wasnt short before a had a sip on the way from the bar
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wasnt short before a had a sip on the way from the bar
I'm back out on the piss this afternoon, i spotted some Millstone 'Honey Porter' beer on my way oot last night, which is a dark beer 4.9% :eyebrows:
Fantastic value Viognier / Chardonnay blend from Waitrose at £5.59 ...
I will definitely be buying this again.
http://www.waitrosedirect.com/wcssto...317_BP_a_4.jpg
That looks like good value. Unfortunately we don't have a Waitrose here; we used to have one many years ago, and one will be coming in 2015, but not now. :(Quote:
Originally Posted by julesd68
Try Sainsburys, the Cote du Rhone is excellent too.
Something to think about, or "drink for thought":
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21929287
and
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22909428, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-24108094
Interesting links, Barry, so thanks for sharing :)
Well, this 48 year-old Italian has been drinking wine at the table since he was 5! :exactly:Quote:
"People in their 60s and 70s grew up with wine on the table at every meal. For them, wine remains an essential part of their patrimoine, or cultural heritage."
So what does that say?
There is some truth in that, I think.Quote:
"The middle generation - now in their 40s and 50s - sees wine as a more occasional indulgence. They compensate for declining consumption by spending more money. They like to think they drink less but better."
For starters, I would always, as a matter of course, "drink less but better", as quality is rather more important to me than quantity - and always will be. It's got bugger all to do with 'snobbery', but rather simply the fact that I genuinely enjoy drinking fine wines and can appreciate how different they are from the standard £5-8 'gluggers', especially when consumed in conjunction with the right type of food.
These days, I'm simply not interested in getting drunk. Drinking wine, for me, is all about savouring something rather special with some quality home-cooked food. In that respect, it's not uncommon for us to spend £15 on a nice bottle of red, so we can often spend £30 or so on the two bottles of wine we usually consume at the weekend, although that's only when we've finished drinking all the pesudo-'£20-30' bottles of wine (in terms of comparable quality here) we've brought back from France, but which actually only cost us around 8 or 10 Euros...;)
However, we're not out at the pub getting pished every other night, so we probably spend rather less overall every week on wine than those do who enjoy 'pubbing it' regularly, and employ the 'get as much down yer neck, as cheaply as possible' approach to boozing! :eyebrows:
My alcohol intake for the week is generally sharing a bottle of wine with Del, with our meal on a Saturday evening, and with lunch on Sunday. For the rest of the week, I frequently go without drinking any further alcohol, or perhaps just having the odd bottle of continental lager (no more than three in total, however, from Monday to Friday). The remainder of the time I drink mostly sparkling mineral water, orange juice, and the occasional cup of tea. However, I have a large mug of frothy cappuccino every morning with breakfast.
As far as the French go, in terms of the article, and as a regular traveller to France, since the 70s, where we go (rural France, through fairly remote villages), I've witnessed no downturn in the amount of wine that French people drink. There are always bottles of wine (and water) at every table. However, one has to bear in mind that most of our eating and drinking there is spent in lorry drivers cafes (unquestionably the best places to eat 'proper food' in France), or in small family-run restaurants, where the clientele are rarely under the age of 30.
The scene may well be very different amongst younger people in 'trendy' bars in large towns and cities, or with French people at home, as indeed it is in Italy, amongst younger people, where wine (or beer) drinking is considered distinctly 'uncool', simply because it's what their parents and/or grandparents have always done, and they want to be different. They would rather drink some Coke, Fanta or mineral water, or sip an espresso.
If only the youngsters in this country were like that!! :rolleyes:
Marco.
Interesting differences in attitude to wine with meals. We have a glass with every main meal of the day. Good or even reasonable wine improves and compliments the flavours of the food. Too much and you can't taste the food at all.
We had a guest over from the UK last week. As we had our sips, he downed his by the glass and went for another and another............it took him three days to notice that we weren't joining him and he did cut back a bit. We bought him a box in the end. Loads of Brits out here just pour it down and have the bellies to prove it. Sitting in front of the Sky box helps that too.
I suppose its a culture thing. The French and Italians have wine as an intrinsic part of everyday culture whereas in the UK, its still a fairly recent thing and our genes are used to pints!!
Hi Gordon,
Absolutely, on all counts! When we're off work together, especially during the warm weather, Del and I (often also in the company of friends), always enjoy sharing a bottle of wine (or two), or some Normandy cider (or such like), with lunch. There's simply nothing nicer than whiling away a lazy afternoon, sitting and chatting with others who are like-minded, whilst consuming nice food and wine and listening to some good music in the background.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gordon Steadman
Unfortunately, however, the situation changes when Del goes back to work and it's more difficult for us to share a proper meal together, particularly as I prefer to eat my main meal during the day, and just have a light snack at night. Therefore, although I'm sometimes tempted to open a bottle of wine, and drink a glass or two out of it at lunchtime, sharing the rest with Del when she returns from work in the evening, it rarely happens, as it's just not the same.
Indeed. A 'beer gut' is not something I ever want. I can't see it happening either, as I simply don't drink enough beer, or indeed alcohol, to develop one! However, I know exactly what you mean, and no offence to your guest, but I'm always rather put off by that rather vulgar 'abuse' of wine, and I simply wouldn't waste any of my good stuff on those who wouldn't appreciate it.Quote:
"We had a guest over from the UK last week. As we had our sips, he downed his by the glass and went for another and another............it took him three days to notice that we weren't joining him and he did cut back a bit. We bought him a box in the end. Loads of Brits out here just pour it down and have the bellies to prove it. Sitting in front of the Sky box helps that too."
For those who do appreciate nice wine, and Barry will I'm sure attest to this, I'll serve some of the best stuff I have, and do it properly, by decanting it and serving it at the correct temperature in appropriate wine glasses.
The other thing that annoys me immensely are people who fill their wine glasses almost up to the rim, as if they were drinking a glass of pop!! :rolleyes: There's simply no way then that you can inhale the bouquet or 'nose', by rolling the wine around inside the glass, or savour the wine and appreciate it properly, when it's treated with such a complete lack of finesse.... :nono:
I always serve good wines in large goblets (the style of which depends on whether the wine is a claret or burgundy type), and simply fill them around quarter full, and then fill it up to the same point again when the glass needs replenishing. Anything else, for me, during a proper lunch or dinner party, would be an anathema! If we're just enjoying a casual 'slurp', though, we'll simply put it inside normal 'flute-type' glasses, but similarly, always only quarter full at any one time.
However, each to his or her own. If you're drinking wine, simply to get pissed, then I guess it doesn't matter how it goes down! I also hope that your rather greedy guests are similarly as generous with their wine when it's your turn to visit them!! ;)
Yup, that's true. It's getting a bit better here now in the UK, amongst the over 30s at least anyway. Sadly, though, youngsters here still have a serious tendency to abuse all forms of alcohol, almost as if it acts as some form of 'escape' from their unhappy lives...Quote:
"I suppose its a culture thing. The French and Italians have wine as an intrinsic part of everyday culture whereas in the UK, its still a fairly recent thing and our genes are used to pints!!"
Marco.
I had a private party last night of the Titanic Stout. yum yum
Absolutely text-book Marlborough Pinot Noir from Brancott Estate selling for 25% off at Sainsbury.
It's superb at £10.99 and at £8.24 it is a steal.
http://www.waitrosedirect.com/wcssto...013_BP_a_4.jpg
Nice recco, Jules. I'll defo check that out. I suspect it'll be a powerful bugger, though, and likely around 13.5% alc! :eyebrows:
Marco.
I had couple bottles of South African 'Shiraz' a bit back 14/5% blew mi socks off :eyebrows:
13% Marco, and not overpowering in the least ...Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
Alcohol levels of 14, 15% don't interest me at all and am totally against some of the 'modern' styles of wine-making that substitute complexity and subtlety for stupid levels of alcohol.
I'm in the UK at the moment, and I've got to say one of the things I miss in France is the fabulous selection of real ales.
Since I've been over I've partaken of the following:
Two Hoots - Joseph Holt 4.2% A lovely refreshing ale,
Sneck Lifter - Jennings 5.1% One of my favourites, on the bitter side but great taste,
Ruddles County - Greene King 4.3% Nice ale but not as good as when it was Ruddles brewery at 5%,
Golden Goose - Green King 3.8% A new one to me, good satisfying session ale,
Hobgoblin - Wychwood Brewery 5.2% Another favourite, one of the best,
Spitfire - Shepherd Neame 4.5% Don't mind another one,
Old Speckled Hen - Morland 4.1% A definitive choice for good ale,
Bishops Finger - Shepherd Neame 5.4% At the top of the bitter scale for me but flavoursome,
Bombardier - Wells 4.7% Another nice tasty ale,
Victory Ale - Batemans 6.0% What can I say, flavour through and through, not too many though,
ESB - Fullers 5.9% One of my all time favourites, fabulous flavour,
In the pub today I had:
Special - Holdens 5.0% A good ale with a cheese, black pudding and onion cob, yum,
Summer Lightning - Hopback Brewery 5.1% A forgotten favourite, I could drink this till I fell over,
Needless to say a lie down was in order, but I,ve got to sample some more tonight at a bit of a get together :eyebrows:
It's a hard life,
:cheers: Alan
I got absolutely rat arsed last night on the best Stout i have ever tasted.
Acorn 'Gorlovka' Imperial Stout 6% yum yum yum
Anybody tried Stella Artois Cidre? I have and I think it's great. Don't write it off as low alcohol 'cos it ain't. I don't drink a lot of cider but I really enjoy that one and their pear Cidre aint too bad either. Nice and refreshing for a summer afternoon and evening but perhaps not for cooler times :) .
Dave
Yup, it's nice stuff, Dave. Just a tad sweet for me, though, but certainly very drinkable! Gotta be served ice-cold... :cool:
Marco.
Recently had my jollies over in California and was completely bowled over by the range of beers and ales on sale, lots of choice.
This one was a particular favourite..
http://www.theperfectlyhappyman.com/...astard-ale.jpg
.
:lol:Quote:
Originally Posted by Clothears
Nice colour that. The yanks are really beginning to get into their ale. Apparently micro-breweries are springing up everywhere and they are producing some top notch grog ;)
Wifey and I recently spent four days in Napier with the intention of visiting a few wineries...which we did:D
Stand outs were
Alpha Domus, First Solo Chardonnay 2011.
Seleni, Sauvignon Blanc 2013
Mission Estate, VS Sauvignon Blanc 2012
Crab Farm, Gewurtztraminer 2012
We tried and bought plenty of others however these four whites are gorgeous all in their own way.
The real stunner though was a red...
Brookfields, Back Block Syrah 2013
This is pure velvet, I can only imagine what it will be like with a few years under its belt.
Glad you liked the Red, being a bit of a 'Red Man' myself. Hawkes Bay as an area though does seem to do whites - particularly Sauvignon Blanc - rather well. I don't really know why - guess it is the soil.Quote:
Originally Posted by Anti Meep
Every town seemed to have their own brewery. In Santa Barbara we went into the Santa Barbara Brewing Company bar and you could order a sampler tray to decide which one you liked best..Quote:
Originally Posted by synsei
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...ps52284b61.jpg
and in one San Francisco bar, this was the choice of ales to go at..
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...psd005ea2d.jpg
Made a nice change from shitty old John Smiths
.
Yum yum. i'll take the end one with the big Head :eyebrows:
I did a 7 hour stretch in 'Weatherspoons' {Benjam Hudsons} Sheffield yesterday afternoon supping some nice Stout with oatmeal 4.5% Abv {Forgot what they called it}.. heaven knows how i got home :scratch:
http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/...1968/Stout.jpg
Andre i used to live in a graveyard in Brightside Sheffield ( long story). Glad i never have to visit Meadowhell ever again. I used to drink in a pub opposite the Kashmire ( great cheap indian cafe/restaurant).
You ever done the Beer Train from Manchester over to West Yorkshire or vv, stopping at various points on the way? Me and my mate keep meaning to do it one day when there's no work the following day!
I've been in the pub on Stalybridge station which was great, and the one on Huddersfield station looks the dogs do-da's too. :cool:
.
Hi {Jolly}Dave:Quote:
Originally Posted by jollyfix
There is one called the 'Kashmiri Aroma' at Woodseats, Sheff. The grave yard story looks interesting :D
Hi {Clothy} Dave: :lol:
I have been in the Huddersfield one..
Brilliant idea! The best pubs here, serving a variety of real ales, should adopt the policy immediately!! :clap:Quote:
Originally Posted by Clothears
Marco.
They do Weatherspoons do just that ;)
Lol - not in the ones I've been to, dude. I'll take your word for it, though! :)
Marco.
It's true you can sup a sample of any of the Real ales..
No wasn't in Woodside, this was about 18/19 yrs ago, so may not be there anymore. I think it was on Carlisle st. Rough place as i said more of a cafe in looks. The Graveyard thing, well i was working for a circus in sheffield at the time, they had taken over a church as a circus school. Anneka Rice and her tv show came and done the place up. I stayed in a caravan for a few months there. Now and again i would stay with my mate in Rotherham. We had a few gigs on Devonshire green, and at the launch/opening canal basin.
Hi Dave
Thanks for that, i live in Rotherham :) They still do things on Devonshire Street green. That's were the pubs are i go, the other end of the road by the City hall.. I know Carlisle street, the 'Norfolk arms' pub.. Good bookshop on Devonshire St called 'Rare & Racey' been there since around 1969..
I seem to remember the small pub across the road from the indian place was called 'The East house', we would have a few in there, then take a pint to the indian ( they didn't serve booze), you could keep popping back and forth, as long as you returned your pint glass at the end of the night.
Yep thats the place, nice one Andre.
The biggest choice of beer anywhere I've ever been was in the US - The Beartooth Cafe in Cooke City, Montana. I recommend the Big Sky Moose Drool!
I had two of the best 'ordinary' (ie not pretending to be fine dining) meals I've ever eaten in the States there too.
Here's the beer list:
MONTANA BREWS
BELGRADE
Big Hole Diablo
Big Hole Headstrong
Big Hole Mythical White
Big Hole Wisdom Amber
Salmon Fly Honey Rye
Hopper Pale Ale
Copper John Scottish
Irresistible Amber
Yellow Humpy Heff
MARION
Lang Tri motor Amber
Lang Skydiver Blond
Lang Huckleberry Honey
Lang Mandarin Heff
Lang Cherry Porter
BILLINGS
Black Widow Stout
Grizzly Wulff Wheat
Wild Fly Ale
MISSOULA
Big Sky Moose Drool
Big Sky Scapegoat
Big Sky Honey Wheat
Big Sky IPA
Big Sky Trout Slayer
Bayern Amber
Bayern Pilsner
Bayern Dancing Trout
RED LODGE
Red Lodge Glacier
Red Lodge Wiessen
Beartooth Pale Ale
MICRO BREWS
ALASKA
Alaskan Amber
Alaskan Summer
Alaskan IPA
CALIFORNIA
Anchor Steam
Black Dog Honey Raz
Sierra Nevada Pale
COLORADO
Fat Tire
Skinny Dip
1554
HAWAII
Kona Firerock
Kona Longboard
MASSACHUSETTS
Sam Adams Lager
OREGON
Bridgeport Blue Heron
Pete’s Wicked Ale
Pete’s Strawberry Blond
Full Sail Amber
Deschutes Black Butte
Deschutes Mirror Pond
Deschutes Obsidian
Pyramid Apricot
Rogue Mocha Porter
Rogue Dead Guy
Rogue Shakespeare
Rogue Yellowstone
Rogue Hazelnut Brown
Rogue Chocolate Stout
Widmer Hefeweizen
PENNSYLVANIA
Rolling Rock
WASHINGTON
Pike’s Kilt Lifter
Red Hook ESB
WYOMING
Snake River Pale
Snake River Lager
Snake River Zonker
Snake River OB-1
GTB Sweetgrass IPA
GTB Teton Amber
GTB Old Faithful
GTB Bitch Creek
GTB Au Natural
WISCONSIN
Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy
IMPORTS
AUSTRALIA
Foster Lager (oil can)
BELGIUM
Chimay Grand Reserve
Lindeman’s Peach
Lindeman’s Framboise
CANADA
Moose head
Kokanee
Labatt’s Blue
Molson Golden
Blue Moon Belg. White
CZECH REPUBLIC
Pilsner Urquell
ENGLAND
Sam Smith Imperial St
Sam Smith Oatmeal St
Sam Smith Nut Brown
Sam Smith Taddy Porter
Bass
Newcastle Brown Ale
Boddingtons Pub
FRANCE
Fisher Amber
NEW ZEALAND
Steinlager
JAMAICA
Red Stripe
GERMANY
Beck’s Dark
Beck’s
Franziskaner Dunkle
Franziskaner Hefeweizen
Paulaner Hefeweizen
Spaten Optimator
Spaten Premium
Warsteiner
St. Pauli Girl
HOLLAND
Grolsh Lager
Grolsh Amber
Amstel Light
Heineken
IRELAND
Murphy’s Irish Stout
Guinness Pub Draught
Harp Lager
MEXICO
Sol
Pacifico
Tecate
Corona
Dos Equis Amber
Dos Equis Lager
Negro Modelo
MEGA BREWS
Coors
Coors Light
Killian’s Red
Bud Light
Budweiser
Michelob Ultra Light
Michelob Amber Bock
Miller Highlife
Miller Lite
Miller Genuine Draft
Pabst Blue Ribbon
Rainier
Bacardi Mojito
Hornsby’s Draft Cider
Mike’s Crantini
NON ALCOHOLICS
O’Doul’s
Haake Beck
Clausthaler
Kaliber
Visited a bar on the basement floor of a car park in Memphis, not to far from the tourist hell of Beale st,it had over 120 ales on sale. i still have the list some place.
Been a while since “little ol’ wine drinker me” posted here. Well that’s because I’ve been away to “parts foreign” and had to make do with Chilean wine (this was no ordeal by any means, since as you know, the Chileans do know how to make a mean ‘slurp’).
Now I’m back and have been enjoying a bottle or two of: -
2008 Vieux Château Guibeau, Puisseguin Saint-Émilion
http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/images/...age&colour=Red
Merlot (75%), Cabernet Sauvignon (15%), Cabernet Franc (10%). 13% ABV
“Full of ripe fruit, velvet tannins and spicy oak from a year in cask, this Grand Cru style claret is ideal with beef.”
Laithwaites, £14 a bottle.
Expensive, but a bit of a “stonker”. Best before 2015.
Discovered in my local Co-op: -
2012 Comptesse Saint-Hilare, Montagne Saint-Émilion
(Sorry can’t find an image of the label)
Merlot grape (60%), Cabernet Sauvignon (20%), Cabernet Franc (20%) 13% ABV
“…blackcurrent and blueberry fruit flavours followed by a smooth rich finish.”
“This wine has a beautiful cherry colour with shiny hints. The nose is delicate with red fruit scents and slight liquorices notes. The mouth is unctuous, round with a fruity intensity. Serve with beef and game dishes; this is also an excellent partner to the festive cheeseboard.”
Can be drunk now, but will continue to improve for the next couple of years. Must be served at 18°C.
Enjoyed tonight with steak, mushroom and ale pie, boiled potatoes, carrots, purple sprouting broccoli, asparagus and peas.
On offer at £6.99, normally £11.99, so 1/3 off. A respectable ‘slurp’.
Just opened a bottle of Lidl Cimarosa Chardonnay, really really nice.
A Australian wine with a really creamy/buttery taste, amazing since it was either £3.69 or £3.99, I've never tried Lidl for wine before, I'm going back to stock up tomorrow, they do a red version as well.
http://www.lidl.co.uk/cps/rde/SID-98...Detail&id=5104
http://www.lidl.co.uk/cps/rde/SID-13...Detail&id=5157
Went down the local off-licence tonight to pick up an inexpensive bottle of wine. I've had some very nice modestly priced Pinots from there, so decided to take a chance on a bottle of 'Paparuda' Romanian Pinot Noir for all of £5.99.
The lady there said it was good and I have to agree - it is actually exceptional value. If it was from New Zealand it would be over 10 quid for sure. Not what you would call a complex wine, but immensely satisfying, made in a very modern style and just bursting with wonderfully ripe, smooth cherry flavours.
http://vinspireuk.files.wordpress.co...rom-adnams.jpg
Usual £3.00 Red from Aldi, it dont touch the sides so no idea about taste really :eyebrows:
Great recco, Julian. I've always rated Romania as having the potential for producing some great wines. I'll see if I can purloin some for midweek slurping! :thumbsup:
Marco.
Go for it Marco, you won't be dissapointed. And just in case you were wondering about what a Paparuda is, according to the label -Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
'The Paparuda is an ancient Romanian rain ritual performed either in the Spring or in times of severe drought. Wearing a grass of knitted vines, a dancing girl is accompanied through the village by singing, shouting locals intent on securing fertility for the season ahead ...' :eyebrows:
Sounds worth attending, with a few glasses of this to get you in the mood!
Would you posh Wino's be prepared to drink home made wine?
:sofa:
Some of my best Projectile vomiting has been on DIY Wine loike.
:rfl:
Currently slurping this, and very nice it is too...
http://darrellsteele.files.wordpress...champion22.jpg
It's currently on offer at your local Asda and Tesco stores @ £5.00 for 4 bottles.
oo thats nice & strong..Not that the towd Barbarian needs to be any stronger...Towd Barbarian ploughs fields naked with ox on each shoulder with only a potatoe sack for discression.. :eyebrows:
Ey up that's tramps juice innit?
Tramp's juice?Quote:
Originally Posted by The Barbarian
Probably not - it costs a bit more than cheapo Cider, although £5.00 per 2 litres brings it dangerously close to paraffin territory :eyebrows:
WRT tramps - I were in Rotherham yesterday and didn't look outta place, and that was after finding some lovely filth to roll about in (perks of the job, working on construction sites).
Where abarts in Rotherham {The shite hole} were you? :eyebrows: Thank the lord i live on the outskirts where cows go Mooooooooooooooo