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**** Official middle-aged man's Craft Beer thread ****



Herr Tubthumper

Herr Tubthumper

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Jul 11, 2003
59,593
The Fatherland
PILTDOWN MAN said:
Meantime is interesting, Asahi UK is a really small operation compared to most in the game, it may have a huge backing but does enjoy its smallness both in its Asahi operation and ownership of Meantime. Not many normal drinkers would appreciate that they are no longer a "small" independent, why would they. However they are now able to reproduce their beers with much more repetitive precession. It could be considered a benefit.
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That’s a fair arguement. For me though, the key element for smaller breweries is their desire and ability to piss about and experiment. When a brewery is taken over the focus is often on their core range and taking this to a larger market and their experimental stuff slows down or just stops. Meantime used to experiment and produce some really good stuff....and some not so good stuff, I don’t think they do now. This is the area which really interests me so I tend to lose out when a brewery is bought out. I don’t have an issue per se with breweries selling....it’s just the things I typically lose when they do.
 




PILTDOWN MAN

PILTDOWN MAN

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Sep 15, 2004
18,705
Hurst Green
Herr Tubthumper said:
That’s a fair arguement. For me though, the key element for smaller breweries is their desire and ability to piss about and experiment. When a brewery is taken over the focus is often on their core range and taking this to a larger market and their experimental stuff slows down or just stops. Meantime used to experiment and produce some really good stuff....and some not so good stuff, I don’t think they do now. This is the area which really interests me so I tend to lose out when a brewery is bought out. I don’t have an issue per se with breweries selling....it’s just the things I typically lose when they do.
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I've pm'd you, you will see why
 


Herr Tubthumper

Herr Tubthumper

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Jul 11, 2003
59,593
The Fatherland


C

Cian

Well-known member
Jul 16, 2003
14,262
Dublin, Ireland
Brewdog, chain wide, did a few Irish crafts for Paddys Day this year and I imagine will next year. Forgot to actually bounce this thread for it then

This years selection included Kinnegar Rustbucket which is my go-to for a decent normal beer. Rye Ale, not overhopped at all. Think Wicklow Wolf were the other brewery that got in, decent enough stuff. Worth watching out for in 8 weeks or so when they get whatever is in for this year.


Guinness plc, pre Diageo era, killed brewing in Ireland by buying every single brewery outside the Murphys/Beamish sphere of influence and closing down basically all of them (and eventually all of them - Phoenix, Smithwicks and Great Northern were closed recently enough). Murphys and Beamish did similar in their areas and both of those ended up owned by Heineken.

Realistically only a decade in to a revival and I have four small to medium breweries near enough to me, one of which supplies Lidl and Tesco's own brand product which is consistently decent quality. One of them - Trouble - was one of the first new openings and definitely worth grabbing a bottle/pint if you see it on sale.


On the repetitive precision vs pissing around argument - you should be able to do both. I have never had a bad Kinnegar core range product despite them being a very small brewery that knocks out specials as and when they want to. Some (not many) of the specials are awful but that's to be expected in experimentation. It shouldn't be hard to strike a balance.
 


Y

Yes Chef

Well-known member
Apr 11, 2016
1,826
In the kitchen
Craft beer world conquest continues apace. In Oviedo, a medium sized town in Asturias, Northern Spain, an area better known for it's cider. The local brewery, Cerveza Nurse, has a bottle shop /bar in town. Beers are good, more English in style than the super hoppy West Coast often replicated. No worse for it though.
 




S

Springal

Well-known member
Feb 12, 2005
23,838
GOSBTS
HT - you tried Mikkeller show case Brewdog have? Any comments ?
 


Herr Tubthumper

Herr Tubthumper

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Jul 11, 2003
59,593
The Fatherland
Springal said:
HT - you tried Mikkeller show case Brewdog have? Any comments ?
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I presume you mean the showcase on their website ie

Get a taste of one of Denmark's finest craft breweries in this mixed case which showcases some of Mikkeller's Spontan... range, Hallo Ich Bin Berliner Weisse beers as well as the infamous Beer Geek Breakfast! This case contains:

- 1 x Hallo, Ich Bin: Berliner Weisse Blueberry

- 1 x Hallo, Ich Bin: Berliner Weisse Pineapple

- 1 x Beer Geek Breakfast

- 2 x SpontanBlueberry

- 1 x SpontanBlackberry

- 1 x SpontanLychee

I hope you like your sour beers as they’re all this style apart from the beer geek breakfast!

I have a Mikkeller bar near to where I live and I’ve tried numerous beers from both the Spontan and Beer Geek series. I’ve definitely had the SpontanBlueberry and Lychee. The former is the most amazing colour. I’ve never had any of their BerlinerWeiss’ though. I wouldn’t grumble with any of the Spontan or Beer Geek beers but I think the case would be more representative if it had some other beer styles as well.
 






Questions

Questions

Habitual User
Oct 18, 2006
24,896
Worthing
Herr Tubthumper said:
That’s fine, I’m off out now....to Brewdog funnily enough. Like music, I am pretty chilled with “craft” and like what I like and that’s it...I don’t tend to spend/waste time arguing for or against anything craft....but I’m very very enthusiastic about the stuff I like. I’m happy to share my thoughts as well but they’re in no way definitive.....and like music many question my judgement especially if they see my record collection :smile:
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I think Phil Collins goes well with a Greene King IPA
 




J

J2 DOG

Active member
Feb 28, 2009
600
Hove
Dark Star bought out by Fullers! Hope this isnt the demise of great products. Cheap, lesser hops and water used from the Thames may be on the cards now?
 




thedonkeycentrehalf

thedonkeycentrehalf

Retired
Jul 7, 2003
8,627
Not sure of there is any left but Brewdog had a fantastic guest beer last week. It was from Anderson Valley (a US brewery) and it was a barrel aged G&T Gose. Strong at 6.5% but very smooth, not too sour and very drinkable. One of the best drinks I have had in a long time.
 


Questions

Questions

Habitual User
Oct 18, 2006
24,896
Worthing
Going to do Brighton Bierhuis before saturdays match and give the Arrogant B ast.ard ale a try which at the moment is on the guest beer list. Never been in there before - anyone been ?
 


Lyndhurst 14

Lyndhurst 14

Well-known member
Jan 16, 2008
5,130
Brooklyn Brewery have just reinstated their Bel Air Sour - and they say it will be available in the UK

73_shelf_Bel-Air-Sour-12oz-Beer-Page_original.png

http://brooklynbrewery.com/brooklyn-beers/perennial-brews/bel-air-sour

Must admit to being rather partial to the Sours - not sure what the availability of sour beers is like in the UK, maybe some one could enlighten me
 




Questions

Questions

Habitual User
Oct 18, 2006
24,896
Worthing
Lyndhurst 14 said:
Brooklyn Brewery have just reinstated their Bel Air Sour - and they say it will be available in the UK

View attachment 94701

http://brooklynbrewery.com/brooklyn-beers/perennial-brews/bel-air-sour

Must admit to being rather partial to the Sours - not sure what the availability of sour beers is like in the UK, maybe some one could enlighten me
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My local does over 100 Belgiums so can always find a sour in there. The whole description of ‘sour’ is imo relatively new and based on the Lambic, Saisson or Geuse styles. Its normally brews from other countries that name their beers ‘sour’........ it might be a trademark thing.
To answer your question though L........ there’s a pretty good selection if you know where to look.
 


Lyndhurst 14

Lyndhurst 14

Well-known member
Jan 16, 2008
5,130
Questions said:
My local does over 100 Belgiums so can always find a sour in there. The whole description of ‘sour’ is imo relatively new and based on the Lambic, Saisson or Geuse styles. Its normally brews from other countries that name their beers ‘sour’........ it might be a trademark thing.
To answer your question though L........ there’s a pretty good selection if you know where to look.
Click to expand...

Thanks
 




thedonkeycentrehalf

thedonkeycentrehalf

Retired
Jul 7, 2003
8,627
Lyndhurst 14 said:
Brooklyn Brewery have just reinstated their Bel Air Sour - and they say it will be available in the UK

View attachment 94701

http://brooklynbrewery.com/brooklyn-beers/perennial-brews/bel-air-sour

Must admit to being rather partial to the Sours - not sure what the availability of sour beers is like in the UK, maybe some one could enlighten me
Click to expand...

In most craft beer pubs you can usually find at least one sour on tap and others in the fridge. The manager of the Pond likes a sour so always has them on and he has generally chosen really well. Brewdog usually have one - the latest was an imported Anderson Valley Barrel Aged G&T Gose which was very good. Some really good ones made in the UK. Probably the most drinkable is Magic Rock's Salty Kiss. Some interesting flavours out there. Many use grapefruit as a base but have had some strange ones which shouldn't workbut do such as a Tzatziki sour which did taste of cucumber and mint.

There is a brewery ion East London that specialises in these and has a brew pub I have yet to visit.
 




S

Springal

Well-known member
Feb 12, 2005
23,838
GOSBTS
Gotta love Brewdog. They certainly know how to launch a marketing campaign and get maximum coverage!

They've launched a Pink IPA aimed at promoting gender equality and highlighting the UK pay gap of 20% between Men and Women. With that in mind they are offering women 20% off Pink IPA.

https://www.brewdog.com/lowdown/pink-ipa

Of course some people are too stupid or want to be offended to get the message here 'We’ve made our flagship beer Punk IPA, pink. Pink IPA might look different on the outside, but it’s exactly the same on the inside.' and now OUTRAGED at this blatant sexism that women like pink sparkly things blah blah blah.

Love it
 


beorhthelm

beorhthelm

A. Virgo, Football Genius
Jul 21, 2003
35,312
Springal said:
Gotta love Brewdog. They certainly know how to launch a marketing campaign and get maximum coverage!

They've launched a Pink IPA aimed at promoting gender equality and highlighting the UK pay gap of 20% between Men and Women. With that in mind they are offering women 20% off Pink IPA.

https://www.brewdog.com/lowdown/pink-ipa

Of course some people are too stupid or want to be offended to get the message here 'We’ve made our flagship beer Punk IPA, pink. Pink IPA might look different on the outside, but it’s exactly the same on the inside.' and now OUTRAGED at this blatant sexism that women like pink sparkly things blah blah blah.

Love it
Click to expand...
fancy they may have misjudged that one. Pankhurst IPA might have been a better name.
 


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