Where Can I find Courage Director's Outside of the UK?

[Kevin Tansey]

Became a fan studying in England a few years ago. Haven't found it anywhere in the U.S. or Europe...any thoughts?

Thanks!

[evilredlight]

The LC in nova scotia Canada carries it
And I think I've seen/bought it in an Ontario LCBO,

so it is IN North America! but how do you get it? I don't know!

[Kevin Tansey]

Canada, eh? Did some rummaging in Toronto a few years back and struck out...found a good pub though.

Am actually living in Germany now. Was hoping that it would be easier to come by here than in the US but have still had poor luck. Any insight into distribution would be much appreciated!

Cheers.

[Richard English]

There is a bottled version but it's not so good as the draught. Legend has it that Directors is a fussy beer and this is why some pubs won't take it, even in England. I very much doubt that you'll find it on draught outside the UK.

[chris_o]

Originally posted by Richard English
There is a bottled version but it's not so good as the draught. Legend has it that Directors is a fussy beer and this is why some pubs won't take it, even in England. I very much doubt that you'll find it on draught outside the UK.

Fussy or gone downhill? In the dark keg-dominated days of the seventies, in the West Country, this was (until Smiles, Butcombe, Cotleigh et al arrived) a beacon of light when all around was darkness. I can't remember really enjoying a pint of Directors for many a long year. I often wonder whether beers that I relished when the choice was limited have really deteriorated or I have fallen into the rose-tinted spectacles trap. Brewing it several hundred miles away from its original location can't help. At least we in the UK have the option of drinking it it in cask form.

[Richard English]

Quote "...Fussy or gone downhill..."

I was maybe unclear in what I said. By fussy I simply meant that it was not an easy beer to keep. A good pint of Director's is a fine drink - but you don't always find that it is a good pint.

The apocryphal tales are that it is a difficult beer to keep.

[chris_o]

Originally posted by Richard English
Quote "...Fussy or gone downhill..."

I was maybe unclear in what I said. By fussy I simply meant that it was not an easy beer to keep. A good pint of Director's is a fine drink - but you don't always find that it is a good pint.

The apocryphal tales are that it is a difficult beer to keep.

Sorry if I gave the impression that you were not being clear, Richard. I certainly didn't intend that. It's just that, no matter how well it's kept, I struggle to find Directors very exciting these days.

[Theakston]

It's been several years since I had a pint of draft directors but it was a decent pint. However, I read that it is now brewed by John Smiths.
If that's true it can't be good news.:eek:

[MeridianFC]

The last pint I had of the Directors (12/03, London) was not bad but it certainly wasn't anything to write home about. Granted at the time I was on a pretty spectacular odyssey of British beer exploration so it could be a question of relativity.

I think I know where Chris O. is coming from. There's many the beer that I have fond remembrances of from "back in the day" that I have nowadays that don't strike me as quite as grand as I remember. Has the beer changed or have I? Or both?

[stronk]

The way to tell is to get someone young to try the beer, or someone who hasn't tasted it before. I'll try to find it (as soon as sodding Lent's over, of course) and tell you what I make of it (being both young and new to the beer).