Now that's a decent pint

[exiledscouser]

On other threads we sometimes get derailed swapping tales of the perfect pint and perhaps rightly derided for going o/t.

It crossed my mind today whilst enjoying a fabulous pint of Kirkstall Pale, a golden, hoppy glass of pure pleasure bursting with flavour.

I would like to record somewhere my appreciation for the brewer's art and perhaps get a handle on what floats other's boats.

So, as Al Murray would say, all hale to the ale, cheers - for the beers! - @ a glass of white wine: for the ladies!

[Burnaby49]

Blackburn Best Bitter at Callister Brewing.

http://www.callisterbrewing.com/

[Number Six]

I like all the IPAs and most of the unsugary beers.

But have been taking a friend to AA for a while, it takes the appetite for alcohol away; and frankly the fellowship that many of the AA members have is considerable.

[wserra]

Ommegang Abbey Ale.

Burnaby had it during the Illuminati East meeting.

[NYGman]

Ommegang Abbey Ale.

Burnaby had it during the Illuminati East meeting.

Looks very similar to a Belgian Doubble Bock, guessing that is the Abby reference. A nice, full, smooth brew, high on the alcohol content but usually delicious.

[Gregg]

Years ago I took a tour of the brewery in London where Guinness is brewed (yes, in London, I was shocked as well that they made it anywhere but Ireland) and learned how to pour "The Perfect Pint" which was at the time their advertising tag line, at least in the UK. A very interesting place, although I really don't drink so I think some of the effect may have been wasted on me.

I also highly recommend the tour at Anheuser-Busch Budweiser in St Louis (I can feel the virtual rotten fruit being tossed at me just now). Same thing, not much for the end product, but the industrial process geek inside me just loves that stuff.

[Judge Roy Bean]

The only problem with beer today is there are too many to choose from.

[Burnaby49]

The only problem with beer today is there are too many to choose from.

Up until the 1970's we didn't have that problem in Vancouver. The liquor laws allowed the pubs (really just huge beer swilling venues called beer parlours) to serve only one beer. That had to be on draft and pubs couldn't sell bottled beer or any other alcoholic beverage. The beer was invariably Latbatts' Blue or Molsons Canadian. On top of that even the glasses and tables were regulated. Only one glass size (and design) was allowed, a tiny eight ounces and you could legally have only one beer per patron on the table. This was done to limit consumption because you it forced you to order a new round every few minutes and wait for service. Not that you could fit much more on the tables either since they were, by law, tiny. Circular and just big enough to fit three drinkers. By law you could not combine tables. That was to discourage groups from enjoying themselves. Additionally no chairs. The law only allowed backless stools. Can't let patrons be comfortable.

It's all written up here.

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/ ... Q37687.pdf

The number of these dumps was strictly limited by law so they essentially had monopolies and treated patrons like crap. The glasses had the eight ounces measured by a plimsol line on the glass and, at least in theory, they were required to serve you at least that measure. They just ignored it. One time when I complained because I was seriously under served I was told if I didn't like it I could fuck off and go somewhere else. As you can tell they didn't generate much client goodwill and when the laws were changed to allow competition they were gone almost overnight.

[eric]

Up until the 1970's we didn't have that problem in Vancouver. The liquor laws allowed the pubs (really just huge beer swilling venues called beer parlours) to serve only one beer. That had to be on draft and pubs couldn't sell bottled beer or any other alcoholic beverage. The beer was invariably Latbatts' Blue or Molsons Canadian. On top of that even the glasses and tables were regulated. Only one glass size (and design) was allowed, a tiny eight ounces and you could legally have only one beer per patron on the table. This was done to limit consumption because you it forced you to order a new round every few minutes and wait for service. Not that you could fit much more on the tables either since they were, by law, tiny. Circular and just big enough to fit three drinkers. By law you could not combine tables. That was to discourage groups from enjoying themselves. Additionally no chairs. The law only allowed backless stools. Can't let patrons be comfortable.
It's all written up here.
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/ ... Q37687.pdf

Great stuff! - brings back memories... I actually met my wife of almost 30 years now in one of those sort of establishments - the rules for Ladies and Escorts entrances had changed by then. Actually some of these rules were very practical - the standard glass was too flimsy to be used as a weapon and those tiny circular tables, in Ontario at least, weighed close to 250 pounds with all the weight at the bottom so they were difficult to throw.

However, these establishments had one very good point - drinking beer was a working class pursuit. In 1974, a keg of beer, including all taxes, cost the proprietor of an establishment in Ontario exactly 2.4 cents per served glass. Factoring in all his costs such as overhead and paying his waiters (no waitresses in these places), it meant they could make a healthy profit serving beer for less than 10 cents per glass, or roughly 40 cents in today's dollars.
.... Memories of buying "21 Ups" at the Prospect Hotel in Sudbury in 1978 for 5 bucks - exactly 21 glasses of Doran's Dishwater would fit on the government regulated tray and still leave a healthy tip for the waiter.

[Burnaby49]

Great stuff! - brings back memories... I actually met my wife of almost 30 years now in one of those sort of establishments - the rules for Ladies and Escorts entrances had changed by then. Actually some of these rules were very practical - the standard glass was too flimsy to be used as a weapon and those tiny circular tables, in Ontario at least, weighed close to 250 pounds with all the weight at the bottom so they were difficult to throw.

I have no nostalgia for those dumps although my long-time drinking friend (as in almost a half-century) had the same experience as you. He met his wife in the Astoria pub in Vancouver.

I met my wife in an entirely fitting manner for an income tax auditor. We sat side by side in a Revenue Canada classroom learning how to oppress Canadian taxpayers.

[The Observer]

I met my wife in an entirely fitting manner for an income tax auditor. We sat side by side in a Revenue Canada classroom learning how to oppress Canadian taxpayers.

I have noticed that government tax agencies seem to be incestuous organizations.

[Burnaby49]

I met my wife in an entirely fitting manner for an income tax auditor. We sat side by side in a Revenue Canada classroom learning how to oppress Canadian taxpayers.

I have noticed that government tax agencies seem to be incestuous organizations.

Who else would marry an income tax auditor but another income tax auditor?

[Number Six]

This is a pretty good chart of who marries who for whatever reason: http://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2016- ... ries-whom/