Strong Ales
I think most people know that I like session beers. For me a critical factor of how good a beer is can be determined by how many pints I can drink of any one beer before I pass out, get in a fight, or be sick. Obviously the higher the number, the better for various sociological reasons. Due to seasonal availability, I have been drinking a lot of rather strong beers lately. These are beers that would make any US based drinker proud, often with an ABV above 6.5%. 
Two of these beers which I have come across in recent weeks are neither new, glamorous or exciting, but they do happen to taste rather similar. One is Bottle conditioned and brewed by London's leading regional brewer, the other is filtered, pasteurized and mass produced by a Dutch owned Scottish brewery - but production differences aside they are remarkably similar, well to my tastes anyway.
The beers in question are Fuller's 1845 (6.3% abv) and McEwan's Champion (7.3% abv) - both are strong ales which have a distinct burnt/roast sugar taste and are not particularly well balanced.
Saying that, I am going to be positive today and not slag them off too much. One man's trash is another man's treasure. I'll let you guys decide.
.
Labels: Ale, Fullers, McEwans, Scottish and Newcastle, Strong Ale
posted by Tim at
Thursday, February 26, 2009
12 Comments:
Too many of those and I might start wearing lipstick and carry around a ladies shopping bag!
What, do you mean beer under 10% abv?
I mean anything over 6% abv. I enjoy drinking 5-7 pints in a session, not 2. I live in high abv beer land, but I make do. You adapt to your surroundings.
It must be hard living in the land of triple this and imperial that. Also a land where pubs are frowned upon and getting pissed is seen as civil disobedience. Try living in Australia where any beer below 5% is called mid-strength and there is not much about stronger than that! Most of the beer is bland piss as well, hence most people who like real beer, brew their own.
The only time getting pissed for me was considered civil disobedience, is when I shat the bed.
I hope you hadn't been eating curry, or giving yourself a chilli enema!
I think both of these beers are pretty good, the Fuller's especially (that certainly isn't trashy!). And I think it ages well too. I find the McEwan's is like a glass of christmas pudding, which I like!
Not a massive fan of either of these - they're perfectly ok, I suppose. I'd always plump for a Brakspear Triple over either of these if I was in the mood for something strong. Yum yum.
Try living in Australia where any beer below 5% is called mid-strength and there is not much about stronger than that!
Full Strength Beers
Coopers Sparkling: 5.8%
Cascade Premium: 5.0%
Bluetongue: 4.9%
Crown Lager: 4.9%
VB: 4.8%
New: 4.6%
Carlton Draught: 4.6%
Melbourne: 4.6%
Coopers Pale Ale: 4.5%
Bluetongue Pilsener: 4.5%
Mid Strength Beers
Carlton Mid: 3.5%
VB Mid: 3.5%
and yeah, I brew my own!
Incidentally, VB used to by 4.9% but they dropped the ABV to save millions on tax !
Moses, I was being general and your list sort of confirms my point (within range). At one stage all beers were 4.9% just shy of 5% for tax reasons.
But mid-strength is just a marketing excersize - as a beer style it's fiction
I could be in the minority then, I like my beer stronger. It saves on money and allows slower drinking and fewer visits to the gents. Essential when getting public transport home.
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