Wow - a three day weekend!

[karen2205]

Right, my start to the weekend was a Gllug social - where I was fed beer (well John Smith's extra smooth - I'm sure someone's going to tell me that that's not real beer) that I ended up not liking very much - it has a kind of bitter aftertaste.

So, I'd like some recommendations for beers/lagers I might like (remembering that till now I've been a spirits/alcopops kind of person)

[Poll #287278]

I slept in till 11am this morning and it feels wonderful to not have anything pressing to do (well, that's a lie - but there's nothing that requires me to leave the house except buying a newspaper which I can do later on - food shopping can wait).

It's my birthday three weeks today, so I'm guessing now's as good a time as any to start organising something. There's a Gllug meeting that day (which I wasn't planning on going to), and I believe a London.crafts meeting being arranged for then as well.

Hmm - I'm not sure whether people prefer lunchtimes or evenings for going out for a meal purposes - probably somewhere similar to where I went last year - pasta/pizza place in Covent Garden/Leicester Square. If any of you want to come please comment with prefered times and I'll go from there.

Comments

[arkady.livejournal.com]

John Smith's is not beer. It is fizzy piss.

London Pride is beer. Black Sheep is beer. Hobgoblin is beer. So are Bishop's Finger, Old Speckled Hen, Spitfire and Waggle Dance - all of which you can buy in bottles from off licenses or supermarkets. You'd probably like Waggle Dance; it's a nice light honey-beer.

Or you could try some of the Belgian beers in Belgo's - they have some lovely fruit beers that are not at all bitter.

[dawnage.livejournal.com]

What a surprise seeing you here!

[arkady.livejournal.com]

Oh, I get around. I turn up in the most surprising places.

[dawnage.livejournal.com]

Guinness with BLACKCURRANT!

[colours.livejournal.com]

Guinness with TIA MARIA :oD

[dawnage.livejournal.com]

Or pints of Guinness with shots of Bailey's dropped into them! Amnesia-inducing, however...

[verlaine.livejournal.com]

I was going to come and recommend Belgian fruit beers to you, but I was beaten to it, so I'll sulk instead!

[strictlytrue.livejournal.com]

My thoughts on the beer question will probably make those who truly love it reach for their revolvers, but here goes.

The qualities that those who like real ales, for want of a better term, appreciate are the things I don't like about beer - the maltiness, the hoppiness, the heavy texture, the lack of fizz. If you found John Smith's bitter, there's every chance you won't like most of "proper" beer (although you might like Waggledance, which I haven't tried, but have heard a lot of good things about). Anyway, my point is that you might prefer beers like Budweiser, which are much derided by those in the know, but hence perfect for people like me who don't like "real" beer very much. I also tried Asahi (Japanese lager) for the first time last night, and found it very crisp and refreshing. I would also recommend Miller Genuine Draft, Michelob and Rolling Rock for the same reasons.

[beingjdc.livejournal.com]

I fully agree with this, what people are doing is suggesting beer that people who like beer will like. The Malt Shovel in Northampton is doing the Belgian fruit beers, rather nice I thought. I suspect for actual beer I might start a non beer drinker on something like Caffreys.

[terriem.livejournal.com]

Second-age on the Belgo's comment. Belgian beers are light and tasty. I'm particularly partial to a Hoegaardens with a bit of lemon and I really don't like the taste of beer.

[thespis-mellie.livejournal.com]

Carling, Newcastle Brown, Killian's. Nummy :)

[feanelwa.livejournal.com]

None of those are beer. They are piss as Arkady mentioned. Instead try cider, which while it is also badly faked by major corporations, tastes marginally better than piss even after this process. Or real cider. Or orange juice. Bad beer rots the brain, and Budweiser rots the sense of moral awareness.

[sobrique.livejournal.com]

I'm a big fan of real ales.
I'd recommend 'Young's double chocolate stout'.

Beers

[cultureofdoubt.livejournal.com]

Erdinger! Expensive, but worth trying. Second the other comment about Belgian varieties, and also Newcastle Brown. Well, I like it anyway, even if it is awful :-)

[riahopkinson.livejournal.com]

Fosters tastes like cat piss. Not that I've ever drunk cat piss, but I don't need to, I've drunk Fosters. Am with you on the spirits-rather-than-beers thing - the only ones I'll permit to pass my lips are Beck's and the king of beers, Kronenbourg.

[raventhon.livejournal.com]

SKULL SPLITTER.