English Pubs, Specifically London?

Question

I'll be going to England this year, and looking forward to it. I kind of have a silly question, but if you're a beer drinker you'll understand. Like many bars across the US, they have beer on tap,.....but I have heard that in England, the pints are served lukewarm. Is this true,.......or do they have cold beer on tap, and in bottles? Thanks for the help,.......

Answer 1

I am a professional in the drinks trade in England and grew up in London. Like most young Englishmen, I enjoy the occasional pint of Lager. Over here, American beers such as Bud and Miller are not nearly as popular as the European Lagers such as Stella Artois and Kronenbourg 1664, which tend to have a stronger, richer flavour and more body to them. These are still, however, served cold or 'extra-cold.'

As the answer above states, it is generally best to ask for a lager, as a barman who is asked for "a beer" will want to know if you want lager, bitter, ale or stout.

You can buy US beers on tap here, and most pubs and bars sell bottles of American beer, but don't limit yourself. Try our 'non-fizzy, warm, dark' beers that seem so alien to most tourists. Some of them are great and, who knows, you may discover something you really like!

Happy pubbing!

Answer 2

English beer is served at cellar temperature -- that is so that their flavors can be appreciated. These beers are probably quite different to what you have previously encountered and it might be worth your while to try one or two -- ask the bar staff or nearby drinkers for suggestions/advice and order a half pint to test it. Some pubs will let you have a taste.

Many pubs are rightly proud of the range of beers that they serve. These beers are living beers and have natural bubbles - rather than the dead pasteurised beers that have carbon dioxide injected at the point of serving.

If you want American style beer served cold, then ask for lager, all pubs serve a range of these which are alsoe served on draught and available in bottles. You can get Budweiser on draught too -- what brands are served in a pub or bar depend a lot on which company owns the pub.

Enjoy your visit, expect things to be different from back home. If they weren't then you may as well not travel, eh?

Answer 3

Hi there
I spent a semester of college in London- i lived on Edgeware, tube stop marble Arch...Oh it was fabulous. sigh.

Anyways. BEER- is not warm, but it's not cold either. There is NO ICE- you don't even get ice when you order a soda or water, you have to ask for it.

Don't worry, the beer is so good there, you won't notice after the first sip. They have tons of beers that we don't have here. I still miss a few of them. Some of my favorites (and I am a coors light drinker, mind you) were Carlsberg, Smitticks (it's not spelled that way but that's how you say it), Bass, Harp, and one called Breo that was a white beer...mm so good. There were German ones too that I loved- Forbidden Fruit and Kreik (cherry beer.)

Most beer is on tap there-- you cannot get a budweiser anywhere but a hotel i would think, but they have Heineken. I got bottles only a few times, mostly pints.
Have fun- don't worry you will love it!