1st December - Atherstone

So soon i find myself in Atherstone again, this time passing through due to Christmas shopping.

We were passing at lunchtime so called in to a chippie at the Mancetter end of the town (the chips were excellent, homemade thick jobbies).

There are three pubs right by the chippie although only the Old Swan was open so food was washed down with Banks's Original.

26th November 2011 - Atherstone

Over to Atherstone today with RG whose work's football team (Loughborough University) were playing there (very quiet for a Saturday - turns out there the Xmas Fayre on later that day so most people were leaving it till later before venturing out.

This provided an opportunity to revisit some pubs not been to for a while starting with Market Tavern where I sampled a couple of the beers from its owners, the Warwickshire Brewing Company, specifically Churchyard Bob, and the stronger Kingmaker.

We adjourned to the local chippy and thence set out for the football stadium (true if loose description) via the Angel.  I had great hopes for this as they often have a beer festival (reported on a previous posting) but today only Bass was available.

Thence to the Bear and Ragged Staff by the aforementioned pitch where the only decent beer available was Highgate Dark Mild.

The game itself was a dire affair and there were only cans of beer available in the clubhouse afterwards (still the left over sandwiches from the player's tea were welcome.)

We returned to the railway station via a much busier town centre and homewards past several drummer's drumming (no partridges, pear trees, leaping maidens or lords milking to be seen!)

15th November 2011 - Manchester

Manchester today for a work related day long meeting held on the 24th floor of the City Tower (with some impressive views of the city and beyond from the atrium stuck on the side of the building at least for those of us brave enough to venture out.)

Being close to Piccadilly I took in the chance of visiting a couple of the watering holes.  Firstly the Port Street Beer House provides a wide ranging selection of beers (cask, draft and bottled) covering a broad spectrum of prices.  Tucked away amongst the warren of streets in the area I guess this is the sort of place you would either stumble upon or will have previously learned about as I had via a Google search.  You only really know you're there via the logos above the windows.

As i was driving later that day I only had a half and went for their American guest on draft - Victory Hop Devil.  

"That'll be £3.50 a half?" checked the bar man - I'm only going to be here rarely I thought so what the heck?  Actually good value as it lasted me a good while and the web site's description of "Menacingly delicious, with the powerful, aromatic punch of whole flower American hops backed up by rich, German malts. HopDevil Ale offers a roller coaster ride of flavor, coasting to a smooth finish that satisfies fully." was spot on.  Combined with reviewing their beer menu (which ran to several pages) this was a joy to behold.

Next over to the Manchester and County, a Wetherspoons by Piccadilly gardens.  Easy to find but you wouldn't know the name from outside (I only noted it from a receipt someone had left on the bar.)  Seemed quite a compact JDW.  A good selection of beers available and I went for Hawkshead Brodies Prime described as a premium beer at 4.9% hopped with Fuggles, Bramling Cross, and Cascade hops.  Another good choice.  The lights on the trees in Piccadilly Gardens added to the charm.


After that it was back to the cafe by Piccadilly station for an all day breakfast and thence homeward.  There are several other pubs in the area that more time would have enticed me to visit, still save them for next time.

12th November 2011 - Hinckley Football Club

A 1st round FA cup game again finds me at Hinckley..  Ruddles Best Bitter on Keg and the IPA Smooth (both from Greene King) as with last time provided the drinks.

1st November 2011- Hinckley United Football Club - more bland IPA

Went over to Hinckley tonight for their FA Cup replay against Darlington.  (For completness, the latter were quite dire and so a 3-0 home win followed.)

We started in Barwell at Chris's Fish and Chip shop for some wonderful fish and chips and to wash it down I chose Greene King IPA Smooth (keg) - not much to write home about but at least this ticks it off.

28th October 2011 - Birmingham Beer Festival

Day off today with the prospect of Birmingham beer festival with GP and several others to look forward to.

After an excellent "Full monty" breakfast at a  cafe on Birmingham market, I arrived at the Second City Suite to find some of the party already there and as I greeted them I noticed the cider and perry stand.

As with last year, the locale bar was downstairs with those from further afield on the first floor.

I'd previously researched the beer list and noted a specific perry I wanted to try but alas it wasn't there so instead my first drink was Merrylegs Pyder (6%) after which i joined the party.

250 beers means it can take time to decide what to go for so I opted to stick to thirds of the lower priced beers from there on.

Merry Miner is probably the most local brewery to me so I went next for two of their beers, Ghost Train (4.2% golden ale) and Going Underground (4.4% bitter.)

Time to go further afield (upstairs) from where Saltaire Blackberry Cascade was selected (4.8% with the cascade and Cenntennial hops well balanced by the fruit.)  Me and JF spotted the posh chocolate stand and tried some samples - the xtra hot chilli was interesting but didn't mix with the beer.

"Right GP - give me a number and that will be my next beer" - 222 was the answer so it was Southport Dark Night - 3.9% mild and a good beer as well that also fitted the pricing plan above.

Can't recall why, but the next beer I went for was Newmans Autumn Valley Flower (4.4%) - this would turn out to be my favorite of the day and I voted it as my beer of the festival choice.

Enough of using the stairs, so next a new local brewery for me I believe - Angel Banafyre (a 5% dark chocolate stout with an intense chilli finish that sort of sneaks up on you and then make you go "kin eck!")

Time for GP to give me a number again and this time it was 26, so another local beer - Bird's Dark Matter (5% complex dark ruby bitter.)

Back upstairs next for Amber Almond Dark (4.4% stout with an almond flavour.)

Thinking next about the theme that emerged over the last few weeks of run of the mill stuff,. "give me a bland beer" was my next request for GP - "Davenports!" was his response - "anything from there will fit the bill!"  Highgate Davenports IPA was thus selected - sure enough its a gentle 4% session beer with not much hopping that IPAs should have these days.

I've got enough left on the token for a final third and Hobsons Mild was close by so that fitted the bill perfectly.

The others still have money to spend so I went to the bottle beer stand and after much deliberation noticed an American  pumpkin beer not in the programme so it was I sampled Saranac Pumpkin ale (really excellent - so much so I've since emailed the brewer tio say well done.)

At this point we left the festival and headed over to the Big Wok for some food - I had a Chinese Lager (Tsing Tao.)

21st October 2011 - Tamworth with RG

Last week's Wilnecote crawl appears to have had an affect!  Most of this week I've been looking froward to this trip hoping to concentrate on more run of the mill beers (if only so they do at least get a mention in this blog.)

Arriving on time at the Globe I therefore quickly decide for Worthington Cask bitter (need to reconfirm details and whether it it is contract brewed by Everards?) - sure enough the traditional British character comes across.  As I'm finishing, RG enters and offers to buy me a top up.  This time I went for Black Sheep's Emmerdale, "Hmm ? is that an off taste or too sweet for me?" - must have been the latter as later research reveals (4.2% ABV - Distinctive balance between the flavours of fruity Golding variety hops, Maris Otter malted barley and demerara sugar. Strong and refreshingly long, dry and bitter finish.)

For out next port of call we head to the Three Tuns, so chance to compare their Bass to that sample last time.  As with the Worthington beer above, again it's a pleasant enough run of the mill offering in good condition, what more can you say about it?

Next up the Silk Kite and the JDW beer festival.  There were offering an American import from Bell's brewery - expect they aren't as in fact it turns out to have been produced in by someone from Bell's at Marston's Burton - still a new beer and one we probably won't see again? - (Kalamazoo Black Silk Oatmeal Porter - more here.)

At this point we decide to head over to the Bolebridge and see what they are offering as part of the festival.  the Bell's "import" is also on but I opt for 3 thirds in the shape of:

• Box Steam Brewery - Piston Broke
• Wadworth - Octoberzest
• Vale - Long dark Nights

To conclude a pleasant evening we share a bottle of Newcastle Brown (Heineken International.)