Stonch's top 10 beers for winter
A while ago, the editor of What's Brewing asked me to name my top ten beers for winter. I'd forgotten all about it. Opening up this month's issue, I see my choices have been published alongside lists from fellow beer writers Ben McFarland, Roger Protz and Melissa Cole. For those who aren't members of CAMRA and therefore don't get the paper, this was my list (in no particular order):
- Young's Winter Warmer
- Bateman's Rosey Nosey
- St Peter's Winter Ale
- St Bernardus Abt 12
- Anchor Our Special Ale
- Dark Star Critical Mass
- Hog's Back A over T
- Brew Dog Paradox (Speyside)
- Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Urbock
- Harvey's Old Ale
Come on, let's hear you slag that off. You know you want to.
The photo is of Anchor Our Special Ale, taken by me outside The Evening Star in Brighton. I've been wanting to use it for ages. I like the bike in the background, the shadows cast by the bottle and the glass, and the sun playing on the beer's head. Sitting outside in high summer probably isn't the right time to take in a winter beer, but I enjoyed it. After we finished up there, we got the train to Lewes, home to Harvey's. Click here to read about that visit.
31 comments:
Congrads on the mention!
I'm enjoying an Anchor OSA right now as I type this. This years vintage is delicious, nice and piney!
I'm going to have to pay attention during my next trip to the beverage mart and see how many of your picks make it over the pond to Upstate NY.
Not too much wrong with that - you get bonus points for including 'Critical Mass' (a proper winter warmer) - I might have had one of the fine porters available this season - Dark Star's, Fuller's and Shep's are all very good...
Boggle
Light blue touch paper and retire, Critical mass season is upon us.God bless you Dark Star.
No Moonraker? Tut, tut.
Sid - in retrospect I would have certainly replaced Bateman's Rosey Nosey with Fuller's London Porter.
Stonch,
What's happened to Young's Christmas Pudding Ale? Has it been axed by those evil Wells' people? Admittedly it was to beer what Starbuck's Gingerbread Latte is to coffee, but damn it was a dirty pleasure.
Of course that would be "topdog_andy",not "todpog_andy".
I had a few pints of Schlenkerla Ur-Bock at Wildeman last weekend. One of my favourite German beers.
But St Bernardus Abt? That's not a winter beer. I personally drink it in spring, summer and autumn, too. And please don't promote it. My local offie is already starting to have trouble getting hold of it.
Ron - if I remember correctly the brief wasn't so much winter-specific beers, but rather beers I enjoy at this time of year.
Andy - I'm not sure if the Young's Christmas Pudding survived the Bedford cull. The press release Wells & Young's issued at the time of the merger only told part of the story. The list of beers they said they were axing was seriously incomplete and in reality the range has been severely cut back.
i bet if you did a list now it would look more like:
1)whatever they've got in bottles - it's easier to dance with
2)wine
3)err that's it
I pretty sure I saw Young's Christmas Pudding in Sainsbury's recently.
Why Fuller's Porter over the Vintage Ale?
Stan, I've never tasted Vintage Ale that's been aged for years so maybe I haven't had the full experience. As it is, I'd say I prefer (cask) London Porter. Indeed, I'd say I prefer bottle conditioned 1845 to Vintage too.
I have to say I've been disappointed with Harveys' Elizabethan Old Ale... as in fact I have been with Harveys' beers all round. I want to like them. The Royal Oak (Harveys' tied house in Borough) is a fine pub, and was my local for a while, but both in there on draught and in bottles I've ordered from Lewes I've found a faint metallic tang, regardless of the particular style sampled. Something in their water perhaps?
Of course poor old What's Brewing had to make a mistake, putting OLD Rosey Nosey! As with all top 10s you will never find someone who agrees with all ten, but it's a list of beers I certainly would be happy to drink.
Bought a Christmas Pudding Ale in Sainsburys a couple of weeks back. Yet to drink!
to be honest i couldn't care less what your top ten beers are. you're just some bloke with a website.
He claims not to care about what Stonch's top 10 beers are, but then goes out of his way to post a comment.
That is a queer kind of apathy.
glad to see Anchor get a mention, they get a bit of a slating at times from narrow - minded Europeans! Enjoyed the St Peter's too. nice list!
Tried vintage ale on a football trip to Huddersfield last week. Went to the Grove (beer heaven...10 draughts and 180 bottled) and had 1/3 pint of Fullers Vintage ale. Have to say I found it rather grim and more whiskey-like than beer. Worried that the bottle of Golden Pride I have will be a similarly spirit-ish experience. Much better was the Empress of India porter, which possibly tops London Porter for me.
City of Cambridge Bramling Traditional !
Not a single Belgian...what the...
Sinkas my geographically challenged chum, last time I checked St Bernardus Abt 12 was Belgian.
There's an emphasis on British beers on this list (7 out of 10) because (a) I was writing it for a British real ale magazine and (b) I'm British. I don't believe in trying to be truly objective when talking about something as subjective as how good a drink tastes.
Stonch, what's your opinion of the Samuel Smith's Winter Welcome? I believe it is only available bottled.
Phiz, I've never tried it. I know it's sold at Utobeer but I've never come across it anywhere else. I think it's one of those beers Sam Smith's makes mainly for export. I'd very surprised if it was up to much...
Again, Mr. Stanch-
Can you explain your theory regarding Samuel Smith's Winter Welcome? Mainly, why you'd be "very surprised if it was up to much." I've been drinking it for 20 years. It's class just like all their bottled beers they import through Merchant du Vin.
Whorst, I don't really rate Sam Smith's beers to be honest. Don't get me wrong, I don't think they're crap - just not terribly good, on the whole. Only the Imperial Stout really stands out for me. The Pure Brewed Lager is one of Britain's better lagers, but that isn't saying much.
Yes I am a MoFo please forgive
Sam Smith's Winter Welcome is somewhat unusual for a winter beer, being a light-colored ale. As Whorst mentioned it is imported into the USA by Merchant du Vin. The Sam Smith's bottled beers have gotten considerably better after they started using brown bottles instead of clear bottles. Still, the OBB down the pub is nothing.
Christmas is always associated with Fullers Vintage Ale for me. When I helped run the bar in London we usually got a bottle every Christmas from the brewery rep. I have a few stocked up with a bit of age on them, including a 1997. Looking forward to cracking one of them open sometime around the festive day.
Martin
As Tandleman has said, "Wot - no Moonraker?" Seriously, a range that I would more than happy to see in my beer cupboard! Good to see you writing in WB.
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