In Burton tonight to attend, along with 30 or 40 others, a presentation for Steve Wellington for his years of service to the brewing industry during which he revived Worthington White Shield and is well known for other work around lost beers (best exemplified via http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1536396/Beautiful-beer-lost-in-the-vaults-since-1869.html.) See also http://www.aletalking.aletalk.co.uk/2011/05/master-brewer-steve-wellington-to-retire/ and http://real-ale-reviews.com/desert-island-beers-16-steve-wellington/2011/11/.
Arriving in Burton early I called in the Devonshire for a swift half of Burton Bridge Damson Porter.
On to the National Brewery Centre where they had the full Shield range they brew for Molson Coors and during the evening I sampled pints of Winter Shield, Red Shield and of course White Shield. Steve also brought samples of Bass P1 round. Jo White was also on hand and gave a tour of the new William Worthington White Shield Brewery which is obviously far more shiny and new compared to the "old girl" that I have previously brewed on, now relegated to a hop store.
Monday, 12 March 2012
Tuesday, 28 February 2012
27th February 2012 -Stoke upon Trent
One of my colleagues reached the ripe old age of 50 today so arranged a lunchtime outing to the Glebe in Stoke. Returning to work afterwards mean I restricted myself to a single pint of Joule's Stumberling Monk.
17th February 2012 - Worcester
A warm February evening finds me heading to Birmingham to join the others at the Windsor. As the beer choice wasn't really that inspiring I started on Weston's Scrumpy. After that we headed off to New street and thecne the train down to Worcester Foregate St. and thence the short stroll into Lowesmoor to find the Firefly - a venue I'd suggested as it had come runner up in a recent pub of the year for the local branch of CAMRA.
We got to the end of the street and after scratching our heads wondering where the pub was someone looked upwards and noticed it was just over the road albeit not well signed. There is a good range of bottled ales including (for future reference some from America) but I went for Sadler's Jack's Pale Ale.
Next port of call was the Swan with 2 Nicks where is was happy hour. I sampled Hobsons Town Crier.
We then looked for another good venue and ended up outside the Cardinals Hat which I had noted previously. This sells Austrian beers in 1/3, 1/2 and 1l sized glasses. I went for the Heinfelder Export.
On the Plough (which won the pub of the year mentioned above. a good choice of beers here and I went for Pardoe's Rowley Rag.
Farrier's Arms next where the choice wasn't as good but the Fuller's London Pride was in good form.
Final post of call was a Wetherspoon (the Crown Passage) and Titanic Full Steam Ahead.
We got to the end of the street and after scratching our heads wondering where the pub was someone looked upwards and noticed it was just over the road albeit not well signed. There is a good range of bottled ales including (for future reference some from America) but I went for Sadler's Jack's Pale Ale.
Next port of call was the Swan with 2 Nicks where is was happy hour. I sampled Hobsons Town Crier.
We then looked for another good venue and ended up outside the Cardinals Hat which I had noted previously. This sells Austrian beers in 1/3, 1/2 and 1l sized glasses. I went for the Heinfelder Export.
On the Plough (which won the pub of the year mentioned above. a good choice of beers here and I went for Pardoe's Rowley Rag.
Farrier's Arms next where the choice wasn't as good but the Fuller's London Pride was in good form.
Final post of call was a Wetherspoon (the Crown Passage) and Titanic Full Steam Ahead.
Thursday, 9 February 2012
8th February 2012 - Burton
In Burton for a meeting tonight and ended up at the Old Cottage near the Town Hall. They had a couple of derby based guests on and so I sampled Mr Grundy's 1914 and Black Iris brewery's Black Iris.
Thursday, 19 January 2012
4th / 5th January 2012 - Durham
Back then to where this blog first started, Durham where I am attending the annual Blackboard User's Conference.. Only staying there for 2 nights this time restricted my pub research (ahem) but nevertheless, Wednesday night finds me on Claypath. I wanted to see if the Woodman was now open and sure enough it was albeit with a restricted range of beers compared to previous. I therefore went for Theakstons' Best.
Time for some food so into the Rajpooth Indian (Cobra Lager and a free whisky - thanks!)
Down the road to a new pub in Durham for me, the Big Jug. Caledonian Flying Scotsman was enjoyed along with some Newcastle fans watching their team beating Manchester United (I stayed till half time) before heading to the Bishop's Mill for Nethergate Red Santa.
Thursday evening i restricted myself to the conference bar in the 11th century Undercroft bar at Durham Castle.
There was only a limited choice so I had Golsch and thence Carling lager.
Time for some food so into the Rajpooth Indian (Cobra Lager and a free whisky - thanks!)
Down the road to a new pub in Durham for me, the Big Jug. Caledonian Flying Scotsman was enjoyed along with some Newcastle fans watching their team beating Manchester United (I stayed till half time) before heading to the Bishop's Mill for Nethergate Red Santa.
Thursday evening i restricted myself to the conference bar in the 11th century Undercroft bar at Durham Castle.
There was only a limited choice so I had Golsch and thence Carling lager.
30th December 2011 - Burton
Christam / New Year outing with RG finds us in Burton upon Trent (or is it Burton-on-Trent?)
For me however drinking start at the Sir Robert Peel in Tamworth where there was just time for a quick half of Inferno from Oakham.
first port of call at Burton was the chippie thence to the Cottage where my choice was their excellent Stout.
Round the corner next to the Alfred where I had Burton Bridge Porter and also Festival.
We then went over to the Devonshire for some more Burton Bridge beer (Damson Porter). RG noticed there was Sarah Hughes on (he likes this beer so we thought if time we'll call back later.)
Next to the Coopers where there was Dancing Duck Dark Drake (I thought this might be a smoked beer but their web site describes it as "Delicious malty, caramel and liquorice flavours combine wonderfully in a velvety smooth drinking stout with a freshly roasted coffee and toffee finish (4.5%. I also had Woods Christmas Cracker.
We returned to the Devonshire and had the last two halves of Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby ("bottom of the barrel so only 75p each!") and i finished with the Damson Porter again which to me was the beer of the evening.
For me however drinking start at the Sir Robert Peel in Tamworth where there was just time for a quick half of Inferno from Oakham.
first port of call at Burton was the chippie thence to the Cottage where my choice was their excellent Stout.
Round the corner next to the Alfred where I had Burton Bridge Porter and also Festival.
We then went over to the Devonshire for some more Burton Bridge beer (Damson Porter). RG noticed there was Sarah Hughes on (he likes this beer so we thought if time we'll call back later.)
Next to the Coopers where there was Dancing Duck Dark Drake (I thought this might be a smoked beer but their web site describes it as "Delicious malty, caramel and liquorice flavours combine wonderfully in a velvety smooth drinking stout with a freshly roasted coffee and toffee finish (4.5%. I also had Woods Christmas Cracker.
We returned to the Devonshire and had the last two halves of Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby ("bottom of the barrel so only 75p each!") and i finished with the Damson Porter again which to me was the beer of the evening.
26th December 2011 - Alfreton
Boxing day finds me in the Victoria in Alfreton in Derbyshire prior to Tamworth's game there (a 5 -2 defeat is all you need to know.)
Beers tasted were Rocking Rudolph from Greene King (under the Hardy and Hanson brand) and Sleigh Rider from Salopian.
Beers tasted were Rocking Rudolph from Greene King (under the Hardy and Hanson brand) and Sleigh Rider from Salopian.
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