Hi I'm Colin and I'm an Ale Virgin...

Mr Jones · 23 Oct 2008 at 16:27

... so I have drunk the odd Larger and Cider, personally prefer the taste of Cider, especially Koppenburg. I have never ever tasted Ale until today, I saw a bottle of Hobgoblin selling for a quid at Lidl.

Since I'm making sausage and mash, I thought why not try it.

So what do the traditionalist drink ale at, cold or warm?

JBuk · 23 Oct 2008 at 16:30

Mr Jones said:
Since I'm making sausage and mash, I thought why not try it.

is it traditional to drink ale with that or something :confused:

or is saus and mash a special occasion for you?

Scuzi · 23 Oct 2008 at 16:32

Ale should be drank at room temperature.

Let us know how you get on. Ale = win.

Mr Jones · 23 Oct 2008 at 16:32

JBuk said:
is it traditional to drink ale with that or something

No... but apparently it goes great with it. I can't really remember, it was one of those pub conversation which I go oh yea... oh yea... oh yea whilst my arms were doing the down pint motion.

And yes, for my student pocket, Butchers Sausage and Mash is a premium...

caff · 23 Oct 2008 at 16:37

I like to put my bottled ales in the fridge for 30 mins before drinking, just to chill it down a bit. Not too cold though, because it'll lose the flavour.

Hobgoblin is nice, £1 is a bargain alright.

p4radox · 23 Oct 2008 at 16:38

caff said:
I like to put my bottled ales in the fridge for 30 mins before drinking, just to chill it down a bit. Not too cold though, because it'll lose the flavour.

Hobgoblin is nice, £1 is a bargain alright.

Me too. Just a couple of degrees below room temperature is about right for me.

Feek · 23 Oct 2008 at 16:51

Scuzi said:
Ale should be drank at room temperature.

I prefer very slightly below room temperature and certainly not chilled.

Skidder · 23 Oct 2008 at 16:56

if you like it, I have 10 litres of homebrew in my shed you are very welcome to. Tastes like pish.

Mr Jones · 23 Oct 2008 at 16:58

Skidder said:
if you like it, I have 10 litres of homebrew in my shed you are very welcome to. Tastes like pish.

Where do you live?
Nothing better than free alcohol for poor students

Delvis · 23 Oct 2008 at 17:09

I leave it at room temperature....far as I'm aware it's supposed to be around that, but obviously it depends on the room

I haven't had an Ale in yeaaaaars

I should drink them again soon...Just most places I go to nowadays just have noooo idea on how to keep then, so they taste rotten.

Feek · 23 Oct 2008 at 17:13

If you've not had any for years, how do you know that most places don't know how to keep them and that they taste rotten? (incorrect, btw) :confused:

VaderDSL · 23 Oct 2008 at 17:16

I grew up in Clitheroe and have this brewer very close by

http://www.bowlandbrewery.com/

love some of their Ales.

Delvis · 23 Oct 2008 at 17:19

Feek said:
If you've not had any for years, how do you know that most places don't know how to keep them and that they taste rotten? (incorrect, btw)

ugh, learn to read over exaggerated posts already :rolleyes:

Not literally years no, just a very long time, and if you read my post, I said most places I go to nowadays..ie places I go to regularly, or places I know of near me, don't keep em too well (Apart from my local)

I didn't mean literally rotten either.

I have had several off Ales tasting like vinegar though...mmm mmmmm

tres · 23 Oct 2008 at 17:49

Ale should be served at room temperature - but not modern room temperature, what with our new fangled central heating systems

old school room temperature, always a few degrees less

Tom0 · 23 Oct 2008 at 17:50

Hobgoblin is one of my favourites. Good buy

Voltar · 23 Oct 2008 at 18:22

Feek said:
I prefer very slightly below room temperature and certainly not chilled.

This is how Ale should be served! Also someone said something about modern room temperature which is worth considering as this is a bit too 'warm' if you serve it at this temperature.

Enjoy your Ale!

Mr Jones · 23 Oct 2008 at 19:18

I have just finished my dinner - delicious. The drink however, is abit more different from my usual taste. It actually taste like a cross of red wine and larger... yummy with meat. I'll try and use that to bake me a steak pie this weekend or something.

Anyone else know of a sweeter Ale than Hobgoblin?

kibblerok · 23 Oct 2008 at 19:31

badger pumpkin ale \o/

GhostlyPea · 23 Oct 2008 at 19:31

Try something lighter like Speckled Hen or Bishops Finger. Spitfire is a bit more citric, very nice. The Fullers ales might be better for a beginner, try Discovery or if your feeling brave some Black Sheep

Of course these are all from bottles, my advice would be take a trip to spoons and buy some of the half pints of the ales there. Although leave them all 30 mins before drinking as they serve them cold...philistines. Just remember what sort of thing you like and try similar things. The VERY best bit of advice I can give is that ALL ales are different, just try everything you can lay your hands on

- Pea0n

Mr Jones · 23 Oct 2008 at 19:38

Cool~
I'll try Bishops Finger when I next pop to Lidl's, also a quid a bottle before I start going around the pubs trying Ales only. Might be a new start to my drink tasting quest...