What are you drinking?

cenydd
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What are you drinking? Sept 4, 2013 17:27:23 GMT

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Post by cenydd on Sept 4, 2013 17:27:23 GMT

Sept 4, 2013 9:00:22 GMT ShivaTD said:

Living in the Land of Micro-Breweries with perhaps 20 within 50 miles of where I live I've had plenty of opportunities to try many.

That set me wondering how many Real Ale breweries there are within 50 miles of where I live:

Neath Ales Ltd, Neath
Mumbles Brewery Ltd, Mumbles
Tomos Watkin Ales, Swansea
Swansea Brewing Company, Bishopston, Swansea
Gower Brewery Co Ltd, Llanrhidian
Cerddin Brewery, Maesteg
Felinfoel Brewery, Llanelli
Coles Family Brewery, Llanddarog
The Friends Arms Brewery, Carmarthen
Preseli Brewery, Tenby
Cych Valley Brewery, Boncath
Wm Evan Evans Brewery, Llandeilo
Bryncelyn Brewery, Ystradgynlais
The Jacobi Brewery, Llanwrda
Mercian Brewery, Llanbydder
Heart of Wales Brewery, Llanwrtyd Wells
Breconshire Brewery, Brecon
Brecon Brewing Ltd, Brecon
Redstone Brewery Ltd, Llangors
Rotters Brewery, Talgarth
Mountain Hare Brewery, Pencoed
Gray Trees Brewery, Aberdare
Pixie Spring Brewery Co, Pontyclun
Otley Brewing Co, Pontypridd
Newman's Brewery, Caerphilly
Tudor Brewery, Abertillery
Rhymney Brewery, Pontypool
Violet Cottage Brewing Co, Cardiff
Vale of Glamorgan Brewery, Barry
Artisan Brewing Co, Cardiff
Bullmastiff Brewery, Cardiff
Zerodegrees, Cardiff,
S.A Brain & Co Ltd, Cardiff
Brains Craft Brewery, Cardiff (smaller craft brewery owned by the bigger ale brewery)
Tiny Rebel Brewing Co, Newport
Warcop Country Ales, Newport

That's 36 breweries, unless I've counted wrong. Of course, I live by the coast, so the area within about 50 miles of me is cut in half by the sea! I didn't include all of the ones in North Devon that are within 50 miles as the crow flies, but obviously alot further by road - those are just the ones within about 50 miles by road (so they are all within Wales). I've tried ales from about two thirds of those, and a number of ales from most of those two thirds (and many ales from elsewhere, of course).

It's not a particularly densely populated area for breweries around this way - if you did the same exercise for somewhere in the Midlands or North West of England you would easily double that number and more There's a (google) map showing them here:
www.quaffale.org.uk/php/showmap.php

That should give you some idea of the density of Ale breweries around Britain, anyway, and the number and variety of ales that are therefore being brewed here these days. The number of small Real Ale breweries has exploded over the last couple of decades.

Maybe the 'Land of Micro-Breweries' doesn't have quite so many after all, relatively speaking!

A liberal’s disagreement with a socialist or social democrat comes down to this: we both seek equality, but the only equality a liberal thinks is worth striving for is an equality of freedom. A liberal’s disagreement with conservatives comes down to this: we both seek freedom, but a liberal believes no one can achieve it alone. There is such a thing as society, and government’s purpose is to shape a society in which individual freedom can flourish. (Michael Ignatieff)

cenydd
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Posts: 525
Politics: Liberal

What are you drinking? Sept 6, 2013 7:57:23 GMT

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Post by cenydd on Sept 6, 2013 7:57:23 GMT

Had a pint of this last night:

The beer will be Wales’ first ever craft beer collaboration between Celt Experience and Otley. Brewed with US hops and fresh chillies to give a deep spice and mango character, finishing with a feisty chilli spice burn.

Hops: Columbus, Green Bullet, Amarillo, Chinook and Waimea

Chillies: Fresh Hungarian Wax for max flavour

www.celtexperience.com/barbarians-beverage-black-chilli-ipa-collaboration-looms/

Interesting stuff. Very bitter, with a definite touch of the chilli heat to it. Not too much, although I found a pint of it was enough, and went back onto this faithful old pint after that:

A heady flavour from a combination of mixed malts, carefully and skillfully mixed by hand, which we believe provides an ale of exceptional character. Full bodied yet rounded, series but eminently quaffable.

www.rhymneybreweryltd.com/our_ales/rhymney_export.php

A liberal’s disagreement with a socialist or social democrat comes down to this: we both seek equality, but the only equality a liberal thinks is worth striving for is an equality of freedom. A liberal’s disagreement with conservatives comes down to this: we both seek freedom, but a liberal believes no one can achieve it alone. There is such a thing as society, and government’s purpose is to shape a society in which individual freedom can flourish. (Michael Ignatieff)

ShivaTD
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Posts: 2,969

Politics: Libertarian

What are you drinking? Sept 6, 2013 11:13:08 GMT

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Post by ShivaTD on Sept 6, 2013 11:13:08 GMT

Last night I enjoyed a small tumbler of a little All American Moonshine.

Not all Moonshine is created equal. Ours is artfully crafted from a unique blend of corn, red wheat and barley using time-honored techniques passed down from America’s early settlers. Each batch is hand-mashed and twice-distilled, resulting in a classic corn whiskey that goes down remarkably smooth. Each glass is packed with a rich, buttery kettle corn aroma, highlighting notes of farm-fresh sweet cream and toasted spice on the palate. With every sip, savor a true Blue Ridge tradition and you’ll know you’re drinking the World’s Best Moonshine!

Awards
Gold Medal and Best of Category at the 2013 American Distilling Institute Conference
Gold Medal at 2012 MicroLiquor Spirit Awards
Silver Medal at the 2013 San Franscisco International Spirits Competition
Silver Medal at the 2012 & 2013 Beverage Tasting Institute
Silver Medal at the 2012 & 2013 International SIP Awards
Silver Medal at the 2012 American Distilling Institute Conference
Silver Medal at the 2011 New York International Spirits Competition.
Bronze Medal at the 2012 & 2013 Los Angeles International Spirits Competition

www.darkcornerdistillery.com/spirits/moonshine/

Dark Corner Distillery was the first legal "moonshine" distillery when the distilling of moonshine was legalized just a couple of years ago. The Dark Corner Distillery is owned by an acquaintance of mine, Joe Fenton, and I have a reserve bottle from the very first batch ever produced that is unopened (and will remain unopened) and I drink the from subsequent batches. It is a superb spirit that is enjoyed "neat" in small sips with a distinct flavor unlike any other spirit in the world.

Last Edit: Sept 6, 2013 11:15:51 GMT by ShivaTD

You give a pothead marijuana with nothing to smoke out of and suddenly they become engineers.

cenydd
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Posts: 525
Politics: Liberal

What are you drinking? Sept 10, 2013 9:34:24 GMT

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Post by cenydd on Sept 10, 2013 9:34:24 GMT

Yesterday's selections were as follows:

Brewer: Dorset brewery, Dorset
Est: 1995
ABV: 5%
Hops Used: Cluster, East Kent Goldings, Galena, Northdown
Beer Style: Stout
Description: This seasonal beer is an ink-black stout with a full-on, zesty bouquet and rich, creamy head, leading to a smooth and malty flavour, with hints of chocolate.

www.jdwrealale.co.uk/ales/dorset-midnight-blinder-747

Brewer: Cotleigh brewery, Somerset
Est: 1979
ABV: 4.8%
Hops Used: Fuggles, Goldings, Northdown
Beer Style: Premium Bitter
Description: Ruby-red in colour, this is a complex beer with a superb, dry, nutty flavour, with roast malt balanced by hints of fruit and an underlying hoppiness, leading to a smooth, dry, smoky finish.

www.jdwrealale.co.uk/ales/cotleigh-old-buzzard-744

The Old Buzzard was quite nice, but the Midnight Blinder was particularly good.

A liberal’s disagreement with a socialist or social democrat comes down to this: we both seek equality, but the only equality a liberal thinks is worth striving for is an equality of freedom. A liberal’s disagreement with conservatives comes down to this: we both seek freedom, but a liberal believes no one can achieve it alone. There is such a thing as society, and government’s purpose is to shape a society in which individual freedom can flourish. (Michael Ignatieff)

iolo
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Posts: 210

What are you drinking? Sept 12, 2013 12:53:46 GMT

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Post by iolo on Sept 12, 2013 12:53:46 GMT

Aug 14, 2013 7:44:33 GMT cenydd said:

Not many people over here drink tea without milk. It's becoming more popular, especially with the growth of 'green tea', and some who drink Earl Grey and the like consider it's best without milk, but generally the 'standard British cuppa' contains milk (and often sugar). I don't know that I would call it 'uncivilized' particularly to have it without milk, but it would be fairly unusual. Having it cold/iced is certainly 'uncivilized', though!

I was out in the pub last night, drinking this:

The Rev. James beer is one steeped in history. Acquired after the purchase of Crown Buckley, Rev. James is brewed to an original recipe dating back to 1885. The beer is named after one of the original owners of Buckley Brewery, the Rev, James Buckley, a business man with two conflicting roles – saving souls and satisfying thirsts.

The Rev. James is brewed to a traditional recipe and has been described as having a flavour not commonly available these days. Full-bodied and warming, The Rev. James is rich in palate, spicy and aromatic with a deeply satisfying finish.

4.5% ABV

www.sabrain.com/beers/draught/cask-beers/the-rev-james

Not a bad pint at all, and very drinkable, but personally I would ideally prefer something with a bit of a stronger 'hoppy' character - I find it a little too 'balanced'. Still, Rev is a decent enough pint, and a very familiar one in this part of the world.

I like it draught rather than bottled, but it's good. I spend a lot of time in Derbyshire, though, and I have to admit they have beers of a standard we have yet to achieve.

cenydd
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What are you drinking? Sept 12, 2013 13:55:36 GMT

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Post by cenydd on Sept 12, 2013 13:55:36 GMT

As Brains have got bigger, their Ales seem to have got worse - they seem to have got gradually more bland over time, to appeal to the mass market more, I guess. They are OK, but there's much better about these days. I had a bottle of this yesterday, for example:

A carefullly crafted beer, hopped with a true stout uppermost in our brewers mind. Mellow yet with a "Bite" that will only be fully appreciated on your second bottle!

www.rhymneybreweryltd.com/our_ales/rhymney_dark.php

Better draught than in bottles, of course, but much more flavour to it than the Brains equivalent. There are some great Welsh breweries about now, but Brains really isn't one of them anymore! There's also some great breweries in England, of course - we really have to be honest enough with ourselves to admit that this no longer applies:

A liberal’s disagreement with a socialist or social democrat comes down to this: we both seek equality, but the only equality a liberal thinks is worth striving for is an equality of freedom. A liberal’s disagreement with conservatives comes down to this: we both seek freedom, but a liberal believes no one can achieve it alone. There is such a thing as society, and government’s purpose is to shape a society in which individual freedom can flourish. (Michael Ignatieff)

maniacalhamster
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Posts: 211

What are you drinking? Sept 12, 2013 16:52:21 GMT

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Post by maniacalhamster on Sept 12, 2013 16:52:21 GMT

there are two wines that i drink and bring to parties..ONLY!!!!

this one works with cheese very well...i know i know the name sounds doc dredish...but it isn't..
www.flickr.com/photos/9817122@N05/3197358876/
www.winealign.com/wines/19562-*cuddle*e-Dru-Beaujolais-2009

the secound by far out ranks anything in it's price range to be used with meat, preferably red meat in the form of a rib steak

pullthecork.wordpress.com/2010/01/09/brouilly-by-duboeuf-everyday-red/

Last Edit: Sept 12, 2013 16:55:16 GMT by maniacalhamster

iolo
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Posts: 210

What are you drinking? Sept 13, 2013 14:04:40 GMT

Quote

Post by iolo on Sept 13, 2013 14:04:40 GMT

Sept 12, 2013 13:55:36 GMT cenydd said:

As Brains have got bigger, their Ales seem to have got worse - they seem to have got gradually more bland over time, to appeal to the mass market more, I guess. They are OK, but there's much better about these days. I had a bottle of this yesterday, for example:

A carefullly crafted beer, hopped with a true stout uppermost in our brewers mind. Mellow yet with a "Bite" that will only be fully appreciated on your second bottle!

www.rhymneybreweryltd.com/our_ales/rhymney_dark.php

Better draught than in bottles, of course, but much more flavour to it than the Brains equivalent. There are some great Welsh breweries about now, but Brains really isn't one of them anymore! There's also some great breweries in England, of course - we really have to be honest enough with ourselves to admit that this no longer applies:

My brother once got TB from (Irish) milk - STB! I think that the wonderful thing is that it is difficult to go anywhere in Britain now where you are far from a decent pint. It is something closer to heaven than I ever thought possible when I was young and drinking the K9P that was then on offer. ONWARDS AND UPWARDS!

Deleted Deleted Member Posts: 0	What are you drinking? Sept 13, 2013 15:50:46 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2013 15:50:46 GMT Boring right? Sure could use a shot of something in it..

maniacalhamster
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Posts: 211

What are you drinking? Sept 13, 2013 16:54:17 GMT

Quote

Post by maniacalhamster on Sept 13, 2013 16:54:17 GMT

Sept 13, 2013 15:50:46 GMT @apple said:

Boring right? Sure could use a shot of something in it..

Timmies is never boring....I saw this cool thing on the 401 yesterday...this silverado pick up truck had a large Timmies with the lid on it somehow stuck to it's tailgate bumper as if he/she forgot to take it into the cab with him/her. or was it really not stuck and just really forgotten...you know whats boring...my life and day ....for that was the highlight of it...

it didn't budge at 120k an hour.....
i know i know internet drivel at it's finest.... after shutting the tailgate

edit please not the last sentence is the finest example of my dyslexia ...it should read

it didn't budge at 120k an hour.....after shutting the tailgate
i know i know internet drivel at it's finest....

have you ever done your own taxes and books being a dyslexic person...night mare...i have tp recheck the calculations at least three times for i always put things backwards...

ok back to the thread....

Last Edit: Sept 13, 2013 16:57:06 GMT by maniacalhamster

Deleted
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Posts: 0

What are you drinking? Sept 13, 2013 17:05:35 GMT

Quote

Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2013 17:05:35 GMT

Sept 13, 2013 16:54:17 GMT maniacalhamster said:

Sept 13, 2013 15:50:46 GMT @apple said:

Boring right? Sure could use a shot of something in it..

Timmies is never boring....I saw this cool thing on the 401 yesterday...this silverado pick up truck had a large Timmies with the lid on it somehow stuck to it's tailgate bumper as if he/she forgot to take it into the cab with him/her. or was it really not stuck and just really forgotten...you know whats boring...my life and day ....for that was the highlight of it...

it didn't budge at 120k an hour.....
i know i know internet drivel at it's finest.... after shutting the tailgate

edit please not the last sentence is the finest example of my dyslexia ...it should read

it didn't budge at 120k an hour.....after shutting the tailgate
i know i know internet drivel at it's finest....

have you ever done your own taxes and books being a dyslexic person...night mare...i have tp recheck the calculations at least three times for i always put things backwards...

ok back to the thread....

I too am mildly dyslexic, I recall having certain letters of the alphabet (that I got backwards) plastered on my desk by an uniformed teacher in grade school. sigh.

That is FUNNY about the truck. I've been on the 401 once and it scared me, lol I was on a collector road and thought it was the freeway at first! We don't have highways like that on this side of Canada.

maniacalhamster
Contributor

Posts: 211

What are you drinking? Sept 13, 2013 17:36:31 GMT

Quote

Post by maniacalhamster on Sept 13, 2013 17:36:31 GMT

Sept 13, 2013 17:05:35 GMT @apple said:

Sept 13, 2013 16:54:17 GMT maniacalhamster said:

Timmies is never boring....I saw this cool thing on the 401 yesterday...this silverado pick up truck had a large Timmies with the lid on it somehow stuck to it's tailgate bumper as if he/she forgot to take it into the cab with him/her. or was it really not stuck and just really forgotten...you know whats boring...my life and day ....for that was the highlight of it...

it didn't budge at 120k an hour.....
i know i know internet drivel at it's finest.... after shutting the tailgate

edit please not the last sentence is the finest example of my dyslexia ...it should read

it didn't budge at 120k an hour.....after shutting the tailgate
i know i know internet drivel at it's finest....

have you ever done your own taxes and books being a dyslexic person...night mare...i have tp recheck the calculations at least three times for i always put things backwards...

ok back to the thread....

I too am mildly dyslexic, I recall having certain letters of the alphabet (that I got backwards) plastered on my desk by an uniformed teacher in grade school. sigh.

That is FUNNY about the truck. I've been on the 401 once and it scared me, lol I was on a collector road and thought it was the freeway at first! We don't have highways like that on this side of Canada.

the 401 is really crazy at times...when it runs and is not a parking lot...one can do 130k in the fast lane without fear of a ticket.
anything under 120k in the express lane and you will get ravaged..people will sort of drive like they are cutting you off at high speed....it's always full of cars...even when running well,
i do about 700k a week, so lots of 401..... late night i cruise at 140....which is risky....I'm really hyped from my job...the 401 adds to the nightmare....never does my wife engage me with any aggro when i come home...i'm like on some weird hyper drug and i need a snack and shower and i lil telly, taped corrie street, to calm down....lol...

at 150k the new law considers that STUNT driving and the fine and instant impounding of your car is at risk....

the trucks are crazy...every week someone jackknife's or dumps a load.....runnaway truck tires are not that uncommon...

i gotta get out of here!!!!!!
last year we visited P.E.I......the island closes down at 9 PM...except in the middle there is a city charletown...total brain rest...i want to retire there...

i lived twice in BC....and loved it...truly God's country...

toronto is nuts....

cenydd
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Posts: 525
Politics: Liberal

What are you drinking? Sept 13, 2013 19:36:02 GMT

Quote

Post by cenydd on Sept 13, 2013 19:36:02 GMT

Sept 13, 2013 14:04:40 GMT iolo said:

It is something closer to heaven than I ever thought possible when I was young and drinking the K9P that was then on offer. ONWARDS AND UPWARDS!

Ah yes, the days of 'Welsh Bitter' and 'Albright'! I remember them well.

Thankfully we now have the likes of Otley, Rhymney, Celt, etc., etc., and alot of that is down to the campaigning of CAMRA, and their highlighting of the problem of 'ale' getting more and more mass produced and bland. Over the last 10 years or so in particular things have changed completely, and very much for the better. Every part of Britain now has a number of seriously good breweries brewing a variety of excellent ales, there are lots of pubs specialising in ales, and even the largest chain of chain pubs almost always has something decent on offer (in addition to their universal Greene King offerings, of course, which are uniformly dreadful!), and we also have the 'Good Beer Guide' (not to be confused with the appalling 'Good Pub Guide') to help us to find them wherever we are (I have a copy permanently living in my car, just in case, and it gets used regularly).

A liberal’s disagreement with a socialist or social democrat comes down to this: we both seek equality, but the only equality a liberal thinks is worth striving for is an equality of freedom. A liberal’s disagreement with conservatives comes down to this: we both seek freedom, but a liberal believes no one can achieve it alone. There is such a thing as society, and government’s purpose is to shape a society in which individual freedom can flourish. (Michael Ignatieff)

cenydd
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Posts: 525
Politics: Liberal

What are you drinking? Sept 13, 2013 19:37:54 GMT

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Post by cenydd on Sept 13, 2013 19:37:54 GMT

This evening, however, I am not on the beer. I am currently enjoying a nice mug of this:

A liberal’s disagreement with a socialist or social democrat comes down to this: we both seek equality, but the only equality a liberal thinks is worth striving for is an equality of freedom. A liberal’s disagreement with conservatives comes down to this: we both seek freedom, but a liberal believes no one can achieve it alone. There is such a thing as society, and government’s purpose is to shape a society in which individual freedom can flourish. (Michael Ignatieff)

ShivaTD
Essayist

Posts: 2,969

Politics: Libertarian

What are you drinking? Sept 25, 2013 11:02:42 GMT

Quote

Post by ShivaTD on Sept 25, 2013 11:02:42 GMT

The newest addition to my spirits collection.

Hogback Whiskey
Release Today!

Welcome Hogback, Dark Corner's first release of the Journeyman Reserve collection. Hogback bridges the gap between the World's Best Moonshine and Lewis Redmond Bourbon. It is aged in the finest uncharred American white oak. The marriage of the whiskey and oak yields a soft, pale-straw color with robust notes of earthy tobacco and oaky vanilla spice. This complex and rugged whiskey is meant to be savored by the adventurous.

Like all of our whiskeys, Hogback is named after something related to the Blue Ridge mountains. In this case it's Hogback Mountain, the epicenter of the Dark Corner, and the highest peak in Greenville County. It was given it's name by the early Scots-Irish settlers who laid their roots down back in the mid 1700's. They thought it looked like the back of a hog!

The Journeyman Reserve series bottles are specially labeled to showcase the artisanal craft that goes into each creation. Hand-written and personally signed by the Head Distiller, John Wilcox.

I have yet to receive my bottle of Hogback Whiskey as it was just released and needs to be shipped but I'm looking forward to it. My friend, Joe Fenton, that owns Dark Corner Distillery has been producing outstanding personally crafted spirits and I'm sure it will meet all of my expectations.

You give a pothead marijuana with nothing to smoke out of and suddenly they become engineers.

Post by cenydd on Sept 4, 2013 17:27:23 GMT

Post by cenydd on Sept 6, 2013 7:57:23 GMT

Post by ShivaTD on Sept 6, 2013 11:13:08 GMT

Post by cenydd on Sept 10, 2013 9:34:24 GMT

Post by iolo on Sept 12, 2013 12:53:46 GMT

Post by cenydd on Sept 12, 2013 13:55:36 GMT

Post by maniacalhamster on Sept 12, 2013 16:52:21 GMT

Post by iolo on Sept 13, 2013 14:04:40 GMT

Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2013 15:50:46 GMT

Post by maniacalhamster on Sept 13, 2013 16:54:17 GMT

Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2013 17:05:35 GMT

Post by maniacalhamster on Sept 13, 2013 17:36:31 GMT

Post by cenydd on Sept 13, 2013 19:36:02 GMT

Post by cenydd on Sept 13, 2013 19:37:54 GMT

Post by ShivaTD on Sept 25, 2013 11:02:42 GMT