Yearning for More British Ales

I don't have anything to add other than I appreciate this thread. A little more style diversity could go a long way in my view.

 

No, admittedly I have not had the ESA on cask. I have had the bottled version which, I must say, is a far cry from a true English Bitter. Not only were the flavors in ESA much bolder than a traditional Bitter, its 6% abv is around double of what a normal Bitter would be. It’s a good stab at an ESB, yeah but far from a traditional English Bitter unfortunately. All that being said, I would love to try it on cask.

 

They still make it and I think it's not good. I enjoy British styles very much and definitely wish there were more. Schlafly pale ale is cheap, available in 12 packs, and very good, if you can get Schlafly, of course. It is actually their best-selling beer (though I hear it probably won't be for much longer).

On a similar subject, I love English style IPAs even more than I love English style pales/bitters/etc. They are even harder to find, despite the IPA craze (and I think Goose IPA is worse than Honkers). Schlafly discontinued theirs a few years ago. My local brewery made a wonderful one and recently changed it into a Scottish ale, much to my disappointment. I'd love to try some IPAs from England, if I ever find one.

 

if you ever make it north to around Cape Cod, Devil's Purse out of Dennis MA makes a decent ESB, ~5.2% ABV. Haven't seen Black Sheep in a while, whatever happened to them? And I just have to say, damn I miss Youngs, Special London, Oatmeal Stout, Ram Rod and Winter Warmer.

 

I haven't been there in a long time. Have you been there recently? If yes was it still as good as it was?

 

Well, I really like it on cask. Maybe you would too?

My other message to you is if you seek a "genuine English Bitter" you can make your own. I have been doing this for over two decades and you too can do this.

Cheers!

 

Totally agree with you on bellhaven Scottish ale. I bought so many 6 packs of that last year.

 

We have a brewery here in Seattle, Machine House Brewery, that specializes in traditional English ales, most are cask.

 

These options are underrepresented in NC. Perhaps a few one offs here and there but we still don't have the real/cask ale experience where I live.

Green Man from Asheville does a pretty decent Americanized ESB but still in the 5% range.

 

Every few months I'll have a Fuller's London Porter.

Every few months I'm stunned by how delicious it is.

It's super easy to find in Chicago and is the best English porter, regardless of actual origin, that I can find on a consistent basis.

 

This thread makes me want a Fullers ESB. I miss not having a good ESB around all the time.

 

I respect your opinion and I’m sure it’s great on cask.

I’ve dabbled in a bit of homebrewing in the past. I’ve only used extract but I’ve made anEnglish porter, brown ale and a abbey dubbel. I don’t really have a good setup for brewing at home right now.

Anyway, let me clarify, there is a big difference between an ESB and a Bitter. Are your homebrews closer to ESB in style or more like an English Bitter? Just curious. Feel free to message me your recipe!

 

OP, I feel your pain. We're lucky here to have the option posted by champ103. Plus a nice 4.7% english-style ale from Eureka Heights (Wicket Awesome, called an ESB by the brewery but more of a classic bitter IMO). And several local pubs with good draughts of Fuller's London Pride & ESB and Wells Bombadier. Beyond that though, it's the same overload of IPAs (single-double-triple-hazy-clear-grapefruit-blood orange-best by 2017, etc.), sours, imperial stouts in all mutations, and so on.

 

For the last 20 years, I regularly purchased growlers or bottles of Blue Point (BP) Pale Ale or (preferably) Blue Point ESB. The ESB became scarce several years ago, and both are rarely available anymore. The brewery is putting out higher alcohol specialty products that evidently sell better. Often when I go to a tavern that offers 20+ taps, I find nothing for my taste buds. (Although recently I found a cask Harviesoun Porter that was fantastic). Early microbreweries in the northwest had Britain covered: I fondly remember Grants Scottish Ale, Pyramid Pale Ale, and Bridgeport Cask Porter.

 

I forgot about Wicket Awesome, I have really been enjoying that lately. When they first released it, I found it lackluster. Though feel they have really dialed it in now for whatever reason.

 

I hadn't heard of that before. Thanks for sharing, looks like it could definitely be worth the trip.

 

It would take you about 40/45 min. to drive there.

 

I'm not sure what it was before to know if it's still as good, and good will depend on the person. They are doing something different than most breweries today. If you want fresh English style beers, it's probably worth a trip; if you want juicy IPAs then you'll be disappointed. They also always have a cask option if that's something you're interested in. According to their website they use ringwood yeast, which some people really dislike. I went a couple years ago with some friends and everyone really liked the place. I keep telling myself I should go back and I only live ~20 minutes away, but it keeps getting bumped for more local places/activities. I don't know if that says as much about the place or that I don't go out of my way for beer any more.

Honestly, there are plenty of things to do in the area to make a day/weekend get-away, that could include a lunch or dinner stop at Ship Inn.

 

My brother used to live near the Ship Inn and we used to go there often. He moved so I haven't beer there in a while. Always enjoyed both the beer and food there just wondering if it still as good. I'm 40/45 minuets away, That's not to long for going but to long for coming back. Like you what's local is much better than it used to be but it would be a nice change of pace,

 

The brewery I’m at defiantly continues to brew these styles, a fact of which I’m very proud of. We try to have a British pub ale on at all times, and usually have a cask on the beer engine. They are just a tough sell.

The draft moves slow and we always have to dump gallons from each casks. We serve real ale, without a breather, so you really only get a few days to kick it and people just don’t drink casks fast enough.

We’ve kicked around the idea of doing a short packaging run of a mild or something like that, but there’s fear that it would be remarkably unprofitable. Frustrating, because, even using all UK ingredients, these beers are ridiculously cheap to make.

I’m holding out hope that just as German beers are seeing a mini-popularity boost, UK ales are next. I hope so, because when done right, they truly are some of the most delicious beers out there.

Ultimately, the responsibility lies on the drinker. If you buy them, brewers will brew them!