Seasonal Drinking....

Discussion in 'United Kingdom & Ireland' started by Aye, Sep 13, 2015.

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  1. Aye

    Aye Initiate (0) Jul 21, 2011 England

    And so the nights are beginning to draw in and the sun rises later as if he is reluctant to leave the warm fug of his wanking chariot. Anyhow long convoluted intro short, who is starting to feel the need for a change in drinking habits as we creep inorexably, inevitably towards the long cold and dark of winter?

    When I was a young cove, upon finishing work for the day and seeing the darkening skies and feeling the crisp cold of a Northern winter evening I would be drawn to a number of hostelries nearby. Just a social, medicinal, quick one, maybe three,to see me through the dismal train journey home. And what wonders of cask ales they were, many of which bore the designation/title of 'Old'.
    Old Peculiar, Old Nigel, Old Navigation, Old Fart, Old Tom, Owd Roger. Were they all old ales? Probably not, but proper winter warmers nonetheless. Where did they go! Did they just change name or style or are they still out there quietly sitting at the end of a row of handpulls, forgotten in favour of some souped up DIPA or other?
     
    #1 Aye, Sep 13, 2015
  2. CwrwAmByth

    CwrwAmByth Grand Pooh-Bah (3,113) Jan 24, 2011 England
    Pooh-Bah

    Starting to drink more whisky but that's about it for me in terms of a change.
     
    #2 CwrwAmByth, Sep 14, 2015
  3. Georgefox

    Georgefox Crusader (404) Aug 19, 2013 England

    Old peculiar and old tom are widely available year round, at least in the north where you have lots of robinsons and theakstons pubs.
     
    #3 Georgefox, Sep 14, 2015
  4. Aye

    Aye Initiate (0) Jul 21, 2011 England

    OP and OT are available in bottle around here but as you'd expect they're not a patch on a pint of cask ale. You'd imagine, being in the old heartland of S&N Breweries, that we'd be swimming in Theakstons but no longer sadly. Once upon a time you could guarantee at least Theakston BB, XB, OP or Youngers No 3 to be available within a five minute walk from your front door.
     
    #4 Aye, Sep 14, 2015
  5. Georgefox

    Georgefox Crusader (404) Aug 19, 2013 England

    in fact the pubs near me that do old peculiar and best bitter don't seem to keep them in good condition unfortunately. The lightfoot fares better in other places. Old tom is great on cask but you can't get it in pints in the robinsons that do it now.
     
    #5 Georgefox, Sep 14, 2015
  6. Hanglow

    Hanglow Pooh-Bah (2,051) Feb 18, 2012 Scotland
    Pooh-Bah

    We've actually had a bit of what is known in the rest of the world as "sun" and a few "dry" days over the last week or two, so as far as I'm concerned summer has just started and I'm drinking a Jarl after having some Pilsner Urquell at dinner.

    No doubt it will snow next week and I'll get smashed on some stout :slight_smile:
     
    #6 Hanglow, Sep 14, 2015
    Aye likes this.
  7. CwrwAmByth

    CwrwAmByth Grand Pooh-Bah (3,113) Jan 24, 2011 England
    Pooh-Bah

    I'd actually have to say as well that while my beer habits don't change, the experiences do seem to. Drinking some Lervig Konrad's Stout imperial stout earlier, with it quite cold and tipping down with rain outside, was thoroughly enjoyable. Shame my other two beers are pales.
     
    #7 CwrwAmByth, Sep 14, 2015
  8. Aye

    Aye Initiate (0) Jul 21, 2011 England

    As a bit of fortuitous synchronicity....We had a power cut last night so I was reduced to reading by candlelight. The book I reached for was published by the peeps at Caught By The River and called On Nature. Its collection of nature writings from various peeps including Mark Dredge. His essay on seasonality in beer is an excellent primer so I found a few of his articles for The Grauniad

    http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2010/apr/21/beer-food-and-drink
    http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2010/jun/04/best-summer-beer
    http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2012/oct/05/autumn-ales-season-fresh-hops
     
    #8 Aye, Sep 16, 2015
    CwrwAmByth likes this.
  9. Hoppsbabo

    Hoppsbabo Pooh-Bah (2,053) Jan 29, 2012 England
    Pooh-Bah

    Feeling it now. I craved hops all the time last month. This month is all about malts and yeast.
     
    #9 Hoppsbabo, Sep 16, 2015
  10. DJ-Hophead

    DJ-Hophead Initiate (0) May 28, 2015 England

    I've just ordered 15 bottles or so from Beergium (great service by the way) of winter warmers averaging around 9% so I'm well set when the cold dark nights arrive. Some might not even last that long so my habits don't generally seem to change. Generally can't find these type of beers without busting your wallet out and about but locally (Bristol) hoping for some nice strongish dark beers as the local brewery scene seems to be exploding.
     
    #10 DJ-Hophead, Sep 16, 2015
  11. CwrwAmByth

    CwrwAmByth Grand Pooh-Bah (3,113) Jan 24, 2011 England
    Pooh-Bah

    This Tuatara Double Trouble might tick the autumn/intermediate box. Hoppy and delicious but also boozy, thick and with these really nice hits of winter spice warming it all up nicely. Plus you get 500ml of 9% beer all to yourself (down with small bottles).
     
    #11 CwrwAmByth, Sep 16, 2015
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