What beer are we drinking this week ?

boardsy · 08-10-2010 04:36PM

BeerNut wrote: »

Askin' for trouble!

I knew you wouldn't be able to resist

BeerNut wrote: »

Got it in one! Guinness brewing records only go back to about 1800, with Foreign Extra showing up in 1824, but they show that from there up to 1917 Foreign Extra and Extra Stout (aka Double Stout: the "stout porter") were brewed to the same gravity: about 1.070 - 1.080, for 7-8% ABV. I'd say the only real difference was hopping: Foreign Extra would have got a few handfuls more for preservation purposes. Guinness Extra Stout dropped straight away to under 5% and has been hovering around the 4-5% ABV range ever since, but Foreign Extra stayed exactly where it was at 7-7.5% ABV. It's a living fossil of a beer. And damn tasty.

Wow, so it genuinely dates from back then as far as we can tell? :cool:

BeerNut wrote: »

With the war and the massive tax hikes, beer gravities plummeted throughout the UK and never recovered.

I once heard (from someone in a pub

) that the British government ordered that beer strength be reduced to keep the troops more sober? Don't know true it is...

BeerNut wrote: »

IMO Special Export (the 8% ABV version made for the Low Countries) is slightly better, but not by much. Not enough to pay extra for it in Ireland when you can saunter into the Storehouse and pick up Foreign Extra for €2 a go.

Acksherly, Beer Revolution, myself and my wife (who has possibly the best palate of the three of us, just without the geekiness to care about the details) once did a half-baked blind tasting of both one night to see which was better. Admittedly we'd had dinner & wine, and probably other beer, but we each failed to discern much of a difference, if any.

I'd be interested to know if anyone else has done a scientific double-blind or other test of this? Hasn't everyone done one of these for the two strong Guinnesses? :rolleyes: The "Belgian" definitely has the better trad label:

The other one (or at least the version we get in Ireland) looks a bit modern, bright and... perky for such a venerable and fine beverage:

You can also saunter, or even sashay, into Dunnes Stores and get it for around €2.20. The Abbot's Alehouse and Bradley's in Cork have it as well for around the same. Unfortunately I've rarely seen it in a pub, as far as I know, beyond the Abbott's. What would it cost Diageo to shove a few into the fridge alongside their other over-priced over-hyped stuff?

BeerNut · 08-10-2010 04:42PM

boardsy wrote: »

to keep the troops more sober?

The troops were all in muddy holes in Belgium: it wouldn't have affected them.

boardsy wrote: »

Acksherly, Beer Revolution

Still me.

boardsy wrote: »

we each failed to discern much of a difference, if any.

I've done it on a clean palate. The difference is mostly in the texture. The Belgian one is smoother, and slightly sweeter.

boardsy wrote: »

Unfortunately I've rarely seen it in a pub, as far as I know, beyond the Abbott's. What would it cost Diageo to shove a few into the fridge alongside their other over-priced over-hyped stuff?

I'd say the pubs wouldn't sell it. The pubs tend to be suspicious of anything above 5% ABV. You'd get idiots drinking it from the bottle like it was Corona.

boardsy · 08-10-2010 04:53PM

BeerNut wrote: »

The troops were all in muddy holes in Belgium: it wouldn't have affected them.

They didn't get a beer ration?

BeerNut wrote: »

Still me.

No, I did the pseudo-test with Beer Revolution!

BeerNut wrote: »

I've done it on a clean palate. The difference is mostly in the texture. The Belgian one is smoother, and slightly sweeter.

I bow to your superior scientific testing methodology!

BeerNut wrote: »

I'd say the pubs wouldn't sell it. The pubs tend to be suspicious of anything above 5% ABV. You'd get idiots drinking it from the bottle like it was Corona.

Sad, but true, probably.

BeerNut · 08-10-2010 05:48PM

boardsy wrote: »

They didn't get a beer ration?

Dunno, but beer gravities fell across the board. There was an extra special style of beer -- Government Ale -- created by legislation, but it wasn't just for soldiers.

We shall win the war, we shall win the war,
As I've said before, we shall win the war,
The Kaiser's in a dreadful fury,
Now he knows were making it in every brewery.
Have you read of it? Seen what's said of it?
In "The Mirror" and "The Mail"
It's a substitute and a pubstitute,
And it's known as "Government Ale".

Lloyd George's beer, Lloyd George's beer,
At the brewery, there's nothing doing,
All the water-works are brewing,
Lloyd George's beer, it isn't dear
Oh they say it is a terrible war, Oh Lor'
And there never was a war like this before
But the worst thing that ever happened in this war
Is Lloyd George's beer.

SomeDose · 08-10-2010 11:28PM

In other news, tonight I've had the pleasure of sampling some Robinson's Old Tom (world's best ale 2009, supposedly), Schneider Aventinus ('nuff said) and Orval. I'd like to say a few words about the excellent two former beers, but to be honest they're both completely overshadowed by Orval. This is the third or fourth time I've had it but I still can't pigeon-hole the bastard...a little bit of sweetness, really smooth mouthfeel with minimal carbonation and a distinct orangey IPA-ish hoppy bitterness to finish. Compared to the other two, which are heavy enough to be limited to one or two per sitting, Orval is massively drinkable. Fantastic beer.

BeerNut · 08-10-2010 11:34PM

Orval is famous for the radical changes it undergoes as it ages. The same bottle can be half a dozen or more different beers depending on when it's opened. I bought a couple last time I saw it cheap and I'm going to see how long I can leave them. I've seen bottles on sale in Belgian offies that are 20 to 30 years old.

Brockagh · 08-10-2010 11:57PM

O'Hara's Pale Irish Ale. really nice. I had it at the beer festival and bought it again.

MANUTD99 · 09-10-2010 01:13PM

My 20 bottles of Kostritzer arrived from Germany today.

Will be sinking some of these today!

irish_goat · 09-10-2010 04:10PM

Heading off to Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Austria this week on a road trip (not me driving thankfully) so I'll probably sample a few lemonades while i'm there.

ciaran76 · 09-10-2010 08:07PM

Doomsbar ,Bath Ale Gems and Fullers Discovery. The discovery really surprised me as in the bottle I found it ok. But from cask it's a really tasty blonde beer. Went to a Fullers pub and they asked me to taste all their beers on tap so been a very lucky guy these last few days.

the beer revolu · 10-10-2010 06:11PM

Last night shared a Brewdog Tokyo*
Wow!
what a great, balanced beast of a beer.
I enjoyed this beer so much more than the Sam Adams Triple Bock of similar strength.
Now to get my hands on some Penguin without paying €60 for a bottle.

DonnieScribbles · 10-10-2010 06:44PM

Was tempted by some organic Welsh beer I spied in the Quay Co-op in Cork, The Celt Experience Bleddyn 1075.

I'm usually apprehensive of British beers as so I was pleasantly surprised by this. Very drinkable, with a slight fruitiness. A mildly bitter aftertaste at first but nothing too disagreeable :pac:

SomeDose · 10-10-2010 07:22PM

BeerNut wrote: »

Orval is famous for the radical changes it undergoes as it ages. The same bottle can be half a dozen or more different beers depending on when it's opened. I bought a couple last time I saw it cheap and I'm going to see how long I can leave them. I've seen bottles on sale in Belgian offies that are 20 to 30 years old.

Makes sense. The last Orval I had I remember it being distinctly sharp and peppery, tasting similar to a Westmalle Tripel, whereas this one was a bit softer and with more IPA character. Either way, a magnificent beer I reckon.

mayordenis · 11-10-2010 11:11AM

Over the weekend I was in London and went to Utobeer in the Borough Market, picked up Hardknott aether blaec which is just a monster and while there's lots going on I don't think I was wild on it.
The Kernel IPA, which was just a **** load of hops and really was great, but then I always love big hoppy beers.
I got a couple of american ones too Yeti Imperial stout and Titan IPA from great divide I think but left them in my mates house so will have to wait a long time before I get a chance to have those.

Went to the Brew Wharf and the rake, had Brew Wharf's own beer which name I can't quite think of, it was on cask around 6.7% big hoppy number again, lovely. In the Rake I had the Dark Star Pale Ale, cask, 4.7% and again really nice.

BeerNut · 11-10-2010 11:39AM

mayordenis wrote: »

had Brew Wharf's own beer which name I can't quite think of, it was on cask around 6.7% big hoppy number again, lovely.

Hopfather? One for the hopheads all right. I thought it was a bit much.

mayordenis · 11-10-2010 12:13PM

BeerNut wrote: »

Hopfather? One for the hopheads all right. I thought it was a bit much.

Nope wasn't that one, was slightly amber in colour, name was something like Reaction but I'm drawing a blank right now, but I think all of their own beers are heavy on the hops, I think they're all dry hopped.

ciaran76 · 12-10-2010 11:42AM

Samuel Smiths old brewery bitter. Had 1/2 pint for lunch and it's very easy to drink.
No real taste however a slight sweet taste but no bitter at all very cheap also as a pint is £2 and 1/2 is £1 which in London is very cheap!

Mo14 · 12-10-2010 02:55PM

Tonight I shall be trying Paulaner for the first time, I got two of their Oktoberfest beer and a regular one (With a free beer mug!) in Tesco today. Looking forward to it. I also got some Chimay red to try, I'll probably leave that for another day. I'm fairly new to the world of proper beer, and I'm loving it so far.

So hello beer enthusiasts of boards.

BeerNut · 12-10-2010 03:51PM

Hello!

I love the way you can now buy interesting beers in Tesco and other supermarkets. Only a couple of years ago it was unheard of.

The place for a really good selection of beer in Kilkenny is The Wine Store on Lower John Street, so I'm told.

the beer revolu · 12-10-2010 05:14PM

BeerNut wrote: »

Hello!

I love the way you can now buy interesting beers in Tesco and other supermarkets. Only a couple of years ago it was unheard of.

The place for a really good selection of beer in Kilkenny is The Wine Store on Lower John Street, so I'm told.

Was very good 3 years ago, anyway!

bennyob · 12-10-2010 09:21PM

Still is the beer revolu. Excellent selection of world beers alongside the irish micros.

Mo14, the guys behind the counter know their stuff and if you let them know what you like, they should point you in the right direction.

Sarky · 12-10-2010 10:25PM

La Trappe Quadrupel tonight. Rich like a Belgian beer, sweet, and quite the kick at 10%. Not the sort of beer I'd drink a lot of in one night, but say for a quiet night in by the fire watching a film, it would do well.

Eds · 13-10-2010 08:42AM

Hd a bottle of Spaten from Aldi - was very impressed

ciaran76 · 13-10-2010 06:10PM

Just the 1 today. Fullers ESB from cask. Very nice indeed. Again different from the bottle and like a new beer altogether.

oblivious · 14-10-2010 06:18AM

ciaran76 wrote: »

Just the 1 today. Fullers ESB from cask. Very nice indeed. Again different from the bottle and like a new beer altogether.

Dry hopping in the cask will have a big difference

BeerNut · 14-10-2010 08:19AM

oblivious wrote: »

Dry hopping in the cask will have a big difference

Is it really? On the one hand, I think you have to do this with hoppy beers on cask because the hop zing just dies otherwise: Clotworthy Dobbin and Galway Hooker are cases in point. But on the other, I've never really thought of ESB as a particularly hoppy beer, lovely and all though it is.

ciaran76 · 14-10-2010 08:36AM

Yeah I didn't think it was hoppy. More had a malty, sweet and slightly spice taste to me.

oblivious · 14-10-2010 10:29AM

BeerNut wrote: »

Is it really? On the one hand, I think you have to do this with hoppy beers on cask because the hop zing just dies otherwise: Clotworthy Dobbin and Galway Hooker are cases in point. But on the other, I've never really thought of ESB as a particularly hoppy beer, lovely and all though it is.

it think of it more hop resion the big hop aromas, they also hop it in the primary and bright tank apparently

ciaran76 · 14-10-2010 05:44PM

Had a Castle Rock Harvest Pale. It's a creamy light pale ale. Thought it be hoppier but very easy to drink.

Technocentral · 14-10-2010 09:23PM

Redmonds still have 4 ales for 10 and long may it last, lots of ones I havnt tried yet, had some new ones for match on Tuesday, the Black Sheep ale was delicious and the Ruddles County ale was even nicer and a lot hoppier than I expected. Nearly made up for our shi*e performance!

What beer are we drinking this week ?

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