Real Ale, Not Actually Real!! In Gibraltor

[piggynose]

just had a pint of speckled hen today in the lord nelson, and i'm sure it wasn't the real thing, it was possibly john smiths!!!

[anneasquith]

I bet john smith wasn't happy you had his pint !!!!!!

[tonyav]

Could be a different recipe for abroad, piggynose.

[piggynose]

if you'd tasted it you'd know that john smith would've touched it, joking apart, speckled hen is supposed to be a potent beer, this wasn't!! they the pub that is took ***

[EDDIE51]

There is NO comparison between Old Specked Hen and John Smiths. The only similarity is that they are both a similar color! To call John Smiths 'Ale' is an insult to taste and decency! It is a cold brown mass produced fizzy liquid with no taste.

[Captain2]

Some beers just don't travel well or are brewed under licence in foreign climes (eg Guinness) and don't bear any resemblance to the 'original'

[piggynose]

is gibraltor abroad tonyav? by the way did you know they drive on the right hand side of the road in gibraltor??

[Gromit]

Proper Speckled Hen is a genuine Cask Ale, though they do make a Keg version (which is not Real Ale). That is mass produced and sold further afield.

So, in all probability, it was not Speckled Hen as you know it, but Keg Speckled Hen. However, a similar fate hapoens to John Smiths. The local Cask version in Yorkshire is a fine drink, but the keg version is Listerine.

[piggynose]

captain2, thats right usually, but i had a nice pint of guinness today in la linea for 4 euros(about 3 quid) la linea is gibraltors poor spanish neighbour.

[EDDIE51]

I'd give up drinking altogether rather than drink 'John Smiths'
The tragedy is that at one time 'John Smiths Brewery' really did produce some great real ale. How they have gone downhill !!!!

[tonyav]

is gibraltor abroad tonyav?


Well it ain't a suburb of Brum is it, Piggynose ;-)

[piggynose]

your poss right grommit. but coincidentally the j.smith tap was next to the s.hen tap, maybe in this pub they think tourists dont know the difference

[Captain2]

With you there EDDIE - just go across the road and have SAM Smiths' pint - chalk and cheese!

[Gromit]

* Cask beers are still 'live' and still brewing in the barrel until the minute you drink it.

** Keg beers are flat and not 'live' and are pressurised and pumped full of preservatives ( for a longer life). Nitrogen gas is added at the point of delivery to fake bubbles and produce a fake head.

[piggynose]

are you sure, cuz i know theres a hollywood+ a california in brum

[piggynose]

thats my point/pint gromit, my pint of s.hen had a big head, not normal for that type of beer, isn't sad theres keg version of this beer!! : (

[tonyav]

Mmmmm, yeah your right, piggynose. Damned yanks pinching Brummy suburb names.

[Gromit]

We have proper John Smiths Cask Ale near where I live and it is very acceptable. We also have the John Smith Keg which is rather disgusting.

[EDDIE51]

You can get very many proper Real Ales in the bottle now, bottled real ale is a decent substitute for the 'real thing', it is totally different from canned beer.
My local Morrison's has canned Old Speckled Hen and the bottled version, but the two are world's apart ! The canned stuff is fizzy rubbish while the bottled is a decent drink!

[Gromit]

piggynose

Yep, I agree. They are selling the brand/ reputation of Pedigree/Speckled Hen/Boddingtons etc to gullible foreigners and ignorant Brits. Proper Cask British Ales do not travel and if yoy see them abroad, they will always be horrible, inferior keg versions.

[piggynose]

luckily theres plan b, i'm off to brum in june, so will be spoilt for choice when it comes to real ale. i'm probably stepping into gibraltor today for an all day breakkie, if i do decide to have a drink it will be from a bottle.