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!

[Theakston]

Depends where you are. Try posting this in the region you are in and you might get better results. While it's not one of my favorites I'm pretty sure I've seen it in a few stores / bars in the DC area.

[Theakston]

Also it is unlikely that you would find it on cask in the USA.
If you like this style you might want to investigate other Englsih beers such as Fullers 1845 or Youngs SLA. Better also mention Coniston Bluebird before ChazwickE throws me to the sailfish.

[Kevin Tansey]

Right - thanks for the heads up. Have jumped at any cask ale I've found in the States, still few and far between, but will be sure to check out those you mentioned.

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.

[steveh]

Where in Germany are you Kevin? I have some friends in Stuttgart, Freiburg, and Munich I could put on the case. Then again, have you tried any of the Alts available? They might quench a thirst.

S.

Hey Theakston - is that a Dogfish Head t-shirt you're wearing in that new avatar?

[Kevin Tansey]

Steve

I'm also in S. Germany, in Heidelberg (kinda between Frankfurt and Stuttgart). If your friends have ever come across any ale here in Deutschland, I'd love to know where. Wouldn't mind any recommendations on local brews either - have only just started to dig in.

Cheers
KT

[steveh]

Originally posted by Kevin Tansey
Wouldn't mind any recommendations on local brews either - have only just started to dig in.

I'll ping 'em this morning - I owe them a Happy Friday - our office battle cry for today!

For a start, the two from Stuttgart have a favorite called, Rothaus (the brand) Eis Zapfle (the label) from a brewery in the Black Forest. It's advertised as a Marzen, but they brought me a bottle last year and I found it light in color for that style. However, it was very rich, malty, and smooth - pretty tasty.

http://www.rothaus.de/html/02biere/020_biere_noflash_fs.htm

BTW - it's not an Eisbock, as the name might suggest.

S.

[Kevin Tansey]

Steve,

Thanks on both accounts...I'll give the Rothaus a shot this weekend.

Cheers
KT

[Theakston]

Originally posted by steveh

Hey Theakston - is that a Dogfish Head t-shirt you're wearing in that new avatar?

Yup. from the brewpub in Rehoboth. The picture was taken a couple of weeks ago in a brewpub on Josh Van Dyke in the BVIs.
Nice islands, shame about the beer. :(
I should have taken some dogfish beer instead of the shirt.

[MeridianFC]

Originally posted by 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!

Not that this information is truly definitive, but it's good enough for my purposes, the main man at Chevy Chase Wine & Spirits says that Courage Directors Bitter is not available in the US at all to the best of his knowledge. A man carrying nearly 1,000 beers should know what he's talking about.

[steveh]

Originally posted by MeridianFC
A man carrying nearly 1,000 beers should know what he's talking about.

Yeah, should being the operative word. Not to question your particular purveyor, but I've been through plenty a paint store with a lot of great beer and wine, and the owners and employees don't know a thing other than the price (and possibly the "great deal" they're giving you).

Brew-pubs are another bad story - I love a bar-tender at a brew-pub who doesn't know a damn thing about the beer they're pouring. To hear a tender tell a customer that the cask ale they're offering on the hand-pump is "...just the same as the regular tap version of the ale, it's just served warmer." H'okay, check please!

S.

[steveh]

Originally posted by Kevin Tansey
Thanks on both accounts...I'll give the Rothaus a shot this weekend.


Kevin - did you ever sample the Rothaus?

I received some recomendations from my friends in S. Germany. Neither of them are big English ale fans, mostly Alts and Pils, but they sent along some ideas.

The first said that he'd dined in this Heidelberg brew-pub that had very good brew: http://www.heidelberger-kulturbrauerei.de Looks pretty nice.

The other says to look for Augustiner Bräu Edelstoff, it's very good and somewhat difficult to find - to that he passed along the link to a large German liquor store chain, one in Darmstadt, that claims to be the largest beer store in the world. A quick look showed some Young's products, but I'd bet it has some less common English ales as well - along with the Augustiner: http://www.maruhn.de

Viel Gluck!
S.

[Kevin Tansey]

Steve

Yea, I picked some up last weekend. Was only able to find the Hefeweisen, though. Was that what your friend recommended?
Good stuff.

Thanks again for the tips. Looks like I can find some good alternatives at the Darmstadt shop. If it really is the biggest beer store in the world, I don't suppose my chances of finding Courage anywhere else are very good. Strange. Seemed to be a source of pride in many of the pubs I knew in London, but having visited again recently, was harder to find. From other posts, sounds like it's being brewed by John Smith's know. If anything, thought that might enhance distribution....

Best
KT

[chazwicke]

Originally posted by Theakston
Also it is unlikely that you would find it on cask in the USA.
If you like this style you might want to investigate other Englsih beers such as Fullers 1845 or Youngs SLA. Better also mention Coniston Bluebird before ChazwickE throws me to the sailfish.


LOL!!

[steveh]

Originally posted by Kevin Tansey
Yea, I picked some up last weekend. Was only able to find the Hefeweisen, though. Was that what your friend recommended? Good stuff.

The Rothaus Eis Zapfle, it's labeled as a Marzen, so it might be seasonal, but I can't be sure.

S.