Boddington's on tap in London

Dave Croft a écrit :

Problem is it's cask-conditioned, which makes it too fruity (ie. esters are produced during cask-conditioning at cellar temperature, giving it a fruity edge) to be close to proper continental stuff. To many respects, Schiehallion is similar to a Kölsch in reverse : Kölsch are ales that are lagered (first top, then bottom-fermentation) whilst Schiehallion is a lager matured as a real ale (first bottom, then top-fermentation). Schiehallion from the cask ends up quite similar to the fruitier Kölsches such as Sion, when they're served on gravity.

The point about proper german or czech lagers is that their carbonation is very fine, not too aggressive. During lagering (ie. long cold maturation, 60+ days, at 2°C or so), the beer produces its own gas at a very slow rate. At one point, a small valve is fitted to the conditioning tank. This valve allows for an internal pressure just above atmospheric pressure, which means CO2 dissolves very slowly into the beer, giving it a natural, fine, rather unaggressive condition. This phase is called "Spundung", and AFAIK no UK-brewed "lager" goes through that phase. Most UK "Lagers" are pasteurised, then carbonated by a quick CO2 injection, which yields big, aggressive bubbles. And serving them under CO2 blanket pressure does not help...

When you're drinking local beer in Germany, it usually is filtered but unpasteurised. And the gas used in the pressure fount is aligal, the same nitrogen / CO2 mixture used for nirtokeg in the UK, but without the frothy effect. It all yields a beer that is not too gassy, has a very fine head, and is remarkably crisp in taste, and brings a lot of passing Brits to wonder why they can't stand UK "lager" but love the stuff in Germany...

Proscht !

Laurent

On Tue, 21 Mar 2006 19:01:29 +0000, Simon Cooper wrote (in message ):

Who mentioned sparklers?

As it happens I am from the north but lived 3 miles from the Youngs 'brewery' for 10 years.

You need to get out a bit more and widen your palate.

Wonder at the cheap, abuse of the beer snob! My palate is better than your palate. How sad.

Brett... a écrit :

Well, Brett, I for one have got such a bit mouth already that I can't see the point of widening one's palate (surgically ? might cleave it...) ! ;o>

The festival has moved. You will find it at Earls Court this August (and onward)

For most people it's one less tube change, if you're coming via a BR route it's just the next stop along from Olympia (West Brompton)