John Smiths Bitter

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Dec 12th 2008, 10:42 pm

#31

gryphea

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Joined: Feb 2007

Posts: 2,710

Re: John Smiths Bitter

Quote:

Originally Posted by iaink

Yep, it just about survived the trip to the other side of town and up the Otley Road to the Three Shoes where it was the (default) pint of choice, but beyond that...not so much! I dont ever recall finding a good pint of tetleys outside of Leeds come to think of it...

When were you there? I was there 1988-1995. Most of it spent in the three shoes or the Original Oak it seems

I spent a considerable amount of time in the original oak and the Skyrack 1990-1991. Lived in Meanwood, did M.Sc at Leeds. Taught by Terry Cousens and some old sexist geiser who used to talk about foundations for his washing line for his wife. Just mentioned them as they might have taught you

Dec 12th 2008, 11:03 pm

#32

Devil Girl

Jedi Master

Joined: Sep 2008

Location: The kingdom of Fife, Alba

Posts: 159

Re: John Smiths Bitter

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich_007

I'm a Midlander and I believe it tastes like a cross between cold tea, suds, and sheep piss.

LOL

I am also a midlander

Good luck in either getting John Smiths or finding an alternative

Dec 12th 2008, 11:10 pm

#33

Grayling

Bitter and twisted

Joined: Dec 2003

Location: Upmarket

Posts: 17,503

Re: John Smiths Bitter

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yorkshire Bird

in response to iaink on " bloody awful stuff" you must be a southerner

I am not a southerner.

John Smith's bitter is truly vile especially the chemical keg version.

In a country full of good real ale why would anyone drink it

Dec 12th 2008, 11:41 pm

#34

markan

Forum Regular

Joined: Sep 2007

Location: Whitby

Posts: 294

Re: John Smiths Bitter

Since Smiths and Worthingtons started with creamflow and smoothflow I now find it drinkable

Dec 13th 2008, 12:04 am

#35

compchris

Forum Regular

Joined: May 2007

Location: Stittsville, ON

Posts: 88

Re: John Smiths Bitter

Went to get a bottle of wine from the LCBO in Kanata yesterday and found that they stocked Marstons Pedigree in bottles... Never thought I'd see that here at all.

Dec 13th 2008, 1:15 am

#36

dbd33

Assimilated Pauper

Joined: Mar 2005

Location: Ontario

Posts: 40,018

Re: John Smiths Bitter

Quote:

Originally Posted by compchris

Went to get a bottle of wine from the LCBO in Kanata yesterday and found that they stocked Marstons Pedigree in bottles... Never thought I'd see that here at all.

I drank a lot of that last weekend. In a mate's garage. I fear that he's gone crazy in the colonies because the garage looks like this:

Attached Thumbnails

Last edited by dbd33; Dec 13th 2008 at 1:29 am.

Dec 13th 2008, 1:20 am

#37

johnh009

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Joined: Aug 2007

Posts: 1,782

Re: John Smiths Bitter

Quote:

Originally Posted by markan

Since Smiths and Worthingtons started with creamflow and smoothflow I now find it drinkable

Guiness hold the patent for the "widget", if this is the same thing as creamflow:

http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/question446.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Widget_(beer)

Last edited by johnh009; Dec 13th 2008 at 1:33 am.

Dec 13th 2008, 1:22 am

#38

johnh009

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Joined: Aug 2007

Posts: 1,782

Re: John Smiths Bitter

Quote:

Originally Posted by gryphea

WE lived near both John Smiths and Sam smiths and John Smiths is always considered an inferior mass produced pint

Interesting that Sam Smiths is Yorkshire's oldest brewery:

http://www.merchantduvin.com/pages/5.../samsmith.html

Dec 13th 2008, 1:28 am

#39

johnh009

BE Forum Addict

Joined: Aug 2007

Posts: 1,782

Re: John Smiths Bitter

Quote:

Originally Posted by iaink

I just find it hard to believe anyone would actually miss John Smiths. I seem to recall from my Student Daze in yorkshire that it was awful bloody stuff, worse even than Tetleys.

Now, Sam Smiths, that was a different thing altogether....

I am from Leeds and the problem I always found with Tetleys was that it varied so much from pub to pub. It was at it's worst when served around room temperature.

Sam Smiths was always classed as (and priced as) a premium beer, at least in relation to John Smiths.

Last edited by johnh009; Dec 13th 2008 at 1:38 am.

Dec 13th 2008, 1:35 am

#40

Grayling

Bitter and twisted

Joined: Dec 2003

Location: Upmarket

Posts: 17,503

Re: John Smiths Bitter

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnh009

Sam Smiths was always classes as (and priced as) a premium beer, at least in relation to John Smiths.

Sam Smiths still sells for around £1.30 a pint in most of their pubs.

the cheapest beer in the UK.

G

Dec 13th 2008, 2:15 am

#41

Jingsamichty

Lowering the tone

Joined: Mar 2007

Location: Here and there

Posts: 7,351

Jingsamichty has a reputation beyond repute

Re: John Smiths Bitter

Quote:

Originally Posted by iaink

How about Woodforde Wherry....a norfolk brew that was rightly champion beer on more than a few occasions. One of the best things about my stay in Norwich was the quality of the beer in that part of the world...Who knew! I certainly didnt, as far as I was concerned Yorkshire was the mother of all good beers...till I moved out to Norwich anyway.

Old Specled Hen too was another decent local(ish) pint, and seems to travel pretty well too.

Hear, hear, Iain. (I do love a beer thread!)

I spent a couple of years in Norfolk, right out in the sticks. Still have a house there, actually. One of the best things about it was the local pub in the village, a proper timbered local, fire on in the winter... and the most beautiful pint of Woodforde's Wherry you can imagine. Oh God, I'm drooling.

Anyway, here in my bit of west Calgary I can get London Pride for $2.50 a can, and Old Speckled Hen for the same price. When Pride and the 'Spotty Chicken' are sold out, I can (just about) get by on the Wells IPA - but it's not nearly as good. My local offy also has Boddingtons and Tetleys, all about $2.50 for a 500ml can.

Time for a Pride, methinks...

Dec 13th 2008, 2:44 am

#42

G77

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Joined: Sep 2005

Location: Windsor, ON

Posts: 3,374

Re: John Smiths Bitter

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbd33

I drank a lot of that last weekend. In a mate's garage. I fear that he's gone crazy in the colonies because the garage looks like this:

He's not been back to the UK since the 60's has he?

Dec 13th 2008, 2:55 am

#43

yorkie lad

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Joined: Apr 2008

Posts: 48

yorkie lad is an unknown quantity at this point

Re: John Smiths Bitter

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yorkshire Bird

Hi,

We are moving to Calgary in February and my husband is fretting about not having his beloved drink to comfort him.

Does anyone know of anywhere in Calgary that sells it for under $50 a case?

Thanks x

Tell your other half not to worry about his beer, as has already been said, there are other beers here that are pretty good......anything from Rickards should more than suit his tastes.
Coming from Yorkshire aswell, I enjoy a nice pint of bitter and Rickards Ale is spot on.

Dec 13th 2008, 12:18 pm

#44

Yorkshire Bird

Just Joined

Thread Starter

Joined: Dec 2008

Location: North Vancouver

Posts: 12

Yorkshire Bird is an unknown quantity at this point

Re: John Smiths Bitter

Thanks everyone, I will pass on all your comments to my hubby.

I have enjoyed following the conversations. Am new to the forum and was the first post I made.