h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Evenin' all

Absolutely. I'd almost stand in the supermarket and slip it into people's trolleys.

Evenin' Gosho. We'll send you some Poachers Choice at some point, promise.

B

Evenin', Mr Gosho, Sir!

My word, this beer is good. Couldn't we just order a crate of this each and spend the rest of the evening talking about it?

B

I'm already at the the thought

I believe I can join you in the final beer

You have the Guinness?

Marvellous. I shall be ready shortly.

B

Give me five, and I'll be with you for the Guinness Export

Guinness Extra Stout (if it's the same as you have there) is one of two or three beers that's always in my fridge. Everything else is there on a whim or a desire to try a new gargle.

Guinness Foreign Extra

I'm biased, because they brew a version of this in The Gambia at about the same percentage and I greet it with the same homely happiness as I do a cricket bat.

But this is what a good, solid stout should taste like; burnt without filling your mouth with carbon; full on the nose and palate without overbearing either; heavy and damn strong. The best in its class, by a chalk

don't think I've ever seen that* type of guinness on sale round these ere parts its the way way stronger one innit?

Guinness Foreign Extra

Big, thick, sticky. Sits on the tongue with the sophisticated touch of a fillet steak and sits on the stomach with the sophisticated touch of a small slag heap. Classy as a one-off. Lord knows why anyone would wish to drink it as a habit, though.

B

Ah, unfortunately I don't have the Foreign Extra Stout, just the original... which is still well worth having I might add.

Slightly sweet in the nose, considering that it's an Irish Dry Stout, with all the associated coffee/chocolate/roasted malt aromas, and a hint of dried fruit. No malty sweetness on the tongue, just bitterness from front to back and a nice dry finish. I don't care what the nanny brigade might stop advertisers from saying - Guinness *is* good for you

This Guinness shows up the stuff that comes out of a nitrous tap for the rubbish it really is.

Good Evening! Or perhaps, Good Morning.

As previously discussed, we made some substitutions. For a little after-lunch we subbed Bison's Gingerbread Ale for Crabbie's Alcoholic Ginger Beer, 10 hours and 60 posts ago. The rest of the substitutions are:

* Brains SA Gold - Mad River Brewing Company's Steelhead Extra Pale Ale

* Adnams East Green Carbon Neutral - Anderson Valley Brewing Company's Poleeko Gold Pale Ale. The brewery is solar-powered. The copy on the bottle is written in the local dialect, Boontling, "Rudy nebs, heelch hops, and malted barley make Poleeko Gold plenty bahl with any gorms." That sums it for me.

* Badger Poacher's Choice - We don't have anything like this, so we substituted Lagunita's Brown Shugga' Ale. Tagline: Life is Uncertain, Don't Sip.

* Guinness Foreign Extra - Guinness Extra Stout. Our one lucky match!

* Sierra Nevada 2008 Anniversary Ale - We could find last year's, but we've substituted nice, fresh Sierra Nevada 2009 Anniversary Ale.

* Brakspear's Bitter - Sierra Nevada's Southern Hemisphere Harvest Fresh Hop Ale ought to be bitter enough.

* Brakspear's EPA - Anderson Valley Brewing Company's Boont ESB. More harpin' boont, more bahl hornin'.

* Brakspear's Oxford Gold - Eel River Brewing Company's Amber Ale, certified organic.

* Brakspear's Triple - Eel River Brewing Company's Triple Exultation, also organic.

Since it's nearly midnight here, we'll have a couple and see you all in the morning for some more beer.

First tonight, the Sierra Nevada 2009 Anniversary Ale. Slightly hazy color, big, bold, beautiful floral nose. Wonderfully refreshing cascade hops with all the expected citrus flavors. You're going to love this one when you get it.

/5

We're jumping straight to the Guinness Extra Stout, then off to bed. Tomorrow we'll taste the rest of the beers.

Guinness has a slightly burnt and coffee smell and robust taste. It traveled fairly well, this bottle claims to be Canadian. Mr. Nerd says it's more bitter than he remembers. It's an enjoyable stout.

/5

Strangely now its morning here I'm quite tempted to join in an open a can of that London pride or the Adnams well it is* breckfast time for me

Good morning!

It's probably almost supper time where you are by now, 2legs, so drink up.

We just opened the Mad River Brewing Company's Steelhead Extra Pale Ale http://www.madriverbrewing.com (the Brains SA Gold substitute).

Lovely golden color, crisp, mild bitterness, well-balanced. Could have a little more crystal in it according to Mr. Nerd. Me, I'm happy with it the way it is. I could drink this one all afternoon.

Mr. Nerd wishes to withdraw that comment, because he thought I had poured him a different beer (their ESB).

/5

Poleeko Gold Pale Ale from Anderson Valley Brewing Company www.avbc.com, subbing for Adnams East Green Carbon Neutral.

Well, this probably is a Gold Ale. I think I recognize it because of its lack of a nose, its overall wimpy character, and of course, its golden blond color. For a Gold Ale, it's probably right on style; for a Pale Ale it's a bit thin. Tastes okay, clean, refreshing, and all of that, but there's just not that much to it, other than light malt, a little bitter. On a hot summer day, this might be an appropriate beer, and I wouldn't turn it down if offered.

I really hate writing this, because this brewery puts out some excellent beers that makes it worth driving to Anderson Valley to enjoy.

/5

In other news, Mr. Nerd is currently brewing a porter in our kitchen, and we just got done sparging it.