When I first moved to London, circa 1973, Ram and Special was the drink of choice if you were in a Youngs pub. Used to go out to Richmond and have a pint at the Three Pigeons which was right on the riverbank near the old Star and Garter home.
I used to drink Youngs Special and also their Winter Warmer. Stopped drinking them not long after Youngs was taken over. Taste changed following the take over. A bit like Doombar. Used to like that but another beer which changed after a take over. Beer started to be brewed at another location. Shows the difference the water makes.
Indeed. Back then, Youngs was brewed in Wandsworth and it was a really nice drop. Fullers ESB was tasty but the hangover was bloody awful so I stuck to Pride. The SU bar in those days served the usual keg stuff which, though it was cheap, wasn't. shall we say, the absolute apex. In Manchester, we had Boddingtons which was terrific and cheap when it was exclusively local and brewed right down the street from Strangeways prison. Robinsons from Stockport was equally as good but these days, it's all mass-marketed stuff.
I used to drink ESB a lot in my younger days and agree that it was tasty and that it caused a terrible hangover. Only 5.5% in strength so not particularly strong. The other beer which used to give me terrible hangovers was Courage Directors. Again, not a particularly strong beer. I drink London Pride occasionally. Given a choice between that and Doombar Pride wins all the time.
Westerham make some fine beers. My local micro pub often has Westerham beers on tap. The brewery is about 15 miles from where I live. Last year a crowd of us from my local micro pub went to the brewery for a tour and tasting session.
Takes me back to parties that my parents held back in the sixties and seventies. Loads of cans of Party Seven, bottles of Babycham and smoke filled rooms. Then me and my friends having parties. Still cans of Party Seven but also bottles of beer and Cinzano Bianco. Someone would bring a bottle of Cinzano to the party but it was never opened. I'm convinced that the bottle was passed from party to party.
You're welcome. I love trying beers from the smaller breweries. For me those in the small breweries put in more time and care than those in the big breweries. The beers from some of the big brewers often taste bland. There are a couple of small breweries near where I live and they make wonderful beers. One of them makes a beer which can only be found in my local micro pub.
Theres another brewery up here that makes really good Ales, https://www.ennerdalebrewery.co.uk/
