Yearning for More British Ales

Since you're in NJ, you have access to Yards- you should get some of their Brawler asap!

Unfortunately, your observations are correct , and whatever British ales are on the shelves aren't exactly priced for that sort of consumption either .

 

A newish brewery in Houston called Holler is doing amazing UK styles. ESB, English Mild and Pub Crusher (a slightly bigger version of the Mild) have all been among my favorite new releases this year. They will do a cask of those at least once a week, and the Mild is at 3.2% ABV, the Pub Crusher is at 4% ABV. One of the only breweries around me that has nailed true session beers and cask.

 

My thoughts are that a) I agree with you OP, b) this thread will probably wind me up but we'll see, and c) I know not everyone has this luxury, but I just wait for trips back home to hit British-style ales / casks - in terms of what I have access to in NYC (generally keg versions of generic British beers or misguided cask attempts from US brewers) it rarely hits the spot - that said a place near my office apparently has Fyne Ales Highlander on cask - I'm excited and will give it a shot, but combo of travel and handling usually means it will be far from prime

Edit -

jealous of @champ103 and @TongoRad for having good local options. I really feel like there's a gap in the NY market for that type of brewery, but I'm certainly in the minority

 

Maybe it's just because i'm in Canada and not as far removed from the "Empire" as you folks in the States (we technically didn't have our own autonomous constitution until 1982), but there is a wealth of well made British-styled ales here.

In fact, the longest running microbrewery in my city, Picaroons Traditional Ales, almost exclusively brews English Ales, including blonde ales, bitters, English Porters and Stouts, English IPA's, etc.

Granted that there has definitely been a shift toward more hoppy styles in general over the past 5 years or so.

 

hoping that family in UK for 3 months will fill a suitcase upon their return.

I need some Bateman's XXXB

 

Picaroons is great, but you have access to beers from hundreds of US breweries that don't distribute here (although it is getting better).

I'm not sure how to go about trading beer or the legality of trading beers cross-border, but I would be down to swap a few bottles with you if it won't make me a criminal

 

Seems to be, at least a mini, resurgence in Milds and Bitters brewed by the locals here in Pittsburgh. Don't know if it's just the flavor of the month or if it's going to be a long term thing, but here's to hoping. That doesn't really help you, but maybe some of your locals will have similar thoughts.

 

I really wish more places would do this. I seem to recall reading previous posts from you about living is Scotland. I never lived full time in the UK, but at one point was always traveling back and forth from Houston and Aberdeen (I'm in the oil and gas industry) and ever since just wanted a great pub with great traditional cask selections. The Ginger Man, and a few breweries like Holler and Saint Arnold are really my only choices. There is a mostly great beer bar here called Hay Merchant that has 5 cask engines, but more often then not those are of the Americanized, throwing everything from spices, coffee to fruit and even peanut butter in an imperial stout, just to be different. Which is not what I am looking for...

 

What you're looking for is an English Mild Ale. Low IBUs, traditionally between 3 and 4% ABV. It's the quintessential English Pub drink

 

Goose Island Honkers Ale (4.3% English Bitter) was of respectable quality, cheap and easy to find, but now I don't see this beer anywhere (do they still make it?). Yes there are a couple UK options is select craft beer stores that have been mentioned, but frequently they run for $10-$12 a 4pack of 4% ABV beer, which disappears way to quickly and you feel a little cheated to spend that kind of dough on such a a lite beer with a little flavor.

I had a delicious English Mild on draft at Vanish Brewery in Lucketts VA a few weeks ago (see offerings on link).
https://vanishbeer.com/beers/

Outstanding beer. I guess they are found, but to find a grab and go 6-12 pack option for the style from your local store at a reasonable price is tough today.

 

Unfortunately a well-distributed session-strength English ale is a rare thing in the US. Make a note to look for Long Trail Harvest ale around August when they release it for the fall season. I love it, and I think it sounds like what you're describing. Otherwise Yards Brawler and Goose Island Honker's Ale are year-round.

I visitied the Rockaway Brewery once and really enjoyed their mild, but I have no idea if it was a regular offering for them. In general their line-up leaned towards traditional beer styles.

Welcome to every US market.

 

Obviously - but it seems that some markets at least have one or two options. Zero in NYC - I've had the Rockaway ESB - it was ok. Never come across a mild from them. Some of what they make skews traditional, but they're not immune to the word juicy either

 

If you're close enough to Pearl River a visit to Defiant might be in order then. They make a 4.5% bitter called Little Thumper that's all Marris Otter malt and Kent Goldings hops. The owner/brewer has a nice touch with English and Belgian styles, most of which don't get packaged.

This ties in with what I mentioned earlier- the last time we could get that in the US it was $5 for a 500ml bottle. Great beer, but the price was prohibitive for that sort of drinking.

 

Considering that it's now brewed (or was, at least) in New York and Colorado, I'd think it was everywhere -- maybe not?