Monday, 18 June 2012
13th June, 2012 - Burton
Meeting of the BurtonBeer circle finds me in the Old Cottage in Burton. Commercial beer sampled this evening was Wincle Wincle Waller.
8th June, 2012 - Lichfield
Out with GP and co tonight for which I'd opted to show them round the SW part of the city. Our party converged on Lichfield City station from various points of the compass and once assesmbled we headed off to the Greyhound. The beer choice was different to last night in one respect as the guest had been changed to become Cairngorm Sheepshaggers Gold (Tetley Bitter still being the other choice.) GP peaking to landlord learned that a scret beer might be available if we asked the right question / people at the Horse and Jockey, which was indeed planned for later that evening.
I then led them up the garden path via a back route to the Duke of Wellington, the further point out of the city centre, and although Googling it results in a newpaper article from a while back on the possible closure it is good to report that this place appears to be doing well. There I chose Wye Valley HPA (Holden's Golden Glow, Marston's Pedigree and Fuller's London Pride also being available.)
Our next stop was The Bowling Green, an Ember Inns pub based on the middle of a large roundablout and thereby not the best place to reach on foot. A good range of beers were available with my choice being Timothy Taylor Landlord. Also available were Purity Mad Goose, Harviestoun Bitter and Twisted, Marston's Pedigree, Wentworth HPA, sharps doombar and the intriging Thai-Bo from Otley brewery, Pontypridd (a spiced clear what beer with lemongrass, lime leaf and galangal - JF had this and offered me sip - interesting!)
Hose and Jockey next and GP did ask for and did get the secret beer, Bathams Bitter. I however opted for Oakham JHB noting that Holden's Golden low, Blue Monkey PG sips , T.T. Landlord, Wye Valley HPA and Burton Bridge Golden Delicious were also available.
Final pub was the Earl of Lichfield, partly at the wish of BJ who used to frequent the place when he used to work in Lichfield. I went for Marston's EPA (but could have also chosed Pedigree or Jennings Cocker Hoop.
We then headed off back to the station. En route JF stuck his head into Malt, and reported that the range of beer was somewhat dissappointing, and certainly not as it wqas when last reported on by this blog - glad we didn't choose to meet there, which had been one idea.
I then led them up the garden path via a back route to the Duke of Wellington, the further point out of the city centre, and although Googling it results in a newpaper article from a while back on the possible closure it is good to report that this place appears to be doing well. There I chose Wye Valley HPA (Holden's Golden Glow, Marston's Pedigree and Fuller's London Pride also being available.)
Our next stop was The Bowling Green, an Ember Inns pub based on the middle of a large roundablout and thereby not the best place to reach on foot. A good range of beers were available with my choice being Timothy Taylor Landlord. Also available were Purity Mad Goose, Harviestoun Bitter and Twisted, Marston's Pedigree, Wentworth HPA, sharps doombar and the intriging Thai-Bo from Otley brewery, Pontypridd (a spiced clear what beer with lemongrass, lime leaf and galangal - JF had this and offered me sip - interesting!)
Hose and Jockey next and GP did ask for and did get the secret beer, Bathams Bitter. I however opted for Oakham JHB noting that Holden's Golden low, Blue Monkey PG sips , T.T. Landlord, Wye Valley HPA and Burton Bridge Golden Delicious were also available.
Final pub was the Earl of Lichfield, partly at the wish of BJ who used to frequent the place when he used to work in Lichfield. I went for Marston's EPA (but could have also chosed Pedigree or Jennings Cocker Hoop.
We then headed off back to the station. En route JF stuck his head into Malt, and reported that the range of beer was somewhat dissappointing, and certainly not as it wqas when last reported on by this blog - glad we didn't choose to meet there, which had been one idea.
Friday, 8 June 2012
7th June 2012, Lichfield
Stopped off en route home to check a possible venue for tomorrow night's crawl - The Greyhound.
This has previously been in the Good Beer Guide, but recent internet research has only revealed sparse amounts of information, and then nothing spectacular.
Turned out better than expected with Tetley Bitter which I guess is their regular and what appears to be a guest, Holden's Golden Glow which I opted for.
This has previously been in the Good Beer Guide, but recent internet research has only revealed sparse amounts of information, and then nothing spectacular.
Turned out better than expected with Tetley Bitter which I guess is their regular and what appears to be a guest, Holden's Golden Glow which I opted for.
Thursday, 7 June 2012
June 1st 2012 - 3rd Hopwas Beer Festival
This looks like its becoming a tradition! For a change however, I met up with RG at the Moat House. This old building used tobe an excellent pub but the beer choice is somewhat depressing and basically deserted apart from a wedding upsairs - such a shame but I guess there is more to attract the drinker on the other side of town. John Smiths keg available to entertain us before heading out to catch the bus.
Arriving in Hopwas Social Club we found some 12 local beers on the stillage plus a further selection behind the bar. Beers sampled in the short time before returning for the bus were :
Wye Valley - Pint Bearer
Church End - Lovely Jubbly
Slaters - Original
Church End - Gravediggers Mild (this from behind the bar as opposed to the festival selection)
Back into Tamworth and time at the Three Tuns for a Bass.
Arriving in Hopwas Social Club we found some 12 local beers on the stillage plus a further selection behind the bar. Beers sampled in the short time before returning for the bus were :
Wye Valley - Pint Bearer
Church End - Lovely Jubbly
Slaters - Original
Church End - Gravediggers Mild (this from behind the bar as opposed to the festival selection)
Back into Tamworth and time at the Three Tuns for a Bass.
Tuesday, 22 May 2012
19th May 2012 - Yorkshire for BJ's 60th
Weekend early starts are always going to provide for stress and sure enough getting up at before 6am proved to be the case as a last minute panic ensued realizing my watch wasn't where it should be. "Borrow mine" suggested my other half and I was grateful to only noticing later that actually it was mine all along.
Anyway, managed to make the station and the train and found the others on board for the trip upto Leeds. Arriving there we had time for a first drink, me and BJ going for coffee, the others beers and one who abstained either at the White rose on Leeds Station.
Time for the next train out along the Settle - Carlisle line to our first stop at Horton-in-Ribblesdale (see http://www.horton-in-ribblesdale.com/) , a charming village frequented by walkers. After a short five minutes walk past fields with sheep and / or chickens and / or cars parked in them we arrived at the Crown. I went for a local brew that whilst easy enough to get back home would allow me to compare it nearer to its home, Black Sheep's Black Sheep Bitter (and excellent it was.) A local asked us if we'ed been up Pen-y-Gent (which we hadn't but it appeared that it was his ice-breaker as he asked it of several others including a woman who had and had since lost her other half who had suggested they met in the pub - which one is another matter.) Our new friend helpfully informed us of the other pub further up the road so we headed off to the Golden Lion (admiring, if that's the word, the extent of the quarrying en-route.) There we found a pub just opening bedecked with Burnley football memorabilia, and sum black and white Macbeth film on telly (note to self, even my typing takin' on a Yorkshire feel pet with a bit of Geordie slipping in.) Black Sheep again here before we headed back to the Crown where this time I went for Naylor's Magnum P(ale) A(le).
Back to the station, crossing the rail tracks and the train to the next stop by Ribblehead viaduct.(here and here) where there is but one building, the Station Inn. Some of us opted first to take the brisk walk to the viaduct (an impressive piece of building) paying homage at the memorial to those killed in its construction. Its quite bleak there and getting parky so back to the pub first for Copper Dragon's Best Bitter and later Thwaites Original Best Bitter (by which time the sun was out so we went into the garden with a great view across the valley to to the viaduct (ed's note - the view from the Gents is pretty good as well "The loo with the view".) If you've ever wondered what they do with those large wooden circular things they keep cable on, well up 'ere they turn them on their sides and thence into garden tables.
Anyway, its time to start the return leg of our journey with the plan of stopping off en route back to Leeds. Keighley seemed a good plan and so we alighted there and soon found a lively community type pub in the shape of the Boltmakers Arms which had the full range of Timothy Taylor beers available. I opted for their Dark Mild as its not one you see often in my neck of the woods.
After there JF lead us round the the Crickerters Arms which had a reasonable selection of craft / imported beers both in bottle and on tap. I went for the bottled Brooklyn Brown Ale.
Back to the station and to Leeds where we had an hour before our homeards journey, so firstly we went to the Ship (Kirkstall Dissolution IPA) and finally to the Angel Inn which surprised DP due to the sheapness of the round (being a Sam Smith's pub it didn't surprise me! see here for proof its not only Leeds where they do cheap beer.) I had their Old Brewery Bitter.
All in all a good day! - Cheers Brian for organizing and many happy returns!
Anyway, managed to make the station and the train and found the others on board for the trip upto Leeds. Arriving there we had time for a first drink, me and BJ going for coffee, the others beers and one who abstained either at the White rose on Leeds Station.
Time for the next train out along the Settle - Carlisle line to our first stop at Horton-in-Ribblesdale (see http://www.horton-in-ribblesdale.com/) , a charming village frequented by walkers. After a short five minutes walk past fields with sheep and / or chickens and / or cars parked in them we arrived at the Crown. I went for a local brew that whilst easy enough to get back home would allow me to compare it nearer to its home, Black Sheep's Black Sheep Bitter (and excellent it was.) A local asked us if we'ed been up Pen-y-Gent (which we hadn't but it appeared that it was his ice-breaker as he asked it of several others including a woman who had and had since lost her other half who had suggested they met in the pub - which one is another matter.) Our new friend helpfully informed us of the other pub further up the road so we headed off to the Golden Lion (admiring, if that's the word, the extent of the quarrying en-route.) There we found a pub just opening bedecked with Burnley football memorabilia, and sum black and white Macbeth film on telly (note to self, even my typing takin' on a Yorkshire feel pet with a bit of Geordie slipping in.) Black Sheep again here before we headed back to the Crown where this time I went for Naylor's Magnum P(ale) A(le).
Back to the station, crossing the rail tracks and the train to the next stop by Ribblehead viaduct.(here and here) where there is but one building, the Station Inn. Some of us opted first to take the brisk walk to the viaduct (an impressive piece of building) paying homage at the memorial to those killed in its construction. Its quite bleak there and getting parky so back to the pub first for Copper Dragon's Best Bitter and later Thwaites Original Best Bitter (by which time the sun was out so we went into the garden with a great view across the valley to to the viaduct (ed's note - the view from the Gents is pretty good as well "The loo with the view".) If you've ever wondered what they do with those large wooden circular things they keep cable on, well up 'ere they turn them on their sides and thence into garden tables.
Anyway, its time to start the return leg of our journey with the plan of stopping off en route back to Leeds. Keighley seemed a good plan and so we alighted there and soon found a lively community type pub in the shape of the Boltmakers Arms which had the full range of Timothy Taylor beers available. I opted for their Dark Mild as its not one you see often in my neck of the woods.
After there JF lead us round the the Crickerters Arms which had a reasonable selection of craft / imported beers both in bottle and on tap. I went for the bottled Brooklyn Brown Ale.
Back to the station and to Leeds where we had an hour before our homeards journey, so firstly we went to the Ship (Kirkstall Dissolution IPA) and finally to the Angel Inn which surprised DP due to the sheapness of the round (being a Sam Smith's pub it didn't surprise me! see here for proof its not only Leeds where they do cheap beer.) I had their Old Brewery Bitter.
All in all a good day! - Cheers Brian for organizing and many happy returns!
4th May 2012 - Tamworth
Out with RG tonight but arrived later to find him in mid-Holden's Mild at the Globe. I went for their guest ale, Dowbridge Morgans ale Inn the Dark (3.8%) before we settled back to watch the play-off semi-final between Blackpool and Birmingham.
there are people who go to football matches and pop out at half time for a quick beer, so we followed suit and headed over to the Sir Robert Peel where I went for March Heigh from Riverhead.
We decided to catch the end of the match so back to the Globe where I had Holden's Mild and finally a shared bottle of Newcastle Brown.
there are people who go to football matches and pop out at half time for a quick beer, so we followed suit and headed over to the Sir Robert Peel where I went for March Heigh from Riverhead.
We decided to catch the end of the match so back to the Globe where I had Holden's Mild and finally a shared bottle of Newcastle Brown.
21st April 2012 - Stockport
Last away game of the soccer season so off to Edgeley Park, Stockport.
After an excellent lunch of fish and chips at the Edgeley Priory we headed up the road to The Royal Oak where I had Joseph Holts Bitter, and thence over to a small Labour / CIU club right by the football ground's entrance (beer not noted.)
The match itself wasn't much to write home about, so other tha mentioning the cold. damp weather, I qwon't!
After an excellent lunch of fish and chips at the Edgeley Priory we headed up the road to The Royal Oak where I had Joseph Holts Bitter, and thence over to a small Labour / CIU club right by the football ground's entrance (beer not noted.)
The match itself wasn't much to write home about, so other tha mentioning the cold. damp weather, I qwon't!
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