Well @IAgree , it doesn't look like we really share the same taste in beers. IPA isn't amongst my favourite types of ale (apart from the proper ones that are 6%+). Most of what's served up in pubs nowadays is both too thin and has too bitter an aftertaste for my palate.
I love this time of year precisely because it marks the end of the summer ales' domination of the hand-pumps. Message to any publicans on here (I know there are a few): If you take a look at the marketing bumfodder that accompanies your beers and find that you have two or more with the word 'citrus' in the description, that means that you have at least one too many. I'm not sure why, but it's really been all the rage this year and it's seriously getting on my nerves.
I've put some recommendations below for darker beers. They are all 'capable of catching light' as you so nicely put it. I don't think you'll find too many bitters on the list though, as my tastes tend to be for richer, sweeter and stronger ales. Anyway, here goes:
Adnams, Broadside. One of the better breweries, I don't think they do a bad beer. You'll have to go a long way to find a better beer on handpump than this.
Adnams, Tally-Ho. Tally-Ho is their top of the range dark ale. At 7.2%, it may be a little strong for some people's tastes. For the second christmas running though, I've got a crate on order. Can't wait.
Badger, Poachers Choice. According to the label, it's a beer with a 'fruity plumage'. I don't know what that means, but it's hard to disagree. Probably the tastiest beer you'll ever see in a supermaket.
Batemans, XXXB. Only 4.8%, more flavoursome than it's percentage suggests.
Bath Ales, Gem. Beautifully smooth.
Beavertown, Smog Rocket. Delightful smoked porter. The only beer in a can that I am recommending.
Boss Black, Stout. A rare case of a nice beer from Wales.
Brooklyn Brewery, Chocolate Stout. Fantastic velvety chocolate flavour. Amazingly though it's brewed without using chocolate so I've no idea how they get it to taste so chocolaty.
Broughton, Oatmeal Stout. The oatmeal really gives it a thicker texture than you'd expect from a beer of just 4.2%. It's like drinking porridge. Beautiful, beautiful porridge.
Broughton, Old Jock. Smooth texture, great taste. Colchester Brewery, Brazilian. Practically everything from the Colchester Brewery is good, but this is the pick of the bunch. The smell of coffee and vanilla hits you before you've had a sip. It's wonderful.
Colchester brewery, Red Diesel. Very drinkable beer from the handpump.
Fullers, ESB. London Pride is OK, but it's always worth stepping up the quality a little.
Fullers, Golden Pride. Full flavoured bottled beer. I'd recommend it as the accompanyment to a sunday lunch.
Holt's, Sixex. Very flavoursome beer. Only available in bottles.
Jennings, Sneck Lifter. Great taste.
Moorhouse, Pendle Witches Brew. Another great tasting beer from the north. It's not all Tetley's and stupid sparklers up there.
Nethergate Umbel Magna. If you fancy trying something a little different, try this. You can taste the corriander.
Phoenix, Wobbly Bob. Best draft beer I've had this year.
Thwaits, Nutty Black. It's only 3.9% and has the refreshing abilities you might associate with a weaker beer, but it's still packed with flavour.
Tring, Crowning Glory. If you can get to the Edgar Wallace near Temple tube, you might be lucky enough to get this on draught, otherwise the bottled stuff is lovely.
Tring, Death or Glory. Best new bottled beer I've had this year. At 7.2% it's a tad stronger than Crowning Glory.
Various, Oyster Stouts. These are lovely beers really smooth and easy to quaff – though not for vegetarians. Probably the easiest to get in the south east is Marstons, though my favourites come from further afield: Dark Island from Orkney or Oystermouth from The Mumbles.
Well's, Sticky Toffee Pudding Ale. A fun one. Not sure if they're just testing the market or if it's here to stay, but it's worth a try.
Wychwood, Dunkel Fester. Brilliantly named and appropriately dark beer that's part of the Wychwood halloween range. For those that like drinking at home this is probably the biggest bargain on the list because you can get it in Aldi for £1.25 a bottle.
Wychwood, Hobgoblin. Probably the best of the easily availible draft beers.
Young's, Double Chocolate Stout. Smooth texture, great flavour.
I'll give you a gooden, Marks & Spencer bottled Suffolk Bitter, made by Adnams and about 5.2%. I'm not a massive fan of bottled beer but this is superb. Also Fullers Bengal Lancer, an IPA, is very, very good. Of course you could always pop into The Long Pond for some fresh tasty ales. We have mainly concentrated on Kent ale since we started but next week, 5th-8th November we are holding a mini festival with all beers from South London breweries such as Cronx, Southwark, Brick, Hop Stuff, Late Knights, Canopy and Brockley. We will have at least 8 different beers on and sometimes 10.
Well @IAgree , it doesn't look like we really share the same taste in beers. IPA isn't amongst my favourite types of ale (apart from the proper ones that are 6%+). Most of what's served up in pubs nowadays is both too thin and has too bitter an aftertaste for my palate.
Whitstable bay organic ale I have been drinking a good bit of of late, found quite a good little bar/pub in London bridge called heeltap, think they do there own stuff aswell.
Whitstable bay organic ale I have been drinking a good bit of of late, found quite a good little bar/pub in London bridge called heeltap, think they do there own stuff aswell.
Whitstable bay organic ale I have been drinking a good bit of of late, found quite a good little bar/pub in London bridge called heeltap, think they do there own stuff aswell.
Whitstable Bay is one of my favourites too.
oh I love the stuff, only started drinking it when I was down broadstairs a while back and my uncle was drinking it so I gave it a try and now I love the it,so refreshing.
Well @IAgree , it doesn't look like we really share the same taste in beers. IPA isn't amongst my favourite types of ale (apart from the proper ones that are 6%+). Most of what's served up in pubs nowadays is both too thin and has too bitter an aftertaste for my palate.
I love this time of year precisely because it marks the end of the summer ales' domination of the hand-pumps. Message to any publicans on here (I know there are a few): If you take a look at the marketing bumfodder that accompanies your beers and find that you have two or more with the word 'citrus' in the description, that means that you have at least one too many. I'm not sure why, but it's really been all the rage this year and it's seriously getting on my nerves.
I've put some recommendations below for darker beers. They are all 'capable of catching light' as you so nicely put it. I don't think you'll find too many bitters on the list though, as my tastes tend to be for richer, sweeter and stronger ales. Anyway, here goes:
Adnams, Broadside. One of the better breweries, I don't think they do a bad beer. You'll have to go a long way to find a better beer on handpump than this.
Adnams, Tally-Ho. Tally-Ho is their top of the range dark ale. At 7.2%, it may be a little strong for some people's tastes. For the second christmas running though, I've got a crate on order. Can't wait.
Badger, Poachers Choice. According to the label, it's a beer with a 'fruity plumage'. I don't know what that means, but it's hard to disagree. Probably the tastiest beer you'll ever see in a supermaket.
Batemans, XXXB. Only 4.8%, more flavoursome than it's percentage suggests.
Bath Ales, Gem. Beautifully smooth.
Beavertown, Smog Rocket. Delightful smoked porter. The only beer in a can that I am recommending.
Boss Black, Stout. A rare case of a nice beer from Wales.
Brooklyn Brewery, Chocolate Stout. Fantastic velvety chocolate flavour. Amazingly though it's brewed without using chocolate so I've no idea how they get it to taste so chocolaty.
Broughton, Oatmeal Stout. The oatmeal really gives it a thicker texture than you'd expect from a beer of just 4.2%. It's like drinking porridge. Beautiful, beautiful porridge.
Broughton, Old Jock. Smooth texture, great taste. Colchester Brewery, Brazilian. Practically everything from the Colchester Brewery is good, but this is the pick of the bunch. The smell of coffee and vanilla hits you before you've had a sip. It's wonderful.
Colchester brewery, Red Diesel. Very drinkable beer from the handpump.
Fullers, ESB. London Pride is OK, but it's always worth stepping up the quality a little.
Fullers, Golden Pride. Full flavoured bottled beer. I'd recommend it as the accompanyment to a sunday lunch.
Holt's, Sixex. Very flavoursome beer. Only available in bottles.
Jennings, Sneck Lifter. Great taste.
Moorhouse, Pendle Witches Brew. Another great tasting beer from the north. It's not all Tetley's and stupid sparklers up there.
Nethergate Umbel Magna. If you fancy trying something a little different, try this. You can taste the corriander.
Phoenix, Wobbly Bob. Best draft beer I've had this year.
Thwaits, Nutty Black. It's only 3.9% and has the refreshing abilities you might associate with a weaker beer, but it's still packed with flavour.
Tring, Crowning Glory. If you can get to the Edgar Wallace near Temple tube, you might be lucky enough to get this on draught, otherwise the bottled stuff is lovely.
Tring, Death or Glory. Best new bottled beer I've had this year. At 7.2% it's a tad stronger than Crowning Glory.
Various, Oyster Stouts. These are lovely beers really smooth and easy to quaff – though not for vegetarians. Probably the easiest to get in the south east is Marstons, though my favourites come from further afield: Dark Island from Orkney or Oystermouth from The Mumbles.
Well's, Sticky Toffee Pudding Ale. A fun one. Not sure if they're just testing the market or if it's here to stay, but it's worth a try.
Wychwood, Dunkel Fester. Brilliantly named and appropriately dark beer that's part of the Wychwood halloween range. For those that like drinking at home this is probably the biggest bargain on the list because you can get it in Aldi for £1.25 a bottle.
Wychwood, Hobgoblin. Probably the best of the easily availible draft beers.
Young's, Double Chocolate Stout. Smooth texture, great flavour.
I have to say that I too avoid some IPAs for similar reasons and tend to go for ones about the 5% + mark - not always the best session ales however ( or the best depending on point of view!).
I have tried some of those suggested , but not most so will see if I can take a few in over the next few weeks.
Dare I mention it but I have had some very nice and strong Belgium Beers - one thing that they do excell at!
Whitstable bay organic ale I have been drinking a good bit of of late, found quite a good little bar/pub in London bridge called heeltap, think they do there own stuff aswell.
Whitstable Bay is one of my favourites too.
Thirded!
Runs out in my local supermarket though, think people want to drink Whitstable Bay in Whitstable!
Well @IAgree , it doesn't look like we really share the same taste in beers. IPA isn't amongst my favourite types of ale (apart from the proper ones that are 6%+). Most of what's served up in pubs nowadays is both too thin and has too bitter an aftertaste for my palate.
I love this time of year precisely because it marks the end of the summer ales' domination of the hand-pumps. Message to any publicans on here (I know there are a few): If you take a look at the marketing bumfodder that accompanies your beers and find that you have two or more with the word 'citrus' in the description, that means that you have at least one too many. I'm not sure why, but it's really been all the rage this year and it's seriously getting on my nerves.
I've put some recommendations below for darker beers. They are all 'capable of catching light' as you so nicely put it. I don't think you'll find too many bitters on the list though, as my tastes tend to be for richer, sweeter and stronger ales. Anyway, here goes:
Adnams, Broadside. One of the better breweries, I don't think they do a bad beer. You'll have to go a long way to find a better beer on handpump than this.
Adnams, Tally-Ho. Tally-Ho is their top of the range dark ale. At 7.2%, it may be a little strong for some people's tastes. For the second christmas running though, I've got a crate on order. Can't wait.
Badger, Poachers Choice. According to the label, it's a beer with a 'fruity plumage'. I don't know what that means, but it's hard to disagree. Probably the tastiest beer you'll ever see in a supermaket.
Batemans, XXXB. Only 4.8%, more flavoursome than it's percentage suggests.
Bath Ales, Gem. Beautifully smooth.
Beavertown, Smog Rocket. Delightful smoked porter. The only beer in a can that I am recommending.
Boss Black, Stout. A rare case of a nice beer from Wales.
Brooklyn Brewery, Chocolate Stout. Fantastic velvety chocolate flavour. Amazingly though it's brewed without using chocolate so I've no idea how they get it to taste so chocolaty.
Broughton, Oatmeal Stout. The oatmeal really gives it a thicker texture than you'd expect from a beer of just 4.2%. It's like drinking porridge. Beautiful, beautiful porridge.
Broughton, Old Jock. Smooth texture, great taste. Colchester Brewery, Brazilian. Practically everything from the Colchester Brewery is good, but this is the pick of the bunch. The smell of coffee and vanilla hits you before you've had a sip. It's wonderful.
Colchester brewery, Red Diesel. Very drinkable beer from the handpump.
Fullers, ESB. London Pride is OK, but it's always worth stepping up the quality a little.
Fullers, Golden Pride. Full flavoured bottled beer. I'd recommend it as the accompanyment to a sunday lunch.
Holt's, Sixex. Very flavoursome beer. Only available in bottles.
Jennings, Sneck Lifter. Great taste.
Moorhouse, Pendle Witches Brew. Another great tasting beer from the north. It's not all Tetley's and stupid sparklers up there.
Nethergate Umbel Magna. If you fancy trying something a little different, try this. You can taste the corriander.
Phoenix, Wobbly Bob. Best draft beer I've had this year.
Thwaits, Nutty Black. It's only 3.9% and has the refreshing abilities you might associate with a weaker beer, but it's still packed with flavour.
Tring, Crowning Glory. If you can get to the Edgar Wallace near Temple tube, you might be lucky enough to get this on draught, otherwise the bottled stuff is lovely.
Tring, Death or Glory. Best new bottled beer I've had this year. At 7.2% it's a tad stronger than Crowning Glory.
Various, Oyster Stouts. These are lovely beers really smooth and easy to quaff – though not for vegetarians. Probably the easiest to get in the south east is Marstons, though my favourites come from further afield: Dark Island from Orkney or Oystermouth from The Mumbles.
Well's, Sticky Toffee Pudding Ale. A fun one. Not sure if they're just testing the market or if it's here to stay, but it's worth a try.
Wychwood, Dunkel Fester. Brilliantly named and appropriately dark beer that's part of the Wychwood halloween range. For those that like drinking at home this is probably the biggest bargain on the list because you can get it in Aldi for £1.25 a bottle.
Wychwood, Hobgoblin. Probably the best of the easily availible draft beers.
Young's, Double Chocolate Stout. Smooth texture, great flavour.
I have to say that I too avoid some IPAs for similar reasons and tend to go for ones about the 5% + mark - not always the best session ales however ( or the best depending on point of view!).
I have tried some of those suggested , but not most so will see if I can take a few in over the next few weeks.
Dare I mention it but I have had some very nice and strong Belgium Beers - one thing that they do excell at!
Not sure if its been mentioned before, but Chapel Down Brewery (Kent based) do a great lager called 'Curious' Brewed in champagne hops, it won the beer equivalent of The Oscars.
Well the Trust AGM was an eye opener, beer and pub wise. How can a pub have an advance booking for 70+ people and then fail to ensure it has its ales in? The bugle Horn had no draught ale whatsoever. I managed to get the last bottle of pride and from then on it was bottled light ale. Quite a retro experience that.
Then we went to the White Swan afterwards. I asked at the bar what ales they had and a customer recommended what he was drinking, a dark looking brew which he said was called "coffee" something. But, he said, you need to like coffee. He wasn't kidding. It was a very interesting beer. But I would not drink more than one in an evening. Then at around 11.15 the old British ritual of slinging out the customers commenced. Well I suppose it's better than 10.50 but what happened to the liberalisation of opening hours?
The White Swan is a nice pub, otherwise.
Anyway tonight I should be able to get to the Long Pond after 9.00 ish so if any Lifers are there it would be great to have a chat about what's going on. See you later, @riviera
Not sure if its been mentioned before, but Chapel Down Brewery (Kent based) do a great lager called 'Curious' Brewed in champagne hops, it won the beer equivalent of The Oscars.
My absolute favourite at the minute.
Apparently their Porter is brilliant too, need to track some down.
Well @IAgree , it doesn't look like we really share the same taste in beers. IPA isn't amongst my favourite types of ale (apart from the proper ones that are 6%+). Most of what's served up in pubs nowadays is both too thin and has too bitter an aftertaste for my palate.
I love this time of year precisely because it marks the end of the summer ales' domination of the hand-pumps. Message to any publicans on here (I know there are a few): If you take a look at the marketing bumfodder that accompanies your beers and find that you have two or more with the word 'citrus' in the description, that means that you have at least one too many. I'm not sure why, but it's really been all the rage this year and it's seriously getting on my nerves.
I've put some recommendations below for darker beers. They are all 'capable of catching light' as you so nicely put it. I don't think you'll find too many bitters on the list though, as my tastes tend to be for richer, sweeter and stronger ales. Anyway, here goes:
Adnams, Broadside. One of the better breweries, I don't think they do a bad beer. You'll have to go a long way to find a better beer on handpump than this.
Adnams, Tally-Ho. Tally-Ho is their top of the range dark ale. At 7.2%, it may be a little strong for some people's tastes. For the second christmas running though, I've got a crate on order. Can't wait.
Badger, Poachers Choice. According to the label, it's a beer with a 'fruity plumage'. I don't know what that means, but it's hard to disagree. Probably the tastiest beer you'll ever see in a supermaket.
Batemans, XXXB. Only 4.8%, more flavoursome than it's percentage suggests.
Bath Ales, Gem. Beautifully smooth.
Beavertown, Smog Rocket. Delightful smoked porter. The only beer in a can that I am recommending.
Boss Black, Stout. A rare case of a nice beer from Wales.
Brooklyn Brewery, Chocolate Stout. Fantastic velvety chocolate flavour. Amazingly though it's brewed without using chocolate so I've no idea how they get it to taste so chocolaty.
Broughton, Oatmeal Stout. The oatmeal really gives it a thicker texture than you'd expect from a beer of just 4.2%. It's like drinking porridge. Beautiful, beautiful porridge.
Broughton, Old Jock. Smooth texture, great taste. Colchester Brewery, Brazilian. Practically everything from the Colchester Brewery is good, but this is the pick of the bunch. The smell of coffee and vanilla hits you before you've had a sip. It's wonderful.
Colchester brewery, Red Diesel. Very drinkable beer from the handpump.
Fullers, ESB. London Pride is OK, but it's always worth stepping up the quality a little.
Fullers, Golden Pride. Full flavoured bottled beer. I'd recommend it as the accompanyment to a sunday lunch.
Holt's, Sixex. Very flavoursome beer. Only available in bottles.
Jennings, Sneck Lifter. Great taste.
Moorhouse, Pendle Witches Brew. Another great tasting beer from the north. It's not all Tetley's and stupid sparklers up there.
Nethergate Umbel Magna. If you fancy trying something a little different, try this. You can taste the corriander.
Phoenix, Wobbly Bob. Best draft beer I've had this year.
Thwaits, Nutty Black. It's only 3.9% and has the refreshing abilities you might associate with a weaker beer, but it's still packed with flavour.
Tring, Crowning Glory. If you can get to the Edgar Wallace near Temple tube, you might be lucky enough to get this on draught, otherwise the bottled stuff is lovely.
Tring, Death or Glory. Best new bottled beer I've had this year. At 7.2% it's a tad stronger than Crowning Glory.
Various, Oyster Stouts. These are lovely beers really smooth and easy to quaff – though not for vegetarians. Probably the easiest to get in the south east is Marstons, though my favourites come from further afield: Dark Island from Orkney or Oystermouth from The Mumbles.
Well's, Sticky Toffee Pudding Ale. A fun one. Not sure if they're just testing the market or if it's here to stay, but it's worth a try.
Wychwood, Dunkel Fester. Brilliantly named and appropriately dark beer that's part of the Wychwood halloween range. For those that like drinking at home this is probably the biggest bargain on the list because you can get it in Aldi for £1.25 a bottle.
Wychwood, Hobgoblin. Probably the best of the easily availible draft beers.
Young's, Double Chocolate Stout. Smooth texture, great flavour.
I have to say that I too avoid some IPAs for similar reasons and tend to go for ones about the 5% + mark - not always the best session ales however ( or the best depending on point of view!).
I have tried some of those suggested , but not most so will see if I can take a few in over the next few weeks.
Dare I mention it but I have had some very nice and strong Belgium Beers - one thing that they do excell at!
You're forgetting our chocolate ...
Indeed! Love Ghent too and have had several memorable breaks in the Ardennes and two of the best meals of my life! I did also go to a wedding in Ghent which was great except that I really did struggle with the wedding breakfast! Normally I will eat pretty much anything and long as it's vaguely dead but this did defeat me!
Not sure if its been mentioned before, but Chapel Down Brewery (Kent based) do a great lager called 'Curious' Brewed in champagne hops, it won the beer equivalent of The Oscars.
My absolute favourite at the minute.
Apparently their Porter is brilliant too, need to track some down.
It's a great lager. Very popular in the pubs down my way.
I've not had the porter, but I've heard the same thing. They do an IPA too which is good.
Had some nice beer at a football match, of all things, the other day. Went to see Dulwich Hamlet and had a pint of Late Knights Crack of Dawn (a good session pale ale), followed by a green hopped Clarkshaw's ale, called Green Gorgons, but the pint of the night was Beatnik from the Gipsy Hill brewery. Three South London ales - and at the football too.
Since we opened we have mainly concentrated on Kentish beers, from tomorrow though as part of the Eltham Arts Society Winter Festival we are having a South London Beer Festival. We will have at least 8 different beers on over the weekend from the following breweries, Hop Stuff, Southwark, Brockley, Brick, Cronx and Canopy.
Theakson's Old Peculier and Robinsons Old Tom ....my ales of choice. Used to get Old Pec at the Little Gem in Aylesford back in the 80's. Also The Bell at Smarden. Has become popular bottled beers now, but always best out of the barrel, sitting by a open fire in Winter.
Theakson's Old Peculier and Robinsons Old Tom ....my ales of choice. Used to get Old Pec at the Little Gem in Aylesford back in the 80's. Also The Bell at Smarden. Has become popular bottled beers now, but always best out of the barrel, sitting by a open fire in Winter.
If you still live that way then you are very lucky. There are so many new fantastic breweries in Kent and plenty of pubs that serve their beers straight from the barrel. Drinking Yorkshire beers in Kent these days should really be an offence.
Comments
I love this time of year precisely because it marks the end of the summer ales' domination of the hand-pumps. Message to any publicans on here (I know there are a few): If you take a look at the marketing bumfodder that accompanies your beers and find that you have two or more with the word 'citrus' in the description, that means that you have at least one too many. I'm not sure why, but it's really been all the rage this year and it's seriously getting on my nerves.
I've put some recommendations below for darker beers. They are all 'capable of catching light' as you so nicely put it. I don't think you'll find too many bitters on the list though, as my tastes tend to be for richer, sweeter and stronger ales. Anyway, here goes:
Adnams, Broadside. One of the better breweries, I don't think they do a bad beer. You'll have to go a long way to find a better beer on handpump than this.
Adnams, Tally-Ho. Tally-Ho is their top of the range dark ale. At 7.2%, it may be a little strong for some people's tastes. For the second christmas running though, I've got a crate on order. Can't wait.
Badger, Poachers Choice. According to the label, it's a beer with a 'fruity plumage'. I don't know what that means, but it's hard to disagree. Probably the tastiest beer you'll ever see in a supermaket.
Batemans, XXXB. Only 4.8%, more flavoursome than it's percentage suggests.
Bath Ales, Gem. Beautifully smooth.
Beavertown, Smog Rocket. Delightful smoked porter. The only beer in a can that I am recommending.
Boss Black, Stout. A rare case of a nice beer from Wales.
Brooklyn Brewery, Chocolate Stout. Fantastic velvety chocolate flavour. Amazingly though it's brewed without using chocolate so I've no idea how they get it to taste so chocolaty.
Broughton, Oatmeal Stout. The oatmeal really gives it a thicker texture than you'd expect from a beer of just 4.2%. It's like drinking porridge. Beautiful, beautiful porridge.
Broughton, Old Jock. Smooth texture, great taste.
Colchester Brewery, Brazilian. Practically everything from the Colchester Brewery is good, but this is the pick of the bunch. The smell of coffee and vanilla hits you before you've had a sip. It's wonderful.
Colchester brewery, Red Diesel. Very drinkable beer from the handpump.
Fullers, ESB. London Pride is OK, but it's always worth stepping up the quality a little.
Fullers, Golden Pride. Full flavoured bottled beer. I'd recommend it as the accompanyment to a sunday lunch.
Greene King, Suffolk Springer. Beautiful rich ale.
Holt's, Sixex. Very flavoursome beer. Only available in bottles.
Jennings, Sneck Lifter. Great taste.
Moorhouse, Pendle Witches Brew. Another great tasting beer from the north. It's not all Tetley's and stupid sparklers up there.
Nethergate Umbel Magna. If you fancy trying something a little different, try this. You can taste the corriander.
Phoenix, Wobbly Bob. Best draft beer I've had this year.
Thwaits, Nutty Black. It's only 3.9% and has the refreshing abilities you might associate with a weaker beer, but it's still packed with flavour.
Tring, Crowning Glory. If you can get to the Edgar Wallace near Temple tube, you might be lucky enough to get this on draught, otherwise the bottled stuff is lovely.
Tring, Death or Glory. Best new bottled beer I've had this year. At 7.2% it's a tad stronger than Crowning Glory.
Various, Oyster Stouts. These are lovely beers really smooth and easy to quaff – though not for vegetarians. Probably the easiest to get in the south east is Marstons, though my favourites come from further afield: Dark Island from Orkney or Oystermouth from The Mumbles.
Well's, Sticky Toffee Pudding Ale. A fun one. Not sure if they're just testing the market or if it's here to stay, but it's worth a try.
Wychwood, Dunkel Fester. Brilliantly named and appropriately dark beer that's part of the Wychwood halloween range. For those that like drinking at home this is probably the biggest bargain on the list because you can get it in Aldi for £1.25 a bottle.
Wychwood, Hobgoblin. Probably the best of the easily availible draft beers.
Young's, Double Chocolate Stout. Smooth texture, great flavour.
Of course you could always pop into The Long Pond for some fresh tasty ales. We have mainly concentrated on Kent ale since we started but next week, 5th-8th November we are holding a mini festival with all beers from South London breweries such as Cronx, Southwark, Brick, Hop Stuff, Late Knights, Canopy and Brockley. We will have at least 8 different beers on and sometimes 10.
Couldnt agree more, think it is rank.
Rev James is up there with the best.
I have tried some of those suggested , but not most so will see if I can take a few in over the next few weeks.
Dare I mention it but I have had some very nice and strong Belgium Beers - one thing that they do excell at!
Runs out in my local supermarket though, think people want to drink Whitstable Bay in Whitstable!
Won't be to everyone's taste (and was bloody expensive at that) but I thought it was delicious.
Then we went to the White Swan afterwards. I asked at the bar what ales they had and a customer recommended what he was drinking, a dark looking brew which he said was called "coffee" something. But, he said, you need to like coffee. He wasn't kidding. It was a very interesting beer. But I would not drink more than one in an evening. Then at around 11.15 the old British ritual of slinging out the customers commenced. Well I suppose it's better than 10.50 but what happened to the liberalisation of opening hours?
The White Swan is a nice pub, otherwise.
Anyway tonight I should be able to get to the Long Pond after 9.00 ish so if any Lifers are there it would be great to have a chat about what's going on. See you later, @riviera
Apparently their Porter is brilliant too, need to track some down.
It's a great lager. Very popular in the pubs down my way.
I've not had the porter, but I've heard the same thing. They do an IPA too which is good.
Jaipur, which is a bit stronger than I'd normally go for at 5.9%, but is too delicious for me to pass up.
And Oakham's Citra. Much more sensible at 4.2% and absolutely lovely.
You could spend hours on this site.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/34836397/leeds-pub-garden-floods-men-go-for-pint-anyway
It's called the Flippin' Frog and is on Rochester High Street
If you are in the area, it's well worth a visit