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 ) 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??

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

[Bluepete]

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

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

[Richie]

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

+1 to the creamy head :0)

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

[Sid Squid]

Originally Posted by Warthog

I was led to believe northern beer was best.

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.

[punyXpress]

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

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.

Originally Posted by Sid Squid

Good beer comes from all over the place - the 'Southern beer is awful' line is just good old Northerner racism

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.

Originally Posted by Woz

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.

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.