Fantasy Brewery

Is there some kind of computer program which generates crappy beer names such as these?

It seems to me it's only Billy-no-mates tickers who actively enjoy this kind of doltish indulgence.

How about this one - "Ticker's Titter"?

The name's not important - it;s what's in the glass that counts. Although I agree, there are some spectaularly stupid names for beer that reinforce the stereotypes that non-real ale drinkers have of us.

Well, yes, but you don't want to feel embarrassed asking for it in the pub, do you? That ought to be the preserve of tarts on hen nights and those silly cocktails they drink.

Indeed.

Now, I shall turn off my computer and go and enjoy that pint of Old Beardy's Hairy Sandal Cheese IPA I've got waiting downstairs...

d.

Tickers Titter, you forgot the brewery name, was it Boring Pickthall !

If the beers OK, someone gets enjoyment out of a name, what's the problem?

Live and let live.

Andy B Great Sankey England.

Yeah fine, live and let live but don't complain when real ale struggles to gain market share particularly against better presented beers. Don't complain when your favourite brewery shuts and your favourite pub stops real ale altogether - these little things matter. Live and let drink Stella in other words. And of course it's what's in the glass that counts but if the potential customer is too embarrassed to order what's in the glass..................blah....blah......blah

If my memory serves my right you started the post, so that makes your goodself the err.....complainer!

In my own opinion, micro brewers need to be creative in naming there beers to get a market share in the guest beer market, if they produced a mild and a bitter, with no distinctive name, they would struggle to sell them along side The Dogs Bollox!!!!!!

I think you'll find few people to embarrassed to order, any beer, this is the 21st Century, Queen Victoria no longer reigns!

Live and let live, real ale, this is uk.food+drink.real-ale, however feel free to promote Stella! if your too embarrassed to order anything else Steve!

Andy B Great Sankey England

To be honest, I'm more concerned with what it tastes like that what it's called, and I suspect the same is true of the majority of real ale drinkers.

Steve's point, with which I agree, was that silly names only serve to reinforce stereotypes about real ale drinkers and do nothing to promote the cause of real ale drinking.

In other words, I completely disagree with your claim that they need "creative" names to succeed - "creative" names are actually counter-productive.

Stella? Now that /is/ embarrassing.

d.

Your memory doesn't serve you right.

What makes you think a name like "The Dogs Bollox" makes a beer attractive?

Yes, everyone's drinking stupidly named beers.

Whatever......

Whatever too.............................

I for one would be interested to hear what Steve Pickthall thinks would be good names for beer.

In article , Steve Pickthall writes

I'm with Mr Pickthall on this one. Idiotic names have an adverse affect on the image of beer at a time when various bodies are trying to make it acceptable to a wider audience and to match it with food.

Not every pub customer is a 20-something, page-3-of-The-Sun-reading dork.

Yes, sad isn't it. Trying to copy the pretentious world of wine snobs.

John B

Errm, what's sad about matching food with complementary drinks, whether it be wine or beer? I can enjoy a pint or several when I'm out drinking. If I'm eating I like to drink something suitable with the dish. (See above thread - "In praise of milds")

P.S. I also agree with the Pickthall bros. regarding the stupidly named beers, don't think it does the trade any good at all.

KeithS

It is the pretentions that often surround the practice that are sometimes so unnecessary. Just read Des de Moor ;-) That, and perhaps I like the variety of subtle flavours found in beers too much, so much so that many foods don't complement but adversely affect the taste experience.

FWIW so do I.

John B

There's nothing wrong with food matching as such, but the problem arises in the wine world when snobbish people start saying "how could you possibly drink Sauvignon Blanc with roast beef?"

As far as I'm concerned, if you think it fits, then there's nothing wrong with that.

I agree with this too.

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Although the target market for the typical stupid beer name appears to be more a 50-something, bearded, beergutted chap who thinks a beer called "Horizontal Hobbit" is somehow amusing.

The typical 20-something Sun reader would just regard that as something from an alien world.

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I don't have a problem with daft names, it shows that it's not part of a worldwide marketing campaign. I think the lager drinkers etc are more concerned with image than taste so if Horizontal Hobbit was marketed on the TV, complete with sexy babe elves wearing a few leaves it would probably be a big hit.

Then again, there are some people that think that beers with silly names can be matched to personalities, a friend passed this on to me recently - very silly, but fun.

People who make serious beer worth taking seriously give it a serious name. Or at least a name that isn't completely asinine. For the simple reason that they know the name (and therefore the image) is not what is important.

If any real ale, whatever its name, had ever had even a tenth of the marketing budget that gets thrown at most fizzy piss, there would be no need for organisations such as Camra.

d.

I think women ought to try drinking beer as a slimming aid, as I find a couple of pints really kills my appetite.