Earlier this week I had a Whitstable Brewery East India Pale Ale ( not to be confused with the Shepherd Neame Whitstable Bay mentioned above) in the Long Pond. Thanks Mike. A new beer to me, and just right for a lunchtime in this mild weather - hoppy and refreshing. On Christmas morning I had a small bottle of another new beer, Thwaites Old Dan, 7.2% ABV and bottle conditioned. It had been maturing in my cellar and was just 2 years past its BB date. And it was lovely, much better than I expected, with an aroma of fruit cake, but with a healthy bitterness which stopped it being too rich. Delicious.
Drinking M&S Cheshire Chocolate Porter. It's brewed by Robinson's (makers of Trooper & Old Tom) and is absolutely delicious. I'm hoping that now Meantime have sold their soul to SAB Miller, M&S will source more of their beers from Stockport.
Bizarre how palates can differ so much. I take more than three mouthfuls of ale and I'm wincing. How you nut bags pick out 'notes' amd aromas I'll never understand, but I'm marginally jealous.
Drinking M&S Cheshire Chocolate Porter. It's brewed by Robinson's (makers of Trooper & Old Tom) and is absolutely delicious. I'm hoping that now Meantime have sold their soul to SAB Miller, M&S will source more of their beers from Stockport.
That's a bit unfair on SAB who have a reputation for quality, as you'll find if I ever get the chance to buy you a velky Plzen direct from the tank in one of the increasing number of Prague pubs that offer it. Apparently there is one in Soho now, they bring the beer in by train.They are actually planning to sell Meantime beers on the Czech market.
The bigger problem is that AB InBev have taken over SAB. Procurement driven f*****s.
Been in the Long Pond twice last week. Personally I liked three of the bitters ( one was from Whitstable, can't remember the others) but the winter ale was dire. I think there's a danger of some of these small breweries trying too hard to brew something "different".
Bizarre how palates can differ so much. I take more than three mouthfuls of ale and I'm wincing. How you nut bags pick out 'notes' amd aromas I'll never understand, but I'm marginally jealous.
Kind of agree with you AFKA. but think these days the ales are a lot different to the bitters we probably tried when we were younger. Still don't believe all the aromas and flavours can really be tasted. Mmmm a hint of wet dog on bonfire night with an aftertaste of nettles.
Got the Mixed Belgian (sorry) case from Beers of Europe for Xmas, along with the Mixed USA case (craft beers/USA Pales Ales etc). Both excellent choices.
Have mentioned it on here before but Beers of Europe is a wonderful website with an unbelievable 'world wide' selection of beers etc. You pay a one off delivery fee also, that's all. Well worth a look for the connoisseurs amongst you. Warning: it (fortunately) is a Stella/fosters/naff lager free zone!! Real brews only!!
Actually they say Bexley and surrounding area so that's my fault. The link to The Long Pond doesn't work either if you are in regular tough with them. Didnt think you had a website but it definitely comes up with an error.
Enjoyed a pint or two at One Inn The Wood, Petts Wood, this afternoon. Have also been enjoying Lidl's own-brand ('Hatherwood') Green Gecko IPA and Purple Panther Porter. Happy New Year *
Best Beer (Overall): Brauerei Schloss Eggenberg - Samichlaus Classic Bier 14%. Probably the tastiest beer I've ever had.
Best British Beer: Adnams - Tally Ho Ho, Christmas rebranding of an old classic.
Best Supermarket Offering: Badger – Poachers Ale.
Best Pub (over all): The Edgar Wallace, Essex St. WC2R.
Best Pub (Landlord/Landlady): Joint award between the Edgar Wallace and The Sarecen's Head, Kings Langley.
Best Pub (friendly helpful barstaff): The Sun Inn, Lydiard Millicent, Swindon.
Best Pub (beer selection): The Ale House, Chelmsford.
Best Pub (look and feel): The King's Arms, Cookham. Lots of rooms, wood panelling, log fires, delicious (though pricy) food and the lovely Rebellion IPA from the Marlow Brewery.
Best Pub Food: The Chicken Kebabs from The Edgar Wallace.
Best Brewery: Tring Brewery.
Best Off-Licence: The Bitter End, Bromley. This guy opened up the shop specifically to serve us and he carries a great range. He absolutely loves his business. So much so though, that you need to be careful not to ask any questions about it or you'll be there for hours. Best Beer Festival: Chappel Beer Festival, Essex. Beers in a railway museum. What's not for a Charlton fan to like?
Best Pub Crawl: London, Temple and Holborn.
AND THE NOT SO GOOD
Worst Beer (overall): Berliner Kindle Weiss. Absolute filth in a glass. For the curious, it's like a cross between Hoegaarten and Kaliber Lager. Either that or Cole's Hot Chilli Ale - unpleasantly hot even for a vindaloo man.
Worst Beer (draught): Fuller's Malt Vinegar from The Corner House, Maidenhead.
Worst Pub: The Camden Eye: Short measured. Had to have an argument before begrudgingly getting a top up.
Most Disappointing Pub: The Corner House, Maidenhead. Inviting on the outside, dreadful on the inside.
Beer of the Year - Pond Life, available only at The Long Pond.
You been letting spanners in?
There's been a Spanner there every single time I've been in. And I'm not talking about Clive Efford. Eltham's gone down since I was a kid. Spanners were confined to Avery Hill Estate in those days.
Comments
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On Christmas morning I had a small bottle of another new beer, Thwaites Old Dan, 7.2% ABV and bottle conditioned. It had been maturing in my cellar and was just 2 years past its BB date. And it was lovely, much better than I expected, with an aroma of fruit cake, but with a healthy bitterness which stopped it being too rich. Delicious.
The bigger problem is that AB InBev have taken over SAB. Procurement driven f*****s.
Been in the Long Pond twice last week. Personally I liked three of the bitters ( one was from Whitstable, can't remember the others) but the winter ale was dire. I think there's a danger of some of these small breweries trying too hard to brew something "different".
Literally.
http://viz.co.uk/real-ale-twats/
Have mentioned it on here before but Beers of Europe is a wonderful website with an unbelievable 'world wide' selection of beers etc. You pay a one off delivery fee also, that's all. Well worth a look for the connoisseurs amongst you. Warning: it (fortunately) is a Stella/fosters/naff lager free zone!! Real brews only!!
They should rename it Bexley and Greenwich micro pub crawl on the Broken Drum site!
https://www.facebook.com/thelongpond/
Have also been enjoying Lidl's own-brand ('Hatherwood') Green Gecko IPA and Purple Panther Porter.
Happy New Year *
* George Osborne not included.
THE GOOD
Best Beer (Overall): Brauerei Schloss Eggenberg - Samichlaus Classic Bier 14%. Probably the tastiest beer I've ever had.
Best British Beer: Adnams - Tally Ho Ho, Christmas rebranding of an old classic.
Best Supermarket Offering: Badger – Poachers Ale.
Best Pub (over all): The Edgar Wallace, Essex St. WC2R.
Best Pub (Landlord/Landlady): Joint award between the Edgar Wallace and The Sarecen's Head, Kings Langley.
Best Pub (friendly helpful barstaff): The Sun Inn, Lydiard Millicent, Swindon.
Best Pub (beer selection): The Ale House, Chelmsford.
Best Pub (look and feel): The King's Arms, Cookham. Lots of rooms, wood panelling, log fires, delicious (though pricy) food and the lovely Rebellion IPA from the Marlow Brewery.
Best Pub Food: The Chicken Kebabs from The Edgar Wallace.
Best Brewery: Tring Brewery.
Best Off-Licence: The Bitter End, Bromley. This guy opened up the shop specifically to serve us and he carries a great range. He absolutely loves his business. So much so though, that you need to be careful not to ask any questions about it or you'll be there for hours.
Best Beer Festival: Chappel Beer Festival, Essex. Beers in a railway museum. What's not for a Charlton fan to like?
Best Pub Crawl: London, Temple and Holborn.
AND THE NOT SO GOOD
Worst Beer (overall): Berliner Kindle Weiss. Absolute filth in a glass. For the curious, it's like a cross between Hoegaarten and Kaliber Lager. Either that or Cole's Hot Chilli Ale - unpleasantly hot even for a vindaloo man.
Worst Beer (draught): Fuller's Malt Vinegar from The Corner House, Maidenhead.
Worst Pub: The Camden Eye: Short measured. Had to have an argument before begrudgingly getting a top up.
Most Disappointing Pub: The Corner House, Maidenhead. Inviting on the outside, dreadful on the inside.
Stig's year in beer is brought to you with the help of Southend Young Drinkers Club
Who knew they'd changed?
Any suggestions for decent real ale pubs in the area please?