Is it the heat, or are my taste buds off?

[General Staal]

Good afternoon all! I went for a pub crawl round Digbeth yesterday and nearly all the real ales I tried were a tad to warm and went flat pretty quickly.

Last week, after a long walk, I popped in to a pub in Henley in Arden when the afternoon temperature was hitting 30 degrees and the beer tasted ok, but was warm and went flat quickly.

I had the same experience in Gloucester - I did a crawl in the winter and the beer was great. Went back in the Summer on a hot day and the best pint I had all day was in an air conditioned Wetherspoons.

So, does anyone else feel that in the summer months when its very hot, there is a dip in quality of real ales - or is it just me?

[oldboots]

So, does anyone else feel that in the summer months when its very hot, there is a dip in quality of real ales - or is it just me?

Yes, No

[Soup Dragon]

A laconic answer from OB, but one i have to agree with.

[rpadam]

Good afternoon all! I went for a pub crawl round Digbeth yesterday and nearly all the real ales I tried were a tad to warm and went flat pretty quickly.

Last week, after a long walk, I popped in to a pub in Henley in Arden when the afternoon temperature was hitting 30 degrees and the beer tasted ok, but was warm and went flat quickly.

I had the same experience in Gloucester - I did a crawl in the winter and the beer was great. Went back in the Summer on a hot day and the best pint I had all day was in an air conditioned Wetherspoons.

So, does anyone else feel that in the summer months when its very hot, there is a dip in quality of real ales - or is it just me?
It can certainly make one search out something like Fuller's Discovery which is designed to be served slightly chilled - a fine pint for a hot summer day.

[General Staal]

Yes, No


I can just feel the sarcasm.

[Maldenman]

It can be difficult for some pubs to keep their ales at a proper temperature when there is a prolonged hot spell, and I'd agree that served too warm they can become a little unpalatable. If anything I'd rather a pint be served too cold, at least you have the option of letting it sit for a while.

[oldboots]

I can just feel the sarcasm.

None intended, I'm not as anti-social as some ( you know who you are, Paul) I'm just a man of few words although sadly no longer one of action :rolleyes:. Maldenman is more fulsome and correct although in these days of efficient cellar coolers and in-line thingys there's less justification than in the olden days.

[Soup Dragon]

If anything I'd rather a pint be served too cold, at least you have the option of letting it sit for a while.

I tried that with a pint of Titanic Stout in the Royal Exchange - i waited for ages, went to the loo, came back and the pint had been taken away

[Alesonly]

No its not just you Ive also noticed a the same problem in far too many Pubs the Ale is too warm and it seems too be exacerbated by the fact that less people are drinking it in the warm weather and switching too super chilled lagers ETC so theres less turn over meaning its sitting there longer on tap.

[General Staal]

I tried that with a pint of Titanic Stout in the Royal Exchange - i waited for ages, went to the loo, came back and the pint had been taken away

Put a beermat on top of it. It stops the flies getting in and its a signal that you'll be back. Were you alone in the pub, again Soupy?

Its just annoying that the beer in pubs you know are great tastes below par. It makes me embarassed that people will visit a place you have recommended only to taste the stuff when its not at its best. Take the White Swan in Digbeth. Its a great pub that serves great Banks's Mild and Bitter. But yesterday, along with all the pubs in Digbeth I went in, the ale just didn't taste right. And I know that's just not the way the Swan is.

[Conrad]

I tried that with a pint of Titanic Stout in the Royal Exchange - i waited for ages, went to the loo, came back and the pint had been taken away
You should have just sunk it :whistle:

[arwkrite]

I have found this to be a problem in my local pubs. As the temperature rises it becomes harder to sink a pint of ale. My preferred alternative keg beers are not available only smooth flows. That leaves me with super chilled lagers. It has an edge and is refreshing on a hot day but so short on taste.Here in England it is unusual to have long periods of hot weather and I believe ale has evolved to suit our colder climes.

[ptg]

As has been said, there's not normally a genuine excuse for this in a modern day - Our ales all run through an inline cololer, and I think that the pipes are jacketed or within a python for at least part of their route to the bar. I tend to make a change of .1 or .2 degrees on the cooler in the summer and it keeps the beer at a nice drinkable temperature that delays the flattening process. I did notice on the festival stock towards the end of the day that beers were starting to pour flat - I put it down to the Filton cooling system just not being able to cope with a hot summer's day.

[Kake]

So, does anyone else feel that in the summer months when its very hot, there is a dip in quality of real ales - or is it just me?

Not just you. There was one day a couple of summers ago (following a rather hot week) where I had a sour pint in four out of five pubs.

[General Staal]

Thanks for all your replies. I was convinced I was losing the taste for the ales.

I'll have to pop up to the Queslett to try their ales. Never had a bad pint there. Even at the height of Summer. Great, even if its an Ember.

[runningdog]

I tried that with a pint of Titanic Stout in the Royal Exchange - i waited for ages, went to the loo, came back and the pint had been taken away

Reminds me of a period, a coupla years ago, when in me local JDW you didn't dare go to the loo, otherwise young Sam would make off with your glass. We couldn't decide, was she an undercover agent for the Temperance League, or just a pain in the arse.:drinkup::drinkup:quickly..........
I still leave me glasses with me glass..........:pray:

[arwkrite]

I must have a trust worthy look about me, or that of something completely harmless, because often ladies will leave their drinks with me for safe keeping while they pop off to powder their noses. I do not know whether to feel honoured or inadequate.Then again they could be police women looking for date rapers which at least sounds exciting.

If I have to leave my drink I stick it on top of my newspaper with a pencil or beer mat, if its a clean one ,on top. I do know of a black labrador who will make short work of an unattended pint. He enjoys summer nights in the beer garden and rarely knocks over a glass.

[Alesonly]

If I have to leave my drink I stick it on top of my newspaper with a pencil or beer mat, if its a clean one ,on top. I do know of a black labrador who will make short work of an unattended pint. He enjoys summer nights in the beer garden and rarely knocks over a glass.

Here used too be a Old guy that came in the Wetherspoons in Wood green that used too put hes false teeth in the bottom of the glass when he left it unattended.
Mind you some of there customers would nick you shoe laces if you stood still too long in that place.

[arwkrite]

Here used too be a Old guy that came in the Wetherspoons in Wood green that used too put hes false teeth in the bottom of the glass when he left it unattended.
Mind you some of there customers would nick you shoe laces if you stood still too long in that place.

I would love to have dropped a Steradent tablet into it.

My one stepson was in one of the London Unis and had a room at Wood Green which I found a scary place. I did however find a couple of friendly neighborhood pubs away from the main shopping area but cannot remember their names. One had a Hereford connection in its title.

[runningdog]

. I do know of a black labrador who will make short work of an unattended pint. He enjoys summer nights in the beer garden and rarely knocks over a glass.
I don't expect it comes as much of a surprise, but I used to have a lurcher like that. Embarrassing, and on occasion, downright dangerous, but then I always had him to watch me back. Now those were the days...:glass::drinkup:
His name was Oz and he was bluidy expensive in a pub, he lovedbeer, he even drank Strongbow and would fight anything or anyone for a Guinness. I love all me dogs but Oz was special..........:drinkup::drinkup:
That's him in me new pic, no need to lock the car, it's goin nowhere..........