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A bowl with your bowl

This may be semi-OT, but here goes anyway.

I've been following a thread on another NG in which I also lurk (alt.smoking.pipes) on beer and tobacco.

In recent field testing (loads of fun, that) I've been trying out beers (ales, indeed porters, mostly) and have had some confirmation of my idea that dark beers (excluding that gawd-awful nitro-keg Guinness) generally serves best with a bowl. On the other hand, there have been a couple of revelations. By far the best beer with a bowl is Fuller's 1845. I put it down to the fact that it's full, rather malty and a BCA. Fuller's London Porter (not BCA, unfortunately) pulled up a not-too-distant second. A canned ale I didn't really have much hope for, McEwen's IPA (in can, dead), stood up remarkably well.

Black Wych and Old Growler went down a treat, as well.

I really wish the K&B BCA Festive and Porter were still around (they may be that side of the pond, but if they are, they aren't sold in the Great White North anymore) to add to the test. I'd even like to try Theakston's Old Peculier again with a bowl.

Now to the point of this missive.

What ales (BCAs in particular, but not limited thereto) do the pipe or cigar smokers (assuming there are any) among you think would go with a bowl?

I'm hoping to see if I can't persuade the Liquor Control Board to bring in some suggested ales.

Reply to
Jamie McDonell
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I'm relatively new to the pleasures of the briar, but my perception is that the tobacco you are smoking also needs to be considered as a factor in the equation.

It could be that dark, sweet milds and Old Ales would go best with aromatics and that strong ales would drink best with full-flavoured tobaccos, but then the opposite may also be true.

Possibly darker beers compliment lighter VA tobaccos, while a dark, sweet Cavendish would be best with a hoppy IPA.

Either way, it's a topic that I'm going to research extensively now. Thanks.

Strangely, my *best* smoking experiences (getting 'in the zone') have occurred while drinking Dublin Guinness (after midnight, no real ale available).

BTN

Reply to
Sir Benjamin Nunn

I don't really think so. My blends range from moderately dark to a mostly latakia blend. I find that, while IPAs can stand up against my dark tobaccos, only maltier (usually estery) ales really compliment the tobacco. ISTM that hops get lost in the tobacco malt dance and the main reason North American-style IPAs stand up is because they're fairly full-bodied.

Guinness, for quite a while, has been a fall-back beer for me. If I can't get anything good (and that includes several of the better lagers

- such as Ur Pils), I'll consume a work of Arth. It certainly wouldn't harm the flavour of the tobacco. Mind you, if I was in Dublin, I'd see if I couldn't get some Dublin Brewing Company or Porterhouse product, even if they aren't cask.

Reply to
Jamie McDonell

I've found Orval is particularly lovely with a decent cigar.

Reply to
Steve Pickthall

Now of course illegal unless done in private amongst consenting adults...

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Reply to
PeterE

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