Tying me some Ale

Artful_Badger

Never a big fan of lager and for that reason I rarely drink. However I've decided to get a few different bottles of ale this weekend to sample and see if I've been doing it wrong.

Ordered a bottle each of:
Bishops finger Kentish Ale
Innis & Gunn Rum Finish
Wells Banana Bread Beer
Wells Waggle Dance
Wynchwood Hobgolbin Ruby Beer

Am I in for a treat or will I go blind drinking re-branded turpentine ?

BeerNut

You might get a bit of fun out of them, but really they're mostly quite a tame bunch. All are from huge and well-established breweries so not exactly bathtub operations.

phelixoflaherty

Throw the Banana Bread Beer down the sink.

Artful_Badger

BeerNut wrote: »

You might get a bit of fun out of them, but really they're mostly quite a tame bunch. All are from huge and well-established breweries so not exactly bathtub operations.

I'm a far cry from a connoisseur though and probably wouldnt have the palate for anything to mad.

Artful_Badger

phelixoflaherty wrote: »

Throw the Banana Bread Beer down the sink.

I guess its not gonna be the amazing banana'y extravaganza I thought it might then ?

Louche Lad

phelixoflaherty wrote: »

Throw the Banana Bread Beer down the sink.

People keep saying things like that. I like it (not all the time, just once or twice a year).

Ravelleman

The Banana Bread beer is awful. I'm also a banana enthusiast, so it pains me to say it.

I quite like Hobgoblin, especially given that it's typically quite cheap.

Lovely Bloke

That's not a bad "starter" selection.

GLaDOS

I quite like the banana bread beer myself

Lovely Bloke

Bishops finger Kentish Ale
not my favourite, by a long shot, but still a decent representation of the style.

Innis & Gunn Rum Finish
Innin & Gunn get some stick, but their beers are ok-ish, this one is a very sweet. I like it, but it's not to everyone's tastes. The sweetness kind of overpowers any hop bitterness.

Wells Banana Bread Beer
It's banana-ish, and not much else, there are some hops for balance. Kind of thing you get once, and if you like you might get again in a couple of months.

Wells Waggle Dance
Not very honey-ish, so don't expect huge sweetness. I prefer the Fullers Honey Dew in this particular style.

Wynchwood Hobgolbin Ruby Beer
Great Beer! lovely stuff, and a good choice.

blueshed

Try and get to Aldi and pick up the 3 O Shea's beers. €1.89 each.

Also Super Value doing 4 of the Bru beers for €10.

Both of the above breweries have a Stout, Red Ale and an IPA.

Drink the ale and stout cool and ipa cold.

Knifey Spoony

phelixoflaherty wrote: »

Throw the Banana Bread Beer down the sink.

I didn't think a beer, or any type of drink for that matter, could have a slimy texture, but then I had Banana Bread Beer. Vile stuff.

A.J.Plumb

Artful_Badger wrote: »

Never a big fan of lager and for that reason I rarely drink. However I've decided to get a few different bottles of ale this weekend to sample and see if I've been doing it wrong.

Ordered a bottle each of:
Bishops finger Kentish Ale
Innis & Gunn Rum Finish
Wells Banana Bread Beer
Wells Waggle Dance
Wynchwood Hobgolbin Ruby Beer

Am I in for a treat or will I go blind drinking re-branded turpentine ?

You has been to Tesco mate..havn't you ?

Them beers you picked would all be pretty expensive by comparison to say the East Euro beers that i favour.

Try Karpackie / Lomza / and Tyskie see what you think ?

Artful_Badger

A.J.Plumb wrote: »

You has been to Tesco mate..havn't you ?

Them beers you picked would all be pretty expensive by comparison to say the East Euro beers that i favour.

Try Karpackie / Lomza / and Tyskie see what you think ?

Not Tesco, supervalu

The reason I want to try a few ales is because I'm not a big beer drinker. And I'm looking for something to drink a bottle every now and again as a treat. In that sense I dont mind paying a little bit more as I wont be drinking much.

Admittedly I know very little about these things but I was drawn to the talk of fruits, honey and sweetness in the descriptions of the ales. Sounds like something that might be up my alley.

A.J.Plumb

Artful_Badger wrote: »

Not Tesco, supervalu

The reason I want to try a few ales is because I'm not a big beer drinker. And I'm looking for something to drink a bottle every now and again as a treat. In that sense I dont mind paying a little bit more as I wont be drinking much.

Admittedly I know very little about these things but I was drawn to the talk of fruits, honey and sweetness in the descriptions of the ales. Sounds like something that might be up my alley.

MMm I see where you is coming from...most beer drinkers would go for the slightly bitter taste...having said that i came across a beer in JC'S in Swords called - Lomza - With honey.

It's pretty strong and has a definite honey flavour which most beer drinkers probably would not like.

Not sure if they still have it ..but was quite nice .

the beer revolu

A.J.Plumb wrote: »

Them beers you picked would all be pretty expensive by comparison to say the East Euro beers that i favour.

Try Karpackie / Lomza / and Tyskie see what you think ?

The OP said they didn't like lager

Artful_Badger

Tried the Waggle Dance tonight. As said it wasnt very honeyish so wasnt as sweet as I'd expected or hoped. Still ok, but I wouldnt buy it again I dont think and would be hoping for something a little sweeter or more interesting from the rest.

A.J.Plumb

the beer revolu wrote: »

The OP said they didn't like lager

So he did! Not great on detail me. !:(

Artful_Badger

Tried the Banana Bread Beer tonight and given the response to it earlier I wasnt expecting much. Was less bitter than the waggle dance and there was a nice taste of banana off it.

Have to say I quite liked it, probably not enough to drink it regularly but its an interesting one to have every now and again I think. Definitely prefer it to the waggle dance so far anyway.

Artful_Badger

Sampled the Innis and Gunn one tonight. Initially didnt like the rum finish on it to be honest I though it was a bit much, but it did grow on me. It was almost like a rum and coke with the taste of rum kind of masking the bitterness.

All in all maybe a little bit heavy for me personally but another interesting one to have from time to time.

Ravelleman

For your next batch, why not try one of each of the O'Hara's bottled range? Perhaps with a German wheat beer like Schneider-Weisse replacing Curim, which seems to divide opinion. All should be readily available in your local Tesco or Super Valu and will give a great introduction to some of the broadly popular styles in Ireland.

Artful_Badger

Ravelleman wrote: »

For your next batch, why not try one of each of the O'Hara's bottled range? Perhaps with a German wheat beer like Schneider-Weisse replacing Curim, which seems to divide opinion. All should be readily available in your local Tesco or Super Valu and will give a great introduction to some of the broadly popular styles in Ireland.

I'll try pick up those next time, thanks for the recommendation. There's a Wychwood ginger beer I was thinking of getting next time too. A quick google shows a lot of negative reviews but nearly all of them have issue with it being too sweet which I'm not sure I'd mind. Could be another interesting one like the banana bread beer perhaps ?

Lovely Bloke

Ginger beer is making a bit of a comeback, and in my opinion the Wychwood is one of the best (I think it's called Ginger Beard), I don't find it cloyingly sweet like the Ginger Joes you often see around.

Artful_Badger

Baldy Conscience wrote: »

Ginger beer is making a bit of a comeback, and in my opinion the Wychwood is one of the best (I think it's called Ginger Beard), I don't find it cloyingly sweet like the Ginger Joes you often see around.

Thanks, I'll pick up that Ginger Beard next time then.

Currently sampling the Hobgoblin. Very fruity and doesnt have much of a bitter after-taste. I'm probably influenced in no small part by the name and bottle too (because its just brilliant) but I'd say its the pick of the bunch so far. I'd enjoy drinking that again.

Lovely Bloke

it's a great beer, in fairness. Even better on tap, and even better again from a cask.

phelixoflaherty

Hobgoblin is beautiful.

Dont have it too cold. More taste

Artful_Badger

Bishops Finger tonight and its ok but a bit strong for my liking. The more I went through it though the more I got the fruity taste and the less the bitterness bothered me. Probably wouldn't buy it again but wouldn't turn my nose up at it either.

All in all I think I got an interest selection and I've gotten a new found appreciation of beer, considering prior to this I would have maybe drank a few bottles of Millar every now and then to be social.

I'll be picking up some new ones next week along with another couple bottles of Hobgoblin.

xxyyzz

Artful_Badger wrote: »

Bishops Finger tonight and its ok but a bit strong for my liking. The more I went through it though the more I got the fruity taste and the less the bitterness bothered me. Probably wouldn't buy it again but wouldn't turn my nose up at it either.

All in all I think I got an interest selection and I've gotten a new found appreciation of beer, considering prior to this I would have maybe drank a few bottles of Millar every now and then to be social.

I'll be picking up some new ones next week along with another couple bottles of Hobgoblin.

Might be worth giving pale ale a go. It's a very common style at the moment and there's some real quality ones around. You need to develop a taste for bitter hops so something like a Sierra Nevada pale ale is a great one to start. I've often seen it in tescos or any good offie. Small bottles with a bright green label (ensure you don’t get Sierra Nevada torpedo ;-))

The Drunken Destrier

I second any wheat beer suggestions. Franziskaner in Lidl, Schofferhoffer (or something) in Aldi are cheap as chips, with Schneider Weisse (as already recommended) being a top one. They would be sweet, fruity and a little spicy, and all the while staying drinkable and refreshing. Great for someone getting into beer outside of lager.

Artful_Badger

Just tried that Ginger Beard. Very sweet and very gingery. And turns out I'm not a big fan of ginger.

All in all I didn't like it at all and unfortunately the bottle will be going down the sink as I cant bring myself to finish it.

BaZmO*

Artful_Badger wrote: »

Just tried that Ginger Beard. Very sweet and very gingery. And turns out I'm not a big fan of ginger.

All in all I didn't like it at all and unfortunately the bottle will be going down the sink as I cant bring myself to finish it.

I think I've only ever had one beer that had ginger in it that I've enjoyed. I think it may be a bit like marmite.

Lovely Bloke

BaZmO* wrote: »

I think I've only ever had one beer that had ginger in it that I've enjoyed. I think it may be a bit like marmite.

have you had Rascal's Ginger Porter?

Thought that was amazeballs.

BaZmO*

Baldy Conscience wrote: »

have you had Rascal's Ginger Porter?

Thought that was amazeballs.

No, but I shall if I see it somewhere.

Ravelleman

Williams Brothers do a ginger porter called Midnight Sun, which I have bought several times, but never been convinced by. It just adds an unpleasant sour tang to an otherwise tasty beer.

Artful_Badger

Drinking Schneider Weisse tonight and I'm finding it fruity with no bitterness and just really nice. I drink that all night to be honest. Thanks to everyone who recommended it.

Would that lack of bitterness be characteristic of most wheat beers ?

BaZmO*

Artful_Badger wrote: »

Drinking Schneider Weisse tonight and I'm finding it fruity with no bitterness and just really nice. I drink that all night to be honest. Thanks to everyone who recommended it.

Would that lack of bitterness be characteristic of most wheat beers ?

Yeah wheat beers tend to be sweet with a touch of fruitiness. The sweetness tends to be balanced with fairly high carbonation. I'm actually having a Franciscan Well Friar Weisse as I type

I forgot how much I like wheat beers. It was the beer style that first got me into drinking different beers. It's all about experimentation though, trying different styles and developing favourites.

Artful_Badger

Drinking O'Hara's Pale Ale now and I find it a little odd. Has a really strong fruity or zesty kind of an after-taste. I took an instant dislike to it for that but by the time I finished the bottle I quite liked it. Kind of masks the bitterness a bit or something.

BaZmO*

Artful_Badger wrote: »

Drinking O'Hara's Pale Ale now and I find it a little odd. Has a really strong fruity or zesty kind of an after-taste. I took an instant dislike to it for that but by the time I finished the bottle I quite liked it. Kind of masks the bitterness a bit or something.

That fruity zestiness is the hops. The bitterness also comes from the hops too. It can be a flavour that takes time to get used to.

Artful_Badger

BaZmO* wrote: »

That fruity zestiness is the hops. The bitterness also comes from the hops too. It can be a flavour that takes time to get used to.

I was thinking that as I drank it that it might be the hops given it was coming through along with the bitterness, hadnt noticed it on any of the others though. Wouldn't have minded another bottle of it just to see how that went down.

As it is I've moved onto the O'Hara's Irish Red. Bit heavier but without the bitterness. Has a kind of heavy/smokey/rich/sweet taste to it. Pretty nice too.

BaZmO*

Artful_Badger wrote: »

As it is I've moved onto the O'Hara's Irish Red. Bit heavier but without the bitterness. Has a kind of heavy/smokey/rich/sweet taste to it. Pretty nice too.

Red ales tend to have less hops added compared to an IPA. The flavours you're getting from the red are from the malts used. Roasted malts, etc. Malt is also where a beer gets its sweetness.

A.J.Plumb

Interesting comments here ...have to say I would fall into the category of "ordinary lager" drinker..but the stuff on here might tempt me into trying some new ales.

Young Baz seems to know his ales...for sure !

BaZmO*

A.J.Plumb wrote: »

Interesting comments here ...have to say I would fall into the category of "ordinary lager" drinker..but the stuff on here might tempt me into trying some new ales.

Young Baz seems to know his ales...for sure !

I'm far from young! But I do know a thing or two about ales, as do most people around here.

Not G.R

I think it's time to go balls to the wall... A bottle of Of Foam and Fury and a bottle of Serria Nevada Torpedo!

OFAF is the closest Ive ever come to a religious experience :pac:

xxyyzz

A.J.Plumb wrote: »

Interesting comments here ...have to say I would fall into the category of "ordinary lager" drinker..but the stuff on here might tempt me into trying some new ales.

Young Baz seems to know his ales...for sure !

Give brooklyn lager a try. It's a Vienna style. Gorgeous, but I've found it gives me a bad hangover.

A.J.Plumb

xxyyzz wrote: »

Give brooklyn lager a try. It's a Vienna style. Gorgeous, but I've found it gives me a bad hangover.

Where would a body procure this hangover drink...haven't seen it anywhere ?

xxyyzz

A.J.Plumb wrote: »

Where would a body procure this hangover drink...haven't seen it anywhere ?

Most decent offies that sell craft beer would stock it. It's generally sold in 6-packs. Drinkstore have it online also http://www.drinkstore.ie/Brooklyn-Lager-355ML-030613000012/

BaZmO*

You can also get it in Superquinn (now Supervalu).

Big Nasty

BaZmO* wrote: »

You can also get it in Superquinn (now Supervalu).

Really fookin annoyed that Supervalu don't do the 6 for 5 that SQ used to do. :mad:

BaZmO*

Big Nasty wrote: »

Really fookin annoyed that Supervalu don't do the 6 for 5 that SQ used to do. :mad:

The prices were just about acceptable with the offer, but without it they're borderline taking the p1ss.

Ravelleman

BaZmO* wrote: »

The prices were just about acceptable with the offer, but without it they're borderline taking the p1ss.

Too true!

Big Nasty

Lovely selection of pale ales too but at full whack it's just too much.