As a Wombwell lad living in the south I’ve never got used to beer with no top on it. I’ve therefore turned to craft beers and been enjoying a brew called Hobgoblin which I’ve started to see in Cambridge on draft. I wonder if there are any other craft beers that I may be missing. Has anyone got any recommendations for me?
You can't go far wrong with the range from Bradfield Brewery over at High Bradfield Farmers Blonde etc Shop open most days you might be pleasantly surprised www.bradfieldbrewery.com Driver over on Saturday then a walk round Langsett or trip to castleton then when you get home a glass or or two. If you take your other half she scan drive back and you can have a bottle on way back.
Lidl have a good selection of craft beers. I like Spitfire, Marston's Pedigree, Bank's, Bishop's Finger, Black Sheep. All well known but taste good.
If it says craft, it usually means that there is a high price to pay for a fancy name. Decent beer doesn't have to have a head, just look for a decent real ale from a local brewery and you won't go far wrong, unless you have the misfortune to venture into a so-called gastropub, whereupon you will be hit severely in the wallet for both beer and food.
Am sure @Hicksy and @Loko the Tyke can provide comprehensive lists that will keep you in beer for many months.
I posted about dark beers the other day (think the post was called Old Moor Porter) so feel free to have a look through that. There's been an explosion of brewers the last 5 years or so and I don't think Britain has been as experimental as it currently is. As someone who hardly drank and typically got fed up after 2 pints of fizz, the craft revolution has been fantastic for me. There are so many styles and flavours. The only way you'll know what you like is by trying. I'll throw a few brewers at you that are doing some really good stuff down in London and further afield (Bristol has a fantastic beer scene, was the East Bristol Beer Trail when we played Rovers) and have a very broad range with new batches of styles literally every few weeks. Fourpure Thornbridge Brew By Numbers (BBNO) Wylam Wild Beer Anspach & Hobday Cloudwater Brick Brewery Magic Rock Northern Monk Siren Dancing Man (Southampton) Canopy Tiny Rebel Bristol Beer Factory Moor Good Chemistry Wiper and True Titanic London Beer Factory Some overseas brewers worth looking out for (again loads of styles so find your taste) Pohjala Mikkeller T'Ij To Ol Amundsen There are loads more and whats great to see now are loads of collaborations. The other day I had a juniper saison which was a Cloudwater and Evil Twin collaboration. Delicious. Theres current a drink by Canopy called Paceline, a lime and salt lager which is so drinkable in warm weather. Happy to give suggestions based on what you might like. Think if you like hop, dry, floral, dark, sweet, crisp, fruity, malty, smoky... So much to try, and different from region to region just in this country.
Keep an eye out for my local brewery, Brew York. Only set up in 2015 and they're killing it. Rubarbra Streisand is immense and if you like milk stout Tonkoko is fantastic, especially the imperial and the 10.3% Empress. They realised some special edition bourbon barrel aged versions at Christmas which were sublime. They've opened a beer hall now with amazing street food and 40 taps just off of Walmgate in York. Love Wiper and True's Milkshake and Tiny Rebel's Imperial Stay Puft too
So High Bradfield has gone all arty farty now has it? Donkeys years ago we used to go bell ringing there on a Friday night, spend a few hours in the Old Horns, pie and peas, then a very dodgy and wobbly drive home ! Now it's artisan craft beers. Chuff me. Apart from that, a very, very beautiful place. Loved going there especially if there was a cricket match in Low Bradfield. Pure heaven on a sunny day.
Thanks for that. I'll keep an eye out for them. Certainly not seen them in the real ale pubs down here in London, but i'd expect I would do. Pretty much have a rotation of places to go to down here within walking distance there are so many. I've shifted to summer drinking now, so looking for really good wheats and wits and British brewers just don't seem to be able to get them right. So if you come across any good ones, do let me know. So instead I'm on the sours and goses. Bit gutsy for some, but I love them.
“Milk Stout” that takes me back to aunties in the club on a night out. Wonder if I can get some down here? I love a dark beer and miss the days when you could get mild on draft everywhere. I know three really good Sam Smiths pubs in London that are a temple to real ale. Reasonable price as well for London.
Farmers Blonde is my absolute favourite just love it. A lot of Bradfields stuff is class though. I often go to Keswick and a lot on offer there are very good too, most stuff from Keswick brewing co is very good.
If you like Hobgoblin, try one of their others, Black Witch. Enchanting! Dark, strong and full of liquorice-like flavour. I love it.
Where did you pick that up from, JT? I’ve seen it on sale in small quantities in the Old No7 but never on sale by the bottle elsewhere.
