What Are You Drinking?

[niko_cee]

Got a bit excited earlier as I thought ASDA had Buxton's Phoenix IPA on offer, but it turned out to be their Burning Embers Red IPA which, whilst decent, is nowhere near as good.

Picked up a Magic Rock Telepathy [decent], an Axe Edge, something toucan-y and an 8.5% Four Pure thing.

[Ian]

Really like an Axe Edge. Four Pure are almost always worth a go too.

I was down in England for work yesterday so took the opportunity to check out what beers were available in the Morrisons of sunny Whitehaven. Got a can of this to look forward to at the weekend: https://untappd.com/b/northern-monk-heaven-chocolate-vanilla-and-maple-imperial-stout-2022/5142123

Always forget, every time, that you're allowed to actually have offers on booze if you're not in Scotland. Morrisons, for example, had 4 for 3 (cheapest free) on their craft stuff.

[niko_cee]

Yeah, same deal in ASDA.

Have booze offers gone with the minimum unit pricing thing? Is that Scotland or UK wide?

[Ian]

Just Scotland because they're not to be trusted up here.

[Giggles]

Definitely Scotland because we copycat every bit of alcohol legislation they implement and it’s gone here too.

[niko_cee]

That Four Pure thing [Citrus DIPA or somesuch] is really rather decent, but you can feel it even after one. Dangerous business.

[Ian]

I'm on a Cromarty DIPA which absolutely tastes the strength it is. Which is better for you knowing to not just neck it but worse for alcohol itself not being a great flavour.

[Raoul Duke]

Jopen (my local brewery) have some interesting stuff on at the moment; the Chapters (https://www.jopenbier.nl)...although I just spotted they have one called "Black It Up" :|

[Giggles]

I’m brewing the first of 4 summer lagers tomorrow :cool:

[Giggles]

Just heading for competition, is an English pale and a best bitter the same thing?

[Ian]

No. I mean, there's probably some crossover, but in my head no.

[Baz]

Just picked up a ‘Japanese style rice beer’ from Aldi. I’ve no idea.

[Giggles]

It’ll be based on Asahi or Sapporo. Most Japanese style lagers substitute rice for some of the barley.

[igor_balis]

I do like asahi, but the robbing bastards at the petrol station near me are charging £4.50 for a 650ml bottle. fuck you, Saeed.

[Ian]

Could be a Hitachino Nest or something but probably not that interesting.

[Ian]

https://beakbrewery.com/products/beak-x-third-moon-paste-11-imperial-stout-4-pack

Oooh yeeaaahhh.

Though I've started doing a bit of calorie counting to try and be less of a porker and force my brain to say no for some of the unnecessary stuff and fuck me an impy stout doesn't half rack 'em up. :D

[Baz]

I needed change from a £20 to pay for my Chinese so I bought a big bottle of Kingfisher :cool:

Warm though so will have that Aldi rice beer first.

[niko_cee]

I'm drinking a concoction of white rum, blue curacao, fresh lime and orgeat syrup [essentially a striking blue mai tai].

Also gone back to Boulevardiers of late and am fully subscribed to them being superior to their Negroni progenitor.

[Baz]

Checked the Jet2 in-flight menu and saw they do these four, two for £9:

Skeleton Blues Hazy IPA 3.5
Black Sheep Ale 3.4
Ulster Black Oatmeal Stout 3.45
Dream Factory Pale Ale 3.54

Numbers are untappd ratings, of course.

Skeleton Blues and a Dream Factory please, ma’am.

[niko_cee]

Picked up a few hitherto unseen beers from the supermarket, a Northern Monk FIF x Laura Slater Hazy IPA and a couple of BrewDogs [Palm Beach and Rattle & Rum].

[Baz]

After a week of all inclusive Cruzcampo with a few private Tropical and Dorado thrown in for good measure, I got a pint of Hop House 13 tonight (which I don’t normally like) and it was bloody gorgeous.

[niko_cee]

Have Meantime been taken over recently? Their beer seems to have gone from fairly decent to fairly meh.

Seems it was, although not that recently.

[Ian]

Bought out by "Japan's SABMiller" in 2015 apparently.

I've got one of these for tonight: https://www.sirencraftbrew.com/item/1039/SirenCraftBrew/Crescendo.html

:drool:

Calories be damned.

[Giggles]

Had some cloudwater this week. Nice, probably not worth the premium over anything here already.

[niko_cee]

Is that the Manchester based brewery that seems to have a good untapped [or whatever the rating thing is] game? I'm sure their founder was bealing about it not being worth their while brewing anymore with the cost of everything.

[niko_cee]

Celebrating the arrival of summer with a couple of NEIPAs, a Brewdog Silk Road and a Love and Hate by vocation.

I think it must be the mango in the former giving it a slightly lactose like quality. It's alright but I think the fruit might be a bit overbearing. Nearly bought some sort of embarkation into the world of hip craft brewing by Timothy Taylor (https://untappd.com/b/timothy-taylor-s-brewery-hopical-storm/3079198) but then baulked at the price as it was something like £3.50 for a can and rolling in at 4% or whatever I feel that's a bit of a liberty in the supermarket. Anyone tried that?

[Ian]

I have not but I would possibly be put off by it being Timothy Taylor. I didn't care for their stuff even when I was much less of a beer arse than I am now.

[Baz]

Can’t go wrong with a pint of Landlord.

[Giggles]

Landlord is magic. The dark one is even better.

[niko_cee]

Yeah, Landlord was always the standard CAMRA pub go to beer back when that was a thing [maybe alongside FortyNiner].

[Giggles]

Is CAMRA the cask thing? I’m always dubious about the temperature of that but I’d love to try Landlord on it some time.

[niko_cee]

It's the real ale association mob acronym although I'm not sure what it means off the top of my head. Essentially, yeah, cask ales, usually in freehouses from the time before brewdog etc.

Cellar temperature is indeed a curious thing [and the reason for the world thinking we Brits like 'warm beer']. It is the right temperature for those things though, but obviously massively conflicts with the ice cold era [1990-2010], RIPIP.

[Baz]

Campaign for real ale, innit? Whatever that means.

[Giggles]

We never really had the whole cask thing here, or the whole brewery/landlord thing. Though Diageo and Heineken basically rule the roost in them all these days.

[niko_cee]

Yeah, but Ireland replaces any of that with an entire lore about 'the best places to get Guinness' even down to certain places where it's better upstairs than downstairs [or vice-versa].

I think the campaign for real ale was just a reaction against the proliferation of reassuringly expensive mass market 'European style lagers' for the most part, which, in hindsight, was fair enough. There's definitely something to be said for locality. Still love a Harvey's in Sussex, and even though their beer can be a bit hit and miss I like that you see Dark Star in quite a lot of places in that part of the world as well now. Lets everywhere have their own local legends. Wasn't there somewhere in the Midlands with a fabled ale [Bantams?]? And then you have Westvleteren etc more widely, I doubt that stuff is really [I]that good. Also reminds me of a rather eccentric competition law lecturer I had who was very pleased to have bought a pub which sold a particularly popular local beer, and then proceeded to buy the brewery and refuse to supply all of his rivals much to their annoyance and his mirth.

[Ian]

Other than the proper crusties CAMRA are happy enough with yer craft stuff as evidence by the selection of it at their festivals, though not much keg stuff, they do still love a cask which probably restricts who's turning up.

[Baz]

The newsagent near me has changed from a McColls to a Morrisons Daily so the beer choice should improve quite a lot. They don’t seem to have the X for £X offer that proper Morrisons has though.

[Ian]

I've had the same change recently Baz and it does have a much better selection than our McColls did. The shop as a whole is quite expensive as those mini supermarket things tend to be but the beer is about what you'd expect on that front.

[Ian]

https://vaultcity.co.uk/products/tonka-white-forest-gateau

This is very nice.

[Ian]

Bought a bottle of this in with my latest Trembling Madness order: https://yorkshireheart.com/product/pinot-porter/

Six quid for a strong beer so I didn't inspect the size of the bottle.

Turns out it's a 75cl. Result!

[Baz]

Yesterday I had three pints of Madri, four pints of Stella and a shot of strawberry & lime vodka, between 2pm and 8pm. I was asleep as soon my head hit the pillow. :harold:

[Giggles]

:sick:

1652040042867507200

[Ben]

Cringe aside, is his beer any good?

[Giggles]

It is now if they continue to operate as normal. Porterhouse beers are excellent, and at least the pubs weren’t part of the deal.

[niko_cee]

I've been on the Tribute (https://tributeale.co.uk/) of late and I think I'm more in favour of it than most of the frankly overpriced/under qualitied 'craft' stuff.

Four 500ml cans for £4.50 in the supermarket, can't go wrong.

Maybe it's the old man in me, but I've increasingly been on a rotation of Ghost Ship, Whitstable Bay and Tribute. Don't seem to see the 6X around so much anymore but that was alright too.

[Ian]

As a counterpoint to Niko's old man beer:
https://pollysbrew.co/product/solid-love-lime-mango-imperial-gose-10-0/

This is magic.

[Giggles]

Haven't bought White Hag in ages but was told their new extra pale Dagda is class. It is :drool:

[Giggles]

Pollys beer is always very nice. I actually only originally bought them as I thought the beer was Dead Centre which uses the same logo the other way up.

[niko_cee]

For £5.25 a can you'd expect it to be fucking magic.

[Baz]

Pollys beer is always very nice. I actually only originally bought them as I thought the beer was Dead Centre which uses the same logo the other way up.

Is Smithwick’s nice? I watch Irish sky sports for piracy reasons and it looks absolutely mega on the adverts. Looks purple, almost.

I’m going Manchester for my birthday next weekend and have tasked the organiser with finding it.

Untappd let’s you search any beer, click find it, and it tells you if any pub in a 10km radius has recently been tagged as selling it, so might have to test that feature out.

[Giggles]

Irish red ale is lovely. Smithwicks is to Irish red ale as Carlsberg is to pilsner.

[Baz]

What’s the Stella [premium] version?

[Giggles]

There's about 30 from small breweries. But I'd say the most likely one you'd see there is either Sullivan's (the original smithwicks descendants with the recipe brewed properly) or O'Haras red or nitro red.

[niko_cee]

Was in Tesco today and was quite impressed by their selection. Fair bit of Buxton and other good stuff. Currently having a Kingslayer DIPA from Buxton and it is mega.

[Ian]

I really like Buxton, they don't do any bad beers.

[niko_cee]

Yeah, and across a broad range of styles as well. I don't know about sour stuff as I don't like it but they seem to cover a lot of other bases. They did a cracking dark/porter with a kraken or something on it once upon a time.

Also had another dipa from some sort of north v south collab which had Brew By Numbers and some west county folk representing the south, which was also very good.

[Ian]

Buxton also did an "imperial mild" which is obviously a contradiction in terms but it was good and did sort of fit the description. I think Axe Edge is the one I like best if their regulars.

[niko_cee]

Vocation's Aoraki [Mt Cook] DIPA is tremendously good.

[niko_cee]

Buxton also did an "imperial mild" which is obviously a contradiction in terms but it was good and did sort of fit the description. I think Axe Edge is the one I like best if their regulars.

Just went to the fridge at the in-laws, more in hope than expectation, and came across 2 Axe Edge's I'd obviously deposited there at some point in the past. :drool:

[Giggles]

A lad from my club gave me a few rauchbiers he brewed the other day and is asking what I thought. Can't even bring myself to open one.

[Baz]

Cherry Boon here. :nod:

https://digitalcontent.api.tesco.com/v2/media/ghs/6f809df4-1d5f-44d3-a795-d55280cc7e70/2eb5681e-99db-4c7f-8187-d83a5d867ff7_1554992769.jpeg?h=960&w=960

Perfect.

[Ian]

https://collectiveartsontario.com/products/origin-of-darkness-imperial-stout-w-pinot-noir-vanilla-cacao-garage-project-collab

This is good shit.

[Baz]

Free lager at Tesco: https://victoriamalaga-promotion.co.uk/

[Baz]

The best £150 you could ever spend on beer is back. The Brew Export advent calendar: https://brewexport.co.uk/products/2023-advent-calendar-3-payments

[Baz]

I’ve been made aware of someone on TikTok who is apparently trying to drink 2000 pints in a year. By my maths, that’s an average of between 5 and 6 pints a day. What a lad.

[phonics]

Not that hard. I was doing that during my cocaine binge and that lasted 9 months.

[Ian]

Who needs a liver when you have niche social media fame?

[Baz]

I’m in Blackpool for 5 days. What are you doing in this situation?

https://i.imgur.io/jJkmd96_d.webp?maxwidth=640&shape=thumb&fidelity=medium

[Jimmy Floyd]

Left or centre. Never right.

[niko_cee]

Kraken.

[Ian]

My phone isn't showing the options but the correct answer is leave ASAP by whatever means necessary.

[Baz]

My phone isn't showing the options but the correct answer is leave ASAP by whatever means necessary.

Pravha, Madri & Coors.

Didn’t realise I’ve had Pravha before but Untappd reminded me of when a rep was giving away free halves of it in a local pub and I rated it 3.25. I’ve had Madri at a Wigan game but didn’t rate it (unfair when it’s not cold and in a plastic glass) but went for that tonight and gave it a generous 2.25. I’ll stick with Pravha going forwards.

Oh, and Coors is rated 5.0 by Mike :nono:

[Ian]

Oh, Pravha of those.

Mike sort your shit out, mate.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I have a mate who only drinks Coors or Bud, and calls the Staropramen I normally drink when we meet at a particular pub 'rocket fuel'. Despite this he goes home to a wife and two lovely children whereas I go home to a set of old golf clubs and a taped-up extractor fan. Still not cracked it.

[Ian]

Staropramen as "rocket fuel." Christ. I know I drink the strong wanker-beer shit but even so.

[Shindig]

If Czech Carlsberg is his limit, drinking's not for him.

[niko_cee]

I can sort of see what the friend is getting at if his point is the difference between having a session on something in the 4s versus 5% plus 'strong continental lagers' [do they still even make these or have all major lagers settled at an accountant agreed ABV?] but obviously Coors or Bud is not the answer to the 4% question [are they even 4%] and in that Pic it would appear Pravha is if you want lager.

[niko_cee]

Just had a couple of soundwaves for the first time in while. Small cans but they pack a punch.

[Baz]

Just to go back to my question- the correct answer was check the fridge cos tonight I had some Black Sheep Ale and Punk IPA.

[Mike]

Oh, Pravha of those.

Mike sort your shit out, mate.

:lol: the review is even better “not as good as bud light” :D

[Ian]

Christ almighty.

[Giggles]

International IPA day lads. Never mind the chardonnay aged gruits or the lactose gooseberry stouts, get the good stuff into ye.

[Giggles]

The wester the bester.

[Baz]

I’m on Punk, so sure

[Giggles]

It used to be one at least.

[Ben]

The place I’m in now only has Neck Oil, does that even count anymore?

Actually they’ve got loads of stubby cans, but they’re all Beavertown.

[niko_cee]

Had a few more soundwaves which probably fit the bill. They remain excellent.

[Giggles]

330ml should be banned.

[Lofty]

That Brewdog Cold Beer is alright, as far as lager goes.

Does anyone indulge in a regular night cap? Mulling over the idea as I have more bourbon in my shed than the local pub stocks.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Whenever I'm stressed or whatever the macho-acceptable word for stressed is, I have a drop of whatever single malt is in the house. On its own. Does the trick.

[Giggles]

I have more beer and sleep like a log. There's not a single spirit I can drink apart from vodka.

[niko_cee]

I was picked up a couple of Lidl 'Steam Beer' session IPAs.

Pros: 500ml cans
Cons: Germans should probably stick to their own styles [sorry And Union].

Very average.

There's also a 7.4%er to try, so we'll see how that goes.

[Ian]

I have found before that Belgian and German breweries don't often fare very well when venturing into unfamiliar styles. I did have a German-brewed Baltic Porter recently though and it was really nice.

Just now I am finishing off a Must Kuld varient by Pohjala. Estonians definitely know their stouts and porters.

[niko_cee]

The French are hilarious for it as well. Just badge up anything with whatever the style of the day is. Stick to the Pelforth etc, it's perfectly fine. Not everything has to be double dry hopped or have fecal characteristics.

[circlefood]

I like cocktail

[Baz]

Despite previously being limited to all inclusive hotel beer, Cruzcampo seems to be popping up everywhere. Are they doing the free Sky Sports if you sell it thing that Madri did, or something?

[Ben]

Did it used to be an independent thing? It's Heineken-owned now so this is their response to Coors' Madri.

[Ian]

I was in Inverness this week and went into a big Tesco because normally when I do that I find a bunch of stuff I've never had but it was a fairly generic selection.

Did get a couple of nice-sounding Vocation ones though, including a barrel aged mint chocolate stout which I'm very much looking forward to later.

[Ian]

https://www.leftfieldbeer.co.uk/product-page/white-dog-brewery-planet-caravan

This is the best IPA I've had in ages.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'm drinking a can of piña colada.

Yeah? Fuck you.

[Ian]

No judgement from me, Jimmy.

Is it your favourite cocktail?

[niko_cee]

Quite hard to get right, so I guess a can would spare you the misery of everything instantly separating out, as often happens.

[Jimmy Floyd]

No judgement from me, Jimmy.

Is it your favourite cocktail?

No, that's an Old Fashioned, but it's my favourite cocktail that I have in canned form in the fridge for some long forgotten reason.

[Ian]

An Old Fashioned is good. I go for an Espresso Martini or White Russian for choice but an Old Fashioned is good and I'll always settle for a Long Island Ice Tea if I just want a glass o' booze.

[Spikey M]

Old Fashioned is the only correct answer to be honest.

Pina Colada is a victim of TOXIC MASCULINITY, in the same way a Korma is. It's good shit, even if it the Steak, Beer, Fight (Live, Laugh, Love. Yeah, get it?) Brigade don't agree.

Please visit Pintrest for my Steak, Beer, Fight range.

[Baz]

Can't wait for this:

https://vaultcity.co.uk/cdn/shop/files/BubblegumBottles-13.jpg?v=1691509226&width=713

[Ian]

She's turned the cocktails against us, Spikey.

[Spikey M]

In this instance I'm laying the blame at the feet of Bamster and the lads. Leave me and my mimosa in peace.

(I've just found out a Mimosa is just what the Septics call Backs Fizz. SAD.)

[Jimmy Floyd]

Are SBFs all married to LLLs? If not, they should be, and leave the rest of us in peace.

[Lofty]

Can anyone recommend a decent bottle of single malt? Looking for a present for my Grandad's 80th.

[Ian]

Can anyone recommend a decent bottle of single malt? Looking for a present for my Grandad's 80th.

Any idea what sort of thing he's into and/or what your price range is?

[Lofty]

He seemed to enjoy a posh Macallan I got him ages ago, he isn't too fussy. Think his regular drink is Teachers. Obviously that is blended but he is a pensioner after all. I was looking to spend up to £150.

[Ian]

Having a quick glance (and I'm not going to recommend anything I haven't had as I don't follow whisky stuff to know the reputation) some suggestions would be:

https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/glengoyne/glengoyne-17-year-old-that-boutiquey-whisky-company-whisky/
Glengoyne 17 is fucking great BUT expensive and a bit above your planned range so probably not worth it if you don't think he's super fussy. But saw it listed on the site I use and didn't want to note mention it.


These two are both great, well within your range but among my favourite malts:
https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/balvenie/balvenie-14-year-old-caribbean-cask-whisky/
https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/lagavulin/lagavulin-16-year-old-whisky/


And lastly I really like the Pedro Ximinez whiskies and Glengoyne so this is a double whammy, BUT I'd definitely edge the 17 if you're splashing out and probably one of the cheaper two I posted above:
https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/glengoyne/glengoyne-pedro-ximenez-cask-finish-whisky/
The Lagauvlin 16 is the smokier / harsher of those two, if that makes any difference.

[Ian]

I can't remember who the other whisky lads in here are. I'll take a punt on @Kiko ?

[Baz]

How about some James Bond whisky?

[Lofty]

Cheers for that Ian, great stuff.

James Bond whisky?

[Shindig]

Honestly, most of the brands just merge together for me. Aberlour's the only one I remember because you can really taste the sherry. Alright for Christmas but I don't bother with it any other time of year.

[Foe]

Had a really cold bottle of blue wkd whilst watching the Luton West Ham game last night.

10/10. :wub:

[Baz]

James Bond whisky?
Here’s the guy now:

Had a really cold bottle of blue wkd whilst watching the Luton West Ham game last night.

10/10. :wub:

[Baz]

Gonna try to pick up one of these Oktoberfest boxes from Lidl (https://www.lidl.co.uk/p/octoberfest-beers/p87256) tomorrow.

[niko_cee]

Cheers for the tip, there's one down the road from me so shall also have a go.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Rum and pineapple tonight. My life has taken a distinct turn.

[niko_cee]

Champion combination.

What sort of rum?

I saw some Guernsey made 'Navy Gin' (https://www.masterofmalt.com/gin/three-fingers/blue-bottle-navy-gin/) the other day which I'd never heard of. Fifty seven percent.

[Jimmy Floyd]

'Havana Club' white rum, a mere 40%. Waitrose and partners had it. Probably the partners' idea.

[Baz]

Is all white rum as minging as Bacardi?

[niko_cee]

Probably not, although some of it is likely worse. Don't they go to about 70% abv on the real Caribbean rocket fuel stuff?

I'm more of an aged/añejo/dark rum sort of person. The one Havana Club do [as stocked by Waitrose and Partners] isn't bad.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'll give the darker stuff a go (not with pineapple) when the temperature dips under 30 in a few weeks' time. It's good to have communist-related bottles on display if nothing else.

[Giggles]

The place I normally buy from doesn't seem to be doing the Octoberfest beers this year. Haven't seen a peep.

[Ian]

I am going to a wine thing on Friday, which is a first. I do like wine and I'm finding it a bit better for the ol' calories so I may as well have some clue what I actually like and this seems a good way to try a bunch of stuff. And it's right by work.

[Foe]

Went to brew dog last night with a pal for a couple of pints. Had the old classic lost lager. Wasn’t bad!*

*tasted like lemonade

[niko_cee]

It wasn't some sort of radler was it?

No dice on the Lidl beers, so that was a miserable trip into the warzone for nothing. Had to buy some other tat as well to avoid being fined for parking. :moop:

[Baz]

Same. Wasn’t sure if I was just too early. Will nip again after work.

[Foe]

It was a shandy. :cool:

The lady behind the bar was so disappointed in me.

[niko_cee]

:D

There's probably some merit in going into one of their bars and asking for a Lost Top or some sort of bitter shandy just for the seethe lolz.

[Baz]

Same. Wasn’t sure if I was just too early. Will nip again after work.

Went to two. No dice. Got some NEIPAs instead.

[Baz]

Went Starbucks on the way to work for some caffeine and the woman on the machine asked if I wanted vanilla putting in my matcha latte. Game changer. It’s actually nice. And was also free cos my app had a star on. :)

[niko_cee]

The warzone came up trumps.

https://i.ibb.co/jrrgZYY/1694519485129519645963368625255.jpg (https://ibb.co/jrrgZYY)

[Giggles]

Half the place here has been to Newry and further afield looking for that one, but I don't think the nordies got it either.

[niko_cee]

10 bottles for £25 doesn't seem amazing value, and being all German with a lol tasting booklet my expectations aren't high. Maybe I'll fill in the little scorecard they suggest you do. Everyone loves a bit of ORGANISED FUN.

[Baz]

Offline Untappd. :drool: Classic Gavin & Stacey.

[Giggles]

10 bottles for £25 doesn't seem amazing value, and being all German with a lol tasting booklet my expectations aren't high. Maybe I'll fill in the little scorecard they suggest you do. Everyone loves a bit of ORGANISED FUN.

Any reports I've heard so far is that they're excellent.

[niko_cee]

Teishnacher 1543, 5.4% abv, kind of slightly unappealing muddy lager appearance, quite fizzy at first but then smooths out, it's not bad but it's not exactly great, but then I have no idea what I am looking for. Best bit is the bottle, 4/5 for that, 2/5 for colour/clarity/head, Aroma and Taste respectively. Overall 10/25. The only way is up, hopefully.

https://i.ibb.co/LvfVMY7/IMG-20230912-181614.jpg (https://ibb.co/LvfVMY7)

Scoring system is as follows. 1 - bad, 2 - OK, 3- better than average, 4 - good, 5 - Broken Dream Nitro/DEYA tier. If anything gets a zero we'll address that then.

[Baz]

10 out of 25, then the scoring is 1 to 5. :dirk:

[niko_cee]

Yeah, I think I got flummoxed by their being 5 scoring boxes, but the last one is Rank. 6/15 for the actual beer, 4/5 for the bottle.

[Ian]

This has reminded me: advent calendar. Need to confirm with my brother in law we're doing that again as it's nearly time to start buying.

[Baz]

This has reminded me: advent calendar. Need to confirm with my brother in law we're doing that again as it's nearly time to start buying.https://brewexport.co.uk/products/2023-advent-calendar-3-payments

[niko_cee]

Today's offering from the Fatherland was Wildbrau Kirtabier. Something like 5.7%. We'll give the bottle the same score [4] and the appearance was a bit better so let's give that a 3 even though the head lasted about 4 seconds [blame a dead glass], the rest was just bog standard meh. I'm sure it is a great example of whatever a Kirtabier is, but it just seems to me to be a marginally better beer than a standard lager. 7/15 plus the standard 4 points for it being in a nice bottle. Bring on the bastard witbier/weissbier/nicebier.

https://i.ibb.co/Rz9dqd2/IMG-20230913-175750.jpg (https://ibb.co/Rz9dqd2)

[Baz]

Nicebier. :D

[niko_cee]

We're getting there. Sort of third time lucky with Falter's [?] Pichelfteiner [?] Festbier. 5.9%, decent maltiness making it nice and smooth, decent hoppyness elevating it above run of the mill continental lager. That said, I'm not sure I would necessarily pick it as 'fancy' if you stuck it up against a Budvar or a Staropramen or something of that ilk, but maybe it isn't. At least it's 5.9% so I haven't just bought an expensive box of Beck's Viers, which is the general flavour train I feel like I'm on. Having never been, what's the deal with Oktoberfest anyway? From my understanding it's just a massive piss up so are all of these 'festbiers' actually just meant to be consumed until blind so who gives a fuck if they're anything other than run of the mill? Am I meant to drink the whole box in a night?

I'm going to give this one 3 across the board, which makes me wonder why 'aroma' is getting as much scoring weighting as 'taste' [not to mention the other two categories]. 9/15 feels like I'm being generous but there you go, it did hold its head for about a minute.

https://i.ibb.co/L9dPLZm/IMG-20230914-181757.jpg (https://ibb.co/L9dPLZm)

I had a quick scout and there is one weisse, the rest seem to be a variation on a festbier theme. Still awaiting the rhapsody.

[Raoul Duke]

Are you taking these pictures with a Nokia phone? Are you a time traveller?

[niko_cee]

I'm taking them with a shit phone undoubtedly. Also I don't think I let it focus on that last one at all so maybe it's extra bad.

They're like beer hostage photos, which is what they deserve at this point.

[Baz]

https://media.tenor.com/GehAl793458AAAAC/ken-jeong-small.gif

[niko_cee]

Isn't that the point of a thumbnail?

[Ian]

https://www.sirencraftbrew.com/beers/specials-and-collaborations/calypso-whiskey-sour

I'm having this. It's weird but I'm not against it.

[niko_cee]

Think I've got some Northern Monk things I'll have a try of later, in a break from the wurstenfestbier. A rocket lolly type thing and maybe some sort of custard one [maybe the Rhubarb one Baz was on about ages ago].

Edit - Fruit Crumble.

And a Tiny Rebel Pineapple Express.

Might be a bit of a sweetness overdose. Had a Tiny Rebel lemonade inspired IPA the other day and I found it a bit lemony.

[Baz]

Please review the Fruit Crumble. Apparently it’s only £1.69 in Sainsbury’s.

[niko_cee]

Will do.

Rocket Lolly has, perhaps unsurprisingly, bowled in smelling and tasting a bit too much like Vimto, or perhaps Tizer, or maybe even Um Bongo.

[Baz]

Well that sounds amazing.

[niko_cee]

Perhaps, not as a beer for me though.

As for the crumble, well, die oktoberfesten review is in an here it is.

It's very fruity [pink] in appearance. Taste is quite sour, but has that creamy lactose taste which I guess is meant to be the custard. Overall it's quite light in taste terms, but if you like that pink Hoegaarden one [does that exist] or things like that then this might be for you.

Appearance: PINK [3/5]
Taste: 3/5
Aroma: 4/5

https://i.ibb.co/bz1Z2cK/IMG-20230915-213943.jpg (https://ibb.co/bz1Z2cK)

[Baz]

Will do.

Rocket Lolly has, perhaps unsurprisingly, bowled in smelling and tasting a bit too much like Vimto, or perhaps Tizer, or maybe even Um Bongo.

Drove 6 miles (12 total) and bought three cans of this, two cans of fruit crumble and then another four out of Sainsbury’s 3 for 4 deal. :drool:

[Baz]

Rocket Lolly is not good.

[niko_cee]

I warned you.

[Baz]

I warned you.Nothing like Tizer though.

I need to clean my teeth and I’ve only had two mouthfuls. :D

[niko_cee]

Yeah, I was spreading my bets on which it tasted like [I assume all three of those I listed don't taste the same, I'm not a regular consumer of any of them].

[Baz]

Tizer is the secret best pop, but they don’t do a sugar free version (afaik) so I never have it either.

[niko_cee]

I did learn Tizer is made in Cumbernauld, which was of passing interest as where it's my Scotch family reside [good god what a place]. Good to hear they haven't gone down the Irn Bru route [although I don't mind Irn Bru Extra or whatever it is],

[Giggles]

Extremely pleased with my festbier. Been sitting in a keg since July.

[Ian]

I did learn Tizer is made in Cumbernauld, which was of passing interest as where it's my Scotch family reside [good god what a place]. Good to hear they haven't gone down the Irn Bru route [although I don't mind Irn Bru Extra or whatever it is],

Cumbernauld isn't far from me and is a tip. Mostly one consisting of roundabouts.

[niko_cee]

Do they still have [or did they ever have?] a roundabout with two large mounds that was locally know as looking like a giant pair of, well, . . . ?

Went to the Firebird Brewery (https://firebirdbrewing.com/) this evening and it was pretty cool. Some decent beers although they didn't have any of their DIPA.

The only problem with these small brewery sites is that whilst I'm happy to pay £5+ a pint to have it in a venue, I don't really like paying an equivalent price for cans to take away.

Unbarred and Dark Star were similar.

[Giggles]

I've just had 7 pints of Guinness and one large bottle of Guinness. The bottle is overrated.

[Ian]

The only problem with these small brewery sites is that whilst I'm happy to pay £5+ a pint to have it in a venue, I don't really like paying an equivalent price for cans to take away.

I've tried to get past this especially for the pricier/weirder shit. It's stupid that I'll spent whatever for a half in a taproom of something obscure but then I see a can of it for better value and in my head I'm going "Well that's a bit steep...."

[niko_cee]

I don't know if it was initial bad luck, or me becoming more accustomed to them, but the festbiers have really picked up since I stopped reviewing them.

[Baz]

1707455564425330994

Let’s say you’ve won an unspendable amount of money and for some unfathomable reason, you put a bar in your house.

What five pumps are you having?

[Giggles]

Carlsberg was too easy pickings there to be going after San Miguel.

[Giggles]

My 5 would be:

Rothaus Pils
Beamish Irish Stout
Pikeman Red Ale
Timothy Taylor Landlord
Treaty City Invasion

[niko_cee]

Raided the darks section at Sainsbury's and came away with a couple of Northern monks [Choc Ice Stout and what looks like a Black Forest Gateau type thing], a brew by numbers mocha porter and a wiper and true espresso stout or something.

The Choc Ice is alright. Maybe a bit sweet and light in ABV terms [4.5%] but drinkable.

Wouldn't having draft beer on tap in your own home be rubbish unless you got through heroic amounts of it?

[Giggles]

Wouldn't having draft beer on tap in your own home be rubbish unless you got through heroic amounts of it?

My 4 home brew taps can last months without any quality drop off. Unless you're wanking around with cask then a sealed keg connected to CO2 will be happy days.

[Ian]

1707455564425330994

Let’s say you’ve won an unspendable amount of money and for some unfathomable reason, you put a bar in your house.

What five pumps are you having?

How boring do you want me to be here? Can I pay off indie breweries to start making regular amounts of something they only made as a one off or do you want me to be less of a cunt about it? :D

[niko_cee]

You could probably buy the breweries.

That'd be the way to go, sod having your own bar, have your own pet brewery.

[Giggles]

How boring do you want me to be here? Can I pay off indie breweries to start making regular amounts of something they only made as a one off or do you want me to be less of a cunt about it? :D

Just name 5 beers you like.

[Ian]

Well Tennents and Tennets Super obviously make the cut.....

[Ian]

You could probably buy the breweries.

That'd be the way to go, sod having your own bar, have your own pet brewery.

This is probably true to be fair. I wonder how much Siren would want to be mine.

"Right lads, remember when you made beers that weren't Caribbean Chocolate Cake variants? Yeah, well, that's not a thing now. Chop chop."

[Mike]

Well Tennents and Tennets Super obviously make the cut.....
Two of each with a fruit cider for the ladies?

[niko_cee]

The Brew by Numbers No. 10 Mocha Porter is pretty decent, as was the Wiper and True Espresso Martini Stout. I thought the choc ice was a bit too desserty, so the 8% Northern Monk Gateaux may not fare so well later on, although at that ABV I am hopeful.

[Foe]

Unless you’re drinking a couple of pints a night that’s a bit of a false economy right? Surely the stuff will just go off? Better off just having a massive fridge filled with bottles?

Sod buying into something like that too, you’d get sucked into stuff and hate it. Better to just go them with a stack of coin and ask them to brew you something unique surely?

Kopparberg raspberry on tap would be :drool:

[niko_cee]

Yeah, clear door fridges stacked with cans/bottles would clearly be a much better way to go [although apparently the going off thing doesn't apply to CO2 kegged stuff].

[Baz]

Yeah I can’t think of a legitimate reason to have FIVE pumps in your house, unless you’re Vincent Chase or something.

[Ian]

Foe talking about false economies in the 41m scenario. A true Scotsman.

[niko_cee]

The Northern Monk Black Forest Gateaux is good. Pretty heavy cake flavour, but boozy enough [8%] to get away with it.

[Foe]

Foe talking about false economies in the 41m scenario. A true Scotsman.

If you win 41, throw me a couple and I’ll see if I can figure out an optimisation for the rest of your wealth on the beer front.

[niko_cee]

Got a NEIPA by The Stewart Brewing Company or somesuch from Lidl.

It's a bit meh. Not terrible, but barely worth the £1.79 or whatever it cost.

[Baz]

Got a NEIPA by The Stewart Brewing Company or somesuch from Lidl.

It's a bit meh. Not terrible, but barely worth the £1.79 or whatever it cost.
I reckon I had the same one when I bought it in a chinny cos I couldn’t get the Oktoberfest box and quite liked it. :baz: Galaxy Amarillo?

[niko_cee]

That's the one.

[niko_cee]

Phoenix IPA and Broken Dream Nitro on ASDAs 4 for 3 deal. Weekend sorted. :drool:

[Ian]

Broken Dream. :drool:

[niko_cee]

Yeah, those two definitely make my 5 tap list if the standard is things that aren't super niche.

[Giggles]

Got some fine German shit for this weekend :cool:

[Baz]

Neck Oil being in the majority of pubs nowadays is definitely an improvement.

[Giggles]

Neck Oil being in the majority of pubs nowadays is definitely an improvement.

Did it go to shit at all under Heineken like Lagunitas or have they left it alone?

[Ian]

As far as I can tell the beer is much the same but the price is now about £6.50 a go.

In Glasgow at least, but Glasgow's getting pricier for beers everywhere if you don't want to have to crowbar your feet off the floor of a pub.

[Giggles]

I'm travelling to near Glasgow again soon. So long as they've Belhaven I'm good.

[Waffdon]

All about the T, mate.

[Ian]

A mate of mine rates every pint of Tennants he has on a Facebook group called the "Big Juicy Appreciation Society" and every time I see him doing it I tell him it's worth than me rating everything I have.

Also it will surprise nobody who's read more than about three of my posts in here to read the description of this and know I think it's incredible:
https://beakbrewery.com/products/valleys-11-imperial-stout

What a thing.

[niko_cee]

Saw some Brewdog amber ale in the supermarket today which I haven't seen before, Shore Leave. Seemed to be priced on a par with the mainstream stalwarts like Doom Bar and Tribute. Anyone tried it? Is it a new thing?

[Baz]

I won’t be in a hurry to do so.

Going Liverpool at the end of November with a lad who’s always in Brewdog pubs so no doubt we’ll end up going, so might have it then.

[niko_cee]

I'm not expecting the earth, but it's a quid a can in Tesco at the moment.

I ended up in the safe harbour of Whitstable Bay in the end anyway.

[Baz]

A quid a can you say? Individual 440ml, or like 6 for £6?

People on Untappd seem to compare it to watered down Doom Bar, while also scoring it relatively high, so who knows.

[niko_cee]

£4 for 4 on clubcard at the moment.

Watered down Doom Bar doesn't sound great, seeing as that's usually around the same £1 per can price in one of the big supermarkets in the 10 pack.

Tesco does look to have a few decent beers in it's 4 for 3 offer, including Buxton Kingslayer, so I may venture over there and give the shore leave a go.

[Ian]

Saw some Brewdog amber ale in the supermarket today which I haven't seen before, Shore Leave. Seemed to be priced on a par with the mainstream stalwarts like Doom Bar and Tribute. Anyone tried it? Is it a new thing?

I think it's relatively new, I haven't tried it yet.

[niko_cee]

Polly's Infinifold IPA is very drinkable, perhaps dangerously so for something pushing 6%.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Morrisons (I truly shop around these days) had a massive sales display for 'Black Heart' stout by Brewdog, thankfully I managed to resist the temptation but I thought it was a bit odd to be pushing a stout that hard in a supermarket.

[niko_cee]

Sainsbury's have Camden's Stout on offer at the moment, which I've not seen before an was going to inquire in here as to whether it's passable. 'Darks' tend to come out at this time of year from smaller brewers, or it's when home brewers switch to them, so the supermarket algorithm has probably told them that's the thing to do.

[Ian]

Morrisons (I truly shop around these days) had a massive sales display for 'Black Heart' stout by Brewdog, thankfully I managed to resist the temptation but I thought it was a bit odd to be pushing a stout that hard in a supermarket.

They are more common now (in supermarkets, I mean) and Brewdog in particular just get a lot of promo for these things. And Black Heart is basically just baby's first 'craft' stout, it probably sells well anyway. The former version under the name of Jet Black Heart did.

Anyway, I've got some nice stouts to come this eve but currently it's a Northern Monk DDH IPA. And very nice it is too.

[niko_cee]

I just had some sort of Northern Monk 6.5%er which was decent enough.

Never got any Kingslayer though which now seems an oversight as I have to sit through me children watching Strictly.

[Giggles]

Sampling some Harviestoun beers I picked up in Jockoland a couple of weeks ago. Nice stuff, nothing wild but very well made.

[Ian]

Did you manage to get any of the Ola Dubh variants?

[niko_cee]

I had some of that Camden stout on draft the other day and it's a decent pub stout.

[Ian]

I saw cans of that but decided I couldn't be arsed getting it for the house. Might give it a go if I see it out at some point.

[Giggles]

Did you manage to get any of the Ola Dubh variants?

No I think those are flavoured with spirits so avoided.

[Raoul Duke]

I have a Polish sour and a Scandi coffee porter for the evening. Weird combo

[Ian]

No I think those are flavoured with spirits so avoided.

I'd forgotten you're not into any barrel stuff so yeah, steer clear.


I have a Polish sour and a Scandi coffee porter for the evening. Weird combo

Which breweries?

[Raoul Duke]

No idea. There's a cracking beer shop a couple of streets down from me and so I go there and the guy who works there sorts me out with all sorts of random stuff. Usually has a few UK things in like Siren too.

The porter was absolutely rank and went down the sink so I went to the shop and bought some other stuff. Currently on a Kompaan "Meet the Levensgenieter", whatever that is.

[niko_cee]

Saw an Aunt Bessie's Jam Roly Poly IPA from Northern Monk at ASDA and thought of Baz so had to get one.

[Baz]

How is it?

My mate sent me a pic of the apple crumble one, presumably from the same range.

I recently had a Yorkshire pudding beer from Aldi. Tasted nothing like Yorkshire puddings and was very drinkable. Would have it again.

[niko_cee]

Yeah, not bad, strong sweet aroma, taste is alright, not sure I can ever tell the difference between all of these odd pudding IPA varietals.

It's Jam Roly Poly and Custard incidentally. Think it's a bit better than the Rhubarb and Custard one, although my wife says it tastes nothing like Jam Roly Poly and Custard, but is still alright, which is fair. Not sure it's worth 3 quid.

[Baz]

Ah yeah one perk of the Yorkshire pudding Aldi one is it’s £1.75 for a 500ml bottle.

[Ian]

Yeah, not bad, strong sweet aroma, taste is alright, not sure I can ever tell the difference between all of these odd pudding IPA varietals.

It's Jam Roly Poly and Custard incidentally. Think it's a bit better than the Rhubarb and Custard one, although my wife says it tastes nothing like Jam Roly Poly and Custard, but is still alright, which is fair. Not sure it's worth 3 quid.

X flavour Y never tastes anything like X.

Nobody would ever buy 90% of crisps if they expected it to.

[Ian]

So I'm drinking this:
https://www.tremblingmadness.com/Staggeringly-Good-I-Didnt-Ask-for-a-Monster-Toffee-Apple-Fruit-Beer-p414566532

A "toffee apple cinnamon fruit shake sour."

They've somehow managed to combine the fresh, sharp fruit of a sour with the sort of warm, spiced, rich things you'd expect in a big thick wintery ale. With lactose, for the "shake" part. I've no idea how they've married those things together and I suspect it'll be a very marmite beer depending on your taste. I ordered it half expecting to hate it but I really, really like it.

Many moons ago I had the above. Today I'm having this which isn't as good, but nearly is and has very similar vibes:
https://vaultcity.co.uk/products/pear-vanilla-cinnamon-swirl

[Ian]

https://i.ibb.co/9GvtqnP/image.png

I genuinely said aloud to myself "Oh god it's green!" Tasty though, love a lime sour.

[Giggles]

In a hotel that actually has a pale ale option but it's hard to pass the Guinness after a long week.

[Ben]

My Mrs bought a bottle of Toscana Rosso from Aldi (£9.99), their copy of Tignanello which goes for £150 a bottle. It's really fucking decent. :thbup:

[niko_cee]

I've been trying out a few extremely budget Lidl wines of late and they're pretty decent.

You're never going to win over a wine snob, but if you're a pleb raised on a historic dislike of the Mururoa Atoll nuclear tests then it's perfectly serviceable stuff.

Might give that one a try, although the Aldi here isn't out of the ground yet.

[Kikó]

Was drinking plum porter last night. Bit like having a shit version of Guinness and black. Decent enough for a few though.

[Kikó]

I've been trying out a few extremely budget Lidl wines of late and they're pretty decent.

You're never going to win over a wine snob, but if you're a pleb raised on a historic dislike of the Mururoa Atoll nuclear tests then it's perfectly serviceable stuff.

Might give that one a try, although the Aldi here isn't out of the ground yet.

Lidl has good stuff. The wife regularly tops up the wine shelf with it and she is a wine snob (or more she doesn't like bad wine). I'm all over their cheapo limoncello and Aperol - both very good substitutes for the real stuff.

[Ian]

Advent calendar day 1:

I got: https://www.pintplease.com/en/beer/339117/friday_feeling_honeycomb_stout
And it's lovely.

I gave: https://waterintobeer.co.uk/products/twilight-pilgrim#:~:text=The%20nights%20are%20drawing%20in, stout%20an%20instant%20autumnal%20classic.
Which I only realised after I'd bought it has more Halloween-y vibes so let's pretend I was doing an autumn-into-winter thing.

[Ben]

Prosecco :facepalm:

[Ian]

Hey, nothing wrong with a prosecco. I mean I wouldn't sit and drink it for choice but y'know.

[Ben]

We’ve also got Bailey’s, which I’ll have in a coffee later.

Out for the football tomorrow so will restore my manhood with lots of Guinness.

[Ian]

I've never bought Baileys in my life but it was a tenner a bottle in Sainsburys earlier and am now wishing I had. Might dip back in and see if they still have that offer.

[Mike]

I was never into Baileys but the last few years I’ve really got the taste for it.

[niko_cee]

Nearly stuck a Baileys in my coffee this morning, what with it being the first of December and all and me being off to watch a nativity, just about held off, more through absentmindedness than anything.

A litre for £10 in Sainsbury's is a mega deal.

I've been sampling Lidl's Deluxe Aussie wines and they really are top value, particularly seeing as they feature both the Coonawarra and Limestone Coast which are regions [or maybe a region] close to my heart.

[Baz]

Brewexport advent calendar again this year. Day 2 doesn’t sound like my cup of tea but I imagine Ian would enjoy it.

As Above So Below (10%) Imperial stout brewed with coffee, granola and maple syrup.

[Ian]

Sounds like a me!

Today I gave: https://www.vocationbrewery.com/products/death-by-margarita-4-5-salted-lime-sour-440ml
And got: https://www.brewtoon.com/item/237/BrewToon/EL-JUICY-440ml-Can.html

[Baz]

After some advice regarding girly drinks.

Going to the rugby stadium for my christmas do and there are a few things to consider: the pints are either Madri or some awful bitter called Red V. I don’t want to drink those. I also don’t want to get too drunk at the party because we’ve a taxi into town at 1, where I can let loose without senior leadership team thinking I’m on drugs.

So my question is, what is a nice drink I can have about 5 or 6 of and enjoy and not be leathered? Malibu? Gin? Not vodka.

[Mike]

Spiced Rum and Coke or Gin and Lemmo, Pink or Sloe.

[niko_cee]

Malibu? Pink gin? Affair in the mud.

Just drink the Madri you big fanny. Or wine.

[Mike]

For the record, I'd also just drink the Madri.

[Baz]

Affair in the mud.This is part of my reasoning for not wanting to go overboard. So we can remain platonic soulmates and not fall out cos I tried to feel her up.

[niko_cee]

Feeling overcome by the spirit of the season I just topped up a 440ml Camden Stout with Baileys to make it a pint. Separation issue with the Baileys probably holds it back from being an all-time game-changer, but in taste terms it probably beats 90% of fancy dan pastry stouts.

Probably should have recalled the cement mixer of days gone by.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The spirit of what season? The Ghost of Christmas Past hasn't even slept through his alarm yet and you're blowing up Anglo-Irish relations anew?