Take a Hop, Trip and a Sup around our Guest Ales.
You'll be visiting pubs with plenty of history on your chosen Ale Trail. For every board you'll stand on, there'll be a story ingrained in its timber. And, for every story, there's a real ale to tell it over. Why not take a moment to discover some of the delectable ales you might well encounter along the way.
Of fungus, scum and worts...
Fungus, scum and worts are words you might associate with a Hobgoblin. Or indeed a Spitfire or London Pride for that matter. They might not be pretty words but they all help make a pretty good pint of real ale. The fungus is actually the ale yeast, which feeds on the fermentable sugars to create the alcohol and carbon dioxide content of the beer.
The scum is the foamy yellow brown crust that forms on top of the liquid, and the wort is the name given to the sugary liquid of crushed malted grain and water, to which the yeast is added.
When fermentation is finished, the beer is run into conditioning tanks for a few days, where the remaining sugar turns to alcohol. The beer becomes real ale when it is cask-conditioned in a cool, deep cellar. A dedicated cellar person opens the cask only when it has reached perfection. No matter how many beers you may have sampled from around the world, nothing quite compares to a pint of British cask ale.
So, if you'd like to try a pint, or if you'd just like a taste, simply ask at the bar at any of the Ale Trail pubs you stop at along the way.
Select an ale logo to find out more
Caledonian Deuchars IPA
Brewed in Edinburgh, 3.8% ABV
Handcrafted in Edinburgh using Britain's last remaining direct-fired open coppers, Deuchars IPA (India Pale Ale) is a true labour of love. Its intense flavour and luxurious aroma have helped fuel the Scottish ale revival.
Marston's Pedigree
Brewed in Burton upon Trent, 4.5% ABV
A fine combination of mineral-enriched Burton water and fruity Fuggles hops married with bitter, spicy Golding hops for a distinctive and beautifully balanced beer. Marston's Pedigree is uniquely still brewed in oak casks to preserve its distinct character, consistent quality and taste, a practice which has been abandoned over the years by other brewers due to the fact that it requires a skilled cooper to service the wooden casks.
Abbot Ale
Brewed in Bury St. Edmunds, 5% ABV
As far back as 1086, the Suffolk ale brewers were chronicled in the Domesday Book as servants of the Great Abbey of St Edmundsbury, hence the name Abbot Ale. Made with water from a well sunk into the chalk beds under Bury St. Edmunds, this iconic beer has masses of ripe fruit character, a malty richness and an intense, bittersweet finish.
Adnam's The Bitter
Brewed in the beautiful Suffolk coastal town of Southwold, 3.7% ABV
A truly distinctive and special bitter. Fragrant aromas of finest English hops and malt. Dry but refreshing, with a lingering hoppiness that keeps bringing you back for more.
Greene King IPA
Brewed in Bury St. Edmunds, 3.6% ABV
The original export ale, IPA stands for India Pale Ale and was created in the days of the British Empire to bring a taste of home to the troops stationed in India. This hoppy, refreshing beer has been loved by drinkers across the world for over 100 years and is, in fact, the best-selling cask ale in Britain.
Morland Old Speckled Hen
Brewed in Bury St Edmunds, 4.5% ABV
Originally brewed to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the MG car factory, this ale's unlikely name is actually derived from "owld speckled 'un", a term used to describe the old paint-flecked run-around used by factory workers.
Shepherd Neame Spitfire
Brewed in Faversham, 4.5% ABV
Spitfire Kentish Ale was originally produced to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Battle Of Britain. Its delicious, lingering flavour and well-balanced aftertaste have since made it a favourite son of Britain's oldest brewer, Shepherd Neame.
Fuller's London Pride
Brewed in Chiswick, 4.1% ABV
Fuller's flagship brand London Pride has a smooth, distinctive malty base, with a rich balance of well-developed hop flavours from the Target, Challenger and Northdown varieties in the brew. An astonishingly complex beer for its strength, London Pride is the UK's number one selling premium ale.
Young's Bitter
Brewed in Wandsworth, 3.7% ABV
Young's bitter is brewed with only the highest quality ingredients, by methods that have been unchanged for generations. Developed using all of Young's brewing heritage, this is a dry, clean tasting beer that is bursting with flavour. So don't let the name fool you, this ale has been around since the reign of Queen Elizabeth I and still reigns supreme today.
Wells Bombardier
Brewed in Bedford, 4.3% ABV
This superb ale is brewed in Bedford using the finest Malt Barley and the brewery's own pure well water. Bombardier is legendary for its intoxicating aroma and delightfully subtle, bitter flavour.
