Cracking new real ale

[Juniortubed]

Discovered a superb new real ale recently for those interested.

It's called "Tapping the admiral" by Shepperd Neame and it was being sold in Lidl (The students best friend) for just a pound a bottle! I've had two crates so far and it's gorgeous.

It's a very smooth easy drinking light ale, so not really a winter warmer but certainly not a pale ale by any means. It's superb with food also and is definitely worth a try.

Another good'un I've tried recently is Autumn Blaze by SN also. I really wasn't sure about it at first as the first mouthful is a little bitter but after that it's very nice with a very rich hoppy undertone that's nice and warm.

Want more advice on Ale's?
Happy to answer any questions and discuss, it's one of my fav. subjects

[bigbarneyhotdog]

Thanks for the tip dude. A while back, they were doing a case of the Wychwood ale for ?12. 12 in a case. I stocked my pub up for weeks! I'll pop into my local one this afternoon and have a mooch

[Simon-JG-hr]

Oooh. ?1 a bottle, sounds excellent. Unfortunately, I'm so far from my nearest Lidl I can't be arsed. Have to admit to being a pub goer, much better pulled up from the cask. Excellent spot though.

[Juniortubed]

Oooh. ?1 a bottle, sounds excellent. Unfortunately, I'm so far from my nearest Lidl I can't be arsed. Have to admit to being a pub goer, much better pulled up from the cask. Excellent spot though.

Oh definitely nicer from the cask, and they taste all the better if shared with good company. However a bottled ale can really hit the spot when you don't have the time (or cash) to hit the local.

Do you find there are some ale's you like when you drink them from the cask but not when you drink the same ale in its bottled equivalent?

[Simon-JG-hr]

Ah ha! I've got one specific example, and to be fair, it's not a fair comparison.

I'm fairly sure that I have complained about this previously, however, I shall do so again... Jennings is probably my favourite brewer, producing at least two of my top five beers (possibly three depending on my mood). The specific beer in question is one of these favourites of mine, Cumberland Ale - to which I have become particularly attached after years of visits to the Lake District (indeed, I've been every year since before I was born...)

Anyway, one day, we sat down for a bottle of Cumberland Ale, my father and I. Two different looking bottles we thought, but didn't look closer. Upon pouring they looked different, smelt different, and tasted different... Hmmm. Have we just been duped by the beer equivalent of a glass-topped box of Cohibas? Alas not, on our next visit to the brewery we asked what was going on with the bottled Cumberland Ale (as everything we had after the incident were like the 'odd' one). It turns out that the supermarkets weren't happy with CA - not strong enough apparantly, so all of the bottled CA is now 4.7% ABV (the cask version being 4% ABV).

The cask version is still phenomenal, but the bottles not so. As you can imagine, you change how you make the beer and what goes into it, it will taste different, even if the hops and malts are the same.

As a rule, I prefer it out of the cask, though I think that may be as much to do with the feel of the beer in the mouth as anything else.

[Juniortubed]

Oh I have had it with so many beers, although the taste isn't necessarily worse it's just different!

[EugeneSax]

I discovered a great new beer (launched May 09) last Saturday in the only pub around me I could find that was showing the Rugby (Eng V Aus): Liberation Ale brewed in Jersey

Went back there again this week for the Samoa match & they still had the beer on as a guest:

http://www.liberationgroup.com/Jersey_Brewery_Beers.html

If you ever see it on in a pub, I would highly recommend trying it - it's one of the most distinctive beers I've ever tasted. An almost typical pale golden brew but in place of floral notes, it was almost herby & ever so slightly savoury. Even if it's not to your taste it'll be a unique experience, I can assure you.

I had it in a Fullers managed pub so it might well be appearing as guest ale in some of their other pubs - well worth seeking out. I hope they still have it on for the Boks match next week.

[Simon-JG-hr]

Good shout that man! Had a few pints of Liberation when I was sailing around the Channel Islands in August - not a bad drop of nectar at all.

[Masterdj]

I have never tried one but after reading the first post I bought 5 bottles to drink later on this evening..

[neilini]

Shepards Neame do one of my favorite bottled ales.namely the 1698.it ways in at a hefty 6 or so % and is a lovely winters drink.I only seem to find it at costcutter though at 3 for a fiver

[Juniortubed]

I have never tried one but after reading the first post I bought 5 bottles to drink later on this evening..

5 bottles eh....hope you like em otherwise I'm in trouble!

[Masterdj]

Just having one right now.. It is a little bitter for my taste but I will drink them all..

[Puff Scotty]

Shepards Neame do one of my favorite bottled ales.namely the 1698.it ways in at a hefty 6 or so % and is a lovely winters drink.I only seem to find it at costcutter though at 3 for a fiver

Hi Neil, available here! www.beersofeurope.co.uk/ This place is 5 mins up the road from me... beer heaven, but they do mail order...
Puff.

[snooky]

Great post , making me thirsty, i will try the Neame , one of my favorites off the counter is the Ruddles County, also love Adnams ales and Courage, shared a Banana beer last night maybe a good one with a stogie.

[Puff Scotty]

Great post , making me thirsty, i will try the Neame , one of my favorites off the counter is the Ruddles County, also love Adnams ales and Courage, shared a Banana beer last night maybe a good one with a stogie.

AArgggh! tried a Banana bear in the summer, I won't, I say I won't be doing that again.... still have a bottle of North Yorkshire Brewing Co's organic Love Muscle that I'm desperate NOT to try