19th May 2012 - Yorkshire for BJ's 60th

Weekend early starts are always going to provide for stress and sure enough getting up at before 6am proved to be the case as a last minute panic ensued realizing my watch wasn't where it should be.  "Borrow mine" suggested my other half and I was grateful to only noticing later that actually it was mine all along.

Anyway, managed to make the station and the train and found the others on board for the trip upto Leeds.  Arriving there we had time for a first drink, me and BJ going for coffee, the others beers and one who abstained either at the White rose on Leeds Station.

Time for the next train out along the Settle - Carlisle line to our first stop at Horton-in-Ribblesdale (see http://www.horton-in-ribblesdale.com/) , a charming village frequented by walkers. After a short five minutes walk past fields with sheep and / or chickens and / or cars parked in them we arrived at the Crown.  I went for a local brew that whilst easy enough to get back home would allow me to compare it nearer to its home, Black Sheep's Black Sheep Bitter (and excellent it was.)  A local asked us if we'ed been up Pen-y-Gent (which we hadn't but it appeared that it was his ice-breaker as he asked it of several others including a woman who had and had since lost her other half who had suggested they met in the pub - which one is another matter.) Our new friend helpfully informed us of the other pub further up the road so we headed off to the Golden Lion (admiring, if that's the word, the extent of the quarrying en-route.)  There we found a pub just opening bedecked with Burnley football memorabilia, and sum black and white Macbeth film on telly (note to self, even my typing takin' on a Yorkshire feel pet with a bit of Geordie slipping in.)  Black Sheep again here before we headed back to the Crown where this time I went for Naylor's Magnum P(ale) A(le).

Back to the station, crossing the rail tracks and the train to the next stop by Ribblehead viaduct.(here and here) where there is but one building, the Station Inn.  Some of us opted first to take the brisk walk to the viaduct (an impressive piece of building) paying homage at the memorial to those killed in its construction.  Its quite bleak there and getting parky so back to the pub first for Copper Dragon's Best Bitter and later Thwaites Original Best Bitter (by which time the sun was out so we went into the garden with a great view across the valley to to the viaduct (ed's note - the view from the Gents is pretty good as well "The loo with the view".)  If you've ever wondered what they do with those large wooden circular things they keep cable on, well up 'ere they turn them on their sides and thence into garden tables.

Anyway, its time to start the return leg of our journey with the plan of stopping off en route back to Leeds.  Keighley seemed a good plan and so we alighted there and soon found a lively community type pub in the shape of the Boltmakers Arms which had the full range of Timothy Taylor beers available.  I opted for their Dark Mild as its not one you see often in my neck of the woods.

After there JF lead us round the the Crickerters Arms which had a reasonable selection of craft / imported beers both in bottle and on tap.  I went for the bottled Brooklyn Brown Ale.

Back to the station and to Leeds where we had an hour before our homeards journey, so firstly we went to the Ship (Kirkstall Dissolution IPA) and finally to the Angel Inn which surprised DP due to the sheapness of the round (being a Sam Smith's pub it didn't surprise me! see here for proof its not only Leeds where they do cheap beer.)  I had their Old Brewery Bitter.

All in all a good day!  - Cheers Brian for organizing and many happy returns!

4th May 2012 - Tamworth

Out with RG tonight but arrived later to find him in mid-Holden's Mild at the Globe.  I went for their guest ale, Dowbridge Morgans ale Inn the Dark (3.8%) before we settled back to watch the play-off semi-final between Blackpool and Birmingham.

there are people who go to football matches and pop out at half time for a quick beer, so we followed suit and headed over to the Sir Robert Peel where I went for March Heigh from Riverhead.

We decided to catch the end of the match so back to the Globe where I had Holden's Mild and finally a shared bottle of Newcastle Brown.

21st April 2012 - Stockport

Last away game of the soccer season so off to Edgeley Park, Stockport.

After an excellent lunch of fish and chips at the Edgeley Priory we headed up the road to The Royal Oak where I had Joseph Holts Bitter, and thence over to a small Labour / CIU club right by the football ground's entrance (beer not noted.)

The match itself wasn't much to write home about, so other tha mentioning the cold. damp weather, I qwon't!

6th April 2012 - Tamworth

I'd promised to check in on RO after the funeral a few days previous so popped into the Sir Robert Peel and whilst there had Wye Valley HPA.

4th April 2012 - Tamworth

Funeral wake for the wife (Steph) of my friend Ray Owen today means I'm in the Sir Robert Peel.  Driving meant I limited my self to two halves firstly of Oakham Inferno and thence Sharp's Doombar.

29th March 2012 - Tamworth

In tamworth tonight with RG.  Met as usual at the Globe where I opted this time for the Worthington Cask Bitter.

We then opted to move onto the Silk Kite as Wetherspoon's were holding one of their beer festival and there I went for Moorhouse's APA Special.

Next over to the Sir Robert Peel, wheree they had some beer from the College Green Brewery in Belfast.  I went for Molly's Chocolate Stout, although they also had the Headless Dog.

Finally out to the Bolebridge for some more from the Wetherspoon festival, this time Acorn Old Moor Porter.

23rd March 2012 - Fazeley

RG's daughter's 18th being celebrated at a local Chinese.  En route we stopped off at the Plough and Harrow in Fazeley where Charles Wells Bombardier was sampled.

16th March 2012 - Birmingham - Jewerally Quarter

GP's turn to organise the monthly outing this time and he opted for a walking tour of pubs in or near the Jewerally Quarter.

Along with JF and BJ, I started however at New Street station to organise tickets for the latter's 60th birthday outing up to Yorkshire (which I'll hopefully blog in due course.)  We were therefore late starting and so met the others en route to their second venue, Vertu Bar where there was Purity UBU available.  The financial committee was hastily formed here to work out the share of the costs of the train tickets that were purchased above but it was a case of bad light stops play.

Next pub was the very traditional Red Lion (note to self, menu looked good)  where I chose Wye Valley Betty Bach.  The financial committee made progress as well, with the sub-committee that took charge taking his glasses off and scratching his head somewhat.

The Drop Forge next where I went for a lager style beer from Malvern Hills Brewery (Priessnitz Plzen.)

We next called at the Brown Lion, a Two Towers tavern which offers the full range of beers from the Two Towers brewery (as well as something like 10 ciders and perries the night we were there.)  I went first for the Mott St Mild and thence a bottle of Boon Framboise (labelled 2009 vintage.)

The Rectory Bar next and time for the second Purity beer of the evening - Mad Goose.

Queens Arms next, and a pattern is starting to appear as I went for Wye Valley's HPA.

The evening ended at the Shakespheare (the one in Summer Row) where I actually opted for a glass of Talisker Whisky.

15th March 2012 - Burton Beer Festival

Opted to go to the Thursday evening session of the 33rd Burton Beer Festival.

Whilst catching up with some friends and also listening to Roger Protz opening speech where he went on about a new brewery in Italy.

Beers tasted in no paerticular order were :

Atomic - Planet Mild
Dow Bridge - Praetorian Porter
Dancing Duck - Abduction IPA
Great Western - Ruby Porter
Fulstow - Sledge Hammer Stout
Spitting Feathers - Old Wavertonian
Penzance - Potion No 9