[JoeC]

Am I alone in that I find the majority of 'Craft' or 'Artisan' beers pretty disgusting and invariably overpriced when compared to a decent pint of Broadside or even Doombar (hated though it is by the purists)?

Rob P

Hasn't that always been the case? Real ale enthusiasts being the spotters of the pub world, more interested in trying than taste...

[PaulSS]

Greene King invented IPA

IPA was around at least half a century before Greene King came into being and there's evidence it may have been in the 17th Century, let alone the last year of the 18th.

I'm sure with most of the American breweries (including the micro kind) that they just add more and more hops (or chemicals designed to taste like hops) until there's no taste of anything else. They're far too hoppy for my taste and I can't say I'm a micro-brewery fan because of that.

Having said all that, I live in a place where anything warm just isn't going to cut it, so have to resign myself to a stubby and a bloody cold fridge

[lobstaboy]

American hops are very different to traditional English hops - they give it a citrussy flavour. And yes, they're more like a lager than what we gentlemen of a certain age would undertand as IPA.

[lobstaboy]

Am I alone in that I find the majority of 'Craft' or 'Artisan' beers pretty disgusting and invariably overpriced when compared to a decent pint of Broadside or even Doombar (hated though it is by the purists)?

Rob P

Hasn't that always been the case? Real ale enthusiasts being the spotters of the pub world, more interested in trying than taste...

That's a bit harsh! Without CAMRA you wouldn't have any "real ale" or craft beer.

Somewhere I still have my fathers 1971 edition of the Good Beer Guide. Its very thin (being the first one I think).

[Genghis the Engineer]

I agree with Rob.P in the most part. A lot of these "craft beers" are overpriced and, basically, involved somebody playing with ideas and getting somebody else to pay for their experiments.

I'm a home brewer, and also enjoy a pint at my local - mostly bitters and milds, very occasionally an IPA in hot weather. I occasionally play with flavours at home but mostly that is "art for arts sake" and I wouldn't inflict it on too many unsuspecting innocents. I have some mild on the go at the moment that I'm going to try flavouring with vanilla for a few bottles to see how it works - but again, this is me playing.

I've had a few I liked - bitter with rum (I'm thinking Wadworth's Swordfish), or smoked porter can work rather nicely in the right place and time.

But basically the best beers are invariably those which involve, well, beer - done well and unpretentiously. There's already a lot of variation there to play with after all.

G

[JoeC]

That's a bit harsh!

Sorry. I've been damaged from being surrounded by millennials who think that because something has been made 'locally' in a upcycled ( ) bin at the bottom of an 'authentic' ( ) council allotment then given an ironic name pasted onto a hipsteresque hand printed label (paper sourced ethically from India) then it is good. Not only good but worthy of photographing, sharing, instagramming and relentlessly talking about. However good doesn't need to equate to what said local, authentic 'ale' tastes like (or costs - like the £5 our local 'artisan' bakers get these chumps to pay for a small white loaf, because they've not washed their hands when making it or something). Indeed the more difficult said 'ale' or bread is to eat or drink due to its foul nature the more 'authentic' it becomes. A vicious circle that will end with these idiots probably ending up eating their own entrails whilst sat on a home-made three-legged chair in an urban 'forest' ironically placed next to a dual carriageway.

They will also say that they like to drink 'Ale'.

'Beer?' I will retort.

'No. Ale' they will say.

Ale. In Sheffield. In 2017. Just the thought of one of these self-obsessed tits standing in a local pub asking what "ales' they have makes me want to punch myself in the face. Again and again.

[Paultheparaglider]

You're all just going about it the wrong way...

http://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-asia-3 ... -beer-yoga

[Highland Park]

At least we're not back in the "halcyon" days of Watney's Red Barrel or Worthington E....

[Paul_Sengupta]

I've got a can of Double Diamond in the fridge.

[seanxair]

Works wonders

[lobstaboy]

Sorry. I've been damaged from being surrounded by millennials...


...'No. Ale' they will say.

Ale. In Sheffield. In 2017. Just the thought of one of these self-obsessed tits standing in a local pub asking what "ales' they have makes me want to punch myself in the face. Again and again.

I feel your pain!

[Rob P]

No you're wrong

Try these:
Battle of Britain, Wolf Brewery
anything from the Panther Brewery
Lacons Legacy
Woodfords Nelson's Revenge (which I prefer to Wherry, but its a close thing)

I have tried both the Woodfords and neither have been to my taste. That's not saying they are bad beers, just not ones that appeal to my palate.

But I wouldn't class them as craft beers either in the derogatory sense outlined above by Joe C. Just the products of a local brewery sold at realistic prices.

Rob P

[lobstaboy]

Fair enough. But I am old enough to remember when it was rare to find a real beer in most pubs, so I tend to forgive a little pretension as long as I can drink the stuff I like. And there is a whole stratum of local breweries now (ok not poncey craft breweries) that didn't exist 25 years ago. We should celebrate that.

[Chris Martyr]

I've got a can of Double Diamond in the fridge.

Paul,,,you're skating on very thin ice now mate . First you "swear" by mentioning Gr**n* K*ng and now this ,

Highland Park is also heading for a "three strikes & your out" deal with those two offensive words that he just mentioned..
The term "craft beers" is starting to get just a tad over-used these days . We in the UK have a fantastic selection of smaller ,local breweries and that is exactly what they are and some of their products are quite outstanding . We are certainly a lot better off these days for specialist beers than we ever were back in the 1970s.
What's starting to really put the mockers on it all though , is what some of "them across the pond" are doing. Some of their "craft brewers" are just the big guys in disguise and many of their "craft beers" are just alco-pops masquerading as grown-ups drinks.
I've just got back from a great week flying in Florida and as an amateur cider maker myself [ ] was keen to try a few of their "craft ciders" . Bloody mistake that was !
The "craft beer" pub had a whole range of "craft ciders" : Lemon flavour , Blackberry flavour , Vanilla flavour , ,,,,,,,,plus a whole shed load more. I asked if they had any apple "flavour" cider and was served with a glass of "hard cider" which tasted vaguely of apples , but was so artificially sweetened , it was more like Lucozade.
I do shudder slightly these days when the term "craft beer" is used . Unfortunately , it's just another case of our language being pillaged by the Yanks . Craft,,? More like 'crafty'. Beer,,,,,,,,,errmmm almost..

USA , great for flying. As for the beer , you might as well stick with draft Bud . At least you KNOW that it's rubbish.
We're very lucky over here , I believe there are 40 small specialist brewers in Sussex alone . Let's hope they can leave the 'C' word out of their strategy.

[cockney steve]

The scene:-
Southend, late 60's, The Nore, the world's biggest handicap sailing- race hosted by Benfleet Yacht Club. Said club's venerable ex. M .N. Steward, Joe, was in charge of the Watney's beer- marquee. The brewer, having made a substantial loan to the Club, was sole beer- provider to the Club,-and by extension, the Nore-race.

Of course, a group of Watney's Worthies was proudly watching copipus quantities of their product being consumed.
Enter a group of BYC young members. "Pint O' Rubbish, Joe" " make that 3 more Rubbish and a bottle of....

Joe, without missing a beat, grabs mugs and heads straight to the Red Barrell tap.
The top brass sank in their seats as it became obvious that all BYC members held their gaseous chemical confection in the same low esteem.

When the "tie" finished, we had a celebratory delivery of Abbott's from Shepherd and Neame's. Happy days!
After the Upnor race, one year, the participants drank the local pub dry, including the optics! After that, the Landlord requested forewarning and stocked- up in advance.