Work';s Christmas meal today which after our original plans were scuppered due to the previously selected venue being shut, we found ourselves on a traditional British winter day (mildish and wet) at the Pie and Ale House in Stafford.
three beers on so I decided to work though them. first up was Lymestone's Pounamu - a Pacific pale ale brewed to celebrate the Rugby world cup that has been flying out of the pumps according to their web site. Well its a whilse now since the Rugby World cup but even so the beer was excellent and its New Zealand hop character cut nicely through the cheese and mixed cured meat platter that was my starter.
Min course next (Turkey pie with mash and mushy peas - wot no eels?!) - something more traditional needed and so Concord from Cottage fitted the bill nicely.
To go with the deathly chocolate dessert, even more tradiitonal via Joules Pale ale (my least favourite beer of the day but its character fitted in with the weather.) Good value at £12.50 for the three courses!
the boss then suggested we head over to the Rose and Crown. This used to be a roughians' pub where "if you want a criminal you could usually find one here" but now has been transfromed.
Again Joules was the order of the day so this time it was their Slumbering Monk (to be a better beer than their pale ale.)
Friday, 23 December 2011
14th December - Burton
December meeting of the BBC. A large number of beers were brought by the members (including one at 32%+.)
My winter Warmer and Burton Bridge porter clone beers were well received as as for commercial stuff I had The Deep from Newby Wyke.
My winter Warmer and Burton Bridge porter clone beers were well received as as for commercial stuff I had The Deep from Newby Wyke.
4th December - Burton
Its the day of the Burton Beer Circle Christmas social - oh yes it is and indeed it was actually today.
Trains weren't brillient being a Sunday so I had to drive and so only had one, the B&T Fruit Bat again.
Good food, good company, skittles that got worse as the evening passed and an excellent time was had by all.
Trains weren't brillient being a Sunday so I had to drive and so only had one, the B&T Fruit Bat again.
Good food, good company, skittles that got worse as the evening passed and an excellent time was had by all.
3rd December - Burton
Its the day of the Burton Beer Circle social so we arrived early to the Cottage as they have a good range of beers on. After a while we started to wonder where everyone was and after a few phone calls including one to London we learned that it was the day before the social.
I still took the opportunity though to aquaint myself with the following:
I still took the opportunity though to aquaint myself with the following:
- B&T (Banks and Taylor) Fruit Bat (lovely stuff this)
- Milestone Dark Galleon (I've yet to find a Milestone beer that I really enjoy)
1st December - Atherstone
So soon i find myself in Atherstone again, this time passing through due to Christmas shopping.
We were passing at lunchtime so called in to a chippie at the Mancetter end of the town (the chips were excellent, homemade thick jobbies).
There are three pubs right by the chippie although only the Old Swan was open so food was washed down with Banks's Original.
We were passing at lunchtime so called in to a chippie at the Mancetter end of the town (the chips were excellent, homemade thick jobbies).
There are three pubs right by the chippie although only the Old Swan was open so food was washed down with Banks's Original.
26th November 2011 - Atherstone
Over to Atherstone today with RG whose work's football team (Loughborough University) were playing there (very quiet for a Saturday - turns out there the Xmas Fayre on later that day so most people were leaving it till later before venturing out.
This provided an opportunity to revisit some pubs not been to for a while starting with Market Tavern where I sampled a couple of the beers from its owners, the Warwickshire Brewing Company, specifically Churchyard Bob, and the stronger Kingmaker.
We adjourned to the local chippy and thence set out for the football stadium (true if loose description) via the Angel. I had great hopes for this as they often have a beer festival (reported on a previous posting) but today only Bass was available.
Thence to the Bear and Ragged Staff by the aforementioned pitch where the only decent beer available was Highgate Dark Mild.
The game itself was a dire affair and there were only cans of beer available in the clubhouse afterwards (still the left over sandwiches from the player's tea were welcome.)
We returned to the railway station via a much busier town centre and homewards past several drummer's drumming (no partridges, pear trees, leaping maidens or lords milking to be seen!)
This provided an opportunity to revisit some pubs not been to for a while starting with Market Tavern where I sampled a couple of the beers from its owners, the Warwickshire Brewing Company, specifically Churchyard Bob, and the stronger Kingmaker.
We adjourned to the local chippy and thence set out for the football stadium (true if loose description) via the Angel. I had great hopes for this as they often have a beer festival (reported on a previous posting) but today only Bass was available.
Thence to the Bear and Ragged Staff by the aforementioned pitch where the only decent beer available was Highgate Dark Mild.
The game itself was a dire affair and there were only cans of beer available in the clubhouse afterwards (still the left over sandwiches from the player's tea were welcome.)
We returned to the railway station via a much busier town centre and homewards past several drummer's drumming (no partridges, pear trees, leaping maidens or lords milking to be seen!)
Wednesday, 16 November 2011
15th November 2011 - Manchester
Manchester today for a work related day long meeting held on the 24th floor of the City Tower (with some impressive views of the city and beyond from the atrium stuck on the side of the building at least for those of us brave enough to venture out.)
Being close to Piccadilly I took in the chance of visiting a couple of the watering holes. Firstly the Port Street Beer House provides a wide ranging selection of beers (cask, draft and bottled) covering a broad spectrum of prices. Tucked away amongst the warren of streets in the area I guess this is the sort of place you would either stumble upon or will have previously learned about as I had via a Google search. You only really know you're there via the logos above the windows.
As i was driving later that day I only had a half and went for their American guest on draft - Victory Hop Devil.
"That'll be £3.50 a half?" checked the bar man - I'm only going to be here rarely I thought so what the heck? Actually good value as it lasted me a good while and the web site's description of "Menacingly delicious, with the powerful, aromatic punch of whole flower
American hops backed up by rich, German malts. HopDevil Ale offers a roller coaster ride of flavor, coasting to a smooth finish that satisfies fully." was spot on. Combined with reviewing their beer menu (which ran to several pages) this was a joy to behold.
Next over to the Manchester and County, a Wetherspoons by Piccadilly gardens. Easy to find but you wouldn't know the name from outside (I only noted it from a receipt someone had left on the bar.) Seemed quite a compact JDW. A good selection of beers available and I went for Hawkshead Brodies Prime described as a premium beer at 4.9% hopped with Fuggles, Bramling Cross, and Cascade hops. Another good choice. The lights on the trees in Piccadilly Gardens added to the charm.
After that it was back to the cafe by Piccadilly station for an all day breakfast and thence homeward. There are several other pubs in the area that more time would have enticed me to visit, still save them for next time.
After that it was back to the cafe by Piccadilly station for an all day breakfast and thence homeward. There are several other pubs in the area that more time would have enticed me to visit, still save them for next time.
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