Topic: Drink Better Beer - Belgian, German, Craft, Ales, Lagers all your hoppy goodness in one place

[paulrazor]

Duvel is rocket fuel

[Pheeny]

Duvel is rocket fuel

Just been the shops and got some for tonight.

They have also started making a less strong version called Duvel 666, as that is the %...

[Stubbins]

Honourable mention for one of my favourites, Bruges Zot. The blonde one.

Although available in bottles in the UK, until fairly recently the only place I found it on draught was at Lowlander, the 'continental' cafe off Covent Garden. That was until a small deli, come cafe opened in Amble on the Northumberland coast. They have an array of European beers on draught, one of which is Bruges Zot. Pleased to say that whenever I'm in - which is often - the place is packed with happy drinkers.

[lfcred1976]

Was at the Baltic Market on Saturday afternoon for a couple of hours and they had an Oktoberfest event on. Had a few pints of Dortmunder. Very nice.

[Pheeny]

Honourable mention for one of my favourites, Bruges Zot. The blonde one.

That's one that I have not tried myself, as I live in Limburg which is the other side of the country it's not readily available, although I have heard good things about it. 

[The G in Gerrard]

Might have been me, as I think it's the best lager in the world. Absolutely delicious. The big Tesco near me is still selling it (or was a few days ago)

Fair play.
Can't get it anywhere in store by me.

[JohnnoWhite]

Just come back from Belgium, spent a couple of days staying in Aarschot. Duvel I've had before, but for me I really enjoyed Jupiler which seems to be the beer of choice for a lot of the locals. Very nice drop.

Jupiler was the standard draught at what became my local bar (Au Golden) when I worked in Wavre Wallonie. It's pleasant but doesn't blow yer socks off which is no bad thing for a regular session slurp.

[Pheeny]

Jupiler was the standard draught at what became my local bar (Au Golden) when I worked in Wavre Wallonie. It's pleasant but doesn't blow yer socks off which is no bad thing for a regular session slurp.

Same strength as Stella.

[Dench57]

somehow only tried Weihenstephaner for the first time, far superior to Erdinger imo

[So… Howard Philips]

Due to health reasons I have to watch my alcohol intake.

Rather than sit their empty handed any suggestions for a decent low alcohol  beer?

[Elmo!]

Due to health reasons I have to watch my alcohol intake.

Rather than sit their empty handed any suggestions for a decent low alcohol  beer?

I'm not a Brewdog fan generally but I do think their alcohol free or low alcohol beers are good - Punk AF, Hazy AF & Nanny State.

Shipyard Low Tide is good as well,

[So… Howard Philips]

I'm not a Brewdog fan generally but I do think their alcohol free or low alcohol beers are good - Punk AF, Hazy AF & Nanny State.

Shipyard Low Tide is good as well,

Thanks for that. It’s an alternative to bottled water (I don’t drink carbonated drinks) or twiddling my thumbs.

Not desperate enough to ask for ‘a nice cup of tea’ yet.

[Boston always unofficial]

Due to health reasons I have to watch my alcohol intake.

Rather than sit their empty handed any suggestions for a decent low alcohol  beer?

I only noticed this weekend Guinness does a no/low alcohol,no clue how it tastes.

[So… Howard Philips]

I only noticed this weekend Guinness does a no/low alcohol,no clue how it tastes.

Thanks for that. I’m not a fan of Guinness so it’ll be water or a probably rancid cup of coffee.

[Mr Grieves]

Due to health reasons I have to watch my alcohol intake.

Rather than sit their empty handed any suggestions for a decent low alcohol  beer?

I’ve tried all of the main stream brand’s no alcohol range. I’ve found the Birra Morettii to be the best of a bad bunch. You soon get used to the taste . I doubt I’ll go back to the alcohol version.

[Drinks Sangria]

I only noticed this weekend Guinness does a no/low alcohol,no clue how it tastes.

It’s awful unfortunately. I had an alcohol free Heineken at the weekend that did a passable impression of the real thing, which in itself is a below-average lager.

I tried the alcohol free Doombar once and it was absolutely foul.

[red_Mark1980]

Due to health reasons I have to watch my alcohol intake.

Rather than sit their empty handed any suggestions for a decent low alcohol  beer?

I had a six pack of the Sam Adams Just the  Haze IPA in Chicago.

If you can get it, let me know where as it was fantastic

[So… Howard Philips]

It’s awful unfortunately. I had an alcohol free Heineken at the weekend that did a passable impression of the real thing, which in itself is a below-average lager.

I tried the alcohol free Doombar once and it was absolutely foul.

The last beer I had a few weeks ago was full strength Heineken and I would agree, that is a below average lager.

[Red-Soldier]

Why is it that non/low alcohol beer tastes so bad......??

[Elmo!]

Why is it that non/low alcohol beer tastes so bad......??

I'm not sure the science of it, but there is a distinct unpleasant flavour that the vast majority of them have. The Brewdog beers aren't amazing when judged in comparison to normal alcoholic beers, but they do a good job of masking that unpleasant flavour.

[Stubbins]

I had a couple of cans of Beavertown Lazer Crush, alcohol free beer last week. It's an extremely fruity IPA and probably best suited to summertime drinking, but I would rank it alongside the Brewdog AF beers already mentioned.

I don't know much about Beavertown, but a mate was telling me that the company was established by Logan Plant, son of Led Zeppelin's Robert Plant.

[duvva 💅]

Due to health reasons I have to watch my alcohol intake.

Rather than sit their empty handed any suggestions for a decent low alcohol  beer?

I don’t drink anymore so have tried a few. Don’t really enjoy lager anymore and don’t think much of the alcohol free lagers.
As others have mentioned some of the brewdogs are decent (Nanny State and Punk AF). I think the Guinness is slightly sweeter than normal Guinness but I thought it was good, certainly easy to drink.
My fav is Ghost Ship 0.5% by Adnams, because it’s fairly local to where I live you can usually find it in supermarkets and pubs around here but unfortunately I’ve never really found it in other areas

[Red_Mist]

Due to health reasons I have to watch my alcohol intake.

Rather than sit their empty handed any suggestions for a decent low alcohol  beer?

The best lower alcohol beer I’ve had was a ‘table beer’ from Cloudwater. It was around 3% and tasted like a lovely, hoppy ipa. I think it was called ‘And Relax’. Cost a fair bit but was worth it.

But for non-alcoholic, the nicest I’ve tried was by Innis & gunn, a beer called Innis & None. Don’t know if they still do it but if they do it was great for 0%

[Dench57]

I tried a load of the low/non-alcoholic ones when I was trying to cut down drinking and lose weight.
They all tasted so bad that I decided I'd have to just drink less in general, but make it something nice when I did.

Speaking of which, the lager offerings in most supermarkets are so poor (Budvar is probably the best that's readily available) I'm trying a box of German lagers from Trembling Madness which seems to be popular for UK deliveries of European styles. Works out around £3 per beer which is decent if they're the good stuff. Got a fancy beer shop just down the road which is charging £4.50 for a lot of these.

[Red_Mist]

I don't know much about Beavertown, but a mate was telling me that the company was established by Logan Plant, son of Led Zeppelin's Robert Plant.

Beavertown used to make nice beers but since they’ve been bought out by Heineken and gone mass-produced, they’re tasting more and more like any old fizzy beer now. Inevitable really. They’re doing a ‘Doom Bar’ which went shite when it got taken over by Molson Coors.

[Pheeny]

Leffe does a N/A beer. No idea how it tastes though.

[liversaint]

It’s awful unfortunately. I had an alcohol free Heineken at the weekend that did a passable impression of the real thing, which in itself is a below-average lager.

I tried the alcohol free Doombar once and it was absolutely foul.

Full strength Doombar is worse. Totally rank. A triumph of advertising over quality.

[rothers]

If your after Bruges Zot there is a great Belgium bar in my home town of Worcester(just south of Brum) that serves it along with Vedett, La Chouff & De Coninck on draught, not to mention dozens of bottled Belgium classics over 10%.

It’s fair to say you don’t get out of TripleB sober!

http://www.tripelb.co.uk/

[Terry de Niro]

Has anyone mentioned Jupiler yet?

[So… Howard Philips]

I tried a load of the low/non-alcoholic ones when I was trying to cut down drinking and lose weight.
They all tasted so bad that I decided I'd have to just drink less in general, but make it something nice when I did.

Speaking of which, the lager offerings in most supermarkets are so poor (Budvar is probably the best that's readily available) I'm trying a box of German lagers from Trembling Madness which seems to be popular for UK deliveries of European styles. Works out around £3 per beer which is decent if they're the good stuff. Got a fancy beer shop just down the road which is charging £4.50 for a lot of these.

Well thanks for all your suggestions. I’ll have to try a few but with very low expectations of satisfaction.

[paulrazor]

Has anyone mentioned Jupiler yet?

think so, yeah you can get it in tesco, its good

[Stubbins]

Speaking of which, the lager offerings in most supermarkets are so poor (Budvar is probably the best that's readily available) I'm trying a box of German lagers from Trembling Madness which seems to be popular for UK deliveries of European styles. Works out around £3 per beer which is decent if they're the good stuff. Got a fancy beer shop just down the road which is charging £4.50 for a lot of these.

The Trembling Madness. No trip to York is ever complete without calling in here. Wonderful place.

Anyhow, in an effort to alleviate the deep depression of watching todays match, I've just ordered a dozen 'Winter Leffe' from here. It can't come quick enough.

[paulrazor]

keep an eye on galway beer twitter

they usually have some good stuff out for xmas

200 fathoms mainly

[Nobby Reserve]

After we beat Abu Dhabi, I was in Tezzers and saw some Blue Moon on the 'split pack' section for a reduced price and chuckled as I bought it. It's really nice - Belgian wheat beer, not at all hoppy, just a hint of mild citrus (not the overbearing grapefruit flavour of Brewdog shite and many other IPAs with the hated citra hop)

[Red-Soldier]

I'm not sure the science of it, but there is a distinct unpleasant flavour that the vast majority of them have. The Brewdog beers aren't amazing when judged in comparison to normal alcoholic beers, but they do a good job of masking that unpleasant flavour.

I would agree about the Brewdog stuff.  It's actually drinkable, considering it's non/low alcoholic.

The majority all have a thoroughly unpleasent taste - clearly, there is something going on with them all.

[Drinks Sangria]

After we beat Abu Dhabi, I was in Tezzers and saw some Blue Moon on the 'split pack' section for a reduced price and chuckled as I bought it. It's really nice - Belgian wheat beer, not at all hoppy, just a hint of mild citrus (not the overbearing grapefruit flavour of Brewdog shite and many other IPAs with the hated citra hop)

Considering it’s a widely available, American-brewed wheat beer, Blue Moon is ace and really moreish. Can down a few and forget they’re near 6% though! Shame that it’s so expensive on tap as when it is, it’s usually lovely. They do a bottled Mango one you can get in Tesco that’s refreshing too.

It’s a lot of effort but chucking some fresh orange zest and finely chopped coriander in there really elevated the flavour. Can’t say I’ve ever been arsed to do it myself but I ordered one at an overpriced bar once and they did it and it was lovely really. I suppose similar to a Hoegaarden.

[sattapaartridge]

someone bought me a 3 month beer subscription with Beer52, not got it yet, but seems very dear for 8 cans/bottles for £27? has anyone done that before?

https://www.beer52.com/subscription

[bradders1011]

someone bought me a 3 month beer subscription with Beer52, not got it yet, but seems very dear for 8 cans/bottles for £27? has anyone done that before?

https://www.beer52.com/subscription

Yeah I used to do it every couple of months for cheaper than that but cancelled. It's alright, nothing special. I get a £50 monthly box from Beermoth in Manchester where you know you're getting quality and limited runs. There'll likely be somewhere similar in Liverpool (if not, start one and make some cash).

[Red_Mist]

someone bought me a 3 month beer subscription with Beer52, not got it yet, but seems very dear for 8 cans/bottles for £27? has anyone done that before?

https://www.beer52.com/subscription

As bradders says, much better subscriptions out there. Had a Beer52 box once and was completely underwhelmed. Quite like Brewser at the moment. Expensive but the quality and choice is good.

[sattapaartridge]

i put the beer52's in the fridge and drank 3 of the cans, one was 6.7% pale ale and was decent at 440ml. the other two were dark beers. and wow. they were rancid. i never really knew how much i hated dark stouty beers. horrible. drank em anyway.

ive got 2 more boxes to come, and im going to select "light" beers. cos i just find them nicer tasting. but only reason i ordered them, was cos the voucher was going to get expired. I'm trying to cut down on drinking to be honest.