Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Beer
The British take great pride in their beer. Many Brits think that drinking beer cold and car-
bonated, as Americans do, ruins the taste. Most pubs will have
lagers
(cold, refreshing,
American-style beer),
ales
(amber-colored, cellar-temperature beer),
bitters
(hop-flavored
ale, perhaps the most typical British beer), and
stouts
(dark and somewhat bitter, like
Guinness). At pubs, long-handled pulls are used to pull the traditional, rich-flavored “real
ales” up from the cellar. These are the connoisseur's favorites: fermented naturally, vary-
ing from sweet to bitter, often with a hoppy or nutty flavor. Notice the fun names. Short-
handled pulls at the bar mean colder, fizzier, mass-produced, and less interesting keg beers.
Mild beers are sweeter, with a creamy malt flavoring. Irish cream ale is a smooth, sweet
experience. Try the draft cider (sweet or dry)...carefully.
Pub Appreciation
The pub is the heart of the people's England, where all manner of folks have, for
generations, found their respite from work and a home-away-from-home. England's
