24th April 2009 - Two festivals including a wotsit in a thingy

Tonight it was my choice of venue for the monthly outing with GP and chums. Original plans to inlude a visit to Shenstone had gone by the wayside mainly due to the discovery that there was a beer festival taking place near Lichfield. We met at the Wellington in Birmingham as they were holding their 18th Beer Festival offering the following in addidition to the 15 hand pills on the bar many of which had a St Georges theme.

Morrisey Fox - Blonde
W.J. King - Red River
Celt (Newman) - Native Storm, Red Castle Cream
Dunham Massey - Brown Ale
Saltaire - Bavarian Black, Sub-Lime Blonde
Loweswater - Gold
Mallinsons - Marina Mild, Spring Centurian
Boggart - Inkerman
Keystone - Solar Brew
Art Brew - Mild Peril
Brew Co. - Bock
Falstaff - Draco
Kirkby Lonsdale - Stout
Greenfield - Hopped & Stoned
A.B.C. - Witton PA
Moorview - Smokin Moor
Backyard - Heanua, George
Stringer - Dark Country Mild
Sheffield - St Georges Steel
Old Spot - Jack Spratt
Wheal Maiden - Grandma's Weapon Grade Ginger Beer

Onwards via train the Lichfield and taxi out to the Heart of the Country craft centre for the 2nd Beer Festival of the evening and indeed the 2nd one that Quartz had offered. One of the quiestest beer festivals I'd been to, there were us 5, 2 or theree staff and a few other people still a good effort given the lack of public transport. Anyway, a pleasant late spring evening was spent in their garden supping beers from CoachHouse (Gunpowder Strong Mild and St George's Heritage Ale), Mauldon's Black Adder and George's Best, Phoenix St George's Flag and Wobbly Bob as well as their own Quartz Blond and Quartz Rose.

The notes from here got a bit patchy alas, but we ended up next at the Queen's Head in Lichfield, followed by the King's Head and finally the Acorn (Wetherspoons).

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!

Tuesday 24th February 2009 - Gainsborough Trinity

Spent the evening at Gainsborough Trinity. Arrived too late to consider suggested venues in Town so visited the clubhouse where there was Daleside Old Leg Over available which went down a treat and followed the excellent food they also serve there.

Add to that a 1-0 win for Tamworth and not a bad night all round - shame about the trip home!

Friday February 13th - Birmingham pub beer fests

The easiest way to summarise this session was that it had potential for a sing song and some ping pong but ended with shuttlecock deplomacy ahead of possible ding dong.

Anyway GP offered the chance to eat first at the Big Wok and that invitaiton was taken up especially given their early day all you can eat rate. I took up the challenge and did indeed eat all I could but didn't leave space for beer (lesson for next time) meaning I took the healthy half pint option for the first hour or so.

On to the beer.

First port of call was the Anchor in Digbeth. They were holding one of their beer festivals and not surprisinging the theme this time was Valentines Weekend. Some 14 specials were on offer namely

Archers Cupid's Arrow
Bartram's Love Hearts
Beowulf Love Juice
Birmingham Brewery's Lovers Pale Ale
Coastal Brewery Wild at Heart
Dark Star Big Gary's Birthday rew
Dow Bridge Pucker Up
Holden's Passionate Monk
Kinver The Beautiful Mrs Doyle and Kiss me Honey
Ludluw Hearty Stout
Penzance Potion No 9
Rowton Cupids Comet
Weatheroak Golden Valentine

In additon there had several other non-festival beers available including

Thornbridge Halcyon
Penpoint Nonnas and Roughter
Old Cannon Black Pig
Salopian Gurka
Cathedral Golden Imp
Red Rock Rusy Mere Organic
Holden Golden Glow
Ellard Silver Lining
Empire Golden Mist


Moving on we headed of foot to Lamp where I sampled Stanway Bitter (only place in Birmingham you can get it I am told which means I usually drink this here but always wonder why) Church End Gravediggers Ale, Pictish Brewers Gold, Bazan's Jogon and Everards Tiger.

Stroll to bus stop but we appear to have broke with some unwritten rule as we ended up in a taxi on route to the British Oak in Stirchley for the second beer fest of the evening. The specials here included

Oakleaf Hole Hearted
RCH Pitchfork
Roosters White Rose
Iveralmond Trippledouser
Hanby Old Wemian
Ossett Silver King
Thwaites Nutty Black
Batemans Jester

Also avaulable form the bar were offerings including Hooky Gold, Black Sheep and Reverend James. Along with DP some success was had on the quiz mahine whilst GP re-aquainted ghimself with an old friend. DP also continued the previous outing's food debate mentioning the problems he was having getting a pork derived Domino's pizza (a story which made the national press here, here and here for example - mind its not a first for this chain see here. )

Back into a taxi that happened to be passing and into the Jewerally Quarter for two stops, the first being the Lord Clifton - come outside said GP so we did and were met by an unusual site, outdoor (in February!!) table tennis and table football in full swing (don't spin the players, its illegal!) All this eh sporting activity lead to teh DP badminton challenge of which no doubt more in due course.

Beers on offer here were Brains SA, Bathams Best Bitter and Sadlers Golder Gem.

Down the road to the Church Inn where there an unpatrionised karaoke, and Brains SA and Youngs Bitter available.

Into another taxi and back into the centre of B'ham to the Joint Stock who were offering as always the full range of Fullers Beers including London Porter before heading off homeward via a savelloy and chips.

Friday January 30th - Night out in Burton...

... goes for a Burton.

Had night out planned with Richard with a view to visit Burton upon Trent.

Well, all was going to plan albeit I feared I'd be late for the train.

The reality turned out to be the complete opposite due to trains being cancelled due to "fatality on the line".

So what to do (Derby and Birmingham both non starters due to the above, Lichfield was feasable but only a couple of hours till last train back so not really worth it, so back into town we trudged for a crawl round Tamworth.

En route we passed our normal meeting point, The Albert, but this appears to have been permanently closed, so onwards to our first stop, The Sir Robert Peel. I have "fond" recollections of this place from the time it used to be Hamletts wine bar but that was some 20 years ago. Anyway, two ales on taps Atlas Latitude (see http://www.atlasbrewery.com/latitude.htm) a cask pilsner of scottish origin. Whilst not being a great lager fan (but see comment later), I must say this was a nice beer and only 3.6%. Staying for another, Richard opted for a can of Red Stripe whilst for me it was Nethergate Suffolk County. Whether it was the pilsner's taste or not I don't know but this beer tasted slightly sweeter than one might expect from a best bitter.

Over and up the road to The Globe. Their guest beer this time was Black Sheep which joined their normal range of Bass, Worthington Bitter and the beer I opted for, Holden's Mild.

Onward to the White Lion. Church End Willie Brew'd sampled (as opposed to their standard offering Banks's Bitter) whilst beeting Richard 2-0 at pool.

Final port of call was The Bole Bridge (a Wetherspoons). I'd heard roumours that Green King beers were now the norm in these places but not here where we could have opted for Pedigree, Abbott, plus a range of beers from smaller breweries which alas I can't recall other than one had something to do with Titus Salt and another that was due on soon was Palm , a Belgium amber ale). We however opted to put the world to rights over a couple of bottles of 99p San Miguel before venturing our separate ways and for me a further chance or research the project from a few weeks ago around what difference beer does make to the taste of a donner kebab.