I've gone right off ales...

I'm not looking for sympathy. I'm on the fizzy pizzle we usually save for the young 'uns. I found out real ales are not exactly veggie-friendly, filtered through fish-guts to prevent clouding - so I was having a bit of an ethical dilemma that lasted pretty much all summer and stopped supping ales while I resolved it. Which I now have, and have decided I am allowed ale after all as it isn't my fault they use fish guts to clean it. I don't eat fish and I'm pretty certain that fish would be dead anyway regardless of how many pints I sup. Plus, I'm such a flag-waving, right-on, do-goody, annoying basket in every other aspect of my life - try to be as honest and respectful as I can, active in animal and human rights, my carbon footprint is virtually backwards, I recycle bus tickets for Christsakes - so why does my pint taste like flat bog-wash?? It could be that I'm conditioned to the sparkly chemical lagers and now owt vaguely approaching organic tastes like it's just been pumped out of the Thames via the sewerage system! Mrs C reckons it's psycho-sematic (she would). That I can't ever enjoy another pint of ale ever again like I did before the fish gut bombshell, telling me this while she's dribbling her own down her chin. Completely unaware she has a foam moustache and without any regard for my feelings. Like folk who are hypnotised to stop smoking only taste burning rubber. As usual she is probably right. There's something to be said for being ignorant.

 

Williams Brothers of Arbroath (IMHO the best brewery in the UK) do some incredible lagers which are bursting with flavour (not fish flavour either). Besides, I would have thought your dilemma would only apply if you were vegan?

 

That's a long way to go for a pint!! No, vegans would have a problem with dairy based ales. As well as fish.

 

If I can get it in St Petersburg I'm sure you can find it in London. And probably not have to pay the equivalent of four quid a bottle either!

Do dairy based ales exist or have you just invented that?

 

No but I should!! Vegans don't do dairy as well as meat. Pescetarians are like part time veggies who believe it's okay to eat fish because they don't have feelings or something. I suppose if I drink fish gut filtered ale that might make me one of them?

I like the sound of this beer. But I only frequent about four pubs regularly, I don't think I'd leave my comfort zone for a beer. I might have a word with the governor at my local. ta.

 

I haven't had this stuff on tap, only bottled so you may even get away without going to the pub at all. They deliver from their site as well - williamsbrosbrews.com - Joker IPA, Red and Seven Giraffes are three of the best beers I have ever tasted.

I am generally a pescetarian, though I make exceptions when I know the source of the meat and it doesn't scare me (apparently therefore I am classified as a flexitarian, someone which you veggies tend to view with a great amount of suspision, or so I am told!). I also try not to eat imported vegetables, but living in a country with s five month winter this has so far proved impossible. Plus I love avocados, chick peas and lentils, none of which grow round here even during the warmest summers!

 

Never heard of pescetarian before, but I guess that's what I am too. As for not drinking beer because it might have passed through some fish, well if you ask me that's a pretty damn good by-product of fish - I'm sure it wasn't killed just for the brewing industry. Get thi ale darn thi!

 

Maybe the fish sacrificed themselves for the benefit of mankind

 

Not actually filtered through fish guts at all,Isinglass finings are actually made from sturgeon(traditionally)swimbladders,a very small amount is added to a cask,this attaches itself to the yeast that would otherwise remain in suspension,and drags it to the bottom of the cask,leaving clear beer behind,so you're not actually drinking the Isinglass,just the clear beer!!
TBH some of the modern processing usually attached to lager production is in my opinion less desirable,enzymes and a whole variety of industrial products like silicon antifoams,anti chill hazing products,agents to put a head back on the lager,hops in syrup form rather than real natural hop flowers,filtration, pasteurisation and carbonation.....none of which, traditional ales brewed in a style used for centuries need......for anyone who wants natural food and drink products where the chemist is not the maker,stick with traditional ale.

 

Aren't sturgeon critically endangered though, due to the black caviar trade?!

 

Originally they used sturgeon bladders but now its all sorts of fish bladders, some wines and beers use finnings from milk extract and egg white extract, but you don't actually drink any of the finings.

 

thats why I said traditionally.....I don't think Sturgeon is still in use,just that I can't remember what's used now off the top of my head.

 

Ta for that mate! Excuse my plebean science. I'm tucking into a pint of Fullers as we speak! Will sample one of the guests later!

 

Though I suspect not with a packet of pork scratchings eh?!

 

Fullers........a northern myth is that London beer is p**s....I think you'll agree Fullers blows that one out of the water!!!

 

I've been getting rubbish hangovers off lager n'all. All them toxic whatsits ah'll bet.

 

Aye, but don't tell the cockneys that. I always go - it'll do I s'pose.

 

Neeoww! I can't even have mini cheddars! Can you believe that? Another bombshell.

 

Changing the subject slightly,I was told the coating on Kentucky fried chicken is made using the ground up feathers from the slaughtered birds.......I'll leave KFC to the young uns in future!!

 

try brewing thi own, at leeast tha'll know whats in it.