craft beer

[StraferJack]

they upped Heineken form around 4% to 5% a few years back, so you do get a fuller mouthful these days - ie it's not piss

But it is genero-lager

[????]

StraferJack Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Bossman may be the single thing that shifts me

> away from lifelong lager drinking

>

> I'm only on the pale ale type stuff but I know the

> line has been crossed

It's a gateway drink as a wise bird told me. You'll be on Fudgeries, old Kneewhacker and sporting a non-ironic beard by October. Actually I like most craft beer but they are not 'live'. In the pub I drink real beer at home the old wifebasher at 5.2% does the trick*

*note Stella in the supermarkets is weaker 4.8 so therefore tastes crap like all weak lagers (well, let's be honest almost all lagers)

[DaveR]

I went to the Rake in Borough Market recently. Ironic and non-ironic beards in harmony over fantastic beer. I'm not bothered about specifically 'craft' beer, just good beer, and it is noticeable that even big breweries are producing better stuff, and pubs are stocking a wider range.

BTW does anybody know why the Draft House only has one bitter on draft? It's always seemed odd to me.

[El Pibe]

"I'm not bothered about specifically 'craft' beer, just good beer, and it is noticeable that even big breweries are producing better stuff"

This

[????]

The other factor is that pubs have re-learnt how to look after proper beer again. In the 80s and 90s the art (certainly in London) was almost lost, so even when you did have a real ale it was often off becuase not enough people were drinking it and it wasn't getting the care and attention it needed from many guvnors. Now, i know I can more or less rely on most (many) pubs to serve a decent ale so I rarely drink lager out of the home now*

*exceptions being when it's very hot, i'm very pissed or the pub's a craphole

[maxxi]

DaveR Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I went to the Rake in Borough Market recently.

> Ironic and non-ironic beards in harmony over

> fantastic beer. I'm not bothered about

> specifically 'craft' beer, just good beer, and it

> is noticeable that even big breweries are

> producing better stuff, and pubs are stocking a

> wider range.

>

Love The Rake bar - used to buy from the UtoBeer boys in the mkt when I lived up that way. Good beer, good choice.

['bout now]

DaveR Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I went to the Rake in Borough Market recently.

> Ironic and non-ironic beards in harmony over

> fantastic beer. I'm not bothered about

> specifically 'craft' beer, just good beer, and it

> is noticeable that even big breweries are

> producing better stuff, and pubs are stocking a

> wider range.

>

> BTW does anybody know why the Draft House only has

> one bitter on draft? It's always seemed odd to

> me.

*group hug*

[numbers]

oh wow thank you to everyone for fab suggestions and replies! lots to check out. yes, I have been to Boss Man, great selection there and a real asset to LL.

daveR - yep the rake bar is a fave of mine too. never manage to get a seat inside but like all good pubs, you never have to wait that long to get served, no matter how packed the bar area is.

am particularly interested to find out more about london microbreweries so cheers for that netts and voyageur, place in crystal palace sounds fab as does kernel brewery.

I find I have to search out nice delis/specialist vintners to pick up local beers/microbrewery beers altho supermarkets sell more choices nowadays. maybe i am a sucker for nice packaging & labels dulwichfox!! I think I want to grow my own hops, go on a mashing course and sell beer for the rest of my life...:))

PS oooooh i loved Louisa on the street food thread, its all fun stuff. we can still appreciate street food, no? good debate was had.

[Annette Curtain]

El Pibe Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> That's a bit unfair DF.

> Craft Beer is all about experimentation and

> breaking with accepted traditions.

> Like anything some of it works some of it doesn't,

> but the world's a better place for the trying.

>

> Else we'd all be eating jellied eels and...oh

> wrong thread ;)

Come on Pib's

You know what D "Jack Dee of the forum" F is ALL about.

Take anything "fun" and he'll put a knitting needle down the jap's eye of it.

[Horsebox]

A while back the Draft House had some delicious 'Left Hand Milk Stout' from San francisco. It wasn't cheap but was very tasty and I highly recommended if you see it.

[numbers]

sounds good horsebox, how could I forget about draft house! cheers.

[Draft House LL]

Hey All

This is David the new manager of The Draft House, got some fantastic beers coming up soon as we are running a Hop the Pond promo. There will be a massive range of American crafts including some really special rare one offs! as far as my cask selection I am looking at all of the marvellous (very) local brewers we have on our doorstep and will be showcasing the best London ales out there!

Coming on in the next couple of days is a Brooklyn dry Irish stout (its amazing)and Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye a big bold pale ale.

In Cask I have Clarence and Fredericks Golden and their IPA, Sambrooks Wandle, Pin Up, and Tommy (brewed in Herne Hill)

One of the plans I am looking to put into play is to enlist you guys in choosing what I stock! If you have any favourites let me know and I will get them shortlisted, then will get them up on a board in the bar so that you can vote for what's being served on the bar.

See you at the bar

Dave

[titch juicy]

In the draft house a couple of weeks ago i Got given a Golden Draak as a recommendation (not on menu, so didn't see price until girl opened it and put it in the till)--- delicious beer....?8.95 a bottle. Three days later had exactly the same in belgo, Covent garden for ?5.50.

Outrageous rip off in the draft house

[woodrot]

StraferJack Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Bossman may be the single thing that shifts me

> away from lifelong lager drinking

>

> I'm only on the pale ale type stuff but I know the

> line has been crossed

bossman - shit name but wonderful slection of beers.

[Jeremy]

?9. Holy shit.

Yep, Bossman is good. Might go down there in a bit, actually...

[Annette Curtain]

Bossman will get stuff in if you ask them.

Bossman is such a terrible bad name (which in itself makes it quite brilliant)

[????]

I remember when it was only me who liked Bossman

[StraferJack]

Then they stopped selling tins

[Annette Curtain]

StraferJack Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Then they stopped selling tins

:))

[numbers]

Interesting article on the use of the word 'craft' by the beer industry http://www.londonlovesbusiness.com/business-news/business/browns-beer-big-beer-brands-stop-pretending-you-were-crafted-by-a-guy-in-a-shed/4949.article

titch oh no that's not good. was it def the same beer, seems a hell of a lot more to pay for it in ED than Covent Garden?

I spent 4.50 on a bottle of N2B black widow stout and 3.95 on their IPA. expensive habit but suppose it forces you to drink less... I'd only have spent it on wine otherwise. http://www.norfolksquarebrewery.co.uk/#!maverikbeers/c200s Didn't like the porter at all.

[numbers]

Nice post on here from the Draft House btw.

[titch juicy]

Yes, definitely same beer. The draft house manager sent me a nice pm apologising for not being made aware of the price until the bottle had been opened and explaining that as Belgo are Belgian beer specialists they get a big bulk discount. He also offered to buy me a beer next time I'm passing.

numbers Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Interesting article on the use of the word 'craft'

> by the beer industry

> http://www.londonlovesbusiness.com/business-news/b

> usiness/browns-beer-big-beer-brands-stop-pretendin

> g-you-were-crafted-by-a-guy-in-a-shed/4949.article

>

>

> titch oh no that's not good. was it def the same

> beer, seems a hell of a lot more to pay for it in

> ED than Covent Garden?

>

> I spent 4.50 on a bottle of N2B black widow stout

> and 3.95 on their IPA. expensive habit but suppose

> it forces you to drink less... I'd only have spent

> it on wine otherwise.

> http://www.norfolksquarebrewery.co.uk/#!maverikbee

> rs/c200s Didn't like the porter at all.

[Jeremy]

numbers - the word "craft" is definitely overused, such as the two examples given in the article of Goose Island and Blue Moon. I always just thought "craft beer" was the American equivalent of "microbrew"... another term which seems a little misleading when brands like Meantime and Brewdog are starting to appear all over the place. But at the end of the day, if the beer tastes good I'll still buy it.

[El Pibe]

I think the trend started with small scale producers in the US, but I think these days the term really just covers anything that isn't coors, bud et al.

I think there's an element of an intentioanl break with traditional beer methods and a lot more experimentation, something that has really begun to take off over here to, with, as I said, mixed results.

[Chillaxed]

ElmGrove, you can order Bath Gem through Ocado - from memory it's an OK price too.

I am enjoying the new Sovereign Golden Ale from M&S at the mo'.