This fine Aussie brew on the other hand is a classic example of how good an overly hoppy brew can be.
Its definitely borderline tropical though. About as close as I like to get.
On the other hand, I also had a Dr. Pepper while were on that side of the pond, and quickly learned that at some point they decided to cut down on the sugar in Dr. Pepper by replacing some of it with the artificial sweetener aspartame. I can't stand the taste of that stuff.
This is part of Operation Clean Out the Fridge. I think I picked this up as part of a build-your-own six pack sort of deal. (I'm also pretty sure that it moved from Arizona to Minnesota with us, along with all the other beer I had stocked up in the fridge, all carefully transported in a cooler in the backseat of my truck.) It's pretty good stuff, very easy to drink for 9.4% ABV.
I need to have an Operation Clean Out the Fridge, but I doubt I'll find anything more interesting than an old jar of pickled onions! That Spitfire is appalling in my view, just replace the 'p' with an 'h' and there you are
If you decide to try it, I would highly recommend Coke in a glass bottle (if you can find it).
One thing I appreciated about soft drinks in the UK (or "cokes" as they're all called where I grew up) is that they're still made with real sugar, as opposed the the high fructose corn syrup they put in just about everything here in the States. You can buy Coke made with sugar here, but you have to find the Coke in glass bottles that's made in Mexico, and (of course) it's more expensive. (I know that it's bad for you either way, but on the rare occasions I enjoy a Coke these days, I'd prefer it be made with sugar rather than HFCS.)
On the other hand, I also had a Dr. Pepper while were on that side of the pond, and quickly learned that at some point they decided to cut down on the sugar in Dr. Pepper by replacing some of it with the artificial sweetener aspartame. I can't stand the taste of that stuff.
I looorrve goooolld.
I was so disgusted with that awful NZ slop.
I had to buy a pommy beer just to see if it could be any worse....it is appalling
....from the first satisifying top pop and pour into cold glass to the last thirst quenching malty dreg.
This fine Aussie brew on the other hand is a classic example of how good an overly hoppy brew can be.
Its definitely borderline tropical though. About as close as I like to get.
That Spitfire is appalling in my view, just replace the 'p' with an 'h' and there you are
Your right gents Shepherd Neames have definately gone off their game recently, especially with their standard brews. They are better on draft in pubs but only in the south of England as I don't think they travel well, and I'm always suspicious of any brewery that uses clear glass for it's beers. Beers bottles are dark brown/green for a reason. Any beer out of clear that has been stored anywhere near sunlight will taste like s*itfire... 
I was told thats why the Belgium brewers have so many different shapes glasses to match all their different beer styles. For example that horn tankard in the picture above looks the part but in reality it's awful. The shape of it causes every single beer to massively froth.
Well I never knew that about Coke. Glass bottled Coke has been as rare as hens teeth in the UK for years. It doesn't bother me as I hardly ever drink soft drinks. Similar to Will Power my parents never bought any when I was a kid and now as an adult there far to gasey for me. All soft drinks with sugar in are more expensive in the UK as a few weeks ago the UK government introduced a "Sugar Tax" on soft drinks, which I don't understand as according to my scientist brother sugar is far healthier than all the artificial sweeteners they use instead
LOL!
As for their bottles about the nicest is this stuff, if you can find it.
Aye theres some research on that; about how the shape of the glass effects the beer. Of course brewers have known that for aeons
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For example that horn tankard in the picture above looks the part but in reality it's awful. The shape of it causes every single beer to massively froth.
Well I never knew that about Coke. Glass bottled Coke has been as rare as hens teeth in the UK for years. It doesn't bother me as I hardly ever drink soft drinks. Similar to Will Power my parents never bought any when I was a kid and now as an adult there far to gasey for me. All soft drinks with sugar in are more expensive in the UK as a few weeks ago the UK government introduced a "Sugar Tax" on soft drinks, which I don't understand as according to my scientist brother sugar is far healthier than all the artificial sweeteners they use instead
I'm always suspicious of any brewery that uses clear glass for it's beers. Beers bottles are dark brown/green for a reason. Any beer out of clear that has been stored anywhere near sunlight will taste like s*itfire...
Sacrilege!
I have some Guinness nitrogenated stout that I don't care for, but I've thoroughly enjoyed the 12-packs of assorted Guinness stouts I've been able to purchase lately, containing Guinness Original, Foreign Export, Antwerpen, and 200th Anniversary stouts. And I'll gladly drink porters and stouts all summer, if the alternative is American lagers or hopped-up IPAs! 
I sometimes buy a bottle of the West Indies Guinness, but I am not a big fan of Guinness generally, and certainly not of the rotten Irish nitro-keg ales (Caffrey's, etc). I hear that, like most places, beer is getting better in Ireland though, with a number of craft breweries springing up. I reckon the Irish have been starved of good ale for far too long!
Cambertree, thanks for posting those pics of the Guinness Brewery.
I've a mate who spent a lot of time in Africa (Namibia, Botswana, S.Africa, Lesotho) and apparently over there Guinness is known as 'African beer', and is massively popular throughout most of the continent.
Cambertree Chin, very amusing anecdote about Guinness and the Borstal Boy
Regards, Will
At the end of the day if I've found myself thirsty, usually I go for tea or water to round things off. I've never been that much interested in soft-drinks, my parents didn't give me them when I was a kid and I'm grateful for that. But I do like this French lemonade, it comes in various flavours and contains only sugar no artificial sweeteners or enhancers and it's wonderful not very sweet at all and it tastes citrus. This Mandarine version is very tasty!
I grew up listening to so many tales of the wonder of drinking Guinness in Ireland. It came as a real shock when it tasted just the same as the stuff I'd drunk everywhere else!
I’m not one for hoppy beer, but that is some fine snakewood!
Aye theres some research on that; about how the shape of the glass effects the beer. Of course brewers have known that for aeons
I'm not a regular drinker of soft drinks either David. I have about 3 or 4 cans of ginger beer a year, and drink even less Coke or Pepsi. I do see it in glass bottles, but usually only in restaurants and cafes, and priced accordingly.
I glass manufacturer Riedel have done a lot of research into the effect of different-shaped glasses on the senses. I was gifted some of their very expensive hand-blown glasses years ago, they come out about once a year, if that, as I'm frightened to use them!
https://www.riedel.com/en-gb
Thanks, Chin. Yeah, I had mate in Argentina and quite liked it. I brought back a gourd as a souvenir and used it frequently until it cracked. I went through a kilogram or two of Rosamonte Especial, which was my favorite, before that happened. I should really replace that gourd. Sounds like a good excuse to go back to Argentina and pick up some cutlery while I’m there.
Update: apparently my gourd is still water tight afterall. I thought it had cracked, but kept it for sentimental value. Just filled it with hot water though, and I must have been mistaken: no leaks! Rosamonte Especial has been ordered. Look for a mate and blade picture soon!
Sacrilege!
Old photo, but this was the beverage I had with my salad for supper tonight:
- GT
Definitely mate. I did find some places that served small batch local beer but they were more upscale pubs unfortunately. Hopefully next time some of the cosy, dingy locals will have some some more interesting brews on tap.
Yes, I wanted to say it was actually the Nigerian brewery that purportedly makes the best Guinness, but had a moment of doubt, when I saw it written down, and thought it might have been Kenya, with the colonial connection and all.
I drank in a Chinese speakeasy in the shade of a limestone cliff, frequented by 'colourful characters' in Malaysia (there are a lot of sly and not-so-sly grog shops due to the prevailing Muslim culture) and was amused to see that a big Guinness sign was usually above the bar in these places.
Thanks Will. Yes I'm sure the Borstal Boy downed his quota, and then some! I'm the same, was rarely allowed soft drinks as a child, which I'm thankful for now, and most of them taste grossly oversweetened to me. That Limonade sounds delicious.
Yes, I did have some nice pours of Guinness in Ireland (funnily enough the Guinness in the Felons Club in Belfast tasted the best to me) but I suppose it just comes down to freshness, and clean lines. An ex-girlfriend who tended bar, schooled me on really tasting beer, she could take one sip of a beer that tasted the same to me as anywhere else, and say 'they don't clean their lines properly here, let's go somewhere else'! I recall how they had those black Guinness 'police' cars in Ireland that would drive around inspecting pubs.
Yeah, definitely mate!
Yes I don't mind a decently hopped beer in principle, but I've gone off them a bit with the preponderance of way overhopped brews at the moment.
Nice wine glasses those Riedels, Jack.
I was impressed when trying a few Belgian beers in a bar in Ginza, Tokyo, how with every beer that was ordered, the bartender would serve it in a specific glass designed by the same brewer. They must have had hundreds of different glasses hidden away behind the counter! Like everything else, they really raise bartending to an artform.
Nice one Greg, looking forward to it, my friend!
Here's an old pic of a drink I like in summer. One of the local apple orchards takes their excess harvest of Pink Lady apples and makes a clean, crisp, slightly tart and not oversweet cleanskin cider.
I can't drink more than one or two, but it makes for a very refreshing drink on a hot day.
Penfold's Grange was a highlight I recall fondly
From yesterday because I wanted to enjoy the moment
I wanted something f-f-f-f-fresh for the summer!
Do you like getting caught in the rain?
I have a few old genuine tortoiseshell knives, but I always think the acrylic looks at least as good
Well, that's a lucky Escape!
You never heard The Pina Colada Song?!
Hope you get another chance to put your feet up soon
Guinness has breweries in 20 or 22 African countries including Ivory Coast and Cameroon. I remember that in the 70s rumors said that they included cassava in Nigeria, then the only (and I agree better than Irish) Guinness available then. Never had any proof of that though.
Phew, luckily!
Yes, this weekend has promise of good time in relaxed activities!
