Leffe: Vladimir's Beer Thread

**English assassin** · 01-08-2007, 14:49

Abbot Ale is a good alternative to Spitfire as a session beer,

to Abbot, although with advancing years I confess I find Spitfire a touch too strong as a true session beer alas. My head thanks me for switching to Masterbrew after the first couple of pints.

While we are moving up the east coast slightly Adnams Broadside is also a very acceptable substitute for Spitfire and Abbot in a similar style.

BKS, SN stopping bottle conditioning spitfire was bad, putting it in cans as well as bottles was worse, and now they even have a nitrokeg version (though thank heavens I have yet to see this in a real pub.) If Shepherd Neame weren't in Kent, and therefore by definition excellent in every respect, I'd be having Issues with all this.

**Stig** · 01-08-2007, 16:11

Hertog Jan is cheap this week, 8 instead of 11,something. I'm already thirsty now, but the beer has to be nice and cool first

**Fragony** · 01-08-2007, 17:00

Hertog Jan, that's a good one as well

**Big King Sanctaphrax** · 01-08-2007, 18:33

I'd say Abbot is way too strong to use as a session beer. It's 5% ABV, isn't it? I normally look for about 3.5 if I'm going to be drinking for a goodly length of time. I like Broadside very much, but I find it's normally very pricey compared to Spitfire and Abbot.

**Beirut** · 01-08-2007, 22:26

Originally Posted by Big King Sanctaphrax

I normally look for about 3.5 if I'm going to be drinking for a goodly length of time.

I hear ya. If I drink one of those 9% Fin du Monde beers, I'm snoozing in my chair like grandpa Simpson.

But it's a good snooze.

We have "energy beer" in Quebec now. Basically a 5% Ginseng power drink; so you can down one after another and not fall asleep, not matter how stupid you get. Not sure it's a good idea, really.

**GoreBag** · 01-09-2007, 09:55

Originally Posted by Beirut

We have "energy beer" in Quebec now. Basically a 5% Ginseng power drink; so you can down one after another and not fall asleep, not matter how stupid you get. Not sure it's a good idea, really.

I gotta hop the river and find out.

**naut** · 01-09-2007, 11:51

Originally Posted by Beirut

We have "energy beer" in Quebec now. Basically a 5% Ginseng power drink; so you can down one after another and not fall asleep, not matter how stupid you get. Not sure it's a good idea, really.

Drunken athletes,

exactly what we need.

**drone** · 01-09-2007, 16:42

Most of those energy/caffeine beers taste like crap, they have a distinct chemical aftertaste. If your goal is to get blotto and stay awake all night, you may as well go all out with vodka and Redbull. Some of the coffee beers are OK though, there is a microbrew around here that has a decent porter with some coffee brewed in it.

**Dave1984** · 01-09-2007, 21:57

Originally Posted by Big King Sanctaphrax

I'd say Abbot is way too strong to use as a session beer.

Not a chance! A decent session beer should be 4.7% minimum and nothing less. Everything under that is a waste of liquid and stomach space!

**English assassin** · 01-10-2007, 10:56

I'm with Blackadder on this one:

Edmund: Baldrick, fetch my Incredibly Strong Ale...!
Monk: Good god! Not Dr McGloo's Amber Enema...?
Edmund: Pah! -- a drink for schoolgirls...
Partridge: Surely not Strollop's Lobster Scrumpy...?
Edmund: No -- it is Blackadder's Bowel Basher! A brew guaranteed to knock the backside off a concrete elephant! ...is it not,Baldrick?

Baldrick: Nah, it's water.