That's funny, and a reminder of how important a clear pint is (was?) in the culture of English real ale.
One of the things that has struck me in beer history perambulations is the invariable insistence - from drinkers, from brewers - on a clear pint. The case has been argued both on aesthetic and palate grounds - and right so IMO.
Yet in North America, and in England too based on only a few beers consumed there recently, a cloudy pint is taken as an authentic one. In part this results I believe from a misunderstanding of the word unfiltered, and the other part is the influence of intentionally cloudy beers such as various weisse and weizen styles.
A light veil won't hurt and probably is traditional in real ale too but again recently in London I was shocked to see frankly cloudy pints served, some were well-known regional names, without any comment (that I could see) from the drinkers.
This goes against centuries of wisdom and learning but I know many real ale fans enjoy a turbid brew. I defer as always to their taste, because taste is personal. But I can't see the logic of it in any way.
Ron, I agree, but I was surprised to see, in the course of three days and only a few beers consumed, cloudy real ales served to me. One was a Young's Bitter, one was from a craft brewer in the southwest, and I can't remember the third one.
I think things are changing, in other words, or perhaps this was just an unlucky run.
Quite a few microbreweries are now producing beer which I wouldn't call cloudy, but certainly isn't as brilliantly clear as you get from Greene King et al. Cloudy is still pretty much beyond the pale for most breweries though, it sounds very much like Gary got badly kept beer.
That's funny, and a reminder of how important a clear pint is (was?) in the culture of English real ale.
ReplyDeleteOne of the things that has struck me in beer history perambulations is the invariable insistence - from drinkers, from brewers - on a clear pint. The case has been argued both on aesthetic and palate grounds - and right so IMO.
Yet in North America, and in England too based on only a few beers consumed there recently, a cloudy pint is taken as an authentic one. In part this results I believe from a misunderstanding of the word unfiltered, and the other part is the influence of intentionally cloudy beers such as various weisse and weizen styles.
A light veil won't hurt and probably is traditional in real ale too but again recently in London I was shocked to see frankly cloudy pints served, some were well-known regional names, without any comment (that I could see) from the drinkers.
This goes against centuries of wisdom and learning but I know many real ale fans enjoy a turbid brew. I defer as always to their taste, because taste is personal. But I can't see the logic of it in any way.
Gary
Gary, cask beer should be clear, if it's handled properly.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't usually accept a cloudy pint of cask in Britain.
Ron, I agree, but I was surprised to see, in the course of three days and only a few beers consumed, cloudy real ales served to me. One was a Young's Bitter, one was from a craft brewer in the southwest, and I can't remember the third one.
ReplyDeleteI think things are changing, in other words, or perhaps this was just an unlucky run.
Gary
Quite a few microbreweries are now producing beer which I wouldn't call cloudy, but certainly isn't as brilliantly clear as you get from Greene King et al. Cloudy is still pretty much beyond the pale for most breweries though, it sounds very much like Gary got badly kept beer.
ReplyDeleteIf they were badly kept, so were 90% of the real ales I've had in North America.
ReplyDeleteGary