If, like the average /offtopic male, you like to imbibe quantities of diverse and high-quality real ale
Have a warm-up pub crawl in Winchester. It's quite good for that. Then head to Manchester with a Good Beer Guide, on the proviso that I shall accept no responsibility if you return with liver cirrhosis.
(LongJohnBaldry, Tue 2 Mar 2010, 13:48, 1 reply, 16 years ago)

Really? Interesting.
I've been loving Flying Dogs' Doggie Style recently, though tried some Brew Dogs' Trashy Blonde the other day which is pretty similar. Any pubs in particular or is there a good choice?
( Jimbuktu See? Right here, Tue 2 Mar 2010, 13:51, Reply)

My experience of Manchester
was probably a little biased as I was taken there on a pub crawl by some friends who live up there. But all the same, I got the impression they could have just blindfolded me in the town centre and let me scoot off in a random direction and even then I'd have stood a good chance of ending up in a friendly boozer with a fine selection of grown-up beer on the bar.

Edit: Should also add the disclaimer that I was particularly impressed as a fan of darker beers (milds/stouts/porters) which are much easier to get hold of in the North than they are for Southern Fairies like myself.
Edit edit: I think the most striking difference about Manchester, for me, compared to London, was that in the city centre, there's much less of a distinction betwee "bars for trendy young arseholes" and "pubs for old men." They seem to have a lot of straightforward "pubs," and in most of the good ones you actually see a very good balance of young and old and the atmosphere is so much less cuntish then any London equivalent.
(LongJohnBaldry, Tue 2 Mar 2010, 14:12, Reply)

I like different beers in their own season, it is spring now so that means lighter beers. Belgian beers are my real fave though.
( Jimbuktu See? Right here, Tue 2 Mar 2010, 14:19, Reply)

I'm sure we went to a couple of places that stocked a lot of Belgian stuff
But I was on local stuff for the whole day so I wouldn't be able to remember where they were.

Still, if you're in London, have you checked out the Dovetail (Farringdon) or that place in Camden whose name I can't remember?
(LongJohnBaldry, Tue 2 Mar 2010, 14:23, Reply)

I am far from London
Though it is easy to get to. I'll look out as I may pop up to see the tate again. Thanks!
( Jimbuktu See? Right here, Tue 2 Mar 2010, 14:48, Reply)