I am such a chicken with hops

[graysalchemy]

How much have you played with changing your yeast?

Bottled Conistion Bluebird is a Challenger only brew iirc so you might want to try that.

And bottle condition so potential yeast :whistle:

 

[oldjiver]

Now on my way to Sainsburys to try a few reccomendations, and get some plastic bottles.

 

[alanywiseman.]

not to experience d with hops yet but did you get a copy of Hop Unions Varerity book that someone posted up (It may have been taken down now). It has a huge list of hops with Alpha and Beta Acid levels and flavour and aroma notes. If you PM me your email I will send you a copy of it :thumb:

And definetly get in on the Bottle Swap. It is being organised at the moment. It costs about £2.50 for a 500ml coke bottle packaged in a poster tube with a wee bit of bubble wrap. Glass bottles or larger packaging pushes the cost up to over a fiver :thumb:

 

[oldjiver]

Back from Sainsburys. Surprised how many beers dont mention what they are made of. Got two bottles, an IPA made for Sainsburys by Marstons. 5.9% with Fuggles Goldings and cascade. Not really impressed, tastes like most other commercial bottled bitters I have reluctantly tried.
Second bottle was a Brakspear (thought is was brakespear) TRIPLE. 6.7%. with Golding Styrian and cascade. Again not impressed, but I have made a yeast starter from this one.
They all seem so one dimentional compared to what I make. (I hope Calumscott likes what I am sending him or I will seem a big head) Perhaps commercial bottled bitters just dont suit me, I dont really know. I remember calling at a micro brewery in Norfolk a while ago and paying £2.80 for a beer that won beer of the year, didn't like it :sick:
I will take note of the advice given in this thread and note the names of beers given and then go to a bigger branch of Sainsburys and search them out. I think I will have a pint of my own now to take the taste out of my mouth.

 

[oldjiver]

not to experience d with hops yet but did you get a copy of Hop Unions Varerity book that someone posted up (It may have been taken down now). It has a huge list of hops with Alpha and Beta Acid levels and flavour and aroma notes. If you PM me your email I will send you a copy of it :thumb:

And definetly get in on the Bottle Swap. It is being organised at the moment. It costs about £2.50 for a 500ml coke bottle packaged in a poster tube with a wee bit of bubble wrap. Glass bottles or larger packaging pushes the cost up to over a fiver :thumb:

Thanks, I have found the Hop Variety Pdf. I will have a good read. :thumb:

 

[JKaranka]

Yeah, I also think that British bottled beer isn't particularly good. When you get American or Belgian bottled beer it seems to be pretty much what you'd expect, but British beer is nine out of ten times better in cask or keg.

 

[BIGJIM72]

For english ales I would suggest having a go with Challenger or Target for bittering,maybe with some Styrian Goldings for aroma.

I am partial to the fruity hops- I might suggest trying an Old Golden Hen to see if you like Galaxy.

For bottled ales from the shop I tend to stick with Old Peculier, Landlord or Old Golden Hen.

I agree with the comment about British bottled beer-but when so many breweries have been swallowed up by the big boys its not hard to understand why.

 

[Bluezephyr]

Oldjiver, I'm so bored with what's on offer in the supermarkets, Tesco round my way are selling Golden Jackal but apart from that its all offerings from large breweries.
Until the supermarkets start working with the smaller breweries in the area more specialist shops are the place to go.
I'm working my way through all of these at the moment : . http://www.beersofeurope.co.uk/humpty-dumpty
Not sure why the link doesn't work?

Just been to Asda and there's absolutely nothing that looks like some thought other than making money has been put into it in their selection.