What have you been drinking lately?

[Stranger]

May I report that the Little Ox Seasonable Doubt is a very nice drink...... think nearer a "proper" bitter than any IPA. Lovely flavour and a nice dark, malty edge. Its a 10 from Len!

Just purchased half a dozen of them and can concur.

Also bought six cans of Hufflepuff, which I haven't tried yet but which will undoubtedly be fkin amazing. Vegan beers

 

[Maurice Earp]

First beer for tonight and it's an acceptable pilsner Choose Renton sourced direct from the Five Kingdoms Brewery in Scotland

 

[Maurice Earp]

Second beer of the evening and it's a tasty porter from Gan Yam Brew Co. : Tar, and sourced from Beer Ambleside, Cumbria.

 

[Maurice Earp]

Third and final beer of the evening and it's the 2024 vintage of J. W. Lees Brewery's Harvest Ale Barleywine.

 

[Maurice Earp]

Just the one beer this evening and it's Brewdolph, a nice Winter Warmer from the Windermere Brewing Company, Ings, Cumbria.

 

[Sarge]

with the result (and performance- lack of) in Wales yesterday, the inevitable 2nd ashes defeat, so far the highlight of my weekend has been the Little Ox Brewery xmas party on Friday night, where I got to have several of their new NEIPA Lumen (5%) on tap - it was a bit good. so much so I treated myself to a 12-pack to take home



Heres hoping Lando Norris gets a podium finish in todays F1 clincher & becomes world champion

 

[Essexyellows]

with the result (and performance- lack of) in Wales yesterday, the inevitable 2nd ashes defeat, so far the highlight of my weekend has been the Little Ox Brewery xmas party on Friday night, where I got to have several of their new NEIPA Lumen (5%) on tap - it was a bit good. so much so I treated myself to a 12-pack to take home

View attachment 32252

Heres hoping Lando Norris gets a podium finish in todays F1 clincher & becomes world champion

2 wins out of 4.......... nice drink that.

 

[Beech Road Bokelberg]

with the result (and performance- lack of) in Wales yesterday, the inevitable 2nd ashes defeat, so far the highlight of my weekend has been the Little Ox Brewery xmas party on Friday night, where I got to have several of their new NEIPA Lumen (5%) on tap - it was a bit good. so much so I treated myself to a 12-pack to take home

View attachment 32252

Heres hoping Lando Norris gets a podium finish in todays F1 clincher & becomes world champion

I bought a can of the Ox Blood Red IPA from Budgens today after reading the hype on here - I wasn't disappointed Top work.

Gunna be on my Xmas bulk buy list!

 

[werthersoriginal]

The real ale wonks will sneer, but a shout out to Hobgoblin Session IPA. It’s tasty, cheap, and really weak ( but doesn’t taste like it is), so you can have more! And you can get it in the Coop.

 

[Basham Wonderland]

Lovely drop of imported Franziskaner this weekend, took a few from the supermarket yesterday and they've gone down very nicely. Nothing special, but they go down the hatch very well.

 

[Bitter]

The real ale wonks will sneer, but a shout out to Hobgoblin Session IPA. It’s tasty, cheap, and really weak ( but doesn’t taste like it is), so you can have more! And you can get it in the Coop.

Why would real ale drinkers sneer? It’s all about the taste. It’s lager drinkers who would sneer.

 

[holdsteady]

Why would real ale drinkers sneer? It’s all about the taste. It’s lager drinkers who would sneer.

As a lager drinker I don’t give a f**k what you lot drink, just want you to stop moaning about what every one else drinks.

 

[MarkG]

The real ale wonks will sneer, but a shout out to Hobgoblin Session IPA. It’s tasty, cheap, and really weak ( but doesn’t taste like it is), so you can have more! And you can get it in the Coop.

i had a hobgoblin gold at the Griffin in Swansea yesterday. £9.25 for a carling, thatchers haze and the hobgoblin. Wasn’t bad but the only cask ale on.

Though their pouring wasn’t the best. (Someone else on guiness).

 

[holdsteady]

i had a hobgoblin gold at the Griffin in Swansea yesterday. £9.25 for a carling, thatchers haze and the hobgoblin. Wasn’t bad but the only cask ale on.

Though their pouring wasn’t the best. (Someone else on guiness).

£9.25 for 3 pints, Charlton away that will be one pint.

 

[Maurice Earp]

From last night A lager sourced direct from Five Kingdoms in Scotland.

 

[Maurice Earp]

Second beer and it's a nice, low abv porter sourced by a friend. I forgot to take a picture until can had been crushed and beer nearly finished.

 

[Maurice Earp]

Third beer and it's a nice Belgian Blond sourced from Booths, Windermere, Cumbria.

 

[Maurice Earp]

Fourth beer from last night and last beer of the evening. It's a nice Barleywine "Breakfast with Maris, sourced from Left Field Beer.

 

[Lost Marbles]

I know it's a fair bit in the future but it would be good at the new stadium if the bars stocked local smaller breweries beers instead of the National type selection where theyre all brewed within a few 100 yards of each other.

You can usually get bottles of Shotover Prospect in the East Stand.

 

[Maurice Earp]

Just the one beer tonight and it's a rather uninspiring 2025 vintage of Sainsburys Winter Porter.

 

[stokeu]

Not enough…..

 

[Maurice Earp]

Not enough…..

I ruined my taste buds for tonight on this one beer.

 

[Lost Marbles]

On the way back from Wales, we popped into Sainsbury's and I spotted Aspall Premier Cru on a 3 for £7 deal. Then when I did the online Asda shop last night, I saw they were 4 for £7!

Aspall's is everywhere now and I reckon the quality has gone downhill or at the very least they've changed the recipe, but the Premier Cru is still decent.


EDIT: I was right! So annoying when the big brewers do this, the draught not only used to get you hammered but was also more dry. They don't even mention the weaker, sweeter rip-off exists on the Aspalls website.

Aspall has not fundamentally changed the core recipe of its original Aspall Suffolk Draught Cyder (5.5% ABV), which remains a crisp, medium-dry cider made with fresh-pressed apples.
However, the brand (owned by Molson Coors since 2018) has introduced an additional, separate product: a newer mid-strength 4.5% ABV Aspall Cyder that is slightly sweeter and targeted specifically at the on-trade (pub) market.

 

[Morris Oxford]

Drove through Shipton on Stour earlier in the week so thought I’d take a small diversion to the North Cotswold Brewery. Grabbed myself a mixed crate of 12 bottles for Xmas, including some from their sister company - Shakespeare Brewery

Good traditional ales, happy to recommend.

North Cotswold Brewery

A small but perfectly formed family run brewery crafting fine ales from the Fosse. Situated in the beautiful North Cotswolds countryside, just outside Moreton in Marsh and Shipston on Stour.

www.northcotswoldbrewery.co.uk

Ales

Craft Ales 'As You Like It'. Our passion is brewing quality ales, the traditional way, using only the finest natural ingredients.

www.shakespearebrewingco.com

 

[SteMerritt]

Yesterday I tried a "San Miguel". Poured from a chilled bottle into a nonic pint glass, San Miguel presents itself with a golden clarity that would make a summer’s day blush. A modest, snow-white head forms with the grace of a well-pulled cask ale, lingering just long enough to tip its hat before retreating politely. The nose is a surprise delight — not the expected industrial fizz, but a gentle bouquet of sun-dried straw, lemon zest, and a whisper of honeyed biscuit. There’s a faint saline breeze in there too, like a coastal walk past a bakery.

First sip: crisp, clean, and unapologetically refreshing. But lean in, and there’s more. A soft malt backbone carries notes of crushed crackers and a touch of almond, while the hops — subtle but present — offer a grassy bitterness that lingers like a fond memory. It’s not a hop bomb, nor does it try to be. This is balance, not bravado. Carbonation is sprightly but not aggressive, dancing across the tongue like a Morris dancer who’s had just the right amount of cider. The finish is dry, with a faint mineral snap that invites another sip — and another.

Verdict: While purists may scoff at its macro-lager badge, San Miguel earns its place at the table with poise and panache — sessionable, sunlit, and surprisingly nuanced. Pair it with skin-on chunky chips, a bowl of salted peanuts, or just a good story in the beer garden.

 

[holdsteady]

Yesterday I tried a "San Miguel". Poured from a chilled bottle into a nonic pint glass, San Miguel presents itself with a golden clarity that would make a summer’s day blush. A modest, snow-white head forms with the grace of a well-pulled cask ale, lingering just long enough to tip its hat before retreating politely. The nose is a surprise delight — not the expected industrial fizz, but a gentle bouquet of sun-dried straw, lemon zest, and a whisper of honeyed biscuit. There’s a faint saline breeze in there too, like a coastal walk past a bakery.

First sip: crisp, clean, and unapologetically refreshing. But lean in, and there’s more. A soft malt backbone carries notes of crushed crackers and a touch of almond, while the hops — subtle but present — offer a grassy bitterness that lingers like a fond memory. It’s not a hop bomb, nor does it try to be. This is balance, not bravado. Carbonation is sprightly but not aggressive, dancing across the tongue like a Morris dancer who’s had just the right amount of cider. The finish is dry, with a faint mineral snap that invites another sip — and another.

Verdict: While purists may scoff at its macro-lager badge, San Miguel earns its place at the table with poise and panache — sessionable, sunlit, and surprisingly nuanced. Pair it with skin-on chunky chips, a bowl of salted peanuts, or just a good story in the beer garden.

Can’t say I have ever heard of it, was it hard to source?

 

[SteMerritt]

Can’t say I have ever heard of it, was it hard to source?

I found it hidden away in one of the small independent shops in Bicester, "Tesco" or something I think it's called. I believe they have a couple more outlets around the county.

 

[holdsteady]

I found it hidden away in one of the small independent shops in Bicester, "Tesco" or something I think it's called. I believe they have a couple more outlets around the county.

Never heard of it, one of those boutique stores that sells niche products by the sound of it.

 

[Mad Dog]

Deya, lots and lots of Deya.

That is all.

 

[Swinny]

Got my annual box of Siren CCC Stouts ready to enjoy over the holiday.