What pub or pub crawl
Discussion
I was watching Oz and James' drinking tour of Britain earlier this evening, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Now, as all you SASers will know, being the token Mick in the group, I have an ever-so-slight fondness for the evil black stuff
I can easily drink 12-15 pints in a night, and not have a hangover the next morning. However, 2 or 3 pints of the putrid generic lagers gives me a rotten headache - which is why if the black stuff is crap in a pub, then I'll drink cider, or at worst a lager shandy
Anyway - I digress .....
When I came to the UK 20-odd years ago, I tried bitter, ale, etc and absolutely hated them. However, I feel that firstly, these might have been mainstream 'industrial' brands, and secondly, my palette might be more accepting of these.
So, getting down to business - is there a pub, or pub crawl where I could try tons of different types of beer, like Oz/James did? I quite fancy a nice night out trying all sorts of beers, ales, etc, etc. Again, not the 'industrial' mainstream-type brands - but small/local beers.
Does that make sense? Anyone else for a beer tasting session somewhere, sometime?
K
Now, as all you SASers will know, being the token Mick in the group, I have an ever-so-slight fondness for the evil black stuff
I can easily drink 12-15 pints in a night, and not have a hangover the next morning. However, 2 or 3 pints of the putrid generic lagers gives me a rotten headache - which is why if the black stuff is crap in a pub, then I'll drink cider, or at worst a lager shandy
Anyway - I digress .....
When I came to the UK 20-odd years ago, I tried bitter, ale, etc and absolutely hated them. However, I feel that firstly, these might have been mainstream 'industrial' brands, and secondly, my palette might be more accepting of these.
So, getting down to business - is there a pub, or pub crawl where I could try tons of different types of beer, like Oz/James did? I quite fancy a nice night out trying all sorts of beers, ales, etc, etc. Again, not the 'industrial' mainstream-type brands - but small/local beers.
Does that make sense? Anyone else for a beer tasting session somewhere, sometime?
K
The easiest option is to got to a Weatherspoons, particularly if they have a beer festival on .
Second option, get a copy of te good beer guide and check out the places local to you.
Third option, get yourself to a proper beer festival like Woking or Earls Court, however these will be closer to the end of the year.
Fourth option, buy a selection of decent bottled ales and have a nigh in tasting. Not quite the same but will give you a good idea.
Oh, and another... Hogs Back brewery do tours which include tastings. Could be fun!
Phill
Second option, get a copy of te good beer guide and check out the places local to you.
Third option, get yourself to a proper beer festival like Woking or Earls Court, however these will be closer to the end of the year.
Fourth option, buy a selection of decent bottled ales and have a nigh in tasting. Not quite the same but will give you a good idea.
Oh, and another... Hogs Back brewery do tours which include tastings. Could be fun!
Phill
The very, very best option would have to be The White Horse in Hedgerley (near Beaconsfield) for their May beer festival.
They erect an old scout marquee in the back garden, stick up scaffolding shelves all the way round 3 sides, and then fill the whole lot with beer. They have maybe 10-15 beers on at any one time, and once one barrel finishes, another is started. This means you can go from Friday lunchtime until usually Tuesday evening without repeating what you drink, and you'll get to try dozens of different beers.
Even outside the beer festival, they usually have 5+ proper beers on tap, and regularly make the national finals of the CAMRA pub of the year competition.
It's a tiny pub, with no music, machines or anything else to distract from the beer. Absolute perfection on a summer's day, when you can sit in the beer garden.
They erect an old scout marquee in the back garden, stick up scaffolding shelves all the way round 3 sides, and then fill the whole lot with beer. They have maybe 10-15 beers on at any one time, and once one barrel finishes, another is started. This means you can go from Friday lunchtime until usually Tuesday evening without repeating what you drink, and you'll get to try dozens of different beers.
Even outside the beer festival, they usually have 5+ proper beers on tap, and regularly make the national finals of the CAMRA pub of the year competition.
It's a tiny pub, with no music, machines or anything else to distract from the beer. Absolute perfection on a summer's day, when you can sit in the beer garden.
No, no, no.
Gents, the Nags Head in Reading always has 12 different real ales on. All from small breweries and with names only the drunk could think up.
I have tried a few times to do the Nags Head run (drink from the left pump to the right in a night) and it is a hard, hard task. The last time I managed it, I was home and passed out by 9pm - not a pretty sight.
Some of these ales can be up to 7%....
They also sell a selection of Sweeny Todds pies on Saturdays and have the footie on if that's your thing.
The Irish barman seems perma-pissed and makes the biggest baby guinness' i've ever seen.
Nags Head Reading
ETA: We should also arrange a TV&S night at the Reading Real Ale festival. Good times
Gents, the Nags Head in Reading always has 12 different real ales on. All from small breweries and with names only the drunk could think up.
I have tried a few times to do the Nags Head run (drink from the left pump to the right in a night) and it is a hard, hard task. The last time I managed it, I was home and passed out by 9pm - not a pretty sight.
Some of these ales can be up to 7%....
They also sell a selection of Sweeny Todds pies on Saturdays and have the footie on if that's your thing.
The Irish barman seems perma-pissed and makes the biggest baby guinness' i've ever seen.
Nags Head Reading
ETA: We should also arrange a TV&S night at the Reading Real Ale festival. Good times
Edited by zhead on Wednesday 7th January 09:51
bridgdav said:
I did that in late summer with a group of mates - quite good fun. They had about 6 or 8 ales on, and some cider - though my memory is a bit fuzzy on that evening for some reason so I probably are wrong........Hadn't been on a steam train since I was a wee lad..
AngryS3Owner said:
Hogs back brewery do tasting tours!
ETA - just seen I was beaten too it, however I know a few people that have been and they say it's great.
Went on one of these a couple of years ago - v good. Tour round the whole brewery, the guy who did it was incredibly knowledgeable and a good laff.ETA - just seen I was beaten too it, however I know a few people that have been and they say it's great.
Edited by AngryS3Owner on Wednesday 7th January 09:28
Well worth a visit!
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