Comments on: When bottle-conditioned ale goes wrong

By: Mulling

Mulling — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 23:26:28 +0000

I have just returned home from a bar in Belfast…I drank 2 bottles of flat beer and then asked at the bar if there was a problem with the bottles. The guy who served me said to bring it back if it was flat but must have said to another barman who quickly came over and slammed the bottle on the bar and said there was nowt wrong with it… Poor service I have to say. I didn’t even bother bringing it back and needless to say I won’t be drinking there again. No wonder the chain of bars have gone into liquidation.

By: Rich

Rich — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 18:51:03 +0000

Bottle Conditioned Ales the sediment is a problem. If they don’t have time to settle then it’s easy to end up with a mucky pint. Thats the draw back with them, if you are drinking at home not to bad, but if you taking them to a friends to drink there is a needed wait before you can pour!

Had one poured by someone not knowing about the sediment the other day that made it almost undrinkable. Poured correctly and if they are a good pint they will taste very very good.

By: Ale Log » Blog Archive » Bottle Conditioned Ale

Ale Log » Blog Archive » Bottle Conditioned Ale — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 18:10:44 +0000

[...] Unfortunately, I can’t really say much in this beer’s favour other than the label. I wish I was wrong, but others seem to have had the same experience (see what James Cridland says). [...]

By: The Northerner

The Northerner — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 17:54:41 +0000

I received about 25 different bottled ales for Christmas (everyone knows me so well). This one was the first I tried, by the luck of the draw. I too found it to be quite nasty. The taste is just “off”. It was very sour and flat, although I’d not go so far as to say ‘undrinkable’. In all – just not very nice.

By: Paul Garrard

Paul Garrard — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 21:33:19 +0000

You should have no problem going back to Tesco and getting a refund. I suspect they will even thank you for the complaint.

RAIB is never 100% although there should be no reason why it shouldn’t be. Many breweries now seem to have cracked it but sadly a few leave a bit to be desired.

A poor pint or bottle are sadly good way to put the novice off drinking real ale.

By: martin

martin — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 16:19:24 +0000

Alastair: cache refund? :)

By: Henry Webster

Henry Webster — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 11:41:25 +0000

I’ve had a number of bad bottle conditioned beers over the years. I am reasonably happy to accept the risk, but like in pubs, the lack of consistency always risks putting off less well informed drinkers.

By: Michael Cook

Michael Cook — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 10:39:27 +0000

Big supermarkets will not quibble over returning your £1.44. Legally, of course, you are entitled to a refund if the product is not drinkable. Many supermarkets go beyond their statutory duty. Asda, for example, will pay back double your money on their own-branded priducts even if you just don’t like them (i.e. they’ll refund the purchase price then give you the same amount on top).

Write to their Tesco customer services with what you’ve written here and I expect they’ll send you a few quid in vouchers for your trouble. If you can be arsed, of course.

By: Alistair MacDonald

Alistair MacDonald — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 01:20:06 +0000

I have had a few bad pints over the years. Normally in a pub where there is never any problems getting a replacement pint.

The only time I had a bad pint at home I took the empty bottle and remaining full ones back to the supermarket. They asked for a name and address, but I got a full cache refund.