Weaker at the Top
Discussion
Having let my subscription to CAMRA lapse sometime ago I had got a bit out of touch with the Ale scene.
Clearing out some old boxes in the loft I came across a series of 'Whats Brewing' magazines and took a trip down memory (loss of ?) Lane.
What was most interesting was the type of Beer enjoyed nationally. Whilst there are Pockets of Mild drinking in Wales and the Midlands, good old Brains and Banks's, generally the further North you go the bigger the market share of lager becomes. The other interesting thing was to look at the strength of the beer, numerically there are far more strong beers produced in the South than the North and more Keg beer is drunk in the North than in the south where real ales are more popular.
Those facts seem to be totally at odds with popular mythology and the magazines are about five years old but as a person who travels from one end of this isle to the other they do, on reflection, ring true. I'm not seeking to open a debate on the quality of ale, that is down to taste and upbringing, but the strength and type thing interests me.
Any comments?
If pushed I'd confess that the best UK beer I've ever tasted was brewed in the black country and my favorite generally available ale comes from Oxfordshire but I enjoyed a brilliant IPA not far from McNab Hall a few weeks ago.
Clearing out some old boxes in the loft I came across a series of 'Whats Brewing' magazines and took a trip down memory (loss of ?) Lane.
What was most interesting was the type of Beer enjoyed nationally. Whilst there are Pockets of Mild drinking in Wales and the Midlands, good old Brains and Banks's, generally the further North you go the bigger the market share of lager becomes. The other interesting thing was to look at the strength of the beer, numerically there are far more strong beers produced in the South than the North and more Keg beer is drunk in the North than in the south where real ales are more popular.
Those facts seem to be totally at odds with popular mythology and the magazines are about five years old but as a person who travels from one end of this isle to the other they do, on reflection, ring true. I'm not seeking to open a debate on the quality of ale, that is down to taste and upbringing, but the strength and type thing interests me.
Any comments?
If pushed I'd confess that the best UK beer I've ever tasted was brewed in the black country and my favorite generally available ale comes from Oxfordshire but I enjoyed a brilliant IPA not far from McNab Hall a few weeks ago.
I grew up in North Yorkshire, close to the Theakston brewery (when it was still owned by the theakston family) and started my ale drinking on Best and Old P. These days, I go home and in the immediate area there is Black Horse (one of the Theakston sons) and Hambleton's, both about 4%.
I now live in Wiltshire, and all the ales in our local come from the area and without fail are 5-6%.
I think what I'm trying to say is that in the last 20 years, the situation seems to have reversed, the North's ales getting weaker (but tasting, to me, better) and the South's getting stronger.
Or maybe I just can't handle my ale anymore....
I now live in Wiltshire, and all the ales in our local come from the area and without fail are 5-6%.
I think what I'm trying to say is that in the last 20 years, the situation seems to have reversed, the North's ales getting weaker (but tasting, to me, better) and the South's getting stronger.
Or maybe I just can't handle my ale anymore....
...
...
...
...
...
I grew up in Stockport (Robinson's) but have since moved to Surrey. The style of the beers down here is generally rather different to the Northern brews. A decent head is rare and they tend to be more strongly flavoured. It's an acquired taste but worth working on, there are some nice beers to be had.
In the South East there appear to be more "specials" and strong, premium ales. From my drinking days in the North the principle seems to be keep it fairly weak allowing you to drink ridiculous amounts of the stuff whereas the Southern drinker seems to like the option of getting completely bladdered without having to accommodate such large volumes.
Matter of taste really, there are excellent beers and ones fit only for mopping floors with wherever you go in Britain.
In the South East there appear to be more "specials" and strong, premium ales. From my drinking days in the North the principle seems to be keep it fairly weak allowing you to drink ridiculous amounts of the stuff whereas the Southern drinker seems to like the option of getting completely bladdered without having to accommodate such large volumes.
Matter of taste really, there are excellent beers and ones fit only for mopping floors with wherever you go in Britain.
or two maybe?
quote:
There seems to be general agreement that Southern ale is stronger than Northern.
Seems to be getting that way, and all these poor british copies of tasteless american beer.... Bin the 'kin lot of it!
Anyone tried Traquair Bear Ale? 5.5% and a bloody good pint (only 3 pubs) Traquair House itself, The Traquair Arms and the Tontine in Peebles, not to mention Greenmantle beer as well (weaker but still agreat tasting pint!)
quote:
Matt,
Best use of the smileys yet I recon
Dave.
Cheers mate. As you can probably tell I have a lot of time on my hands at work.
quote:
...but they're all still soft southern shandy drinking poofs...
Couldn't agree more!
And it costs £2.50 a pint. Whats that about??
Ahhhhhh
That's why its stronger...because no-one could afford to get pi55ed if it was normal strength.Hmmm.... all sorts of differences across these isles, but care needed with generalisations...
Strength - all down to the brewers (small and large) desire to maximise volume - too strong - less sold, too weak and no "stature", less sold. Most publicans / brewers are looking for a good "session" strength - enough alcohol to lubricate the necessary parts, but weak enough to allow multiple purchase without barstools flying across the room and stretchers being required - somewhere in the 3-4% ABV range is the norm.
Taste - historically down to availability of local produce - hence lack of hops in Scottish beer - not grown north of the border in large quantities. This has changed hugely with the purchase of many small brewers by the big boys and the advent of new small brewers looking for new niche areas and willing to experiment with all sorts of ingredients. So harder to make generalisations, but over the years the further North you go ( and yes I'm meaning further than York), the softer the taste of beer, the further south the more bitter.
Don't get me started on kegs / mixed gas beers, lager/alcopops or the dreaded Red Bull..... suffice to say if you want the best pint of Real Ale in Scotland go no further than The Guildford Arms, Leslies Bar or The Golden Rule in Edinburgh (shameless plug - apologies Ted!!)
Strength - all down to the brewers (small and large) desire to maximise volume - too strong - less sold, too weak and no "stature", less sold. Most publicans / brewers are looking for a good "session" strength - enough alcohol to lubricate the necessary parts, but weak enough to allow multiple purchase without barstools flying across the room and stretchers being required - somewhere in the 3-4% ABV range is the norm.
Taste - historically down to availability of local produce - hence lack of hops in Scottish beer - not grown north of the border in large quantities. This has changed hugely with the purchase of many small brewers by the big boys and the advent of new small brewers looking for new niche areas and willing to experiment with all sorts of ingredients. So harder to make generalisations, but over the years the further North you go ( and yes I'm meaning further than York), the softer the taste of beer, the further south the more bitter.
Don't get me started on kegs / mixed gas beers, lager/alcopops or the dreaded Red Bull..... suffice to say if you want the best pint of Real Ale in Scotland go no further than The Guildford Arms, Leslies Bar or The Golden Rule in Edinburgh (shameless plug - apologies Ted!!)
Gassing Station | General Gassing [Archive] | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff