noun. A beer so familiar and consistent that it can fairly be used as an indicator of the quality of an unfamiliar pub. For example, Young’s Bitter.
noun. A beer so familiar and consistent that it can fairly be used as an indicator of the quality of an unfamiliar pub. For example, Young’s Bitter.
There aren’t too many New Mexican restaurants new to us any more, but when we find one, or perhaps visit a place we haven’t in a while, then cheese enchiladas (flat) with a mixture of red and green chile (we call that Christmas) serves as a similar control.
On the food front, tarka daal is the thing we always order when we’re trying out a new curry house.
Completely with you on the Tarka Daal. Excellent indicator, that.
The flipside to the control beer would be something like Courage Best or Bombardier, usually on a lone handpump, which usually indicates a pub which would rather not have cask at all. I have to park about 20 mins walk away from my work in High Wycombe, and there’s a pub en route (Beaconsfield Arms) that was recently refurbished, and – of course – sported a sign saying “Cask Ales”. I went up to the door, saw the lone Courage Best pump, and didn’t even bother going in. Shame.
Its also what you call a beer that is served as a calibration to a panel of judges prior to them judging a comp to make sure everyone is on the same page.
Ant, February 5, 2010 at 10:40 am:
I agree, the Beaconsfield Arms is a rubbish pub, if you’re in High Wycombe and are looking for “Cask Ales” you should try the Bootlegger (previously the Flint Cottage).
It has 7 hand pumps and the ales are rotated regularly.
See:
http://www.thebootleggerpub.co.uk/