My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

Join the discussion and meet other Mumsnetters on our free online chat forum.

Chat

Favourite cask ale or bottled ale.

29 replies

IndigoSpritz · 10/03/2019 20:05

Do you have one, or more than one ? My favourites change from time to time but I think Theakston Old Peculier takes the cask prize just now. It's consistently good quality and its strength means overdoing it just isn't an option, thereby reducing expenditure. I don't often have bottled ale but I usually plump for Shepherd Neame Bishop's Finger when I do. Dark, bitter and full of flavour. SN used to brew beer for Asda - I don't know if they still do.

BTW, I've enjoyed reading the latest gin discussion, even if I don't recognise most of what we've been talking aboutSmile.

OP posts:
Report
jenthelibrarian · 10/03/2019 20:15

Greene King IPA or Abbot Ale

Report
DramaAlpaca · 10/03/2019 20:17

Speckled Hen, Bishop's Finger, Abbot or Hobgoblin for me.

Report
IndigoSpritz · 10/03/2019 20:42

Speckled Hen, Abbot and Hobgoblin all used to be favourites of mine but, sadly, I don't think any of them are as good as they used to be. I had a pint of Abbot last night and it was all I wanted - it was very cloying and syrupy. Hobgoblin has lost some bitterness and become sweeter, without the forthrightness of Old Peculier (if I sound like a CAMRA bore, I'm sorry).
Bottled Speckled Hen is still OK, but the cask has deteriorated. I can't pinpoint why.

OP posts:
Report
JuniperBeer · 10/03/2019 20:54

Nothing in clear or green glass.

Anything by thornbridge is fab.
Dark Star, Adnams, st Austell. All good!

Landlord is on a resurgence now.

Report
rslsys · 10/03/2019 21:05

Timothy Taylor Draught Landlord!

Report
PoohBearsHole · 10/03/2019 21:07

Ooh watching with interest 😊

Report
Kernowgal · 10/03/2019 21:26

Skinners Lushingtons. Bleddy lush.

Also a fan of Citra hops so I’ll stock up on Oakham Ales’ Citra if it’s in stock anywhere down here.

I’m lucky that my local is a St Austell pub that also has guest ales plus lots of bottles, so there’s lots of choice.

Report
weegiemum · 10/03/2019 21:32

I love Fraoch Heather Ale but I don't know if it's available outside Scotland.

Report
SheSnapsThenSheFarts · 10/03/2019 21:35

Brains Dark. But must be on handpull not from a bottle. Whenever I go home to Wales I always make a trip to the pub for a pint.

Report
crunchie12 · 10/03/2019 21:38

Sneck Lifter and Cockahoop!

Report
GorkyMcPorky · 10/03/2019 21:44

I love Purple Moose Cwrw Ysgawen (elderflower). We sometimes have a mini-cask at family dos.

Report
eyeczawikaivov · 10/03/2019 21:54

Most of the beers mentioned so far are the fairly boring selection available in big tesco and sainsbury stores but you will find much nicer stuff in a good quality independent off licence. Look out for:

Butty Bach by Wye Valley is fantastic but has become difficult to get hold of for the last year or so as their distribution has deprioritised getting the beer out much beyond the Wye Valley sadly.

Dartmoor Legend

Otter Ale

Shakespeare Brewing Co - Macbeth and Tempest both excellent

Hobsons Old Prickly

Pitchfork PG Steam

Pretty much anything by Dawkins

Report
crunchie12 · 10/03/2019 21:59

Sneck is not in any Tesco or supermarket.

Report
IndigoSpritz · 10/03/2019 22:06

Samuel Smith do a reasonable range of bottled ale but that has also suffered from lowering quality in recent years. Their Nut Brown Ale and Strong Pale Ale used to be fabulous, when they came in the returnable, clear glass bottles. Then the company stopped supplying supermarkets and began exporting the bulk of their produce to the USA. Fair enough, a big market for Smiths but quality suffered and the price increased. Backward step.

Speaking of Smith's, John Smith used to brew a splendid premium beer called Magnet. I haven't seen it for years.

Cameron's Best Bitter and Strong Arm were once great. And the bottled Vaux Double Maxim - lovely stuff. I used to buy it at Blayneys.

OP posts:
Report
sproutsandparsnips · 10/03/2019 22:07

DH likes Gower gold and doom bar day to day and used to drink Brains smooth.

Report
sheepwitch · 10/03/2019 22:11

Palmer's 200. Nothing better.

Report
Sgtmajormummy · 10/03/2019 22:27

Whenever I go back to the U.K. I seek out pubs selling Tanglefoot elderflower beer by these people. It’s got a touch of elegance about it (says she who will only drink beer from a handle-less glass, not a tankard)! Blush
www.badgerbeers.com/

Report
NewYoiker · 10/03/2019 22:45

Titanic plum porter is amazing. So is dark Side of the moose by purple moose.
We had a hobgoblin bar at our wedding (which is completely outing now) it took my dh to the church and then they gave us a barrel of beer 🙌 which we then took on honeymoon!

Report
NewYoiker · 10/03/2019 22:47

Said truck

Favourite cask ale or bottled ale.
Report
IndigoSpritz · 11/03/2019 13:16

I forgot to mention Ringwood Forty-Niner. It's a good day when that's on the bar.

OP posts:
Report
scaryteacher · 11/03/2019 16:10

Doom Bar, Old Speckled Hen, Einstok Icelandic Toasted Porter and I had the most fabulous Cappucino Porter last year.

Report
AlexandraPeppernose · 11/03/2019 18:31

Gk East Coast IPA and Briarbank Grapefruit IPA are both lovely. In a bottle I tend to get Spitfire or GhostShip. Tbf I'm yet to have an Adams ale I don't like

Report

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

AlexandraPeppernose · 11/03/2019 18:33

*adnams

Report
Rowgtfc72 · 12/03/2019 18:05

Indigo, I don't know anybody else who drinks Sammy smiths!
Like Batemans XXXB. Their chocca moccha is a nice ale too.
Have to agree it has to come in a brown bottle.
Hand pulled pedigree is nice but find the bottle too fizzy.
Fuller's London Pride is a nice sup too.

Report
Jsmith99 · 12/03/2019 18:14

Thornbridge is one of my favourite breweries. Their beers are consistently excellent, Jaipur is my favourite. I also rate Blue Monkey from Nottinghamshire. Their Infinity IPA has won national awards.

Tim Taylor’s Landlord and Fuller’s ESB are excellent, widely available beers.

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.