste that darker ales tend to have (which I loathe). The first red ale I tried was Sharps Wolf Rock (they sell it in tesco) - it's very nice.
I also like Begian beers like Leffe Blonde - although they can be a bit sickly after a while.
For a refreshing pint - you can't go too wrong with a wheat beer. They tend to have a nice fruity/citrus tang to them.
My real favourite, one which I would select probably regardless of what else is on, is Abbott Ale. If that's not on, then I'll have a look at what I haven't tried and probably go for something like that. I've got a few lesser favourites, Snecklifter is usually nice, some others that have been mentioned include Broadside, Proper Job, Sharps Atlantic, Joules Slumbering Monk, and quite a few others I've probably forgotten.
Several of the pubs in my local town have a revolving selection of beers - one has three that vary and one that's always the same, another is three and three, for example. I like to try different ones, and I must admit I select them based on strength, in that the stronger ones usually have a better flavour too, and I'm not having loads so an extra percent or two doesn't make any difference.
Several of the pubs in my local town have a revolving selection of beers - one has three that vary and one that's always the same, another is three and three, for example. I like to try different ones, and I must admit I select them based on strength, in that the stronger ones usually have a better flavour too, and I'm not having loads so an extra percent or two doesn't make any difference.
Edited by droopsnoot on Thursday 20th July 18:47
Warsteiner is my favourite all-rounder. My local Tesco has taken to stocking it consistently so if I'm pre-drinking or having a few quiet ones in the house, I'm a fan. With three 660ml bottles for £5.25 it's not awful value for money either, but if I'm buying a large quantity then I'll be on the Tennent's.
Having made it to the bar, I love Hop House 13 on tap. Truly love it. I've never been in a bar locally (local being in town) that serves Warsteiner on tap, but if I did I'd be very happy.
I'll try most beers but I'm not fussed on Blue Moon and Carling is on the other side of my line in the sand. It's just not decent beer until everything else has been drunk.
Having made it to the bar, I love Hop House 13 on tap. Truly love it. I've never been in a bar locally (local being in town) that serves Warsteiner on tap, but if I did I'd be very happy.
I'll try most beers but I'm not fussed on Blue Moon and Carling is on the other side of my line in the sand. It's just not decent beer until everything else has been drunk.
I did like this...
And this is really good too.
This is a local brew to me, and is wonderful, the Chiltern Brewery 300, together with a sausage sandwich in the Kings Head takes some beating.
The sad part is, although I love beer - it doesn’t love me anymore and an hour after drinking just 1 pint- I have the headache from hell...
And this is really good too.
This is a local brew to me, and is wonderful, the Chiltern Brewery 300, together with a sausage sandwich in the Kings Head takes some beating.
The sad part is, although I love beer - it doesn’t love me anymore and an hour after drinking just 1 pint- I have the headache from hell...
Anything Kernel.
Anything Beavertown.
Anything Vocation. (Shocking that beer that good is available in supermarkets.
Anything Arbor.
Anything Verdant.
Quite fond of Fullers beers too. Their London porter is just perfection.
Lagerwise, Pilsner Urquell + Staropramen are hard to beat.
Sam Smith stouts are great.
Anything Beavertown.
Anything Vocation. (Shocking that beer that good is available in supermarkets.
Anything Arbor.
Anything Verdant.
Quite fond of Fullers beers too. Their London porter is just perfection.
Lagerwise, Pilsner Urquell + Staropramen are hard to beat.
Sam Smith stouts are great.
From a Brussels thread - my favourite beer in the world and I have sampled a lot
mikef said:
My favourite drinking hole is just north of the square, À la Bécasse on Rue de Tabora (down an alleyway).
The jug in the pic is lambic beer, brewed with wild yeasts, unique to Belgium and quite lovely
Sorry about the pic orientation The jug in the pic is lambic beer, brewed with wild yeasts, unique to Belgium and quite lovely
deeen said:
Anything by Surrey Hills Brewery
This. They are just down the road from me so i often pop into the brewery for carry out. It's like pub beer but in your own home. They sell it in plastic milk bottles or in mini kegs. Well worth a try.
In fact, i think its worth trying any local brewery to see if they do carry out straight from the brewery shop. Better than bottled bitter imho.
Seeing as lagers are allowed, I'll start off with:-
Staropramen; for a good, full-bodied lager with that unmistakable Eastern European floral nose this - for me - has taken over Pilsner Urquell. Asahi is perfect for a warm summer evening when chilled to within an inch of its life. The fallback positions are quality Polish lagers like Tyskie / Zweic / Zubr.
Beer-wise? Christ, where does one start?
I only try draught beers when we go to our favourite pub some 10 minutes away in the taxi, and John only serves one "house" beer - Hobson's. The other seven pumps are never the same, so I rarely remember what beers I drink as they're all from independents. The ones I do look out for would be:-
Hooky Dark
Dragon Smoke Stout
Fuller's Chiswick Bitter
Hook Norton Best Bitter
Three Tuns XXX
Mauldon's Blackadder
If there's nothing that tickles my fancy on the draught beer menu, then I'll delve into their continental bottled stuff. Favourites include:
Landbier
Kasteel Rouge
Erdinger Dunkel
St, Bernadus 12 Abt
Chimay Blue
Kuppers Kolsche
Still on the continental theme, if we're coming back from a wine and tobacco run, then I'll treat myself to a few bottles of:
EKU28
Kwak 8
Bourgogne des Flandres
(if we're overnighting on said run, it's a billy bonus if a local bar serves Rodenbach Grand Cru)
Still on the bottled beer theme, stuff I like from the "offie" 'round the corner:
Marston's Owd Rodger
Dragon Stout
Life is clearly too short to drink sh!t like Carling / Fosters and such like.
Staropramen; for a good, full-bodied lager with that unmistakable Eastern European floral nose this - for me - has taken over Pilsner Urquell. Asahi is perfect for a warm summer evening when chilled to within an inch of its life. The fallback positions are quality Polish lagers like Tyskie / Zweic / Zubr.
Beer-wise? Christ, where does one start?
I only try draught beers when we go to our favourite pub some 10 minutes away in the taxi, and John only serves one "house" beer - Hobson's. The other seven pumps are never the same, so I rarely remember what beers I drink as they're all from independents. The ones I do look out for would be:-
Hooky Dark
Dragon Smoke Stout
Fuller's Chiswick Bitter
Hook Norton Best Bitter
Three Tuns XXX
Mauldon's Blackadder
If there's nothing that tickles my fancy on the draught beer menu, then I'll delve into their continental bottled stuff. Favourites include:
Landbier
Kasteel Rouge
Erdinger Dunkel
St, Bernadus 12 Abt
Chimay Blue
Kuppers Kolsche
Still on the continental theme, if we're coming back from a wine and tobacco run, then I'll treat myself to a few bottles of:
EKU28
Kwak 8
Bourgogne des Flandres
(if we're overnighting on said run, it's a billy bonus if a local bar serves Rodenbach Grand Cru)
Still on the bottled beer theme, stuff I like from the "offie" 'round the corner:
Marston's Owd Rodger
Dragon Stout
Life is clearly too short to drink sh!t like Carling / Fosters and such like.
Gassing Station | Food, Drink & Restaurants | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff