After a couple of posts on an unrelated thread I thought it would be good to start one up for people to recommend some nice ales that we can try and get hold of for ourselves.
I didn't used to drink Ale I am 43 now and about 10 years discovered the wonderful world of Real Ale. Living in Oxfordshire I am lucky to have lots of choice away from the supermarket standard range.
We have a great one called Loose Cannon in Abingdon that do a great session IPA
The white Horse Brewery produce one of my favourite Ales called Villiage idiot
If you are in the area then the wychwood tour is very good
So feel free to post recommendations of Ales and real Ale pubs

In reply to Post #1
local to me....

old thumper and 49er would sort you out

both Ringwood ales

In reply to Post #1
A few recommendations from me

Kirkstal Brewery, Dissolution, mega hops!

The proper job that Ken put up, another Cornish one is harbour pale ale, that's decent too

Popular ones, Punk IPA and Goose Island i find decent , also shipyard if you see it

Marstons old empire is decent but not as hoppy as the new American stuff

Shepard Neeme's Spitfie is decent

Green king, avoid at all costs

Sharps Atlantic is not bad

Ghost ship is another decent one

And if your out and about up North I can recommend Sheffield tap in the train station, really old worldly with a massive selection of craft ales, lagers and ciders, try the Jaipur. Also, Tapped in Leeds, the same. Already mentioned the Black bull in Coniston if people are in the lakes

I've tried a lot, these are straight off the top of my head. I really like these American hoppy ones at the moment, fantastic taste

On another point, does anybody actually drink that dark Porter stuff

The good news is, around me most of the local pups have gone, Indian restaurants

There are lots of micro brewery's and bars opening up that specialises in craft ales etc

Indian? , Cobra, if they have it on draught and it's on form, very nice pint, not bad from the bottle

Let's face it, Carling is alright for putting a fire out and Fosters is good for washing the pots. I do like the odd Stella though

And if cider is your thing , there is only one for me, Aspall, head and shoulders above anything else I've tried, the Premier Cru that they do (blue label) is one damn fine drink but so are their others, red label etc.

Decent wine at a decent price?

Campo Viego Rioga, yellow label, very good, one up, the orange label

Used to be Montana, now Brancott Sauvignon Blanc or Villa Maria and if you are pushing the boat out try Cloudy bay. French, you can't go wrong with a nice Sancerre or Pouilly fume for me

In reply to Post #3
I didn't realise you were such a pisshead

In reply to Post #4


I like a drink or three now and again

15% off from these guys at the moment https://www.wyevalleybrewery.co.uk/shop/?fbclid=IwAR3Tj7iGwZsUbwFHviwVesNn82fzAyGBwH3rTEFqi0bOkMkAY_fWGicOBZA
I think there will be a few offers as we need to stay at home to enjoy a drink

Real ale to me is nature's most powerful laxertive and takes 24 hours to clear.

In reply to Post #7
Try Guinness next time, probably a bit quicker

In reply to Post #8
Oh yes,I've just come back from Kerry,guiness at its best😁👍😎

In reply to Post #9
I like the odd pint, reckon it's a totally different drink to what you get over here?

Few years ago I went out with a mate, had a couple of lagers and 8 pints of Guinness, plus a packet of crisps , felt shocking the next day, proper banging head, still blame the crisps

Fullers ESB is a good one it's 5.5% on draft 5.9% bottled so doesn't take too long before you talk b0llocks

In reply to Post #11
So your drinking it quite a lot then Bob?

I wonder if that's what Tazi is knocking back then too

Better stay clear of that one

In reply to Post #12
Yeah I find I can't come on here unless I've had a few

In reply to Post #13

In reply to Post #12


Ran out of rum and now I'm just waiting for the alcohol in the hand sanitizer kick in.

In reply to Post #3
Is there an age that real ale becomes attractive? Is it a bit like birds? At some point in life a 60 year old is going to float your boat just not when you're in your 30's😂

In reply to Post #16
Not sure about that?

I've always thought that 18 - 60 would be fair game, as one of my mates used to say, owts alrite for practising on

Or, you have to shag 5 ugly ones for each nice one

In reply to Post #16
Nothing to do with beer but in the main I can't see why young men would be attracted to much older women. Being an older person I know find myself attracted to fit older women, looking at younger girls doesn't seem right anymore and a bit pervy.

In reply to Post #18
Guess I'm a perve then, can't help but look at a fit woman half my age or there abouts but I'm in my sixties.

In reply to Post #6
YOUR LINK

Butty Bach is generally the one in pubs around Herefordshire.

Most prefer the apples around or way if ever you're in the vicinity the Herefordshire cider trail has some cracking ciders to try most can be found online.


HEREFORDSHIRE CIDERS

Newton Court gets my nod.

In reply to Post #20
Tell you what, those boxes are a bargain

Would have to try some first though

I love my beer, don't drink as much now though as I don't make it and the prices are silly in the shops. I used to co run a homebrewing forum and a few of the members on there of old now own Micro Breweries. I use to go to most of the local beer festivals, the biggest one near me being the Stockport Beer Fest and the Manchester Winter Ales festival

I like strong beers of most types and very hoppy beers, though some are not the same as they used to be, Brew Dog IPA being 1 (recipe changed)

A few faves

At the mo, Guiness Foreign Extra Stout 7.5%, found it in B&M not to pricey at £3 for a 660ml, also at Asda in 330ml on multibuy.
Thornbridge Jaipur IPA 5.9% 4 pack cans in Tesco usually 2 for £10, mix and match.
One of the best beers I've ever had on draught Brew Dog Hardcore IPA 9.2% and also Sierra Nevada Pale Ale (not as good in the bottle).
I love a good smokey Porter when I can get one, Meantime being one that used to be good.

I put a few days aside for Brugge on my way to picking my Baitboat up from Carp Lounge in Germany, there were some very good (to me) beers tasted on that trip, I took pics as I knew the memory would be no good. Also had a expensive Lambic that almost made the Mrs chuck ...what was that bloody thing...hmmm

In reply to Post #22
At the mo, Guiness Foreign Extra Stout 7.5%, found it in B&M not to pricey at £3 for a 660ml, also at Asda in 330ml on multibuy.
Thornbridge Jaipur IPA 5.9% 4 pack cans in Tesco usually 2 for £10, mix and match.

I'll get the missus to look out for them

In reply to Post #23
That will put hairs on her chest

In reply to Post #22
I drink the Jaipur in a couple of pubs near me, stunning pint on draught and not too bad in the can but not as nice as the tapped

I've tried the SN too, nice drink

The interesting about the Brew Dog IPA, how long since was the receipt changed then mate?, I like a pint of two of that as well, nice from the can, as the Goose IPA

Will deffo have a look out for the BD hardcore, thanks for that

Going back a good few years when I was a mature student, I used to work a few nights in a well respected real ale pub and for some reason whenever they got Deuchers IPA in as a guest ale it sold out within days.....god knows why they didn't order more barrels cos some would come in and leave without buying a drink when they found out the Deuchers had all gone.... Strange thing is I never ever tried the stuff