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I wish I had a Bodd like that.
Rated 9.61 by 301 Beer Drinkers.
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Beer Smoothie - Boddington's Pub Ale
By Beer Belly Brew Master Rob Lieblein
Americans tend to poke a lot of fun at the British—the bad teeth, the ghastly cuisine (just what is "toad in the hole," anyway?), the Queen and warm beer are just a few of the things we like to harp on.
But Americans can also be fools, and their foolishness stems in part from a lack of understanding of British beer. The notion that beer needs to be ice-cold in order to be palatable is due to the fact that so much of our domestic, mass-produced beer is swill, and the colder it is, the less we taste its swillishness. (See Pabst Blue Ribbon review for further details.) Thankfully, the trend here has been toward higher quality beers that actually begin to taste better as they go from "cold" to "cool." And this has been the paradigm in British beer circles all along. They serve their beer cool. Not warm. Cool.
If you’ve ever been on a genuine British pub-crawl, you probably already know that British beer is in fact, some of the best beer in the world. And yet, with the exception of Bass Ale, how many beers from England readily come to mind? Well, one of my favorite Britbrews that seems to be gaining some recognition in the States is Boddingtons Pub Ale.
Boddingtons has been brewed exclusively in Manchester, England for 200 years, and since 1983 has been owned by Whitbread (a fine beer in its own right). The first time I ordered a "Bodd" I did it without any knowledge of what it would be like. I became a bit impatient as the bartender seemed to take an awful long time to pull the draught. Happily, my patience was rewarded with a stunning pint of deep golden, lightly carbonated ale topped by a very thick and creamy head. It looked almost too beautiful to drink! When I finally snapped out of my "Homer Simpson in the Land of Chocolate" reverie, I was utterly surprised by Boddington’s taste and quality.
I had expected something on the thin and bitter side, but what I got is more accurately described as "Vanilla Guiness." Boddington is rich and creamy and slightly sweet (you can sense a touch of honey as it goes down), and it leaves you with a clean, pleasant aftertaste in your mouth. It’s not a chugging beer, but if you’re like me you may find that your pint never actually leaves your hand until you offer it up for a refill. Bodd is probably enjoyed best by itself—that is, without a full meal—because it is so rich. What’s more, with autumn upon us and the football season in full swing, it’s a perfect beer to help you make the transition from beach sand to bar stool. I suspect it will also make you a better dart player.
I’ve only had Bodd on tap (served cool, of course), but I’ve also seen it sold by the four-pack in pressurized pint cans—like its darker cousin Guiness. A four-pack runs about $6.00 - $7.00. [Editor’s note: There is a four-pack chilling in my fridge as I type this… ooop!, make that a three-pack. Because the cans use the pressurized gas cartridge system, a great tap-like head and bubbly complexion is insured]. Boddingtons’ web site, featuring product spokescow "Graham Heffer" is also worth a look.
So next time you’re thinking of lampooning the British, consider this: if you lived in a country where such good beer has been the norm for centuries, isn’t it possible that you too might drink yourself to the point where oral hygiene was no longer a priority, toad-in-the-hole could be viewed as "comfort food," and having a Queen still seemed like a sensible thing?
Rated 9.61 by 301 Beer Drinkers.
Add Your Own Comment There are 193 Drinker Comments - Last 10 Displayed
1Roy» I would like to have Boddington's address so that I could write them a letter asking what the little plastic ball / valve is and why it is in the can of tastelss beer. 11JGriff» Love it! got hooked at an Irish pub in Detroit, and since have had to "settle" for cans. But still love it!!! 10Fredrick Whitaker» I had it when i was in San francisco. damn good beer, cant stop drinking it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 7Tommy bad teeth» im a brit, boddingtons draft is ok,from a can, not really. but if you think this is good you need to come to england or germany or belgium where you can find beers 10 times better. enjoy your beer! 11HotBodd» Vanilla Guinness is the perfect description. Good stuff. 10zorro» Wonderful stuff...very special. 8berzo12» had my first one tonight and it is excellent ive been wanting to try this one for a long time and it makes me sad that i waited this long. just a tip have a glass handy when opening. 11jack» awesome smooth beer. great head 10Morgan» Worth drinking just for the creamy head. Certainly the most luxuruous beer I have ever drank. 10ROY» I think it is a fine beer, this is my second time having it.The side of the can recommends to us to drink it at 41 degrees , i understand the cool beer thing. I drink most of my homebrew at cellar temps, usually in the early 50's degrees.
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"My father was never home; he was always drinking booze. He saw a sign saying "Drink Canada Dry!" So he went up there to do it." -Most notably, Henny Youngman.
