On Beer
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 most come from the Utobeer
cage in Borough Market, a very short walk from the Borough High
Street exit of London Bridge underground station. Some interesting
beers can also be bought at Sourced Market, St Pancras station. Not
forgetting Kris
Wines 394 York Way Kentish Town.
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.
Recent discoveries:
Ryesing Tide draught rye beer, Siren
Brewery and Motueka Citra Nelson Pale Ale bottled The
Kernel Brewery. More
- 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. Experienced from the tap at the Old Red Cow.
Must be cold. 5.4%. Germany
- 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%)
Some
Favourite Pubs and why
- Holly
Bush Hampstead An oldworld 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.
- The Bull,
Highgate brews its own beer and has a good range of foreign
beers too. Staff very friendly
- The
Dovetail Jerusalem Passage A Belgian bistro style beer bar with
a very wide range of Belgian Beers. Can get busy evenings.
- Katzenjammer's
A Bavarian beer cellar with a reasonable range of Bavarian beers
including Aventinus. Quiet afternoon but hectic evenings so get
there early.
- Bierschenke
Another German beer cellar on two floors. Food appeals more than
Katzenjammer's while beer choice is less interesting. Slightly more
up market as being in Moorgate it caters for city types, although
not exclusively.
- White
Horse Parsons Green is a traditional pub with a wide range of
UK and foreign beers and a good food menu.
- 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
Greenwich Union has a wide range of foreign beers, a small choice
of good pub food and a conservatory. One of three pubs on Royal
Hill - the one we like best. [Walk 38]
- The Old
Red Cow Barbican Referred to us by friends who live nearby,
it has a carefully selected but wide choice of beers. Quite small
even with an upstairs room so choose a quiet time to go. Have yet
to try the food.
- Brew
Dog Camden is a different experience; it may not be real ale
but the beers are striking and tasty. Small bar, mainly younger
crowd. Very popular.
- Jerusalem
Tavern Britten Street serves St Peters beers straight out of
the barrel in an eighteenth century building. Very popular.
- The Dukes Head
Highgate always has a wide range of beers on tap and the interest
shows through.
- The Old Fountain Old Street
is a recent find - real ales craft beers and good food in a
relaxed atmosphere.
- The
Tithe Bar, Northallerton in North Yorkshire, is always a pleasure
to visit when up north. A range of draught bitters and foreign bottled
beers in attractive relaxed surroundings.
- 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