Your favourite ale

[Feek]

A good IPA always goes down well, and Greene King Abbot Ale ("What, Eric?") when stored correctly generally hits the spot.

Sadly, the ales that have become more popular over the recent years, Old Peculiar, Pedigree, Old Speckled Hen, Bishops Finger etc have really gone downhill in quality and taste. They've been over-marketed and they're much over-rated. I gave the common beers a try in decent pubs again this year but they're really crap now.

I doubt I could choose a specific 'favourite' ale - I like to try new stuff whenever I see it though.

 

[Pete19s]

If you had to pick one ale to survive with...

Mine would be a St. Peter's 'India Pale Ale' - sadly St. Peters is only available in one pub in London, and I think the IPA is only sold bottled in Waitrose.

http://www.stpetersbrewery.co.uk/london/default.htm

Brewed locally to me, some fantastic ales available. Got some good breweries round this way, Woodfordes, Green Jack (most easterly brewery in the UK), St Peters, Wolf Brewery who produce what is probably my favourite ale. Granny Wouldnt Like It, well I certainly do.

 

[Jotun]

Hobgoblin

Although anything from the Wychwood Brewery is excellent

 

[normanthefarmer]

i do like a pint of hobgoblin, but at the moment i've become very fond of bath ales - barnstormer

 

[gillywibble]

Bathams

Good choice!

Is Bathams still restricted to local pubs in the Black Country or is it more wide spread now days?

 

[oldbag]

Old London Ale over all.

 

[Jotun]

i do like a pint of hobgoblin, but at the moment i've become very fond of bath ales - barnstormer

I've never had a pint of hobgoblin, only ever in bottles

 

[oldbag]

I seem to remember circlemaster was decent too.

 

[Jotun]

<snip>

Any plans to continue your Friday night beer threads?

 

[normanthefarmer]

circle master is good, although another personal favourite is wychcraft(nice fruity ale)

 

[Liverpool-Lad]

Has anyone tried Suffolk Strong by Greene King? Thats good stuff.

Im probably going down the Broadside/1845/London Porter route though.

 

[Mooron455]

Hobgoblin

Although anything from the Wychwood Brewery is excellent

YES!!! completely agree, hobgoblin mmm

 

[tom_e]

An ale I found at the 'spoons ale festival called "Old Tom" 8.5% but smooth as silk and beautiful tasting so good I went for one when a lecture was cancelled and continued till the early hours

 

[Hades]

Does Guinness count? I love the stuff. Usually I'm a lager drinker but there is something about it that I love. Been drinking it since I was 5 apparently (grandmother - an ex-publican - used to give it to me to get me to sleep).

One annoying thing though - why is it mostly 'extra cold' nowadays? If I wanted something cold then I'll have a lager.

 

[Silent-Lucidity]

Good choice!

Is Bathams still restricted to local pubs in the Black Country or is it more wide spread now days?

Not entirely sure, I do know that it used to be that only 6 pubs sold it in the country, all around west brom/dudley area. Never tasted a better beer anywhere. Been a while though.

 

[Timdog]

any recommendations for starting out on ale? never tried it and i might as well give it a go over christmas

only drank beer/lager and cider up till now. gonna get some whisk(e)y maybe some rum, and whatever else tickles my fancy to see what im missing out on as well, so any recomendations there would be good too

 

[dr. sarf]

any recommendations for starting out on ale? never tried it and i might as well give it a go over christmas

only drank beer/lager and cider up till now. gonna get some whisk(e)y maybe some rum, and whatever else tickles my fancy to see what im missing out on as well, so any recomendations there would be good too

You might find real ales a bit strong tasting if you're not used to them. There's so many different flavours though, it's amazing. Try something like Old Speckled Hen or Hob Goblin to start with, you can even find these bottled in most supermarkets, but as expected they're much better when hand pulled.

As for a favourite, that's very hard to answer. My mum & step dad live in Hull area and the choice of real ales up that was is phenominal.
I think one of the best that I had was in a small and very dimly lit (packed with atmosphere) pub in Beverley - they actually brewed it right there in the pub and sold it for £1.20 a pint. Lots of flavour and a cracking price.

The real drinkingmans pubs they have around that area far outdo anything we seem to have here in the midlands. It's the highlight of when i visit.

 

[AJUK]

Does Guinness count?

NO.

 

[InSanCen]

I can't believe no one's mentione Hobgoblin yet!

4 posts up from yours...

ner ner ner-ner ner

 

[Timdog]

You might find real ales a bit strong tasting if you're not used to them. There's so many different flavours though, it's amazing. Try something like Old Speckled Hen or Hob Goblin to start with, you can even find these bottled in most supermarkets, but as expected they're much better when hand pulled.

As for a favourite, that's very hard to answer. My mum & step dad live in Hull area and the choice of real ales up that was is phenominal.
I think one of the best that I had was in a small and very dimly lit (packed with atmosphere) pub in Beverley - they actually brewed it right there in the pub and sold it for £1.20 a pint. Lots of flavour and a cracking price.

The real drinkingmans pubs they have around that area far outdo anything we seem to have here in the midlands. It's the highlight of when i visit.

you see we dont have any ales in northern ireland (i think), so anything i try will be from the bottle. were all lager louts over here. ill give those speckled hen and hobgoblin a go though

Does Guinness count?

thats a stout not an ale surely?