London Pride

[beer-head]

Hi guys,

anyone not out there tried the greatest beer in the world, = London Pride. Go to a fullers pub and try it at once, that is an order !!

[Richard English]

London Pride is an excellent beer and has the advantage of being readily available throughout the UK (although I suspect not the USA)

I would not necessarily say it is the best, since this must be a matter of taste. With around 5,000 different beers brewed in the UK, it's quite difficult even to choose a favourite, let alone decide on "the best".

[beer-head]

Hi Richard, which is your fav beer then ???, and where do you live ?

[Richard English]

As I said, with so many beers to try it's quite difficult to have a favourite. To some extent it will depend on what the pub has available at the time of my visit.

All good free houses (those not owned by a brewery) will have a range of beers - usually at least three, rarely more than ten - and I will choose from that range.

In the weaker beer range I am very fond of Welton's Pride and Joy (Horsham, Sussex) which, at only 2.7% abv can be drunk all day without intoxication. In spite of its low gravity it is a very full-bodied and flavoursome beer.

Mid -range beers that I like include Young's ordinary bitter (Wandsworth, London); Fuller's Chiswick (Chiswick, London); Shepherd Neame Bitter (Faversham, Kent).

Stronger favourites include Fuller's Lonfon Pride; Courage Directors (not Courage Bitter which is poor); Wells Bombardier (Bedford).

Strong beers I enjoy include Fullers ESB; Hall and Woodhouse HSB.

That's just some of the South of England's draught (draft) beers. Bottled beers are another area entirely and, as I have already mentioned, I like Fuller's 1845. I also enjoy Youngs SLA; Coniston Bluebird; Hogs Back TEA; Hop Back Summer lightning.

With the choice we have in England there seems little reason to bother with the products of other countries, but I do enjoy Lion Stout (Sri Lanka); Goose Island IPA (USA); Jenlain (France); Budweiser Budvar (Czech Republic - no connection with the US Budweiser); Just about anything from Belgium that doesn't come from one of the major breweries.

And where do I live? In Surrey, England. About 25 miles south of London.

[beer-head]

Hi Richard,
that's a very interesting and comprehensive answer, i don't know where to start, you have certainly tried a few beers.

One of my favourites is Asda's own Porter, very nice and only 98 pence a bottle, try some . I organised a trip to the Fullers brewery in Chiswick, all through the Fullers web site, and myself and 4 others went up by train . We had some maps and arrived at the brewery at 11 am to be greeted by a message on the pub door, DUE TO A MASSIVE ELECTRICAL FAILURE, THERE WILL BE NO BREWERY TRIPS TODAY, god can you imagine our faces, anyway i am now known as the bloke who can't organise a piss -up in a brewery ,

rgds, Andy , Bedfordshire.

[Richard English]

Bedford, eh? I'm glad I mentioned Bombardier, then!

Welcome to this board. There is, I suspect, only a minority of us from the UK. It's good, though, to be able to share opinions with those from the USA are who now begining to rediscover how good beer can actually be after so many years in an Anheuser-Busch created beer-desert!

[beer-head]

Hi,
not quite Bedford, but near, yes Bombadier is excellent, do you remember Wells Fargo a couple of years ago, now that was good, but i haven't seen it for a while . I am trying to sort out a visit to the Munich beer fest, have you ever been, its brill, try it, a couple of lagers for a few days won't hurt, LOL.

[Richard English]

The Octoberfest and its cousins, no. The Great Bristish Beer Festival, yes.

After all, the GBBF is only in London and, with around 500 different British beers and a similar number from abroad it has enough for most.

[beer-head]

It sounds brilliant, i have never been to the GBBF, but will have to soon, i had a Fullers Jack Frost tonight, and a Youngs Ramrod, ever tried them ??

[Richard English]

Ramrod I've drink on draught; Fuller's Jack Frost I've not seen yet. Is it bottled?

With bottled beers I usually only buy those that are bottle conditioned, thus Fuller's 1845; Young's SLA.

I have also recently been buying Goose Island IPA. That's a Chicago brewery and it is an excellent. bottle-conditioned IPA of exceptional bitterness. I never thought I'd see the day when I would actually buy American beer through choice but Goose Island is an superb drop. I get my bottled beer from Safeway, who seem to have the best selection in this area.

The next GBBF isn't until August but there are plenty of beer festivals around every month. If you are not yet a member of CAMRA I suggest you (and everyone else who's interested in beer) join without delay. Full details at www.camra.org.uk

[beer-head]

now that's news, i'll have to go to Safeway and have a look around, and yes, i've meaning to join camra for ages now, i think i'll become a life member , i also think i'll have to look in Waitrose, you never know what's in there . Do you have an ASDA near you ?, try the Porter .

On the 24 - 26 th, my local is having its next beer fest, can't wait, the trouble is when i can go is the 26th, and the good stuff might all be gone by then , LOL.

[Richard English]

I joined CAMRA as a life member many years ago and it's certainly saved me money.

We don't have an ASDA near us at present but, seeing as though it seems likely that WalMart (who own ASDA) will be bidding for Safeway, that might soon change.

It's interesting, is it not, that this thread has remained totally UK-centric. Maybe London Pride isn't available in the USA.

[beerman1001001]

We've got some different Fuller's selections here in Colorado. I've tried most of the ones I've seen, including London Pride, and they are all really good. I'm partial to their London Porter and their ESB, myself. Not something I drink that often, due to the price. I'll have to keep my eyes open for the 1845, sounds good.

[Richard English]

In the UK, at least, the only Fuller's beer that is bottle-conditioned is the 1845. The others are good, mind you, but not so good.

As I have said elsewhere, the difference between bottled-conditioned beer and brewery-conditioned beer is the same as the difference between methode champagnoise and ordinary sparkling wine.

I will be interested to hear how you get on.

[Glarus]

Originally posted by Richard English There is, I suspect, only a minority of us from the UK. It's good, though, to be able to share opinions with those from the USA are who now begining to rediscover how good beer can actually be after so many years in an Anheuser-Busch created beer-desert! [/B]

Ack! Beginning to discover good beer? Hey now, many of us in the States have been drinking good beer for a long time now! I'll cut you some slack though and pretend you didn't really mean that :)

As I think someone else mentioned, we do have quite a few bottled beers from England here, including most of Fullers' beers (including London Pride & 1845), some from Caledonian, Samuel Smith, King and Barnes, Coniston, and too many others to mention. Unfortunately, most are bottled, so it's hard to find 'real ale' here - though the better bars here will often have some on beer engines.

I've enjoyed quite a few of the bottled ones, though I'm always suspicious as to how long they've sat on the shelves...

[Richard English]

Apologies for my loose use of language!

I have been drinking beer for nearly half a century and, when I first visited the USA around 30 years ago I was unable to find any good beer (apart from Anchor).

So my expression "begining" means, to me, anytime in the last 30 years! I suspect that the revival really only began to gather speed in the past 15 years and I suspect that this is what you mean when you say, "...for a long time..."

Of the beers you mention I would agree with the quality of those that you cite, although only Coniston and Fullers 1845 are bottle-conditioned. King and Barnes is still sold although the brewery has been demolished and the beers are now brewed by Hall and Woodhouse.

There should be no problem with storage; even the weaker beers will keep for a couple of years; strong ones (like Thomas Hardy) can keep almost indefinitely - ten years old is a young one.

[Glarus]

Hey, no hard feelings, Richard.
You're more or less correct, though, the beer revival here in the States has only really been growing since maybe the late '70s or early '80s. For me, though, that's a pretty long time!

Nowadays, it would be tough to find a country with so many different beers (and beer styles) readily available. That seems to be the American way: everything bigger, 'better,' and in great excess!

Unfortunately, I haven't been able to get to the UK to sample any of your fine beers in person . . . someday, I hope. From what I understand, though, several breweries there are having trouble remaining in their original locations. Especially with all these mergers (huge corporations like Interbrew), companies want to cut costs somehow, and usually that means closing older, smaller breweries.

I figure that most of those bottled beers can last for awhile before showing any signs of oxidation. The thing that worries me more, though, is how they were treated when they were shipped. If they aren't shipped in refrigerated trucks/containers, especially in summer, they can get 'cooked' in the bottle.

Other than that, the only beer from the UK that worries me is the Samuel Smith beers in their clear/colorless bottles. I've read that they are coated with a film to absorb light, but since you can't see it, it's hard to know for sure. I really like their beers, but I swear that sometimes the bottles I get aren't always consistent. I just don't know if it's all in my head, or if it's something real!

You're right about the Thomas Hardys too! I almost forgot about them! I've got some stashed away from the early 1990's that I might begin to open in a few years.

Prosit!

[davesarman]

Continuing with the Fuller's theme...I live in MN and have access to all the bottled versions of Fuller's, plus a few "British" pubs have on draught as well. I don't believe I've seen anyone mention the Fuller's Vintage Ale. Is that strictly for export to the U.S? Incredible beer, by the way, I have several bottles of each vintage patiently conditioning in my cellar.

Veering north, I would like to mention my fondness for some Scottish beers. I had the pleasure of spending 18 days in Scotland in September 2001 (yes, I was there on the infamous 9/11). I spent 3 days at Traquair House in the borders. I had the bottled beer here before my trip and knew I had to stay there. Wonderful! Met Ian, the brewer. Beer is fantastic! I can find it here at a few spots, but quite expensive, but I gladly pay it. Also, spent some time in the Orkney Islands which also was wonderful, and the Orkney brewery makes wonderful beers as well, Dark Island and Skull Splitter in particular. Having all of these beers on draught was incredible. I can't wait to make a return trip there.

[Richard English]

According the most recent report I saw posted, there are now around 1500 craft beers available in the USA - and the number is increasing. A very creditable total.

In the UK estimates vary from a low of around 2,500 to a high of 5,000. Some will, of course, be avalaible only in one pub; others are available worldwide.

Fuller's Vintage ale is available here but I prefer the 1845. I find it a better balanced drink - the Vintage being a little too strong and heavy. As we will all surely agree, though, it is a matter of preference; they are both wonderful beers.

Scotland now brews some excellent beers although, unlike England (but like the USA) it did descend into the pits of pressurised fizz in the 1970s. Now there are some excellent new brews, Orkney being just one.

Of course, Scotland is also well known for another drink made from malted barley and one that can be sampled at every bar in every country in the world. I am an enthusiast for this drink as well - but that's another story...

[Beer Nazi]

My dream vacation is to tour the countryside of England, Scotland and Ireland, going from pub to pub, sampling all the brews I could get my hands on. :)

I'd like my pub crawl to last about two months.

[Beer Nazi]

I love the beer revival in the U.S. There are some damn fine brews being created.

The only problem is, a lot of micro-brews get a good following and are bought out by large companies. Then the brew is mass-produced, recipies changed, and quality goes to pot. It's a shame.

A prime example is Pete's Wicked Ale. Gambrinus did a hell of a job of ruining Pete's. Nothing like bastardizing a great micro-brew with a fair following so it becomes a yuppified beer nobody likes. Sheesh, it's even brewed at Miller Brewing Company, Fort Worth Texas.

Yuck!! It has Miller Cooties. :D

[Richard English]

Sadly Ireland is still not a very good place for beer unless you happen to like Guinness. There is a Real Ale revival but it's fairly slow. The widest choice of Real Ales is in England by far, Scotland is next, then Wales. Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic are relatively poor still.

Don't miss the Isle of Man which is the only part of the British Isles where all locally-brewed beers must conform to a purity law similar to the Rheinheitsgebot.

[herman]

...and refusing to buy American beer? That's just crazy. There are now so many great American beers, you are unjustly limiting yourself.
With regards to Fullers, I think I've seen them all in the U.S. They certainly aren't as good as on tap in the U.K., but we have to take what we can get. I visited the brewery last month while on vacation in London. It was fantastic. I highly recommend it.

[hnrblbrbrn]

Originally posted by Beer Nazi
My dream vacation is to tour the countryside of England, Scotland and Ireland, going from pub to pub, sampling all the brews I could get my hands on. :)

I'd like my pub crawl to last about two months.

When are you starting the international bar crawl? In about 5 years I'll have the money saved (hopefully) to do it. The last time I did it was on Uncle Sam's dime thanks to a few Med Cruises.