tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587803708798736658.post1868638878112907115..comments2023-07-30T04:55:59.334-07:00Comments on Brewing In A Bedsitter: Geek CredDaveShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14030589043526494438noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587803708798736658.post-15710080453585424832016-08-25T22:25:48.684-07:002016-08-25T22:25:48.684-07:00Oh, I understand that it's not comprehensive a...Oh, I understand that it's not comprehensive and you're only really listing those breweries who attempt to have some "new-wave" credibility. The likes of Felinfoel, Arkells, Palmers and Donnington are so far off the craft radar as to be invisible.<br /><br />Incidentally, Wainwright and Lancaster Bomber are now nothing to do with Thwaites. The brands were bought by Marston's, and the bottles and pumpclips no longer make any mention of Thwaites.Curmudgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02558747878308766840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587803708798736658.post-66995725175660328352016-08-25T15:39:53.082-07:002016-08-25T15:39:53.082-07:00On the vexed issue of Batemans vs Thwaites, I was ...On the vexed issue of Batemans vs Thwaites, I was comparing their traditional ranges and giving it to Batemans by a nose on the basis that I have a generally better impression of their XXXB than of Wainwright or Lancaster Bomber. If you took the "crafty" stuff into account then I'd pick Thwaites by a country mile.<br /><br />I don't really know Lees that well myself (because geography) but they get significant points for still producing a traditional barleywine. The Cloudwater / Magic Rock collaboration didn't hurt, either.<br /><br />Mudgie - I wondered about Bathams. Everyone who's aware of them seems to think well of them, but I'm (genuinely) not sure how many people who are primarily interested in new-wave craft stuff would actually be aware of them.<br /><br />As to the others - I did say it was non-comprehensive! I'd expect Elgoods to be well thought of, Felinfoel maybe mid-table (although I've got a soft spot for Double Dragon myself), Holts and Donnington I've honestly got no idea.DaveShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14030589043526494438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587803708798736658.post-67912936215484723962016-08-25T13:19:19.113-07:002016-08-25T13:19:19.113-07:00No mention of Batham's, who are widely revered...No mention of Batham's, who are widely revered, even if your average beer geek has never visited one of their pubs?<br /><br />And half the family brewers don't get a mention either - no Holts, Felinfoel, Elgoods or Donnington, for a start.<br /><br />While I accept they have some questionable corporate practices, from my perspective the Sam Smith's experience - quality of beer and pubs, and low prices - is great.Curmudgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02558747878308766840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587803708798736658.post-12446296216843471312016-08-25T12:06:50.379-07:002016-08-25T12:06:50.379-07:00My take on your own list:
Enjoy for the main part...My take on your own list:<br /><br />Enjoy for the main part:<br />- Adnams<br />- Fullers<br />- Timothy Taylor<br />- Theakstons<br />- Hook Norton<br />- Thwaites<br /><br />All with the caveat that the sorts of pubs where you find any of these locally tend to be crap pubs and thus avoided. Adnams is perhaps the exception as we're not far off being on their local turf.<br /><br />Experience causes me to avoid drinking:<br />- Batemans - strong dislike of most beers<br />- Brains<br />- Shepherd Neame<br />- Greene King - strong dislike of most beers<br />- Robinsons<br />- Marstons<br />- Everards<br />- Mc Mullens<br />- Wells & Young<br /><br />Mostly just not particularly interested, find them hard to enjoy. They just don't "do it" form me.<br /><br /><br />Wouldn't know from a bar of soap:<br />- Harveys - hear good things<br />- Sam Smith - that twat isn't getting my money anyway<br />- JW Lees - rarely even heard of<br /><br /><br />I find it interesting that Bateman's is getting more cred than Thwaites on the @BoakAndBailey poll... ick. I am assuming people give Bateman's more cred because nationally they're less encountered and thus win by default. ;) I mean their "craft" stuff in bottles that all tasted of flavourings and sweetness... ick. At least Thwaits seem to have learnt something from involvement with BrewDog as 13 Guns can be a nice brew if found in fresh form.<br /><br />Said poll: https://twitter.com/BoakandBailey/status/768717947971960832<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05793695136930190566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587803708798736658.post-29740256691904077382016-08-25T01:53:53.618-07:002016-08-25T01:53:53.618-07:00Not on the list: Arkell's produce some moderat...Not on the list: Arkell's produce some moderate beers; I'd put them somewhere in the middle of that line up. Palmers are dreadful... except for Tally Ho. Never worked out how they manage to produce one beer that's rather good when all the rest of their stable is dismal. Still have a soft spot from my youth for Hall & Woodhouse's cask Tanglefoot; and some of their seasonals are quite decent e.g. Pickled Partridge. Huish Hughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04018873617827755074noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587803708798736658.post-54986099810221012392016-08-24T06:15:20.716-07:002016-08-24T06:15:20.716-07:00And Robbies' Old Tom in a wooden barrel on the...And Robbies' Old Tom in a wooden barrel on the bar is a lovely sight, even if I'm really not fussed on the rest of their range...CarsmileStevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10569787692912613393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587803708798736658.post-7196565783350009562016-08-24T06:12:51.650-07:002016-08-24T06:12:51.650-07:00OK, personally, I'd move Sam Smiths *way* down...OK, personally, I'd move Sam Smiths *way* down the list. Their bottled product is good, if pricy, but their cask/keg is rancid and their whole ethos is, at best, idiosyncratic and, at worst, bad for both staff and customers.<br /><br />I've still got a soft spot for Wells and Youngs, Ordinary remains drinkable and they still have some excellent pubs (among some less good). I'd also bump Everards a few places up, but then they are a real novelty for me. Would probably swap them with Shep Neame who I've really gone off over the last ten years...<br /><br />And GK should be last, obv ;)CarsmileStevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10569787692912613393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587803708798736658.post-37275659918559307402016-08-24T03:07:09.892-07:002016-08-24T03:07:09.892-07:00When I think of St Austell I think of Proper Job f...When I think of St Austell I think of Proper Job first (and I did say that the list is partly based on personal prejudice and I'd welcome other viewpoints!) and it doesn't really seem fair to compare that to, say, the Theakstons range.<br /><br />And I was trying to be unspecific with my "almost all of them" comment, but I'll admit that I haven't got much time for McMullens.DaveShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14030589043526494438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587803708798736658.post-27883835352594100292016-08-24T03:03:31.746-07:002016-08-24T03:03:31.746-07:00Greene King I really wasn't sure about - I'...Greene King I really wasn't sure about - I'm probably biased because I regularly go to a pub that keeps their mild well. There's an argument for having them right at the bottom - as you say, they're frequently reviled - but they do still do the odd interesting thing.DaveShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14030589043526494438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587803708798736658.post-36979561262367591322016-08-24T02:35:44.538-07:002016-08-24T02:35:44.538-07:00Re St Austell, what is Cornish Best if not a "...Re St Austell, what is Cornish Best if not a "brown beer"? Malcolm Nichollshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04114433389090892217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587803708798736658.post-41837854808552745942016-08-24T02:33:38.046-07:002016-08-24T02:33:38.046-07:00St Austell an obvious, if not scandalous, omission...St Austell an obvious, if not scandalous, omission.<br />Your inclusion of GK is interesting given the odium they normally attract from the craft-erati, and the old stagers who remember when the likes of IPA had some flavour.<br />I'd also be interested to hear what interesting beers you think the likes of McMullens now produce.Malcolm Nichollshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04114433389090892217noreply@blogger.com