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Best bitter is about as fashionable as flared trousers these days and consequently supermarkets are practically giving away decent ale in the 3.5%-4% ABV range brewed by Banks, Marstons, Greene King et al. Moreover, they are frequently rebranded to conceal their ‘best bitter’ origins.

Yet there’s a real skill in producing a weaker ale that is satisfyingly subtle. 

Not sure where I’m going with this but I guess my point is why spend £2 on a can of overloaded hop juice when you can spend half that and get virtually twice as much of what is often a superior product?

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Pint of best

'Shaw cross juniors, Birkenshaw, Mirfield, Heckmondwike Panthers, Stainland Stags and then the Heavy woolen donkeys... WARDY, STOZZA, GT, KARL OR KEAR MUST OF DROPPED A DIGIT FROM MY MOBILE NUMBER! :clapping:

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Will always buy a pint of Timothy Taylor’s Landlord whenever I can find it at a free house.

Not sure if that’s relevant to this thread or not, but I consider it liquid gold.

I don’t mind the beer-in-a-can phenomenon that’s swept the country as long as it gets people into the general habit of having the odd pint.

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11 minutes ago, Man of Kent said:

Best bitter is about as fashionable as flared trousers these days and consequently supermarkets are practically giving away decent ale in the 3.5%-4% ABV range brewed by Banks, Marstons, Greene King et al. Moreover, they are frequently rebranded to conceal their ‘best bitter’ origins.

Yet there’s a real skill in producing a weaker ale that is satisfyingly subtle. 

Not sure where I’m going with this but I guess my point is why spend £2 on a can of overloaded hop juice when you can spend half that and get virtually twice as much of what is often a superior product?

I enjoy picking up random ales at the supermarket each week, and I must admit I don't really understand d all the different varieties at all.

I have just bought a couple of amber ales, what was that previously? Would some of these have been branded as bitters previously?

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Just now, Dave T said:

I have just bought a couple of amber ales, what was that previously? Would some of these have been branded as bitters previously?

Precisely, yes. It’s as if they are ashamed of decades of brewing history. Me, I’m happy to buck the trend and pick up some good beer for a giveaway price. 

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If you’re looking for the best example of bitter then you’re after Bradford fans ? 

"When in deadly danger, when beset by doubt; run in little circles, wave your arms and shout"

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Friend of mine runs pop-up pubs in villages that have lost their local and he was making exactly this point i.e. lots of breweries, even at the microbrewery/craft beer end of the market, have rebranded bitter as amber ales or whatever.

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11 minutes ago, Man of Kent said:

Precisely, yes. It’s as if they are ashamed of decades of brewing history. Me, I’m happy to buck the trend and pick up some good beer for a giveaway price. 

I'm a bit of a sucker for a funky brand tbh. But it certainly doesn't always equal a better beer.

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51 minutes ago, Gerrumonside ref said:

Will always buy a pint of Timothy Taylor’s Landlord whenever I can find it at a free house.

Not sure if that’s relevant to this thread or not, but I consider it liquid gold.

I don’t mind the beer-in-a-can phenomenon that’s swept the country as long as it gets people into the general habit of having the odd pint.

I prefer the Golden Best, but yeah Taylor’s is good stuff 

"Freedom without socialism is privilege and injustice, socialism without freedom is slavery and brutality" - Mikhail Bakunin

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My dad has a recurring gripe that you can't get Mild any more. This despite there being a brilliant specialist beer shop in his local town that easily could get him some if he asked, and that I don't recall him ever drinking it as long as I've known him.

But it gives him something to complain about, I suppose. It amazes me that he's not a RL fan.

Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

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1 hour ago, Futtocks said:

My dad has a recurring gripe that you can't get Mild any more. This despite there being a brilliant specialist beer shop in his local town that easily could get him some if he asked, and that I don't recall him ever drinking it as long as I've known him.

But it gives him something to complain about, I suppose. It amazes me that he's not a RL fan.

It does bug me that you can't get Mild any more. So I am a proper RL fan.

Since changing jobs, I don't now have a regular pub I go to but it was frustrating that the 'real ales' in that one were all very strong (most were over 5%). Nice range of flavours but not exactly user friendly.

Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life. (Terry Pratchett)

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2 minutes ago, gingerjon said:

It does bug me that you can't get Mild any more. So I am a proper RL fan.

Since changing jobs, I don't now have a regular pub I go to but it was frustrating that the 'real ales' in that one were all very strong (most were over 5%). Nice range of flavours but not exactly user friendly.

I tracked down some Mild a year or so ago, and found it a bit of an underwhelming brew. Mind you, I was raised on draught Old Peculier (before they sold out to S&N, who changed the recipe), so maybe I'm spoilt.

Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

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4 minutes ago, Futtocks said:

I tracked down some Mild a year or so ago, and found it a bit of an underwhelming brew. Mind you, I was raised on draught Old Peculier (before they sold out to S&N, who changed the recipe), so maybe I'm spoilt.

I suspect if I had one now I'd not rate it. The pubs around my uni - so that is a very long time ago - all did Brains Mild and that was decent.

Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life. (Terry Pratchett)

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Just now, gingerjon said:

I suspect if I had one now I'd not rate it. The pubs around my uni - so that is a very long time ago - all did Brains Mild and that was decent.

I didn't hate it, but it was just a bit boring. Not enough hops to be bitter and not enough malt to be rich; it was a sort of equal-opportunities disappointment.

Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

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I lived in north Birmingham decades ago and I'm delighted to see that my all time favourite Bathams Bitter is still going strong.

Sunday wasn't Sunday in summer without a trip out to Chaddesley Corbet for a couple and a walk in the little known and deserted nature reserve. 

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3 minutes ago, Futtocks said:

I didn't hate it, but it was just a bit boring. Not enough hops to be bitter and not enough malt to be rich; it was a sort of equal-opportunities disappointment.

You could always try a brown and mild. Or can you, is bottled brown ale still a thing?

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2 hours ago, Gerrumonside ref said:

Will always buy a pint of Timothy Taylor’s Landlord whenever I can find it at a free house.

Not sure if that’s relevant to this thread or not, but I consider it liquid gold.

I don’t mind the beer-in-a-can phenomenon that’s swept the country as long as it gets people into the general habit of having the odd pint.

Our local is a Taylors pub, and generally has 6 different brews from them. Imo, Landlord would be bottom of the pile, although they're all pretty good beers. 

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1 hour ago, Futtocks said:

My dad has a recurring gripe that you can't get Mild any more. This despite there being a brilliant specialist beer shop in his local town that easily could get him some if he asked, and that I don't recall him ever drinking it as long as I've known him.

But it gives him something to complain about, I suppose. It amazes me that he's not a RL fan.

He drinks in the wrong places. I have a few pints of mild fairly regularly, although I have started to alternate what I'm drinking of late. 

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Little Nook Farm - Caravan Club Certificated Location in the heart of the Pennines overlooking Hebden Bridge and the Calder Valley.

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19 minutes ago, John Rhino said:

You could always try a brown and mild. Or can you, is bottled brown ale still a thing?

Scottish & Newcastle's PR department have all just committed seppuku.

newcastle-brown-ale-550ml.jpg

Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

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16 minutes ago, Gerrumonside ref said:

You’re just showing off now! Haha 

He's gonna tell us they sell Ram Tam next just to rub it in.

"I'm from a fishing family. Trawlermen are like pirates with biscuits." - Lucy Beaumont.

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1 hour ago, Futtocks said:

Mind you, I was raised on draught Old Peculier (before they sold out to S&N, who changed the recipe), so maybe I'm spoilt.

Not to mention committing the heinous crime of lowering the ABV.

I didn't drink in my dad's local very often (well not until I was eighteen) but they had OP on tap. It was a gorgeous beer.

"I'm from a fishing family. Trawlermen are like pirates with biscuits." - Lucy Beaumont.

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20 minutes ago, Ullman said:

He's gonna tell us they sell Ram Tam next just to rub it in.

Usually they have:

Landlord

Mild

Boltmaker (Best) 

Knowle Spring

Ram Tam

Seasonal brew (Hopical Storm most recently) 

?

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http://www.hughesphoto.co.uk/

 

Little Nook Farm - Caravan Club Certificated Location in the heart of the Pennines overlooking Hebden Bridge and the Calder Valley.

http://www.facebook.com/LittleNookFarm

 

Little Nook Cottage - 2-bed self-catering cottage in the heart of the Pennines overlooking Hebden Bridge and the Calder Valley.

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