1845 on tap

[stronk]

I went to the Wenlock Arms about 2 weeks ago and found (much to my surprise) 1845 on tap as a guest. I was a bit hungover (port, not beer!), so I could only manage half a pint at lunch time, but I think it was among the best beers I have ever had. Forgive me Richard, but I think it was better than the bottled version, even though it was never intended for kegs.

It was a bit odd, though, because I thought it was only allowed in keg form at the 8 pubs listed on the Fullers website. Anyone know anything about this?

[chazwicke]

I hope they have more! I'm heading for London next Friday and Wenlock Arms is one pub I intend to hit. I have not been there on prior trips.

[Richard English]

Quote "...1845 on tap as a guest..." and "... it was never intended for kegs..."

Just to be sure we are talking of the same brew - was it tap, keg or cask (draught)? My bet is that it was cask since I can't imagine that Fuller's would subject 1845 to the processing required for kegging. Unfortunately I know the terms are often used interchangably in the USA - but they do not mean the same thing in England.

If it was cask (and that means cask-conditioned) then I have drunk it and, as I say, actually prefer it bottled - although it's a fine brew on draught.

When I drunk it I found it at several Fuller's houses, not justv the ones on the site.

[stronk]

Sorry: draught. I homebrew and I never (for obvious reasons) use casks, so I forget that a keg is not a cask.

Apparently ageing 1845 is a good idea. People say it takes the edge off the bitterness and makes it slightly more complex. I have found the same to be true of Hen's Tooth: age it a few months past its sell-by date and it certainly does not taste bad (I keep Morland's bottles wrapped in newspaper and in a cellar. Why do they insist on using clear bottles?).