Matching Real Ale to the ASHES

[Fatgodzilla]

I have copied a number of the real ale recipes found here, noting many are clones of regional ales found around the place. But what I would like to do is put down five real ales for the 2009 Ashes cricket series being played next year. The games are being played at Lords (London) Edgebaston (Birmingham) Cardiff, Headingley and The Oval. Simple, what real ale recipes do we have here that come from these specific towns.

Sadly, I don't have 5 wooden casks sitting about, so will need to bottle condition the brews. Also sadly, whilst down here in Australia we can get good supplies of marris otter pale malt, Wyeast & Whitelabs yeast and EKG / fuggles / styrian hops etc, its hard to source specific specialist malts unless made by Bairds or Weyermanns. So don't try and throw in a malt milled only in Spotwwood on Glootabury or stuff like that.

I know this request should appeal to cricket loving beer fanatics like a few of you are, so please see what you can do. And what with you Poms unearthing some pretty good swing bowlers lately and us Aussies replacing our aged heroes with a new bunch of tyros, the 2009 Ashes series looks a good'un.

Your good advice appreciated from the colonies.

[Dennis King]

The nearest to lords may be Fullers, Youngs was just down the road to the oval but is now brewed in Bedford, Cardiff would be Brains, Leeds Tetleys and Birmingham M&B. I`m sure the are a lot of other smaller brewerys but these are the main ones. hope that helps you drown your sorrows next year

[Stonechat]

I'll be brewing some Donnington SBA and hoping the SBA will describe Soundly Beaten Australia

However it might have to be Fuller's ESB, if our lot self-destruct like they did in the test against South Africa

[Fatgodzilla]

Where's Donnington's in relation to a cricket ground ? Any other good London brew clones available ?

[drsmurto]

Dont forget the secret ingredient FGZ - mints ......

[Stonechat]

Where's Donnington's in relation to a cricket ground ? Any other good London brew clones available ?

Donnington is in the Cotswolds, a picture postcard sort of place full of tourists.

Here's a recipe from BYOBRAAH for Fuller's ESB. The brewery is the last major one left in London, in Chiswick, and they brew good beer.

OG 1054 Brewlength 25litres

Pale Malt.......5350g
Crystal Malt...180g
Flaked Maize...420g
Black Malt...34g

Start of Boil
Target....20g
Challenger...29g

Last 15 mins of boil
Goldings...20g
Irish Moss...10g

Mash 66c for 90 mins
Racking Gravity 1013
ABV 5.6%

Fullers have recently changed their recipes in order to lose the flaked maize in their beers and others may post more up to date recipes, but when I did the one above it came pretty close.

[Fatgodzilla]

Dont forget the secret ingredient FGZ - mints ......

Sick little South Australian ( we tolerate them cos Coopers comes from there .. damn good spin bowlers though those SAs. Bradman played there for a while too so we must be nice to them)

Does Wales have any distinctive beers other than Brains .. their range looks more London than Welsh .. the Irish have stouts .. what do the Welsh have other than shovels ?

[bconnery]

I have copied a number of the real ale recipes found here, noting many are clones of regional ales found around the place. But what I would like to do is put down five real ales for the 2009 Ashes cricket series being played next year. The games are being played at Lords (London) Edgebaston (Birmingham) Cardiff, Headingley and The Oval. Simple, what real ale recipes do we have here that come from these specific towns.

Your good advice appreciated from the colonies.

As a cricket and real ale loving brewer, although Australian and no longer living in the land of real ale this idea appeals to me

I don't have any easy answers right now but I think this is a good excuse for some web searching and recipe creation, even though the list is long enough already...
FG, even though it doesn't always mention breweries, and you may have been inspired by this already, but there is an article in the latest Beer and Brewer about where and what to drink for each ashes test.

London definitely screams Fullers, you could always choose more than one fullers for the two london tests. Youngs may have moved but cricket is often about what used to be not what is now so you could stretch there I think. Meantime may not be close to the cricket grounds but they make great beer so that's another option.

Cardiff has to be Brains. I'm know there are other welsh beers but that is the classic.

Edgebaston (Birmingham) - I recall that in the members they actually had a best and a mild on tap M&B I'm certain it was... (I won hospitality tickets to the Saturday of the test here in 2001. Surprisingly I still remember it well) Make yourself a balti to eat while you drink whatever you go for with this one

Headingley, there will be heaps to choose from up this way, the trick will be narrowing it down...

When I have some more ideas, and I will, I'll post back.

[Fatgodzilla]

Okay, primary research done on some beers.
A Fullers ESB clone it is to celebrate the Lords game.

Outside the square thinking for The Oval test, the home club's (Surrey) colours are apparently chocolate and silver Plus the first Australian touring cricket team was an aboriginal team. Therefore to celebrate I will make a chocolate porter and drink only from a silver tankard I have had for years. Have several receipes to choose from and will decide in due course.

For the Cardiff game I have ignored Brains (never tasted, never seen sold in Australia, though likely someone does it) and found a interesting brew called Felinfoel Double Dragon on this site. Looks good and with Brambling Cross (would never of thought of buying this hop)

Edgebaston is Yorkshire country so why not a Timothy Taylor Landlord.

Headingly - well I haven't researched that one. What do you locals think.

[Fatgodzilla]

Okay got the last two mixed up. Headingley is in Yorkshire, Edgbaston in Birmingham. Found reference to a now dead beer called Brew XI made by Mitchell's & Butler (apparently still made by Brains). Anyone tried it / remember it ? Love the name and its slogan - "beer for the men of the Midlands", so maybe someone will tell me its type / colour etc. Only thing I know is it was 3.9%ABV.

[Dennis King]

Double Dragon is a good choice, and Landlord is pure class.For the Birmingham one there are some good beers in the West Midlands area, there is a recipe for Batham best bitter in the Grahme Wheeler book. Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby sounds good but I`ve never tried it. Good luck lads great idea, just don`t expect us poms to brew Fosters or Castlemaine.

[Dennis King]

Seem to remember Brew X1 was a bit bland, only drank it a few times a long while ago.

[Alton_Bee]

IF the 5th test is at The Oval (which I suspect it will be) why not go for a London Porter such as Whitbread 1850 Porter. For the recipe look at The Durden Park website.

[alefric]

Okay, primary research done on some beers.
A Fullers ESB clone it is to celebrate the Lords game.

Outside the square thinking for The Oval test, the home club's (Surrey) colours are apparently chocolate and silver Plus the first Australian touring cricket team was an aboriginal team. Therefore to celebrate I will make a chocolate porter and drink only from a silver tankard I have had for years. Have several receipes to choose from and will decide in due course.

For the Cardiff game I have ignored Brains (never tasted, never seen sold in Australia, though likely someone does it) and found a interesting brew called Felinfoel Double Dragon on this site. Looks good and with Brambling Cross (would never of thought of buying this hop)

Edgebaston is Yorkshire country so why not a Timothy Taylor Landlord.

Headingly - well I haven't researched that one. What do you locals think.

Headingly is the yorkshire one....Taylors is a good choice but try Golden Best instead of landlord.....more of a session beer and a bit summery in style

[Fatgodzilla]

IF the 5th test is at The Oval (which I suspect it will be) why not go for a London Porter such as Whitbread 1850 Porter. For the recipe look at The Durden Park website.

Found that recipe and have adopted and adapted it to make my "chocolate" porter. Ordered a wyeast whitbread yeast for it.

Headingly is the yorkshire one....Taylors is a good choice but try Golden Best instead of landlord.....more of a session beer and a bit summery in style

Haven't found that one but will look for it .. thank's for the heads up.