The Year in Beer 2013

Discussion in 'United Kingdom & Ireland' started by Zimbo, Dec 28, 2013.

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  1. Zimbo

    Zimbo Pooh-Bah (2,305) Aug 7, 2010 Scotland
    Pooh-Bah

    What are your thoughts, observations, ideas, best beers (cask and bottled), breweries etc uniquely relating to beer this year in the UK?

    Tempest and their Old Parochial Barrel Aged Imperial Scotch Ale and Pale Ale get my nods for best brewery, best bottled beer and best cask beer of the year.
    But I'm also beginning to see what I believe are the limitations of this craft beer (you know how I define it) revolution and can't help but feel that the very essence/identity of British brewing is ironically now under threat. But that's an elaboration for another post.

    Now tell me what you think.
     
    #1 Zimbo, Dec 28, 2013
  2. reprob8

    reprob8 Initiate (0) May 22, 2008 England

    the standout beer for me, this year, was Summer Wine Calico Jack Imperial Carribean Ginger Stout, unbelievably drinkable at something over 10%.
    Beer destination had to be Italy, so much good stuff going on there.
    Most anticipated beer had to be from Burning Sky, everyone had high expectations from Mark and he didn't fail to deliver.
    Will we see a slow down in the proliferation of new breweries next year? Who knows, I do know they're all swimming in the same Pool.
    I do hope we will see an end to believing that everything a 'craft' brewery puts out is the next best thing, all too often they have failed to impress, a bit like the 'boring brown beers' that say they are replacing.
    And I'm still waiting for the inverse Stout, white body and black head.
    And let's all adopt Max's maxim, 'cut the craft, show me the beer'.
     
    #2 reprob8, Dec 28, 2013
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  3. Zimbo

    Zimbo Pooh-Bah (2,305) Aug 7, 2010 Scotland
    Pooh-Bah

    I do hope we will see an end to believing that everything a 'craft' brewery puts out is the next best thing, all too often they have failed to impress, a bit like the 'boring brown beers' that say they are replacing.
    'cut the craft, show me the beer'.[/quote]

    I do hope we will see an end to believing that everything a 'craft' brewery puts out is the next best thing, all too often they have failed to impress, a bit like the 'boring brown beers' that say they are replacing.
    And I'm still waiting for the inverse Stout, white body and black head.
    And let's all adopt Max's maxim, 'cut the craft, show me the beer'.[/quote]


    Some good points there especially the idea that craft beer too often has 'failed to impress'. I've liked many of the new keg new craft beers I've tried this year but few have left a lasting 'Wow' impression on me to the point where I would actually seek them out again. Magic Rock Tequila Barrel Clown Juice is one notable exception though.

    My one big bitch comes in the form of so many craft beer bar/cafe/pubs which have shown themselves to be the refuge not of people who truly love and want to drink good beer but rather an oasis for those in love with the idea of being seen drinking the latest trendiest beer irrespect of a beer's intrinsic quality. Nothing impresses here like the impression of being hip through the process of drinking hip beer. Even worse, a few of these places have become the ticker's paradise which is certainly the antithesis of pub culture. And that's the rub because a cornerstone of the British pub is the notion of community and its place within that local community. Community often seems to be at odds with the idea of craft bars and that ain't right.

    In an ideal world 2014 should herald in a new revolution in cask brewing because from where I'm sitting its full potential is still waiting to be untapped.
     
    #3 Zimbo, Dec 28, 2013
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  4. Ruds

    Ruds Initiate (0) Sep 15, 2008 England

    One thought on the old craft vs trad, or however you wish to call this debate/non debate ...

    Whilst you will pick up beers that fall in the 'craft' bracket that are more miss than hit, and undoubtedly cost more than the (to quote reprob8) 'boring brown beers', The worst half dozen or so beers from the UK that I've encountered this year have been from the 'trad' mold, namely brewers in pubs out the back tapping into the new brewery boom.

    Some of the 'CRAFT' new brewer beers aren't great but theres almost always a good level of quality control and nothing as bad as some of the twiggy rubbish coming from the outhouses of some established / old pubs around and about !
     
    #4 Ruds, Dec 28, 2013
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  5. EmperorBevis

    EmperorBevis Grand High Pooh-Bah (9,338) Sep 25, 2011 England
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I started on Ba at the end of 2011 so this is kind of year 2 in the my return to beer

    I knew a lot of the good pubs in Manchester but in 2013 found the Craft places,
    some I like the beer but could never imagine striking up a conversation
    (successfully, I have tried) with a stranger and as for the temple of hipster style over substance
    BD Manchester, I do not foresee a visit back.

    Stockport and Cheshire have generated however quite a few Craft beer brew pubs
    & the Brewhouse seems to be able to appreciate subtle nuances of taste within beer
    producing some traditional English Pale Ales and a Stout alongside new world hops and US styles
    whilst also having a nice snug to serve them in.

    Touching on the bulldozer hop effect it does create a bit of a flavour cul-de-sac
    because once you have ventured into grapefruit juice or lemon drain cleaner
    it's difficult for the palate to pick anything else up
    perhaps I need to drink more German beer for delicate flavours.

    No actually the answer is more cask dark mild, balance fruit and created with traditional ingredients
    PLOT TWIST! Adjuncts & additional flavourings
    still trying to make up my mind on this subject
    Yes I've had a lot of really tasty brews with these in
    and now I have something to ponder tonight lol
     
    #5 EmperorBevis, Dec 28, 2013
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  6. CwrwAmByth

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

    A great beery year for me, my last full year (for a while at least) in Cardiff with easy access to the beer shops and city centre pubs (and student loans to fund it), so I appreciate it a lot and will probably be missing it this time in 2014.

    315 beers scooped on this site, some great new breweries tried (Summer Wine, Weird Beard, Beavertown, Cromarty, Tempest...) and many brewtastic pub visits, festivals, and drinking sessions.

    My beer highlights would be:
    • Tempest Old Parochial
    • Schneider Weisse Taps 1 & 4 (Mein Blondes und Mein Grunes)
    • Buxton Tsar & Imperial Black & Axe Edge
    • Cromarty Brewed Awakening
    • Deschutes Obsidian Stout
    • Mikkeller Black Hole (Cognac)
    • Tiny Rebel Dirty Stop Out (both regular cask and vanilla oak barrel)
    • Beavertown Bloody 'ell
    • Wild Beer Shnoodlepip
    With my event/place highlights being:
    • Opening of Tiny Rebel's Urban Tap House
    • Replacing my blood with Flux, Full Nelson and Dirty Stop Out at the Great Welsh Beer Festival
    • The Tiny Rebel tap takeover of the Cask Pub and Kitchen
    • Trading with Zimbo and Denno
    • and of course a spot for each time i've enjoyed something on cask in perfect condition, with that unbeatable texture and depth of flavour, along with perfect company, in a lovely British pub.
    So cheers to all that make this place great, I hope everyone had a Nadolig Llawen, and has a decent New Year n all!
     
    #6 CwrwAmByth, Dec 28, 2013
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  7. Darwin553

    Darwin553 Initiate (0) Jan 5, 2009 Australia

    These craft beer bar/cafe/pubs are almost being targeted at these 'hipsters' that just go to these places to be seen drinking 'different' beer. They are usually the young corporate types with plenty of dosh to throw around. But the problem is that many of them probably wouldn't even appreciate that this different beer is actually better beer to drink than their usual Peroni. So, from a purist point of view, it is a bit disingenuous or even rich of them to sit in a pub with people that actually enjoy and appreciate the actual beer. But, in saying that, I think we on here need to realise that this is just the bad that comes with the overwhelming good of having the quality beer easily accessible that we just have to put up with.
     
    #7 Darwin553, Dec 30, 2013
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  8. Zimbo

    Zimbo Pooh-Bah (2,305) Aug 7, 2010 Scotland
    Pooh-Bah

    Yep, good point, its the cross we have to bear. :wink:
     
    #8 Zimbo, Dec 30, 2013
  9. WhatANicePub

    WhatANicePub Zealot (712) Jul 1, 2009 Scotland

    I think we’re all going in the same direction here. Many very hoppy beers are good, but also one-dimensional. When everyone is using the same hops and the same yeast, it's no wonder if all the beers start to taste the same. I want more complexity in my beer. I think having more than one thing going on flavour-wise is what makes a beer drinkable and moreish.
     
    #9 WhatANicePub, Dec 31, 2013
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  10. WhatANicePub

    WhatANicePub Zealot (712) Jul 1, 2009 Scotland

    Also agree with Ruds. The best beer I have had this year has been cask from a trad brewer. So has the worst.
     
    #10 WhatANicePub, Dec 31, 2013
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  11. Zimbo

    Zimbo Pooh-Bah (2,305) Aug 7, 2010 Scotland
    Pooh-Bah

    I want more complexity too. And more structure.
     
    #11 Zimbo, Dec 31, 2013
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