Miffed — No beer before nine

[jfgw]

I wandered into a local Wetherspoon pub a few days ago for breakfast and a pint. The barman told me that he could not sell me a pint until 9am. Fortunately, I only had a couple of minutes to wait, but what if I had gone into the pub when it opened at 8am? It is probably due to licencing but where is the sense in a pub opening at 8am but not being allowed to sell beer until 9am? I like to start the day as I mean to go on, and that does not involve drinking endless "free refill" cups of coffee for the first hour (although that prospect is much more favourable now that they have renovated the toilets). It is not as though that extra hour would result in me being in an advanced state of inebriation by the afternoon and have me parading down the middle of the High Street naked (not this weather, anyway).


Julian F. G. W.

[didds]

I never "got" what the 0800 demographoic was about if ti wasnt for selling beer to people that want it at 0800.

Breakfast - yes. But not everybody ive seen i sapoons at 0800 (having BREAKFAST I was!) was eating...

[Lootman]

I wandered into a local Wetherspoon pub a few days ago for breakfast and a pint. The barman told me that he could not sell me a pint until 9am. Fortunately, I only had a couple of minutes to wait, but what if I had gone into the pub when it opened at 8am? It is probably due to licencing but where is the sense in a pub opening at 8am but not being allowed to sell beer until 9am? I like to start the day as I mean to go on, and that does not involve drinking endless "free refill" cups of coffee for the first hour (although that prospect is much more favourable now that they have renovated the toilets). It is not as though that extra hour would result in me being in an advanced state of inebriation by the afternoon and have me parading down the middle of the High Street naked (not this weather, anyway).

Yes, I went into a Spoons a while back, at about 8:50 a.m., for a coffee. The barman asked me what I wanted and I pointed out that there were 2 guys waiting ahead of me. He said not to worry because they had to wait until 9 a.m.

So I got my coffee and then, at the stroke of 9, the 2 guys bought 2 pints each and sat down with their papers. I got the distinct impression they do that every day.

The only alcohol I can drink that early is a bloody mary, a mimosa or a cognac.

[swill453]

I wandered into a local Wetherspoon pub a few days ago for breakfast and a pint. The barman told me that he could not sell me a pint until 9am. Fortunately, I only had a couple of minutes to wait, but what if I had gone into the pub when it opened at 8am? It is probably due to licencing but where is the sense in a pub opening at 8am but not being allowed to sell beer until 9am?

Because they only applied for a 9am licence? Take it up with Wetherspoons.

Earlier licences do exist, I've seen pubs which specialise in night-shift workers (or market traders) opening to sell beer well before 9.

Scott.

[doolally]

Try living in Scotland. Can't even buy alcohol in shops before 10am. Not even chocolate liqueurs. Or alcohol-free (< 0.5%) beer
doolally

[88V8]

Beer, so much more than just a breakfast drink....

V8

[pje16]

It surprises me that anyone wants a pint before 9am
a fry up is best with tea or coffee IMHO
each to their own though

[Arborbridge]

It surprises me that anyone wants a pint before 9am
a fry up is best with tea or coffee IMHO
each to their own though

My own thoughts entirely. Why would anyone want to drink beer at that time of day, and it really doesn't go with breakfast.

Especially in winter - cold beer on a cold morning? No thanks - what would be the point?

Arb.

[Urbandreamer]

My own thoughts entirely. Why would anyone want to drink beer at that time of day, and it really doesn't go with breakfast.

With breakfast?

Some might view beer as liquid bread, Indeed this beer is actually called breakfast porter.

https://www.parkfever.co.uk/products/breakfast-oboe

While this claims to be "good enough to eat".
https://indiealehouse.com/products/breakfast-porter-1

Historically, people DID drink beer for breakfast, as a simple web search will reveal. Though, as I understand it, they usually drank "small beer", which had a slightly lower alcohol content than today's, bitter or those porters.

[Lootman]

It surprises me that anyone wants a pint before 9am
a fry up is best with tea or coffee IMHO
each to their own though

My own thoughts entirely. Why would anyone want to drink beer at that time of day, and it really doesn't go with breakfast.

Especially in winter - cold beer on a cold morning? No thanks - what would be the point?

And yet in much colder Sweden, I recall beer being served with breakfast.

Herrings and stout at 8 a.m.

[Arborbridge]

My own thoughts entirely. Why would anyone want to drink beer at that time of day, and it really doesn't go with breakfast.

With breakfast?

Some might view beer as liquid bread, Indeed this beer is actually called breakfast porter.

https://www.parkfever.co.uk/products/breakfast-oboe

While this claims to be "good enough to eat".
https://indiealehouse.com/products/breakfast-porter-1

Historically, people DID drink beer for breakfast, as a simple web search will reveal. Though, as I understand it, they usually drank "small beer", which had a slightly lower alcohol content than today's, bitter or those porters.

Small beer was the drink of choice historically as the alternative was often foul water - beer was a safe option.

No need to drink it for safety reasons now

[pje16]

Herrings and stout at 8 a.m.

I'd be throwing up by 8.10 a.m.

[jfgw]

It surprises me that anyone wants a pint before 9am
a fry up is best with tea or coffee IMHO
each to their own though

I am trying to think of a part of my breakfast that goes with coffee.

Sausages — definitely with beer. I have had sausages with Stones Bitter in them, and there are a lot of recipes that use both. Sausages go with most types of beer, whether a golden ale, a bitter or a stout porter. I would expect cider to work well too. While there are recipes using coffee and sausages, I don't think I would fancy them. I'm not sure even that black tea would pair well with sausages.

Bacon — again, a light or dark beer. Black coffee, maybe, but I would expect a bit of a clash.

Fried egg — I'm not sure that it goes with beer, tea or coffee.

Hash browns — I wouldn't want to dip them in any drink but they help to soak up the egg yolk.

Toast — it goes better with beer.

Mushroom — beer.

I think that coffee pairs better with most deserts but I don't normally have a desert after breakfast. I think a coffee or tea after breakfast would be ok but not with breakfast.


Julian F. G. W.

[pje16]

The ONLY thing I ever dunk is a rich tea biscuit into a mug of tea.
I eat breakfast, not drown it.

[jfgw]

Some might view beer as liquid bread, Indeed this beer is actually called breakfast porter.

https://www.parkfever.co.uk/products/breakfast-oboe

From the above link,

In this version we add a healthy dose of oats to the already healthy malt bill – 10 malts in this champ! After fermentation we add a cold-brew coffee blend from Deptford locals Lomond Coffee. It’s a blend of Columbian, Brazilian, and Kenyan beans, aka ‘The Market Yard Blend’ and it’s gooood.

Wakey wakey!

It's coffee and beer in the same glass.


Julian F. G. W.

[pje16]

It's coffee and beer in the same glass.
Julian F. G. W.

some taste buds have died somewhere

[Urbandreamer]

some taste buds have died somewhere

I have not tried that beer, but if you look at beer's available you will find all sorts of mixes.
I.E. Elvis Juice that contains Grapefruit, which I have tried.

I suspect that we may be falling into the trap, I don't like XYZ, or the idea, and certainly not at breakfast. So nobody should.

[jfgw]

It's coffee and beer in the same glass.
Julian F. G. W.

some taste buds have died somewhere

I highly recommend that you get your lips around a Brazilian. You might have to come to Essex for it but is very popular and has an interesting taste. https://www.colchesterbrewery.com/beer/brazilian/


Julian F. G. W.

[bungeejumper]

In this version we add a healthy dose of oats to the already healthy malt bill – 10 malts in this champ! After fermentation we add a cold-brew coffee blend from Deptford locals Lomond Coffee. It’s a blend of Columbian, Brazilian, and Kenyan beans, aka ‘The Market Yard Blend’ and it’s gooood.

Wow, it certainly gets about, doesn't it? Deptford, Lomond, Kenya, Brazil.... and Columbia? Who knew that they manage to grow coffee up there on the US/Canadian border?

I highly recommend that you get your lips around a Brazilian.

Quite so. It was ever thus.

BJ

[Arborbridge]

It surprises me that anyone wants a pint before 9am
a fry up is best with tea or coffee IMHO
each to their own though

I am trying to think of a part of my breakfast that goes with coffee.

Sausages — definitely with beer. I have had sausages with Stones Bitter in them, and there are a lot of recipes that use both. Sausages go with most types of beer, whether a golden ale, a bitter or a stout porter. I would expect cider to work well too. While there are recipes using coffee and sausages, I don't think I would fancy them. I'm not sure even that black tea would pair well with sausages.

Bacon — again, a light or dark beer. Black coffee, maybe, but I would expect a bit of a clash.

Fried egg — I'm not sure that it goes with beer, tea or coffee.

Hash browns — I wouldn't want to dip them in any drink but they help to soak up the egg yolk.

Toast — it goes better with beer.

Mushroom — beer.

I think that coffee pairs better with most deserts but I don't normally have a desert after breakfast. I think a coffee or tea after breakfast would be ok but not with breakfast.


Julian F. G. W.

If it's "with" it has to be tea. Coffee, I'd agree, needs to be "after" (or before) in almost all cases. As for beer with toast - eurgh!