Monday 22 July 2013

NEW BREWERIES: BIG COCK BREWERY

Brand new local brewery focussing on traditional real ale with a hoppy twist.  We look forward to tasting their exploits as they should be available in pubs and bars around the 'Northern Quarter' soon!

BEARTOWN: UNBEARABLE


Unbearably obscure.

SAM SMITHS :OLD BREWERY BITTER



Outstanding value.

DARK STAR BREWERY: WINTER SOLTICE

From the heavens.

ST PETER's BREWERY: ST PETER'S RUBY RED ALE

A Real Ale gem.

MARSTONS BREWERY: PEDIGREE

Dee-lish!

BUXTON BREWING COMPANY: BUXTON SPA

Exceptional deliciousness.

SOLTAIRE: BLACKBERRY CASCADE

Fruit + Beer = Delicious.

PICTISH BREWING COMPANY: ALCHEMISTS ALE

Follow your nose indeed.

Saturday 20 July 2013

BAD BEER MEANS BAD DRINKING AND A FURORE OF MOANING



Just look at the face of this poor Beer Soldier.  Sorrowful eyes with a dashing of melancholy and depression; this is what bad beer does to man.  Hats off to you my good sir, 10 out of 10 for effort, but despite soldiering on through what was clearly a foul pint, there was simply nothing good to say about this experience.  The beer was expensive, poorly kept, incompetently poured, lifeless, headless and foul tasting.

It's just not on.

However for me, having predicted such travesties (and having unfortunately wasted my money in the past), the most disturbing element of this ale session wasn't the undrinkable ale, but the social championing of said undrinkable ale by certain members of our party (obviously not by our friend in the picture).

I appreciate that everyone's allowed an opinion, fair enough, that's how it should be, but that doesn't mean it has to hold much value.

After a interesting debate discussing the rancid contents in the glass, being spoken down to, and being the victim of various untrue assertions, I came to the conclusion that they clearly don't understand the difference between a 'good' pint, and a 'bad' pint.

Disturbing indeed, especially considering it comes so naturally to anyone with taste buds!

Worryingly, I fear that it's this attitude that may usurp all the hard work 'REAL' Real Ale people from all sections of the industry have made.  This ignorant clique which seems to revel in it's own ignorance seems determined to ram their uninformed opinions down your throat in an attempt to force you to agree with them… which tastes nearly as bad as the beer they were promoting.

Frighteningly, this is becoming more common as Real Ale gains popularity.

It's a shame that as we move forward with the Real Ale Revolution, this kind of attitude has embedded itself into the 'trendy' side of Real Ale, and instead of listening, learning and understanding from more experienced, educated Real Ale drinkers, they're more focussed on dictating and forcing their inflexible views upon you.

And I thought CAMRA were bad, but at least they're in it purely for the beer, and no other abstruse reasons.

Friday 19 July 2013

COACH HOUSE BREWERY: BLUEBERRY BITTER



It's almost impossible to describe how wonderful this ale really was, but I've given it a shot.  More reviews to follow, including the archive from yesteryear.