Ale, craft, pubs thread

[Whitey Grandad]

2 hours ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Lovely part of New Zealand that. Their Sauvignon Blanc gets good reviews https://www.wineenthusiast.com/buying-guide/duck-hunter-2022-sauvignon-blanc-marlborough/?srsltid=AfmBOorHkasiiJdYzso911csS_Ih1StRH6KvxUvoAXRjDhPpQkKBrmat

It was my dear wife’s favourite grape. I still have a few cases of Sancerre but unfortunately I can’t handle a whole bottle now. I fall asleep after a glass or two. I’m not sharing with our kids though. It’s far too good for them 🥴

Merry Christmas everybody!

[Gloucester Saint]

The beers from Christmas Eve, Day and Boxing Day I’ve shared with family 

Battledown Milk Stout won’t be seen again as brewery longer in business, doesn’t contain lactose so one I can enjoy. The last beer (last two photos) is typical of the autumn green hop beers of neighbouring Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

 

[Gloucester Saint]

Enjoying Adnams Broadside Strong Original watching the darts final. Lovely dark winter strong ale, fruitcake flavours and orange peel with a delicious nutty finish. 

Was thinking about my top 5 beers I’ve ever had. Tricky when I’ve completed 80% of the original Roger Protz 300. 

My selections were:

- Larkin Porter from Kent, tried it at the Planet Thanet Beer Festival in Margate (I still have the festival glass - how sad is that?). Tasted of everything - sweet, savoury, bitter, spicy and hyper complex https://untappd.com/b/larkins-brewery-porter/114713

- Holt’s Bitter. The soundtrack to watching Saints in Manchester over the years and numerous work visits. You can only get it in Manchester at Holt’s pubs, so bitter, not hugely aromatic but the ultimate session pint as the bitterness claws at your throat and you want another one https://untappd.com/b/joseph-holt-bitter/32879

- Burton Bridge Empire Pale Ale. First had this at the GBBF and took a bottle home, with my favourite ever bottle label design. This type of strong, hoppy IPA has some relationship to the original India Pale Ales sent out to India and Burton was the place to brew them with its waters strong in minerals https://untappd.com/b/burton-bridge-brewery-empire-india-pale-ale/1312

- Westvleteren Blond Trappist. The Westy 12 was voted best beer in the world by a US magazine and has regrettably become very hard to come by without visiting the brewery tap. Trying all of them with friends, it was this one, the blonde, which really blew us away with its complexity https://untappd.com/b/brouwerij-de-sint-sixtusabdij-van-westvleteren-trappist-westvleteren-blond/4681

- Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby Mild - I nearly put the Maxim Raspberry Porter but Mild is so important historically and this strong version from the Black Country is exceptional https://untappd.com/b/sarah-hughes-brewery-dark-ruby/2343

Notable mentions: East Street Cream, a 5% ESB from North Somerset is being brewed again, was in my top 5 but has changed hands a few times. Maxim Raspberry Porter from Sunderland a gorgeous drop. Two local brews in my top dozen are Deya Steady Rolling Man Pale Ale and Goff’s Cheltenham Gold. Bristol Beer Factory Milk Stout was a big favourite but has lactose so off limits these days.