What beer are we drinking this week ?

BeerNut · 21-11-2011 11:46AM

KJ wrote: »

I didn't realise he bottled beer.

He doesn't. He loaned his name to a couple of beers Hall & Woodhouse made. The tankloads of nettle extract they brought to the brewery are a long way from River Cottage.

_blank_ · 21-11-2011 12:19PM

KJ wrote: »

Where did you get the nettle beer from?

Des wrote: »

They were bought in an off licence called Probus, which I've not seen mentioned before around here.

KJ · 21-11-2011 12:36PM

Des wrote: »

KJ wrote: »

Where did you get the nettle beer from?

Des wrote: »

They were bought in an off licence called Probus, which I've not seen mentioned before around here.

Haha sorry I didn't read that bit.

the beer revolu · 21-11-2011 01:07PM

Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout last night.
Great value, full on beer!

BeardySi · 21-11-2011 01:29PM

Had a grand session in the Oslo at the weekend.. sampled the new Stormy Porter, and the much vaunted Lean Folláin for the first time - both nice but somewhat lacking *dons flak jacket*

8 Degrees' Knockmedown porter was the star of the night, before settling down to the trusty Metalman for the long haul into the wee hours!

Just found this site which can send me my all time favourite ale (which can't be seen outside south Kent in shops or pubs)!
http://www.alesbymail.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=213

johnnyskeleton · 21-11-2011 05:35PM

BeerNut wrote: »

And that's the worst that can happen. Apart from the alcohol, what could possibly be in there that might be dangerous to your health?

BeerNut wrote: »

Oh, I interpreted the "I dunno" as "Maybe the staff in Des's offy who thought there might be a health issue with OOD beer had a point".

Sorry if I picked you up wrong, Johnny.

Dissappointed beer drinkers can be very bad for your health, and for the health of those in the immediate vicinity. Other symptoms include concerned girlfriend, football teams lacking in lustre and increased awareness of boringness of drinking companions.

But I don't see anything unprofessional about people who sell beer disapproving of out of date beer. Many beers will taste more or less the same but if they are bad they could put you off the beer for a while. Most pubs will give you a fresh bottle rather than a discount on the out of date one to keep the perception of quality up.

the beer revolu · 22-11-2011 12:55PM

Last night....

...was a good night.
Thanks, Ronan.

Can only think of one more Trappist to discover - Westmalle Extra!

Seaneh · 22-11-2011 08:38PM

Black Sheep wrote: »

A bottle of Harviestoun Old Engine Oil last night.

Stellar reputation, this one - seen it variously described as a dark beer, a porter and an imperial russian stout. Pours beautifully and a lovely coffee head that hangs around.

I'm not *quite* sure why this left me a little unmoved in taste terms. Slightly watery mouth feel, strangely? Maybe it just compares unfavourably to some of the Irish dry stouts I've been drinking lately.

It's definitely a porter, it wouldn't have the same mouth feel as a stout at all, especially not onr of the Irish "premium" stouts.

Taste wise the profile wouldn't be a million miles from Leann Folain but they would be very different mouth feels.

Old Engine Oil is a very good beer.

BeerNut · 22-11-2011 09:18PM

Seaneh wrote: »

It's definitely a porter, it wouldn't have the same mouth feel as a stout at all

I don't think there's any real difference between modern porter and stout, other than which word the brewer decides to put on the label. Harviestoun don't use either term on Old Engine Oil, AFAIK.

Seaneh · 22-11-2011 09:57PM

BeerNut wrote: »

I don't think there's any real difference between modern porter and stout, other than which word the brewer decides to put on the label. Harviestoun don't use either term on Old Engine Oil, AFAIK.

I'd think much the same really but I do feel that there tends to be a difference now in what is labled a stout and a porter.

Take Sierra Nevada's offerings. The Porter is all malty and sweet with a little bitterness from the hops, it's very smooth and has a medium carbonation and you could easily drink it all week.

Their Stout however has a lot of bitterness from the hips and roast barleys. It's got a full bang of very dark bitter chocolate chocolate and a little molassas or brown toffee to blanace it. It's a lot creamier and the carbonation is a lot lighter.

Same when you compare Deschutes "Black Butte" to their "Obsidian".

Butte is all malty and chocolaty, very smooth and just enough hop bitterness to tame the sweetness.

The Obsidian is rich espresso, dark dark chocolate and a very bitter roast barley middle, it's very creamy and has very little carbonation.

But still, they (well brewed stouts and porters) are miles away from what a lot of Irish poeple expect from stouts.

The likes of Guinness, Murphy's, Beamish and even O'Hara's with their creamy silky smooth nitro'd mouth feel and very dry profiles are a world away from your Leann Follain or Knockmedown's.

Seaneh · 22-11-2011 09:59PM

Oh and Harvieston's are calling Old Engine Oil a Porter thesedays but they have, in the past, labled it both "Dark Beer" and "Black Ale" so I guess whatever they are calling it doesn't really matter.

Seaneh · 22-11-2011 10:11PM

And just to add, this week I haven't been drink much at all so went down stairs to get a Leann Follain from my larder but the last bottle was already in the fridge, must have put it there and forgot it.

I took it out and left it for about 20 minutes but it's still fecking ice cold, I was too greedy and popped it anyway and am currently sipping it.

Still tastes good but I wish I'd had more patience and let it come up to about 10c!

Have a bottle of O'Hara's IPA which is also in the fridge, might run down and get it and let it come to a reasonable temp while I'm sipping this bottle.

BeerNut · 22-11-2011 10:18PM

Seaneh wrote: »

I'd think much the same really but I do feel that there tends to be a difference now in what is labled a stout and a porter.

In the US, sure. That's the BJCP style guidelines for you. They decided there had to be a technical difference between porter and stout and they invented one. It's not the same as the historical difference that used to exist here (which was just based on strength) and it's certainly not the case with porters and stouts in Britain and Ireland now.

Seaneh wrote: »

Oh and Harvieston's are calling Old Engine Oil a Porter thesedays but they have, in the past, labled it both "Dark Beer" and "Black Ale" so I guess whatever they are calling it doesn't really matter.

Indeed. Jumping from "Dark Ale" to "Porter" cuts across the old distinction that used to exist between ale and beer and which is still somewhat observed by UK and Irish brewers who never seem to refer to porters and stouts as ales, even though they technically fit the modern definition of ale.

BaZmO* · 22-11-2011 10:22PM

I always tend to find them fairly interchangeable, with the Porter tending to lean towards a slightly sweeter taste.

Seaneh · 22-11-2011 10:53PM

BaZmO* wrote: »

I always tend to find them fairly interchangeable, with the Porter tending to lean towards a slightly sweeter taste.

That would be one of the main differences for me alright.

Ruben Remus · 23-11-2011 10:46AM

the beer revolu wrote: »

Last night....

...was a good night.
Thanks, Ronan.

Can only think of one more Trappist to discover - Westmalle Extra!

Colour me jealous! I've only had the 12. I thought it was absolutely fantastic - probably the best beer I've ever tasted. What did you make of the others?

the beer revolu · 23-11-2011 11:02AM

Ruben Remus wrote: »

Colour me jealous! I've only had the 12. I thought it was absolutely fantastic - probably the best beer I've ever tasted. What did you make of the others?

All fantastic beers with, for me, the 8 being the least remarkable.
The unexpected star of the three was, imo, the blond - an amazingly fragrant, fruity, almost creamy blond with an incredibly long finish.
And, yes, the 12 is amazingly complex and yummy.

I heard a rumour that there is going to be a shipment of 6 packs of Westvleteren (2 of each in pack) coming to these shores.
This, if it happens, will be a once off thing.

BeerNut · 23-11-2011 11:17AM

At the same time, they seem to be bringing their distribution methods kicking and screaming into the 20th century at the moment. There was this limited release in Belgian supermarkets last month, which apparently was a total disaster, but at least showed willing. Now the Shelton Brothers have signed a deal for US distribution next year, so there's a fair to middling chance someone who imports beer here will get a piece of that too.

builttospill · 23-11-2011 07:25PM

Can you buy westvleteren beers in Ireland? I've never seen them here.

BeerNut · 23-11-2011 07:39PM

No, you can't, AFAIK. They can't come through the normal wholesale channels.

the beer revolu · 24-11-2011 01:07PM

builttospill wrote: »

Can you buy westvleteren beers in Ireland? I've never seen them here.

Not to date but I'd keep an eye out on this forum and here.
As I said, I'm told that some is on the way - I'm sure these forums will tell all if/when it happens.

ciaran76 · 24-11-2011 01:31PM

Just picked up 3 new beers for me.

Was walking by the off-licence there and the guy ran out to tell me he had some new beers so picked up Harringtons Classy Red a Harringtons Clydesdale Stout and a Saltaire Triple Chocoholic stout.

VW 1 · 24-11-2011 02:08PM

ciaran76 wrote: »

Just picked up 3 new beers for me.

Was walking by the off-licence there and the guy ran out to tell me he had some new beers so picked up Harringtons Classy Red a Harringtons Clydesdale Stout and a Saltaire Triple Chocoholic stout.

Quite a coincidence, I picked up two bottles each of Harringtons Classy red and Harringtons rogue hop I think was the second one. Also got an O'Hara's Irish red and O'Hara's pale ale.

The Harringtons red wasn't as nice as the O'Hara's red imo, but the rogue hop was lovely and smooth on the palet with a nice hop bite, preferred this one to the O'Hara's.

Focalbhach · 24-11-2011 09:58PM

BeerNut wrote: »

No, you can't, AFAIK. They can't come through the normal wholesale channels.

Why's that? Can't say I know too much about the distribution/legal niceties of these things.

Chriscl1 · 24-11-2011 10:03PM

Few bottles of Santa's butt here and London pride with half English half French writing on them, Quebec 20c consignee etc.

BeerNut · 24-11-2011 10:05PM

Focalbhach wrote:

Why's that?

The brewery only sells direct to the public, and in limited quantities. You have to register your car reg in advance for when you go to collect at the monastery. The monks specifically ask people not to sell it on.

People do though, so where you see it in shops in Belgium it has been bought on this grey market of individuals buying direct and then selling on. Or the shop is getting it straight from the monastery, case by case.

An exporter won't be able to get regular supply from Westvleteren in the way they usually do from the breweries they deal with.

But, as I say, the way the brothers do business may be changing.

BeardySi · 24-11-2011 10:28PM

Having a Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout atm, nice enough though it's got a rather bitter aftertaste... Wouldn't be my favourite

Have a Marston's Oyster Stout and a Hook Norton Double Stout lined up to follow...

ciaran76 · 25-11-2011 09:56PM

Wold Top's Falling Stone is a strange tasting beer I thought metalish and malty.

I thought it may be too cold but after letting it warm up hasn't made it more appealing.

Looked at BeerNuts blog to see if he tasted similar notes and noticed he said it was "off-putting sulphurous tang".
Think I will leave this off my to get list in future.

BaZmO* · 25-11-2011 10:02PM

Thornbridge Kipling. Loving this beer. The Nelson Sauvin hops hit you right up front with tropical fruitiness and sweet malts balanced with a bitter finish.

ciaran76 · 25-11-2011 10:07PM

BaZmO* wrote: »

Thornbridge Kipling. Loving this beer. The Nelson Sauvin hops hit you right up front with tropical fruitiness and sweet malts balanced with a bitter finish.

Love that beer too.

What beer are we drinking this week ?

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