tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8717216232742676074.comments2023-12-11T08:10:41.077+00:00Mark Dredge - BeerMark Dredgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11421095862178324693noreply@blogger.comBlogger6270125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8717216232742676074.post-6181546562634909932018-05-08T22:47:07.412+01:002018-05-08T22:47:07.412+01:00Hi Mark, congratulations on the new book, which I ...Hi Mark, congratulations on the new book, which I have thoroughly enjoyed reading.<br /><br />The publishers kindly sent me a copy to review, and I have now published this on my blog. https://baileysbeerblog.blogspot.co.uk/2018/05/the-beer-bucket-list-mark-dredge.html <br /><br />Best wishes. Paul<br /><br />Paul Baileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09678639237696546268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8717216232742676074.post-84010815386100026772018-04-10T21:17:15.802+01:002018-04-10T21:17:15.802+01:00I ticked off a big one on my beer bucket list when...I ticked off a big one on my beer bucket list when I got to Pilsner Urquell so thanks for you help with that!Edhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13844169940650659196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8717216232742676074.post-40795905928945711692016-03-08T10:08:19.116+00:002016-03-08T10:08:19.116+00:00This is an amazing way to give back and also great...This is an amazing way to give back and also great way to encourage yourself to keep going.Cesar Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09873339877994191054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8717216232742676074.post-57338434363371820712016-03-07T16:16:18.213+00:002016-03-07T16:16:18.213+00:00Oktoberfest is Munich's lager celebration. Act...Oktoberfest is Munich's lager celebration. Actually, the Oktoberfest is one of the biggest celebrations on the planet. It is normally completed for sixteen days and these sixteen days are urgent days to make the celebration work with the right types of gear. <a href="http://www.mordocrosswords.com/2016/03/oktoberfest-mugs.html" rel="nofollow">Oktoberfest mugs</a> Justin L. Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05068868452059665489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8717216232742676074.post-4896678255117711032016-02-29T19:32:49.554+00:002016-02-29T19:32:49.554+00:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Altafhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10171143061385578794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8717216232742676074.post-39121177004316875492016-02-10T15:38:12.059+00:002016-02-10T15:38:12.059+00:00makes me wish I'd been there! Great stuff Mark...makes me wish I'd been there! Great stuff Mark.Tandlemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06804499573827044693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8717216232742676074.post-82627854625234752812016-01-28T01:10:27.029+00:002016-01-28T01:10:27.029+00:00Is it really just because a pale ale has been give...Is it really just because a pale ale has been given a poor rap? If you made a good pale in the US and labeled it as such even though it is far hopper than one would expect, would it not sell better as a session rather than a pale based on consumer tastes/preferace? Truly a buzz word by American standards. I've had many British milds and pales I would totally consider a session ale by American standards. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00723868441120136561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8717216232742676074.post-11854024860043478322016-01-27T13:41:24.708+00:002016-01-27T13:41:24.708+00:00Beers in the 4-5% ABV range are just about the rig...Beers in the 4-5% ABV range are just about the right strength for a sensible and reasonably prolonged session. Czech pilsners, and German Helles, pitched at around 5% take some beating, especially when consumed in their native countries.<br /><br />Over here, I prefer something a little weaker; say around 4.5%, although I am perfectly happy with Harvey’s at 4.0%. This is possibly due to British ales having a little more body; something to do with the use of crystal malt?<br /><br />Stronger Fest Biers, such as those served at Oktoberfest or Annafest, which weigh in towards the 6% mark, don’t really do it for me, and they definitely don’t lend themselves to being served in litre measures either!<br />Paul Baileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09678639237696546268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8717216232742676074.post-40933520928617601432016-01-26T10:02:29.469+00:002016-01-26T10:02:29.469+00:00"We’ve had beer like this for years now, insp..."We’ve had beer like this for years now, inspired by the qualities of an American IPA but brewed with the British drinking temperament in mind. Many of these are really great beers, beers we can drink buckets of, nailing that malt and hop balance plus the delicious addition of beautifully fragrant hops, which is all enhanced by the subtle elegances of being pulled from the cask. I would argue that these are becoming the flagship British craft beer style today, indicative of where past and present meet in our pint glasses."<br /><br />That just nails it for me. A sensible piece which all railway arch brewers and their ilk should have shoved down their throats until they understand it.<br /><br />Tandlemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06804499573827044693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8717216232742676074.post-48586206513977196582016-01-25T23:06:41.326+00:002016-01-25T23:06:41.326+00:00You're absolutely right to highlight the Briti...You're absolutely right to highlight the British "pale'n'hoppy" style which, when done well, offers a perfect mix of drinkability and strong hop character. One of the first was Whim Hartington Bitter which originally came out in the early 90s.Curmudgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02558747878308766840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8717216232742676074.post-87499845371971733012016-01-25T22:47:11.268+00:002016-01-25T22:47:11.268+00:00There is something about how half way through a pi...There is something about how half way through a pint you think "I'll have something else next time". I think the lack of body is part of the problem.Edhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13844169940650659196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8717216232742676074.post-64757304263145419772016-01-25T20:34:24.304+00:002016-01-25T20:34:24.304+00:00I don’t think the problem is that such beers are i...I don’t think the problem is that such beers are intense in flavour: it’s more that they are one-dimensional and have nothing to keep you coming back or ordering another. Mmm, hops, that’s nice. Mmm, hops. More hops. OK, hops. Want another? No, I think I’ll have something else. Whereas a true session beer has a certain magic complexity about it where you get a different aspect of it with every sip. Rob Sterowskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07870233673933087794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8717216232742676074.post-60067572885595684192016-01-25T19:35:29.950+00:002016-01-25T19:35:29.950+00:00A very good analysis: "pale and hoppy" s...A very good analysis: "pale and hoppy" seems to be a style that has developed in the best way possible, from a combination of consumer pull and producer push, and I suspect that if anyone is looking for the "next new thing" this is probably already it.Martyn Cornellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16843357962176591317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8717216232742676074.post-32504081907984279512016-01-25T18:51:11.704+00:002016-01-25T18:51:11.704+00:00had similar thoughts a few years back: http://www....had similar thoughts a few years back: http://www.fuggled.net/2012/05/session-hopping.html<br /><br />I love Session IPAs and can happily polish off a 6 pack, but given that my definition of a "session" begins at my fourth imperial pint, I couldn't pull an all nighter on them.Alistair Reecehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15929927359428659775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8717216232742676074.post-9801291454564855752016-01-13T08:27:42.520+00:002016-01-13T08:27:42.520+00:00Last September I had a chance to meet Roger Ryman,...Last September I had a chance to meet Roger Ryman, the creator of Big Job, Proper Job and others. Most of his beeers arre perfect! Big Job is a pinnacle of non-extreme British brewing.Alexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05288500845815423152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8717216232742676074.post-81456126040842422582016-01-12T11:01:37.890+00:002016-01-12T11:01:37.890+00:00Black IPAs sell well, Mark.Black IPAs sell well, Mark.Stonchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07001578598975666535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8717216232742676074.post-5293014407980893492016-01-08T11:18:39.866+00:002016-01-08T11:18:39.866+00:00PS. I used to use that old Budweiser ad you use th...PS. I used to use that old Budweiser ad you use there myself as an avatar before avatars were invented. So to speak. Good to see it again. It must be on a hard disk (probably 250k)from God knows how many years ago, now, I am sure, landfill.Tandlemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06804499573827044693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8717216232742676074.post-26700545187301347642016-01-08T11:15:52.506+00:002016-01-08T11:15:52.506+00:00Funnily small breweries Oop North have for years b...Funnily small breweries Oop North have for years been replacing bitters with pale and hoppy - for around eight years or more. Good that you see that "trend" catching on, though I agree it needs to. Beers like Hophead and Marble Pint (which iteration - certainly not the current one?) are Johnny-Come-Latelys compared to Roosters, Phoenix, Pictish, Abbeydale, Ossett, Elland to name just a few.<br /><br />Generally I agree with you, but as you are kind of inverting the pyramid, it might be the South catching up and it might be craft realising that, as Mudgie says, sub 4% is not their territory by and large.<br /><br />Your points about murk are particularly welcome. I have waged war against that from its inception.<br /><br />I agree about Black IPA but then I've never been that sure what's the difference between them and a stout or porter beyond the name.<br /><br />Meantime now funnily enough needs Heineken or some kind of buyout. It is doomed under ABI. That might be a good thing, or it might not but the staus quo is unsustainable.<br /><br />Finally if Sam Smith's sell up, it will be after Humphrey dies and I wouldn't be surprised anyway if the whole ownership/inheritance thing won't be locked away far beyond doing that and with the specific purpose of preventing it.Tandlemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06804499573827044693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8717216232742676074.post-12568274259467442122016-01-08T10:49:25.845+00:002016-01-08T10:49:25.845+00:00The classic BBBs aren't going to disappear bec...The classic BBBs aren't going to disappear because there's still a big market for them - at the moment. But tastes change and I think we're in a transition right now which is going towards paler, fruitier beers. And I do think that pale ale is very common now - go to a Sheps pub and see Whitstable Bay Pale, for example; Fuller's have Oliver's Island; Adnams have Ease Up. Spoons have a bunch of hoppy, pale beers. Beer is changing and the big breweries and groups are already doing it.Mark Dredgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11421095862178324693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8717216232742676074.post-14913087257318891262016-01-08T10:41:54.685+00:002016-01-08T10:41:54.685+00:00I agree that it's like 2011 but the difference...I agree that it's like 2011 but the difference is that it's now far more mainstream instead of just an emerging trend. Beers like Marble Pint and Hophead have been there for years but now they are joined by so many others.<br /><br />I don't know the answer to cask fruit IPAs. I guess there have been - I'd be surprised if there aren't (though I can't think of any right now...). I think they can make great beers and do expect to see more this year, though I don't think they are necessarily a long-term style and it could just be a current fad.Mark Dredgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11421095862178324693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8717216232742676074.post-60155819079424511422016-01-08T10:39:09.249+00:002016-01-08T10:39:09.249+00:00I'm confident that your locals will still be s...I'm confident that your locals will still be selling loads of those beers as well. But when it comes to new breweries I think that best bitter is becoming a less attractive style to brew. Bitter - or a pale, dry, well-hopped beer - isn't going anywhere, I just think the types of bitter are changing (more towards Marble Pint than OBB, for example)Mark Dredgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11421095862178324693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8717216232742676074.post-91650538469624659822016-01-08T08:44:16.152+00:002016-01-08T08:44:16.152+00:00I have to say, the Pale and Hoppy and SMASH bits r...I have to say, the Pale and Hoppy and SMASH bits read somewhat like we're talking about 2011 instead of 2016. Low-gravity, pale, hoppy, and clean cask beers have been around for years. Right?<br /><br />And please, enough with the grapefruit IPAs. The ones I've had have been a waste of hops. No reason at all to make an IPA taste of anything other than nice hops of whatever variety and mixes. Then again, has there been even a single cask ale grapefruit IPA, or is this a strictly keg phenomenon?Erlangernickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09564871714656285737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8717216232742676074.post-72880960269659983162016-01-07T20:42:22.135+00:002016-01-07T20:42:22.135+00:00Mark, although I agree with much of what you say, ...Mark, although I agree with much of what you say, I cannot see Brown British Bitter disappearing anytime soon. Whilst I would shed few tears if the likes of Spitfire and Bombardier were to vanish, I cannot say the same for Harvey’s Sussex Best – one of the finest beers of its kind and incredibly popular in this part of Kent and Sussex. <br /><br />I wouldn’t be disappointed to see the back of Black IPA; an oxymoron if ever there was one! “Does anyone drink them anymore?” you ask. I say did anyone outside the craft beer bubble drink them at all? <br /><br />And perhaps this is the problem. Those of us who live in small provincial towns are unlikely to see much that isn’t BBB; although I admit that with Tunbridge Wells close by and London a 40 minute train ride away, I am luckier than many. Unfortunately, for many parts of these islands, and certainly those detached from the main population centres, it’s still very much a case of the proverbial Englishman, Irishman and Scotsman and their bitter, stout and lager.<br />Paul Baileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09678639237696546268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8717216232742676074.post-86535107859786621292016-01-07T17:28:28.655+00:002016-01-07T17:28:28.655+00:00I think a best bitter for the 21st century is a pa...I think a best bitter for the 21st century is a pale and hoppy session beer - think something like DarkStar Hophead or Moor Revival, etc. New breweries seem to be making these instead of best bitters. The national brands will remain, no doubt, but I think they will be enough for the market and new brewers will be less interested in making them. Tastes change and best bitter is changing with it. Mark Dredgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11421095862178324693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8717216232742676074.post-34177531382781279142016-01-07T17:21:43.410+00:002016-01-07T17:21:43.410+00:00Totally agreed that reports of the death of BBB ar...Totally agreed that reports of the death of BBB are much exaggerated. I'm confident that in twelve months' time my local pubs will still be shifting large quantities of Lees, Holts, Hydes, Robinsons Unicorn and Wizard, and Sam Smith's OBB.<br /><br />I find that, once you get down below 4% ABV, many of the new-wave pale hoppy beers comes across as rather wishy-washy.<br /><br />I hope you're right about "peak murk", though. That really is a defect masquerading as a feature.Curmudgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02558747878308766840noreply@blogger.com