I started on real ale in earnest probably about 3 years ago now. I was in Loughborough for a course and determined that if I was ever going to stop my love affair with red wine (having already jilted lager several years previously), this was the ideal opportunity. The pub (and it's an excellent one) was the Swan in the Rushes and I have returned there every chance I have had since.
The chap who was my guide that night was a man a few years ahead of me on his own personal beer journey and I asked him for a few pointers.
London Pride was one of his first recommendations and I can see now, with the benefit of hindsight why this was. Hence this blog post.
For someone new to beer, this is an excellent introduction. As you may have seen on my twitter feed, I have mostly noted it as being 'middling', well, that's because it is. There isn't loads of malt (too much malt would scare a newbie away), too much bitter hoppiness would perform the same feat. This beer doesn't have an enormous bouquet, indeed, it doesn't smell all that different to some lagers.
All of these things don't make it sound like it is going to blow your socks off, that's ok though, because it isn't. It's not trying to dress itself up as something special, it already is. It's a good, honest English style ale, no more, no less. If you don't try this or something similar as a starter, you probably won't develop the need for some of the more excellent beers out there like Kipling from Thornbridge (my current favourite) - and that would be a real shame for you.
This beer can be a gateway to all other beers. Therefore I commend this beer to you, 7/10 if you are a seasoned beer guzzler, but if you are looking to make that first step towards your real ale awakening (and please do), 8/10.
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