English styles

That explains it. I thought it was odd that you were recommending that beer! Didn't seem like one you'd recommend.

 

I'll echo everyone who is mentioning freshness and condition. It's key. You should limit yourself to what you have available that doesn't look ancient.

You'll be awfully lucky to find an English mild. Bottled bitter... pale ale - will be the style that you should be most careful about purchasing. Unfortunately, there's really not much reliable stuff out there. Be wary of any oddball brands... only because there's a greater chance the stuff is old. The costs of some bottles are just too high to take a risk. Something like Jarl can be purchased here, but it'll be tough to find (and probably expensive). With that in mind:

You're in good shape with Fuller's. They date their product and it's iconic. Adding recent London Pride (or Honey Dew as a second choice if you can't get Pride) would be a good move. Coniston doesn't date here and Bluebird is really hit or miss based on condition... I wouldn't spend the money (when it's good it's great though). Skip anything Greene King unless you can't find anything else. Samuel Smith's Nut Brown would be a good addition (in fact, the Sam Smith blue gift box with glass would be a really fun buy for your dinner). Look for McEwans Scotch Ale in four packs produced by Wells.

For a more decadent end to the meal: Look for Harviestoun Ola Dubh. They are available in different numbers (12, 16, 18, etc.) and get increasingly expensive. I'd go with a 16 or 18 depending on price. Samuel Smith Yorkshire Stingo is pricey and characterful. You can also look for a big bottle from Meantime - either one of their porters, their barley wine, or Scotch ale.

Report back after your meal!

 

Laverstoke Lager and Cain's Dark Mild. I really enjoyed both of them.

 

And any of the Harviestoun beers. Amazing.

 

I wouldn't worry about the beer being old, the flavour really doesn't change much as far as I know (no delicate American hops...most you'll get are pasteurised, anyway). I did have a bottle of Gales HSB, recently (which I'm sure is imported), and it was very nice.

 

Ha! I thought I was going to have to look into checking it out myself, then .

 

I thought the Meantime Imperial Stout was really lousy, but the Naval College Porter is fantastic, highly recommended for a bigger, dark, BA beer to wrap things up (in addition to one or more of those JW Lees bottles!).

 

Haven't tried either of those but I've yet to be impressed by anything from that brewery.

 

I love (love, LOVE) traditional English ales…as said multiple times above, they're often out of date/old/oxidized by the time they make it here. Sam Smith's beers (if you know how to read the codes) are often a year old or so by the time they make it to us here in MO. Many of the others (Landlord, Wadworth 6x, etc) are just as bad. I say go w/something you know is in date…and it just so happens that the Fuller's products are just about the only ones you can find a good date (clearly printed) on, and that seem to be halfway fresh. Also, Shipyard (I know it's cool to hate on them) Fuggles IPA is a good example of a traditionally, modern-brewed English IPA and can be found fairly fresh, both in IL and down here. Goes great with fish and chips. I agree with barley wine for dessert (JW Lees Harvest if possible, a nicely-aged Tally Ho! barley wine, or Sam Smith's Yorkshire Stingo (just came out recently for this year and ages well). Or a Traquair House Ale (omg that stuff's amazing), though it obviously hails from Scotland. My .02

 

They go off, oxidation is the main issue, the crystal malt takes on a bad sweetness, the malts go papery. I don't buy British beers in the US anymore.

Edit - I was in England earlier this year, the beers are great fresh and on cask. The bottled ones in the US are stale.

 

I totally dig Fuller's ESB and porter - hard to go wrong there - heck, what more can you ask for? I'll tell you!

See if you can spot some of their Vintage Ale...

I'm not sure about the food pairing aspects of the ales, but for straight-up drinks, they're all top-tier.

 

Anything from Fuller's, J.W. Lee's, and Young's Double Chocolate Stout.

Cheers!

 

Also if you can get something on cask (English Style Brews) would be awesome.

Cheers!

 

If I'd had a bit more warning I'd have suggested something of a transatlantic beer trade. :-/

 

I've had that beer twice. If I remember correctly, the first time I had it, I thought it was quite sweet and surprisingly good... the second time I had it, I thought it was really sweet and rather unpleasant. I think it was a case of the beer not meeting my expectations either time. I also think it might just be the sort of beer that can swing heavily one way or the other depending on the day (mood, food, etc.). I'm not exactly itching for a third try for clarity's sake.

 

If I can add another opinion based on the situation:

Since you're looking for more than one beer, I'd go with three but no more. Something pale, something black, and something quite malty.

The Fuller's ESB that you already have will cover the first category (but something paler might be even nicer for contrast). Any of the mentioned stouts/porters will cover the second. Any of the mentioned Scotch ales or barley wines will cover the third.

 

First Choice: Landlord Pale Ale

Pale Ales
Landlord Pale Ale
Fuller's ESB

Porter/Stout
Fuller's London Porter
Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout

Scottish/Old Ale/Barleywine
Traquiar House Ale
Fuller's Vintage Ale
J.W. Lee's Harvest Ale

 

Young's Ram Rod
brovo on the mushy peas

 

Young's Bitter, it's very good. Like very very good if you're ranking to style.