What Are You Drinking?

[Ben]

I didn't get anything in this week so I'm throwing it back to my early teenage years on the sand dunes by cobbling together whatever I can get my hands on in the garage. Found myself some Tyskie and a Red Stripe, plus some random Worthington's Creamflow which I am only assuming my dad brought round for a BBQ one time.

Might have to step up to whisky if I want something classy.

[Giggles]

I’ve 3 different various browns and 3 new limited edition stouts from Larkins that I picked up last week. The stouts sound up Ian’s street.

The 3 near the top of this list.

https://craftcentral.ie/collections/frontpage?gclid=CjwKCAiAsYyRBhACEiwAkJFKopu2bXz6aT kdDIVCNJYpmO1xN_W9bL4w36eXFXRmov_Kp9tdKt8hexoCKZwQ AvD_BwE

[Ian]

Yeah those sound like my sort of thing.

I'm onto a Dunkel also by the Kernel and it's pretty decent but I'm gonna go for something a bit heftier next.

[Baz]

Had a rare trip to Sainsburys this morning so treated myself to Fierce Maple Pancake and Tiny Rebel Pineapple Express IPA.

Fierce good
Tiny Rebel bad

As is often the case, imo

[Ian]

Tiny Rebel are ace, you fool.

I'm having one by STEP which appears to be a series of impys aiming to replicate Quality Streets. This one's a strawberry cream and while I think strawberry works well in stouts when I've had one they've overdone it a bit with the lactose here.

[Ian]

Sacked off the beer for the night and having a Tanqueray Rangpur Lime gin. It's rather decent.

[-james-]

I'm having a month off it. I thought I must be about half way through but apparently it's only been five days.

[niko_cee]

What was the Hoppy Xmas Festive IPA like from Brewdog this year? I see they're clearing it for a quid a can and didn't know if it was worth a punt on a box.

[Baz]

Accidentally got some of my mead in my mouth while siphoning into the secondary and Jesus wept, it’s pure ethanol.


What was the Hoppy Xmas Festive IPA like from Brewdog this year? I see they're clearing it for a quid a can and didn't know if it was worth a punt on a box.

I rated it a 1.0 :nono:

https://untp.beer/9yBwG

[niko_cee]

:D

Harsh.

Was it more the anti-climax of it being a bit meh, which I could probably cope with for a cheap session beer, or was it just wank?

[Ian]

1/5. :D

It's not that bad. It's an absolutely middle of the road beer. Wouldn't get near my bottom 10 worst ones I've drunk.

[Giggles]

If it has any 'festive' flavours that belong in something like mulled wine then I'm giving it a 1 too, even though I've never tasted it.

[Giggles]

Speaking of Brewdog, might not be worth facing Dublin on the day itself but could be worth a trip on Saturday or Sunday.


https://i.imgur.com/MjQPv4F.png

[Ben]

Beer boffins: what do I do here? Just bought this (https://ibb.co/c693hnK), then was told it was the last can they've got and it's not being brewed anymore. Do I keep it unopened, drink it but save the can, or stop being a nonce and just neck it and not worry because it's nothing special?

Seems a bit of a waste to horse down (one of) the last of these with a pizza.

[Ian]

Just drink it whenever.

I wouldn't keep the can personally but then I don't collect anything like that so dealer's choice.

I don't see any trash n to hang onto it though.

[niko_cee]

Kudos on going on the small pic end of the spectrum, unusual, and ridiculously tiny on a phone at least.

[Baz]

I contemplated picking up a can of Original Forest Fruits Ice Cream Imperial Stout (https://untappd.com/b/buxton-brewery-original-forest-fruits-ice-cream-imperial-stout/4617428) but in the end decided against paying £5 for a drink I might not like.

Got a can of Brew By Numbers 05 Ipa Amarillo & Citra instead for a more reasonable £3.50, cos my mate recently shared a pic of a load BBN beers.

[Baz]

My mead has passed what my dad calls the finger test! Basically you can see your finger through it. It’s clearing up. :)

Still hoping to bottle it on 10th April but might wait a while. Moving it to the final demijohn next Sunday, hopefully.

[Spikey M]

Your mum passed the finger test.

[Ben]

:D

[Ben]

Peroni Gran Riserva is the shit. I’m well oiled already, would recommend.

[Giggles]

This is the tits.

https://i.ibb.co/TkDw4Ny/A00-BC839-731-C-463-A-934-A-BD164-F0562-F9.jpg (https://ibb.co/TkDw4Ny)

[niko_cee]

I was in a place tonight that had 17 different bottled lagers on the menu. And we're not talking niche shit here, just the standard big brewery fayre.

Ugo Ehiogu would have been in his element.

Me, not so much.

Think they did have Staropramen on tap as well, which both sort of redeems them, and makes you wonder why they have the 17 bottled varieties in the fridge[s].

[niko_cee]

Having been in the beer doldrums for a while [mostly due to lack of anything halfway decent to buy over here] I've taken another punt at the sour section with something called Rainbow Sherbert Sour by Gwei-Lo, who I think are some sort of Hong Kong brewery. :cab:

Also a Dark Star Total Eclipse or some such [Hoppy Black IPA] which, whilst unlikely to be ground breaking, should be alright.

Probably back to the bargain basement Botham Cab Sav and Mai Tai recipe perfecting if they both let me down.

[Ian]

Having been in the beer doldrums for a while [mostly due to lack of anything halfway decent to buy over here] I've taken another punt at the sour section with something called Rainbow Sherbert Sour by Gwei-Lo, who I think are some sort of Hong Kong brewery. :cab:

Two Brits based in Honk Kong if I recall correctly.

I've had a few things by them including collabs and that Rainbow Sherbet sour. Nothing amazing but they're decent.

[niko_cee]

That sour beer is actually alright. Managed a full 440 without it starting to grate, which is probably a first for me and a sour.

[Luca]

I had a Blueberry and Vanilla aged sour this weekend (this (https://www.bloodbrothersbrewing.com/products/razzle-dazzle-473-ml-tall-can-1?_pos=6&_sid=10c4e010c&_ss=r), but the 2019 version they did with blueberries), which was absolutely lovely. The aging mellowed all of the harsh notes, but unfortunately I got the last pour of the keg. Or fortunately, because they didn't make me pay for it as it was slightly short of a full pour.

On the other hand, the White Stout (https://www.bloodbrothersbrewing.com/products/guilty-remnant-473-ml-can?_pos=2&_psq=guilty&_ss=e&_v=1.0) was a bit too sickly-sweet for my liking, which Josh tells me is from the lactose.

[Ian]

Been working my way through Siren's 9th anniversary beer and cheese box this evening and I'm a very happy boy. The new West Coast IPA has been the highlight so far but still got the darks to come including this year's Maiden. :drool:

The cheese has been good too, but this isn't the thread for that.

[Baz]

Picked up a Blueberry Maple Sour (https://untappd.com/b/vault-city-brewing-blueberry-maple/4735118#:~:text=a%20Show%20More-,Blueberry%20Maple%20is%20a%20vegan%20friendly%2C% 20modern%20sour%20beer%20that's,sour%20that's%20st acked%20with%20flavour.) earlier, but its not cold enough to drink tonight.

[Ian]

Stick it in the freezer for 20-30 minutes and you'll be good to go.

[Giggles]

The online place has got in these. Anything worth sampling?

Timothy Taylor - Boltmaker, Landlord, and Landlord Dark
Theakston - Old Peculier, Fursty Ferret, and Tanglefoot.

They do Samuel Smith too which would be my go-to English tipples. The pale ale and oatmeal stout are the tits.

[Ian]

Timothy Taylor are relentlessly average. Have you had An English Bitter? Then you've had a Timothy Taylor.

Old Peculier I think is a legit decent beer, for Fursty Ferret and Tanglefoot see my Timothy Taylor comments.

I'm starting with Omnipollo Plemora. "Raspberry crème brûlée sour ale brewed with lactose sugar, raspberries and vanilla." It's not earth-shatting but it's definitely too drinkable for 6%.

[Giggles]

Old Pecuiler it is. I had a couple of ones out of Tesco the other week too. Some amber ale with a red label that was bland but inoffensive and a Proper Job IPA which was nicely hopped but skunked, though I’ll blame the shop on that and give them the benefit of the doubt.

[Giggles]

Fullers London Pride was the amber.

[Ian]

Yeah, again, London Pride is just an okay English bitter. I think it's really had to make a really nice bitter which is why I was so pleased when Siren nailed that coffee one because basically nobody tries to do anything with them and they managed to make it still taste like a traditional bitter, just with more stuff.

[Giggles]

Ah so amber is bitter. I was thinking of American amber. Been wanting to make an ESB for ages but brexit has made golden syrup disappear off the shelves here.

You really are so ahead of us with the beer and brewery thing though. Some of them are probably around years and churning out generic crap at this stage where they sound all exotic to us. Because we don’t have the brewery/landlord model we’ve basically had guinness, smithwicks, carlsberg, and Heineken on tap and absolutely nothing else here for decades (Budweiser and harp preceded the latter two but they’re the same thing).

[Ian]

An ESB is a bit of a weird halfway house between a bunch of different things. More body to it than an amber but you're not looking at like an 80 shilling or an 'old ale' or Scotch ale. Hoppier than that sort of thing too, but it's the likes of Fuggles and Goldings which are distinctive but not in that harsh, bitter way that American hops are.

And a lot of them all taste very much like each other.

Me and my brother in law did a pub crawl around Grantham back when we still lived that way and got the order allll wrong. Started with one pub which was always getting best beer awards because they had high turnover so they'd often buy lots of different local beer in relatively small quantities and keep it well, then we went to a small local craft chain which had the sort of things you'd expect (they were just being Brewdog Lite, essentially) and then after that had about four places where ALL they had were ESBs, ambers and golden ales. Didn't think it through properly at all.

[niko_cee]

Timothy Taylor Landlord was a pretty standard [decent] pub ale back in the before times when it was all CAMRA neckbeards. FortyNiner or whatever the Ringwood one is called too, but, as Ian says, the the prism of the modern world they're probably a bit average and I wouldn't be going out of my way to get hold of them.

What was the legendary ale from the midlands? Bantams or something? I was always fascinated by whether that would have been any good.

[Giggles]

We’re seeing more taps of local breweries these days but you could still count in the hundreds (of taps) in the pubs that have them (Guinness and Heineken give free kegs to have them taken out). And you really still have the attitude among the public that all “craft” beer is 28% and will make you burn the house down after half a pint anyway.
What’s the best ESB you’ve had so I can look up a clone?

[niko_cee]

I'm not big on knowing my best bitters from my ESBs [and the rest] but I think I've had a decent ESB by Tribute [I think generally their ales are quite good]. Does Whitstable Bay count? That's another decent pub ale. I think Fullers do one as well but the best stuff is probably some random craft mob I won't have ever heard of, or Sam Smiths, they always used to be good all-rounders.

[Giggles]

Most Sam Smiths I’ve had I’ve really liked.

[Giggles]

Result on that one you mentioned though.

https://shop.supervalu.ie/shopping/wine-beer-spirits-ale-whitstable-bay-organic-500-millilitre-/p-1003051000

A clear bottle doesn’t fill me with confidence though.

[Ben]

Sam Smith’s is cheap as fuck. Not had it since I was about 18. Used to get completely wankered on about four quid’s worth back in my youth.

[niko_cee]

Result on that one you mentioned though.

https://shop.supervalu.ie/shopping/wine-beer-spirits-ale-whitstable-bay-organic-500-millilitre-/p-1003051000

A clear bottle doesn’t fill me with confidence though.

Yeah, not sure on the 'organic ale'. They do a pale in a can [which is more pale ale than bitter] which is decent and often on offer in the supermarket. I had a red ale by them at Christmas, which I think was a seasonal thing, that was quite nice. Not sure any of their stuff is going to be all that creamy though, if that's what you're after.

I had a friend who came from Chippenham who got me into 6X (https://www.wadworth.co.uk/our-beers/core-beers/6x) for a bit. I seem to recall that being alright.

[niko_cee]

Just picked up a Broken Dream Hard Pour Nitro Breakfast Stout.

Presume the hard pour refers to the way you are meant to pour the nitro cans [just checking so I don't make a massive mess of it later].

[Ian]

Yep, just tip it the full 180 .

Lovely beer, that.

[niko_cee]

Yeah. I've had quite a few of Siren's stout things, but not this one before [somehow] and it's very good.

[Ian]

It's so drinkable. They're one of my favourite breweries right now. Maybe my actual favourite.

[niko_cee]

Against my better judgement/Baz's advice I ended up getting one of those Brewdog Xmas beer boxes when they were going *cheep* the other week [still might be].

5 standard cans are fairly standard 5-6.5/10 jobbies [the planet stuff, pony, punk and elvis] so I shall be focusing on the others - off the top of my head a mango planet lager thing [low expectations], a guava hazy jane [also low], spiked IPA thing [i'm starting to worry about this selection tbh] and a few other potentially more acceptable things building up to Baz's 1/10 Hoppy Xmas. Full reviews to follow.

Whilst I was putting them in the fridge I found a rogue can of DEYA which has somewhat saved the day.

[Baz]

How much was it?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Going cheep? Do you get a free live bird in every box?

[Baz]

Didn’t Brewdog get “cancelled” anyway? Save the box, might end up a collectors item. Better than drinking it, anyhow. :sick:

[niko_cee]

Box was something like £11.75 for 12 cans.

[niko_cee]

Although on the cheapness front I got some FourPure IPAs the other day for 75p a can. Bit gutted I didn't do a shelf clearance as after they'd passed sampling and I went back for more they'd all gone. Bought the Broken Dream as a consolation.

[Ben]

Crack one open in the shop next time.

[niko_cee]

We don't really have enough supermarkets to start running the risk of getting barred from them for such hobo behaviour.

Should have known it wouldn't be terrible but I've been wary since getting stung by some Jubel peach beer shite a while ago.

[Ian]

Going cheep? Do you get a free live bird in every box?

Glad somebody did this.

[niko_cee]

:moop:

I'm going to have to fall back in the face of such unrelenting misery and regroup around the ORIGINAL PLAN of that being an Easter allusion you've all missed.

Lost in Mango isn't great, but maybe isn't as bad as I feared it might be. It's probably half a point worse than plain old Lost Lager. At least the mango doesn't linger in an overly sickly way and you can sort of tell it is still a lager.

[Jimmy Floyd]

'...and it won't even cost you 30 pieces of silver'. Give up the robes and start writing ads for local radio.

[Baz]

:moop:

I'm going to have to fall back in the face of such unrelenting misery and regroup around the ORIGINAL PLAN of that being an Easter allusion you've all missed.

Lost in Mango isn't great, but maybe isn't as bad as I feared it might be. It's probably half a point worse than plain old Lost Lager. At least the mango doesn't linger in an overly sickly way and you can sort of tell it is still a lager.

That was a 1.25 for me apparently. (How did I ever live without Untappd?)

Best in the box was the Mallow Laser Quest (4.50) but if you’ve only 12 rather than 24 no doubt they’ve not included that.

[niko_cee]

No, I do have that.

Mallow and the velvet ones are the main hopes in the box.

Are we talking 1.25 out of 5 here? I think it's harsh. I'd put Lost Lager at a 5 out of 10. It's just a lager. I think if you are sinking to the 2s and 3s out of 10 then it must be absolute piss water. Call it an old school champ manager system where sub-6 was really going some. Mango doesn't really help it, but, at the same time it hasn't gone the way of that Jubel thing I mentioned so I'm sanguine bumping it down to a 4.5/10.

Jagged Edge is a marginally better Punk, maybe, but we may be talking quarter point territory at which point it just gets silly.


'...and it won't even cost you 30 pieces of silver'. Give up the robes and start writing ads for local radio.

Only ever had the robes on loan for ceremonial purposes.

[Ian]

Those ratings seem a bit harsh given they're just entirely meh pales and there is some actual objectionable shit out there.

I had a chilli stout once that was basically just some chilli water with a bit of malt through it. It'd be about a -17 I reckon if a boring Brewdog pale is a 1.25. :D.

It was vile stuff.

[Giggles]

I always regret not hearing about untappd earlier in play.

[Ian]

I'd forget half of what I've tried without an app.

[Baz]

I always regret not hearing about untappd earlier in play.

Same. Imagine logging every pint you’d ever had. :drool:

[Giggles]

This sounds 'interesting'.


1511363566494011396

[niko_cee]

Hopefully lacking the fecal characteristics sometimes associated with Brett. :sick:

The Laser Quest Marshmallow Pineapple thing is pretty decent. Think I prefer the Black Sheep one but it's the best of the box so far.

The Velvet Cake was ok as well, although as with most 'pastry stouts' or whatever they are called it was a bit overbearingly sweet. More of a 7 than an 8 out of 10.

[niko_cee]

Hoppy Xmas isn't all that bad.

I can see how disappointing it might be after putting up with 23 days of varying quality [or lack thereof] but on it's own it's decent enough, imo. The hops are pretty overpowering, but they have at least managed to make it so your mouth isn't left feeling like a desert after drinking it. I think I rate it a smidge better than the Elvis Juice, which I tend to think is the best of the mainline Brewdog beers.

[Giggles]

Drinking a beer brewed for some Ukraine charity. Imperial stout? Yes. Beetroot? No.

[Ian]

Yeah of the regulars it'd be either Elvis Juice or the Nitro Jet Black Heart for me.

[Baz]

Just checked all my Brewdog ratings. I know you’re all dying to know the top 5:

1. Elvis Juice 4.75
2. Light Speed 4.5
3. Mallow Laser Quest 4.5
4. Punk AF 4.25
5. Hazy Jane Peach 4.25

[niko_cee]

Never had the nitro, but had a case of jet black heart (bottles) years ago and thought it was very decent. Hadn't really considered it as one of their standards.

[Ben]

Elvis by far the best for me but that’s not a high bar either.

[niko_cee]

Hazy Jane Guava is nowhere near as bad as I feared it might be. It smells like death [both guava and papaya do this for me as flavours] but the taste is actually quite good. Might be better than the bog standard stuff, even if that is again a low bar. Probably should stop all the dog bashing really.

[Baz]

Nah cos they’re a dirty company (https://amp.theguardian.com/business/2022/jan/21/brewdog-boss-accused-of-trying-to-intimidate-ex-staff-over-tv-expose). Give your money to someone else.

[Giggles]

With the likes of Verdant, Kernel, Wildbeer, Siren and all available, nobody really needs to bother with Brewdog any more anyway do they?

[Raoul Duke]

I'm moving to Haarlem soon which is home of Jopen Brouwerij (https://www.jopenbier.nl). Worth checking them out if you can find any

[niko_cee]

Turns out that DEYA beer was a 3% 'table beer' collaboration with someone or other [Shadows of Conversation] which is a bit disappointing. I mean, it's perfectly fine, and probably as good an example of a beer at that ABV as is humanly possible, but it's still too lightweight. Better than Striding Edge.

[Ian]

I've got some good shit in for the evening, including a port cask version of Wolf of Glen Moray which I thought I'd had before but have not so looking forward to that.

[Baz]

Turns out that DEYA beer was a 3% 'table beer' collaboration with someone or other [Shadows of Conversation] which is a bit disappointing. I mean, it's perfectly fine, and probably as good an example of a beer at that ABV as is humanly possible, but it's still too lightweight. Better than Striding Edge.

Kernel Table Beer is one of my all time favourites.

[niko_cee]

Yeah, I have a friend who swears by Kernel [dunno if it's that one] as one of his all time favourites.

[Ian]

Kernel are good but their table beer, as with all table beers, is just fine.

They do a couple of banging darks but I mainly think of their many IPAs with different hop combos.

[Giggles]

Kinnegar have absolutely ruined their amber ale with roast flavours.

[Ben]

Ploughed a load of Madri in the pub this evening, now onto some Vaux brewery cans I picked up. If the Masters isn’t completely riveting I’ll be kip by 9.

[Ian]

I'm on a Romanian IPA. It tastes a good chunk of its 10.5% but they've done a really good job with it. It's just not a guzzler.

[Baz]

Ploughed a load of Madri in the pub this evening.

£7.20 a pint at Aintree, that.

It's about £3 at Wigan's ground.

[Ben]

I was paying £4.25 in the North East :nono:

Can get a mortgage for ten pints of that round here.

[niko_cee]

First I've heard of 'Madri'.

Sounds like a budget own brand range.

[Ben]

It’s a Coors lager that’s appeared on draught recently. Nice session lager like Moretti.

[Ian]

Sessionable if you're minted by the sounds of it.

I'm onto a doppelbock. They're basically all the same but I'm mad for them at the moment. Can't get enough of them in me

[Ben]

Even the Fosters in my arse end local is the wrong side of £3 now.

[Ian]

Fosters? I'd genuinely rather have water. I'm not against mass produced lager but Fosters is boggin'.

[Ben]

I don’t drink it. Just putting Madri into perspective.

[Ian]

That said, would I choose Fosters over Carling? I think the answer is maybe, yes, but fucking hell I hope that's never a decision I have to make.

[Baz]

Nah Fosters is the legit worst.

[Ian]

It's a while since I've had either to be fair and hopefully I never have the opportunity to form an opinion.

[Shindig]

Fosters is a 'I'm just old enough to drink and have no idea what I'm doing' pint.

[Ben]

Or middle aged carpet fitter who is also funding a cocaine habit.

[Ian]

Morrisons suddenly got in some new Northern Monk stuff and have finally restocked on Norse Star. Those plus a Brewdog I've not had (Silk Road), my evening is sorted.

[Baz]

Just bottled my mead. Managed 9 x 500ml bottles which was always the plan.

What wasn’t the plan is it’s 21% and tastes like strong white wine, with zero hint of passion fruit even though I used 12.

[Ian]

:D

[niko_cee]

12 passion fruit[s] in 5 litres of liquid doesn't sound all that much. Should have dropped a bottle of Passoa in. Probably wouldn't have even boosted the ABV too much by the sounds of it.

[Ian]

The Northern Monks are treating me well. The Brewdog one was just fine. Still got my Norse Stars to come though. :drool:

[Baz]

Saw a box of four Faith In Custard (https://untappd.com/b/northern-monk-faith-in-custard-rhubarb-and-custard-pale-ale/4576005) (Northern Monk x LeiMai LeMaow, apparently) in Tesco for £6, which I'm hoping is even a fraction as nice as that Don't Mess With Yorkshire (https://untappd.com/b/northern-monk-don-t-mess-with-yorkshire-rhubarb-and-custard-pale-ale/3270148) rhubarb and custard one they did.

[Ian]

How was the Faith in Custard Baz ? Local Tesco has it but only in four packs so I've dithered over trying it.

I just had Brew York / Siren "Coffee." A "maple mocha iced latte stout." It was fucking delicious.

[Baz]

How was the Faith in Custard Baz ? Local Tesco has it but only in four packs so I've dithered over trying it.

I just had Brew York / Siren "Coffee." A "maple mocha iced latte stout." It was fucking delicious.
Just as good as the previous one that Morrisons were offering, only far cheaper. So good I went back and bought another box of four. Probably not really your kind of thing though, really.

I think niko_cee had the Don’t Mess With Yorkshire one so maybe ask for his assessment, cos they’re basically the same only this one seems to have more sediment at the bottom.

[niko_cee]

Nope, never got hold of that although wanted to. Never made it to our Morrisons I don't think. Might keep an eye out for this new one.

[niko_cee]

Lost in Mango goes to about an 8/10 on a hot day when you're gasping for a beer. Found its niche.

[Giggles]

My latest Neipa is the third best one I’ve ever had :cool:

[Ian]

:cool:

I have begun the proceedings on Polly's "Wither", an oat porter. I could go a little more sweetness but it's rather decent.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I've sat on my balcony most of the afternoon drinking home made Old Fashioneds. If I'm to become an alcoholic, I think this is the way I'd like to go about it.

[Ian]

What sort of views does your balcony command, Jimmy? Vital information for me to calibrate my jealousy because that sounds like an excellent way to spend the afternoon.

I've gone onto a 10% Belgian dark thingy. Tastes fucking strong. Very nice though.

[Spikey M]

What sort of views does your balcony command, Jimmy? Vital information for me to calibrate my jealousy because that sounds like an excellent way to spend the afternoon.

I've gone onto a 10% Belgian dark thingy. Tastes fucking strong. Very nice though.

He's in Surrey, so the views will be of cascading fields, streams and lambs grazing to the East, South and West. To the North is Knife Crime, Acid Attacks and Human Trafficking.

So the real question is what way his balcony is facing.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It looks over a park. Not much of a park, but the tall trees behind it don't half form some tasty silhouettes in the evening at this time of year, especially when you're seeing three of each one.

When it gets dark the kids arrive with their ghetto blasters, their gossip about the below parts of girls, and their obvious regret that they were born white, something that will wear off with rapidity once they have to start applying for jobs.

[Shindig]

Went out with family today which meant a couple of new pubs in the area. They can pour Guinness over here, which is a plus. Nice, as opposed to tolerable.

[Elbastido]

Just got a rather large delivery from Siren that I'm very much looking forward to drinking. I've had a couple of orders from them before and always thought they were excellent (apart from a Mavkva stout that was around 12-14% and I could barely finish it). I ordered a mystery case and an IPA one and ended up with:

4 * Enter Simcoe - Hazy IPA (330ml)
2 * Soundwave - IPA (330 ml)
2 * Lumina - Session IPA (330 ml)
2 * Jiggery Pokery - Red IPA
1 * Twists - West Coast IPA
1 * Futurist - Gluten Free Session IPA
1 * Ten Dollar Shake - Nitro Fruit Smoothie IPA
1 * Sold My Soul For Azacca - Azacca Four Ways IPA
1 * Suspended In Azacca - Hazy Pale Ale
1 * Old Street Brewery - Hazy Pale Ale
1 * White Tips - White Session IPA
1 * Pompelmocello - Nitro Juicy Grapefruit Sour IPA
1 * Silver Strand - California IPA
1 * Piha Pils - NZ Pilsner
1 * Origin Story - Imperial Stout
1 * Surface Waves - California Pale Ale
1 * Press to Zest - Lemon and Coffee Gose
1 * Storyboard - American Brown Ale with Cedar
1 * Castilian Lemon & Honey Cheesecake - Juicy Sour IPA

Most of them I've never had before (tried the Lumina, Soundwave, Origin Story and Silver Strand before), should hopefully be good! :beer:

[Ian]

Fuck me, how much has that set you back?

I might order some Mavka on payday if they've still got it. Sounds right up my street.

[Elbastido]

It was only £70, which I thought was pretty reasonable - free shipping and 2 free cans of the Enter Simcoe (with a code Siren had sent in an email).

The mystery case has 10 cans in it for £30 which could be great value depending on what you actually get in the box.

[Ian]

Probably worth it anyway. You might not get stuff you love but Siren don't do bad beers.

[niko_cee]

Got a white chocolate and raspberry milkshake IPA thing from Black Sheep to kick things off today. Hoping for it to be good as I really like their pineapple one.

Maybe a Hazelnut/Cacao Broken Dream to follow although I'm off for a 'wine flight' with a fancy meal tonight so perhaps not advisable.

[niko_cee]

Colour a bit off putting. Almost the appearance of a fruit beer. You could sell it as being very dark amber I guess. Taste is interesting. A lot more sourness than I expected, but with the smooth/sweet finish you get from the milkshake. Overall I think it's a bit too jolly rancher for me, but not terrible. I wouldn't say no to another if offered one in the future.

[niko_cee]

Way Out West - a pretty meh Brewdog/Buxton collab West Coast IPA, although I'm not sure I've ever really had a west coaster that I've really rated. It's ok. Well, it's better than that probably but whatever.

Onto the darks. I didn't have the siren yesterday so I have that and a magic rock dark arts or somesuch. Probably go at them in reverse order.

[Ian]

Hazelnut/Cacao Broken Dream

It's not as good as the Hard Pour but I did like that one.

I'm not drinking too much as I drank my bodyweight in Estrella at a wedding yesterday but I have those Brewdog Lost Lager fruit variants as they were on offer in the shop, a big Leffe Brune and some Northern Monk Norse Star 3 to choose from.

[Baz]

Picked up something called Neapolitan (https://untappd.com/b/northern-monk-neapolitan-ice-cream-pale-ale/1462241) by Northern Monk, which is billed as an ice cream pale ale. It's really not tickling my fancy though. Annoyed I bought 3 cans of it. :moop:

And because I'm a glutton for punishment I also picked up a Brewdog one - Silk Road (https://untappd.com/b/brewdog-silk-road/4265853). A mango and lychee hazy IPA. We'll see how it fares later.

[niko_cee]

I find [I assume] the cacao in that Broken Dream to be quite smokey/gave the drink quite a bitter/burnt taste which I'm not sure I was a massive fan of.

Dark Arts was decent, although neither anywhere near the hard pour nitro.

[Baz]

1518198461950218245

:sick:

Also saw a comment that Beavertown Neck Oil is the Fosters of the craft beer/IPA world and can’t stop thinking about it. I bloody love Neck Oil so feel personally attacked.

[niko_cee]

Sounds quite a neckbeardy comment.

[Ben]

Neck Oil is pretty inoffensive. Bit harsh to get the Fosters tag.

[Giggles]

Neck Oil is better than a lot of beers of the same style that I’ve tried. Put the exact same beer in a can that’s a bit more ‘exclusive’ and these people would call it a good beer too.

[Ian]

Neck Oil is far better than being the Fosters of the craft beer world because Neck Oil is something you might actually want to drink.

[Raoul Duke]

The most generic is something like Laguinitas which purports to be craft but is made by some megacorp. Neck Oil is a very drinkable pint

[niko_cee]

Had an 'IPA' in Paris that to me seemed more of a rebadged Belgian style beer. There was actually an interesting looking beer place near where I was staying (Bercy) but family life precluded attendance.

[Ian]

The most generic is something like Laguinitas which purports to be craft but is made by some megacorp. Neck Oil is a very drinkable pint

I'm not sure the beer has changed much since they were bought out to be fair.

And it's also decent anyway. It's not that Fosters is just generic, it's that it's vile.

[Ian]

First up for the night is 'Cherry Cole Cubes' by Vault City and it does actually taste a bit like Cola Cubes so fair play to them.

[Baz]

Sounds like a bit of me, as Scott Mills would say.

[Ian]

I've got another Vault City for later (or a VC collab maybe, I've already forgotten) which reckons it's banana split flavoured. Well up for that but I've got a takeaway ordered so next will just be some IPA from Overtone.

[Ian]

All The Leaves Are Brown by Tempest remains absolutely tremendous.

[niko_cee]

Such is the sad state of affairs here [with supermarket offering] I might have to consider brewing my own beer. There are no on island purveyors of anything half decent with any reliability. Reached a head today when I ended up getting two 4 packs of Budweiser [King of Beers varietal] as they basically came free with some burgers, and that was preferable to paying 7 quid for 4 rinkydink session IPAs.

[Giggles]

I’m drinking a couple of beers I got in a club swap here and on one hand I am happier with my own now, but on the other I didn’t buy more because I had these.

[Giggles]

Such is the sad state of affairs here [with supermarket offering] I might have to consider brewing my own beer. There are no on island purveyors of anything half decent with any reliability. Reached a head today when I ended up getting two 4 packs of Budweiser [King of Beers varietal] as they basically came free with some burgers, and that was preferable to paying 7 quid for 4 rinkydink session IPAs.

Surely brewdog or someone sell there, or is it the big standard rage?

[niko_cee]

I'm not really asking for the earth, and yes, Brewdog etc are available, it's just a lot of the more interesting stuff seems to have been rowed back [not much Northern Monk stuff anymore, Buxton largely gone, no White Hag etc] in favour of 4 varieties of Camden, 2 types of Meantime and the other main stream crafties.

One of the local suppliers used to do crates of And Union which was decent, but they seem to have stopped that.

It's mainly the lack of darks which gets me, particularly after a rogue Broken Dream Nitro turned up in Waitrose a month or so ago.

[Giggles]

White Hag is probably a Brexit thing as I've noticed huge go of exports lately from our brewers to Italy and France as they can't do UK.

Dark should be easy enough to get though (unless you want marshmallow cinnamon daffodil stout or somehing), is there not even any Guinness or Beamish? They're not great (the latter is much better), but easily better than subjecting yourself to Budweiser.

[niko_cee]

I think it was more that the supermarket that got it in here got burned pretty badly by it - they bought about 40 tonnes of those Puca sours and just couldn't shift them. Seems to have put pay to them stocking Buxton as well, which is a shame.

It's just a massive pain in the arse/not worth the bother to export alcohol here as we have our own duty regime [which basically precludes ordering online].

[Ben]

For the second bank holiday weekend in succession, I've not clocked it's Sunday until it's too late and now only have the Iraqi corner shop selection available, so I can sympathise.

[Giggles]

Fuck, any sour is a one-off on the very odd occasion. Even someone that likes beer will just buy mostly lagers when the weather is hot. Madness stocking a pile of them.

[Ian]

I'm not really asking for the earth, and yes, Brewdog etc are available, it's just a lot of the more interesting stuff seems to have been rowed back [not much Northern Monk stuff anymore, Buxton largely gone, no White Hag etc] in favour of 4 varieties of Camden, 2 types of Meantime and the other main stream crafties.

One of the local suppliers used to do crates of And Union which was decent, but they seem to have stopped that.

It's mainly the lack of darks which gets me, particularly after a rogue Broken Dream Nitro turned up in Waitrose a month or so ago.

It's like the name of it was really just driving home your plight.

[niko_cee]

1 can! :moop:

And that's the other thing. All the brewgooder and toast and whatever else* stuff NEVER runs out of stock. It's always fully packed out, whereas better/different things seem to fly off the shelves, Lumina's rarely more than a few cans, anything by Tony Rebel [I'm leaving that in] that ends up on offer instantly goes, so people are obviously buying stuff and whilst it probably isn't as simple as GET MORE STOCK just GET MORE STOCK!

The Wild Beer line always seems to be near complete.

[Baz]

unless you want marshmallow cinnamon daffodil stout or somehingSounds incred.

[niko_cee]

Just clocked that these Buds are 300ml jobs.

:face:

Cheeky fuckers.

I suppose it's better than the 250s, although at least they are very obviously miniature.

Overall a poor choice, even at 25p a bottle.

[niko_cee]

So, after that less than transcendent experience with the king of beers I've gone back to the drawing board. Picked up a few Hawkshead Session Hazies (I seem to recall their mosaic being decent), Badger Ales were on offer so got a Cranborne Poacher (Ruby Ale) and some sort of fruity ferret which I assume is a fruitier version of the fursty ferret. Then I saw it. The broken dream nitro was back and on offer no less, so, being a total bastard I cleared the shelf. Stocked for a while. :drool:

[Baz]

:D how many?

[Ben]

What sites do people use when ordering online? I have used HonestBrew a few times and Beer52 once and they were fine, just wondering if there's any others?

It's a bit of a shame that since moving house the best local shop selection seems to be Asda (and that is certainly stretching the definition of "best" here). Otherwise I have to venture into Newcastle to shop for beer.

[Ian]

What sites do people use when ordering online? I have used HonestBrew a few times and Beer52 once and they were fine, just wondering if there's any others?

It's a bit of a shame that since moving house the best local shop selection seems to be Asda (and that is certainly stretching the definition of "best" here). Otherwise I have to venture into Newcastle to shop for beer.

Trembling Madness. I find it has the best variety and turnover for new beers.

[Ben]

Oh I do like the look of that.

[niko_cee]

:D how many?

15.

[Ian]

Niko. :cool:


Oh I do like the look of that.

They're really good, occasionally have some absolute bargains in their sale section and if you get the order in before 2pm they deliver the next working day. And they've never failed on that front in my experience.

[Ben]

I'm immediately pleased with the German selection. This could get expensive.

[Baz]

Trembling Madness. I find it has the best variety and turnover for new beers.

Any promo codes? They have a great selection of low alcohol beer, which I’m limited to at the moment.

[niko_cee]

The fruity ferret was alright. Not too overt in its fruitiness but it was there.

[Giggles]

Loads of Magic Rock and Bullhouse came in to the local place here in the import section. The former has sold out a few times but there’s a bigger range of the latter. Either any good?

[Ian]

Magic Rock have some good stuff. Never had anything by Bullhouse.

[Ian]

Any promo codes?

Not that I know of.

[Giggles]

It’s the tropical and the cloudy lemon ipa they got in.

[Ian]

Hm, don't think I've had either of those so can't speak for them. I've never had a Magic Rock beer I disliked so I'd just go on whether or not you fancy either of those or not.

[niko_cee]

I find magic Rock stuff to be OK generally. Dark Arts was alright, I think chameleonic similar, do they do a grapefruit IPA as well? Nothing that really knocks your socks off, but solid stuff. Like a trendier but maybe less good Buxton.

[Ian]

I prefer the hazelnut Dark Arts.

Buxton are definitely better though.

[Ben]

My local pizza café has just got in some North Brew stuff. Springwell Pils is decent. There’s a couple of more exotic ones that I might dabble in after.

[Ian]

I've had some really good stuff by them. Either last weekend or one before I had a collab with Brick called Honeyberry Stout. It was delicious.

[niko_cee]

The Cranbourne Poacher is actually really rather good.

[Ben]

Got a can each of Honeyberry, Open Space and Stillwater on the way out. Will have those after work tomorrow.

[Ben]

Cloudwater West Coast IPA is pretty decent.

[Ian]

I've started on Vault City "Triple Fruited Mango."

Goes down far too easy for 6.2% because it doesn't have the tartness you'd expect from a Vault City sour. Very decent though.

[Ben]

I actually picked that up earlier then put it back. I don’t like overly fruity ones but it certainly piqued my interest.

[Ben]

North Brew’s Abstract Lens is very smooth for an 8%.

[Lofty]

If pickings are slim try your local bargain booze, the one near me is basically specialist at this point: https://m.facebook.com/LeylandBargainBooze/photos/?ref=page_internal&mt_nav=0

It makes the nearby Booths look limited in comparison. Not all owners are equal of course but if I want something I can just ask them to add cases on to their order for regular purchase.

I have been told today Wrexham Lager and Bootlegger are decent, can anyone confirm?

[Ian]

No idea on either of those I'm afraid.

[Giggles]

Dead Centre brown ale. Fucking awful.

[Ben]

It’s the wife’s nephew’s (does that make him my nephew?) 18th today so we’re going out for a family meal. I’m always awkward around them because we have nothing in common so I’ve picked up a pack of the new Stella Unfiltered to lubricate me into some conversation and I must say it’s rather decent.

[Ian]

Not even heard of that.

It's very slim pickings for me today because I am turboskint. Got some Stella, a couple of Northern Monk Neapolitans, a Saltaire pale of some sort and some Tanqueray gin.

Must be years since I've had a beer selection this boring in the house for a weekend.

[Baz]

Speaking of Stella Unfiltered… what is it?

Also what is Heineken Silver?

[Giggles]

It does not. Wife’s nephew is correct.

[Ian]

Hold up though, that'd mean you didn't call the husband of your aunt your uncle.


Speaking of Stella Unfiltered… what is it?

Also what is Heineken Silver?

I assume it takes it a bit closer to an IPA.

[Giggles]

Unfiltered will just mean they needed to get it out quicker (less lagering time) and mongs will think the word means it’s a good thing. You generally need to let a lager sit for 8 weeks after fermentation has finished to clarify and mature. This just means they don’t. Another good buzzword is Kellerbier (or keller-style), which is basically just a cloudy lager that they’ve packaged too soon.

[niko_cee]

It does not. Wife’s nephew is correct.

Really? I'm pretty sure that's not how aunt/uncle status works, although I don't tend to view my wife's family's offspring as anything to do with me.

Had a couple of negronis. First with sloe gin, second with some of that rose grapefruit Italian gin. Not sure either is an improvement on the classic.

[Giggles]

Your Aunts and Uncles are your parents siblings. And the weird lad down the road who give you ice cream to reach into his pockets.

[Ian]

I'm trying to think of any exceptions but I think everybody I know who I'm aware of their aunts and uncles the spouses get the same treatment.

Let's do a fred to sort this out.

[Ian]

Better haul for today. Some Northern Monk Norse Star IIIs again, DDH Jaipur and Belhaven Oatmeal Stout which remains an absolute bargain at £1.80 a bottle or whatever it is.

[Giggles]

I picked up a “Scottish Ale” today that a place down the country knocked up. Never heard of such a thing (another name for wee heavy?) but it’s nice. Bit like an ale version of a dunkel.

[Ian]

Yeah a Scotch ale and a wee heavy are pretty much the same thing. Which are in turn not dissimilar to an 'old ale' and a 'strong ale.'

I really like them, usually. As you'd probably guess you see them reasonably regularly up here from the local breweries.

[Giggles]

Wish I’d picked up another few.

[Ian]

Out of work early and have time to kill so got a Chew Chew by Fallen (in a weird glass) then remembered they're shut now so unless there are still more kegs or cans knocking about in cellars and stockrooms somewhere this might be the last time I get to drink it.

This place also has one which is a collab between Glasgow Beer Works and Tantrum, using their creme brulee doughnuts which are the best I've had. Might be a disaster but I must try it.

[niko_cee]

Got a 4 pack of Brewdog's Basic Shakes as I'd never seen them before and they were on offer. Not bad. Quite interesting to try a 'neutral' milkshake style, almost like a Blue Moon or something.

[Ben]

https://www.beer52.com/cosh

10 "free" beers, pay just the delivery. It's a promo from a podcast I listen to.

[Boydy]

Pretty sure they used to do 12.

[Ben]

Yeah they did. I got it when they ran the same promo last year.

[Baz]

How much is delivery? £5.95?

I got a voucher in the post for my birthday which is £27 off, to use against “8 exclusive small batch craft Dutch beers” and postage is £5.95, which is https://beer52.com/DT6

[Ben]

Pretty much the same offer.

[Ian]

I just can't be arsed cancelling Beertw again, even though (despite making you phone up) they give you absolutely no hassle about it.

[wullie]

I did one of these offers before and immediately cancelled so I assume using the same login it'd tell me to go fuck myself but instead it's letting me do it again. Feeling a little guilty, but then it's keeping the postman fit isn't it

[Spav]

I've searched this thread, but there's no sign of the word "kombucha". I've replaced my previous intake of standard soft drinks with kombucha - particularly the lemon-and-ginger flavour - instead and it's become my go-to drink for non-alcoholic refreshment.

[Ian]

I've never tried it but a mate of mine loves the stuff.

I'm doing an Innis and Gunn "brew school" tomorrow. Lunch, a beer tasting and then you come up with a beer (how involved this is I don't know) which you go back later and collect a mini keg of.

[Spav]

I've never tried it but a mate of mine loves the stuff.

Kombucha is hugely popular here in Australia, stocked in most supermarkets and convenience stores. I drink the Remedy or Nexba brand most of the time. Wikipedia says kombucha has a worldwide market of about US$2billion a year and steadily growing.

[Baz]

Wetherspoons sell it but I've never been entirely sure about what it is, despite having it once.

It seems to come in tiny cans, which is rubbish for me personally cos I guzzle drinks like a thirsty stray dog.

Also is it a tiny percent alcoholic, or have I made that up?

And is it somehow related to tea?

Final question, doesn't it also make you poo?

[Spav]

Wetherspoons sell it but I've never been entirely sure about what it is, despite having it once.

It seems to come in tiny cans, which is rubbish for me personally cos I guzzle drinks like a thirsty stray dog.

Also is it a tiny percent alcoholic, or have I made that up?

And is it somehow related to tea?

Final question, doesn't it also make you poo?

Kombucha is black/green tea fermented with a culture of bacteria and yeast, but the alcohol content is negligible (<0.5%, but usually even closer to zero) and the brand I drink purports that all the sugars are consumed in the fermentation process, thus rendering it 'sugar-free'.

I haven't seen it in tiny cans here in Australia, we usually buy it in either a 330ml or 1litre bottle. My wife and I have been drinking it regularly for two years and we never noticed that it affected our bowel movements in any way.

[Baz]

Cool. Also Hi Spav. :)

[Spav]

G'day Baz. :wave:

[Giggles]

There’s a wild beer festival on today that I never noticed was on. Would have been all over that if I’d known.

[Baz]

Rather strangely, my brother in law bought me an Ultimate Father’s Day Craft Beer Box (https://biercompany.co.uk/collections/fathers-day/products/the-ultimate-father-s-day-craft-beer-box?gclid=Cj0KCQjwhqaVBhCxARIsAHK1tiNPL8LtPWW06ktS AdWju9uos-69qGFzXawc_tf7SSNmgtA7vX31Fp0aAgtxEALw_wcB&variant=42386000937115), so I’m the proud owner of

1 x Quantock - QPA Session IPA 4%
1 x Brewboard - Ripchord Session Pale Ale 4.3%
1 x First Chop - Jam Mango Pale 4%
1 x Bier Co x Wildcard - Jazz Hands 5%
1 x Attic Brew Co - Intuition 4.4%
1 x BBNO - 05 India Pale Ale 5.5%
1 x Bavik - Super Pils 5.2%
1 x Saint Omer - Lager 5%
1 x Wildcard - Waimea IPA 5.2%
1 x Brew York - Lupu Lion APA 5%
1 x Northern Monk - Eternal Session IPA 4.1%
1 x Big Hug Brewing - Second Chance Session IPA 4.8%

Not drinking at the moment for baby reasons though so gonna order myself a 12 pack of Chug (https://mashgang.shop/products/chug-xpa-12-x-440ml) for the time being. Postage is extortionate so hopefully it’s a special 6 hour courier so I can drink them in the sun tomorrow.

[Ian]

The big story here is that you're your brother in law's dad.

[niko_cee]

Saint Omer. :drool:

Loaded up with those on a booze cruise for my wedding years ago as they were the cheapest things going. Good to see they've finagled their way into the craft beer scene.

[Baz]

The big story here is that you're your brother in law's dad.I know right.

I actually admire it to be honest. Knows I’m a beer nerd, it was my birthday, that’ll do.

[Ian]

I've got my first beer fest since lockdown on Friday. Very much looking forward to it.

[Ben]

Got a flyer from work, straight out in the garden in the baking sun and cracked a Smash IPA by The White Hag. Shite, 4/10. Gutted.

[Baz]

Honest Brew has shut :(

[Giggles]

I’ve a cold ipa just poured. They seem to be the latest fad.

[niko_cee]

Had an unfiltered stella earlier, not sure i could discern any real difference. Beat the Budweiser's that were on the 4 beers and 4 burgers for 4 quid deal last time though.

Currently on a vodka based mojito type thing. Most refreshing.

[Giggles]

In fairness if you’re comparing Stella and bud then its like comparing death and dying. Budweiser is the worst drink ever created, including irn Brú

[Ian]

Just the eleven new beers tried at the beer fest yesterday. The highlight was the Latvian bourbon barrel-aged stout.

[Ian]

Big Joe by Overtone. Just a big imperial coffee stout. Delicious. Overtone are in the Siren category of breweries where I didn't realise that I like basically everything I have by them and they're really good.

[Ian]

Some lovely stuff tonight. A wild beer aged in pinot noir barrels and on plums and stuff which was really tasty and a stout rammed with Tonka beans which I have no idea what they are outwith beer but I love the taste of so that was a win for me.

[niko_cee]

Was in M&S earlier and saw Vocation has done them a range of own brand craft beers. The American Pale Ale [5.3%] is pretty decent. It's obviously nothing special, but £5 for a 4 pack not too shabby for a bit of summer refreshment.

Also interesting to note that what is sold as an American Pale Ale in the UK is a Biere Britannique Pale Ale en francais.

[Ian]

Dunno if it was a pricing fuck up, a measure fuck up or if they just don't give a shit but I went for a sneaky pre-train pint after work today and the place had on a Tiny Rebel tap takeover. I naturally went for the barrel aged "Belgian Birthday Cake."

Which was 11%, and they gave me a pint of it for £3.50.

[Ian]

I bought the Tanqueray Blackcurrant Royale gin expecting it to be a bit naff and sickly but having enjoyed the other Tanqueray ones I'd tried I thought I should try it. It's actually pretty nice. Goes well with a non-flavoured tonic.

Is this my first wanky post in here that hasn't been about beer?

[Ben]

My wife has a bottle of that ready to crack open once the baby gets off the tit a bit so she’ll be happy to hear that because she was a bit sceptical when she first saw it.

[Giggles]

I spent a lot of Thursday night drinking macro lagers at a wedding (Heineken, Carlsberg, and Peroni). Not one of them fucking things have the slightest bit of bitterness to them at all. Horrible stuff.

[Mike]

Got one of those Perfect Draft machines for Father’s Day/my birthday. Had a Brewdog keg in it and put in a Goose Island IPA in the other night. Going to get a lager next though.

[Ben]

Picked up a few cans from Anarchy Brewery today. Currently having their main seller, the Blonde Star, which is rather decent.

[Ian]

De Moersleutel have a bunch of beers out for their sixth anniversary. The rye wine is delicious. :nodd:

[niko_cee]

Got some random 'free beer' box from Beer52 the other day, some sort of postage only deal [I dunno if it was a more widely available code thing, someone else got it for me].

Had a couple by Winding Path Brewery, a pale of some sort and and porter [885?] which was actually quite good. Also a 'mexican style lager' called Osaveza and a Pineapple Hefeweizen [I Love Lamp, Evil Genius] which is decent enough. Guess it must be an American thing as most of these seem to come from Pepe's 'ends' [assuming I am right in thinking he lives in Pennsylvania].

[niko_cee]

Tröegs: Haze Charmer is really good, like DEYA pales level good.

[niko_cee]

Went to Unbarred (https://www.unbarredbrewery.com/) the other day, which was pretty cool. Tried the Honeycomb Milkshake IPA and a Wee Heavy and both were really good.

Also the proliferation of Dark Star pubs in Brighton is quite cool. The Devil's Dyke Ruby Porter is excellent.

Having access to such places is definitely a boon of life on the mainland.

[Ian]

I bloody love a wee heavy.

And I've not had any Dark Star in aaaaaages so would be keen to get some of them again.

Best thing I've had recently is that Mexicake is in our Sainsburys now and I thought I'd had it and didn't like it but turns out I never rated it. Tried it and it's actually really good. One of those chilli stouts where, to my tolerance at least, it was just a chilli warmth to add a bit to the booziness and not a proper chilli flavour.

[niko_cee]

Dark Star's supermarket stuff is pretty average I find, not in a bad way, just in a bit of a meh kind of way. I think that's mostly because I see the Solar Eclipse Black IPA [which is too hoppy for me] and their session beer, which is just an ok session beer, mostly.

Think I'm going to swing by their brewery on Friday, en route to 3 days of camping. Going to need some heavy stuff so hopefully they have some decent offerings.

[Ian]

For fuck's sake I've just been charged £6.20 for a pint of Neck Oil.


Dark Star's supermarket stuff is pretty average I find, not in a bad way, just in a bit of a meh kind of way.

Can totally believe this, they were one of my go to breweries in my formative beer wanker days so it is likely just nostalgia telling me they're great.

[Giggles]

I see my local place has that Siren single hop series in. Anyone try them?

[Ian]

I have not. But Siren are mega so you should try at least one of them and see how it hits you.

[Giggles]

I have not. But Siren are mega so you should try at least one of them and see how it hits you.

The centennial and the simcoe are bought :drool:

[Ian]

Good lad. Worst case, in my experience of Siren, is that they're not to your taste but you can appreciate that's the issue and not that they're bad.

I've said this before but after years of undereating them I'm a total evangelist now.

[Giggles]

I’ve never had a bad siren beer in fairness.

[Ian]

Yeah, even when they're "off form" they're still good.

And when they're on form..... :drool:

[niko_cee]

Got something called Sunquake as a 5L keg which was good and a summer mild collab between Dark Star and some posh sounding London mob which wasn't bad. Maybe a bit fizzy for a mild.

[niko_cee]

Edit: the posh London mob were Anspach & Hobday (https://www.anspachandhobday.com/).

Got some Buxton 50:Fifty [might be Fifty:50] in Tesco the other day and it is really good. Even mix of US Mosaic and UK Jester hops to give it the name. Would recommend for a summer IPA.

[Ian]

Buxton are really good. I got a box of fairly basic stuff from my mum as a present today but I think there are a couple I've not had including some Fierce ones.

[niko_cee]

The wife got suckered by one of those Beer52 'free box of beer' deals last month. Didn't realise it came with an ongoing subscription. Got the thank you for your order email yesterday and the box arrived today. Free beer for me.

:drool:

One of the cans is a White Hag Christmas Ale. A strange choice.

[Ian]

Ludicrously early or they found a box of stock from last year?

[Giggles]

I’d say it’s last years as they didn’t even have this years at hagstravaganza a few weeks ago.

[niko_cee]

Yeah, they're clearly chucking any old shit into the box, which is a bit naughty.

First up is a Landbier by Ad Astra. It's very german/pilsnery.

[igor_balis]

Delicious glass of vodka and ginger beer. Hm.

[Giggles]

Fairly apt to throw in a White Hag to a box of any old shit. They’ve been copping loads lately for doing that very thing with their own subscription boxes.

[Ian]

I've started with a Pretty Juicy by Fierce. It's alright but it's not their best work.

Me and my brother in law are gonna split out Innis and Gunn keg this evening which will likely be, y'know, fine.