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

Unlike the Belgians, they don't really go for beer in a big way, wine being their main source of alcohol.
Many of the French beers that do exist make a specific point of stressing they're from the Alsace region (NE franc, close to the German border), but I suppose that's understandable, as it seems to be the main brewing area.

'Kronenbourg 1664' is brewed in Alsace, and can be quite good, and several own-brand continental lagers sold in UK supermarkets are brewed in France.

The Czechs (sp?) make excellent beer.

Try Pilsner Urquell or Budweiser Budvar.

In London, a good beer to try is Young's.

(Cue rash of postings from the North - 'Good beer in London? Tha'll be lucky')

The problem with good beer in London is finding a pub that does it well. (queue londoners with lists of good real ale pubs )

Or a pub that does a good pint at something like a reasonable price...

At least the local near work does both those things

My old uni bar in South Kensington is still fairly cheap, - though in a few week's time I guess there'll be the inevitable influx of midlle class parents delivering the latest crop of 18 year-olds with the time-honoured babbling about 'and what A-levels did *you* get'. Still, if the beer is cheap and decent...

So which do bar is that, I occasionally go out drinking down in that part of the world.

Ah yes. Remember when Boots was "Boots the Chemist?" Now we call it "Boots the Everything shop" (BTE). I love it.

The English may not like the French, but they've certainly taken their cue from them.

I'm thinking 'petrol' (=gas) here!

What I want to know is why the farmers are leading so many of these protests - farmers deisel (aka agricultural or red diesel) is not nearly as taxed as the rest of us thanks to the CAP!

(for Phil,)
Southside Bar - it's on the south side of Prince's Gardens (just west of Exhibition Road, a little above the V&A and the Mormon chapel. There's a door roughly in the middle of the longest building which opens into an area with chairs & tables (visible from the outside through the windows), and the bar itself is down the stairs just next to the door. I guess it's *probably* really supposed to be students & staff only, but the number of ex-students and Postgrads who drink there mean there's a reasonable continuum of ages, so 30 or 40-somethings don't necesarily stand out too much. Just make sure you avoid it the first few weeks of October.

Cheers Potholer, I'll have to go exploring next time I'm over that way (a friend lives near there). As for the 30-40 somethings not standing out, when I get there (age wise) I hope I don't stand out

Dinsdale:!
Greetings!!!

You forgot to mention both Fullers (ESB) ond Wadsworth's (6x)

Both EXCELLENT London pints!!


AND I am a NORTHERNER!!!!!!

'G'

Potholer:!
Greetings!!
For good beer (guaranteed!) and good food at VERY reasonable prices, try any JD Wetherspoon pub ANYWHERE!!!!
'G'

Is that Wadworths of Devizes, Wiltshire

(of and can you please stop shouting G )

A real Northerner, or an ex-pat, living in Surrey?

There seems to be a kind of brewery event horizon beyond which their beer becomes crap. I fear for King & Barnes (my local brewer). They've just been taken over by a larger concern, and they were on the cusp as it was.

It's best if you can find out what the local 'family' brewery is, and drink their stuff.

How's this for topic drift? Discussing the relative merits of different beers in a forum about hating the Froggies?

sorry Phil.....

Getting my real ales mixed up!
I meant to say Brakespears (Henly on Thames)!!1

'G'

mmmmm.....beer.... :P

There has been a growth of micro breweries in Canada that produce very good brews, however much of the business is still going towards the giants (Molson and Labatts..ewwwww) I hope that we can develop pub-centric breweries here in the same style that you would find in the U.K.

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I'm glad this conversation has turned to beer - much more sesible topic. Hurray for real ales.