13th June, 2012 - Burton

Meeting of the BurtonBeer circle finds me in the Old Cottage in  Burton.  Commercial beer sampled this evening was Wincle Wincle Waller.

8th June, 2012 - Lichfield

Out with GP and co tonight for which I'd opted to show them round the SW part of the city.  Our party converged on Lichfield City station from various points of the compass and once assesmbled we headed off to the Greyhound.  The beer choice was different to last night in one respect as the guest had been changed to become Cairngorm Sheepshaggers Gold (Tetley Bitter still being the other choice.)  GP peaking to landlord learned that a scret beer might be available if we asked the right question / people at the Horse and Jockey, which was indeed planned for later that evening.

I then led them up the garden path via a back route to the Duke of Wellington, the further point out of the city centre, and although Googling it results in a newpaper article from a while back on the possible closure it is good to report that this place appears to be doing well.  There I chose Wye Valley HPA (Holden's Golden Glow, Marston's Pedigree and Fuller's London Pride also being available.)

Our next stop was The Bowling Green, an Ember Inns pub based on the middle of a large roundablout and thereby not the best place to reach on foot. A good range of beers were available with my choice being Timothy Taylor Landlord.  Also available were Purity Mad Goose, Harviestoun Bitter and Twisted, Marston's Pedigree, Wentworth HPA, sharps doombar and the intriging Thai-Bo from Otley brewery, Pontypridd (a spiced clear what beer with lemongrass, lime leaf and galangal - JF had this and offered me sip - interesting!)

Hose and Jockey next and GP did ask for and did get the secret beer, Bathams Bitter. I however opted for Oakham JHB noting that Holden's Golden low, Blue Monkey PG sips , T.T. Landlord, Wye Valley HPA and Burton Bridge Golden Delicious were also available.

Final pub was the Earl of Lichfield, partly at the wish of BJ who used to frequent the place when he used to work in Lichfield.  I went for Marston's EPA (but could have also chosed Pedigree or Jennings Cocker Hoop.

We then headed off back to the station.  En route JF stuck his head into Malt, and reported that the range of beer was somewhat dissappointing, and certainly not as it wqas when last reported on by this blog - glad we didn't choose to meet there, which had been one idea.

7th June 2012, Lichfield

Stopped off en route home to check a possible venue for tomorrow night's crawl - The Greyhound.

This has previously been in the Good Beer Guide, but recent internet research has only revealed sparse amounts of information, and then nothing spectacular.

Turned out better than expected with Tetley Bitter which I guess is their regular and what appears to be a guest, Holden's Golden Glow which I opted for.

June 1st 2012 - 3rd Hopwas Beer Festival

This looks like its becoming a tradition!  For a change however, I met up with RG at the Moat House.  This old building used tobe an excellent pub but the beer choice is somewhat depressing and basically deserted apart from a wedding upsairs - such a shame  but I guess there is more to attract the drinker on the other side of town. John Smiths keg available to entertain us before heading out to catch the bus.

Arriving in Hopwas Social Club we found some 12 local beers on the stillage plus a further selection behind the bar. Beers sampled in the short time before returning for the bus were :

Wye Valley - Pint Bearer
Church End - Lovely Jubbly
Slaters - Original
Church End - Gravediggers Mild (this from behind the bar as opposed to the festival selection)

Back into Tamworth and time at the Three Tuns for a Bass.