August 27th - Catching the Red Eye to Shrewsbury

Earlier this summer had seen me attand the 1st Red Eye cider festival at the Salopian Arms in Shrewsbury and having noticed that they were repeating it this weekend I decided to pay a return visit.

The day started badly with the train we were supposed to catch being late meaning we had time to kill in Birmingham so it was into the Shakesphere on the station for a half of Coors Light.

On arriving in Shrewsbury the 2 minutes (10 in reality) walk found us at the venue where they run a cider festival twice a year and this is the larger offering some 30 ciders in addition to what they have on the bar. The person serving recognised me and pointed me at the menu which revealed a wealth of Perry, so to keep things simple I decided to work from the bottom upwards, the first being Swallowfield Moorcroft (5.5%) which I rated 4 out of 5.

This was followed by :

• Malvern Magic (5.5%) - 3/5
• Broomfarm (or is it Brookfarm?) Perry (6%) - 4/5
• Springhead Perry (7%) - 3.5/5
• Newforest Perry (7%) - 2.5/5
• Hecks Port Wine of Glastonberry (6.5%) - no rating recorded.
  

We then went next door to the Shrewsbury Hotel - Wetherspoons for Wood's Shropshire Lad before the journey home.

August 20th - Lichfield

Friday night outing with GP, DP and TH. My turn to organise so Lichfield selected, an inspired decision given that the new Malt bar had recently opened and it was there we headed first. 14 or so hand pulls greeted us being a mix of Aston Brewing co (ABC) (who I believe run the place) and guests. I selected two halves in the form of ABC's Aston Mild and the Steam beer from Ironbridge.

Next to another up and coming venue in Lichfield, the Horse and Jockey in Sandford street where Backyard Nippin was my choice. To pass the time we played a word game where you name a country and the next person has to name one with the last letter of the previous selection (there's a lot of countries beginning and ending with A.)

Up to the Kings Head for Jennings Lakeland Stunner - we continued the game but with bugs (it started out as insects but we couldn't recall if some guesses had 6 legs or not. At one stage I offered the Elephant Beetle which was eventually accepted - they do exist...)

Earl of Lichfield next (yes it is another Marstons pub) which I think had the same guest as the previous place, so instead I went for Marston's Bitter (on the basis it appears rarer than Pedigree.)

Acorn next and another Backyard beer, D & B Porter this time.

Final port of call was the Duke of York (Joule's brewery owned place these days) and selected Thornbridge Brother Rabbit (I did ask for the perry they were adveertising but it was off.)

Off for the train and kebab en route home.

Friday 13th - Burton (again!)

"Well the town ain't changed much" I remarked to RG on arrival at Burton upon Trent (which wasn't a surprise really seeing as it was less than 48 hours since I last left the place.

We headed first to the Old Cottage and I spied a 4.5% perry on the specials board (mid-life crisis kicking in again.) Venturing up to the bar I spied a plastic cider barrel and asked for a half of that only later to discover that is actually had Black Dragon Cider at a mere 7.2% in it. After that, back to beer via Shardlow Kiln House.

Next port of call was the Oak and Ivy (mainly because that was where my comrade used to spend lunchtimes when he worked in Burton some years previous and no, that hadn't changed much either. not much choice tonight so it was Pedigree.

Onwards to the Devonshire and Burton Bridge Porter (as I've said on here before - for a change) and finally into the Coopers for Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby, Titanic Captain Smith's and Thornbridge Jairpur.

11th August - Burton Beer Circle

Work meant I was later than normal arriving at Burton this evening and so headed straight to the Coopers where commercial beers tasted were Red Drawf from Blackhole Brewery and then Brock Stout from Thornbridge.

6th August - Trip round Marstons Brewery

The CBA had arranged a tour of Marston's brewery (hopefully I'll post some pictures on here at some stage), so having had breakfast at Mac's cafe, met with some of the others at Burton Railway station for the 20 minutes walk to the brewery.

The tour itself lasted the best part of 2 hours (watching the bottles whizzing round the plant was quite impressing.) They have a hand in a lot of different beers here including their rival Bass (today brewed on ex-Mansfield brewery kit).

After the tour there was time to same some beers and I had Pedigree, Oyster Stout and Diamond.

Afterwards it was off to the Coopers for Woodland Mild and Heartland Farmhouse Perry and Scropton Three Cats.