[dave]

is that the stuff thats been "lagered for 40 days in a castle cellar" or am i thinking of something similar......?

[tommytwotone]

Hell yeah, though that's the first time I've ever heard 'lager' used as a verb. It's all worth it though, very tasty - dark chocolate, liquorice, coffee, the whole shebang. Reckon a side-by-side taste-off with Budvar Dark would be interesting...

[Zods Beard]

Tried some Earthquake at the Stockport beer fest tonight. From Manchester's finest, the Phoenix brewery. 7.5%, but not too treacly, good for supping. Recommended.

[Plattsy]

Tried a pint of Croak and Stagger from the Frog Island brewery at the Chapeltown beer festival last weekend. It is a dark ale which I found hard to drink which was odd because I usually like them dark. My taste buds are rubbish so I can't get all Jilly Goolden about it but certainly not a favourite.

I can recommend Wentworth Festival Ale though. Dunno if it was a one off, for the festival, or if it will be more widely available (not seen it before) but I enjoyed the few pints I had.

[dave]

In and around Abersoch the last coupld of weeks I've been drinking this stuff, pretty nice and fruity, and most of the pubs seem to do it:

http://www.frederic-robinson.com/images/pumpimages/hatters-tastingtips.jpg

[andy_e]

Hell yeah, though that's the first time I've ever heard 'lager' used as a verb.

Lagen is "to store" in german. (Or maybe it's Lagern)

[moose]

Lagern is to store.  Lager is not so much a drink as a general method for booze production.  Lagering uses yeasts that sit at the bottom of the fermenting vessel and only work at low temperatures, hence the use of "castle cellars" etc as breweries - before refrigeration a lot of lagers used only to be produced in winter (ale uses top fermenting yeasts at room temperature).  Because of the slow, cold fermentation it takes ages to build up enough alcohol and the end product needs storing for ages afterwards to smooth out the rough edges (90  days for Budvars). 

[Jim]

Just polished off a ferkin of this stuff last night at my party

Our flagship bitter is medium bodied with a gentle sparkle which delivers a rich hop flavour to give a refreshing and characterful pint. This great British beer is smooth and easy drinking and has an ABV of 3.8%

Was very tasty and easy to drink. A great session beer

[slackline]

Discovered this little gem the other day that combines two of my favourite epicurean delights, beer and chilli.



Brewed by Fallen Angel Brewery its truly stunning.  It contains Naga Chilli extract (the hottest in the world) which rate 895000 on the scoville scale (Jalapenos weigh in at 2500-8000 ).  It packs a fair punch, passed a glass to a friend the other night with the advice to have a good swill of it, his response "Fucking hell, hang on mum, Neil's just given me some chilli beer, my mouth is on fire!".  I hadn't told him there was chilli in it (he does like spicy food so I wasn't being a total cnut) and he was on the phone to his mum at the time 

It is rather pokey in the heat department, but has a lovely fruity after taste.  Best served chilled and sipped gradually.  I was relieved to find out that the heat didn't "repeat" as it can do when chilli's are ingested in food (its bad enough rubbing your eye after having cut chilli's, I realised after having necked half a bottle the potential pain it may induce in the urethra!).

Heed the warning on the label...

[Houdini]

That Death Chilli looks and sounds the bollox.  Chilli is said to spped ones metabolism up hence making one thinner.  Beer/diet aid = spazzzzzzed 

[tommytwotone]

If you can't get hold of the beer you could slip a few drops of this into your pint...I had a v small blob on a cheese cracker the other day and it was crazy hot 

http://extremefood.com/product.php?id=10

[Mike Tyson]

Its Keswick Beer Festival this weekend! The forecast looks good, so it should be a good day.

I have done a very good job of keeping off the ale over the last two weeks, so will be treating myself this weekend.

[dave]

had some of this up in The County - is well brown:

http://www.morduebrewery.com/beers/beer.php?beers_id=12

[Jim]

Just enjoying a bottle of

Colonsay 80/- Ale - 4.2%
A traditional Scottish Ale brewed for export. In the
old days ales were taxed in shillings per barrel
depending on the strength – so this malty and
flavoursome ale is at the higher end of traditional
beer strengths. Some claim to find a hint of smoke in
80/- ales – our slightly peaty water may well bring that
out more – discover for yourself.

Very good it is too. Thanks to the man with a massive cranium (Clm)
It is in a pint bottle too (568ml)... word

[SA Chris]

This is one tasty beverage.

http://www.innisandgunn.com/index.htm

Bought a bottle to try in Booths when I was last down South, wish I had got more, as I haven't seen it in any supermarkets up here.

[Fiend]

This is one tasty beverage.

http://www.innisandgunn.com/index.htm

Bought a bottle to try in Booths when I was last down South, wish I had got more, as I haven't seen it in any supermarkets up here.

It's available in the Tesco in Castle Douglas if that helps...

If that's the same stuff that's aged in the whisky barrels (which I'm sure it is although they don't mention the whisky aspect on the packaging nor much on the website any more), then I concur with your recommendation, it's an absolutely top beer, very tasty indeed and refreshing even when un-chilled.

Ooooh I got another one to recommend, hang on a mo...

[Fiend]

Here we go:

http://www.hall-woodhouse.co.uk/beers/badgerales/goldenglory.asp

It seems to hold true today, as the subtle addition of extract of peach blossom to enhance the floral blend of aromatic and bitter hops has created an outright award-winning ale that is refreshing, charismatic and...Absolutely Glorious.

Can't argue with that, it's really very nice. Not as fruity as a true fruit beer but very smooth and mellow, one of the nicest beers I've had....well since the Sheaf View had that very swish £5/pint honey beer on...

[tommytwotone]

This is one tasty beverage.

http://www.innisandgunn.com/index.htm

Bought a bottle to try in Booths when I was last down South, wish I had got more, as I haven't seen it in any supermarkets up here.

It's available in the Tesco in Castle Douglas if that helps...

If that's the same stuff that's aged in the whisky barrels (which I'm sure it is although they don't mention the whisky aspect on the packaging nor much on the website any more), then I concur with your recommendation, it's an absolutely top beer, very tasty indeed and refreshing even when un-chilled.

I know what you mean - I'm pretty sure that this was on special offer in Sainsbury's in Millhouses when I was there last week. I'm off down there in a bit to get something to drink so I'll check it out.

[davetherud]

 

Top thread......innis gunn is a fine ale

For me, Black Isle's where its at!!

http://www.blackislebrewery.com/

check it

[SA Chris]

I do enjoy the Black Isle stuff, as mentioned previously, especially the red Kite.

Tesco in Castle Douglas is a bit of a drive for me, but will stop in the local one for a look next time I am on the way past.
Our local Sainsbury didn't have it last week.

[dave]

quick heads-up for sheffside west peeps, if you get your black asses over to the Risin Sun (nether green) this weekend its their beer festival, got a shit load of ales on in a tent in the carpark. I went last night and sampled a few, some very illin shit doing down. lots of stouts, and even an 11% wheat beer. get a half glass so you can try more stuff etc.

http://www.risingsunsheffield.co.uk/sunfest2.html

[Houdini]

Anyone mentioned St. Peters of Suffolk, ye olde beer in the oval bottle?

Their wheat beer is sublime (even tasting good warm - which is not the way to drink wheat beers).

[Zods Beard]

Anyone mentioned St. Peters of Suffolk, ye olde beer in the oval bottle?

Their wheat beer is sublime (even tasting good warm - which is not the way to drink wheat beers).

Good beers indeed, with the added bonus of the bottle making you feel like your in a Dickens novel.

[slackline]

quick heads-up for sheffside west peeps, if you get your black asses over to the Risin Sun (nether green) this weekend its their beer festival, got a shit load of ales on in a tent in the carpark. I went last night and sampled a few, some very illin shit doing down. lots of stouts, and even an 11% wheat beer. get a half glass so you can try more stuff etc.

http://www.risingsunsheffield.co.uk/sunfest2.html

Passed the Rising Sun today and whilst the beer festival officially ended on the 13^th they still have an excellent selection of beers.  Put a small dent in my wallet by ordering a pint of Last Rites which was £5.25 (but then I guess the price increases in-line with the ABV).  Perhaps a little too strong in flavour for my palette, but very rich and fruity.  Called it a day after that as I had to work this afternoon  .

[Plattsy]

Visiting the Wentworth Brewery tonight. We get a tour of the brewery and then a free bar (hopefully light on tour and heavy on the free bar) for £15! Bargain I think.

Looking forward to a pint of this. I've heard good things about it.

http://www.wentworth-brewery.co.uk/product2.aspx?id=53