Bridges Burned?

[Moley]

I came back to home brewing and winemaking because supermarket prices only ever go in one direction, I haven't had a pay rise in 2 years and Mrs. Mole and I were looking at our weekly expenditure.

I started brewing kit beers, they were ok but you could tell they were kit brews and I was comparing them against commercial bottled beers.

Now I'm brewing AG, can turn out a most acceptable pint for 30-35p and can laugh at Tesco's shelf prices.

Today I went into Netto for some sugar (already got juices for my next 5g of Wurzel's) and they have Newcastle Brown on a weekend special at 99p (550ml). I've got a brew which will be ready for bottling in the next few days and always like to have a couple of 500ml PETs and a couple of clear bottles, haven't got any unused clear bottles, so I bought 3 Newky.

I've just drunk one. It didn't actually taste of much. Something artificial about it. No soul. Probably ok compared to a kit brew.

Is that it? Am I back in for life? Could I never go back even if I wanted to / could afford to?

Or have you lot known that for ages and I've only just caught on?

 

[bones]

I'm wiv ya :
Since i've had my brewry up and running again after an eight year break... its no way back all the time i can be bothered..
I think us homebrewers tend to over hop a little cos we can!! we know what we want from a beer...
I see you have just completed and enjoying your first AG... it really makes the difference... not sure what beer you really like... but my post the Best Is Yet to Come (Bones Best Bitter) is a real craker... I have tried a few single hop variety beers to try and understand the characteristic of the hop... Challenger seems to be one of favourites..

Any way less of the ol' dibble ... Enjoy :

 

[Moley]

I see you have just completed and enjoying your first AG

No, I said I had opened an AG which has now had 4 months plus down the cellar.
AG#1 was Hobgoblin-ish, AG#2 was a pale coloured proper Bitter, AG#3 was a Speckled Hen with a ginger twist a-la Badger Blandford Fly and AG#4, Moley's Slightly Peculier is getting ready for bottling.

 

[llannige]

You mention supermarket prices and bottled beer.That is no comparison to pub prices and real ale.What is your local's beer and prices like?

There are plenty of tidy pubs about to sample their fine ales.Don't judge a beer until you have sampled it in it's glory.

My local has a few good ales and their prices and the crack is ace.

The reason I brew my own is for taste and enjoyment.The price doesn't really come into it.

Don't get me wrong,I will buy the odd bottle in the s/m when it's on offer,but I very rarely feel the need. :grin:

 

[ano]

I don't think you can judge commercial beer from a bottle of newcastle brown (allegedly a pale imitation of what it once was - but in any event a pasteurised filtered pint bereft of character) bought in netto. There are good beers to be had, although most of them aren't in a supermarket, but then, they never were.

 

[Moley]

You mention supermarket prices and bottled beer. That is no comparison to pub prices and real ale. What is your local's beer and prices like?

I'm actually quite fortunate that my local, which is within walking distance (although currently closed for (IMHO) an unnecessary refurb.), always has two guest ales which seem to be quite well kept and are usually around £2.35 a pint.

Other pubs (especially canalside) which I have previously frequented have now broken the three quid barrier, which I flatly refuse to pay.


Ano: Yes, I fully appreciate all of that, but my point is that what I would previously have purchased from the supermarkets has now lost all appeal.

 

[ano]

Yeah I was a bit tw4ttish there, it's just I feel strongly that if there's one thing you shouldn't feel some sort of liberal guilt about it's your discovery that your palate has become more discerning and that supermarket slabpacks, or even the mass bottlings aren't to your taste.

As has been said elsewhere in many different contexts... welcome to the dark side.

 

[jonewer]

Newky Brown is roobash though. About as much to do with real ale as mcdonalds has to do with food.

 

[ano]

I think the point he was making is that where that would have done previously, now it doesn't.

Real ale in and of itself is overrated imo. Just because they haven't filtered and pasteurised doesn't mean they care any more about the product, or know what they're doing. Go to the continent and it's all served under forced CO2. CAMRA has a lot to answer for.

 

[Aleman]

Newcastle Brown Ale is a shadow of its former self, and the locals are probably glad that they are moving production to Tadcaster so that they will no longer have to live with the shame of being associated with it :lol:

 

[Moley]

I think the point he was making is that where that would have done previously, now it doesn't.

Thanks ano, you've got my meaning perfectly.

As Aleman says, I know Newky Brown isn't what it was, and probably isn't the best example to cite, but just 6 months ago I'd have bought a case of 12, may have taken it while out on the boat for a week and would have enjoyed a couple a day at the tiller.

Now I can brew AG for 35p a pint (or less) and can probably p**s better than that.

I only bought three, for the clear bottles as much as the contents, have only drunk one and am in no hurry to open another.

 

[rickthebrew]

i use to enjoy a newky brown - had one a while ago after just brewing a few kits - i could only liken it to fizzy pop !!

not good at all, my first AG should be this weekend - weather and equipment permitting!! - yes i`m brewing in the garden!!

 

[evanvine]

I fully agree with Ano’s comments re modern cask ales.
Now I have to be careful what I say or I will be accused of pouring scorn again!
The problem is as I see it is that malt is expensive and sugar is cheap.
So the brewery accountants up the sugar content and lower the malt content.
Result is the same ABV but a thin lacking body beer.
Answer, up the hopping rate to disguise the short falls.
The “real ale” drinkers got used to the extra bitterness and indeed commented on the quality and taste of the hops.
When I was a lad and beer was 4 Bob (20p) a pint the delicate malty flavours made the beer impossibly moreish rather than just the alcoholic effect (or am I dreaming).
The result of this auto waffle is that I only use a single bittering hop (normally Brambling Cross) which to my taste allows the malt flavour to come through.
On the contrary I think “Camera” has done a good job.I
It has promoted the home brewing of ales as they used to be!