Regular brewing meeting tonight at the Old Cottage with commercial beers sampled including (from the bar) Grafters Wobble Gob and Old Cottage Oak Ale.
Later a talk I gave on Scottish beers included Innis and Gunn's Rum finish and Williams Brothers Brewing Faroch Heather Ale.
Friday, 11 October 2013
Friday 4th October 2013 - Stoke-on-Trent
Various people leaving work today find me in Stoke.
First outing is at lunchtime to the Glebe after partaking of fish, chips and mushy peas at a chippie on Hill Street (the peas were excellent.)
I sampled the various Joules beers available including Double Hop, Pale Ale and lastly Slumbering Monk.
The second get together was in the White Star and there I had a guest beer to start with in the shape of Lytham Epic, and thence two of the Titanic beers namely Plum Porter and Iceberg.
To Ian, Sean, Ray and Ben, cheers chaps.
First outing is at lunchtime to the Glebe after partaking of fish, chips and mushy peas at a chippie on Hill Street (the peas were excellent.)
I sampled the various Joules beers available including Double Hop, Pale Ale and lastly Slumbering Monk.
The second get together was in the White Star and there I had a guest beer to start with in the shape of Lytham Epic, and thence two of the Titanic beers namely Plum Porter and Iceberg.
To Ian, Sean, Ray and Ben, cheers chaps.
Thursday, 3 October 2013
27th September 2013 - Sedgley
Our meeting point for this outing is in fact in central Birmingham where I chose the Brier Rose for the first drink. TH, BJ and DP were already there so I joinerd them after obtaining a pint of Adnams Broadside. Soon after we were wondering where JF was so DP sent him a txt and soon after got a "Behind you" type reply. To be fair, we had just seen him but he was so focused he had gone straight past us and was heading for the bar.
We thence got the train to Wolverhampton after overcoming the recently introduced queueing system at the ticket office (come in number 281 your turn is soon.)
At Wolverhampton we went straight to the bus stop for the number 1 and soon after found ourselves in Sedgley. Although there was a beer festival in the town we opted for the pubs instead on the basis they'd be quiet (not the case.) To be fair if we hadn't learned about the beer festival beforehand we would heave been none the wiser. Anyway a short stroll takes us to the next pub, the Beacon. This time I went for Sarah Hughes Amber. We asked what the pub over the road was like and informed it was nice "but rammed."
Not to be put off we went over to the White Lion anyway and found it was actually farily quiet except for the dining area which was full. A good choice of beers and I went for Dark Star American Pale Ale and thence Buntingford Twitchell.
Retracing our stes brings us to the Bulls Head, which has holdens beers available. I went for the Mild.
Back to the bus and to Wolverhampton and the Moon Under Water for the last drink of the evening in the shape of a pint of Blackwater Brewery's Hair of the Dog.
We thence got the train to Wolverhampton after overcoming the recently introduced queueing system at the ticket office (come in number 281 your turn is soon.)
At Wolverhampton we went straight to the bus stop for the number 1 and soon after found ourselves in Sedgley. Although there was a beer festival in the town we opted for the pubs instead on the basis they'd be quiet (not the case.) To be fair if we hadn't learned about the beer festival beforehand we would heave been none the wiser. Anyway a short stroll takes us to the next pub, the Beacon. This time I went for Sarah Hughes Amber. We asked what the pub over the road was like and informed it was nice "but rammed."
Not to be put off we went over to the White Lion anyway and found it was actually farily quiet except for the dining area which was full. A good choice of beers and I went for Dark Star American Pale Ale and thence Buntingford Twitchell.
Retracing our stes brings us to the Bulls Head, which has holdens beers available. I went for the Mild.
Back to the bus and to Wolverhampton and the Moon Under Water for the last drink of the evening in the shape of a pint of Blackwater Brewery's Hair of the Dog.
Wednesday, 25 September 2013
20th September 2013 - Loughborough and Beeston
Annual trip with RG to Loughborough today to the 2013 Great Central Railway beer festival. Some 50 or so beers available at the main station site plus offshoots at various other facilities they own - we how stuck to the main offering.
Beers tasted in order were :
Time for tea so we headed over to Beeston and firstly the Last Post (Wetherspoons) - Burton Bridge Porter and finally the Victoria and Castle Rock Lincoln Red.
Beers tasted in order were :
- Allgates California (3.8%)
- Lytham Berry Blonde (4.1%)
- Nottingham Ruby (4%?) - last 9 gallon barrel from their local Camra branch 40th anniversary.
- Wicked Hathern GCR Bitter (4.2%)
- Wentworth WPA (4%)
- Rat Lab Rat (4.5%)
- Holdens XB (4.1%)
- Two Trees Summer Berry Perry (6.5%) - dangerous stuff!
- Jack Ratt Scrumpy (6%)
- Nottingham Rock Mild (3.8%)
Time for tea so we headed over to Beeston and firstly the Last Post (Wetherspoons) - Burton Bridge Porter and finally the Victoria and Castle Rock Lincoln Red.
6th September 2013 - Tamworth
Out with RG this evening finds us firstly at the Globe watching the England World Cup qualifier ("Great seats - shame they're not easy at our age to get out of!")
Beers sampled there were Brains British Summer followed by Tomos Watkins Cwrw Haf and finally Holdens Mild.
Moved onto the Market Vaults and trying to use the loyalty card from last time get informed they don't use those now. Oh well, it didn't detract from the quality of Joules Slumbering Monk and lastly Joules Pale Ale.
Beers sampled there were Brains British Summer followed by Tomos Watkins Cwrw Haf and finally Holdens Mild.
Moved onto the Market Vaults and trying to use the loyalty card from last time get informed they don't use those now. Oh well, it didn't detract from the quality of Joules Slumbering Monk and lastly Joules Pale Ale.
14th August 2013 - Burton upon Trent
In Burton this evening for a meeting at the Old Cottage. Commercial beer sampled was Gates Reservoir Premium.
Wednesday, 21 August 2013
10th August 2013 - Pubs near the West Midlands Metro **
This crawl was originally planned a few weeks earlier but I had cancelled it due to a demo in central Birmingham but with this being a free Saturday it seemed appropriate to reschedule for today.
First port of call was in Birmingham at the Wellington for some food (actually purchased from a bagette shop near New Street.)
With RG in tow, PD from Burton joined us and my first beer of the day was from Empire, a Huddlesfield brewery, in the shape of their Blowers Best (beer name from memory however.)
We then headed off to the Metro and the Black Eagle (Sogo Benson Road stop.) The garden here is is an oasis in an industrial area but at this time of year the roses weere past their best. I opted for Wye Valley Summertime, part of their Dorothy Goodbody's heroes range, described on their web site as follows - Just as our Summer arrived, so did Dorothy Goodbody’s Summertime Ale. This 4.2% pale amber beer is brewed with local Fuggles hops to give it a prominent bitter character. Dorothy Goodbody’s Summertime Ale is an old favourite and is now available in pubs throughout the region.
Off next to the Trumpet at Bilston (Bilston Central) which whislt we had expected would only be opened till 2pm was still in full swing when we left. Being a Holden's pub I opted firstly for the Special and thence for the Bitter. Whilst there we enjoyed an impromptu rehersal from a group called the Bandits.
Up the road to the Olde White Rose and RG spied Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby so we opted for that. I must say tnat summer is not the best time for strong beers like this and it was clearly past its best, not bad enough not to be drinkable but approaching it.
Back to the Metro and towards Birmingham to Dartmouth Street Guns Village and towards the Wheatsheaf (passing an argument en route) - beer chosen here was Black Hole Brewery Milky Way ('A 6% pale wheat beer. Honey and banana nose advises the sweet taste but not the sweet, dry spicy finish from this wheat beer.')
Back towards the Metro, passing another argument for the Old Hop Pole and Enville Enville Ale ('Based on a 19th century recipe, this traditional beekeepers ale is light in colour with fruity notes and a hint of sweetness to compliment the dry hoppy taste. Brewed using our own natural spring water, 100% Maris Otter floor malted barley, top fermenting ale yeast, specially selected honeys and pure English hops, it is no surprise that our flagship Enville Ale has been a consistent CAMRA and beer festival winner and collected twenty four awards since we began in 1993. ')
Getting peckish, then the must visit pub is the Vine at Kenrick Park and specifcially the indoor Indian BBQ (Chicken Tikka and Garlic Naan Bread. As for beers, they now have two real ales, both being sampled and which were Ilkley Gold (3.9% and hopped with Cascade and Dana) and thence Ludlow Gold (4.2%)
We headed back towards Birmingham with the intention of visiting the Brown Lion. We arrived to find another party asking where the ral ale had gone to and were told aboutn a change of ownership. We about turned and walked back into Birmingham for the Post Office Vaults. First beer was By The Horns Hopslinger (a 5.5% single hopped beer using Columbus hops) and finally Beowulf Folded Cross (a 4.3% mid-amber ale inspired by the Staffordshire Hoard.)
First port of call was in Birmingham at the Wellington for some food (actually purchased from a bagette shop near New Street.)
With RG in tow, PD from Burton joined us and my first beer of the day was from Empire, a Huddlesfield brewery, in the shape of their Blowers Best (beer name from memory however.)
We then headed off to the Metro and the Black Eagle (Sogo Benson Road stop.) The garden here is is an oasis in an industrial area but at this time of year the roses weere past their best. I opted for Wye Valley Summertime, part of their Dorothy Goodbody's heroes range, described on their web site as follows - Just as our Summer arrived, so did Dorothy Goodbody’s Summertime Ale. This 4.2% pale amber beer is brewed with local Fuggles hops to give it a prominent bitter character. Dorothy Goodbody’s Summertime Ale is an old favourite and is now available in pubs throughout the region.
Off next to the Trumpet at Bilston (Bilston Central) which whislt we had expected would only be opened till 2pm was still in full swing when we left. Being a Holden's pub I opted firstly for the Special and thence for the Bitter. Whilst there we enjoyed an impromptu rehersal from a group called the Bandits.
Up the road to the Olde White Rose and RG spied Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby so we opted for that. I must say tnat summer is not the best time for strong beers like this and it was clearly past its best, not bad enough not to be drinkable but approaching it.
Back to the Metro and towards Birmingham to Dartmouth Street Guns Village and towards the Wheatsheaf (passing an argument en route) - beer chosen here was Black Hole Brewery Milky Way ('A 6% pale wheat beer. Honey and banana nose advises the sweet taste but not the sweet, dry spicy finish from this wheat beer.')
Back towards the Metro, passing another argument for the Old Hop Pole and Enville Enville Ale ('Based on a 19th century recipe, this traditional beekeepers ale is light in colour with fruity notes and a hint of sweetness to compliment the dry hoppy taste. Brewed using our own natural spring water, 100% Maris Otter floor malted barley, top fermenting ale yeast, specially selected honeys and pure English hops, it is no surprise that our flagship Enville Ale has been a consistent CAMRA and beer festival winner and collected twenty four awards since we began in 1993. ')
Getting peckish, then the must visit pub is the Vine at Kenrick Park and specifcially the indoor Indian BBQ (Chicken Tikka and Garlic Naan Bread. As for beers, they now have two real ales, both being sampled and which were Ilkley Gold (3.9% and hopped with Cascade and Dana) and thence Ludlow Gold (4.2%)
We headed back towards Birmingham with the intention of visiting the Brown Lion. We arrived to find another party asking where the ral ale had gone to and were told aboutn a change of ownership. We about turned and walked back into Birmingham for the Post Office Vaults. First beer was By The Horns Hopslinger (a 5.5% single hopped beer using Columbus hops) and finally Beowulf Folded Cross (a 4.3% mid-amber ale inspired by the Staffordshire Hoard.)
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