This follows on from last week’s post about The Best Supermarket Beer and asks: Where do you buy your beer from?
I like to drink new beers; ones I’ve not had before. There’ll also be a few staples in the house, picked up from wherever, but it’s the new beers that I’m talking about here.
I think I’ve pretty much exhausted the supermarket selections now and I tend to only buy from there if I want it for a specific occasion, food pairing or if I see something new. There are some brilliant beers available in the supermarkets, I’ve just worked my way through them so want more choice.
I go to Utobeer in Borough Market a lot and there’s a decent selection in my favourite farm shop, Macknade Fine Foods, including plenty of local beers and the range of Sam Smith’s.
I’ve bought my last few hauls online. Beermerchants (run by Phil who has a cool blog here) have a load of European beers and also an ever expanding selection of American beers (that’s what I’m after!), some which can’t be bought anywhere else yet, from Port Brewing, Lost Abbey and AleSmith. I put in a big order a few weeks ago and most of the beers I bought I’d never even seen anywhere else before (I actually only live 15 minutes drive from the depot so maybe I’ll pop over sometime!).
I’ve ordered from Beers of Europe recently too. They’ve got an excellent selection of beers from all over the world, including lots of British and American bottles. My order arrived within 48 hours (in spite of the snow). They also have Europe’s largest beer shop.
What about the others? Zak Avery runs a beer shop in Leeds. Beer Ritz are an online beer shop and they have a large selection of bottled beers from around the world. There’s RealAle.com, which is based in Twickenham (while I was at Royal Holloway University a few miles away we used to venture over to pick up our beers); they have expanded their selection recently to take in more American and world beers, and they sell online. There’s also Beer Ventures and Only Fine Beer (I don't know much about these two). Some breweries sell direct too, which I like, but there aren’t enough doing this.
Who else? Who do you recommend? Where do you buy your beer from? I need to know where to go to next!
I like to drink new beers; ones I’ve not had before. There’ll also be a few staples in the house, picked up from wherever, but it’s the new beers that I’m talking about here.
I think I’ve pretty much exhausted the supermarket selections now and I tend to only buy from there if I want it for a specific occasion, food pairing or if I see something new. There are some brilliant beers available in the supermarkets, I’ve just worked my way through them so want more choice.
I go to Utobeer in Borough Market a lot and there’s a decent selection in my favourite farm shop, Macknade Fine Foods, including plenty of local beers and the range of Sam Smith’s.
I’ve bought my last few hauls online. Beermerchants (run by Phil who has a cool blog here) have a load of European beers and also an ever expanding selection of American beers (that’s what I’m after!), some which can’t be bought anywhere else yet, from Port Brewing, Lost Abbey and AleSmith. I put in a big order a few weeks ago and most of the beers I bought I’d never even seen anywhere else before (I actually only live 15 minutes drive from the depot so maybe I’ll pop over sometime!).
I’ve ordered from Beers of Europe recently too. They’ve got an excellent selection of beers from all over the world, including lots of British and American bottles. My order arrived within 48 hours (in spite of the snow). They also have Europe’s largest beer shop.
What about the others? Zak Avery runs a beer shop in Leeds. Beer Ritz are an online beer shop and they have a large selection of bottled beers from around the world. There’s RealAle.com, which is based in Twickenham (while I was at Royal Holloway University a few miles away we used to venture over to pick up our beers); they have expanded their selection recently to take in more American and world beers, and they sell online. There’s also Beer Ventures and Only Fine Beer (I don't know much about these two). Some breweries sell direct too, which I like, but there aren’t enough doing this.
Who else? Who do you recommend? Where do you buy your beer from? I need to know where to go to next!
AleSmith, Green Flash, Ballast Point, Port Brewing, Firestone Walker, Bear Republic, all brew fantastic beers. All of them would be a great accompaniment for your next crape party!
ReplyDeleteIt is a shame none of these site ships to continental Europe. I appreciate that the cost of shipping would put a lot of people off though, still I am yet to find an equivalent website in Germany which would be prepared to ship to the Czech Republic.
ReplyDeleteMark, thanks for the plug, but just for the sake of clarity, I don't have anything to do with the day to day running of the mail order service, based near Wetherby; I run the shop in Leeds. They are separate businesses operating in different locations.
ReplyDeleteCheers for clearing that up Zak, it's confused me for ages and I've also been confused by the Hi-Spirits shop! I've done a quick edit, I hope that it's more accurate now!
ReplyDeleteMark said "I like to drink new beers; ones I’ve not had before."
ReplyDeleteBe careful, these are the first signs of infection for ticker-itis. Find a staple and only drink that until you are cured! Also, whatever you do - do not visit ratebeer.com!
Sorry, editied post:
ReplyDeleteUtobeer at Borough Market and Macknade are my usual choices for a decent selection. If i'm buying larger quantities for a party/barbecue I go direct to Sheps and buy a poly pin or here: http://www.micropub.co.uk. They are not only the smallest pub in the uk (standing room for 8 only!)they have at least 4 ales that are always well kept. you can buy as much or as little takout as you like too!
Tim, I tick, I scoop and I write stuff down. I'm not ashamed. I do visit ratebeer, but I don't rate (not yet anyway).
ReplyDeleteBut one beer drinking rule that I follow is this: a notepad at home is a go, a notepad in the pub is a no. I make mental ticks when I'm out!
Pete, I've not heard of the micropub place before, that's really cool and there's a large choice too. I'll have to pop down some time.
The micropub is great, you can turn up with your mates and pretty much fill the pub up! Good that you can buy as much or as little carryout as you like.
ReplyDeleteInspired by all things beer, I have finally got round to doing a beer tasting! Have a look at my blog for it.
Aside from t'internet retailers like BoE and beermerchants, most of my stuff recently has been bought from farmers markets or direct from the brewer. Particularly the latter - had some great bottled stuff from Hopshackle and many gorgeous 9-pint minicasks from Thornbridge.
ReplyDeleteI try to shop at BeerRitz here in Leeds as often as possible - great beers, great service. Haven't ordered much beer online in my time, though - I have'nt really had the need to!
ReplyDeleteLiving only 10 minutes away, I would recommend Cornelius if you're ever in Edinburgh.Great selection of Beers from around the world. James seems to particularly like BrewDog stuff and recently managed to get 75cl bottles of Hardcore IPA and 10 cases of Coffee Imperial Stout.
ReplyDeleteCornelius sounds like a great place - anywhere that stocks Brewdog is my kind of shop, especially 75cl bottles. And the Coffee Imperial Stout is one of the best beers I've had in the last few months, I love the mix of strong stout, roast coffee, sweet oak and dry hops - magic.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely.Highlights from last year include a wide range of Rogue stuff which sold out really fast and some great German & Xmas beers. The proprietor James is quite odd but very knowledgeable. He is currently selling his entire comic collection there to fund baby stuff for his first child!
ReplyDelete