Magic Rock Brewing - Clown Juice - be afraid

[Goring Gull]

I generally drink stuff that is around 5% as I do like a lot of German and Czech pilsner. Although some Ale and craft beers have to pretty special to get me off the Lager. My current three favourites are Thornsbridges fabulous Jaipur IPA, then Magic Rocks Clown Juice and also their Salty Kiss, they all just happen to be over 5%. Off to a big beer festival at Thornbridge brewery in July cannot wait.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Off to a big beer festival at Thornbridge brewery in July cannot wait.

Now this will be good. With you on Jaipur. I also like their Kiplin and Bayern is damn fine as well.

 

[METALMICKY]

I do think craft beer is more about taste than machismo. And the stength does play a bit part in the taste of some beers. A good citra hopped beer needs to be a healthy 6-7% in my opinon. And some of the stouts I like are better for their alcohol. I see where you are coming from though, and can understand some criticisms of craft drinkers but by and large we aint a macho bunch.

No if memory serves me correctly you're a Maiden fan. Have you tried their Trooper ale?

You have a good memory. Being a bit of a Maiden fanatic I was dying to like it but I guess I will always be a lager man. What I did like was the slight citrus tang. By all accounts its doing really well so never mind how it tastes you should never under estimate the power of Eddie when it comes to marketing. After all never mind the 80 million record sales I think they have done quite well on t-shirts!

 

[METALMICKY]

I like strong beers and hot curries.

Oy oy!

Top fella! I did try Dave's Insanity Sauce to spice up my chili con carne and came to the conclusion that pure heat without an underlying great taste is the problem. Shocking stuff that you can still buy in some ASDA stores as opposed to specialist chili head stores.

 

[vegster]

7% - pah breakfast beer! I've long advocated drinking beers of similar ABV to wine (9-14.5% is my prefered range). The trick is to treat it as one would a pint of wine and take your time. I reckon the main reason that there are stronger British beers these days is the rise of American craft beers, which British brewers look to for inspiration these days. American beer has always been much stronger (and nicer) than British stuff, but it's only in the past five years that mainstream drinkers have caught on to this. Also, it's only really the UK that has a culture of piss weak beers. 3.5% milds would be laughed at anywhere else, and 6-7% is pretty standard for the rest of the world. Can recommend the 9% Brodie's mocha milk stout if it's still on at the Evening Star...

Things come and go, in the old days most beer was " session Beer " ie. weak enough so that you could drink for a whole evening before getting pissed. Nowdays I think there are very few beer drinkers who can afford to stay all evening in a pub for 4 hours 3-4 days a week so we have the rise of the stronger beers that cater for people who want 2-3 pints and get home or move on.

Years ago I knew a chap who only ever drank Special Brew, he said he didn't have time to drink lots of beer and so he needed an instant hit, which he got from Special Brew. Now Special Brew is high in alcohol but tastes foul but since those times I can happily quaff Belgians that start at 9% proof but taste so so much better, but, if I was in the dart's team I'd happily go for something about 4% or less with flavour knowing I had an evening of drinking ahead.

 

[Carrot Cruncher]

As [MENTION=63]Goring Gull[/MENTION] knows, he's a lucky boy for being in 'Uddersfield, as it is an ale Mecca. They don't seem to be doing it in bottles on their website, but the Hand Drawn Monkey brewery knock out some fabulous scoops. Their 'Bigger IPA' is a wonderful drop but does tip in at 6.5-7% and is worryingly easy drinking. Same for the stuff that is coming out of the Rat brewery based within Osset brewery. Awesome stuff.

I, for one, will be massively ****ed off is Huddersfield away is midweek next season...

 

[Goring Gull]

As [MENTION=63]Goring Gull[/MENTION] knows, he's a lucky boy for being in 'Uddersfield, as it is an ale Mecca. They don't seem to be doing it in bottles on their website, but the Hand Drawn Monkey brewery knock out some fabulous scoops. Their 'Bigger IPA' is a wonderful drop but does tip in at 6.5-7% and is worryingly easy drinking. Same for the stuff that is coming out of the Rat brewery based within Osset brewery. Awesome stuff.

I, for one, will be massively ****ed off is Huddersfield away is midweek next season...

I'm also hoping Rotherham (new ground) and near Sheffield for beers and Sheffield Wednesday are saturday games this season.