Answers.Body: <p>If you're in the South West, then it's definitely worth checking out Otter Brewery (a really good range with a cracking bitter). Also Abbey Ales are the only ales actually brewed in Bath, not to say that Bath Ales aren't great, but this is real Bath ale! Depending how far SW you go, Exeter Brewery's Avocet Ale is a nice drop that you can have a really good session with. 
  Hope this helps!</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-07-10T14:04:04.260Z
Answers.Text: Thanks, I will certainly give those a try. I really appreciate the multiple suggestions!
Answers.UserDisplayName: t0rn
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-07-10T13:06:52.607Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2015-07-10T13:06:52.607Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: WillyD
Answers.Body: <p>If you're really willing to push your own limits, try <strong><em>The Wild</em></strong>'s sour/wild beers. I became aware of them last year completely by accident, in a trip to UK, and loved their <em>Modus Operandi</em> beer. I also had another very light pale sour wich wasn't remarkable compared to the first one, but fairly ok. (I guess it probably should have had more time in the bottle to develop and reach its full potential).</p>
  
  <p>Sours beers are not for everyone, and the common first reaction to them is negative. But, if one get over that first shocking experience, go on and try it again, people usually fall in love with it.</p>
  
  <p>They are called <em>Wild</em> because they use in their fermentation process, in addition to possible other yeasts, <em>brettanomyces</em> yeast, also known as wild yeast, a different species, found in some kinds of wine and belgians beers (lambics, flanders red), which gives very rustic but complex and delightful aromas to the beer. It doesn't actually makes a beer sour (it actually produces a very small amount of acid only), but "wild" beers usually have other types of what is called bugs (bacteria and other fungi) in it, which does leave a lot of acid to the final beer, making it sour.</p>
  
  <p>They also have regular beers (IPA, Saison, Pale Ale), and they're almost always creative and daring on their recipes. I guess, whether you like it or not, all their beers are worth a try, because those guys seem to take brewing very seriously and you can expect nothing less than quality stuff.</p>
  
  <p>I wish I was still there to taste all their beers.</p>
  
  <p>And a bonus: they're from Evercreech, soutwest. ;) Look it up at <a href="http://www.wildbeerco.com/beers/" rel="nofollow">their site</a> and see what they've got.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-07-19T13:34:13.730Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2015-07-19T13:34:13.730Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Edson Marquezani Filho
Answers.Body: <p>Have you tried <a href="https://www.wickwarbrewing.co.uk" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Wickwar Brewery</a>? If you like darker beers, the <strong>Station Porter</strong> is one of the best I have ever tasted. It's got a great brewery shop and well worth a visit.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-07-13T09:50:20.103Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2020-04-17T12:58:47.487Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2020-04-17T12:58:47.487Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: swimon
Answers.Body: <p>I am pleased to add a pint that I enjoyed particularly: <a href="https://www.hanlonsbrewery.com/beer-range/firefly-bitter/" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><strong>Firefly Bitter</strong></a> is an excellent 3.7% amber ale produced by <strong>Hanlons Brewery</strong> in the county of Devon.</p>
  
  <p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/ZTXWO.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/ZTXWO.jpg" alt="Hanlons Firefly Bitter"></a></p>
  
  <p>Further, why not to try those of <a href="https://www.staustellbrewery.co.uk/beers-and-brewing" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><strong>St. Austell</strong></a> from Cornwall?</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-04-02T17:06:42.287Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2020-05-24T14:17:00.023Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2020-05-24T14:17:00.023Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: MattAllegro
Answers.Body: <p>Not a great answer since I have no specifics for you.  Going out to local bars and stores selling beer and shopping around can find you stuff, but it's expensive.  Though if you're lucky someone might be at one of these places to help you.</p>
  
  <p>Another avenue might be to use something like beeradvocate.com, ratebeer.com or untappd.com to get recommendations based on how you rate beers you've had but these are only as good as other user's ratings... They may miss a lot of small or new brands and might not necessarily recommend beers you can actually find near you.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-07-09T14:27:13.817Z
Answers.Text: Thank you for taking the time to suggest some extra avenues; appreciate it.
Answers.UserDisplayName: t0rn
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-07-09T14:24:55.943Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2015-07-09T14:24:55.943Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Sloloem
Body: <p>I would like the other beer enthusiasts to suggest some new ales for me to try. I enjoy all Bath Ales and Box Steam Brewery; I'm more a fan of a bitter and less so of pale ales.</p>
  
  <p>Can you advise of any brands of a similar or superior quality I might try? (In the South West of the UK). The cheaper end of the scale (Spitfire, speckled hen) doesn't interest me.</p>
  
  <p>Many thanks in advance. </p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2015-07-09T14:18:01.223Z
Comments.Text: Cool.  I wish I could help you more but I'm not familiar at all with UK breweries.  In an amusing coincidence, I'm visiting London for this week but the most "local" thing I've had is Nightwatchman by East London Brewery which I enjoyed as a pretty fruity dark bitter that worked well with dinner.  Not very interesting on its own, though.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Sloloem
Tags: <breweries><local><ale>
Title: Broadening my horizons (Ale recommendations in South West UK)
UserDisplayName: t0rn
ThreadText: # Broadening my horizons (Ale recommendations in South West UK)
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2015-07-09)
  
  I would like the other beer enthusiasts to suggest some new ales for me to try. I enjoy all Bath Ales and Box Steam Brewery; I'm more a fan of a bitter and less so of pale ales.
  
  Can you advise of any brands of a similar or superior quality I might try? (In the South West of the UK). The cheaper end of the scale (Spitfire, speckled hen) doesn't interest me.
  
  Many thanks in advance.
  
  **Tags:** breweries, local, ale
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: Cool.  I wish I could help you more but I'm not familiar at all with UK breweries.  In an amusing coincidence, I'm visiting London for this week but the most "local" thing I've had is Nightwatchman by East London Brewery which I enjoyed as a pretty fruity dark bitter that worked well with dinner.  Not very interesting on its own, though.  
  
  ---
  
  ## 5 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2015-07-10. Score: 4 | Accepted answer
  
  If you're in the South West, then it's definitely worth checking out Otter Brewery (a really good range with a cracking bitter). Also Abbey Ales are the only ales actually brewed in Bath, not to say that Bath Ales aren't great, but this is real Bath ale! Depending how far SW you go, Exeter Brewery's Avocet Ale is a nice drop that you can have a really good session with.
  Hope this helps!
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_0**: Thanks, I will certainly give those a try. I really appreciate the multiple suggestions!  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_3 on 2015-07-19. Score: 3
  
  If you're really willing to push your own limits, try ***The Wild***'s sour/wild beers. I became aware of them last year completely by accident, in a trip to UK, and loved their *Modus Operandi* beer. I also had another very light pale sour wich wasn't remarkable compared to the first one, but fairly ok. (I guess it probably should have had more time in the bottle to develop and reach its full potential).
  
  Sours beers are not for everyone, and the common first reaction to them is negative. But, if one get over that first shocking experience, go on and try it again, people usually fall in love with it.
  
  They are called *Wild* because they use in their fermentation process, in addition to possible other yeasts, *brettanomyces* yeast, also known as wild yeast, a different species, found in some kinds of wine and belgians beers (lambics, flanders red), which gives very rustic but complex and delightful aromas to the beer. It doesn't actually makes a beer sour (it actually produces a very small amount of acid only), but "wild" beers usually have other types of what is called bugs (bacteria and other fungi) in it, which does leave a lot of acid to the final beer, making it sour.
  
  They also have regular beers (IPA, Saison, Pale Ale), and they're almost always creative and daring on their recipes. I guess, whether you like it or not, all their beers are worth a try, because those guys seem to take brewing very seriously and you can expect nothing less than quality stuff.
  
  I wish I was still there to taste all their beers.
  
  And a bonus: they're from Evercreech, soutwest. ;) Look it up at [their site](http://www.wildbeerco.com/beers/) and see what they've got.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_4 on 2015-07-13. Score: 3
  
  Have you tried [Wickwar Brewery](https://www.wickwarbrewing.co.uk)? If you like darker beers, the **Station Porter** is one of the best I have ever tasted. It's got a great brewery shop and well worth a visit.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_5 on 2020-04-02. Score: 1
  
  I am pleased to add a pint that I enjoyed particularly: [**Firefly Bitter**](https://www.hanlonsbrewery.com/beer-range/firefly-bitter/) is an excellent 3.7% amber ale produced by **Hanlons Brewery** in the county of Devon.
  
  [![Hanlons Firefly Bitter](https://i.sstatic.net/ZTXWO.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/ZTXWO.jpg)
  
  Further, why not to try those of [**St. Austell**](https://www.staustellbrewery.co.uk/beers-and-brewing) from Cornwall?
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2015-07-09. Score: 1
  
  Not a great answer since I have no specifics for you. Going out to local bars and stores selling beer and shopping around can find you stuff, but it's expensive. Though if you're lucky someone might be at one of these places to help you.
  
  Another avenue might be to use something like beeradvocate.com, ratebeer.com or untappd.com to get recommendations based on how you rate beers you've had but these are only as good as other user's ratings... They may miss a lot of small or new brands and might not necessarily recommend beers you can actually find near you.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_0**: Thank you for taking the time to suggest some extra avenues; appreciate it.  
  
  ---
  
  