Maybe it's because I'm not a Londoner? (Fullers London Pride)

Member Name: edinburgher

Product:	Fullers London Pride
Date:	07/03/09 (154 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Quite drinkable for something so bitter

Disadvantages: Tastes like a 'warm cup of tobacco chewer's spit!'

Despite the battering its institutions have taken over the last eighteen months, London remains an economic powerhouse of the developed world, with roughly seven million people commuting into work on a daily basis. Its museums, galleries and theatres display a dizzying array of home grown and imported talents and a thriving multi-cultural society goes about life and death in a {generally} productive manner. Yes, London has a lot to be proud of. Fuller's London Pride, however, is not one such thing!

While I typically drink wine and love a good glass of red, I'm not averse to a decent imported lager or a real ale once in a while. Depending on the sort of folk I'm mixing with a glass of wine isn't always the most appropriate option, so it's always good to have a backup.

So, being generally enamoured with all things 'Lundun' I decided to give this a go. I purchased a 500 ml glass bottle, priced at £1.69 from my local Sainsbury's (06.03.2009). It came in an attractive and substantial dark brown bottle (very chunky) and looked to be every inch a man drink.

I made sure to chill it thoroughly, as few things are less appetising than warm ale. After a couple of hours on Friday afternoon I'd started making dinner and cracked this open for a taste.

Initial impressions were not favourable. To quote Family Guy's Peter Griffin 'it tastes like a cup of warm tobacco chewer's spit!' The pronounced malty taste was far too strong for my palate and I felt very much like I was having a Guiness and the sensation was not unlike putting my tongue to a pencil sharpener blade. Please note, be careful if you plan on rushing off to a child's bedroom to track down a pencil sharpener to try this for yourself. The hops could also be tasted in the background.

The colour is an attractive caramel and the drink is not too heavily carbonated. I've never tried this draught, so am not sure whether or not this is how it's meant to be served. Either way, the general lack of bubbles was a good thing, as the combination of the acrid taste and a lot of foam would no doubt be catastrophic.

The odd thing was that I did manage to finish the bottle (two glasses). By the time I'd finished the first glass I'd stopped focusing on the taste as London Pride is genuinely quite drinkable. I don't think I'd manage to finish more than two bottles, but that's probably for the best as regards my liver.

Summing up - unpleasantly bitter ale that is surprisingly drinkable!

Summary: I would drink this again if it was free, but won't be rushing out to buy any more..