17th June 2011 - "Its gone all keg and karaoke..." and that's no Lye

This evening finds me attending the monthly Friday night outing with GP and the boys (except GP wasn't there.) His plan, when he was going to be there was to sample the delights of the Black Country towns of Lye (somewhere I've never been before) and Halesowen (where I have.)

Wikipedia tells me that Lye is actually a corrosive alkaline substance used for curing food, but then disambiguates to inform us that its famous for very little except being the birthplace of the actor Cedric Hardwicke and today has several balti houses. Halesowen on the other hand, once bigger than Birmingham, is most notable for some of its former residents (including Rex Williams, Robert Plant, Frank Skinner and Bill Oddie.)

Knowing that GP wasn't going to be with us I made a note of his proposed route for the evening and said I'd meet every one at the Joint Stock in Birmingham. By Friday this had changed and so I arrived at the Old Contemptables just in time to receive BJ's txt to say meet there. Only time for a quick half on Titanic Centenary.

Over to Snow Hill for the train out to Lye and thence the short walk to the Windsor Castle. This is a Sadler's brewery tap so I concentrated on some of their beers (with free samples of some very chilli crisps), including:

• JPA (a low strength pale ale)



• Red House (advertised as a Black Country mild bu getting past its best)



• Hop Bomb



• Samurai (their monthly special)

Time to move on and the number 9 bus towards Halesowen which soon deposited us at the Whitley. Recently acquired by Black Country Ales this features the order by number system that they also have at their other places like the Wellington in Birmingham. Two ales here, Blue Monkey Ape Ale and Traditional Scottish Ales Ginger Explosion.

A short stroll next to the Hawne Tavern for Ossett Excellsior.

Next port of call was due to be the Wagon and Horses but I remember there used to be the King Edward VIII which used to sell Enfield and other ales and which was half way. The hand pulls are still on the bar bur enquiries revealed that they had abdicated from serving real ale so we had to sample the keg Brew XI and suffer the karaoke ("Come on boys, free shots...")

Onward to the Wagon and Horses. An excellent, famous pub in ber circles, I went for Ellend Born to be Mild watched over by a friendly Jack Russell. JF had become wound up by the beer choice at the last place, so I tamed the savage beast via the purchase of a copy of the New Imbiber.

Back into Birmingham, so off to the bus stop, "We've lost DP..." but ending up at the final port of call at the Wetherspoons by the library for Butcome Gold finds the said DP waiting for us on arrival. After that it was back to New Street for me just in time for the train home.

8th June 2011 - Burton Beer Circle

16 beers were brought along for sampling this evening. These included a range of 8 from JF that only differed in having a different hop used in each case. We hadto guess the hop - somehow I managed 4 correct.

Only one commercial beer tasted this evening - Thornbridge Sequoia (Amarillo, Centennial and Chinook hops.)

Friday 27th May - Monthly Chaps Outing - Birmingham and Penkridge

I know Penkridge quite well for non beer reasons so the chance to visit some of its pubs was eagerly anticipated.

Met up with the gang (at least those who were on time) at the Shakespheare for Brain's Milkwood before getting the train to Penkridge.

We started at the Littleton Arms where there was due to be a Japenese themed food night meaning it would apparantly get busy later on. For me the beer choice was Backyard's The Hoard (brewed after the Saxon Discovery near the brewery.)

Next to the Star where we sat outside (in the shade!) sampling Ringwood Forty-Niner and then Jennings Cockerhoop.

Boat next (my suggestion) but little choice so for me it was Blacksheep.

Last pub in Penridge was the Horse and Jockey where I went for Banks's Mild.

At this point train timing meant I had to depart earlier than the others so left with GP back to Birmingham. We tried to get into the Brier rose but it was too busy so I ventured up to the wellington for Keltek 4K Mild and then Merry Miner Going Underground.

Back at New Street station I spotted a poster for a forthcoming musi festival and amonst the various acts in the smaller type face I noted one band that were new to me - must have been the inclusion of food in their name, so without further ado this blog's new must listen to group - Bowling for Soup.

Saturday 21st May Burton - Beer Circle Social

The emails definitely said 4pm at The Cottage so where is everyone? Eventually our party forms up! Three beers tasted here included:

1. Northern Brewing One-Der-Ful Wheat
2. Darkstar Golden Gate
3. Cottage's Stout

Alfred next and the Burton Bridge Porter was sadly off so it was Bridge Bitter for me.

Finally the Coopers where there were a number of Oakham beers from which I selected and then AttillaBlack Hole Porter before finishing on Broadoak's Perry (<-- OK its not a beer so for completeness.)

20th May 2011 - Hopwas Beer Festival

On our recent trip round Tamworth, RG noted an advery for the forthcoming Hopwas Beer Festival (their second) and remembering what an excellent event it was last time then who was I to refuse!.

We met at the Globe for a swift Holden's Mild before wandering round to the bus station. "We've got 20 minutes" I ventured and so we quickened along to the White Lion for a swifter Blythe Palmer's Poison.

Out to the Scoial Club at Hopwas for the following:

1. Oakham Citra
2. Two Towers Jewellery Porter
3. Black Country Ales Essington Supreme
4. Church end Howas Ale (a house beer it appears)
5. Wye Valley Butty Bach

Back to Tamworth and the Sir Robery Peel for Tirrel's Academy Ale and finally Sharps' Doombar.

28th April 2011 - Round Tamworth

RG wanted to thank me for pointing him at a new job he'ed just gained so offered to treat me to a Wetherspoon's curry. Gratefully accepted I went for their Madras accompanied by Ruddles Bitter and also Pheonix Wobbley Bob.

We thence to the Sir Robert Peel firstly for Blonde Bombshell from Old Mill Brewery followed by Cat Nap from Barngates whilst watching a tribute to Bobby Charlton which even without the sound was worth watching.

Finally to the Globe where I went for Bass.

13th April 2011 - Burton

April meeting for the Burton Beer Circle finds us at the usual venue.

Commercial beers from the bar sampled tonight were

• Rudyard Ruby Mild


• Joules Slimbering Monk


• Bass

In addition to the various brews from the members, LL has also promised to bring samples of some very old beers he had recently been party to the discovery of. These 33 year beers had apparantly been stored away at some local brewery / warehouse and lonmg since forgotten till someone came accross them (many hundreds of bottles by all accounts.) These beers were Skol Lager, Silver Jubilee and Easter ales from Ind Coope. There were is suprisingly good condition but had changed over the years so were now quite dark (even the lager) and had taken on an old ale type character. Tests have shown that beer doesn't get stronger over time and these were still known to be around the 5.5% mark they were oginally brewed at.