Hey A.W.U.K.......

[s0laris]

I found some American beer (other than Bud or Coors) in the supermarket yesterday, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. It's bottled-conditioned and very nice indeed, not too hoppy at all. Slightly sweet, not unexpected with the alcohol content (5.6%)

Anyone else know this stuff?

Andy.

There were two American beers on at the Derby Beer Fest last w/e, but for some reason I can't remember what they were called . I've a mate who has the festival leaflet so I'll try and get that.

They were both quite 'syrupy', like a barley-wine style lager, but weren't incredibly strong ('only' 5.9% IIRC), but nice enough.

 

[mycroftt]

I found some American beer (other than Bud or Coors) in the supermarket yesterday, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. It's bottled-conditioned and very nice indeed, not too hoppy at all. Slightly sweet, not unexpected with the alcohol content (5.6%)

Anyone else know this stuff?

Andy.

I'm surprised you don't think SNPA is too hoppy as its hop schedule is fairly aggressive. Did you notice the almost grapefruit-like aftertaste? That is the hallmark of Cascade hops. I believe that SNPA is dry-hopped with Cascade.

I had a couple of bottles of Delerium Tremens over the weekend - Belgian ale 8.5% ABV. It wasn't remarkable but had the Belgian lactic sourness, which I find refreshing in the summer, and held a good strong rocky head all the way to the bottom of the glass.

 

[oz23]

I had a pint of Crag Rat in the Bank Tavern in Keswick only a few weeks ago, and - regrettably - I was underwhelmed. It wasn't bad, just undistinguished. A good session beer, but not a pint to reward oneself with after a day climbing Cat Bells.

The logo on the pump would make a good T-shirt, though...

maximus otter

Each to their own . My all time favourites would have to be Timmy Taylors' Landlord and Blacksheeps' Riggwelter. MMMM.

 

[A.W.U.K.]

Trouble is, tasting one pint of draught beer in one pub is not necessarily a definitive experience. I had a pint of draught Timothy Taylor Landlord a while ago and I was very underwhelmed. I realised something must have been amiss however, when I tried the bottled variety, which is nectar!
I Like Black Sheep ales!

Re SNPA

"There were two American beers on at the Derby Beer Fest last w/e, but for some reason I can't remember what they were called . I've a mate who has the festival leaflet so I'll try and get that.

They were both quite 'syrupy', like a barley-wine style lager, but weren't incredibly strong ('only' 5.9% IIRC), but nice enough."

"Barley-wine style lager", hmm, that's not too far off the mark. I wouldn't call it syrupy, but it's definitely on the sweet side. The sweetness would probably get too much after a couple of pints. The barley-wine sweetness is definitely much more upfront than the hoppiness. And yes, there is a hint of grapefruit.

Andy.

 

[oz23]

A.W.U.K is right, good real ale is literally a living thing and as such is always going to vary from pub to pub. Some landlords just don't know how to look after it, for example, a few years ago we went to a pub we'd often visited 'cause of the good beer, got there to find that it was under new management. I took back my first pint 'cause it was bad, it happens, second pint different beer, bad. Third pint was off as well so I said to the new manager " I'm not being funny but I think the lines need cleaning".
Reply; " I didn't know you had to clean them".

 

[redtail]

I said to the new manager " I'm not being funny but I think the lines need cleaning".
Reply; " I didn't know you had to clean them".

I once told a bartender the very same thing, and he just ignored me. I never went back-there is no excuse for both ignorance and rudeness.

 

[komondor]

Sierra Nevada is pretty good, Andy. Although the beers from Anchor (San Francisco) and Rogue (Portland, Oregon) are quite a bit better.

On the East Coast we have such gems as Dogfish Head (Delaware) and McNeill's (Vermont).

And I also found Hen's Tooth this week (last bottle) and got it. I will sample it later.

Speaking of Delerium Tremens, mycroftt, I will be sampling it this weekend for the first time.

And speaking of sour, my all-time favorite beer is Rodenbach Grand Cru. That stuff is ambrosia. And I can't get it in Vermont anymore!

 

[s0laris]

There were two American beers on at the Derby Beer Fest last w/e, but for some reason I can't remember what they were called . I've a mate who has the festival leaflet so I'll try and get that.

They were both quite 'syrupy', like a barley-wine style lager, but weren't incredibly strong ('only' 5.9% IIRC), but nice enough.

Me mates come through with the goods; the beers on offer were Goose Island IPA 5.9% described as "floral hops, lemony" and Anchor Liberty ale 5.9%.

As mentioned, the sweetness could get a bit much after a couple of bottles.

 

[A.W.U.K.]

Trouble is, tasting one pint of draught beer in one pub is not necessarily a definitive experience. I had a pint of draught Timothy Taylor Landlord a while ago and I was very underwhelmed. I realised something must have been amiss however, when I tried the bottled variety, which is nectar!


Andy.

Just a little update. The Tipperary at Meer End

started selling Timothy Taylor Landlord about 2 weeks ago and it is absolutely delicious! It's sidelined the Courage Director's I used to drink there before.

Andy.

Ps. A little social history. The pub was renamed the Tipperary by it's then Landlord Ben Williams after the song written by his brother Harry Williams and Jack Judge "It's a Long Way to Tipperary". A favourite of soldiers during 2 world wars. More info here.