BEER and football go together. Both have been demonised and sneered at over the years. And some people have fallen for it.
Wine drinkers.
Two of the worst trends in British society over the last 25 years have been football’s move upmarket and the creeping mythology that somehow drinking wine makes you sophisticated. It doesn’t.
Wine is for the poncey bourgoise – and insecure working-class men who want the approval of their ‘betters’. They accept knighthoods and take every opportunity to talk about their favourite tipple, just to show the world they’ve got a touch of class. Well, Sir Alex, go and have Pinot Noir with the prawn sandwich eaters you profess to hate. I’m going on the ale like a real man, not a Frenchman.
Join the revolution: drink proper beer. It costs – sometimes more than the bland, mass produced plonk you swirl round the glass at Abigail’s Party – and it might be challenging. After all, it’s not Carling I’m talking about here. But the taste will have roots in your culture. Here’s five beers to try on your travels.
Home comfort: ShipWreck IPA, Liverpool Organic Brewery (6.5%). IPA’s are the Ordinary Boys of drinking. Strong, dangerous and stylish and they’ll bite you if you mess with them. This Scouse version isn’t the strongest but that means you can throw down a few. It’s bitter, the way beer should be.
Just Capital: Meantime London Pale (4.3%) Venture south of the river and you’re into Meantime’s manor. It’s also Millwall’s manor. Drink the London Pale and you’ll be OK, Drink the souped up IPA at 7.5% and you’ll be ready to bounce up to the Den and confront Harry The Dog. Quality stuff all round.
Pure new Wool: Curious, Magic Rock (3.9%). Huddersfield has given us great things. Herbert Chapman, Bill Shankly and now Curious. Yeah, it’s not strong but it’s tasty. More complex than its stength shows and you can throw a gallon down you without ending up with a ‘made in Yorkshire’ tattoo around your belly button.
Light fantastic: Camden Helles Lager (4.6%). Lagers aren’t crap by definition. Just most are. Even the German beer industry is being swallowed up by the multinationals. So get off at Euston, go out towards the main road and drink this stuff in the bar in the forecourt. If anyone asks you the time, say “time for a Helles”. They’ll get the picture.
Religious experience: Orval (6.2%). It’s Belgian, it’s made by monks and it’s God’s home brew. If you’re going to go abroard, you wouldn’t come back with K-Swiss, would you? So screw Stella. Orval is like discovering Spezials in 1979. Original and classic.
Scouse beers? What about Cains? Then there are the beers in Southport, Rainford and Frodsham all worth a mention. Come on fella, do yer research. This is not some half baked national newspaper yer know.
So drinking wine means you’re a ponce now?
Grow up Tony… Jesus.
On The Mersey: Wools stay in their Milltowns. Scousers travel. Enjoy Southport, Rainford and Frodsham.
And Dan, yes it does. It really does.
:) Ha, nearly a put down.
I remember feeling quite sophisticated drinking Stella in Dunkirk with a Jew and an Arab on the way (figuratively) to Rome 77. Try the feisty Frodsham ale my good man, or the Golden Sands [sic] beverage of Southport. There are still plenty of good things at home, particularly for those of us who have returned to the promised land.
beer and footie do go hand in hand, sadly for a nation of beer drinkers we dont half produce shite beer. personally im always on the lookout for pubs that sell foreign tipple, special mention to the ship and mitre which has a wonderful selection from estrella dam, pilsner urquell and erdinger all on tap.
as for wine, i unashamedly admit i do love it but its rare ill have it at the match, saying that do tend to get on it after wins against the mancs and blueshite and end up in a right state.
I’d have Cains IPA over Liverpool Organic everyday
then rocky your very easily pleased ,cains is bollix, sure your not a blue?
Gotta disagree mate, Cains Raisin beer is a fantastic ale.
I thought i was a working man who enjoyed football, but i like a glass of red with my dinner so i guess I aint anymore? i like the taste simple!
I would’v had bath Gem in there, I rarely go for the IPA if there is a decent bitter real ale on offer
what’s your desert island brew tone? i was having a chat a whisky drinker who said his desert island malt was highland park 18 year old. to be fair its really not bad but i’d like to hear about the best of the best.
Nice one Tony.Pale Ale is the future,no gas and doesn’t give you the “you only live once!!!”feeing after four pints.I bet ye On the Mersey has either a tatoo or an earring.
tony is a journo who makes his living from telling people what to think
beer wine whisky even the occasional g and t
its not political
just get em in!!!!
pete – working class and skint.
What a load of bollocks, I am a scouser through and through , love football ,love LFC,love salt of the earth Liverpool people.i also love to drink red wine and am neither poncey, bourgeoise or trying to be some working class hero,stangely I happen to enjoy it !!
Cheers Tony lad,I’ll do that,and you have a good’n too,