How does Summer Lightning rate in that department? It sends people (including hardened SL drinkers) right round the twist.Calva dosser said:
Real Ale in the Albert: The Poll
- Thread starter Mrs Magpie
- Start date
Kasia is standing valiantly by with mop and bucket even as we speak.tarannau said:Still, I always forget that Stella's 5.2%, which is pretty hefty by most decent standards.
That said, I always get more horrendously drunk on real ales. The lack of fizz means that quaffing is faster...and continues for longer.
Well, that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it. I hope the Albert's ready...
The REAL killer is spending an afternoon in the Beehive, sampling their various wares, and then finishing off with a few Stellas up the Albert.
Not that I have ever done such a thing..
IntoStella said:Kasia is standing valiantly by with mop and bucket even as we speak.
The REAL killer is spending an afternoon in the Beehive, sampling their various wares, and then finishing off with a few Stellas up the Albert.
Not that I have ever done such a thing..
On much the same note, I used to love the beer festivals in some of Wetherspoon's larger pubs.
Think of the scene: a young 20 year-old manager with literally 100 different beers ready to go in the cellar, some 15 or so on rotation at least. Even drawing through and tasting the beers was something of an experience - none of that swilling and spitting out poncey wine tasting rubbish let me tell you. And cleaning the pipes too - emptying those tubes prior to cleaning - led to some to some interesting nights as well
Still, I only drink real ale occasionally now - a symptom of living in Brixton more than anything. Don't particularly like the venues that serve a reasonable pint locally, with too many others carrying a token real ale (eg Hobgoblin) that you can almost guarantee will be nasty. A stella's a safer option in those circumstances.
So the Albert serving beer should certainly mean that my consumption of real ale should go up again. I might even get my beard and sandals out of the basement...
Stig
Condimentalist
YAY! Ale at the Albert!!
Bloody well done Mrs.M!
We'll come in more often! ...to keep stock ticking over, as previously promised.
Now, I would drink any of these choices, but..
I'm not especially keen on pedigree... it's 'background' beer, i.e. the cheap stuff you drink when all the quality beer is gone and you're now too drunk to appreciate it properly anyway.
IPA is a bit better, but I prefer the top two. I'm a bit undecided between them though.
If I thought Black Sheep had a good chance of winning I'd go for that, but I might end up having to vote tactically for abbots to keep pedigree out, judging by the look of the poll so far...
Ooooooh isn't it exciting??? 
<drums feet excitedly under office table>
ah the joys of being easily pleased...
Bloody well done Mrs.M!
We'll come in more often! ...to keep stock ticking over, as previously promised.
Now, I would drink any of these choices, but..
I'm not especially keen on pedigree... it's 'background' beer, i.e. the cheap stuff you drink when all the quality beer is gone and you're now too drunk to appreciate it properly anyway.
IPA is a bit better, but I prefer the top two. I'm a bit undecided between them though.
If I thought Black Sheep had a good chance of winning I'd go for that, but I might end up having to vote tactically for abbots to keep pedigree out, judging by the look of the poll so far...
Ooooooh isn't it exciting???
<drums feet excitedly under office table>
ah the joys of being easily pleased...
Stig said:
Psst. Black Sheep must be on a late run. I voted for it, which was then followed quickly by the Ed's and Stella's posts in favour. I reckon that there must be a late run on - even if the poll doesn't look too hopeful yet
Who's voting for Pedigree then? No-one's admitted to liking it that much, yet it's up there. Are there token Northerners voting for it, or is it a spoiling technique from the lager drinkers?
lang rabbie
Je ne regrette les gazebos
A token Anglo-Scots midlander, ta very much.
I voted for Pedigree partly through nostalgia, but mostly on the grounds that IMHO it is the real ale least likely to be ruined if demand isn't as great as we all hope.
(Discount my vote if you like, as I was probably last sighted in the Albert in 1897)
I voted for Pedigree partly through nostalgia, but mostly on the grounds that IMHO it is the real ale least likely to be ruined if demand isn't as great as we all hope.
(Discount my vote if you like, as I was probably last sighted in the Albert in 1897)
Brixton Hatter
Home is south London mate
Be great to have an ale back in the Albert. 
To be honest, I'd drink any of those on offer - my palate is not as advanced as most of yours seems to be! But I voted for Black Sheep just to keep things interesting...
To be honest, I'd drink any of those on offer - my palate is not as advanced as most of yours seems to be! But I voted for Black Sheep just to keep things interesting...
lang rabbie
Je ne regrette les gazebos
Is it
(ABV 3.8%)
or
(ABV 4.4%)
on offer?
Thought I had seen the Special on cask once or twice in London.
(ABV 3.8%)
or
(ABV 4.4%)
on offer?
Thought I had seen the Special on cask once or twice in London.
smashthestate
wage slave
hello brixonites...
living up in manchester i don't tend to venture into this forum but seeing the title with "real ale" i had to come and have a peak and recommend a local brew - Ginger Marble, made by the Marble Brewery on Rochdale Road Manchester, vegan, organic and delicious
of the options above i'd choose black sheep or abbot, but i guess that doesn't matter since i'm unlikely to be int he albert in january.
<slopes off back to P+P>
living up in manchester i don't tend to venture into this forum but seeing the title with "real ale" i had to come and have a peak and recommend a local brew - Ginger Marble, made by the Marble Brewery on Rochdale Road Manchester, vegan, organic and delicious
of the options above i'd choose black sheep or abbot, but i guess that doesn't matter since i'm unlikely to be int he albert in january.
<slopes off back to P+P>
And do you drink in the Albert?linerider said:it has to be abbots
Why can't the Albert have a micro-brew? Why do we have to put up with mass-produced stuff? Some venal brewery with a strangehold?smashthestate said:
It's like going into Tescos but only being permitted to buy Tesco own-brand.
I voted Black Sheep because I like the idea of someone falling out with a big brewer and setting up alone, but have never knowingly drunk the stuff.
What's it like? Cheeky? Sarcastic? Lewd but with a touch of sun-kissed sheep dip?
Donna Ferentes
jubliado
Taste it and see. You can buy it in Tesco.
Never the same out of a bottle.Justin said:
Black Sheep Brewery
Oh yeah! I had forgotten about S&N's evil hand being involved. Vote for the undersheep!
smashthestate
wage slave
it it totally different (ie loads beter) on draught, IMHO.Justin said:
I shouldn't like to spoil your sport with a bit of pragmatism here, but although I'm sure everything will be coming from the brewers depot in, yes brewery road N7, if memory serves, Abbot is actually made at their West Gate brewery, a short drive up the M11 in Bury St Edmunds. Which is closer than Masham.
Also, the extra 0.6% alcohol in the Abbot may lead to it being more resilient on those sultry SW9 summer evenings. Also it's closer in strength to the Stella that you philistines imbibe with such wanton-ness. (hides pint of Strongbow).
Also, the extra 0.6% alcohol in the Abbot may lead to it being more resilient on those sultry SW9 summer evenings. Also it's closer in strength to the Stella that you philistines imbibe with such wanton-ness. (hides pint of Strongbow).
Err, I should also add that Greene King have a reasonable pub wine/spirit list. This is not advertising, It's just that not all publicans make use of it's range. Also, pressure should be gently applied to insist upon the stocking of the splendid bottled Strong Suffolk, unless some Management Chav has had it discontinued. Not to mention St Edmund Ale.
We should not run before walking, but some of these 'manager' johnnies and joanna's don't know their Medoc from their Bordeaux. They may require educating.
We should not run before walking, but some of these 'manager' johnnies and joanna's don't know their Medoc from their Bordeaux. They may require educating.
As good a race as it is, I'm a bit worried about the Black Sheep now.
Is it the weaker Black Sheep bitter, at a potentially miserly 3.8% abv, that we're voting for. Or the more characterful Black Sheep Special - the more common of the two in reality - which would seem a better all round winter brew?
If it's the former, it could be a little weak against the Abbot. If it's the latter, it's Black Sheep all the way for me...
Is it the weaker Black Sheep bitter, at a potentially miserly 3.8% abv, that we're voting for. Or the more characterful Black Sheep Special - the more common of the two in reality - which would seem a better all round winter brew?
If it's the former, it could be a little weak against the Abbot. If it's the latter, it's Black Sheep all the way for me...
Mrs Magpie
On a bit of break...
Thanks for the praise Stig and hendo, but I don't think I'm really the sole Real Ale pesterer in the Albert...
Stig
Condimentalist
tarannau said:
I feel the same about this,- I was assuming it was the 4.4% one, oops.
The weaker one might not keep as well, (as calva dosser was saying about the other weaker ones).. and might not be so popular ... next time someone goes in, could they ask about this please?
I'll withhold my vote until this mystery has been cleared up, I reckon, as I'd prefer abbot to the normal sheep.
Mrs M, I know, I've done my fair share of badgering in there in the past,
but you were the bringer of these great tidings... 
Like Stig and tarranau, I'm withholding my vote til more is known .... the 4.4% Black Sheep Extra is excellent quality and just the right strength, plus the bonus is that it's very hard to get hold of on draught down here (which makes me think though that the 3.8% version is the one more likely to be on offer)
But to have ale at all in the Albert would be a big, big bonus ...
But to have ale at all in the Albert would be a big, big bonus ...
William of Walworth said:
Very true indeed. Before we all whip ourselves into over-excitement, feverishly readying tasting notes and hastily growing cream-aerating beards, any of those options would be a pleasant and much welcomed newcomer to the Albert.
And I still reserve the right to sneak in a pint of Stella once in a while, without drawing Paddington Bear hard stares. It's going to take a little time to re-acclimatise to drinking decent ale in a Brixton local again. I'm just looking forward to the choice...
