The Beer You Are Drinking Right Now

[GrandOiseau]

Belatedly got a xmas beer box from a nephew. A couple were missing that my brother had half inched when he was visiting my ma in lockdown but I drank the rest last week. It was a Polish mix (I kid you not) from Beer 52.

It appears there is now a blossoming microbrewery/craft scene in recent years - starting around 2012 from reading some of the articles in a very good accompanying magazine (fermentmagazine.com).

There were some excellent beers for sure. I had:

Surfer - a 4.8% wheat beer (with a orange peel added to the mix) from Browar Gościszewo (est 1991, first private family brewery in modern Poland)
Salamander West Coast IPA - 6.5% from the Browar Stu Mostów (est 2014)
Komtur - a 6.5% Schwarzbier (dark beer - porterish) from Browar Gościszewo
Salamander Black IPA - 6.8% from Browar Stu Mostów
Czarna Polewka (literal translation "black soup"!) - a 4.8% Oatmeal Stout from Browar Łańcut (est 2015)
Chocolate Factory - a 5.9% Sweet Stout from Browar Deer Bear

All of them were actually excellent, well put together and great tasting beers except for the last one, the sweet stout, that I found to absolutely disgusting and after a couple of mouthfuls went down the sink (only about the 3rd or 4th time in my life I have found a beer I dislike so much I can't drink it. But let's focus on the positives: the other 5 were genuinely good and it seems Poland would make a great beer touring place these days. Be warned the articles make it clear it's still dominated by mass produced lager.

If anyone is feeling adventurous and fancies a change though I believe these beers are available on line at Beer 52 and no doubt other stockists. There is some good stuff.

[GrahamPlatt]

Affligem. Tastes of over-ripe banana.

[bluedonkey]

Some of the black Polish beers could be aka baltic porters, i.e. dark beers brewed as lagers using cool, bottom fermenting process rather than ale-type top fermenting. Although I much prefer ales, I do like baltic porter style lagers.

[GrahamPlatt]

“Czarna Polewka (literal translation "black soup"!)” made me think of this https://www.lemonfool.co.uk/viewtopic.p ... 03#p403797 - I loved black peas, as sold on northern fairgrounds back in the day, always with a good shot of vinegar.

[AleisterCrowley]

Peas(pays) should be grey - with bacon. And possibly faggots.

Anyways - had a fair few Polish beers when I lived in Slough but sadly didn't raid the obscure corners of the sklepy so it was mainly Lech, Zywiec and Tyskie. The barman in one of my locals gave up on teaching us how to pronounce Zywiec correctly...we thought we were close, but probably sounded like someone ordering Hoonykun or Steeler Artoys

[DiamondEcho]

I've procured bottles of THE Westvleteren Blonde, 8 and 12. The latter especially widely regarded as the best beer in the world. [forget the 'probably' shtick].

Now what to do, bar enjoy them before the central heating starts impacting them.
/Nice problems to have.

[Mike4]

I've procured bottles of THE Westvleteren Blonde, 8 and 12. The latter especially widely regarded as the best beer in the world. [forget the 'probably' shtick].

Now what to do, bar enjoy them before the central heating starts impacting them.
/Nice problems to have.

Sounds to me as though you've already started.

Cheese!

[DiamondEcho]

I've procured bottles of THE Westvleteren Blonde, 8 and 12. The latter especially widely regarded as the best beer in the world. [forget the 'probably' shtick].
Now what to do, bar enjoy them before the central heating starts impacting them.
/Nice problems to have.

Sounds to me as though you've already started. Cheese!

Hey-ho M4, fellow-Fool of yore...
Have you considered running beer-barge trips? Get a local brewery in, give a 10 minute beer-xperttalk followed by 3 hours cruising with luxe fried bacon and egg sanis included.
[''Cheese'2U2]

[stewamax]

Even in warmer weather I like dark porter/stout type beers such as Wychwood King Goblin and Fullers 1845 chilled, but after working outside today at over 26degC I switched to Oakham Ales Citra as a thirst quencher ..... ahhhhhhhhh. Wychwood's IPA is not bad for this either.

[UncleEbenezer]

Even in warmer weather I like dark porter/stout type beers such as Wychwood King Goblin and Fullers 1845 chilled, but after working outside today at over 26degC I switched to Oakham Ales Citra as a thirst quencher ..... ahhhhhhhhh. Wychwood's IPA is not bad for this either.

We haven't had that kind of heat today. When we do is IMO when the German Weizenbier really shines. Or indeed its lesser cousins like overpriced Hoegaarden.

This evening I've had a rather indifferent blonde ale on my customary try-anything-once principle. Can't remember what it's called: something about a witch.

[bluedonkey]

Orval 6.2%

It had been years since I previously had an Orval. I'd forgotten how distinctive and delicious it is. As the Orval website says "distinctive fruity and bitter taste of Orval beer." Pricey but worth it occasionally.

[AleisterCrowley]

I'm not drinking anything right now as I'm 'on the wagon' - but had a delivery on Thursday from Flavourly.
Offer, with no subscription required - 48 cans of beer for £48-95 inc. delivery, spotted on MSE
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/deals/flavourly/
It's expired now but I'm sure similar will turn up...
I only recognised a few of the breweries, and I'm sure there is some 'filler' in there, but I thought I'd give it a go....

For them that's interested , this is the list (2 cans, 24 different beers)
There was just one substitution/error , I got 4 Moor – Nano Cask Goldings, and no Moor Olicana
• 2 x Freedom Brewery – New World Pils – 4.0% - Lager
• 2 x Freedom Brewery – Urban Lager – 4.2% - Pre-Prohibition Lager
• 2 x Freedom Brewery – IPL - 4.0% - India Pale Lager
• 2 x By the Horns – Heat Wave – 4.0% - British Pale Ale
• 2 x By the Horns – Levitate – 4.5% - Pale Ale
• 2 x By the Horns – Doozie – 4.2% - Session IPA
• 2 x By the Horns – Choice Bro – 4.3% - New Zealand Pale Ale
• 2 x Brehon Brewhouse - Ulster Black - 5.0% - Oatmeal Stout
• 2 x Brehon Brewhouse - Kilkanny Red - 4.5% - Amber Ale
• 2 x Whitewater Brewing – Maggie’s Leap – 4.7% - IPA
• 2 x Whitewater Brewing – Hallion Red – 4.2% - Amber & Red Ale
• 2 x West Berkshire Brewery – Detour – 4.5% - Pale Ale
• 2 x Moor – Nano Cask Olicana – 3.8% - Session Bitter [0]
• 2 x Moor – Nano Cask Goldings - 3.8% - Session Bitter [4]
• 2 x Flavourly x First Chop – WIN – 4.8% - Lager
• 2 x Radeberger - Pilsner - 4.8% - Pilsner
• 2 x Quantock – The Fear – 3.9% - Ginger Pale Ale
• 2 x Brehon - Blonde - 4.3% - Blonde Ale
• 2 x Beatnikz Republic – Sole Podium – 4.2% - West Coast Pale
• 2 x Beatnikz Republic – Only Gig In Paris – 4.1% - Session IPA
• 2 x Glasgow Beer Works – Session – 3.2% - Light IPA
• 2 x Flavourly x Loch Lomond – Friday Paycheck – 4.0% - Session IPA
• 2 x Hilden – Helles – 4.8% - Lager
• 2 x Hilden - Dunlop & Hume - 4.0% - Session IPA

[servodude]

I'm not drinking anything right now as I'm 'on the wagon' - but had a delivery on Thursday from Flavourly.

Massochist much?

Last night I was mostly drinking Prancing Pony Red IPA - 7.9%
- a lot of malt; more like a heavy hopped amber ale than what I'd label an IPA
- very flavoursome

-sd

[AleisterCrowley]

They ain't goin to go off
I'm full of Covid jab side effects so leaving it until next weekend

[vrdiver]

Last night I was mostly drinking Prancing Pony Red IPA - 7.9%

7.9%!

More "heavy horses" than "prancing pony"

VRD

[servodude]

Last night I was mostly drinking Prancing Pony Red IPA - 7.9%

7.9%!

More "heavy horses" than "prancing pony"

VRD

There was a bit of a kick, now I think of it.

Not an everyday ale, but quite a nice change, and not what I expected given the labelling.

[GrandOiseau]

Had some Mauldon's Black Adder for the first time in a long while earlier this week.

As good as I remember it!

[kempiejon]

I'm not drinking anything right now as I'm 'on the wagon' - but had a delivery on Thursday from Flavourly.
Offer, with no subscription required - 48 cans of beer for £48-95 inc. delivery, spotted on MSE
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/deals/flavourly/
It's expired now but I'm sure similar will turn up...

Let me know what you reckon. I tried one of their intro offers earlier in the year and they didn't win me as a new customer, delivery arrived damaged and beer not especially inspiring. £48 for 48 beers, I probably got what I paid for.

[Mike4]

I'm not drinking anything right now as I'm 'on the wagon' - but had a delivery on Thursday from Flavourly.
Offer, with no subscription required - 48 cans of beer for £48-95 inc. delivery, spotted on MSE
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/deals/flavourly/
It's expired now but I'm sure similar will turn up...

Let me know what you reckon. I tried one of their intro offers earlier in the year and they didn't win me as a new customer, delivery arrived damaged and beer not especially inspiring. £48 for 48 beers, I probably got what I paid for.

I never really understand this apparently constant search for new beers. Once I find one I really like and am happy with, I just keep on buying it!

[servodude]

Let me know what you reckon. I tried one of their intro offers earlier in the year and they didn't win me as a new customer, delivery arrived damaged and beer not especially inspiring. £48 for 48 beers, I probably got what I paid for.

I never really understand this apparently constant search for new beers. Once I find one I really like and am happy with, I just keep on buying it!

That's fine until the beer you really like gets taken over by Lion Nathan and they decide to rip the flavour to pieces by using cheaper hops
- sd