We never get snow in London. Waking up today was like Christmas morning only better. Everyone I’ve spoken to or e-mailed today has been deliriously happy.
So, pop quiz:
What’s the perfect beer for sitting by a roaring log fire with your boots drying and the dog snuffling, and watching through the window as children play in streets deserted of cars and rushing people, building snowmen?
As today is the end of detox and also the day I finally finish the edit of Hops & Glory, I’ll endeavour to try as many of your suggestions s I can a bit later on.
Has to be a Paradox of some description, I reckon. Or a big-ass American Double IPA.
Adnam’s Broadside is a good, if slightly over-obvious, choice. I find it better from the bottle.
The Anchor Brewery seasonal brew this year (end 2008) was quite a delicious beer to drink, slowly, in front of a roaring fire. Like liquid christmas pudding.
Or finally, McEwan’s Champion – a strong, warming beer, from a place where they have snow regularly during winter and don’t pepper the national news media with it, because they’re hard and we’re wimps. 😉
Have to agree with the Beer Nut, a big Imperial Stout should fit the bill. A Durham Brewery Temptation should see you good.
If you are finishing the edit of Hops and Glory then how about a Worthington White Shield? Served at cellar cool it’ll warm you and be terribly satisfying!
Just for the name, it would have to be Herrnbrau Schneewalzer from Ingolstadt.
Or a mulled Liefmann Gluehbier.
I would go for a Paulaner Hefe-Weissbier, big flavours but drinkable enough to have 2 or 3 in a sitting. Just don’t expect to be able to clear the drive afterwards.
Has to be bottle of Acorn Brewery Gorlovka Stout at 6% with a couple of Percy Turner Pork Pies to line the stomach and eaten at the carcass of a Made For Idiots kitchen.
Carefull with the back when you’re shovelling the snow!
I’d second the vote for Anchor OSA, or maybe some Sam Smiths Winter Welcome.
Sid and James have it right. Anchor’s Our Special Ale tastes like someone threw the Christmas tree on the fire. It’s a great beer for that situation.
Brewdog Riptide Stout, or their coffee imperial stout collaboration with Danish company.
Dark and satisfying.
This is a great opportunity to look at the back of the beer storage to look for those forgotten I’ll drink them at a special occassion beers like the Xmas beers you are saving to get that roaring fire, roasted chestnuts feeling or for the lucky ones amongst us a Westvleteren 12.
Pete, we do get snow in Toronto. Quite a bit of it, this year. And it’s been cold, too. Unusually cold. So, in answer to your question…
F**k off!
I think I’d go for Fuller’s London Porter.
Stephen,
You must remember that as far as London is concerned, it’s the centre of the universe. If it doesn’t snow here it doesn’t snow anywhere. We’ll be talking about this for weeks.
And Marc,
you’re just showing off – the penalty for such behaviour is having to share your bottle of Westverlateren 12…
With the deep snow and empty streets evoking images of Dickens novels, how about a beer from the era, Fuller’s 1845.
Schneider Aventinus – it works for me in midwinter.
I would have thought London Pride the ideal ale as a salute to the courage, strength and indefatigability of Londoners during this testing time.
So what did have then?
Can you also give us you beer/food matching advice on the right ale to sip while watching Masterchef?
If I’d had a full selection it would have been a lovely coffee or chocolate porter/stout. But I spent the afternoon watching the snowfall through the windows of the Island Queen in Islington. TT Landlord followed by a Chimay red and then a Chimay Blue, which my three companions – all drinking a very nice Shiraz – wanted to nick from me.
I’ve got a few Paradoxes in the cellar and was going to have one of those to finish off at the end of the day, but wisdom (or rather, squeamishness about getting up fork this morning masquerading as wisdom) prevailed and it’s staying there for next time.
The snow is now melting which means my big beer deliveries form http://www.realale.com and http://www.beersofeurope.co.uk should be coming through today or tomorrow. Spent the weekend going through my out of date stock, drinking the drinkable stuff and putting the non-drinkable stuff in the cooking pile, so it’s party time at our house for the next few months.
A beer to go with Masterchef: it has to be something LOUD and yet predictable, but none the worse for that. Comforting like an old friend but with the occasional hint of spiciness. I’m thinking Young’s Special London Ale or Fuller’s ESB.
If I may make a suggestion a glass of Telenn Du (Black Harp) produced by a Brittany Brewer(Brasserie Lancelot http://www.brasserie-lancelot.com). Its a dark brown 4.5% beer brewed from buckwheat. Roast flavours such as liquorice dark chocolate are what you get at first then its a dry malty finish. Its not quite a stout or a porter but has a creamy head. I now wish I bought loads more. I drank it alot on holiday but its kept really well. I brought it back from France two summers ago and it was one of those where we both had a taste and did a double take…cos it was so good. Now I’ve got to find somewhere in the UK that sells it as it was my last bottle.
Got to be Crown Brewery Ring of Fire 10.3% chili beer
Sounds like it is a good job I missed this program
It has to be Badger’s Blandford Fly – the beer will warm you as well