On Beer and beer drinking
I
can never understand why so many people choose to miss out on the appreciation
of a good pint (or bottle) of beer. The variety of styles that are on offer
from various parts of the world. I've tried to list here some of my favourite
beer styles and where to appreciate them in the London area. What links them
all is flavour.
So where do we get our bottles for home consumption?
Some come from supermarkets, but many come from the Utobeer
cage in Borough Market, a very short walk from the Borough High Street
exit of London Bridge underground station. There are many new places that
sell for consumption on or off the premises, such as Beer
Merchant's Tap in Hackney Wick, a favourite of ours. Sad it is so far
from home.
Real Ale vs Craft Beers. Nothing can beat a
properly prepared real ale for a soft complex satisfying pint. However, since
the development of kegs with a membrane to protect the beer, keg beers don't
have to be so harsh. Some new craft beers have taste a-plenty and can be a
real taste experience well worth the try. Equally there is beer all over the
world, and though most of it is not within the definition of real ale, it
can be equally palatable.
Some favourite brews:
- 5
points Brewing Hook Island Red A rare, full bodied, chewy red ale, given
extra weight with the addition of rye. A full bodied, aromatic Red Rye ale
brewed with malted barley, the addition of 20% Rye and with Chinook, Columbus
and Simcoe hops. The Rye gives some dryness and spice, and the hops add
a dash of pine and passion fruit. Marvellous. 6% Hackney
- Schneider
Weisse Aventinus A dark wheat beer, doppelbock with an intense flavour
and dense head. A little on the sweet side. Hits of spice, banana, malt.
Available in bottle from Utobeer or at Katzenjammer's on Borough High Street.
8.2% Germany. For a special treat, Aventinus
Eisbock, similar but stronger (12%), even tastier and a little drier.
- Rodenbach
Grand Cru A dark red-brown with a pale brown head. Lip smackingly sour
with an aroma and taste of sour cherries. Available in bottle from Utobeer
or at the Dove, Broadway Market or the Dovetail Jerusalem Passage 6% Belgium
- Brooklyn
Brewery Black Chocolate Stout Thick black with a medium brown head.
Aroma and flavour of coffee, chocolate, roast/burnt malt and spice. Available
from Utobeer. 10% USA Try also Brooklyn
Lager: marmalade out of a glass..
- Trappistes
Rochefort 8 Mahogony full flavoured medium head with strong lingering
flavour and aroma of dried fruit, cloves, toffee but not sweet. Available
from Utobeer and at Dove, Dovetail, The Bull Highgate 9.20% Belgium
- Brakspear
Triple Amber colour, strong malty caramel, rum. Bitter-sweet. To be
savoured. Available from Waitrose, many pubs 6.7% Witney
- Timothy
Taylor Landlord My favourite bitter - pale amber with a citrus (grapefruit)
flavour and a good balance between fruity and hoppy. Hand-pulled - bottled
less good. Lingers well on the palate. 4.3% Keighley
- Tripel
Karmeliet Hazy golden bottled beer with a lively off-white head. The
style of a wheat beer - yeast, bananas, coriander, nutmeg, lemon, pepper.
Available Waitrose, Ocado, The Bull Highgate. 8.4% Bosteels Belgium
- Maisel's
Weisse Another chewy wheat beer, cloudy pale amber. Hints of esters
and wood glue. Must be cold. 5.4%. Germany. If you can't get this Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier
is a reasonable substitute.
- Fuller's
Vintage Ale A bottled beer that varies every year, typically copper-coloured,
marmalade and caramel. 8.5% Chiswick. Fuller's
ESB available in many pubs is a draft beer with some similar complex
characteristics (5.9%)
- Nøgne Ø Imperial
rye porter Norway: strong, nutty, chewy, balanced (9%)
- Ryesing Tide draught rye beer, Siren
Brewery An inventive brewery with flavoursome brews, but naff labels
on their bottles.
Some
London Pubs
Many pubs in London belong to pubcos or breweries. These provide a degree
of consistency and predictability. Fullers, Youngs, Stonegate, M&B, Wetherspoons,
Sam Smiths, Greene KIng are examples and you will soon draw your own conclusions
regarding each one. Fullers have acquired many of the pubs which have a historic
connection. Sam Smiths also specialise in pubs of character, and serve only
their own beers. The bars below are favourites. See also northern
Europe for bier kellers etc.
- Beer Merchant's
Tap in Hackney Wick, in an old warehouse, very close to the station.
Relaxed, with a beer yard and good selection of beers.
- The Bull, Highgate
has a good range of foreign beers. Staff very friendly. Not visited recently.
- The Cask,
Pimlico has the widest selection of UK and foreign beers I know. Accent
is on drink but there is pub food also.
- The Dovetail
Jerusalem Passage A Belgian bistro style beer bar with a very wide range
of Belgian Beers. Can get busy evenings.
- The Dukes Head Highgate
has closed. Watch for developments.
- Holly Bush
Hampstead An old-world atmosphere Fullers run pub; have been going there
since they had gas lighting. All the pleasures of a Fullers pub but go there
weekday daytimes for a relaxing drink.
- Jerusalem
Tavern Britten Street is now the Holy
Tavern It used to serve St Peters beers straight out of the barrel in
an eighteenth century building. Now has a wider choice of beers. Very popular.
- The Old Fountain Old Street
- real ales craft beers and good food in a relaxed atmosphere. Can get busy
after work.
- The Old Red Cow
Barbican Referred to us by friends who live nearby, it has a carefully
selected choice of beers, few real ales. Quite small even with an upstairs
room so choose a quiet time to go. Have yet to try the food.
- Royal Oak, Tabard Street in Borough is one of the few Harvey's pubs in London. Relaxed, if busy at times, Harvey's beer maintains its excellence
- Southampton
Arms in Kentish Town is an unusual pub. Welcoming, and with a wide range
of beers. Tends to be busy. Outside loo.
- White Horse Parsons
Green is a traditional pub with a wide range of UK and foreign beers
and a good food menu.
- Also keeping an eye on the following: Bermondsey
Beer Mile consists of a number of small craft breweries located under
the railway, the Craft
Beer Co has various pubs in London, The
Sheaf. is in the basement of the Hop Exchange, Borough, similar to Katzenjammer's.
The Kernel Brewery
Bermondsey, Hammertons
Roman Way N7 for inventive porters. The Greenwich Union has sadly closed.
tonero