Theakston Old Peculier Vs Greene King Abbot Ale | British Premium Ale Review

[@davidhayes4814]

Old Peculier is really a strong mild and none the worse for that. It reminds me of holiday trips to Yorkshire, when I was a kid of 40. …..

[@OscarOSullivan]

Got it in my cellar

[@OscarOSullivan]

Never knew it was a mild

[@erinbrew9675]

At 5.6% ABV, Old Peculiar is an Old Ale, not a mild.

[@casey4412]

Old Ale, not a Mild

[@JimEJG]

Love Old Peculier, one of the first beers that got me started on ales. Abbot's one of my dad's favourites and I didn't get how much he liked it (it's a fine solid ale but I don't find it amazing) until I had a draught pint of it a few miles from the brewery, gorgeous.

[@davidstorm4015]

I love Abbot Ale on a cold Winter's night with the log burner roaring, it's always been one of my favourites. Disappointed to see that they have reduced the ABV to 5%, much like all of the big breweries they are diluting what used to be a better beer, but I still like it.

[@johnthresher259]

I would guess it's to keep the cost down? More alcohol, more tax on the beer.

[@davidstorm4015]

@@johnthresher259 , yes, I think you are right, but I would rather pay more for a beer that tastes like it used to

[@johnthresher259]

@@davidstorm4015 Still a nicer beer than some of the nasty decking varnish out there!

[@andrewcarr5923]

Switch to the OP a much more rounded tasty ale at 5.6%

[@jhoutdoors3906]

Old Tom from Robinson brewery is worth a revisit. Still one of my favourites

[@theshowmanuk]

Old Tom, my all time favourite along with Adnam's old.

[@71simonforrester]

To be honest back when I was young Old Tom was the only Robinson's beer I liked!

[@tobyjackman3212]

Probably the main two old school beers I'll still consider forking out for really although I wouldn't argue with any of the comments claiming they're not what they used to be - that's almost inevitable unfortunately. The Abbott isn't _that_ far off a Belgian style if I remember rightly. Have very fond memories of drinking Peculier (possibly with a whisky or two) in the Dolphin, Robin Hood's bay. I hope they still serve it. Cheers Si!

[@MRW515]

7m 30secs, I agree with you about beer with additional (inappropriate) flavourings. I tried the Harpers summer ale with peach...I don't recommend it 😐

[@markspight7116]

When i started my beer journey OP was considered a benchmark beer. Still love it to this day, gorgeous cask beer.

[@aidanmcguire6981]

Keep the battle videos coming!

[@Ngamer834]

I would choose old peculier but I do drink both. The difference for me is I could session abbot ale but old perculier is a bit richer and best enjoyed occasionally.

[@frankiegoestocricklewood]

I d love to know the last time Simon went 24 hours without consuming alcohol !

[@andrewcarr5923]

So would he.

[@roybarnes-thewildlifeman1855]

1823

[@craigb2644]

The only way Simon has a chance of having a sober day is if he reviews some zero percent beers.

[@jimbryan2271]

Looks dehydrated af

[@damian-795]

@@andrewcarr5923 😂😂🤣🤣

[@davidcalvert5849]

Old peculier vs black sheep rigwelter would have made a more like for like comparison, but interesting non the less 👍

[@jonathanbritland9878]

Old peculiar, I think was originally brewed by monks. It is a gorgeous full bodied ale, up there amongst the top English ales. Quality.

[@OscarOSullivan]

Got a bottle in my cellar keeping it for winter. Did you know Sullivans was at the London Craft Beer festival

[@matt__williams]

Cracking little series these vs battles. Completely agree with you, British bottled ales are far more consistent than their hit or miss IPAs.

[@drinkingup2157]

OP has been a favourite of mine since first tasting it whilst working for Scottish & Newcastle in London in the 1990s. We didn't get it very often but when we did , it always sold very quickly. Pretty sure it was a fair bit stronger than 5.6% though. Hard to find in cask in London now although The Museum Tavern in Bloomsbury has had it on the few occasions that I have been in the area. Had the pleasure of drinking some very good pints in The Olde Peculiar pub in Handsacre.

[@TheBlibo]

Hi Never had the Abbot ale but will have to give it a try been on the old peculiar since the mid 70s it's my go to comfortable and what I would measure all others against

[@jakebanevicius]

Old peculiar is 8 cans for £10 in Asda, you can’t go wrong at all with that at all! Proper old school pint!

[@brettslater9330]

OP on cask is sublime

[@garyomalley816]

I find with old peculiar you really taste it on the second pint

[@vaderd4353]

You feel it too

[@dansunder7minutebeerreview271]

The last time I visited London, I drank many pints of the Old Peculier at the Museum Tavern...

[@gasheadnz]

Abbots Ale is available here in New Zealand and is my go-to British Ale. It travels well, even across to the other side of the world!

[@ufoools]

Great beers for the price. Having a few weeks off the Ipa's and going back to the English style beers, not sure if I'm getting bored of Ipa's or the cost of them is not worth it probably a bit of both.

[@davidmatthews6088]

Had a bottle of felinfole double dragon the other day from aldi . It was ok but i think it used to be better . What you think ?

[@poutramos4826]

I think the two beers are different styles but I like them both 😀 Great skip find by the way. They'll look great on the bar.

[@craigb2644]

An old brewer once told me the darker the beer, the richer the brew giving more complex flavours such as coffee, chocolate and caramel.

[@THISISLolesh]

Did he live in the mountains and have a long beard.

[@carlomarinello7048]

Great video again, referencing the end of it; What a nice find on the steins and plates from the "dumpster dive" Simon! 😀Why would someone throw those away? They probably could have sold them for a small sum I would think? 🤔😎👍👍

[@martynhewitt91]

Maybe match up Shepherd Name 1698 with St.Austell Proper Job. Both bottle conditioned with similar abv.

[@onecheesey]

I used to drink Old Peculier way back 30 years ago when it was an outstanding beer at over 6% ABV. Back then one of our local town pubs served it on cask & it was sublime & a true classic. Shame to see you find it not disimilar to Abbot Ale as it was poles apart back in the day. Another iconic brew ruined 😒

[@OscarOSullivan]

Sounds like a pity should I pour my bottle down the sink?

[@richard99cookify]

@@OscarOSullivan @onecheesey No - Old Peculier is still top drawer

[@richard99cookify]

It's not been ruined, it's still top drawer. Just Simon's personal taste

[@jonathanprice3362]

Yes, I remember it in the Marton Arms, Ingleton, used to be much stronger and richer tasting, is it a Stout..?

[@richard99cookify]

No, it's an old ale@@jonathanprice3362

[@leecromer3289]

I remember back in the early eighties in Helmsley North Yorkshire with my young brother, we were basically lager louts but had to try this old peculiar on draft for a change, two pints later…pissed🥴

[@reverendbarker650]

I love this sort of beer, when I lived in the UK, I lived in Greene King country, Abbot was my regular tipple , but I also love Theakstons.I haven't drunk an Abbot in many years but it sounds like its still a top beer. Unfortunately ,it costs around $140 for 24 cans here in Australia and you have to go out of your way to find it.

[@jonathanbritland9878]

My local in Stapleford Nottingham has at least 13 real ales on at any one time. I am in heaven and very lucky. I personally believe it should add value to my house lol.

[@TheBlibo]

Hi Maybe the way forward is to taste blindfolded, dose it really matter what I looks like

[@fonkin]

I've been a fan of Old Peculier since college. It's such a shame you can't get it in the US anymore!

[@richardmarkham8369]

Surprised by the Abbot, only usually buy it if there's not much other choice in a pub. Rearly see Old P on tap down south, which is a shame. I do buy Old P in bottles all the time though. Be interested to know what you make of Dartmoor Jail Ale. It's in Tescos and has become a favourite of mine.

[@TheBlibo]

Great find at the tip both the Germans and Belgians have a long brewing history and as much as I am not a fan of larger I do like the German beer stines. Some of there wise beers (excuse spelling) are very good

[@IainLucey1972]

Both are nice, abbott is a bargain in spoons, 2.49 a pint..... Give us 1 review of your top 10 beers of all time, then finish all of them off... lol.... the cat might need to take over 😆

[@alfsmith4936]

I used to drink OP, when I was about 15 :). I will always have a soft spot for Theakstons but I haven't drunk it in years and didnt realise they had reduced the abv. I might have to try it again soon.. Abbott ale's a good, downable, clean, creamy tasting bitter, but I started drinking it a few years ago, it goes down too easily sometimes and I never realised it used to be stronger. Is the original strenth beer still available? Is Ruddles County still a thing, or is anybody brewing anything that tastes like it?

[@nigelwatson2750]

No contest, Simon. Southern flat, dishwashing water made by spivs from hard water versus a real Northern beer

[@OscarOSullivan]

Hard water is great for porter

[@Doupyourflies]

Old Peculier is 5.6% which is probably why Simon thought it was better. Alcohol is a hard drug after all and someone who drinks this much is bound to be influenced by the "hit".

[@nigelwatson2750]

Cheap shot. Maybe it's just that one is a decent beer and the other is Southern dishwater.@@Doupyourflies

[@Doupyourflies]

@@nigelwatson2750 Don't live in denial. Alcohol is a harder drug than heroin.

[@nigelwatson2750]

What's that got to do with a beer review?@@Doupyourflies

[@kevanparker908]

We have a pub here in Derbyshire The Barley Mow, they sold Theakston's Old Peculiar. An old lady ran the pub and she never converted to the Decimal system she worked in Pound, Shillings and Pence. Beer was served from the barrel no beer pumps. Paying was interesting you just gave her a number of pounds and she gave you change! The Barley Mow is a wonderfully unspoilt village pub, built as a farmhouse in the 1600s and becoming a pub early in the 19th century. Inside it has barely changed due to landlady Lilian Ford who lived here all her life until her death in 1976.

[@patthewoodboy]

sounds a lot like The Nelson in Burnham Thorpe , Norfolk , Les took you order , went down the cellar and bought up your pint ..this was 1986

[@WarriorRazor]

Both great ales. Do prefer an Abbots Reserve to standard Abbots, mind.

[@outtour7518]

Was going to get old perculiar on Friday, decided to get a meor

[@WolfmanWoody]

I usually steer clear of Greene King beers. Had one a few weeks ago that was leftover from a selection pack we had for a party and no one drank it. Once I had I could see why no one drank it. It was Yardbird and so sweet, like someone had poured a jar of Lyles Golden Syrup in it. I doubt I will buy Abbot, but if someone offers me one I may just take them up on it if the alternative is a Fosters.

[@northyorkshirefieldsports]

Have you seen Old Peculiar was released on Perfect Draft yesterday?! One you need to review!

[@jdgonzo1982]

I like the TOP, it's a proper ale experience...very fulfilling!! Not keen on Abbot Ale...bit boring!!

[@FighterPilot1945]

Great comparison review real ales,old perculiar though a dark ale very nice too,keep up the good real ale reviews Simon 👌❤️ btw Adnams broadside lovely stuff!..owd roger was a lovely real ale was strongest ale in UK at 9% originally handpump then reduced 7.6/4% bottles not seen it for years now?,anyone else remember this gorgeous very strong dark ale?

[@agdewey]

Owd Roger has apparently been discontinued by Marston's. It was recently available in Home Bargains for £1 a bottle, but I didn't manage to get any! 😟

[@FighterPilot1945]

@@agdewey shame it was a lovely tasting dark strong real ale☹️remember taking my dad out on his birthday and buying him pints owd roger,I had to carry him out to the car with help he was hammered🤣

[@Schinney]

Newcastle Brown was great back in the day, here in Coventry we stopped drinking it when it went up to £1.00 a pint and indeed a pint bottle not 500ml ,draught bass the old m+b bass flagship is now brewed by Marstons cos of the old traditions that Coors can't contend with,, correct me if I am wrong, can you concur me old fruit?l

[@Charlie-n3t9v]

Does anyone else love training and working 6 days a week and then on a sunday spend a day of drinking old perculier and smoking like 10 spliffs its my routine at this point 😂

[@chippyminton8711]

Old peculiar all day long, has a distinctive taste and flavour, saying that Abbot Ale is a decent pint. Maybe I'm biased because of all the pints drunk with great friends while walking in the North. We have plenty of decent brewers here in the South East, Sheperd Neame, Whitbreads, Harveys, and one of our local independents, Larkins brewery make a very decent bitter

[@stevejeffery6845]

I like both beers but do lean more towards old peculiar, and what a great find in the skip why would you throw things like that away awesome.

[@stevogeezer]

My local in Oxon had OP on cask for a few months 😍 then they stopped selling it 😥

[@lightoftheworld417]

Can get these beers in Tesco's in Northern Ireland. I find my self buying English ales when in Tescos now.

[@Jack-vp9kl]

Definitely both for sale in Asda

[@jonathanfox5773]

I had 10 pints of Old Peculiar on my 18th birthday and haven't touched it since.

[@MrHistorian123]

Abbot is still a good beer on cask and occasionally can be outstanding. It's the only offering Greene King do that I like, the IPA being nothing like an IPA and frankly pretty poor. Abbott is still a decent drink in a bottle. Old Peculier used to be a beer I'd travel miles to sample in the 70s (a bit like Tim Taylors Landlord). Now both these are widely available (my local pub has Landlord on all the time and had OP on last month as a guest (it lasted 3 hours and had sold out when I got down)). And deservedly so on cask: they are both worthy beers. Bottle OP is still a very nice drink.

[@andrewhead6267]

That medal for Abbott Ale was for the same recipe but a special brew using higher grade materials, nursed through the brewery for the competition. So not really the stuff you buy in the pub. But that goes for all of those sort of competitions. If you see Crufts do the dogs look like one of the same breeds you see in the street? No the breeders have pampered them specifically for the judges. Same with beer competitions.

[@MichaelRichards293]

Your beer battles are the original and best Simon. Pity it’s not possible to get a copyright to prevent others stealing this format.

[@johnedwards3198]

With all due respect to Simon's reviews it's something we all do tasting one beer against another. We "review" our beers every time we try a new beer or go back to a beer that we haven't had in a while. Simon's opinions are well respected but everyone is entitled and encouraged to have their own opinion

[@Jhizzle2495]

You can not copyright a review style you idiot.

[@Shadz01]

Many beer reviewers have been doing these battle videos for years.

[@kievb8221]

​@@johnedwards3198don't be stupid.

[@DavidWilkinson-n4u]

McEwan's champion verses shepherd neame 1698 would be a good battle.

[@71simonforrester]

I love champion, it'd be great to see a decent review of it!

[@martinward865]

Here's one for you. Guinness v black heart, brewed by brewdog.

[@matthewhigson1232]

Both dishwater

[@Ngamer834]

I quite liked black heart but there's just something about Guinness I prefer. Murphys was my favourite smooth stout but seems to have disappeared from supermarkets.

[@jonathanprice3362]

Beamish is impossible to get in mainland UK. ..

[@michaelporteous3083]

Last time is was in Brewdog tried the Black heart and they had a milk stout aswell on tap ,milk stout was far superior with a,slightly higher abv

[@erinbrew9675]

For your next video, please compare an apple and an orange. These are two different beer styles that should not be compared.

[@rollforever85]

I love Old Peculiar 🤤🤤

[@philthorpe7671]

Hi im new to your channel and let me say im impressed with your contents.I expect you have been asked this multiple times but what do with the beer that you have left when you you finish your videos ? surely you dont drink all of it especially when you do multiple brews! Anyhow great channel always look out for the next video.

[@frankiegoestocricklewood]

It ll be a cold day in Hell when Simon pours a beer down the sink 🍺

[@hughphillips1427]

I am sure Old Peculiar used to be over 7% in the early 1980’s ?

[@MarkBalcombe]

Old Perculiar much more famous

[@DesertScorpionKSA]

The Old Peculier looks like a tasty ale.

[@MarkGFRex]

It is 😊

[@kievb8221]

It was!

[@James-ld2jc]

Greene King beers used to be absolutely brilliant - especially the IPA. Sadly, that's no longer the case.

[@godlyelf]

I do love abbot

[@mwgary]

Just my opinion, but abbot ale is better in the can, same goes for old speckled hen.

[@chriswatts1680]

The only decent #1 ale is Double Maxim not southern dishwater ales from anywhere south of Houghton le Spring Could you please do a report on real Porters

[@brom1857]

Sorry to be pedantic - it's pronounced Mass-ham, where OP is brewed.

[@michaelporteous3083]

Can we get a Carling v Tennants v Fosters Battle of the dishwasher beers 😂

[@ashmo0]

Give Champion a go!

[@kievb8221]

Your reviews are peculiar lately, 8/10 you are avin a laugh.!

[@robertscriven602]

Abbott isn't bad, OP is better. Abbott is the only GK branded beer that I like these days. GK have gone downhill since being bought out by whoever it was. Too busy apologising for their past non woke activities..... PS nothing at all wrong with a traditional ale. I love them 🍻

[@givethedogadrone]

Abbot not like it used to be

[@Doupyourflies]

Guinness v Carling is the one we're all gagging for.

[@michaelporteous3083]

Tennents v Carling be even better,

[@Doupyourflies]

@@michaelporteous3083 No they're far too similar.

[@leecromer3289]

Tubourg and carlsburg…

[@andrewcarr5923]

A rather pointless battle ! two totally different beer styles.

[@AviationLBA]

8:51

[@davidwilliamson9162]

No contest,tho like u say unfair match,old peculiar anytime 👍