tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2542521298906723397.post5401411593858363811..comments2019-09-01T17:27:07.621+01:00Comments on Curmudgeon's "Opening Times" Columns: April 2010Curmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02558747878308766840noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2542521298906723397.post-89369972046191381102010-07-14T19:50:34.113+01:002010-07-14T19:50:34.113+01:00As a publican now operating in Sussex, I can testi...As a publican now operating in Sussex, I can testify that Harvey's Best is not only not rare around here, it's inescapable in most pubs that have a tap at all. Beyond that, it's not only not the best brown beer around, it's not even the best brown beer brewed in the county; Dark Star's Best and F.I.L.O.'s Crofters are both considerably nicer.<br /><br />Having said that; Harvey's Best is good beer, I'd go so far as to say very good. And addressing your main thesis, this county at least still drinks brown ale. I can sell the pale ones, but out of three taps I currently have access to, only one is typically pale as they sell slower than brown ales to these customers.<br /><br />Recently had BrewDog's <em>The Physics</em> on, which was ... fascinating. Definitely fruity and coppery enough to qualify as a 'red ale', and quite extraordinarily drinkable for 5%.John Q. Publicanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11333595645345108989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2542521298906723397.post-5188498598253208772010-05-22T17:34:33.650+01:002010-05-22T17:34:33.650+01:00(Letter published in Opening Times, May 2010)
Hav...(Letter published in <i>Opening Times</i>, May 2010)<br /><br />Having just picked up my copy of the April Opening Times I feel compelled to write in support of the comments made in the Curmudgeon column regarding the predominance of light coloured beers at many pubs these days. <br /><br />Personally I do not particularly like drinking a pale substance that too often tastes of flowers and prefer the traditional mid colour bitter or mild. Unfortunately my recent experiences in Stockport have demonstrated that it can be quite difficult to obtain the old-fashioned English bitter at pubs that have a reputation for being real ale strongholds. On calling at the Crown in Heaton Lane I was offered 10 or 11 pale beers with a super strength dark mild and a stout. Not one proper bitter on the pumps and I had to leave the party and head for the Pineapple to get a pint that I enjoyed. Similarly at the Old Vic I found five light beers on offer and no alternative, and The Waters Green Tavern in Macclesfield also offers nearly all pale beers with the occasional traditional beer selling out very quickly when it comes on.<br /><br />This trend for lagery coloured beers on hand pump is putting me off going to many pubs and clearly others are similarly concerned. Surely there is enough demand for at least one traditional bitter or mild amidst the sea of pale, or are we to see the more traditional beers done away with entirely in years to come?David Kitchingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2542521298906723397.post-39448237195118819382010-04-30T19:14:25.931+01:002010-04-30T19:14:25.931+01:00Oh absolutely! Lovely in summer but I prefer somet...Oh absolutely! Lovely in summer but I prefer something more warming in the wintertime.<br /><br />I also find many of them a touch delicate, their charms diminishing all too quickly if you haven't caught a freshly tapped barrel.<br /><br />PS Whatever happened to 'Pale Ale'?<br />Too antiquated an image for modern tastes & marketing???lordnelliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18252059251111227108noreply@blogger.com