Northern beer
 

I have just returned from my first foray into the "north" (Yorkshire and Lancashire) and was shocked to find 95% of the pubs I visited (I visited a lot :D) blew carbon dioxide through their real ale pumps, making the ales look like a pint of guinness, have a creamy head, and all taste atrocious! I was led to believe northern beer was best, but when I enquired as to the reason for all the froth I was told that everybody likes it like that and that if I didn't I was obviously a southerner. Has it always been like this? Who actually prefers their ale with a creamy head?? :sick:

I hasten to add, the Thwaites Bitter and Nutty Black in the Swan in Marsden was served without froth and was excellent!

Re: Northern beer
 

I agree about the gassy, frothy head - it's awful.

I come from Herefordshire where beer is served as it comes. Having said that, real ale pubs are getting fewer and further between. "Beer" (and I use that phrase very loosely) like John Smiths draught flow is only good for, well, nothing really.

That's why I brew my own.

Pete ;)

Re: Northern beer
 

Tennants lager needs a head on it, otherwise its nearly undrinkable...
(nearly ;0)

Re: Northern beer
 

Should have tried some Black Sheep or Theakstons from Masham... They are my fav...

+1 to the creamy head :0)

Re: Northern beer
 

i love a good head!!! and on my beer as well. Mines a pint of golden pippin :)

Re: Northern beer
 

Which is a bizarre belief that has always been cobblers.

Good beer comes from all over the place - the 'Southern beer is awful' line is just good old Northerner racism - the one thing they could do at all is now done better elsewhere, no wonder they're so bitter.

Particularly risible is the suggestion that Yorkshire beer is wonderful - some is, but then there's Sam Smiths, and John Smith's.

The prosecution rests - no more need be said.

Re: Northern beer
 

An inch of froff on top = an inch less ale - 'tis a ripoff that was supposed to have been sorted years ago.

Re: Northern beer
 

All beer is disgusting, I really don't know why I drank it for so many years when I never liked the taste to start with - peer pressure I suppose.

Re: Northern beer
 

It's not where it comes from, it's how it is served that makes the pint.

Real ale MUST have a head on it. If it's flat, it goes straight back to the bar.

Re: Northern beer
 

But why?! Its not naturally got a head on it! And the CO2 makes it taste all the same. I say real ale needs to be served as God intended it, no messing about with it.