What Are You Drinking?

[niko_cee]

Pina colada is good, although I tried (experimentally/lazily) to make it without the use of a blender and that wasn't successful so it had to be rectified.

[Shindig]

Belatedly into the Whisky. I don't feel up to drinking that much but it's nice to be reminded how much it kicks.

[Lofty]

On the Old Forester but have some Japanese and a Speyside Single Malt to crack into before the year is out.

[Kikó]

Glen Moray now. Got some Glenlivet for the 'bells'.

[Giggles]

Did you ever sample your ale Spikey M?

[Spikey M]

I've had a few bottles. It's ok though a bit of a harsh kick.

[Giggles]

It’ll probably mellow a good bit.

[niko_cee]

Went for another attempted run on the White Hag stuff but all the shop I went to seemed to have was boxes and boxes of that Puca shit.

Might try another branch tomorrow as it's still well priced.

What was that milkshake thing like Boydy? The Black Sheep one I liked seems to have dropped off the shelves. :(

[Ian]

I got myself a Trembling Madness order plus another box of Crew Republic via Amazon (this time the 8% DDH IPA, same price as the others so about £1.90 per 330ml) so hopefully that'll see me right for most of the month.

[niko_cee]

Another White Hag failure so I went with a 4-pack of something called Hepcat by the Gipsy Hill lot and a case of Sunday Pale Ale by And Union, which came with a few of glasses that have been widely derided as 'a bit 1970s' by all who have so far seen them.

[Ian]

What is 'a bit 1970s' about them?

[Boydy]

Went for another attempted run on the White Hag stuff but all the shop I went to seemed to have was boxes and boxes of that Puca shit.

Might try another branch tomorrow as it's still well priced.

What was that milkshake thing like Boydy? The Black Sheep one I liked seems to have dropped off the shelves. :(
Delicious. The Kaiju Krush and the Juicy IPA were good too.

[niko_cee]

What is 'a bit 1970s' about them?

The shape I guess.

I think they're alright:

https://images.app.goo.gl/Lp1PxUKUwLPFTp2AA

[Giggles]

Our special offers ended here (nanny state) yesterday so I picked up 24 pilgrims path for €60 before it did.

[Ian]

I don't mind that glass, Niko.

To be honest the one I got from Siren (https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ErCmy5UXEAArlfH.jpg) with my CCC's is one of my most used ones just now.

[Giggles]

You need to use the correct one for each style :drool:

[Giggles]

I don't mind that glass, Niko.

To be honest the one I got from Siren (https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ErCmy5UXEAArlfH.jpg) with my CCC's is one of my most used ones just now.

What’s that shape called? Been on the lookout for one for ages.

[niko_cee]

You could probably get it as a stemless wine or brandy glass.

[Ian]

I can't find any list of beer glass types that has it on so I dunno what the proper name would be, if it has one.

It's nice though, don't mind it at all.

[Giggles]

I broke my proper stout one the other week and can’t seem to find a replacement without buying another set.

[Giggles]

These https://www.porzellantreff.de/en/Spiegelau-Glaeser-Craft-Beer-Stout-Glass-p1188080.html?gclid=Cj0KCQiArvX_BRCyARIsAKsnTxNiRz N9HuQRaw2qoLYoK7w3i-m6FdLW8PmM1-GC7NVrmiAfcw6QomQaAifVEALw_wcB

[Baz]

The shape I guess.

I think they're alright:

https://images.app.goo.gl/Lp1PxUKUwLPFTp2AALooks a bit like my BAZ glass (https://www.thethirdhalf.co.uk/showthread.php?2707-So-this-is-happening&p=416151&viewfull=1#post416151).

[Giggles]

:drool:


1348629742652686338

[Giggles]

Have a couple of bottles of Maredsous Bruin in the fridge. Never had it before but their tripel is really good.

[Giggles]

You better get any White Hag that you like soon niko_cee. Their head brewer was tweeting some stuff about the proud boys and their international distributor has already dropped them with the domestic looking like following. Though whether the legalities of that hold up remain to be seen.

[niko_cee]

That'd be a shame. Unfortunately the stocks over here don't seem to be the stuff I like. I think the co-op must have been somewhat conned into buying an absolute joblot of it and they've just been trying to shift it since realising there is no real market for it at the RRP.

[Giggles]

He’s “resigned” now so they should be grand. Hopefully the next fella consigns pastry stouts to the bin.

[niko_cee]

Such is the state of affairs in home school towers I've just dug out a miniature of silver/white patron tequila to match with the juice of the 5 tomatoes I've just taken the seeds out of (the juice from the seedy stuff), some hot sauce, lime and salt. Overall it's not a bad thing, albeit the balance of the alcohol to not alcohol is probably a bit one-sided in favour of the former, for the uninitiated at least.

[Giggles]

Seen a bottle of Irish merlot in the off licence this evening. The curiosity wasn’t enough to make me buy and drink wine but I would love to know how they managed that one.

[igor_balis]

Malbec tonight for me.

[Ian]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_wine

Well there you go.

I've got a Trembling Madness order filling up my cupboard with stouts and things and some Brewdog pales in the fridge so I'm sorted.

[Giggles]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_wine

Well there you go.

Actually this one was called Lusca so presumably it’s the Lusk one.

[Ian]

Had a triple chocolate impy from Neon Raptor. Was glorious stuff.

[Spikey M]

Actually this one was called Lusca so presumably it’s the Lusk one.

How is it?

I've seen English wine before too. Never tried it, but unless it's all greenhouse based or they surround the vineyard in patio heaters it must be shite.

[Giggles]

Didn’t buy it, I find wine repulsive and it usually leads to me hanging over a toilet.

[niko_cee]

Chapel Down's (or whatever it is called) Flint Dry is really very good. It's just quite pricey by supermarket wine standards, and I believe the UK's relative lack of a wine industry (despite having a similar climate to Northern France) is mostly a tax/duty/government thing.

I was thinking only recently that wine is the one thing which feels almost entirely inflation proof. I'm sure t the dickhead end of the scale it isn't, and maybe it's just down to my bias towards Australian reds and their ability to produce vast quantities of all wines, but it feels like a decent supermarket bottle has hovered at around the same price for at least 20 years whilst everything else has probably quadrupled in price.

[Giggles]

In a rare stray from Irish, the Lervig 4 bean stout is surprisingly nice.

[Ian]

Lervig are ace.

I spent far too much money on the 3 Bean Stout in a bar in Spain one evening a couple of years ago. Couldn't help myself.

[niko_cee]

Ordered a case of And Union Friday IPA in an isolation induced splurge.

Just got a half box of Punk's to tide me over and I've rather gone off them.

[niko_cee]

The Friday IPA is really decent.

There's a certain je ne sais quoi with a German brewed IPA. ;)

[Giggles]

I’d have thought an IPA would be sacrilege in Germany.

I’ve just opened a red ale, which is such an underrated style, and I’m going to try a first bottle of my own Schwartzbier after it. First attempt with lager yeast and temps so I’m not expecting much.

[niko_cee]

Yeah, that's what I was getting at.

I love the smell of napalm in the morning and all.

I quite liked the White Hag red ale I had in that massive sampler I had a while ago.

[Baz]

Got one of these to try tomorrow, after my mate recommended it:

https://digitalcontent.api.tesco.com/v2/media/ghs/4301c332-3d0a-4311-8972-d5afc327fb6e/snapshotimagehandler_851317116.jpeg?h=540&w=540

[Ian]

If you've had an NEIPA then you've basically had that but it is a nice example of the type.


I’d have thought an IPA would be sacrilege in Germany.

Those Crew Republic ones I got from Amazon around Christmas came in all the usual styles (double IPAs, stouts, barley wines, etc.) and all supposedly adhered to the purity laws. Pretty good stuff too.

[niko_cee]

Camden Off Menu IPA and Adnams Ghost Ship are on the slate for this week as they were both on offer on the local, somewhat limited, beer deliverer.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I stick ghost ship away like it isn't there, beautiful everyday fare.

[niko_cee]

Yeah, I've not had it for a while as Whitstable Bay seems to be on offer more often in the supermarket and/or comes in bigger cans. I think these are 500ml bottles.

[Baz]

I stick ghost ship away like it isn't there, beautiful everyday fare.
Their alcohol free version is alright too, if that’s your thing.

[Queenslander]

Hahn Super Dry is such a good drop.

[niko_cee]

I never really drank Hahn all that much, where does it hail from? And where does it sit on the Australian lager ladder? That being:

Full Bogan - West End Draft
Singlet, but in a pub - New/Carlton/VB
Smart Casual - Cascade
Shirt and tie - Crown

Somewhere around Cascade?

I've omitted the barbwire as the ladder doesn't have an on the beach rung.

[Queenslander]

Barb wire and Great Northern are both nectar of Gods.

Hahn Super Dry is top shelf in between singlet and smary casual. If you come across it I reckon u try it.

[niko_cee]

Camden's Off Menu IPA is very decent.

[Giggles]

Just opened my last Clancys 2. So long old friend.

[Shindig]

The Christmas Aberlour is finally finished. It's occurred to me that I really don't need to drink much for it to hit. If I can find the sweet spot of being drunk at night and not hungover in the morning, I'll be set.

[niko_cee]

Had an unexpected, although not entirely unpleasant visit from Nigel (https://www.littlebigbrewco.com/collections/nigel-lager/products/nigel), Betty (https://www.littlebigbrewco.com/collections/betty-amber-ale/products/betty-mini-keg) and Alan (https://www.littlebigbrewco.com/collections/alan-pale-ale/products/alan) last night.

Alan made a bit of a tit of himself by fizzing all over the floor, and Betty wasn't as hefty as that example [she was a bottle].

Aside from the bantery names they weren't bad. Quite dry though, and, as trailed, pretty fizzy. I'm sure I've found this with local craft beers before - a tendency towards dryness/hoppyness and the FIZZ. Is that common in, erm, how should I say, perhaps less capable brewers?

[Spikey M]

Is there a Carling style 3% piss lager called Dave? :cool:

[Giggles]

I’m getting takeaway pints of Guinness today :drool:

[niko_cee]

Maybe we should suggest it.

And one for a wifebeater style whilst we're at it.

[Spikey M]

I think they banned that here. No idea why, but they have. They'd rather pubs just go bust I guess.

[Spikey M]

Maybe we should suggest it.

And one for a wifebeater style whilst we're at it.

That would be a Freddie I reckon.

[niko_cee]

I was going to go Ryan.

[Giggles]

I think they banned that here. No idea why, but they have. They'd rather pubs just go bust I guess.

You’re only allowed get them here if you’re getting takeaway food from the same establishment also.

[niko_cee]

Do they give them to you in a tray of [plastic] glasses?

[Giggles]

Most do but this place makes you pay a euro deposit on each proper glass and then you either bring them back or you don’t pay the deposit next time if you swap the empties for full ones. 3 would be my limit and even at that the third one will be ropey enough. I’m getting a 3 meat carvery anyway so I might not even be able to drink the second one.

[Spikey M]

You’re only allowed get them here if you’re getting takeaway food from the same establishment also.

I don't think they can even do that here. We had dinner from a place the other day and the Mrs ordered a cocktail to go with it. They were on the phone within 10 minutes apologising and saying delivery of alcoholic drinks isn't allowed.

It didn't stop me get getting a box of beer in with the weekly shop, mind, so an incredibly arbitrary line has been drawn somewhere.

[Giggles]

I’d have to say the cans are fairly close these days anyway.

[Giggles]

That's going to be a no from me.


1362743823038902273

[Spikey M]

That does not appeal to any of the known senses.

[niko_cee]

I could probably get on board with giving the ice cream ale a whirl, but not sure why it has to be green [obvious aside]. Would probably be a bit sickly though. At least the pineapple milkshake style beers have that bit of citrus to offset some of the sweetness.

[Giggles]

Hopefully it's the American lads last creation before he was fired.

[Giggles]

Speaking of which...


1362807783138209793

[Ian]

What variety of wrong'un was it you said he is?

[niko_cee]

That you in the red jumper?

[Spikey M]

That's Igor.

[Giggles]

What variety of wrong'un was it you said he is?

He was posting proud boys stuff under his own and a company account. They’ve went balls deep on the redemption though by the looks of it. I expect to see their next promo shots looks like the lineup on house of games.

[Giggles]

On a quick scan I actually recognise three people in the photo.

[niko_cee]

Seeing as it's St Patrick's Day and all has anyone seen or heard from our resident Irish misery guts recently? Seems he's vanished.

[Ian]

Yeah last post was a couple of weeks ago. Hmm.

[Ian]

It's a shame he's AWOL just now because as our eminent brewing nerd he might have found this interesting: https://www.lallemandbrewing.com/en/united-states/product-details/wildbrew-philly-sour/

I learned about it via Pilot doing a new beer with it and they mention that it does the souring and fermenting at the same time which is probably massively noteworthy if you care enough about how it works.

[Spikey M]

Giggles !!!!!!!!!!!!

[Lofty]

Shaken off my brewing apathy, found a coopers Aussie Pale Ale kit in the shed I got in a closing down sale from a local shop so set that off with a pack of Mangrove Jack's Beer Enhancer, going to dry hop it with cascade hop pellets next sunday :drool:

[Baz]

1381913664224104448

[Queenslander]

Great Northern supercrisp is good autumn midies

[Baz]

Just rated this Rhubard & Custard beer a 5 on Untappd (https://untp.beer/Y6jWN), which I’ve never done before:

https://honestbrew.co.uk/cdn-cgi/image/onerror=redirect,quality=85,format=auto,metadata=c opyright,width=1124,height=1498/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Northern-Monk-Dont-Mess-With-Yorkshire-Rhubarb-and-Custard-Pale-Ale-4.5_-Can-440ml.jpg

Like normally when it says it’s a flavour you might get a hint of it on first mouthful, or an aftertaste - or worse, it tastes more like pop than beer. But this is just unreal. Full on rhubarb and custard sweets while also being very obviously beer. Love it!

[Ian]

Northern Monk are ace so I'm surprised they've nailed that.

Best thing I've had recently was an impy called Very Big Chomp by Fierce. Lovely stuff.

[Baz]

Tried to buy more today and visited two Morrisons but only managed to get 2 more cans.

Made use of the 4 for £6 offer while I was there though, which included a pineapple milkshake IPA and a caramel chocolate biscuit porter. :)

[Ian]

Ooh, who's the porter from?

I forgot until I checked my stocks for this evening there that I bought an 'imperial pilsner' the other day which feels like a bit of a contradiction in terms.

[Baz]

Ooh, who's the porter from?Its another Northern Monk one, albeit a small can.

https://northernmonk.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Northern_Monk_330ml_Northern-Star_1.1_Mockup.png

Imperial Pilsner sounds like those giant FAXE 1l cans of lager that you only see in B&M.

[niko_cee]

The only Northern Monk ones I seem to be able to get here are the Striding Edge (which is a bit wank), a DDH IPA and one more which escapes my mind. Had a look today as that Custard one sounds interesting but no dice.

FAXE.

:drool:

Used to love those massive cans.

[Ian]

What? A 1 litre can? :D

Did you say none of the decent online shops deliver to you, Niko?

[niko_cee]

I think some places do deliver (BeerHawk and/or Beer 52 I think), and now in post Brexitland more companies are probably au fait with the customs forms, but previously it has been hard to get alcohol sent over due to the different duty regimes. I don't make too much effort to try, but rather order stuff to the in-laws whenever I'm going over [which may happen in a few weeks]. We actually have Morrisons over here but I'd not thought of looking in there as it's only a little one. Might scope it out next time I'm near.

And yeah, a 1 litre can. T'was the stuff of legend in my student days.

[Ian]

Beerhawk are all mixed cases now so it's a long time since I've used them. Mostly Trembling Madness now though I have a Pilot order coming my way. They have a new Baltic porter and a cherry version of their Philly sour which is made with a weird (biologically, flavour wise it's normal) yeast which was apparently discovered in a Philadelphia graveyard.

[Queenslander]

The Super Jug at the Australian National (Ashes Pub) is filling me with $15 of 1.7L of XXXX Gold.

Covid is over fellas.

[niko_cee]

Picked up some Tiny Rebel Cali Pale, some Northern Monk Rapscallion Orange Zest IPA and a Nordland (Nordvik?) IPA by Darkstar which should sort me for a few days. Still not scoped out whether that Rhubarb and Custard effort is locally available.

[Ian]

I've got a Trembling Madness order arriving tomorrow. :nodd:

[niko_cee]

The Nordland IPA is nice.

I also noticed And Union do a wheat beer (Wednesday?) which I've not seen before and must try as all of their others I've had (Dark Lager, IPA, Pale) have been good.

[Ian]

On an imperial stout by Porterhouse (they're new to me, Giggles might have known them, RIP in pieces.) 12% and seems to have done the rounds in whisky, sherry and bourbon barrels. It's fucking lovely.

[niko_cee]

Weekend's specimens have been 1000 Yard Stare (which I may have had before) which is good, something called Everstone (?) by Wild Beer which is a New Zealand Hazy or somesuch, not bad, and about to try another Wild Beer West Coast IPA called something like Absolute Madness.

[niko_cee]

Both WIld Beers were a bit meh, not sure I've ever been a massive fan of theirs other than maybe that millionaire stout thing.

Latest supermarket raid yielded an And Union Wheat Beer (Wednesday), a Sierra Nevada California IPA (not sure I've actually tried this before, and you know, back to the start and all), A Siren Soundwave IPA and a Camden Piña [co] Lager, which is quite good actually.

[Ian]

Sierra Nevada isn't anything desperately exciting but it's a really decent IPA.

[Kikó]

Anyone drink those alcoholic seltzers?

[Baz]

I tried one once. Didn’t see the point in it. I don’t drink to get drunk, and they weren’t particularly tasty - like I could have just had a lime and soda or something.

Meanwhile I’m away for two night in what I thought was a cabin but is actually someone’s garage (it’s alright though) so brought 5 (FIVE) cans of rhubarb and custard beer, after a successful trip to Morrison’s with Mike the other day. :drool:

[Ian]

Yeah seltzers don't do anything for me.

[Spikey M]

I'm not sure I actually know what one is. Is it just a spirit with fizzy water as a quick Google implies? Sounds shit.

[Manc]

Meanwhile I’m away for two night in what I thought was a cabin but is actually someone’s garage (it’s alright though) so brought 5 (FIVE) cans of rhubarb and custard beer, after a successful trip to Morrison’s with Mike the other day. :drool:

Five cans in two days? Steady on lad.

[Baz]

I wasn’t boasting about drinking five cans, just chuffed I managed to get 5 more cans of that specific tasty beer.

[Ian]

Both WIld Beers were a bit meh, not sure I've ever been a massive fan of theirs other than maybe that millionaire stout thing.

Just having the Oak Aged Millionaire. It's very nice.

[Queenslander]

Seltzers is for the cocaine abusers from my experience.

[Kikó]

Yeah I don't like it either.

[niko_cee]

I think I'm out of the habit of drinking wheat beer. This And Union one is decent, and I'm sure it's a good example of the style, but it just feels like something that has been surpassed by more recent stuff.

[niko_cee]

Scarab IPA - Apex Brewing - very good.

Got a couple of more generic boxes as well - some High Wire Grapefruit IPA by Magic Rock and Voodoo Something by New Belgium which is a Hazy IPA. Both decent enough, the grapefruit one is tending a bit too far into sour beer territory for me.

Also a Naparbier IPA of some sort and at least one big imperial left over from Christmas. Black something.

[Shindig]

Drinking for the first time in a year. Man, I've missed this.

[niko_cee]

Supermarket I was in today seemed to have a new line from Hawkshead (?) Brewery so I bought a few, session and IPA I think.

[Ian]

The best Hawkshead ones I've have been collabs with other breweries but their stuff is alright.

[niko_cee]

Both the session IPA and the mosaic pale are good. Weirdly the session comes in at 4.7% and the pale at 4%, which seems sort of the wrong way round. The later has quite a nice smooth/creamy finish. Reckon it beats the Adnams of the same name.

[Giggles]

Best things I’ve been drinking lately

Clonakilty Tojo - American Pale
Weissenoher Eucharius - Pilsner
O’Haras Nitro - Irish Stout
Samuel Adams Boston Lager - Amber Lager
To Øl 45 Day - Pilsner
Einseidler Schwarzbier - Black Lager
Dundalk Bay Brewmaster - Double IPA
Ballykilcavan Clancy #5 - Grapefruit and Hibiscus Farmhouse Ale
Wicklow Wolf Raindrop - Mixed Berry Sour
Blacks Ace of Haze Idaho 7 - Session NEIPA
Wicklow Wolf For Petes Sake - American Amber
12 Acres Rye - Rye IPA
12 Acres A Little Bit Further - Double NEIPA
Hope Special #24 - Bohemian Pilsner
Lough Gill Ripple - Raspberry Sour
Blacks KPA - Pale Ale
Augustiner Helles Vollbier - Helles Lager
Treaty City I’m 1/37th Irish - Irish Red Ale
Lineman Electric Avenue #2 - Extra Pale Ale
West Kerry Antipodean - IPA

[Baz]

The later has quite a nice smooth/creamy finish. Reckon it beats the Adnams of the same name.

Big claim!

[Giggles]

Parrot Bays :cool:

[Lofty]

Budvar Dark worth a go? Mulling over ordering some.

[Ian]

Never had it. How much is it?

[Giggles]

Never had it. How much is it?
It’s lovely.

[Luca]

Best things I’ve been drinking lately

Clonakilty Tojo - American Pale
Weissenoher Eucharius - Pilsner
O’Haras Nitro - Irish Stout
Samuel Adams Boston Lager - Amber Lager
To Øl 45 Day - Pilsner
Einseidler Schwarzbier - Black Lager
Dundalk Bay Brewmaster - Double IPA
Ballykilcavan Clancy #5 - Grapefruit and Hibiscus Farmhouse Ale
Wicklow Wolf Raindrop - Mixed Berry Sour
Blacks Ace of Haze Idaho 7 - Session NEIPA
Wicklow Wolf For Petes Sake - American Amber
12 Acres Rye - Rye IPA
12 Acres A Little Bit Further - Double NEIPA
Hope Special #24 - Bohemian Pilsner
Lough Gill Ripple - Raspberry Sour
Blacks KPA - Pale Ale
Augustiner Helles Vollbier - Helles Lager
Treaty City I’m 1/37th Irish - Irish Red Ale
Lineman Electric Avenue #2 - Extra Pale Ale
West Kerry Antipodean - IPA

Talk to me about this Grapefruit & Hibiscus Farmhouse Ale. :drool:

I picked up Small Pony Barrel Works (Kanata, Canada) Tropical Apocalypse, which purports to be “ A Blend of Golden Sour Beers Aged in Oak Barrels with Pineapples.” I can’t wait to try it.

These are the same folks behind one of my favourite sours of all time - Half-Remembered Dream (A Blend of Golden Sour Beers Aged in Oak Barrels With Rose Hips and Hibiscus).

[Giggles]

Talk to me about this Grapefruit & Hibiscus Farmhouse Ale. :drool:

I picked up Small Pony Barrel Works (Kanata, Canada) Tropical Apocalypse, which purports to be “ A Blend of Golden Sour Beers Aged in Oak Barrels with Pineapples.” I can’t wait to try it.

These are the same folks behind one of my favourite sours of all time - Half-Remembered Dream (A Blend of Golden Sour Beers Aged in Oak Barrels With Rose Hips and Hibiscus).

It’s a fabulous beer, used a saison strain so it’s lovely and dry without being too tart like a sour. They’ve just released an all Australian hopped IPA too as number 6 which I can’t wait to try. The Clancy’s series has been fantastic as a whole.

[niko_cee]

I've just had a can of some diet (?) M&S gin and tonic which, whilst I admit in itself is probably worthy of a trip to the Hague [I had it as it was rejected by another and I'm too parsimonious/much of an alcoholic to let something go to waste], but fuck me was it bad.

De Bortoli 17 Trees Shiraz, on the other hand, is pretty decent for the price.

[Ian]

What is "the price" in that case?

My beer wankery hasn't yet spread to be being able to tell good and shit wines apart.

That said given all the stuff you read about wine tasters largely not having a fucking clue maybe that's a good thing.

[Baz]

Wine's minging.

White wine to get drunk (in days gone by), rose cos girls seem to like it if you drink rose wine with them, and red cos it's free at an event and you wanna get your moneys worth.

I honestly can't think of another acceptable circumstance in which I'd choose to drink wine.

[Spikey M]

I fucking hate wine. I can drink White or Rose if I absolutely have to, but red is a disgrace.

[Pepe]

You wot mate.

[Spikey M]

I fucking hate wine. I can drink White or Rose if I absolutely have to, but red is a disgrace.

[Pepe]

You are a disgrace.

Red is the goat. White can be tolerated on a summer day. Rose shall just be drunk by annoying women.

[Pepe]

I just realized that I have not had a beer in months.

[Lofty]

Red wine and coke, anyone?

[Kikó]

Wine is not a disgrace you heathen.

[niko_cee]

What is "the price" in that case?


I think it was about £7, so it's cheap.

Pretty smooth, as cheap reds can often be a bit rough. This one still has edges but it's alright.

I'm a bit of a new world/australia snob as my parents, who were (are) prodigious consumers of wine, sacked off buying French stuff after those Murororora Atoll nuclear tests. £10 sees you right most of the time, although I tend to go cheaper for midweek quaffing. A £10 bottle with 25/33% off is what you want. Once you get into expensive wines it gets a bit confusing and a lot of them taste like musty old shite.

The Chapel Down English whites are top notch as well imo.

[Spikey M]

I can't remember where we were (maybe Cuba), but my wife once asked for a rose wine and explained to the confused barman that it was pink wine.

He poured her a glass of red, then topped it up with white.

It was still less of an abomination than what Lofty just said.

[Pepe]

I mean, that's basically what Rose is.

[Spikey M]

I mean, that's basically what Rose is.

In the same way that pouring milk over dark chocolate makes milk chocolate, sure.

[Pepe]

That's how you make good chocolate.

Chocolate abuelita. :drool:

[Pepe]

Was the mix good? That's the only thing that matters.

[phonics]

Just had my first "Claw". Genuinely amazed at how awful it is. If you'd like to make your own right, take a red bull pour half of it out and then fill the other half with sparkling water and add a bit of lilt for taste.

Fucking atrocious.

[niko_cee]

Why would you do that?

[Spikey M]

What Niko said but with "the fuck" added between "why" and "would".

[Baz]

Hardseltzer?

I listen to the Workaholics guys podcast and they seem to love them, but then I realised it’s cos two part-own a brand who makes them so always big it up, and the other 2 big up other brands just to piss them off.

[niko_cee]

The wife has some M&S ones and they contain 'alcohol' which sounds suitably generic for it to be diluted lighter fluid to me.

On a slight side note, she was drinking vodka and soda (no lime cordial, maybe a bit of fresh lime but not enough to have a material taste impact) 15 years ago, so she was obviously well ahead of her time on that front as they seem ubiquitous now. Should have monetised it rather than lolling at her for basically being a tramp tier drinker.

[igor_balis]

Red wine and coke, anyone?

Every other day in Norwich for me before I left :eyemouth:

[Giggles]

Sounds good. Hold the wine.

[niko_cee]

Was there a time (perhaps still ongoing) where wine ended up being mixed in a lot of trendy cocktails within living memory? Sort of rings a bell. Never really got it. Some things are better left alone, which you can interpret however you want for a successful outcome.

[igor_balis]

The Spanish do a cocktail that's just red wine and lemonade, but they use a less strong one over there so the suggested mix is two parts red wine, one part sprite/similar, and one part soda water. It was genuinely nice and refreshing, but I'd rather something like vodka & lemonade or white wine on a hot day, and red wine on its own when it ain't so hot.

Picpoul is my new fave white wine when I can be arsed to go asda, else let's be honest, I'll drink pretty much any piss from the garage.

[Kikó]

There was a restaurant near me that decided the Long Island Ice Tea needed a bit more punch so subbed the coke for red wine. It was surprisingly nice but it did mean a hangover of doom.

[Ian]

I think I've had that variant of it before as well.

No fucking around with that stuff.

[niko_cee]

Zinfandel Rosé and Grenache Rosé are among the grapes at risk of disappearing from UK supermarket wine stocks, as the government gears up for a potential 25% tariff on all wine imports from the US.

:drool:

Finally a good news Brexit story.

[igor_balis]

Cointreau was a bad idea

[Giggles]

First pull of my tropical New England this evening. It’s going to be a dangerous one at 7.2%, doesn’t taste remotely like it.

[Baz]

Doing a day sesh in Chester next week and staying over, and rather than the usual wanky cocktail bars, my wife has requested we go to places that sell fruit beer, so I’ve routed some top drawer dive bars that happen to sell Timmermans.

[Baz]

I know I’ve harped on about it enough but going a wedding on Friday and booked a minibus for the 40 minute journey. I’ve bought myself a bottle of Kernel table beer and also a £9 Mixed Fermentation Elderflower & Verbena Saison (https://honestbrew.co.uk/shop/stu-mostow-wild-10-mixed-ferm-elderflower-verbena-saison/?mtke=1549) for the journey.

A girl from work is bringing 4 cans of Carling. I reminded her it’s only a 40 minute trip. “Easy.” :lol:

[Giggles]

Rye River Lupulos Borealis :drool:

Finally a replacement for the long gone pilgrims path. We need more dry hopped pilsners on the shelves.

[niko_cee]

Being UK bound for the month I've managed to score a decent-ish order off good old Morrisons [they seem to have a pretty good beer selection], sadly none of Baz's Rhubard & Custard Northern Monk offerings were available or listed.

The Northern Monk Faith is always a solid citizen (I wanted the Eternal as I've not had that before, sadly it was out of stock) but the Mad Squirrel Roadkill NEIPA is just alright (quite a strong alcohol taste for me).

Flirted with a Trembling Madness order but I'm too oiky to be shelling nigh on £5 a can for this shit.

[Ian]

They do have some really decent lower priced options as well but yeah, I tend to spend a fair amount in average per can but on a given evening I'll have a mix of cheapo supermarket stuff and a few of the good shit.

[Baz]

Brought these two back from Chester:

https://i.imgur.com/VEY6vfj_d.webp?maxwidth=640&shape=thumb&fidelity=medium

Had the pineapple one tonight and it was delicious. Tasted like coconuts.

[Ian]

The Milk Foley is pretty decent. I mean I liked the name and can design anyway, of course.

[niko_cee]

Yeah, that can is nice.

Mangoes on with Faith Northern Monk/Drew Millward [who seems to be some sort of can artist] is pretty good. Seem to have a few mango pales in this batch so this is a good start.

[Ian]

Starting the proceedings with a Vault City Strawberry Session Sour. It's really refreshing and very tasty.

[igor_balis]

£5 pinot grigio from the co-op. It's alright.

[niko_cee]

Starting the proceedings with a Vault City Strawberry Session Sour. It's really refreshing and very tasty.

What's a session sour?

I struggle with sours, but I've just opened a Siren Pompelmocello Sour IPA and it's not terrible.

I also have some £5 supermarket wine, but it's a Shiraz.

[Giggles]

Tell me what’s good from the British selection here chaps. Haven’t had a try of a few in a while (apart from my regular Samuel Smiths oatmeal).

https://craftcentral.ie/pages/uk-craft-breweries

[Giggles]

What's a session sour?

I struggle with sours, but I've just opened a Siren Pompelmocello Sour IPA and it's not terrible.

I also have some £5 supermarket wine, but it's a Shiraz.

Session would normally just be lower abv.

I’ve a Kinnegar rhubarb and ginger sour for later this evening.

[niko_cee]

Think I've had a few decent things from Verdant, not sure if it's any of those though.

The Magic Rock Saucery is a bit odd for me, has a weird savoury taste.

Never been a massive fan of Wild Beer but some of those are probably decent. People swear by Pogo don't they? Actually, as I recall it is decent. Think I've also had Everstone and Madness from that list, which are both also ok.

Hepcat (Gypsy Hill) is something and nothing, but maybe that's the certain fate of a Session IPA.

Don't Thornbridge make Jaipur? That's another highly rated thing isn't it so those two cans might be interesting.

Never had anything from Wander Beyond Brewing but I'm sold on their can designs.

I also have a can of that Brewdog/Northern Monk Vermont Sessions in the fridge so can report back on it later, maybe. Layer Cake was also decent, but probably not up to the high standards of some stouts on the imperial end of the spectrum.

[Ian]

What's a session sour?

I struggle with sours, but I've just opened a Siren Pompelmocello Sour IPA and it's not terrible.

As Giggles said, just a sour that is specifically not strong. In this case it's 4.1% but it's still pretty sharp and fruity.


Tell me what’s good from the British selection here chaps. Haven’t had a try of a few in a while (apart from my regular Samuel Smiths oatmeal).

https://craftcentral.ie/pages/uk-craft-breweries

I'll just tell you ones I know I like and let you filter out styles you don't care for:
Brewdog - I assume you've had most of the normal ones like the basic IPAs and stuff but Roaster Coaster is lovely, as are the collabs with Cloudwater and Salt.
Wild Beer - Millionaire, Tepache sour
Thornbridge - I like generally. It's aaaaages since I had the Bear State but I'd be prepared to gamble on a 7% West Coast IPA from them for 4.25.

[niko_cee]

Quite tempted to get a mixed 12 off that Wander Beyond mob's website now.

£68 though.

Also has 3 Imperial Berliner Weisse's in, which is potentially concerning.

[Baz]

Went a wedding last night that sold bottles of ale so I got a different one each time.

Problem was there was no signal cos it was in the middle of nowhere so couldn’t use Untappd and now I’ve just got a load of photos of beer on my phone with no idea which was which.

[Ian]

Not that it helps you now but doesn't Untappd have an offline mode on the app?

[Lofty]

I have a case of Miller Genuine Draft arriving today, top tier of the mass produced lager, sadly only available at a premium thanks to covid and Miller abandoning the UK market.

I enjoy Budvar, is Budvar Dark worth picking up? Contemplating ordering a case.

[Ian]

You got a case of the ol' Spikey dementia? You asked that last month. (https://www.thethirdhalf.co.uk/showthread.php?174-What-Are-You-Drinking&p=483258&highlight=budvar#post483258) :D Giggles confirmed his approval though.

It's a long time since I've had a Miller but if I was buying that sort of lager I wouldn't be choosing it over a Staropramen, say.

[Lofty]

Maybe I should be more wary of my homebrew based on that :eyemouth:

[niko_cee]

Just went deep into the Equilibrium sale on Trembling Madness. :uhoh:

[niko_cee]

Just had an Allendale Wanderlust IPA which was pretty good for a supermarket price can, and that Vermont Sessions NEIPA Brewdog/Northern Monk thing is also nice. Maybe not quite Atlantean level, which I still think is a bit of a benchmark for the style, but still good. Not sure how sessiony something is if it's coming in at 5.2% but do NEIPAs usually clock in at 6%+?

[Ian]

Yeah I'd say quite often NEIPA's clock in a fairly high ABV.


Just went deep into the Equilibrium sale on Trembling Madness. :uhoh:

I thought you were too oiky for those sort of prices? Aren't those ones all going at £7-odd? :D

I'm having 'I Do This All The Time' by Deya. A fairly straightforward wheat beer but with a little coriander in there at the back end which is a nice twist.

[niko_cee]

£10 for 2, which is fairly bargainous if you work off the RRP which is £7.50-£10. :cab:

Had to get to £75 for free delivery too, natch.

[Giggles]

I’m supping pints of my raspberry and gooseberry wit beer :drool:

[Ian]

:cool:

[Giggles]

The bossman grew the fruit and all.

[niko_cee]

Spent the afternoon enjoying Sussex Haze from Harveys, which is pretty decent, their Wharf IPA should be avoided, if anyone's ever in 'these ends'.

[niko_cee]

Got that Equilibrium order earlier in the week and just cracked the first one today (Fractal Galaxy IPA) and it is superb.

Also got a DEYA with a name like Can We Get Another Plane or something which was also very good.

[Giggles]

They’re all chucking Galaxy in everything now but it’s class.

[Ian]

I've started the Friday festivities on Strawberry Pie by a Swedish bunch called Brewski. It's a strawberry sour and is very tasty indeed. 4% too so you could drink it for days.

[niko_cee]

Northern Monk's Transient DDH IPA is nice.

[Ian]

Northern Monk's everything is nice, basically.

[niko_cee]

I dunno, Striding Edge is pretty meh.

[niko_cee]

A few of the other Equilibriums have gone (Neoblast DIPA and one with Einstein on the can). Both very good. Not sure they're necessarily worth the full price of entry (£10) but at half that they are probably justifiable.

[Lofty]

Anyone tried Blanton's bourbon? Might stick a bottle of the Gold on my christmas list.

[Manc]

Consider me intrigued. What's the distinction between the gold and original?

[Ian]

I dunno, Striding Edge is pretty meh.

I mean I wouldn't go out of my way for all of them but I've never had one which if it's what was put in front of me I couldn't happily go through a few of them.

I had their West Coast Routes over the weekend, a West Coast IPA. It was lovely.

[Ian]

Opening the proceedings tonight with a Hitachino Nest Chocolate Berry Ale. And it's pretty decent. I find the Hitachino ones never blow me away but they're always pretty solid.

[Giggles]

Off licence gave me a couple of Islands Edge to try today, I think they must be told to give them out to promote them. New nitro stout from Heineken that’s main hook is ‘easier drinking than Guinness’. It’s fairly light and bland.

A Guinness drinker would probably lash them down all night but end up feeling like they were missing something. And when I can get an Irish stout like O’Hara’s on nitro now I wouldn’t be going back near either anyway.

[Lofty]

I've had some dodgy coke mixers in the fridge for months now so suppose I should pick a bottle of spirits to accompany them. Play it safe with Gentleman Jack or see how they go with some Old Forester?

[niko_cee]

Those Equilibrium beers are all really good.

Just had a Fluctuation DIPA.

[Giggles]

Are pubs all back to normal over there by now (I presume they are for ages now). Going over for work next month and will be close enough to try a Samuel Smiths one I hope.

[niko_cee]

I've not been in many in my little sojourn over here, but, whilst I believe they are meant to be, it has been hit and miss as to whether they are or not in the ones I have been in. Masks, perspex screens and people queuing to order have been encountered.

[Spikey M]

Are pubs all back to normal over there by now (I presume they are for ages now). Going over for work next month and will be close enough to try a Samuel Smiths one I hope.

Depends on the pub, but most are back to normal. Quite a few are having to close due to staff getting pinged left, right and centre, mind.

[Baz]

All back to normal here.

[Ian]

https://www.sirencraftbrew.com/item/632/SirenCraftBrew/Pombango.html

Wasn't sure how I thought a sour plus bourbon barrel aging would work but this is great stuff.

[Baz]

Sneak peak at the 2021 BrewDog advent calendar: https://www.brewdog.com/uk/advent-calendar/whats-inside?xnpe_tifc=4Iesxfh.huxjbIxX4dxDx9pZhfEWVjQsV uU_O.YXOIn74DUS4dhuxfYdhfod4FYdbIzDhzTT&utm_source=exponea&utm_campaign=Advent%20Calendar%20Launch%20-%20Main%20UK%20Base&utm_medium=email

Kinda tempted to get it, even though Ian said how rubbish it was everyday in December.

[Ian]

It was disappointing for mostly being basic bitch supermarket fodder like a good chunk of that is. I liked most of the beers to varying extents I just wouldn't buy it like that again.

[Giggles]

India ale came back into stock again for the first time in over a year and I’m glad I signed up for notifications :drool:

[Giggles]

Stiftung Hell is fucking magical.

[Lofty]

The Bargain Booze near me has started stocking Miller Genuine Draft, hallelujah!

[niko_cee]

Verdant - Unlike Stars IPA. Really, really good. Must be those Galaxy hops at work again (mosaic and Idaho 7 too).

[Baz]

It was disappointing for mostly being basic bitch supermarket fodder like a good chunk of that is. I liked most of the beers to varying extents I just wouldn't buy it like that again.Gonna get a different advent calendar this year? I might try and get one from Honest Brew (hit me up for a £10 off referral)

[Ian]

Me and my brother in law have gone full nerd after the disappointment of Brewdog. We've kept the boxes, set a budget and will create an advent calendar for each other. Will report back if he's a wank but he has solid taste.

I had the beer nerd pleasure of going to a supermarket in a totally different part of the country today. On the way to Skye we stopped at the Fort William Morrisons and I got all sorts of goodies from including a Buxton coffee porter I'd never seen before. Lovely stuff.

[niko_cee]

About to give sour beer another chance with something called Mucho Mucho Raspberry from Basqueland.

[Dquincy]

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1126/2016/products/6535939129405_1.png?v=1627563183

This larger is the nectar from gods. Truly delicious.

Just a shame it's so bloody expensive.

[Giggles]

Get yourself some Augustiner, though it’s probably not all that much cheaper. Stiftung Hell is well worth a try too for something that is normally lower priced.

[Dquincy]

Nice one, thanks. Stupid question, will they be similar in taste.

[Giggles]

I’ve never had that Lost and Grounded but by all accounts it’s pretty on the money traditional style, so the other two should be very similar. Not much you can do with a helles really except make it really well.

[Spikey M]

Is Budvar any good?

[Giggles]

Budvar dark is anyway.

[niko_cee]

Yeah, I'm still not on board with sours. I can maybe see the appeal, maybe, and that one was better than the White Hag ones, but no, without significant training I don't think I could be bothered with them on a regular basis.

In better news - Track's Daylight Scenes DIPA is mega and I've just had some sort of Northern Monk Patrons thing called British Culture Archive//Crowd for the Summer DDH IPA which is also very good.

[Baz]

It was disappointing for mostly being basic bitch supermarket fodder like a good chunk of that is. I liked most of the beers to varying extents I just wouldn't buy it like that again.

Had a 20% off code (PB100-20-E4WOULITSNS6) so grabbed one for just under £40. :sorry:

Is it 24 different beers or are there repeats?

[Ian]

I think they're all different. I think you can check what's in it on the website.

To be fair that price is pretty decent anyway if you just want a 24 pack of decent beers with a few more interesting ones.

[Giggles]

I know it’s impossible to even get close with NA, but Guinness 0.0 was way worse than I’d even expected.

[niko_cee]

:D

I've noticed there are no-alcohol versions of Doom Bar and Ghost Ship knocking about and wondered what they'd be like.

I also say a bottle of 0% Gordons Gin the other day which was £12 for 70cl. Erm, no thanks.

[Ian]

Big Drop are decent if you want low/no alcohol beers and there are some good ones knocking about but on balance I think I'd rather just not have a drink.

[Baz]

I rated the alcohol free Ghost Ship a 4.0 out of 5 (https://untp.beer/rA0KA). :thbup:

I’ve only tried 2 from Big Drop. The Galactic Milk Stout wasn’t great, rated a harsh 1.0, but the Pine Trail Pale Ale was okay (although was ice cold and accompanying pizza so the 2.75 may be unjust.)

[Giggles]

The only no alcohol I’ve had that’s drinkable is one that Aldi do called early start IPA. It’s got enough hops in it to sort of mask the thinness.

Pubs here are charging the same price for Guinness 0 and Heineken 0 as they are for the real things the cunts. The government always care enough to save us from ourselves when it comes to rising duties on alcohol but never enough to cap the price of a no alcohol alternative.

[Ian]

1/5 for Big Drop's stout is extremely harsh.

[Giggles]

Lough Gill have released a bitter here to mark their 5tj anniversary since opening and it’s magic. Also, O’Hara’s are going to release their red ale in nitro cans :drool:

[Ian]

I do like a nitro. The Nitro Jet Black Heart is one of my supermarket go tos.

[Giggles]

Dundalk Bay have brought out an imperial nitro here lately. It’s fucking unbelievable but far too dangerous because the smoothness really masks the 8%. Hopefully it’ll be a permanent fixture and not a special though.

[-james-]

The Leffe alcohol free is quite nice. I think I prefer it to actual Leffe.

[Giggles]

Piraat Triple Hop is serious.

[Ian]

I got Siren's Project Barista foursome to look forward to this weekend. The coffee ESB and lime (I think) and coffee gose the two most interesting sounding ones.

[Giggles]

O’Hara’s have followed up their nitro stout cans with a nitro red ale :drool:

[Ian]

I like the sound of that.

[Giggles]

Hoping to get a few tomorrow. Not sure what sort of a supply they’re putting out but the stout was well stocked.

[Ian]

I got Siren's Project Barista foursome to look forward to this weekend. The coffee ESB and lime (I think) and coffee gose the two most interesting sounding ones.

So all four Project Barista beers were ace. The doppelbock was grand but the least noteworthy. The gose makes an odd combo of sharp lemon and rich coffee somehow come together and work very well. The chocolate/hazelnut ESB does a perfect job of still being a bitter (which I feel like is a very specific thing) but also having the extra flavours where so many bitters are pretty samey and the big imperial coffee stout was just what you'd expect from Siren and the style.

I know I've talked them up a bit in here but I feel like I perhaps don't rave about them enough. What a brewery.

[Pepe]

I miss being able to get good beer. :(

[Ian]

What changed?

Whatever it was it sounds like a fate worse than death.

[Pepe]

I moved. No proper beer stores around here. Supermarket only has the generic shite and a bunch of IPAs, which are not my thing. There are a few breweries around that I will need to try at some point, but the little I have already is not super promising.

Stuck drinking Yuengling.

[Baz]

Bought four bottles of non-alcoholic beer to give to my cousin but took so long to actually finally give them him today that two went out of date.

So now I’m drinking them. Budvar Nealko.

[niko_cee]

Is this you wetting the baby's head? With non-alcoholic beer?

[Baz]

Is this you wetting the baby's head? With non-alcoholic beer?

Nah I just don’t like wasting beer.

[Giggles]

Almost took the head off myself with a fermenter lid a few minutes ago and probably fucked my brew in the process. If that’s not a sign to open a tin then I don’t know what is.

[Giggles]

Actually, a bottle instead. I’ve a few special edition saisons from a brewery over west that I’ve wanted to try for ages.

[Ian]

Just had a beer order in. Including this year's All The Leaves Are Brown by Tempest. :drool:

[Ian]

1450527301460967426

I feel attacked.

[niko_cee]

This week I have mostly been drinking Kirstall's Perpetouos Hazy IPA (very decent) punctuated by a few other bits and bobs like Siren's Squiggle (nice) and 7 Brothers Honeycomb IPA which has a really nice Friday Feeling Crunchie taste.

[Baz]

Apparently my Brewdog advent calendar was delivered today but there’s no sign of it.

[Shindig]

Every month is a different satisfied employee smiling.

[niko_cee]

Had a Buxton Mantel [simcoe/sabro?] IPA the other day which was quality.

[Giggles]

It’s steep but I’m going to go for this one this year.

https://craftcentral.ie/collections/mixed-boxes/products/christmas-high-roller-pre-sale-shipping-at-the-end-of-november