'Warm beer'? Myth and media cliche.

[William of Walworth]

Not seen many abusers of the 'warm beer' cliche on Urban of late, TBF.

However .... if any of you are even slightly guilty of going anywhere near the thoughtcrime of imagining that 'warm beer' actually exists, then STOP IT NOW.

And if you even contemplate repeating that thought-devoid, received-cliche laden nonsense-phrase, then KILL THAT THOUGHT even more!

Monbiot used that today, in an otherwise largely blameless op-ed article in the Graun ... about boarding schools being equivalent to child abuse (ONO ).

So I want to try once more to begin a discussion about an issue we still refuse to examine: early boarding. It is as British as warm beer, green suburbs and pointless foreign wars. Despite or because of that we won't talk about it.

John Major, many years ago, also used it in his once-famous speech from the 90s :

" ... country of long shadows on cricket grounds, warm beer, invincible green suburbs, dog lovers… and old maids bicycling to holy communion ... "

'Warm beer' is only as 'British' as the incompetent and useless landlords in the poorer pubs who won't bother to cool their cellars properly, and who can't be arsed to get Cask Marque accredition, or to do a proper cellar management course.

Admittedly such twats do exist, and should be fought and condemned, but the 'warm beer' canard amounts to anti-proper ale, anti-authentic ale propaganda, and those who keep repeating it should be imemdiatelt found convenient lampposts, or even better, neckshot squads, by the ....

CAMRA DIRECT ACTION COMMITTEE!!!!

(Only active whilst drunk! )

Hear this order : Drink and enjoy lightly chilled, well kept, regionally varied, and beautifully kept proper beer, this country's greatest pride!

And stop fucking cliche mongering!!!!

Discuss!

 

[free spirit]

only thing I disagree with there would be the cooling the cellar bit. A proper cellar shouldn't need cooling

 

[William of Walworth]

only thing I disagree with there would be the cooling the cellar bit. A proper cellar shouldn't need cooling

Agreed. A mere technicality. Wouldn't want to get over geekish in that one

BTW :

Real ale drinkers never start fights

TRUE DAT!!

 

[shagnasty]

Doesn't that expression date back to past when the landlords didn't have the means to chill the beer,and just a saying that lingers on

 

[ymu]

You're taking it all a bit literally, William. It's a relative thing. Refrigerated vs not refrigerated.

In Australia they refrigerate the glasses and serve beer in quarter litres so it doesn't warm up too much whilst being drunk. I worked in a bar there and you have to hold the glass at the very bottom whilst pouring or the customer can ask for a new one.

 

[Kid_Eternity]

I've always thought it was bollox, never seen it anywhere despite travelling all over these green lands....

 

[lighterthief]

Some real ale tastes better cool IMO - try a bottle of lightly chilled Spitfire, for example.

 

[ExtraRefined]

Some real ale tastes better cool IMO - try a bottle of lightly chilled Spitfire, for example.

Yeah, I prefer IPAs fridge cold myself

 

[FridgeMagnet]

You're taking it all a bit literally, William. It's a relative thing. Refrigerated vs not refrigerated.

In Australia they refrigerate the glasses and serve beer in quarter litres so it doesn't warm up too much whilst being drunk. I worked in a bar there and you have to hold the glass at the very bottom whilst pouring or the customer can ask for a new one.

Er, yes, it just means "not specifically cold beer", cellar-cold at best. It's not like people claim it gets heated up like baby milk.

 

[spawnofsatan]

I'm going to have to Mull this over.

 

[Louis MacNeice]

What about a nice warm barley wine or something like Harvey's Christmas Ale (8.5) or Double Imperial Stout (10.5), all of which I've had from a barrell on the bar top.

Cheers and bottoms up - Louis (looking for the exception that proves the rule) MacNeice

 

[DaveCinzano]

Blame Asterix.

 

[Kaka Tim]

Asterix and Obelix enjoy traditional British hospitality -

 

[Kaka Tim]

Hah - great minds Dave Cinzano!

I think majors 'warm beer' phrase is from Orwell - so another enemy for you there Will!

I'm a recent convert to beer (as opposed to lager) and personally I dont like my ale too cold. I tut tut when pubs keep their bottled ales in the fridge.

 

[danny la rouge]

Discuss!

It's a way of saying "beer which has not been chilled as much as I'd like".

I've had tepid beer. So it does exist.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

I tut tut when pubs keep their bottled ales in the fridge.

Yep me too.

I'm rather fond of the 'warm beer' stereotype. Certainly that Asterix quote made me smile.

Blame Dylan Thomas too:

'flat, warm, thin Welsh bitter beer'

 

[ExtraRefined]

I'm a recent convert to beer (as opposed to lager) and personally I dont like my ale too cold. I tut tut when pubs keep their bottled ales in the fridge.

Good pubs will have an ale fridge set to 10C or so

 

[krink]

i got served flat lager in a pub in winchester, it was terrible (and so was the beer). i've never been down south since.