Ale, Beer, Stout appreciation

Went to Amsterdam over new year. Popped into Brouwerij t'ij for a tour and some tastings. Our tour guide was pissed and all of the beers were 7%+ Belgian style lovelies. Also found a great brew pub in the red light district called De Prael, highly recommend this place if you are there. Craft beer is starting to take off there which is great as they are usually stuck with Heineken or Amstel.

Berlin pub suggestions? I've been before but that was in 2005. Or brews to choose?

prinzknecht, woof, scheune - you'd fit right in...

There's an open Facebook group called "Where the hell can I get a craft beer in Berlin!" which might be worth you joining for some info if you're a Facebook type.

This might help too: http://www.berlincraftbeer.com/berlin-craft-beer-locations/ (linked from the group)

A friend lives in Berlin but we've not been out there to visit yet, he is big fan of nice beer, so when we do get out there I think it could be an education, he posts to that fb group. That said he oftens mentions the ale scene being much better in Holland than Germany.

http://www.hoodedram.com/

Wow!

"Watching 700 pints flow down the drain is heart-breaking." ouch..

.

Down in that there london this weekend, really enjoyed London Fields brewery tap, reasonable prices and takeaway beers for £2.50 each, bargain.

Also, the Tilting Ale on Virgin trains is fantastic!

"Watching 700 pints flow down the drain is heart-breaking." ouch..

More or less predictable when someone with zero brewing experience (read his blog, I'm not dissing him here) quits work, does BrewLab's intro course, buys a 5-barrel setup and calls himself a Brewer. He's gonna learn pretty quick, and fair play to him. But it does beg the question whether artisan beer is necessarily great beer.

But it does beg the question whether artisan beer is necessarily great beer.

This question arose as I tasted a Lapsang Souchong Saison at the weekend.

In other news:

http://www.manchesterbeerfestival.org.uk/beer/cask-craft-list/

Looks like I'll be sleeping over at work most nights next week.

does beg the question whether artisan beer is necessarily great beer.

It's not.

Good beer is good beer whether it comes from a massive factory or some bloke's shed.

^^I feel a bit tipsy just reading that, the sloe stout sounds interesting.

Ooh, I think I'm trying out the velodrome for the first time on the 22nd, this could work out quite well.

It's not.

Good beer is good beer whether it comes from a massive factory or some bloke's shed.

Quite thus. I brew good beer in my shed, which is fun, saves me buying it and costs about 20p per pint. But it aint *great *beer. Takes some mettle to say righty-ho, I'm gonna play with the big boys and charge £3.75 a pint for this stuff. He's very upfront about that, which I respect. Subscribed.

Ooh, I think I'm trying out the velodrome for the first time on the 22nd, this could work out quite well.

am working until 7 if you'll still be drinking then?

aw man, i have exams all next week

Probably still be on my first lap by then.

aw man, i have exams all next week

A relaxing beer or 12 will help calm the nerves.

Probably still be on my first lap by then.

it is quite a long way between bars....

Actually, given the layout I predict a few "breaches" as it'll be a fair old drunken trek from the centre floor to the loo

We're on at 5, Ste will be about too, plus other poloistas and friends of poloistas.

Cool, I'll pop in after work if it's not too busy by then.

This question arose as I tasted a Lapsang Souchong Saison at the weekend.

In the Beagle? The one that tastes of Frazzles? And not in a good way!

^ yeah, weird beer. I hope they follow it up with a Rooibos Porter.