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Post by rogerjonesisgod on Dec 7, 2016 12:22:17 GMT
Top corresponding on this front Rog, much appreciated. Nothing much to report from me on the micros, been staying local, sticking with Pedigree. And Speckled Hen. Possibility of a trip to Buxton to a craft Brewery. But been forewarned it's £6 per bottle, all big hitting 11+%s. Get head and wallet ache just contemplating it. Talking about Pedi I saw this new pump badge the other day. Not the best photo but the picture of a suave man in a suit with the strap line.... Pedigree "Now with added personality. Nothing else has changed" Attachment Deleted
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Post by Skankmonkey on Dec 7, 2016 12:45:46 GMT
Top corresponding on this front Rog, much appreciated. Nothing much to report from me on the micros, been staying local, sticking with Pedigree. And Speckled Hen. Possibility of a trip to Buxton to a craft Brewery. But been forewarned it's £6 per bottle, all big hitting 11+%s. Get head and wallet ache just contemplating it. Talking about Pedi I saw this new pump badge the other day. Not the best photo but the picture of a suave man in a suit with the strap line.... Pedigree "Now with added personality. Nothing else has changed" View AttachmentI'm with cheeesy. :-) Keep it up mate!
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Post by rogerjonesisgod on Dec 7, 2016 13:59:21 GMT
Not in the North Staffs area but if you're of a military bent or just like interesting pubs and great curry check out the The Britannia Gurkha Restaurant and Bar in Colchester. An old fashioned local owned and run by a Gurkha family. A couple of local ales from the Colchester Brewery plus standard offerings. The restaurant is great. They ask you two questions; "Is anyone a vegetarian" and "Do you want some more" No menu, no choice, just popadoms, chutneys, Nepalese curries with dal's, nan breads, bajhi's and Gurkha roti. They were doing mutton the night I went. My brother had goat when he was there. If you want more, they bring you more. £12 a head. "Better to die than to be a coward" painted over the bar
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Post by Skankmonkey on Dec 7, 2016 15:40:17 GMT
Looks like my kinda place rog. Ta!
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Post by rogerjonesisgod on Dec 9, 2016 17:34:08 GMT
There's a good real ale crawl around Newcastle now. We'd usually start at at the Bridge Steet Ale House then head across the road to the Hopwater Cellar (it's directly opposite, more a bottle shop but they have stuff on tap and you can drink in). Lymestone Vaults and Wellers are just up the road and next to one and other on Pepper Street. The Pour House opening has been delayed while they finish the building but hopefully a new date will be announced soon. Berts and Bar Social are worth a stop if you want something more continental with a bit of food. It's then a bit of a trek up Hassell Street but the Greyhound and the Hop Inn (just round the corner on Albert Street) are good final stops. If you're still going after that then it's all downhill on Basford Bank to the Holy Inadequate, then a taxi back to Newcastle for a curry. Good work. I don't think I'd be heading back up Hartshill after doing a town tour. More likely do the Hop Inn, Alma, Museum etc and then drop into Town. But all grist to the mill. Cheeers. Absolutely. Better to start at the top of the hill and freewheel down If you're looking for micro's and ale houses then I'd recommend starting an extra couple of hundred yards closer to Stoke at the Sanctuary Ale House at Hartshill lights. About 50 yards up from the Old House at Home but on the other side of the road. Old House at Home if you fancy it but the last time I was in it was very quiet in a 'nobody goes there anymore' kind of way. Titanic's The Greyhound next where I always find myself looking at the guest ales for some reason. Hop Inn along Albert St. Which to be fair you could spend all night in there anyway. Lots of choice. Drop down to The Victoria (Little Vic) on King Street as they're doing about 4 or 5 guesties most of the time. Back across to "Hamburger Hill" for The Museum. Usually good Bass and a few others like Everard's Tiger and Wells' Bombardier. Now at this point if you fancy a giggle and don't mind a sticky carpet you can have a swifty in The Rigger which surprisingly used to offer a couple of decent ales, Hobgoblin on draft etc. But of course the clientele are usually the main event. Drop down into town and it's the Old Bulls Head (Joules pub) off the Ironmarket which has pretty decent open mic musicians on a Friday neet. Bridge Street Ale house, although that closes at 9pm so you'd have to start early-ish to get one in here before lasties. Lymestones Vaults which if you like their offerings you could spend all night in here anyway. They usually have a couple of random ales in, a shit load of ciders and perry's and even original Duvel on draft which I love but not at £5.10 a pint !! And finally, Wellers. Hic Then the Koh-i-noor or taxi home
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Post by potterinleeds on Dec 9, 2016 17:56:26 GMT
The dreaded task of extricating Christmas decorations from the attic has been thrust upon me tonight, so I've got some bottles of Fraoch heather ale chilling off a bit outside as my reward afterwards.
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Post by Skankmonkey on Dec 12, 2016 12:54:10 GMT
First taste of the Plum Porter Grand Reserve in the White Star today. Wow!
Sweet, round, luscious, more pronounced plum flavour. Nectar! 6.5 % Tuck into this Wednesday night - if there is any left!
At £3.70 a pint a bit more reasonable than the 900 bottles now sold out.
I'll post a photo when I work out how to. ;-)
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Post by Skankmonkey on Dec 12, 2016 13:04:13 GMT
Scratch that for Wednesday. Only six pints left in the barrel at the WS. Everwhere else sold out on the day. :-(
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Post by rogerjonesisgod on Dec 12, 2016 21:58:21 GMT
Good work. I don't think I'd be heading back up Hartshill after doing a town tour. More likely do the Hop Inn, Alma, Museum etc and then drop into Town. But all grist to the mill. Cheeers. Absolutely. Better to start at the top of the hill and freewheel down If you're looking for micro's and ale houses then I'd recommend starting an extra couple of hundred yards closer to Stoke at the Sanctuary Ale House at Hartshill lights. About 50 yards up from the Old House at Home but on the other side of the road. Old House at Home if you fancy it but the last time I was in it was very quiet in a 'nobody goes there anymore' kind of way. Titanic's The Greyhound next where I always find myself looking at the guest ales for some reason. Hop Inn along Albert St. Which to be fair you could spend all night in there anyway. Lots of choice. Drop down to The Victoria (Little Vic) on King Street as they're doing about 4 or 5 guesties most of the time. Back across to "Hamburger Hill" for The Museum. Usually good Bass and a few others like Everard's Tiger and Wells' Bombardier. Now at this point if you fancy a giggle and don't mind a sticky carpet you can have a swifty in The Rigger which surprisingly used to offer a couple of decent ales, Hobgoblin on draft etc. But of course the clientele are usually the main event. Drop down into town and it's the Old Bulls Head (Joules pub) off the Ironmarket which has pretty decent open mic musicians on a Friday neet. Bridge Street Ale house, although that closes at 9pm so you'd have to start early-ish to get one in here before lasties. Lymestones Vaults which if you like their offerings you could spend all night in here anyway. They usually have a couple of random ales in, a shit load of ciders and perry's and even original Duvel on draft which I love but not at £5.10 a pint !! And finally, Wellers. Hic Then the Koh-i-noor or taxi home Actually you could split that into two sessions. One 'up the hill'....... Sanctuary Ale House, The Greyhound, Hop Inn, The Little Vic and The Museum. One rind 'Castle....... Bridge Street Ale house, The Hopwater Celllar, Old Bulls Head, Lymestones Vaults and Wellers.
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Post by cheeesfreeex on Dec 13, 2016 0:01:02 GMT
Absolutely. Better to start at the top of the hill and freewheel down If you're looking for micro's and ale houses then I'd recommend starting an extra couple of hundred yards closer to Stoke at the Sanctuary Ale House at Hartshill lights. About 50 yards up from the Old House at Home but on the other side of the road. Old House at Home if you fancy it but the last time I was in it was very quiet in a 'nobody goes there anymore' kind of way. Titanic's The Greyhound next where I always find myself looking at the guest ales for some reason. Hop Inn along Albert St. Which to be fair you could spend all night in there anyway. Lots of choice. Drop down to The Victoria (Little Vic) on King Street as they're doing about 4 or 5 guesties most of the time. Back across to "Hamburger Hill" for The Museum. Usually good Bass and a few others like Everard's Tiger and Wells' Bombardier. Now at this point if you fancy a giggle and don't mind a sticky carpet you can have a swifty in The Rigger which surprisingly used to offer a couple of decent ales, Hobgoblin on draft etc. But of course the clientele are usually the main event. Drop down into town and it's the Old Bulls Head (Joules pub) off the Ironmarket which has pretty decent open mic musicians on a Friday neet. Bridge Street Ale house, although that closes at 9pm so you'd have to start early-ish to get one in here before lasties. Lymestones Vaults which if you like their offerings you could spend all night in here anyway. They usually have a couple of random ales in, a shit load of ciders and perry's and even original Duvel on draft which I love but not at £5.10 a pint !! And finally, Wellers. Hic Then the Koh-i-noor or taxi home Actually you could split that into two sessions. One 'up the hill'....... Sanctuary Ale House, The Greyhound, Hop Inn, The Little Vic and The Museum. One rind 'Castle....... Bridge Street Ale house, The Hopwater Celllar, Old Bulls Head, Lymestones Vaults and Wellers. Thought that mesen. Smile. Got a big hitter thursday starting somewhere around So Thai in Leek and then fowing ower or out of somewhere else no doubt. Edit: that's an invite to anyone interested.
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Post by lagwafis on Dec 13, 2016 16:11:29 GMT
Good work. I don't think I'd be heading back up Hartshill after doing a town tour. More likely do the Hop Inn, Alma, Museum etc and then drop into Town. But all grist to the mill. Cheeers. Absolutely. Better to start at the top of the hill and freewheel down If you're looking for micro's and ale houses then I'd recommend starting an extra couple of hundred yards closer to Stoke at the Sanctuary Ale House at Hartshill lights. About 50 yards up from the Old House at Home but on the other side of the road. Old House at Home if you fancy it but the last time I was in it was very quiet in a 'nobody goes there anymore' kind of way. Titanic's The Greyhound next where I always find myself looking at the guest ales for some reason. Hop Inn along Albert St. Which to be fair you could spend all night in there anyway. Lots of choice. Drop down to The Victoria (Little Vic) on King Street as they're doing about 4 or 5 guesties most of the time. Back across to "Hamburger Hill" for The Museum. Usually good Bass and a few others like Everard's Tiger and Wells' Bombardier. Now at this point if you fancy a giggle and don't mind a sticky carpet you can have a swifty in The Rigger which surprisingly used to offer a couple of decent ales, Hobgoblin on draft etc. But of course the clientele are usually the main event. Drop down into town and it's the Old Bulls Head (Joules pub) off the Ironmarket which has pretty decent open mic musicians on a Friday neet. Bridge Street Ale house, although that closes at 9pm so you'd have to start early-ish to get one in here before lasties. Lymestones Vaults which if you like their offerings you could spend all night in here anyway. They usually have a couple of random ales in, a shit load of ciders and perry's and even original Duvel on draft which I love but not at £5.10 a pint !! And finally, Wellers. Hic Then the Koh-i-noor or taxi home I must have missed the Sanctuary Ale House opening, didn't even realise it was there. I'll give it a go over Christmas.
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Post by rogerjonesisgod on Dec 26, 2016 14:37:05 GMT
Plum Porter in the Roebuck, Leek. A very merry, merry Christmas ; -)
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Post by rogerjonesisgod on Dec 29, 2016 16:19:47 GMT
So is anyone interested in a little pre or post New Year real ale pub crawl?
Local areas? Staffs Moorlands, Stoke or Castle??
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Post by cheeesfreeex on Dec 29, 2016 18:57:02 GMT
So is anyone interested in a little pre or post New Year real ale pub crawl? Local areas? Staffs Moorlands, Stoke or Castle?? Perhaps a bit short notice for a pre, but why not? How will we identify ourselves? Stoke Rosette or rolled up Oatcake {fanzine}? Why not Post Office, Chambers, Swan,Duke and Bulls Vaults Burslem? Aaaaaah. How was the Roebuck and Leek? Bird in Hand? TrannieOake. Brill.
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Post by rogerjonesisgod on Dec 29, 2016 23:36:27 GMT
So is anyone interested in a little pre or post New Year real ale pub crawl? Local areas? Staffs Moorlands, Stoke or Castle?? Perhaps a bit short notice for a pre, but why not? How will we identify ourselves? Stoke Rosette or rolled up Oatcake {fanzine}? Why not Post Office, Chambers, Swan,Duke and Bulls Vaults Burslem? Aaaaaah. How was the Roebuck and Leek? Bird in Hand? TrannieOake. Brill. Yes just realised the date. Probably too much of a stretch pre New Year but happy to do a few in Boslum. I'm sure we'll recognise each other. We'll be the ones sadly 'Oatcaking' on our phones :-)
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Post by rogerjonesisgod on Dec 30, 2016 14:57:02 GMT
So is anyone interested in a little pre or post New Year real ale pub crawl? Local areas? Staffs Moorlands, Stoke or Castle?? Perhaps a bit short notice for a pre, but why not? How will we identify ourselves? Stoke Rosette or rolled up Oatcake {fanzine}? Why not Post Office, Chambers, Swan,Duke and Bulls Vaults Burslem? Aaaaaah. How was the Roebuck and Leek? Bird in Hand? TrannieOake. Brill. What dates suit?
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Post by cheeesfreeex on Jan 28, 2017 18:15:19 GMT
Perhaps a bit short notice for a pre, but why not? How will we identify ourselves? Stoke Rosette or rolled up Oatcake {fanzine}? Why not Post Office, Chambers, Swan,Duke and Bulls Vaults Burslem? Aaaaaah. How was the Roebuck and Leek? Bird in Hand? TrannieOake. Brill. What dates suit? Sort summat now the festivities {and aftermath} have subsided. Possibly doing a saturday day Leek real ale tour the football break weekend {18th}. Krrp you posted. Choices choices toneet. Three bottles for a £5 co op. Old Peculiar Theakstons 5.6% Old Crafty Hen Morland 6.5% Trooper Robinsons 4.7%
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Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2017 18:45:47 GMT
Sort summat now the festivities {and aftermath} have subsided. Possibly doing a saturday day Leek real ale tour the football break weekend {18th}. Krrp you posted. Choices choices toneet. Three bottles for a £5 co op. Old Peculiar Theakstons 5.6% Old Crafty Hen Morland 6.5% Trooper Robinsons 4.7% Had all three before. Good choice. Crafty Hen is a real fave. Yes it's strong but lovely taste and body to it. Where's me car keys?
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Post by cheeesfreeex on Jan 28, 2017 19:16:52 GMT
Sort summat now the festivities {and aftermath} have subsided. Possibly doing a saturday day Leek real ale tour the football break weekend {18th}. Krrp you posted. Choices choices toneet. Three bottles for a £5 co op. Old Peculiar Theakstons 5.6% Old Crafty Hen Morland 6.5% Trooper Robinsons 4.7% Had all three before. Good choice. Crafty Hen is a real fave. Yes it's strong but lovely taste and body to it. Where's me car keys? Oh yes the Crafty Hen does exactly what it says on the tin. Creeps up on a gentleman.
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Post by rogerjonesisgod on Jan 29, 2017 11:11:11 GMT
A(nother) quick shout out for the Hopwater Cellar Newcastle. Great little place. Well worth a visit. Bit pricey on the bottles but fun trying a couple of those unusual quaff's. Scanning shelf after shelf of bottles from around the World was like a 3D beer encyclopedia. Indian cider anyone? A nice trad ale on tap at about £3 was spot on and 3 craft ales including the Black Boar Imperial Oatmeal Stout from The White Hag Brewery, Co. Sligo Ireland at 10.2% was halves only Some unusual snacks like duck scratching's and beer for dogs. A friendly barkeep with a nice story. Almost 30 years of IT fixing at Keele Uni before following his dream of a bottle shop
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Post by cheeesfreeex on Jan 29, 2017 16:23:11 GMT
Thinking of calling in at the Ran Ales brewery/bar pre match on wednesday, on the industrial estate in Fenton. Handy for the traxi drop off. Anyone been, any good?
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Post by rogerjonesisgod on Jan 30, 2017 0:10:43 GMT
Not been to the Ran Ales place but it sounds interesting. Had one of these tonight.... Attachment DeletedJanet's Treat...... and it's a porter..... getit A collaboration with the Wincle Beer Company and The Brew Foundation. Really tarry, deep licorice. Even the head was black!
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Post by rogerjonesisgod on Feb 2, 2017 22:23:21 GMT
Thinking of calling in at the Ran Ales brewery/bar pre match on wednesday, on the industrial estate in Fenton. Handy for the traxi drop off. Anyone been, any good? Was the Ran Ales any good?
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Post by cheeesfreeex on Feb 3, 2017 16:48:36 GMT
Thinking of calling in at the Ran Ales brewery/bar pre match on wednesday, on the industrial estate in Fenton. Handy for the taxi drop off. Anyone been, any good? Was the Ran Ales any good? Traffic nightmare prevented a visit I'm afraid, so no notes from the frontline. I'll try again.
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Post by rogerjonesisgod on Feb 8, 2017 14:53:56 GMT
Bristol Beer Company. Milk Stout, 4.5%.
Lovely. Creamy smooth. Heading towards Guinness but stopping short enough to be very, very moreish.
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Post by cheeesfreeex on Feb 15, 2017 23:17:50 GMT
Looking into the bottom of a beer glass. Side of a new Marston pint pot actually. Is it a code/pictogram thing or just stuff?
Steam train Corvid Man on stilts Dapper 1950's dude Indian elephant Old school deep sea diver
Back to steam train.
????
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Post by okeydokeystokie2 on Feb 16, 2017 12:51:55 GMT
Looking into the bottom of a beer glass. Side of a new Marston pint pot actually. Is it a code/pictogram thing or just stuff? Steam train Corvid Man on stilts Dapper 1950's dude Indian elephant Old school deep sea diver Back to steam train. ???? Cheesey your ale thread has oft tempted me onto the EE board.
This looks like "marketing schmarketing" and part of the Marstons "craft ale revolution" re-branding exercise.
I get the Old Empire IPA from Aldi and that now has a Raj style purple label with an elephant. Pedi has the Harry Enfield movietone bloke suited and booted and I think the strange lightweight summer EPA has a stilt walker harvesting Hops. Not sure bout t'others.
Banks/Marstons are fast becoming the Tesco of the Ale industry, scooping up other "brands" (or breweries as they were once called) into their "portfolio". They also have a weird new range in Aldi - I've drank the Amber Stone. Branded as a crafty independent, owned (and brewed presumably) by Marstons. Perfectly acceptable gottle o geer, and at £1.19, won't break the bottle bank.
Not a great fan of strange tasting craft ales. If it ain't bust, don't fix it. At just 89p for a bottle of Banks's, and with the delicious Badger Hopping Hare, Hobgoblin and Hobgoblin Gold, Brains premium Rev James, Thwaites golden Wainwright all at £1.25 a bottle also available, Aldi takes some knocking for a decent pint at home.
Edit: looking at that list, many of those are now Marstons brands. Banks's, Wychwood and possibly now Thwaites are - not sure about the others. Speckled Hen used to be there too, and Moorland is another Marston's owned brewery.
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Post by cheeesfreeex on Feb 16, 2017 14:30:20 GMT
Looking into the bottom of a beer glass. Side of a new Marston pint pot actually. Is it a code/pictogram thing or just stuff? Steam train Corvid Man on stilts Dapper 1950's dude Indian elephant Old school deep sea diver Back to steam train. ???? Cheesey your ale thread has oft tempted me onto the EE board.
This looks like "marketing schmarketing" and part of the Marstons "craft ale revolution" re-branding exercise.
I get the Old Empire IPA from Aldi and that now has a Raj style purple label with an elephant. Pedi has the Harry Enfield movietone bloke suited and booted and I think the strange lightweight summer EPA has a stilt walker harvesting Hops. Not sure bout t'others.
Banks/Marstons are fast becoming the Tesco of the Ale industry, scooping up other "brands" (or breweries as they were once called) into their "portfolio". They also have a weird new range in Aldi - I've drank the Amber Stone. Branded as a crafty independent, owned (and brewed presumably) by Marstons. Perfectly acceptable gottle o geer, and at £1.19, won't break the bottle bank.
Not a great fan of strange tasting craft ales. If it ain't bust, don't fix it. At just 89p for a bottle of Banks's, and with the delicious Badger Hopping Hare, Hobgoblin and Hobgoblin Gold, Brains premium Rev James, Thwaites golden Wainwright all at £1.25 a bottle also available, Aldi takes some knocking for a decent pint at home.
Edit: looking at that list, many of those are now Marstons brands. Banks's, Wychwood and possibly now Thwaites are - not sure about the others. Speckled Hen used to be there too, and Moorland is another Marston's owned brewery.
Nice one mate, funnily enough I've just returned from an Aldi booze cruise. I've recently changed allegiances regarding 'alcohol at home'. I was committed to Henry Weston's Vintage Cider but it became too much of a good thing so it's bottled real ale at the moment. Added a Brains' 'spill the beans' coffee porter {89p} and Harper's 'Wild Bill' American IPA to the usual suspects. I like trying something a bit different, the Damson Porters etc. Yeah Marston's have shown plenty of {cynical} savvy in embracing the Craft Ale revolution. Pretty much a Pub monopoly around here now. You're correct about the glass- the various beer 'marques' of Marston, no doubt they'll all feature as guest ales over the next few weeks. {RogerJones posted the new Pedi pump badge on the previous page.} I didn't realise Marston's had mopped up Morland, I knew there were tie ins with Wytchwood, Ringwood, and gutted when they took over Thwaites' {Hollybush Denford}, havn't checked whether they've messed with 'Bomber' or the Wainwright range.. hope not. Still can't beat a good pint of Pedigree, even if they're becoming 'the enemy'. Chin chin. Earl Grey in Leek is brill at the moment.
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Post by rogerjonesisgod on Feb 16, 2017 15:39:15 GMT
Cheesey your ale thread has oft tempted me onto the EE board.
This looks like "marketing schmarketing" and part of the Marstons "craft ale revolution" re-branding exercise.
I get the Old Empire IPA from Aldi and that now has a Raj style purple label with an elephant. Pedi has the Harry Enfield movietone bloke suited and booted and I think the strange lightweight summer EPA has a stilt walker harvesting Hops. Not sure bout t'others.
Banks/Marstons are fast becoming the Tesco of the Ale industry, scooping up other "brands" (or breweries as they were once called) into their "portfolio". They also have a weird new range in Aldi - I've drank the Amber Stone. Branded as a crafty independent, owned (and brewed presumably) by Marstons. Perfectly acceptable gottle o geer, and at £1.19, won't break the bottle bank.
Not a great fan of strange tasting craft ales. If it ain't bust, don't fix it. At just 89p for a bottle of Banks's, and with the delicious Badger Hopping Hare, Hobgoblin and Hobgoblin Gold, Brains premium Rev James, Thwaites golden Wainwright all at £1.25 a bottle also available, Aldi takes some knocking for a decent pint at home.
Edit: looking at that list, many of those are now Marstons brands. Banks's, Wychwood and possibly now Thwaites are - not sure about the others. Speckled Hen used to be there too, and Moorland is another Marston's owned brewery.
Nice one mate, funnily enough I've just returned from an Aldi booze cruise. I've recently changed allegiances regarding 'alcohol at home'. I was committed to Henry Weston's Vintage Cider but it became too much of a good thing so it's bottled real ale at the moment. Added a Brains' 'spill the beans' coffee porter {89p} and Harper's 'Wild Bill' American IPA to the usual suspects. I like trying something a bit different, the Damson Porters etc. Yeah Marston's have shown plenty of {cynical} savvy in embracing the Craft Ale revolution. Pretty much a Pub monopoly around here now. You're correct about the glass- the various beer 'marques' of Marston, no doubt they'll all feature as guest ales over the next few weeks. {RogerJones posted the new Pedi pump badge on the previous page.} I didn't realise Marston's had mopped up Morland, I new there were tie ins with Wytchwood, Ringwood, and gutted when they took over Thwaites' {Hollybush Denford}, havn't checked whether they've messed with 'Bomber' or the Wainwright range.. hope not. Still can't beat a good pint of Pedigree, even if they're becoming 'the enemy'. Chin chin. Earl Grey in Leek is brill at the moment. Bomber and Wainwright are all good at the Hollybush ; -) At £1.25 for H Hare, Rev James and Goblin gold is Christmas come early :-)
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Post by rogerjonesisgod on Feb 16, 2017 15:44:45 GMT
Cheesey your ale thread has oft tempted me onto the EE board.
This looks like "marketing schmarketing" and part of the Marstons "craft ale revolution" re-branding exercise.
I get the Old Empire IPA from Aldi and that now has a Raj style purple label with an elephant. Pedi has the Harry Enfield movietone bloke suited and booted and I think the strange lightweight summer EPA has a stilt walker harvesting Hops. Not sure bout t'others.
Banks/Marstons are fast becoming the Tesco of the Ale industry, scooping up other "brands" (or breweries as they were once called) into their "portfolio". They also have a weird new range in Aldi - I've drank the Amber Stone. Branded as a crafty independent, owned (and brewed presumably) by Marstons. Perfectly acceptable gottle o geer, and at £1.19, won't break the bottle bank.
Not a great fan of strange tasting craft ales. If it ain't bust, don't fix it. At just 89p for a bottle of Banks's, and with the delicious Badger Hopping Hare, Hobgoblin and Hobgoblin Gold, Brains premium Rev James, Thwaites golden Wainwright all at £1.25 a bottle also available, Aldi takes some knocking for a decent pint at home.
Edit: looking at that list, many of those are now Marstons brands. Banks's, Wychwood and possibly now Thwaites are - not sure about the others. Speckled Hen used to be there too, and Moorland is another Marston's owned brewery.
Nice one mate, funnily enough I've just returned from an Aldi booze cruise. I've recently changed allegiances regarding 'alcohol at home'. I was committed to Henry Weston's Vintage Cider but it became too much of a good thing so it's bottled real ale at the moment. Added a Brains' 'spill the beans' coffee porter {89p} and Harper's 'Wild Bill' American IPA to the usual suspects. I like trying something a bit different, the Damson Porters etc. Yeah Marston's have shown plenty of {cynical} savvy in embracing the Craft Ale revolution. Pretty much a Pub monopoly around here now. You're correct about the glass- the various beer 'marques' of Marston, no doubt they'll all feature as guest ales over the next few weeks. {RogerJones posted the new Pedi pump badge on the previous page.} I didn't realise Marston's had mopped up Morland, I new there were tie ins with Wytchwood, Ringwood, and gutted when they took over Thwaites' {Hollybush Denford}, havn't checked whether they've messed with 'Bomber' or the Wainwright range.. hope not. Still can't beat a good pint of Pedigree, even if they're becoming 'the enemy'. Chin chin. Earl Grey in Leek is brill at the moment. Still just too wintry for vintage cider myself. I'm (just) hanging onto the last of the winter porters/ales.
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