Monday, 22 February 2010

Sunday 21st February 2010 - En route to Villa vs Burnley

I'd got a coup,le of tickets for the Villa v Burnley match so this Sunday finds me fristly in the Wellington in Birmingham for the following

  • Dorothy Goodbodys' Wholesome Stout
  • Langham Hip Hop
  • Timmermans Framboise
After the soccer decended on the Big Wok for a Chinese and drank Tsing Tao.

19th February 2010 - Lichfield thence off to Derby

Started late morning this time in Lichfield where we had an appointment and afterwards into Wetherspoon's for Shenstone 3spires (at £1.09 a pint.)

In the evening it was off with GP and co to Derby for a tour organised by JF.

First port of call was the Alex Hotel. As always a good choice was offered but I spied a porter and so went for Batemans Salem Porter.

The Babbington Arms next who were featuring the Summer Wine brewery so I sampled Invictus and Tiberius. The talk turned to financial matters and somehow got onto the subject of the Quarter Farthing.

Round to the Flowerpot where I had Durham’s White Amarillo as well as Headless KSA. There was also something of stupid strength (13.4% at £4.60 a pint) but TH declined the request to order a shandy (so we could see if the pub would change the same for the lemonade as the beer!). We sahred a half and the beer was sipped and tasted like neat malt whisky.

Round the corner to the Silk Mill where we visited the John Lombe bar “down the back.” Wem Cherry Bomb was on offer so eagerly ordered.

Nearing home time now so off the station via the Brunswick for a swift half of Allgates Yankee Pale ale before train home and a TV side seat for the Germany v Switzerland curling from the Olympics (not that I saw much of it.)

10th February - Burton Beer Circle

Latest visit to the Coopers in Burton for the Burton Beer Circle. Commercial offerings tasted included Oyster Stout from Adnams and EXS from Hoskins.

Some members had also brewed a clone of Castle Rock's Harvest Pale and despite using identical ingredients and folowing a standard recipe, no two were exactly the same (not even those apparantly produced jointly.)

Other own brewed beers that night included American and Chocolate Browns plus a clone of Old Tom which didn't quite have the same strength, and was probably sweeter, than the commercial varient.

4th-7th January - Snowed in out in Durham

Note to go here