The Real Ale Thread

AlbionLass

Seeing as it's a couple of months since I've had chance to visit any of my favourite local hostelries or visit any further afield as I am partial to doing I thought I'd start a thread to torture myself with talk of delicious (or otherwise) ale.

Living as I do in Derby I consider myself thoroughly spoiled when it comes to good beer and good pubs to drink it in. 

Have had a craving for a pint (or two) of Magic Rock - High Wire for a couple of days now.

octatonic

I drink wine.

Beer is for hippies and EDL supporters.

AlbionLass

Lager is for EDL supporters.

I'm talking about artisan produced, often locally brewed, premium, traditional ale, not mass produced commercial rubbish.

octatonic

http://cdn.onextrapixel.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/hook.jpg

AlbionLass

I know I was lured in to that far too easily, I put it down to a lack of beer.

holnrew

You can get some good lagers.

AlbionLass

holnrew said:

You can get some good lagers.

Agreed. Good beer is good beer. Not a huge fan of lager myself.

FX_Munkee

Funny how Lager is now going through exactly the same process as Ales and Bitters did a few years ago of going from generic mass manufactured crap to craft brewed "Artisan" drinks.

AlbionLass

Same with cider. Love a decent cider.

Col_Decker

Being a Shropshire lad I'm quite partial to a point or 6 of Shropshire Lad (woods). Also much love for anything from the 3 Tuns Brewery  ... http://www.threetunsbrewery.co.uk/  which like every other brewery in Britain is the oldest brewery in Britain

AlbionLass

Col_Decker said:

 which like every other brewery in Britain is the oldest brewery in Britain

Indeed. 

Several very good small breweries within Derby itself, Derventio, Dancing Duck, Brunswick, Derby Brewing Co.  

The agony of choice...

Bellycaster

If you go up the road to Sheffield you will also be spoiled for choices of Real Ale. The Fat Cat Pub especially.

Have a look out for Bradfield Brewery, Kelham Island Brewery, Abbeydale Brewery amongst others.

You're not that far away being in Derby, so I suppose you may see bottles of this stuff in Ale Shops near yourself.

 

AlbionLass

Bellycaster said:

If you go up the road to Sheffield you will also be spoiled for choices of Real Ale. The Fat Cat Pub especially.

Have a look out for Bradfield Brewery, Kelham Island Brewery, Abbeydale Brewery amongst others.

You're not that far away being in Derby, so I suppose you may see bottles of this stuff in Ale Shops near yourself.

 

Sheffield is my second favourite hunting ground after Derby, am pacing myself though, have only been to the Sheffield Tap, Old Queens Head and the Rutland Arms so far but The Fat Cat is on my to-do list for sure as soon as I can persuade someone to go with me.

Bellycaster

AlbionLass said:

Bellycaster said:

If you go up the road to Sheffield you will also be spoiled for choices of Real Ale. The Fat Cat Pub especially.

Have a look out for Bradfield Brewery, Kelham Island Brewery, Abbeydale Brewery amongst others.

You're not that far away being in Derby, so I suppose you may see bottles of this stuff in Ale Shops near yourself.

 

Sheffield is my second favourite hunting ground after Derby, am pacing myself though, have only been to the Sheffield Tap, Old Queens Head and the Rutland Arms so far but The Fat Cat is on my to-do list for sure as soon as I can persuade someone to go with me.

Just pop up to Sheffield and stick a Pink Carnation in your Lapel and carry an Airport Greeting sign and I'll buy you a pint :-D

Van_Hayden

May I suggest Huddersfield as a good hunting ground. Now with more microbreweries than Sheffield (well it was a few months ago), although at least one is terrible....your pretty much never more than a mile from a brewery. Mallinsons are worth checking out. And if you do the ale train avoid the head of steam as they can't keep decent beer. Go to the Kings Head at the other end of the platform. Or the sportsman just round the corner.

Bradfield ales are pretty fine, quite like some if the Wentworth offerings too. 20 odd years ago it was hard to find proper beer, now we're spoilt. Never mind.

Handsome_Chris

octatonic said:

http://cdn.onextrapixel.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/hook.jpg

Yes, yes, we all like a pint of Hooky. That's Hook Norton, as opposed to a bodily fluid from Peter Hook, bassist of New Order.

mike_l

Col_Decker said:

Being a beeraholic I'm quite partial to a pint or 6 of anything resembling beer.

Edited for accurancy

Col_Decker

guilty as charged m'lud

bertie

I have three small breweries within a 5 minute drive from whereaboots I reside.  They make some nice ales, (Cotswold Spring, GWB and Wickwar Brewing Co.)  however I dont like em in their '3 or 5 pint carry out thingys - tend to be just a little too flat for my tastes (just like bottled ales are a tad over sparkling........but thats easy enough to counter)

There are loads of great breweries 'round there yere parts tho

Bidley

I'm fond of most Adnam's ales, my local used to have it on draught, cask marque and it was awesomes. Nowadays they have Doom Bar, which is almost as good.

I also dig my belgian beers, La Chouffe, Grimburgen, Leffe Radieuse being a few of me favourites. Ooh, german pils is good too...

AlbionLass

Doom Bar is reasonable. Has several times been the saviour of a night out when I've had to go to pubs where it's been the only thing on apart from lager and cider. 

I always go back to Castle Rock - Harvest Pale, Brunswick - Triple Hop and Thornbridge - Jaipur, especially the Jaipur oh yes