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Duff Hen's Tooth

I bought a couple of cases of Hen's Tooth in my local Majestic just before Christmas, normally one of my absolute favourite beers, and every bottle I opened before I finally returned all the unopened ones was sour and, to a greater or lesser degree, vinegary. Has anyone else had a problem with this batch of HT (best before date 15/06/2004) or HT in general from Majestic?

I normally try to drink HT at about three months old (ie BB date nine months off) when it seems to me to be at its best - has anyone tried testing a single batch at different dates?

Fuller's, incidentally, says its 1845 is best after a year, ie right on the BB date, which has not been my experience, but I had a bottle of the 2002 Fuller's Vintage Ale on New Year's Eve, ie at about 18 months old, and it was superb - fruitcake, marmalade, all that depth and range of flavour which makes you glad to be a beer drinker.

Reply to
Martyn Cornell
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I've been buying cases from them recently, and I'm pleased (relieved?) to say that I've had no problems. The current batch (best before 22/7/04) is just fine. However thanks for the warning.

I recall many years ago buying a case of bottle conditioned ale (forget which one) from a branch of Oddbins in Sussex (while we were on holiday - I hail from the Manchester area). That was in the days when they cared about beer :-( The case had clearly been stored upside down, as all of the yeast was in the bottle tops! I also caught my local Majestic stacking cases of Duvel on their sides recently. Clearly these people don't understand BCA, or that it has to be treated carefully and with due respect!

BTW I agree that - when on form - Hen's Tooth is an excellent beer, although given the choice I prefer Young's Special London Ale - not that I can find anywhere locally that sells it these days.

Brian

Reply to
BrianW

I get mine from a Young's pub - but is it BCA? don't think so.

Reply to
Mike Jones

Special London Ale is definitely bottle conditioned and I agree it is an excellent BCA. I find it definitely improves with a few weeks of keeping. With regard to availability, it's usually in Waitrose, Safeways and Threshers, but that may be regional.

Youngs do another bottled beer with a similarish name that isn't BCA but I can't remember the name.

Alan Holt

Reply to
AH

Mike,

Wondering if I might have a bottle of the Young's tucked away in my shed, I search through the 60 / 70 bottles I have out there & find one, and on reading the label I see that it *is* indeed a BCA, ( bottle dated Aug '04 ... bottle now empty ! ;op )

Anyone else looking for confirmation of a BCA ... my shed door is still open ! ;o)

Cheers ...

Reply to
The Sec-RAT-ary

Ok, ok my mistake!

Reply to
Mike Jones

Addi' Fri, 16 Jan 2004 21:55:24 GMT, AH scrisse:

It is!

In the past it was not BCA, and was also labelled (at least at times for the export market) "Youngs Export"

It turned BCA a few years ago - I had one at Young's Brewery in 1999. I seem to remember reading somewhere that they still brew a non-BC version, without changing the name.

ciao max

Reply to
Rosalba e Massimo

Hiya,

I gotta say, I really like Special London Ale too - my local Threshers (Chelmsford) sells it 'occasionally'. If there is one near you it might be worth asking them to try and get some? I never thought to keep it a few weeks though, I shall remember next time I go in there, to buy a few more and store them.

Tony.

Reply to
Tony Merryfield

Make it a crate if you've got a decent cellar. The thing cellars pretty well. I've had 18-months (BBE date + 6 months) bottles that were magnificient, as they'd gone drier and drier.

Hmm, probably Young's Special. Blue-ish label, whereas Special London's green & gold.

Cheers !

Laurent

Reply to
The Submarine Captain

They also do BCA Champion Ale for Tescos which is similar in style to Summer Lightning.

Mark Enderby

Reply to
Mark Enderby

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