Entitled Historic Boat Owners

[MtB]

2 hours ago, Arthur Marshall said:

Luckily, blasphemous though it may seem to some, beer (and its quality) isn't terribly important to most people. I strongly suspect that the majority, like me, simply don't like the stuff. We drink it largely because nothing else in a pub is palatable at all (this explains lager) except whisky, and you can't spin a  few of those out for a night unless you drink it by the pint, which is unwise (DAMHIK).

I would only ever stop at a pub while cruising if meeting someone, which is rare. Never otherwise on my usual solo cruise. On the odd cruise when my wife is along we'll usually have an unsatisfactory meal at one, once in a trip. There again, she likes beer.

 

PS Before being accused of not knowing what I'm talking about, I've been to a lot of pubs in the last fifteen years, and seldom finished a pint in any of them. But then, it's been their money in my pocket, not mine in theirs...

 

I fear the 'chicken and egg' thing is going on here. Like you, I find I dislike the 'real ale' in most pubs. But that is because it is generally in poor condition due to being badly cellared by constantly changing young bar staff who neither know nor care about it, or its just plain too old because no-one will buy it because... well, already explained. 

 

But 'real ale' isn't all the same. A really well-kept pint of London Pride or Butcombe Original is a revelation in comparison. And being really hard to find, a decent real ale is all the more delightful to drink when you actually do find it! (I.e. not in The Anchor.) 

[Midnight]

3 hours ago, MtB said:

 

I fear the 'chicken and egg' thing is going on here. Like you, I find I dislike the 'real ale' in most pubs. But that is because it is generally in poor condition due to being badly cellared by constantly changing young bar staff who neither know nor care about it, or its just plain too old because no-one will buy it because... well, already explained. 

 

But 'real ale' isn't all the same. A really well-kept pint of London Pride or Butcombe Original is a revelation in comparison. And being really hard to find, a decent real ale is all the more delightful to drink when you actually do find it! (I.e. not in The Anchor.) 

You need the Good Beer Guide, but I do agree some pubs just don't know how to keep it. This trip we had HPA at Fazely (good) at Bodymoor Heath (poor) and at the United Kingdom (nectar).  The 6X last night was good enough to stay tonight for another shot.

Edited July 12 by Midnight

[David Schweizer]

Deleted.

 

 

Edited July 12 by David Schweizer

[IanD]

4 hours ago, MtB said:

 

I fear the 'chicken and egg' thing is going on here. Like you, I find I dislike the 'real ale' in most pubs. But that is because it is generally in poor condition due to being badly cellared by constantly changing young bar staff who neither know nor care about it, or its just plain too old because no-one will buy it because... well, already explained. 

 

But 'real ale' isn't all the same. A really well-kept pint of London Pride or Butcombe Original is a revelation in comparison. And being really hard to find, a decent real ale is all the more delightful to drink when you actually do find it! (I.e. not in The Anchor.) 

 

I've had no problem at all finding plenty of excellent real ale (and variety!) on this trip (not one iffy pint anywhere), but maybe that's because I choose my pubs carefully... 😉 

[MtB]

1 hour ago, IanD said:

 

I've had no problem at all finding plenty of excellent real ale (and variety!) on this trip (not one iffy pint anywhere), but maybe that's because I choose my pubs carefully... 😉 

 

Whereas I tend to go in the pub next door to whatever bell-tower I'm ringing in. Would seem rude to go to a different pub from all the other ringers, lol! 

[Tim Lewis]

18 hours ago, MtB said:

 

Whereas I tend to go in the pub next door to whatever bell-tower I'm ringing in. Would seem rude to go to a different pub from all the other ringers, lol! 

#

In my experience Bell Ringers are as mad about real ale as anyone!

[MtB]

56 minutes ago, Tim Lewis said:

#

In my experience Bell Ringers are as mad about real ale as anyone!

 

In my experience they say they are, but actually seem happy to drink any old slop! 

[Lady M]

Each real ale will taste slightly different and each drinker prefers different flavours or styles of ale.  

[IanD]

1 hour ago, Lady M said:

Each real ale will taste slightly different and each drinker prefers different flavours or styles of ale.  

True, but we're not talking preference here ("I like 6X, you like Landlord") but whether the beer is in good condition and consistently well kept.

 

I assume nobody likes stale/sour beer, even bellringers... 😉 

 

(unless the beer is *intended* to be sour, like some modern microbrews...)

Edited July 13 by IanD

[MtB]

3 hours ago, IanD said:

(unless the beer is *intended* to be sour, like some modern microbrews...)

 

Yep this has been one of my (many) hobby-horses for years. Beer masquerading as 'real ale' that actually tastes more like grapefruit juice.

 

Yuk.

[Mike Tee]

Sarsons bitter - designed to be drunk with fish & chips😂

[IanD]

2 hours ago, MtB said:

 

Yep this has been one of my (many) hobby-horses for years. Beer masquerading as 'real ale' that actually tastes more like grapefruit juice.

 

Yuk.

There's a big difference between the grapefruity-hoppy pale ales -- which is down to whether you like hops like Citra -- and the "hazy sours", which to me taste like beer gone wrong. But I'm sure *somebody* likes them... 😉