Wanted a place to break a journey back along the A14 and the old GBG I had included reference to the small town / village of welford in Northamptonshire at the north end of which apparantly was the Wharf.
On arrival we found what appear to be a number of cotteges joined together ajacant a boat yard come wharf.
Inside a good choice of beers from which I selected a beer not featured on the brewer's web site (Langton's) in the form of Lock Keeper (a search o the web revealed it was once a festival special at Leicester - wonder if its an house beer these days?) <-- email sent to brewery to find out.
Wednesday, 22 September 2010
14th September - Tamworth
In town late tonight and in need of a nightcap finds me at the Bolebridge where they had Burton Bridge Stairway to Heaven.
along with RG who was with us, I cooked up a devious plan to spend an evening soon working down one of the sides of the drinks menu - watch this space...
along with RG who was with us, I cooked up a devious plan to spend an evening soon working down one of the sides of the drinks menu - watch this space...
10th September - Dave P's Whatever, Whenever Tour
Out with the Friday Night Birmingham Beer Intakers (aka GP and co albeit no GP this time). Severla others were absent (with leave) so we had decided to take things easy.
D, bro' of the aforementioned erstwhile G, had been in planning mode earlier in the week and so I joined him, TH and BJ at the Black Eagle in Hockley for his Whatever, Whenever tour. The pub, an oasis in the industial wilderness these day, was packed and so we sat outside for a while until the rain came down. Excellent beer as always in the Black Eagle with the following sampled:
D, bro' of the aforementioned erstwhile G, had been in planning mode earlier in the week and so I joined him, TH and BJ at the Black Eagle in Hockley for his Whatever, Whenever tour. The pub, an oasis in the industial wilderness these day, was packed and so we sat outside for a while until the rain came down. Excellent beer as always in the Black Eagle with the following sampled:
- Brewdog Trashy Blonde
- York Guzzler
- Bathams Bitter
- Three Tuns XXX (James Bond reference at this point lead us onto the Drawf hanging falicy in Wizard Of Oz and the bit in Star wars where the trooper banged his head on the door.)
8th September - Tamworth
en route home from a meeting finds me in the Bolebridge - Titanic Triple Screw went down well.
4th September - Lichfield
A saturday afternoon (and evening!) social outing with members of the BBC finds us first at the recently opened Malt in Lichfield. Decide to concentrate of the ABC beers as I don't get chance to try them round my neck of the woods. Rotunda Red (4.8%) is first with its subtle toffee aftertaste. A less strong Dizzy Blonde (4.4%) next. Luke was raving about one of the guests so Beartown Peach Melbear follows and to finsish the strong 6% Aston Distressway was consumed just in time to move on.
We considered visiting the Lloyds Bar and sent Paul in to research the beers (or lack there of) and so ended up instead at the QueensHead and Timothy Taylor Landlord.
One of the most improved pubs in recent years next. The Horse and Jockey used to be run down but no longer so and some excelent ales on offer including Enville Ale and Blythe's Bagot's Bitter (nice one Robert!)
Round the corner to the Kingshead which had Ringwood Showman's Tipple on.
time for some culture and a chance to visit the Captain Smith staute in the park and a review of the cathedral and Minster pool before a rest stop at the Earl of Lichfield (aka The Drum.) Marston's Bitter here (they also had the Ringwood beer as above.)
Acorn next for Shenstone's Evo followed by come tastry fish and chips on Greenhill (not been here for years, certainly the internet had not been heard of back then.)
Final port of call was the Duke of York for Bryson's Hurricane Bitter and a Trashy Blonde from Brewdog.
We considered visiting the Lloyds Bar and sent Paul in to research the beers (or lack there of) and so ended up instead at the QueensHead and Timothy Taylor Landlord.
One of the most improved pubs in recent years next. The Horse and Jockey used to be run down but no longer so and some excelent ales on offer including Enville Ale and Blythe's Bagot's Bitter (nice one Robert!)
Round the corner to the Kingshead which had Ringwood Showman's Tipple on.
time for some culture and a chance to visit the Captain Smith staute in the park and a review of the cathedral and Minster pool before a rest stop at the Earl of Lichfield (aka The Drum.) Marston's Bitter here (they also had the Ringwood beer as above.)
Acorn next for Shenstone's Evo followed by come tastry fish and chips on Greenhill (not been here for years, certainly the internet had not been heard of back then.)
Final port of call was the Duke of York for Bryson's Hurricane Bitter and a Trashy Blonde from Brewdog.
Tuesday, 31 August 2010
August 27th - Catching the Red Eye to Shrewsbury
Earlier this summer had seen me attand the 1st Red Eye cider festival at the Salopian Arms in Shrewsbury and having noticed that they were repeating it this weekend I decided to pay a return visit.
The day started badly with the train we were supposed to catch being late meaning we had time to kill in Birmingham so it was into the Shakesphere on the station for a half of Coors Light.
On arriving in Shrewsbury the 2 minutes (10 in reality) walk found us at the venue where they run a cider festival twice a year and this is the larger offering some 30 ciders in addition to what they have on the bar. The person serving recognised me and pointed me at the menu which revealed a wealth of Perry, so to keep things simple I decided to work from the bottom upwards, the first being Swallowfield Moorcroft (5.5%) which I rated 4 out of 5.
This was followed by :
We then went next door to the Shrewsbury Hotel - Wetherspoons for Wood's Shropshire Lad before the journey home.
The day started badly with the train we were supposed to catch being late meaning we had time to kill in Birmingham so it was into the Shakesphere on the station for a half of Coors Light.
On arriving in Shrewsbury the 2 minutes (10 in reality) walk found us at the venue where they run a cider festival twice a year and this is the larger offering some 30 ciders in addition to what they have on the bar. The person serving recognised me and pointed me at the menu which revealed a wealth of Perry, so to keep things simple I decided to work from the bottom upwards, the first being Swallowfield Moorcroft (5.5%) which I rated 4 out of 5.
This was followed by :
- Malvern Magic (5.5%) - 3/5
- Broomfarm (or is it Brookfarm?) Perry (6%) - 4/5
- Springhead Perry (7%) - 3.5/5
- Newforest Perry (7%) - 2.5/5
- Hecks Port Wine of Glastonberry (6.5%) - no rating recorded.
We then went next door to the Shrewsbury Hotel - Wetherspoons for Wood's Shropshire Lad before the journey home.
Thursday, 19 August 2010
August 20th - Lichfield
Friday night outing with GP, DP and TH. My turn to organise so Lichfield selected, an inspired decision given that the new Malt bar had recently opened and it was there we headed first. 14 or so hand pulls greeted us being a mix of Aston Brewing co (ABC) (who I believe run the place) and guests. I selected two halves in the form of ABC's Aston Mild and the Steam beer from Ironbridge.
Next to another up and coming venue in Lichfield, the Horse and Jockey in Sandford street where Backyard Nippin was my choice. To pass the time we played a word game where you name a country and the next person has to name one with the last letter of the previous selection (there's a lot of countries beginning and ending with A.)
Up to the Kings Head for Jennings Lakeland Stunner - we continued the game but with bugs (it started out as insects but we couldn't recall if some guesses had 6 legs or not. At one stage I offered the Elephant Beetle which was eventually accepted - they do exist...)
Earl of Lichfield next (yes it is another Marstons pub) which I think had the same guest as the previous place, so instead I went for Marston's Bitter (on the basis it appears rarer than Pedigree.)
Acorn next and another Backyard beer, D & B Porter this time.
Final port of call was the Duke of York (Joule's brewery owned place these days) and selected Thornbridge Brother Rabbit (I did ask for the perry they were adveertising but it was off.)
Off for the train and kebab en route home.
Next to another up and coming venue in Lichfield, the Horse and Jockey in Sandford street where Backyard Nippin was my choice. To pass the time we played a word game where you name a country and the next person has to name one with the last letter of the previous selection (there's a lot of countries beginning and ending with A.)
Up to the Kings Head for Jennings Lakeland Stunner - we continued the game but with bugs (it started out as insects but we couldn't recall if some guesses had 6 legs or not. At one stage I offered the Elephant Beetle which was eventually accepted - they do exist...)
Earl of Lichfield next (yes it is another Marstons pub) which I think had the same guest as the previous place, so instead I went for Marston's Bitter (on the basis it appears rarer than Pedigree.)
Acorn next and another Backyard beer, D & B Porter this time.
Final port of call was the Duke of York (Joule's brewery owned place these days) and selected Thornbridge Brother Rabbit (I did ask for the perry they were adveertising but it was off.)
Off for the train and kebab en route home.
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