need advice from UK beer's drunkers.

**william the bastard** · 09-01-2006, 14:00

Hi all,

I'm living near Lille in nothern France. Last year two Brit groceries have opened with lot of products. one of these told me this morning they plan to import about 50 new beers for the end of the year, mainly Welsh and Scot!!

I'll be glad if you can tell me wich one I shall taste! (need to negotiate a dedicated fridge with my wife

)

My actual list is
Murphy
Guinness of course
London Pride

Smithwick's
Abbot Ale
kilkenny
Caffreys
Newcatsle Brown Ale
Mac ewans (when I was teen)
I'm sure I missing something...
As you can see I'm not a fan of bitter.

I'd like to have good and argumented opinions from you

Thanks

...and Sorry for my French

**Fragony** · 09-01-2006, 14:17

If you like Guinness you seem like a bitter fan to me. Don't know much about british beer, I know they give a headache and that the brittish still haven't figured out how to make the perfect draft. Good beer needs foam.

**Vladimir** · 09-01-2006, 14:37

I've had a few English beers/ales in the US and my favorite so far is Newcastle Brown Ale. It's good but really expensive.

**English assassin** · 09-01-2006, 15:22

I'm struggling with the idea of someone specially importing SCOTTISH beer, no disrespect but its a bit sweet for my tastes. Of your list:

Murphy's: fine stuff

Guinness: also fine stuff though IMHO Murphys is better. Also give Beamish a whirl if they have it

London Pride Actually a very good beer, for all that the brewery is by a massive roundabout on the A4. Oops, probably shouldn't have said that. Its a southern beer, ie more bitter and flatter than northern stuff, can't remember if this one is actually dry hopped but it is hoppy. The seasonal ales are also very nice.

Smithwick's: Pass

Abbot Ale: also a fine southern style beer, better than london pride in my view. Watch out for Green King's IPA as well, (a hoppy fairly string style of beer originally brewed to survive the sea passage to India) I think I prefer that to Abbot

kilkenny: Pass

Caffreys: I don't rate this. Isn't it pasteurised? I find it pretty bland, but it is smooth if you like that.

Newcatsle Brown Ale : yeah, well you either like it or you don't but you pretty much have to give it a go. I used to like it, but now I find it a bit sweet. But lets face it millions of Geordies can't be wrong (and if they are you wouldn't say so to their faces)

Mac ewans: Errr, Did I mention that the Scots make very good whiskys?

Be sure to look out for Shepherd Neame's Spitfire won't you...

I'm not too good on northern beer but I expect someone will be along shortly to help you out...or learn more than you every thought possible here: http://www.camra.org.uk/page.aspx?o=180657

**macsen rufus** · 09-01-2006, 15:29

Tut tut Fragony... Guiness is neither bitter nor British (although it does make a damn fine pint

). And beer's for drinking, foam's for washing the dishes

Newky Brown is a good one that travels well, although the best pints are all to be found at a bar rather than a shop. Must be hand-drawn, you see....

So I can recommend Boddingtons and Stones (MUST be draught, not the canned varieties) both very smooth for bitters. Stones really has to be drunk near Sheffield though to be at its very best. Abbot Ale you've met, and that's a nice one. Hmmm, you're making me thirsty now.....

Look out for some of the small brands, there's a lot of new breweries now. The stranger the name the better the beer... try "Tanglefoot" if you can -- but not too much of it

Most of the list you gave are actually Irish, by the way!

And don't touch anything from Everards -- much to my dying shame it's the local brewery and not worth ditch water.

**Fragony** · 09-01-2006, 15:37

Originally Posted by macsen rufus

Tut tut Fragony... Guiness is neither bitter nor British

I know, it's quite good

**English assassin** · 09-01-2006, 15:40

Everards isn't as bad as Brakespears, that stuff really is vile.

No cans is an essential rule MR, good call.

**william the bastard** · 09-01-2006, 16:29

Originally Posted by macsen rufus

Most of the list you gave are actually Irish, by the way!

Yes I know that why I wanna take advice for drink new ones. It is fairly easy to find Belgian beers here, just cross the border, but for Brit ones just cross the Chanel

cannot do it each week.
to the end can go to Tesco at Sangatte but no so fun

and to be honest my personnal taste go to Brits beers more than Belgians ones, except the wonderful draught Leffe, maybe I drank tooo much of Belgians when I was teen

Gah too many to taste

@english assasin : Thanks for the link

**Banquo's Ghost** · 09-01-2006, 16:45

An Irish perspective, if it helps.

If you can get Murphy's don't bother with the Guinness. If you can get Beamish, so much the better.

I wouldn't wash my car with Caffrey's, it's foul.

**GodWillsIt** · 09-03-2006, 01:31

If you have to drink English alcohol, i would recommend Newcastle Brown.

**william the bastard** · 09-03-2006, 14:02

many thanks to all for your good advices. My next trip to London sounds GREAT

**IrishArmenian** · 09-04-2006, 04:53

Originally Posted by william the bastard

many thanks to all for your good advices. My next trip to London sounds GREAT

Due to your name and place I assume you will be doing a bit of conkering?
I don't care about bubbles or foam. In fact, I prefer foam. No I will not catch rabies.

**Pannonian** · 09-03-2006, 14:46

Originally Posted by Fragony

If you like Guinness you seem like a bitter fan to me. Don't know much about british beer, I know they give a headache and that the brittish still haven't figured out how to make the perfect draft. Good beer needs foam.

If you want foam in your mouth, go catch rabies. Proper beer contains no bubbles except that which occurs naturally in the fermentation process.