Favorite UK beer

Odd yes. But absolutely stunning without a doubt. I couldn't believe it myself so I drank another 4 just to make sure I was tasting it right. Turns out I was.

 

Hey, chorus of UK Beer Advocates, what are your favourite American beers?

(In unison)
"Brooklyn lager, Anchor steam, and Sierra Nevada pale ale!"

 

Going strictly based on my ratings:

1. Samuel Smith's Stingo (4.43)
2. Traquair Jacobite (4.35)
3. Traquair 2020 (4.33)
4. Samuel Smith's Taddy Porter (4.28)
5. Samuel Smith's Oatmeal (4.13)

 

Traquair Jacobite/House ale/2020 BW
Samuel Smiths Imperial Stout and Taddy Porter
Harviestoun Old Engine Oil/ Ola Dubh (all of them)
J.W. Lees Lagavulin/ Harvest
Young's Double Chocolate Stout
Orkney Skullsplitter

 

A very solid old school list and 2020 is a standout. Thanks for the reminder of Sam Smiths Imperial Stout. Pretty sure its the most influencial Imperial Stout not so much for taste but for being out there in the 80s when, apart from Grants and the odd sighting of Courage Russian Imperial Stout, there was nothing else. Think I'll have one tonight.

 

What else besides Brawler (which is great)?

 

Fuller's London Porter when I had it on cask in the UK. Also had London Pride on cask, which was delicious too. I don't remember most of the beers I had there cause there were so damn many, but most of them were very good. Stateside, I'd have to go with Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout. Pretty much anything by Samuel Smith and Fuller's is great.

 

I've never been to the UK but:
Belhaven Wee Heavy
Also, Black Sheep Ale.

 

Anything from The Kernel

 

The Tavern porter (Geo. Washington's) and the Tavern Ale (Thom. Jefferson's) are both quite good as well. I have yet to try the IPA and Olde Bartholomew, but I wouldn't hesitate.

I don't get this.

 

What this guy said.

 

With the 4 lads from Liverpool in the avatar.

 

This is good to hear Zim, in a way. I very much applaud the brewers there for trying to shake the 'ye olde' stigma. However...

I realize that UK enthusiasts have been clamoring for more and different flavors out of their beers for some time, but I have reservations as to what they aspire to do. If they are now patterning after American brewers and the more-is-better mentality (hello! brewdog!), and that extremity and fucked up ingredients in the name of 'innovation' equals desirability, this would make me sad. The UK will always have a different beer culture, and it should stay that way to a certain extent I think. Branching out is great. Providing a more balanced repertoire than 4 boring golden ales and 17 frumpy cask bitters is a great idea. You folks deserve it. But I hope they don't supplant one for another. Those beers are the backbone of something that Americans will never have--pub culture. Keep the milds!

 

Ah.

 

I loved this one last time I was in London:

 

Those are pretty much what i was thinking of- Brawler, Jefferson Tavern Ale, Porter and the English-style IPA- they all deliver, but I probably get the Brawler and Tavern Ale the most often.

 

I havent had enough English beers to really have a solid opinion yet (maybe 20 total) but two I have had recently practically knocked my socks off: Sam Smith Organic Apricot and Organic Chocolcate Stout

 

“Bottomline-2012 will be seen as a break out year for UK beer.”

“Magic Rock Tequila Barrel Clown Juice. The latter is a 7% ABV barrel aged (you got that part) Belgium Witbier.”

I will believe that 2012 is a break out year for UK beer when I see that Marquis adds the word craft to his vocabulary without using quotes!

Cheers!