Beers from England

[johnnyboy1965]

Ask him to go into any of the large supermarkets (Tesco/Sainsbury) and get one of each, or pick out individual names. they all stock about 20/30 Britsh ales and a good selection of European and Worldwide beers.
They cost about £1.80- £2.00 per bottle. It just depends on how many he wants to carry.
Keep the reciept as you can claim the duty back on them.

 

[banesong]

I have never had aspall, but if you like dry english cider, try Blackthorn. I prefer it over bulmers and strongbow.

 

[BrewNow]

Ask him to go into any of the large supermarkets (Tesco/Sainsbury) and get one of each, or pick out individual names. they all stock about 20/30 Britsh ales and a good selection of European and Worldwide beers.
They cost about £1.80- £2.00 per bottle. It just depends on how many he wants to carry.
Keep the reciept as you can claim the duty back on them.

+1 - I stopped by Tesco in Swansea with all good intentions to bring beer back to the US. They didn't make it beyond my hotel room. .

 

[StMarcos]

Aspall is drier than blackthorn, and is pretty good.

Went on a brewery tour at Cairngorm in Scotland. They had a bunch of beers, including Sheepshagger. Their strongest beer available was under 5%, and all of them pretty lackluster. They tax based on abv. There are some other good Scottish micros, just can remember them now.

Tactical Nuclear Penguin/Nanny State:

http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1978705,00.html

 

[gr8shandini]

They have one that is aged in barrels that is supposed to be amazing, Yorkshire Stingo, good luck finding it though. That would be what I would like to try!

I don't know if you ever get down to Charleston, but the Charleston Beer Exchange has Stingo (or at least it did last time I was there). At $14 a pint, I gave it a pass. Perhaps that was a mistake.

 

[tsans]

Fuller's Bengal Lancer IPA

 

[tjp68]

As an ex-pat Brit, I'd suggest Fullers 1845, which should be readily available. Alternatively, Timothy Taylor Landlord (mentioned above) is very good.

Best of all though, if your friend can get it, Hook Norton 12 Days. It's a winter seasonal - I had a case delivered to my parents so I could drink it while visiting England at Christmas. It's outstanding (just don't serve it too cold - 55-65 is about right).

1845 is available here, and probably the best beer in the world, IMO.

 

[ScottD13]

My cousin moved to London 3 years ago and just brought me some:
Thwaite's Very Nutty Black - delicious
Wolf Brewery's Granny Wouldn't like it - fantastic..searching all over the internet for a clone

Much of what I read in this thread can be gotten here in the US...ask him to speak with the owner of a bottle shop to find stuff that's not shipped to the US.

 

[SumnerH]

Meantime IPA is simply awesome if you can find it anywhere near fresh. It's hopped to levels reminiscent of American IPAs, but with British ingredients. Man, I love that beer.

 

[eljefe]

My cousin moved to London 3 years ago and just brought me some:
Thwaite's Very Nutty Black - delicious
Wolf Brewery's Granny Wouldn't like it - fantastic..searching all over the internet for a clone.

Have you tried contacting them for the recipe? They may give some pointers at the very least

 

[ScottD13]

Have you tried contacting them for the recipe? They may give some pointers at the very least

Not yet, but I will be.... good tip, thanks!