Can you recommend me some sweet British beers?
Posted by DrumAnimal@reddit | AskABrit | View on Reddit | 64 comments
Hello there guv'nors! Or something like that :)
A few weeks ago, I asked the beer community on Reddit about (dark) British beers that are on the sweet side. I wanted to crosspost this on your subreddit today, but apparently that's not allowed. So I guess I'll have to make a completely new post.
So, I'm a Belgian visiting London soon, and I'm looking for some beer recommendations. This isn't my first visit to London, but it will be the first visit since my "discovery" that I like the sweeter brown ales. Those include Rochefort 10, Gouden Carolus Imperial Dark, Chimay Bleu, Gulden Draak Classic, Sint-Bernardus Abt 12 and my absolute favourite : Kasteel Donker.
I've been doing some research online, and it has lead me to things like milk stout, oatmeal stout, tropical stout and honey beer. I have to admit that I've ignored stout beers due to disliking Guinness. But that's obviously that's an Irish stout, and now I'm reading that British stouts are a lot sweeter.
I'm interested to read your recommendations! Thanks in advance. Cheerio!
StonedMason85@reddit
I’ve not seen it for years since I don’t really drink any more but whenever anyone mentions a sweet beer I remember drinking one called Top Banana, I worked at a pub and my boss told me to try this one before opening one day as it’s a great “breakfast beer” but I drank so much he ended up covering my shift and we stayed on the piss all day.
DrumAnimal@reddit (OP)
The only one that I could find is Speyside Brewery Top Banana. Sadly no longer being produced it seems ...
StonedMason85@reddit
The one I had was by Caledonian but I’ve just checked and they no longer produce it either.
peachandbetty@reddit
Bacchus raspberry beer is lovely
DrumAnimal@reddit (OP)
I believe that's actually from a Belgian brewery, only a 20 minute drive from where I live :) Very tasty indeed!
Original-Classic7026@reddit
Abbot ale is dark with a sweet finish- not bad.
DrumAnimal@reddit (OP)
That's from Greene King, correct? At least that's what I'm finding on Google.
Lower_Inspector_9213@reddit
Newcastle Brown Ale
The_edref@reddit
Less of a dark beer but Innis and Gunn Original (not the lager or IPA which are much more widely available) is kinda sweet. Malty with a bit of almost caramel/toffee to it. It's a golden ale not a stout. Where I'm at it's quite available in most supermarkets in bottles but quite rare in pubs. It's definitely one of my favorites so I recommend highly.
trysca@reddit
Great - jogged my memory, ta
trysca@reddit
Might be trickier to find in London but my very favourite local beers are Otter Ales, Bath Ales and Dartmoor Brewery- Legend & Jail Ale - as well as Devon Dumpling can be found bottled. Some Sharps of Cornwall are good too - you might find on draught in London.
They are classic malty british ales with nutty, sweet rounded flavours - not miles away from London Pride which is my go to otherwise. The Scots also make some excellent ales but no names come to mind, maybe Harviestoun?
Have an intense dislike for the sour and over-hopped beers that are currently in fashion.
mrshakeshaft@reddit
Badger do a beer called “blandford fly” they sell it in sainsburys. It’s sweet and with a bit of ginger to it. It’s hands down my favourite beer
msmoth@reddit
Badger's Golden Glory is also sweet but not dark.
Used to really enjoy a Badger beer - haven't had one in ages!!
mrshakeshaft@reddit
I tried their coffee stout last night. Very very good I thought.
BigBunneh@reddit
If it's not on your list, try and get hold of Hammerton Brewery's "Crunch" peanut butter milk stout - you could visit the brewery's taproom itself, in London: https://maps.app.goo.gl/piepeRHhziSFtXVM7
CaterpillarLoud8071@reddit
If you go down to London bridge, there's a beer mile under the railway tracks - there are lots of little bars and breweries, including some that make mead.
mepmepmek@reddit
The Vocation Brewery Naugtht & Nice, Chocolate Caramel Cookie stout is delicious!
elementarydrw@reddit
Milk stout for sure. The Bristol Beer Factory does a good one that is relatively widely available.
The other one to look out for is a Plum Porter. The Titanic Brewery does a good one.
Kazimierz777@reddit
Came here to recommend titanic plum porter, game changer.
Love to know any other similar beers. Only one I’ve so found so far that I don’t mind is (gulp) Brewdog Elvis Juice..
msmoth@reddit
Brew York's Tonkoko, maybe?
Sweaty_Sheepherder27@reddit
Is that Wiper and True?
elementarydrw@reddit
No, the Bristol Beer Factory is it's own brewery, and their milk stout is just called 'milk stout', :)
Sweaty_Sheepherder27@reddit
Ah, thank you.
Robmeu@reddit
This one, all day long. Fabulous pint.
Bennie16egg@reddit
Theakstone's Old Peculiar.
JimDixon@reddit
It's actually spelled Peculier. (Maybe you knew that but your spellchecker overrode your typing.) And it's Theakston. https://www.theakstons.co.uk/pages/theakstons-old-peculier
bitterlemon80@reddit
My husband's favourite beer, and also the reason we got together. I was working in the only pub in the city with OP on draft, he became a regular, and now we're married with two kids!
FunkyOperative@reddit
Carlsberg Special Brew is awesome and dark and malty and sweet.
n3ver3nder88@reddit
I haven't got round to trying it yet because I've been, funnily enough, focussed on exploring Belgian Trappist ale, but there's an English Trappist/Abbey beer called Tynt Meadow that might be up your alley.
DrumAnimal@reddit (OP)
Oh man, I can't believe I forgot about Tynt Meadow!! I visited the beer museum in Chimay last year, and there was a closet there that showed all the trappist breweries. So not only the Belgian ones, but also e.g. the dutch Zundert and La Trappe, and yes also Tynt Meadow!
I should definitely try that one, thanks :)
n3ver3nder88@reddit
Looking at the photo I've got a few more breweries to try! I'd love to do an Abbey tour at some point, though I think most only have a visitor centre where you can pick up the beer and other stuff they might make, rather than proper tours. The idea of trying the none-commercial recipes appeals too.
Have you tried Westvleteren 12? I've seen there's meant to be some commonalities with the St Bernardus 12 due to the shared yeast strains, and one person said the extra effort & cost of getting hold of Westvleteren (compared to St Bernardus being in supermarkets at a regular beer price) makes it not worth it.
But going back to your OP now I've thought about it a bit, I'd echo recommendations for the more 'red' or Amber English ales like Spitfire, Fursty Ferret or Black Sheep. These styles seem to be dying off a bit in favour of IPA's over the past decade (the cynic in me thinks it's so breweries can just add more hops if they fuck up a brew and pass it off as another double hopped monstrosity..) but that biscuity note with mild bitterness is a common theme you might enjoy.
DrumAnimal@reddit (OP)
I have to agree with that one person concerning Westvleteren. It's a fine beer, but not worth the extra effort and cost. St Bernardus Abt 12 is definitely on equal footing imho. Except it's not a trappist, while Westvleteren is. As far as trappist goes, my favorites are Rochefort 10 and blue Chimay (from what I've tried so far). Honestly though, there's no discernable difference between abbey beer and trappist.
Thanks for the tip regarding red ale, I'll add them to the ginormous list :)
DrumAnimal@reddit (OP)
Here's my (poor-quality) picture of the trappist closet (or is it cabinet?) in the Chimay trappist museum.
2in3day1889@reddit
In addition to the frequent Titanic Plum Porter and Bristol Milk Stout recommendations - Thornbridge's Cocoa Wonderland (named after a local chocolate shop) and Samuel Smith's Chocolate Stout (available from bottle shops) are both lovely.
DrumAnimal@reddit (OP)
As a reference, the following has been recommended to me over at r/beer (+ some of my own research) :
ColourfulCabbages@reddit
I work for a small brewery in southwest London. I'm not sure on advertising rules for this subreddit surrounding self promotion, but feel free to DM me and I can give you the details. We do a range of beers throughout the year and are entering the season for darker brews. I'd happily give you some tasters and can show you around the brewery if you'd like?
AnonymousWaster@reddit
Titanic Plum Porter - if it's served right on draft it is amazing, like velvet in a glass. But then again you'll be in London and cockneys can't serve beer to save their lives: it'll probably be warm and flat.
DrumAnimal@reddit (OP)
So probably better if I buy it bottled (or canned) and then save it to pour in a glass back home? Still not the same as draft, but probably the closest I can get.
AnonymousWaster@reddit
If you can find cask ale in good condition, there's nothing better. However, this is London we are talking about so your odds are not great.
You can easily find Titanic Plum Porter in bottles at a lot of larger supermarkets.
Also, a mention for another 2 top tier beers I forgot (although you'll be lucky to find these in pubs on draft)...
Tiny Rebel Stay Puft - marshmallow porter. Green Duck The Storm - winter berries stout
Stuffedwithdates@reddit
mild ales should be to your liking.
JimDixon@reddit
I agree - but the only place I ever tasted "mild" was at Blists Hill, an open-air museum near Telford, Shropshire, a recreation of a Victorian village. The pub was selling "mild" in the interest of historical authenticity. I don't know where it was brewed. I have never seen mild offered in any other pub, although I have visited many of them. I liked it.
toolah1511@reddit
Velveteen by Dark Revolution
Capt_cluster_fuck@reddit
Sadlers Mud City Stout
restingbitchsocks@reddit
Very disappointed that no one has mentioned this classicSweetheart Stout
Glad_Possibility7937@reddit
Hanlons Port Stout is well recommended if you see it.
Flat_Fault_7802@reddit
McEwans Export
DrumAnimal@reddit (OP)
When I check the McEwans website, I also see a beer called Champion. How does that compare to the Export? Its ABV is closer to Belgian dark beer in any case.
the-bagging-area@reddit
Mcewans Champion reminds me of the Gordon’s Scotch ale you get in Belgium. Not quite as strong, but same ball park.
Queasy-Ad-18706@reddit
Yes, Champion could be classed as a,sweetish beer. Very full bodied and tasty. Export, one of my favourites is more like traditional bitter.
Flat_Fault_7802@reddit
Champion was brewed for a beer competition which I think it won. A higher ABV than Export but similar in taste. Just stronger. Both are nice in my opinion.
IntraVnusDemilo@reddit
Went down Kelham at weekend and had Iron Brew Sour....mental, loved it.
MaverickFegan@reddit
My favourite was Brewdogs mr president, which is a double hop, the best beer I ever drank, there’s also Elvis Juice which has a citrus kick.
Away-Activity-469@reddit
I recommend a visit to the Southampton Arms pub in Kentish Town while you're in London.They are bound to have what you want, plus you can accompany your beer with an excellent pork pie and/or scotch egg.
Cerbitus@reddit
There’s a brewery in Blaydon (just outside Newcastle upon Tyne) called Firebrick. They do the most amazing stout called SugarSpun Stout. Sweet, strong and surprisingly light. Got to try it…
Sad_Cardiologist5388@reddit
Brewdog - Cocoa psycho
Northern Monk - chocolate fudge brownie
Tiny Rebel - Stay Puft (marshmallow Flavoured
DrumAnimal@reddit (OP)
Couldn't find Cocoa Psycho on Brewdog's website, but there's lots of other interesting ones that I'm seeing! Like Rocky Road stout and 5AM Saint red ale.
Breakwaterbot@reddit
Why not give us a shout over on r/UK_beer
We're a friendly bunch and there definitely be people who will be able to help you out.
DrumAnimal@reddit (OP)
I definitely will, thanks!
There's always more than 1 subreddit for any 1 subject it seems xD
jonewer@reddit
Sainsburys does a Chocolate Orange Stout that I rate quite highly.
Generally traditional amber coloured bitters will (counterintuitively) be sweeter than pales, so even London Pride or Spitfire might be sweet enough, depending on your taste.
So basically go by colour - dry stouts/porters do exist but because darker beers tend to have a high proportion of caramelised/unfermentable sugars, they'll usually be sweeter.
Miss-Hell@reddit
If you can get the wiper and true milk stout it is AMAZING!
find a beer shop and go in and ask! They would love to help you. Some also have tap rooms in the beer shop as well so you can try a few while in there.
DrumAnimal@reddit (OP)
I've got Utobeer in Borough Market on my list as must-visit :) Any other shop you'd recommend?
Miss-Hell@reddit
I'm not too sure about London beer shops as I live in Gloucestershire but Borough Market is great!
DazzlingClassic185@reddit
You should definitely try Titanic Brewery’s Plum Porter
DrumAnimal@reddit (OP)
I was going to list the beers I had recommended to me over in r/beer, but my post kept getting removed for some reason, so I started leaving it out.
But Titanic Plum Porter was definitely one of them! Thx for confirming its place on my list :)