Friday 20th March - Burton (just for a change)

Off to Burton again tonight to join up with GP et al for our monthly trip, JF organising this time.

Due to time frame available for cheap train tickets on the Brimingham to Burton line, GP and co would be arriving later - for me however there are only trains every two hours so it was either get there early or arrive late and that would only lead to confusion.

So a quick call to JF en route and we agree to start first at the Coopers Tavern (one of my favourate pubs - I'm not alone in thinking that it appears - see here.)

We'ed ventured this way several times before and noticed the beer list which took us both back - "Wot, no Jaipur!!" we exclamed i unison - "GP will be disappointed!" Still they were doing a good selection of Oakham Beers (see below.) - Whether the news (see Urgent News link) this week explains why I can't comment.

Anyway, the beers available at the Coopers whilst patting Drummer (a friendly little terrier who some complete strangers had brought with them) were

Castle Rock Harvest Pale
Oakham - JHB
- Inferno
- Asylum
- Oblivion
- Bishop's Farewell
- Atilla - of which more later

plus Bass and additnally the promise of Quarcus from Oak Leaf and Fulsum Stout from Stokers in the future.

GP and co off Birmingham were due to arrive sood, so meeting them at the station leads us (past the Town Hall - "Isn't that where the [beer] festival is?" DP enquires
"Yep" responds JF "I work there - there's a bar there all year?"
"There's a bar where you work?" exclaims TH
"there's a student one at my place" I insert...

... by which time we're at the Old Cottage Tavern and that kills that conversation.

As always we've a good range of Old Cottage brews to try and this time there

• Oak Ale
• Stout - note to self - next time I come here I must try and have a change from the stout - problem is I do like it.
  
• Halcyon Daze
• Shradlow Reverend Eaton
• Titanic White Star
• Brunswick Valor

Next up, its off to the Alfred - no guests this week, just the Burton Bridge Range as listed on the posting from 6th February and this time (again) I chose the Porter (again a beer I like - see if I can go for another option next time).

Next it the long stagger (which via way of a some negotiation) became a short if expensive (some felt) taxi ride to The Wetmore Whistle (every time we come here JF informs us "its Tynemill pub you know").

Time for two here, so I chose Batemans XXXB (but could have had Castle Rock Harvest Pale, or Old Trent, Marstons Pedigree or Brewdog Trasy Blond. ) Someone noted they also sold an Oyster Stout (and wondered what was in that) and that got me and GP to reminissing about the Isle of Wight and Ventor brewery. Time for the next round - "I'll have a half of the Marstons Oyster Stout" I said - "A half?" came a raised eyebrow - "Oh and same of Bacchus Kriek - which apparantly can be sourced in Tescos and Sainbury's with the bottled form looking set to replace the now sadly defunct Liefmans (see here). NOTE - different glasses!!

Time to stroll onward and the next port of call being the Bridge Inn, home for the Burton Bridge Brewery. Available tonight were

• Golden Delicious
• Soverign Gold
  
• (Dark) Porter - aren't they all? "Nope - can't resist it" (see above)
• Gold Medal Ale
• Festival Ale

Time was pressing so quickly back to the Coopers for what I think was a swift half of Attila and homeward.


STOP PRESS -No kebab this week!!!

Friday 13th March - brief outing in Tamworth

Seeing as t'other half had appointments in Tamworth with the last one finishing around 5.30 we decided to eat in town.

We called first at the Sir Robert Peel where I enjoyed a pint of Morgans Inn the Drink followed by Church End's What the Fox's Hat.

Next it was off to the Bole Bridge (Wetherspoon's if not mentioned previously) for food accompanied by Burton Bridge's Stairway to Heaven. Also available were Pedigree, Ruddles Best, and abbott Ale with the priomise of White Horse Sarsen stones and Springhead Roaring Meg coming soon (alas not soon enough). However I fancied something new (for me) so a bottle of Tyskie (pronounced Tis-Kee) was sampled (not a great fan of lager but this was quite enjoyable.

In between we risked £1 on the next day's soccer, but Swansea's loss at Home and West Ham's inability to beat West Brom scuppered the promised fortunes of £7.10.

Friday 6th March 2009 - Off for a beer to Burton

Following the failure as described in a previous posting , hopped on the train for the short trip to Burton accompanied by RG.

The plan this time was to visit four well known pubs either side of the station and so off to the first port of call at The Alfred. We both opted for Burton Bridge Porter but could have chosen the others as well.

Golden Delicious
Bridge Bitter
Bramble Stout
Festival
Stairway to Heaven

or the guest beer - Granny Wouldn't Like It (Wolf Brewery).

RG mentioned it was the first time in some 9 years he had sampled a porter - for me it is becoming the style of choice (but that's another story). As we sampled it we got to talking about what else we had missed during the last decade or so, specifically that you don't see many Yugos, FSOs, Austin Montegos these days and what ever happen to Simca? They don't make cars like they used to (thank goodness some would say!).

Moving on and we find ourselves in the Old Cottage. My involvement with Tamworth Beer Festival means I have occasonally been called on to judge beers and some stand out as good memories. Well the Stout from Old Cottage is one of those and so is always my choice at this venue (but is it a stout or is it really a porter - there's a debate that could run and run). Other options that could have been sampled were

• Oak Ale (which RG supped)
• Halcyon Daze
• Elsie Mo (from Castle Rock)
• Brunswick Triple Hop
• Top Cat ale from Fat Cat.

The TV was showing teletext , specifically the test cricket between England and West Indies which we predicted looked like England were scoring so many runs they would no doubt draw the game (the final session a few days later must be one of the classic encounters).


Onwards and to the Coopers for Falstaff Aquarius for me (and Castle Rock Harvest Pale for RG) with the alternatives being Howard Town Brewery's Dark Peak, Bass and Thornbridge Jaipur (almost a regular guest this one).

Time weas pressing so back toward the station for a quick pint of Burton Bridge Golden Delicious in the Devonshire (or we could have had Bridge Bitter, Porter, Stairway to Heaven or the guest (Hope and Glory from Brentwood Brewing Co.

Time for the train back but we extended the journey the short distance to Wilnecote for a visit to the Bulls Head for a pint of Marstons Pedigree only later noticing their Sweet Chariot brew.

Finally visit to the chippie for some more Donner kebab research - amazingly similar to last time!