**** Official middle-aged man's Craft Beer thread ****

[Official Old Man]

I mentioned in March the Burton (upon Trent) Ale Trail. Well they've just had another over the weekend of 1st to 4th September. 15 independent pubs with no brewery ties, although four are owned by or are micro breweries, all within walking distance. Many many beers served just as they should be, straight from the barrel. The breweries also brew a special ale for the event. Guaranteed to be at least 50 ales you've never tried before as a southerner. Next one due March 2023.

 

[Lyndhurst 14]

Brighton Beer Dispensary to close. Sad news as this was a great pub

https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/21395890.brighton-beer-dispensary-closes-due-energy-costs-brexit/

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Brighton Beer Dispensary to close. Sad news as this was a great pub

https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/21395890.brighton-beer-dispensary-closes-due-energy-costs-brexit/

That's a shame as I really liked that place.

 

[Springal]

Sadly inevitable but Asahi closing down Dark Stars brewery at Partridge Green.

Asahi to close Dark Star Brewery

Asahi is set to close Dark Star Brewery at its Partridge Green site due to the brewery operating at "significantly below capacity".

www.thedrinksbusiness.com

 

[keaton]

Shame about Dark Star but seems inevitable. The recipes will be changed soon if they haven't already, still like Hophead but everything else seems a bit poor that I've had recently

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

That's not good news. It's relatively close to me and having a place you can get to easily and get excellent freshly poured beer to take home will be a real loss.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

I wonder if The Evening Star will continue to stock their beers?

 

[Guinness Boy]

Interesting reading the first page of this thread again, over ten years old. Lots of dispute on what constitutes "craft". These days it's ubiquitous, even Tesco Boundary Road stocking a good range, including Northern Monk Death Star III and four packs of Neck Oil.

Unfortunately this makes the competition much harder and Asahi will have taken a purely commercial decision. Sad that local jobs may be in danger and that Hophead, which I preferred when they sold it at the Amex to Harvey's will lose it's local connection forever. But I doubt many will miss Hophead the beer if it was to stop being produced. There's just so much choice these days.

 

[Questions]

Quite enjoying Sierra Nevada Pale Ale

But if you want something quite remarkable, try this

I do a bit of maintenance on their trading estate and would often pick up the odd Sunburst or whatever….when I was there. APA back in the day was the very best beer in England imo……it’s not now but it really was.

 

[wuntbedruv]

Sad that local jobs may be in danger and that Hophead, which I preferred when they sold it at the Amex to Harvey's will lose it's local connection forever. But I doubt many will miss Hophead the beer if it was to stop being produced. There's just so much choice these days.

Hophead has changed since those halcyon days, become a less hoppy Brew but still better than Harvey's, Certainly the small barrels from the back wall suited it as it was much more consistent than the WSU Harvey offerering.

However I would certainly miss Revelation if it was lost.

 

[Jesus Gul]

Looking forward to my annual trip to Docks Beers in Grimsby*. A thriving independent Craft Brewery - not a great deal of competition up there mind.
(*I meant looking forward to my annual trip to see the in-laws)

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

I do a bit of maintenance on their trading estate and would often pick up the odd Sunburst or whatever….when I was there. APA back in the day was the very best beer in England imo……it’s not now but it really was.

APA ? It was exceptional. Unfortunately not a session beer, as I discovered on a few occasions.

 

[Questions]

APA ? It was exceptional. Unfortunately not a session beer, as I discovered on a few occasions.

Yeah well cut down your session times to less than 6 hours DKM

 

[SI 4 BHA]

Interesting reading the first page of this thread again, over ten years old. Lots of dispute on what constitutes "craft". These days it's ubiquitous, even Tesco Boundary Road stocking a good range, including Northern Monk Death Star III and four packs of Neck Oil.

Unfortunately this makes the competition much harder and Asahi will have taken a purely commercial decision. Sad that local jobs may be in danger and that Hophead, which I preferred when they sold it at the Amex to Harvey's will lose it's local connection forever. But I doubt many will miss Hophead the beer if it was to stop being produced. There's just so much choice these days.

Not sure Neck Oil is still "craft", Beavertown (founded by Logan Plant, Robert's son) recently sold out his remaining 51% shareholding to Heineken, the world's second largest beer company! Don't know how much they paid for the 51%, but Heineken paid areound £40m for a 49% stake a few years ago, so Logan did very nicely out of the deal!

 

[Guinness Boy]

Not sure Neck Oil is still "craft", Beavertown (founded by Logan Plant, Robert's son) recently sold out his remaining 51% shareholding to Heineken, the world's second largest beer company! Don't know how much they paid for the 51%, but Heineken paid areound £40m for a 49% stake a few years ago, so Logan did very nicely out of the deal!

It's craft in taste, as opposed to being a lager or real ale, but, yeah, being on tap at Spurs' ground, having nationwide distribution deals and being owned by Heineken isn't exactly brewing in a warehouse.

My favourite current crafts are sold in what is exactly a former warehouse, brewed on site called Ground Zero. Unfortunately it's located in Bucharest, round the corner from my company's development centre so I only get it two or three times a year. It's certainly not in the local Tesco.

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

Sadly inevitable but Asahi closing down Dark Stars brewery at Partridge Green.

Asahi to close Dark Star Brewery

Asahi is set to close Dark Star Brewery at its Partridge Green site due to the brewery operating at "significantly below capacity".

www.thedrinksbusiness.com

As one of the Quality Managers at Asahi I can give a little more info.

The partridge Green site was always time limited as the premises are leased. The production of Hophead was moved to Chiswick a few years ago. This enables greater production but is 100% the same recipe and retains it's unique yeast strain.

Moving the remaining production to Meantime makes business sense as the site is owned and has been expanded for storage facilities. The two brands will be kept apart within the brewery and keep their distinct identities. It will allow the business to keep their "craft" offering under one roof.

Hophead will I believe become the go to ale in the portfolio bettering London Pride.

Always a shame when a brewery shuts but in truth Dark Star as a brewery did move away from Brighton some years ago to Ansty before moving to PG.

I will endeavour in all the meetings I attend to keep it's history in the forefront of people's mind.

 

[Psychobilly freakout]

My friend is going to bring me back a few of these next weekend from Koln…

 

[wuntbedruv]

My friend is going to bring me back a few of these next weekend

has anyone tried this? Having only drunk Kolsch in its natural home I would love to give it a go.

Fruh is certainly one of the better breweries so this should be good.

 

[Springal]

Bedlam Brewery have gone bust

 

[Guinness Boy]

Bedlam Brewery have gone bust

Sad news. Often a Bedlam offering on sale at The Foghorn. I notice they're still taking orders on their website.