Geez I'm really disappointed!I moved over here to England in the hopes of
getting some Watneys Red Barrel (similar to Rickard's red for the Canadians
in the bunch here),and it looks like they've discontinued brewing it
(damn!!!).Do we have any Brits in the group that can recomend another beer
that's similar and easily available here in the Southeast (Kent)?
I'm just pining away for a red beer again....The withdrawal symptoms of my
favorite tipple are wicked! (MOAN)
Glen

--
I was an only child.....eventually!

On Tue, 7 Jun 2005 12:02:03 +0100, "*** merrington"
> wrote:

>Geez I'm really disappointed!I moved over here to England in the hopes of
>getting some Watneys Red Barrel (similar to Rickard's red for the Canadians
>in the bunch here),and it looks like they've discontinued brewing it
>(damn!!!).Do we have any Brits in the group that can recomend another beer
>that's similar and easily available here in the Southeast (Kent)?
>I'm just pining away for a red beer again....The withdrawal symptoms of my
>favorite tipple are wicked! (MOAN)
>Glen

Glen, Red Barrel wasn't a red beer. It was an awful keg bitter sold in
the Watney's tied estate in the 60s and 70s (mainly London and parts
of East Anglia). It hasn't been brewed for a very long time. The old
Watneys brewery in Mortlake now brews A-B Bud for the UK market.

It's actually difficult to find this type of beer nowadays. Modern keg
bitters have lots of added nitrogen and pour more like Guinness. There
hasn't been much call for its revival.

Are you confusing Red Barrel with something else?

HTH, Paul
--
Paul Sherwin Consulting http://paulsherwin.co.uk

In article >,
says...
> Geez I'm really disappointed!I moved over here to England in the hopes of
> getting some Watneys Red Barrel (similar to Rickard's red for the Canadians
> in the bunch here),and it looks like they've discontinued brewing it
> (damn!!!).Do we have any Brits in the group that can recomend another beer
> that's similar and easily available here in the Southeast (Kent)?

Hey Glen,

I can't say that I cared much for Red Barrel (or Rickard's Red for that
matter, but that's just my opinion). Actually, I'm tempted to state that
a bit more strongly, but nevermind, it's not my place to criticize what
you like.

I doubt you'll find anything quite like Red Barrel, but take a look at
http://www.camra-kent.org.uk/ for some recommended pubs & beers. I'm
sure you'll find something you can enjoy.

Cheers,

Bill

*** merrington a écrit :

>Geez I'm really disappointed!I moved over here to England in the hopes of
>getting some Watneys Red Barrel
>
Tell me it's a joke...

>(similar to Rickard's red for the Canadians
>in the bunch here),and it looks like they've discontinued brewing it
>
about ten or fifteen years ago. Where have you been all this time ?

One piece of advice : DO NOT mention Watneys Red Barrel in a real ale
pub or beer festival if any persons over 50 are present.
Red Barrel was the sheer incarnation of beery evil 30 years ago, and
mentioning it in a positive way may still cause some unrest among the
natives... and you don't want to upset the native, since they're not
easy to handle once they've exploded.

What else to drink, then ?

Well, try some of that funny stuff coming out of handpumps. Yup, most
probably not as ice-cold and gassy as what you're used to, but all the
more tasty, and your stomach will probably thank you.

The first pint or two may need an effort, but hold on, keep at it,
you'll get used to it soon enough.

Concentrate on local small brands, not big, well-known ones.

Get yourself a copy of CAMRA's Good Beer Guide (current edition : 2005.
2006 out next September) to locate other pubs serving more beers to try out.

Visit local beer festivals and taste more beers.

Try, taste, discover, go for the unusual, keep an open mind, and above
all try and appreciate beers for what they are, not for what you wish
they were or what you're used to back home. Different country, different
culture, different beer.

Then you may have a chance to find out why Britain, with its allegedly
"flat" and "warm" beers, still is one of the great beer countries on
this planet.

Cheers !

Laurent

--
Warning : you may encounter French language beyond this point.

Plus jamais de fondue le soir !
(F'murrr)

Laurent Mousson, Berne, Switzerland

"The Submarine Captain" > wrote in message
...
> *** merrington a écrit :
>
> >Geez I'm really disappointed!I moved over here to England in the hopes of
> >getting some Watneys Red Barrel
> >
> Tell me it's a joke...
>
> >(similar to Rickard's red for the Canadians
> >in the bunch here),and it looks like they've discontinued brewing it
> >
> about ten or fifteen years ago. Where have you been all this time ?
>
> One piece of advice : DO NOT mention Watneys Red Barrel in a real ale
> pub or beer festival if any persons over 50 are present.
> Red Barrel was the sheer incarnation of beery evil 30 years ago, <snip>

30 years? I recall Monty Python, I think(another Brit comedy group?), doing
a comedy bit about a seaside vacation where "Bleedin' WRB" was clearly
castigated as subpar, and this was about 40 years ago! *g*
Never went to England, but the bit had the proper? intended? effect of
steering me clear of any desire to try WRB.

Cheers,

dj

Dr. Cajones > wrote:
>30 years? I recall Monty Python, I think(another Brit comedy group?), doing
>a comedy bit about a seaside vacation where "Bleedin' WRB" was clearly
>castigated as subpar, and this was about 40 years ago! *g*

Yup, the Python travel agent sketch, closer to 30 years
ago than 40.

>Never went to England, but the bit had the proper? intended? effect of
>steering me clear of any desire to try WRB.

Sadly, Watney's Red Barrel was better than the vast majority
of beer one could get in the US at that time. We have it really
good here in the States these days.
--
Joel Plutchak "I'm in beer class / Every Thursday night"
- "Sinister Foxx", _Title TK_, The Breeders

Joel a écrit :

>Dr. Cajones > wrote:
>
>
>>30 years? I recall Monty Python, I think(another Brit comedy group?), doing
>>a comedy bit about a seaside vacation where "Bleedin' WRB" was clearly
>>castigated as subpar, and this was about 40 years ago! *g*
>>
>>
>
> Yup, the Python travel agent sketch, closer to 30 years
>ago than 40.
>
>
Indeed, 32 years and a few months ago :

Episode 31, recorded 24 April 1972, originally aired 16 November 1972,
according to the scripts, volume 2.

Cheers !

Laurent

--
Warning : you may encounter French language beyond this point.

ça devient catastrophique : on a pendu seulement deux touristes cette quinzaine...
(F'murrr)

Laurent Mousson, Berne, Switzerland