Craft Beer

[PTR]

This is what I find awkward. There doesn't seem to be a definition of what cask and craft are. Where do you draw the line?

There is no line. It was a movement by a small group of people, and as there's money in it, of course big business have adopted it.

Real Ale is a term that was coined by Camra not all that long ago, and that's a very specific term.
But craft ale isn't a meaningful term. Its just beer. Good or bad, depending on what you like and how well its been made.

 

[ozz]

Yep, my old place was probably a ‘cask first’ craft brewery.

And I wouldn’t listen to @ozz - he’s been speaking to a Kentish hop man who is absolutely gutted people have cottoned on to the fact that fuggles taste like dog arse.

most kentish hops go to the Czech republic now biggest buyer is Budvar.
a couple of craft ale pubs called Fuggles have appeared in the last couple of years- very busy but not for me.
Brewdog, i have tried and cant say it was anything i would rush out to buy again- good marketing, average at best product.

 

[GingerNick]

You’ve made the point for yourself. A beer can brand itself as such but the ‘community’ might well reject it. Just as we’ve seen with Beavertown getting it’s Heineken investment.

Clearly the craft community is going to reject a Guinness product as not ‘craft’. Doesn’t mean it’s shite (hophouse is like) just not craft. Just as Neck Oil hasn’t become shite now Logan Plant is thrashing his cock to death with Dutch beer money - we await the outcome of that.

its stupid really Beavertown Neck oil is superb..who pays the bills is irrelevant to me if the product is well made and tastes good

 

[Charmless Man]

its stupid really Beavertown Neck oil is superb..who pays the bills is irrelevant to me if the product is well made and tastes good

The real test will come in a few years when production ramps up to the level Heineken will want it to. Will the commitment to quality remain?

most kentish hops go to the Czech republic now biggest buyer is Budvar.
a couple of craft ale pubs called Fuggles have appeared in the last couple of years- very busy but not for me.
Brewdog, i have tried and cant say it was anything i would rush out to buy again- good marketing, average at best product.

Not sure what your point is here if I’m honest?

 

[Deleted member 29601]

There’s a middle ground for sure. Marble Pint as an example is a lovely, drinkable beer without being spectacular.

Kind of spectacular in how simple yet perfect for what is is mind. A proper example of brilliant brewing

Anyhow, I’ve stopped off at Coppers on the way home, very pleased they had a can of Even Sharks Need Water there!

Marble do most of my favourite beers along with Oakham.

 

[Pop]

The real test will come in a few years when production ramps up to the level Heineken will want it to. Will the commitment to quality remain?



Not sure what your point is here if I’m honest?

Your snobbishness is off the scale when it comes to beer.

I’d wager a lot of bigger breweries will have better quality control than small breweries.

 

[Charmless Man]

Your snobbishness is off the scale when it comes to beer.

I’d wager a lot of bigger breweries will have better quality control than small breweries.

As is how much I give a shit

QC means standardisation, it does not necessarily equal an inherently better quality product, by the way.

 

[Alcoholic_Author]

Any local brewers on here?

 

[Pop]

As is how much I give a shit

QC means standardisation, it does not necessarily equal an inherently better quality product, by the way.

If they can standardise mass production of an excellent product is that not a good thing?

No good for you lads using triple hopped quadruple IPA as lube for wanking but a good thing for us who enjoy a nice pint.

 

[Charmless Man]

If they can standardise mass production of an excellent product is that not a good thing?

No good for you lads using triple hopped quadruple IPA as lube for wanking but a good thing for us who enjoy a nice pint.

Absolutely. See my post above where I say, for example, being made by Guinness isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I really like Guinness (as in their flagship, run of the mill stout).

Are you trying to read something that isn’t here for some reason?

 

[Alcoholic_Author]

With regards to standardisation of a beer, smaller brewers simply will not have the finances (brew in massive batches and scrap anything that deviates) to recreate an exact product every time, part of the charm of a small brewery is that there is some minor deviation in their batches.

 

[Charmless Man]

With regards to standardisation of a beer, smaller brewers simply will not have the finances (brew in massive batches and scrap anything that deviates) to recreate an exact product every time, part of the charm of a small brewery is that there is some minor deviation in their batches.

I’ve seen Cloudwater scrap an entire batch that was wrong like.

Edit: Cloudwater alleviate the consistency problem by almost never brewing the same beer twice. They’ll scrap things which obviously aren’t up to scratch though.

 

[Pop]

Absolutely. See my post above where I say, for example, being made by Guinness isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I really like Guinness (as in their flagship, run of the mill stout).

Are you trying to read something that isn’t here for some reason?

You give off the impression it is a bad thing.

 

[Charmless Man]

You give off the impression it is a bad thing.

You give off the impression you’re desperate for me to be saying something I’m not.

Big beer brands are often lowest common denominator stuff made to appeal to a mass market, despite their great QC procedures. A senior exec at at least one big brewery has gone on record to say that. Nothing controversial or snobbish in me saying that at all. If you start experimenting with odd or extreme flavours you start losing market share, which isn’t what the big boys are about.

The problem with smaller breweries expanding production in the past is that a few of them seem to have actually lost quality or failed to replicate what they had before on the bigger kit. Either temporarily or permanently. So it’s a worry when Beavertown ramps up with their Heineken money. Again, if that’s snobbish or controversial then fuck me sideways with a tallboy of Imperial Stout.

 

[Alcoholic_Author]

You give off the impression you’re desperate for me to be saying something I’m not.

Big beer brands are often lowest common denominator stuff made to appeal to a mass market, despite their great QC procedures. A senior exec at at least one big brewery has gone on record to say that. Nothing controversial or snobbish in me saying that at all. If you start experimenting with odd or extreme flavours you start losing market share, which isn’t what the big boys are about.

The problem with smaller breweries expanding production in the past is that a few of them seem to have actually lost quality or failed to replicate what they had before on the bigger kit. Either temporarily or permanently. So it’s a worry when Beavertown ramps up with their Heineken money. Again, if that’s snobbish or controversial then fuck me sideways with a tallboy of Imperial Stout.

Beer is one of those things that is completely subjective and down to taste. That said, if people REALLY like beer they'd be curious to try different ones, as many as possible in fact, when you start doing that you tend see the great amount of variation in smaller breweries and seasonal beers. Big commercial beers are not better than smaller brews in my opinion, mostly because it's like comparing apples to oranges.

 

[Pop]

You give off the impression you’re desperate for me to be saying something I’m not.

Big beer brands are often lowest common denominator stuff made to appeal to a mass market, despite their great QC procedures. A senior exec at at least one big brewery has gone on record to say that. Nothing controversial or snobbish in me saying that at all. If you start experimenting with odd or extreme flavours you start losing market share, which isn’t what the big boys are about.

The problem with smaller breweries expanding production in the past is that a few of them seem to have actually lost quality or failed to replicate what they had before on the bigger kit. Either temporarily or permanently. So it’s a worry when Beavertown ramps up with their Heineken money. Again, if that’s snobbish or controversial then fuck me sideways with a tallboy of Imperial Stout.

Plenty of big brands knock out really good beer/spirits/wine.

I like craft beer, I don’t like the snobbishness that comes with it. Also takes f***ing ages to get served in tap rooms as craft ale bores take an age deciding what they want and sample everything.

 

[Charmless Man]

Plenty of big brands knock out really good beer/spirits/wine.

I like craft beer, I don’t like the snobbishness that comes with it. Also takes f***ing ages to get served in tap rooms as craft ale bores take an age deciding what they want and sample everything.

I’ve just said that man, Guinness as an example is excellent. Why are you just repeating stuff I fully agree with?

If I’d ever encountered you when behind the bar I’d have sussed you immediately and directed you to the nearest ‘spoons.

 

[Pop]

I’ve just said that man, Guinness as an example is excellent. Why are you just repeating stuff I fully agree with?

If I’d ever encountered you when behind the bar I’d have sussed you immediately and directed you to the nearest ‘spoons.

Sussed me as what? Someone who doesn’t thrap himself over beer?

You didn’t say plenty, you referenced one and said big brands are often the lowest common denominator, often being the key word.

Nothing wrong with spoons, lots of good local ales. Showing your snobbery again...

 

[Charmless Man]

Sussed me as what?

You didn’t say plenty, you referenced one and said big brands are often the lowest common denominator, often being the key word.

Nothing wrong with spoons, lots of good local ales. Showing your snobbery again.

Fuck me, do you want me to reel off every major brand beer that I actually like or even don’t mind?

They are lowest common denominator. They have to be to have that mass appeal. There’s nothing outstanding about them. Doesn’t mean I can’t like them.

Sussed you as a Grade A beta palate btw.

 

[Pop]

Fuck me, do you want me to reel off every major brand beer that I actually like or even don’t mind?

They are lowest common denominator. They have to be to have that mass appeal. There’s nothing outstanding about them. Doesn’t mean I can’t like them.

Sussed you as a Grade A beta palate btw.

Yes please.

What’s wrong with spoons?