Watneys Red

[WallyBrew]

They used to have it in a few nightclubs I frequented in the early seventies (must have been 1973 or 4) - it was utter p*ss.

This is confirmation of the writing on the wall in the gent's toilet of the Bull Hotel in Chislehurst (Youngs) where someone had written "pipeline direct to Watneys". I suspect they were not the only supplier.

[Scooby]

guess i am not brew red then!!

I feel a little bit guilty about all the negative responses to toplad's enquiry

I am a long time member of a photographic club and recall a relativley new member entering his first competition, a picture of a swan. The judges first comment was 'Oh no, not another swan picture' (the photograpic equivalent of Red Barrel) the guy never returned to the club.

I've looked at the starlight/special bitter recipe's in Dave line's book and they aren't up to much, so now that Graham has decided to stay (good move) how about he comes up with a suitable recipe for toplad, and if he decides to go with it he can give us some feed back.

[Sneezewort]

I was working in Hongkong in 1966 when the first barrels of keg beer arrived by sea, about six weeks out from UK. It was Red Barrel and the bar in the Manderin Hotel in Victoria imported it. All us ex pats went wild for it and drank the lot in about four days. Although the local San Miguael was a good beer, being able to have a pint of bitter was something else. About the same time an Australian company was trying to give away, for free, a tinned lager via NAAFI to the services. It received a very poor reception and most stuck with San Mig, the beer was called Fosters, anyone heard of it????
Must admit when I got back to UK a few of years later the Red Barrel didn't seem quite as good as I recalled it being when it wasm, I think, the only bitter in the Far East.

[Whorst]

I remember in the mid 80's, you could buy it in California for $2.99 for a 2 liter bottle. I thought it was quite good. It was amber and quite rich tasting. I also remember buying a beer called Tolly Cobbaled? That was killer, and at $2.99 a six pack, you couldn't beat it.

[Bryggmester]

Tolly Cobbold was the name of a long established brewery in Ipswich, unfortunately it closed down several years ago.

[steve_flack]

It was bought and closed by Ridleys who were in turn bought and closed by Greene King on their tour of destruction.

[steve_flack]

There's a mention of a Red Barrel recipe in the link below - but I'm not sure I believe it.

Link