26th April 2013 - Burton

In Burton tonight (with instructions to take a decent coat "cause it will rain" - "no - be OK"!) primarily to attend the 8th Beer Festival with Bangers at the Burton Bridge.  Although fairly quiet when i arrived it soon became quite busy.  the festival was housed in a small marquee at the rear and although the normal beers were available in the bars I decided to remain in the festival itself. As the name suggests there were also sausages available and the Beef and Horseradish make an excellent accomplishment.

Beers samples here were:

• Cheddar Ales - George Best
• Peakstones Rock - Black Hole (a dark bitter brewed with chocolate malt)
• Dancing Duck - Amberillo (Amerillo hops I guess - best beer of the evening for me!)
• Church End - Shreddies 
• Sarah Hughes - Dark Ruby (which had about run out)

By now it was getting busy and difficult to get to the bar so I decided to head into the now very wet evening and across to the Coopers for

• Titanic  - Cappuchino Stout
• Middle Earth  - Fellowship

Finally over to the Devonshire for Burton Bridge Damson Porter

10th April 2013 - Burton

In Burton tonight for a meeting.

Alfred - Burton Bridge Stairway to Heaven (possibly sitting too close to the dart board.)

Old Cottage -  

• Coastal Eden Gold 

• Liverpool Organic Brewery - Josephine Butler elderflower Ale.

30th March 2013 - Tamworth - RG's 50th

RG had invited us out this evening for a meal to celebrate him turning 50.

Enroute stopped off at the Bolebridge for a swift pint of Wychwood Hobgoblin.

29th March 2013 - Stafford

Leaving do for a colleague, Sue, who is retiring from work. Having known Sue for 25 or so years it was appropriate to take an evening out for her celebrations.  Knowing I would be getting to Stafford earlier then required I'd also taken the opportunity to arrange a drink with another ex-collague, Mark who I met at the Sun.

We caugt up and remembered the old days on Allgates Mosaic, Titanic Iceberg and Titanic Anchor.

Moving on to the Swan for the retirement do a number of past and current colleagues were already present.  I think the beer choice is much improved here since last time with several real ales available.  For me, I sampled Brakspear Bitter and Lymestone Stone Cutter.

15th March 2015 - Sutton Coldfield

Regular monthly outing with DP deciding that Sutton Coldfield was worth another visit.  Meeting the others at Sutton station we headed off for our first port of call, The Duke.  We had time for a couple here so I went first for Theakstons Lightfoot (a regular beer they produce named after a brewery they acquired) and then Youngs Bitter.  Foer some reason we talked about Dacia cars - wonder if TH will be getting one later this year?

From here we headed to the Bottle of Sack - the choice was limited meaning Courage Directors was chosen.

Back towards the station and three pubs in the area next, firstly The Royal which at the time we were there was very guiet, only us and a band getting ready for their performance later that evening which proably would mean the place would get busier later.  We joked that just as they struck up the first proper note we would leave (actually we left well before then!)  We admired the range of LP covered that were framed on the wall, everything from Sex Pistols to Michael Jackson it appeared.  The move to CD a few myears ago was more convenient in terms of carrying them  home from the shops no doubt but to do lose something in terms or art.  Marstons EPA was my choice here.

The busier Red Lion next and a good range of Thwaites beers available here - my choice being Lacaster Bomber.

Finally the Station and my last drink of the evening - Holdens Golden Glow.

22nd February 2013 - Tamworth

Out with RG tonight - as we hadn't been in Tamworth for sometime we decided it might be sensible.

Globe - Batemans XXXB
Sir Robert Peel - Elland Tomahawk, Oakham JHB & Bishops Farewell
Bolebridgen - Erdinger Weisse Bier

15th February 2013 - Leicester

Leicester tonight with GP and the others, JF actually organizing.  Two packed trains, the first far more so than the second best describes the journey across (I knew it would be busy.)

Pubs and beers tonight were

The Pub : Oakham Inferno;
Kings Head :Plain Ales Incognito (a port stout);
Swan and Rushes : Rat Brewery Rattus Rattus (a wheat beer);
The Font : Meantime Wheat Beer;
The Tap : Liefmans Fruit Beer;
The Salmon : Raw Anubis Porter