Tyson's Beer & Cheese Blog

Breakfast Beer Tasting: Caldera Ashland Amber

2012-01-28T07:26:00.000Z

First things first. Yes, it’s a can. So? This is 2012. Can is the new bottle. Bottle is the new keg. Keg is the new cask. Get over it. Indeed, Caldera Brewing Company proudly boast that they are actually the first craft brewery in the state of Oregon to brew and can their own beer. So put that in your lightweight, 100% recyclable aluminium pipe and smoke it.

It’s 350ml and is 5.6% in alcoholic strength. It poured, as the name might suggest, amber with soft carbonation and an off-white head. The aroma was pleasant and not too dissimilar from a standard American IPA. There was plenty of citrus, some pine and a little sweet malt.

The actual taste followed the pattern of the aroma, but with a more restrained hop presence that you might expect. A smooth mouthfeel soon gives way to Cascade hops, but the medium citrus kick is well matched by a good dose of caramel in the finish. Easily suppable for its strength; it has a finish that just veers on the right side of dry.

This isn’t really a beer for hopheads, as it’s a little under-hopped for an Amber ale and seems more like a mild IPA. However, it’s an accomplished enough beer. And if cans are your thing and you’re looking for some quality higher strength refreshment, you could do a lot worse than this.

Breakfast Beer Tasting: Brewdog There Is No Santa

2012-01-25T07:35:00.001Z

I’ve waited till an appropriate time-i.e. after Christmas, to review Brewdog’s most controversial beer to date. Now as every Marx Bros fan knows, there is no sanity clause, but Brewdog may have risked the ire of parents up and down the land with the title of this beer. Imagine your nine year old pops down the offy to stock up for his big night in with the lads and comes across this. You could be paying for their therapy for years.

So what’s the beer actually like? Well it comes in the standard Brewdog 330ml bottle and is 4.7% by alcohol. It purports to be a “spiced Stout”; whatever that is. More of a Brown Ale in colour rather than a regulation Stout, it was lively and was topped with a large tan head.

The aroma was an enticing blend of sweet ginger spices and chocolate. Very Christmasesque and comforting. The body would be considered thin for Stout, but was quite smooth on the tongue. The flavours weren’t overpowering which made for an easy going, slightly spiced session ale. Think Green & Black’s Dark Chocolate Ginger biscuits with a pinch of cinnamon.

The finish was sweet ginger that dies away slowly. If you put aside any notion that this is a Stout, then this is a pleasant, if not outstanding beer. However, if you’re going to compare and contrast this with many other Stouts, I fear you will be disappointed.

How Low Can You Go?

2012-01-22T14:41:00.000Z

Global brewery giant AB InBev have announced that they are to cut the alcoholic strength of their three main brands from 5% to 4.8%. This reduction of Becks, Budweiser, and Stella Artois may mean little to the likes of you or me, but can be seen as indicative of current drink trends.

Certainly that is the official AB stance; that it is merely reacting to current UK trends and that “most drinkers won’t bat an eyelid as long as the 4.8% brews deliver on taste”. Quite possibly, but there is another explanation. According to industry sources, AB were pushing for yet another price rise-something the big retailers weren’t happy with. This left AB little choice: if its margins were to be maintained, then ABV had to be cut.

Of course, ABVs have been quietly coming down across the board for some time now. Stella itself was once 5.2%-it still is abroad-and I’m sure the estimated duty saving of £8.6m on its new lower strength version will put a smile on some AB executive’s face.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the taxation spectrum, there has been an explosion in the number of 2.8% (or even weaker) beers as brewers look to take advantage of the 50% duty cut. The All Party Parliamentary Beer Group in the Houses of Parliament recently held a tasting of some of these for the delectation of MPs and Lords.
LAGERS
ABInBev: Rolling Rock 2.8%
Becks Blue, 0.05%
Carlsberg UK: SKOL 2.8%
Molson Coors UK: C2 2%
ALES
Adnams Brewery: Sole Star 2.7%
Brentwood Brewing BBC2 2.5%
Brodie’s Brewery Summer Stout 2.8%
Everards Brewery: Southgate 2.7%
Greene King Tolly English Ale 2.8%
Guinness: Mid Strength 2.8%
Harvey’s Brewery: Sweet Sussex Stout 2.8%
Harvey’s Bloomsbury Brown 2.8%
Hop Back Heracles 2.8%
J W Lees Brewery: Hero 2.8%
Marston’s Brewery: Marston’s Pale Ale, 2.8%
Marston’s Alcoholic Ale Shandy 2.8%ABV
Mann’s Brown Ale (Marston’s) 2.8%ABV
S A Brains Brewery: Founders Brew, 2.8%
Welton’s Brewery Pride & Joy 2.8%

I can’t say I’ve tried any of these and look forward to sampling them. But judging by my experiences so far with very low alcohol beers, I don’t hold out much hope. However, the way things are going, it may not be too long before you are popping into your local and asking for “A pint of pisswater, please.”

National Winter Ales Festival: Progress Report

2012-01-20T14:39:00.000Z

The National Winter Ales Festival is now well underway. Anyone who is anyone in the beer world, wants to be someone or just knows someone, is there, has been there or is planning to go. Unless, of course, they have something better to do.

How’s it going so far? Well the doors opened on Wednesday afternoon and with potentially around 300 cask available, there certainly seemed a lot to go at. First things first, quality-as you’d hope/expect was good. And there wasn’t a problem with finding a quaffable dark beer. Everything from the overall champion beer-Driftwoods Alfie’s Revenge, to my pick of the speciality beers-Amber’s Orange Chocolate Stout went down well.

There was more of a problem finding something light and hoppy to quench the palate. Despite being a minority at a festival like this, I was hoping to unearth a new gem or two. Sadly, the contenders didn’t really rise much above the mediocre gauge and the Imperial Blonde was distinctly amateur hour. Luckily there were the likes of Acorn and Allgates NZ Cascade to cushion the blow. Not forgetting the sublime Hawkshead NZPA.

However, that’s just me. A more general criticism I heard levelled against the event on more than one occasion was the number of beers per brewery. And it’s one that I do have some sympathy with. There are reasons for it, of course, but too many breweries had four or five beers allocated to them. And allowing Fullers to have nine on just seems, frankly, daft.

Anyway, that’s enough of wasting valuable drinking time. This afternoon we are engaged in the serious business of sampling the foreign beers. Op uw gezondheid!

Breakfasst Beer Tasting: De Dolle Oerbier

2012-01-16T07:46:00.001Z

I found this oddity stuffed down the sofa this morning. Was it intended as a late Sunday post-pub nightcap? Was the pleasure deferred and replaced with whisky and pizza? With the memory hazy, it’s a mystery that only Ironside could solve.

Oerbier means original and De Dolle Brouwers are based in Esen. That’s the small village of Esen in Belgium and not Essen the city in Germany. Of course, Essen is famous, amongst other things, for the heavy damage done by Allied bombing in WW11 and for the notorious murder of 3 British airmen by civilians in 1944. For which Hauptmann Heyer and Johann Braschoss were sentenced to hang. But I digress.

This 33cl bottle is 9% and is unfiltered and unpasteurised. It was very lively and poured a murky red/brown with a very large beige head. The aroma was dark fruits-cherries and plums with a slight yeast tone. The beer itself is very vinous and more of the slow, warming type than refreshing and sessionable.

Flavour wise; you’ve got what was hinted at in the aroma and more. The alcohol is noticeable, but is offset by the cherry, strawberry and raisin/sweet malt flavours. These are followed by a quite severe tartness-apparently due to lactobacterial fermentation, which carries through to the finish.

Quite a complex beer that will reward the serious drinker. But probably better suited to sitting round the fire with than trying to bring yourself round with on Monday morning.

London Review: Duchess of Cambridge

2012-01-13T16:14:00.000Z

This is on the corner of Goldhawk Road which is somewhat out of central London and is the sister pub of the Bree Louise. Now the Bree tends to divide opinion; while some people warm to its esoteric charm, others won’t enter the place without a fumigation suit. The DOC is very different to its sister pub in some ways, but similar enough in others to keep most people happy.

Split into two areas, the first thing you notice on entering here is that you aren’t in Euston anymore. Gone are the sticky carpets and basic furniture. Instead you have sofas and booths and an open fire. Very nice. The menu went untried but, in keeping with the area, the quality looked a cut above the Bree. What did go down well were the monster pork scratchings which were a talking point in themselves.

Now I’ve always found the service good in the Bree and so it proved in the DOC. The staff were friendly and helpful and proactive in asking if you wanted the CAMRA discount. Beer wise, there is a choice of 15 real ales. Although, I do feel they are missing a trick by serving only 6 of those via handpull. Appleaheads are also catered for with 9 draught ciders and there is a good whisky list.

Overall a very welcome addition to the London scene and with plans for them to start brewing shortly, another visit cannot be far off.

Pro: No sticky carpets. Good service.
Con: 15 beers, but nothing light and hoppy

London Review: Tap East

2012-01-11T18:19:00.000Z

This is a newish (open 4 months, I think) bar based in the Westfield Shopping City retail outlet. Getting there is great fun. You just hop on the high speed train from Kings Cross/St Pancras and 143kph and 9km later, you’re in Stratford. Meaning that, within 10 minutes, you can go from supping in the John Betjeman to supping in Tap East. No valuable drinking time wasted.

Again it’s very contemporary and reminds one of an American brewpub. But much smaller; it doesn’t take many people to fill it. Interestingly there is no partition between the pub and the rest of the shopping centre which is slightly surreal, but fun.

Beer wise, there are six handpumps serving a mixture of their own beers and guests. Both of their own beers I tried were very good. The John Edwin Bitter was crisp and dry with a sharp bitter edge. The IPA was just what you would hope from a classic IPA and had plenty of hop bite. Quality here certainly isn’t an issue. If the cask doesn’t float your boat, then there are nine kegs and various bottles to keep you occupied.

Pro: Easy access. Quality beers and quality staff.

Con: Drafty when the door opens. Fake Ploughmans.

London Review: Camden Brewdog

2012-01-11T17:27:00.000Z

This is the naughty Scottish brewer’s first venture outside of Alex Salmond land and is considered their best yet. It also might hold some clues as to the style of their forthcoming (even larger) Manchester bar. Situated on Bayham St, it makes good use of light and is a seriously contemporary affair. Funky, I think the groovy kids would call it.

Upstairs is the main bar and seating area. Downstairs there is another bar area which has, dare I say it, a Manchester vibe to it. This being London, though, it also has the de rigueur sex dungeon. Drinks wise, there is a good selection of draught and bottled beers. Although, this being the age of drink little, but strong, keg, the selection is heavily tilted towards the 5% and over.

Pro: Friendly, enthusiastic staff. Funky.

Con: Surprisingly wheelchair unfriendly access.

No Sale?

2012-01-06T01:42:00.002Z

Every year pub chain Wetherspoons holds its January Sale. Cleverly conceived to match the post Christmas sales period, it’s gathered some notable publicity over the years. Who can forget the furore over their 99p a pint promotion? Certainly judging by the comments on social media sites, there are significant numbers of people who can’t wait for it.

However, all is not well in Spoons sale land this month. My first clue was meeting a disgruntled early morning customer who left the staff with this parting shot: “Call this a facking sale! I’m facking off to the Peel!”* The problem, judging by web reaction, is the lack of sale items compared to previous years.

In its promotional material for the sale, Spoons have made much of the fact that they are selling drinks at 1992 prices. And indeed, you can get a pint of Ruddles or a bottle of Becks for £1.29 And Carling is £1.99. But that’s your lot. Apart from coffee at 79p a cup. No wine or spirits offer and, in what seems to be the main rub, no discounted food deals.

Times are tough and it appears Wetherspoons are not above tightening their own corporate belt. Or is it simply, as some have opinioned, that some punters have become too greedy and that they should be grateful for what’s on offer. We are, after all, all in this together.

Meanwhile, Tim Martin has split opinion by rolling out Veto Ale to all Spoons pubs. Usually a master of populism, the jury is still out whether this is a step tto far.

*I fear this digruntled gentleman was in for something of a disappointment. The Peel is the other Wetherspoons in the town centre and offers the same products at the same price.

Return of the Mat

2012-01-05T00:31:00.000Z

The time has come to talk of many things, but first let us ponder the humble beer mat. Now I’m no excitable tegestologist, hands all-a-tremble as they caress a Georges Glucose Stout specimen, but there is something to be said for them. They stand for something particularly British; like roast beef and Sid James. So their gradual decline over many years has been something of a disappointment to me.

My thoughts were brought to bear the other day-it’s strange where the mind wanders after a 10 hour bender-on the past and future prospects of these little beauts. A day’s drinking had seen scant evidence of these practical aids, aside from a scattering of what purists would dismiss as keg beer mats. And, by that, I don’t mean they advertise keg although, of course, some do.

No, the purists hanker after proper beer mats that advertise ales of some sort or gild the lily of some brewery or other. But even keg mats, unappealing as they may be aesthetically, will do in a pinch. However, pub chains such as Wetherspoons have hastened their decline and even my local keeps them on the bar for discretionary use.

The reason given that many pubs don’t use them is that they make the place look untidy. With more children than ever roaming wild in the public houses of Britain, it’s said that the little ankle-biters tend to rip and devastate the beer mat stock. And I’m willing to admit that, during my wild, crazy teenage years, I may have vandalised a few innocent mats. But is that a good enough reason to deprive us all?

The interesting punch line to all of this is that I heard some heartening news in the last pub we visited. There has been an increase in demand for beer mats of late. The landlord could not offer any explanation for this and frankly nor can I. But, just maybe, as black is the new black and keg is the new cask; in 2012 perhaps beer mats will be the new, er, beer mat?

Christmas Day Breakfast Beer Tasting: Brewdog Prototype 17

2011-12-25T07:38:00.001Z

Take 77 lager, Belgian yeast, several old single grain Scotch casks and some local Scottish raspberries. Mix together and you get Brewdog’s take on a Belgium fruit beer. But will it pass the Christmas Day Breakfast Beer test?

Basics: It’s a 33cl bottle, 4.9% and pours a very lively golden hue with a large white head. The aroma is promising; lots of citrus hops and ripe raspberries.

Taste: Medium bodied, the Belgium influence was evident throughout in the form of a slightly sour, dry bitterness that lingered on the palate. No sign of the sugar candy effect that bedevils some Belgium beers. Just plenty of tart raspberries that are matched by a good hop bitterness.

Finish: Dry, slightly sour.

Conclusion: I’ll confess to not knowing what the Scotch casks gave to this brew, but I liked it. It comes down just on the right side of tartness and slipped down very easily.

A good start to the day.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T07:25:00.002Z

In this era of austerity, cuts and enforced reclycling, I present you with last year's season's greetings. Just substitute 2011 for 2010.
http://tysonsbeerblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/merry-christmas.html

Christmas Eve Breakfast Beer Tasting: Brewdog Scotch Ale

2011-12-24T07:47:00.003Z

Basics: It’s 7.5% and is brewed with eight different malts and some honey thrown in for good measure. It poured a very dark brown, almost black, with good carbonation and a large tan head. The aroma was a strong belt of chocolate and caramel and a hint of smoke.

Taste: Quite rich. It’s a heady mix of bitter dark chocolate, caramel and toffee as the malts battle for dominance over the hops. There’s definitely some peat in there as well

Finish: Slight honey tinged dryness.

Conclusion: Presumably Brewdog’s take on an American Scotch Ale? It’s different enough to be distinguishable from its traditional counterpart, but it’s not really my cup of Brewdog. Still, if you like honey and malt sweetened beers; this may be the one for you.

What Price A Pub?

2011-12-21T16:54:00.000Z

It’s no secret that pubs are having a hard time of it and have been for some time. There are various theories espoused for this, but one partial explanation is the behaviour of the pubcos themselves. Far from nurturing their assets, it seems that they far too often frustrate their licensees and put barriers in their way.

Whilst they stand accused of poor management and restrictive practices; they themselves act as coy and innocent as an Irish dairy maid. But what is the truth? Do they really mislead potential landlords as to the viability and potential of pubs before tying them up in punitive contracts? Or is it a case of caveat emptor?

Well, to try and find out, when the lease of a pub I know well came up for sale, I took myself along to the open day to discover just what Punch were offering. The Railway is located at the tail end of Ramsbottom. Its main asset is its proximity to the East Lancashire Railway which is particularly useful in summer and during special events. However, it’s struggled in recent years and a succession of licensees have failed to improve it.

Punch were, naturally enough I suppose, marketing it as “an exciting business opportunity”. They were asking for an initial investment of £17,953. This included items that I thought they should provide for free. For example, as they have a vested interest in the pub’s success, charging me the princely sum of £1,195 to go on their own training course seemed rather mean.

The annual rent was initially pitched at £16,076. However, it soon emerged that, realistically, this would actually be at least £23,027 as this was the minimum required to join the Punch Buying Club. The PBC is heavily promoted along the lines of offering free of tie options on wine, spirits and minerals, and a tied barrel discount of £100.

But to me, an equal incentive for joining the PBC would simply be access to rights that I would take for granted. You have to pay for the privilege, but it’s the only way to ensure that you are fully covered for repair costs. Interestingly the more you pay, the more rights you seem to acquire. So if you want to be free of the controversial beer flow monitoring system, then you can be; but your rent will be £35,172 a year.

What you don’t get for this large sum is the freedom to buy your cask beer from whom you choose. They don’t really have an explanation for this restriction. This is particularly disappointing given that they do mention the importance of cask ale in their promotional material about the Railway.

What you do get from the PBC is BOGOF on real ale. So you have one line tied to their product list, but the second one can be chosen from their Small Brewers list. Ramsbottom is very competitive in cask ale terms and for £35,172 a year, I would really expect to be able to pick the beers that I want. In the meantime, you were committed to taking 271 barrels a year from them.

But now to the real nitty-gritty. What are your expected annual earnings? Punch estimate £20,150, but were keen to stress that it could be considerably more. For example, they were projecting food turnover at £10,833 which possibly could be increased. Even so, and accepting that their figures aren’t optimistic, the returns for your hard graft seem minimal.

What did I make of the whole experience? They seemed overly enthusiastic as to the pub’s potential and any tricky questions were batted aside. They kept on stressing their professional support system. Not one, not two, but 16 (count ‘em) support teams. But the real impression you are left with is that they blind you with science and then take your money and run.

Breakfast Beer Tasting: Brewdog Blitz!

2011-12-14T07:44:00.002Z

And now for something completely different. They tried, and failed, with Nanny State, but now they’re back with another low vol, high-hop beer.

Basics: It’s 2.8%. It poured deep amber with a medium beige head. The aroma was very promising: plenty of citrus and grapefruit and a little pine.

Taste: Not as thin as Nanny State-what could be-but still not very much body. The taste experience goes very quickly from zero to an explosion of rough, almost woody, resinous hops. There’s also a harsh bitterness that’s like biting into a bitter leaf that makes you wish you hadn’t.

Finish: Brief burst of woody bitterness.

Conclusion: Nanny State was just a mass of hops dumped into cold tea. This is much more accomplished with the feel of more than just a gimmick. However, the lack of depth to fulfil the early promise, and an unwelcome aftertaste means the search for a sessionable sub 3% beer continues.

Breakfast Beer Tasting: Brewdog Hops Kill Nazis

2011-12-12T07:11:00.000Z

Basics: It’s 7.8%. That’s it. No other information is given. I did have this on draught several months ago, but a lot of piss has washed down the urinals since then, so I only have a vague memory of it.

It poured deep amber with low carbonation and a large beige head. The aroma was pungent: floral, spiced and citrus hops.

Taste: Silky smooth in body, it belies its strength. Completely unbalanced, hop aficionados will have no trouble picking out Chinook and Centennial as they are there in bucketloads. A sliver of malt tantalises you before the hops batter your tongue into submission. It's like 5am Saint on acid.

Finish: Long and bitter. Leaves you panting for more.

Conclusion: Do hops kill Nazis? Damn freakin’ right they do.

Breakfast Beer Tasting: Meantime Yakima Red

2011-12-09T07:33:00.000Z

Basics: This is 500ml and only 4% by alcohol; a veritable stripling by breakfast beer standards. It’s unpasteurised and gets its name from the Yakima Valley in Washington where the five different hops in the beer originate.

It’s copper in colour and had reasonable carbonation with a large off-white head. The aroma was a quite pungent mix of pine and grapefruit.

Taste: A light to medium body is packed with a level of hops you don’t usually get in a beer of this strength. Less pine than in the aroma, there is much more grapefruit and zesty citrus flavours. Not much evidence of malt at all. The pine eventually comes through and lies on the tongue.

Finish: Medium bitterness leaves the throat comfortably dry.

Conclusion: If you like your hops, but not your beer, strong, then you’ll enjoy this. Punching well above its weight, this American style IPA really is a breakfast treat

Blood Money Booze

2011-12-08T18:15:00.000Z

Giving blood is a worthy cause and a reward in itself. However, there’s a never ending demand and only so many willing donors. How then to encourage more people to donate? A PR company in Leeds thought they had come up with the perfect solution by offering teenagers free booze in return for their blood. Students would register online and, in return for their donations, would receive free samples of the 4% Turbo Shandy.

Sadly, a po-faced NHS spokesperson said that “they do not welcome or condone this sort of promotional activity.” Taking the hint, the promotion has now been dropped, But, apparently, there is a shortage in sperm donations, so...

Breakfast Beer Tasting: Rogue Brutal IPA

2011-12-08T07:16:00.003Z

Basics: This is a man size 650ml bottle and is 5.8% in strength. The beer is brewed using three varieties of English malt: Pipkin, Cara Vienna and Cara Wheat. The only hop used is Oregon Crystal which is a triploid variety that combines the best of Cascade, Brewers Gold, and Early Green.

It’s amber in colour with an off-white foamy head. The aroma was quite noticeable citrus; pineapple, grapefruit and some sweet malt.

Taste: Medium bodied, it appears very well balanced. The expected hop blast never happens. Not brutal, in the literal sense, at all. There is a good initial hop bite with clear citrus tones, but the biscuit malt soon comes through to tilt the scales. You're left with a quite mellow mix of malt and grapefruit.

Finish: Short blast of medium dryness.

Conclusion: An accomplished piece of complex brewing. Nicely balanced and easy to drink, this is a class act.

Two Out For The Count?

2011-12-05T12:07:00.000Z

In less than seven days, doubt has been cast on the future of two of Bury’s pubs. In Ramsbottom, the onetime Good Beer Guide stalwart and corner pin of the Rammy crawl, the Good Samaritan, has been having extensive renovation work. And, despite earlier soundings suggesting a positive future, the reality looks somewhat different.

In a planning application to Bury Council, the Glasgow based owners have signalled their intent for the Peel Brow premises. And that is to operate it as a restaurant. Submitted plans signify toilets and kitchen downstairs and main dining on the ground floor. The previously private upstairs area is to accommodate overflow seating and a function room.

Meanwhile, the future looks even grimmer for the Bird I’Th Hand on Manchester Road. Another ex GBG pub, this mid-terrace boozer has been ordered to remain closed by the local authority licensing committee.

Originally closed voluntarily by Admiral Taverns after a number of complaints, the premises licence has now been withdrawn after an intervention by the police. This means that the pubco will have to reapply-basically start from scratch-if it wants to reopen the pub.

Sadly, history tells us that this is unlikely and it’s much more likely that Admiral will cut its losses. The terraced boozer is a dying breed; what with changing drinking patterns and new neighbours much less tolerant than in the past to have a public house as a neighbour.

What is frustrating in cases such as the BIH is that the licensing committee seems much less disposed to them than their town centre rivals. Community locals are quickly judged and dealt with harshly. Meanwhile, town centre licensed premises are given chance after chance. It’s almost as if they make more money for the authority?

British Guild Beer Writers Awards & Camden Brewery

2011-12-05T01:13:00.005Z

London is a strange town. Or so the Jam said way back in 1979. And indeed it is. However, despite the early closing, congestion and lack of decent pizza, there are actually people who work and live there. And everyone from the Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers to the British Guild of Beer Writers hold their piss-ups there.

So it was once again that I found myself wandering the lonely, mean streets of the Big Smoky with nothing in my pockets but hope and fortitude. Now, one has to make careful preparation before attending a function such as the BGBW awards. And, being one for correct form, I did my bit by having a little tour of the capital’s watering holes.

Conveniently, the Euston Cider Tap had just opened the previous week and I was the first in on that day. The very helpful barman kept me company until I was joined by some chirpy cockney sparrows newly arrived from Manchester. After sampling sparkling, still and some Normandy cider, the bonding was complete and I was soon telling them to, affectionately, "fack off, you slag."

But man cannot live by cider alone. I know. I’ve tried. So it was on to the main event.

British Guild Beer Writers Awards

But first things first. How did an old soak like me blag his way into the BGBW’s knees up? Well, like Garth Brooks, I have friends in low places... But obviously they couldn’t help me, so I had to go to the top.The very top. No problem, said Tandleman. Just mention my name.

So, my cunning plan was to doff my cap and present myself to the hotel saying Tandleman had sent me. And it worked. They welcomed me with open arms and I was ushered into the austere company of the great and the good. Ok, I had to don a waiter’s disguise and dish out amuse-bouches, but it got me in.

It was an interesting evening. Meeting people you only know from posters on your walls can often be intimidating, but everyone was too polite to tell me to fack off. And Jeff Pickthall never even mentioned sparklers once. There was a lively discussion on the relevance of cask, but all taken in good fun.

And, of course, there were winners to be announced. All deserved, no doubt, but sadly my prediction that Hardknott Sooty would sweep the board came to nought. That’s the last time I go into Ladbrokes pissed.

Best beers of the evening: Kernel (Brewer of the Year winner) and Wadworth Orange Peel. There was, naturally, more supping to be done afterwards, before the mad rush for takeout freebies began. The remaining hardcore, led by the rather marvellous Marverine Cole, moved the party downstairs to the ChinoLatino bar where fun was to be had until the wee small hours.

Staggering alongside the Thames later, I eventually remembered this was London. No wonder Tesco and the 24hr petrol station were closed. No chance of pizza or curry here. Dejectedly I returned to my abode. But my spirits quickly soared when I realised that one advantage of staying in a proper hotel was being able to acquire a Margherita at 0245. Well done to the Park Plaza.

Camden Town Brewery

Friday saw me reminded why I never get buses in London. Get a bus to Liverpool St Station, says Tandleman. A great idea-if you want time to grow a beard. Otherwise, forget it. And that was only the beginning of our travel woes.

However, we eventually reached our destination: the Camden Town Brewery. Here award-winning Mark Dredge, who I’d met the night before, was eager to show us his new toy. And very impressive it was too.

I’d imagined him brewing in a bathtub over a Camden pet shop. But no, this was state of the art stuff engineered and fitted by Germans. Whether you want the Sudetenland annexed or a state of the art brewery, those German lads will sort you out.

The Dredgester (or Dredgeinator-he’s still tweaking his nickname) turned out to be a great host. And we were soon joined by bloggers Mark from Beer Birra, Beer and Fletch from Real Ale Reviews.

A very jolly time ensued with Tandleman even boasting about just how much keg he’s drunk over the years. Just don’t tell the CAMRA secret police. We all took a shine to the nanokeg that fits in your backpack; you never need be without a drink again. Tandleman was sorely tempted to ring Mrs T to ask if they could adopt it.

What can be said about the beer other than it was excellent? Well, it’s filtered but unpasteurised. We even got to try their new Stout made with Northdown hops. And whilst not a fan of nitrokeg Stouts, their version clearly puts Guinness to shame and will do well, I’ve no doubt.

Their lager was light and refreshing but, even though it’s currently being tweaked, the Camden Pale was my favourite of the early sampling. However, we really were spoilt for choice with a hefe weizen making an appearance and a superb Belgian style Witbier.

A great afternoon out and thanks to Mark for arranging it and Mark(2) and Fletch for their company.

Breakfast Beer Tasting: Brewdog Chaos

2011-11-29T07:22:00.001Z

Basics: It’s 330ml and 7.1%. It poured clear amber with good carbonation and a large, foamy, off-white head. The aroma was pungent pine and tropical fruit.

Taste: Light-medium bodied. Unlike the aroma, there is a blast of tropical fruit flavours first and then the pine resin kicks in. There’s a good, if not massive, amount of grapefruit bitterness that comes through to wash over the tongue.

Finish: Surprisingly smooth at first, but leaves a medium hop bitter aftertaste.

Conclusion: A variation on Punk IPA that is easy drinking considering its strength, but lacks the hop crunch that Punk can deliver.

Breakfast Beer Tasting: Islay Saligo Ale

2011-11-24T07:50:00.001Z

This beer is named after Saligo Bay which lies on the west coast of Islay.

Basics: It’s 500ml, 4.4% and, once again, bottle-conditioned. It’s made with pale, lager, and wheat malts and a combination of Goldings and Brambling Cross hops. Light gold in colour, but not clear, it had good carbonation and a frothy off-white head. The aroma was bubblegum and a little spice.

Taste: Light on the palate, there was some malt and a little bitterness present. However, the main flavour was slightly subdued bubblegum.

Finish: Mild. Slight spiced bubblegum aftertaste.

Conclusion: Not bad and could be quite refreshing if served chilled. Although not advertised as such, the bubblegum flavour is pronounced enough to make it a wheat beer in my eyes.

Breakfast Beer Tasting: Crouch Vale Yakima Gold

2011-11-23T07:33:00.001Z

As I said yesterday, Amarillo is a great hop, and one of my favourites. Today I thought I would put Crouch Vale’s offering to the breakfast beer challenge.

Basics: This is bottle 191 out of a limited run of 500. It’s 500ml and a session strength 4.2%. Quite unusually for a beer of that strength, it’s also bottle-conditioned. It poured a very pale gold with plenty of carbonation and a slow forming off-white head. The aroma was light citrus tones and a touch of spice.

Taste: A very smooth mouthfeel with a moderate, but pleasant, citrus kick. All you would expect-grapefruit, lemon etc combined with a slight biscuit undertone. I was worried that this might be too thin, but it just errs on the right side.

Finish: Quite smooth with just enough citrus edge to keep you happy.

Conclusion: Not a hop monster, but an accomplished use of Amarillo in a relatively low ABV beer. Very pleasantly refreshing; it proves good bottle-conditioned beers can be achieved without pumping up the volume.

Breakfast Beer Tasting: Stringers IPA

2011-11-22T07:42:00.001Z

Stringers are from Ulverston, Cumbria, and apparently all their electricity comes from renewable sources.

Basics: It’s a 500ml bottle and is 5.5% by alcohol. I like the label design: clean and unfussy, it tells you all you need to know. It poured a clear orange-gold colour with good carbonation and a healthy, foamy head. The aroma was light marmalade, some sweet malt and spicy hop.

Taste: Medium bodied, the mouthfeel appears very smooth before the hop flavour bursts out. Grapefruit and lemon come to the fore leading to a tangy, dry hop explosion on the tongue.

Finish: A sharp, lingering dry bitterness with a hint of lemon.

This is a crisp, very accomplished, IPA. Amarillo is a fantastic hop when used correctly-as here-and the result is a thirst quenching and very moreish breakfast beer.

Red Hot World Buffet

2011-11-21T07:13:00.001Z

It’s not often that this column gives out relationship advice, even though, in my mind, I see it as the cheese and beer drinkers’ equivalent of Dear Deidre. But call me Marjorie Proops-and people often do-on this occasion, I’m going to give out some advice that could prove critical in saving your relationship.

We’re all familiar with the problem. It’s that time of year again when you’re obliged to perform your conjugal duty and take the other half out for a meal. She’s sussed out Wetherspoons isn’t a restaurant and the McDonalds drive-through just won’t cut it anymore. But, never fear, salvation is at hand.

Yes, it’s now possible for you to offer them the cuisine of the world. English? Indian? Italian? No problem. Thanks to the Red Hot World Buffet, you can offer them no less than a choice of seven cuisines and 300 dishes. All for the princely sum of £7.99 during the day. Just remember that drinks are pricey, so play the health card and opt for the free water.

But hold on, I know what you’re thinking. What if she refuses to take time off work and insists on the evening session at £13.99? Well in these modern times, it’s quite permissible for the ladies to take the initiative and take you out. Failing that, an appeal to their feminist side should see them going at least Dutch.

The beauty of this setup is that it has such wide appeal. No matter who your significant/transgender other is. You can even bring the family-just remember the drinks trap. And it’s even open on Christmas Day; thus giving those of us who usually spend it slumped under a table in Wetherspoons another dining option.

World cuisine buffets. Like garlic bread, they are the future.

Bury Beer Festival

2011-11-20T23:54:00.001Z

This weekend saw the third annual Bury Beer Festival hosted by the Met. This year’s format saw the main hall divided between individual exhibitors-local brewers and the Shoulder of Mutton pub, whilst the other beers were shared amongst the Met’s various internal bars.

All in all there were about 100 beers, ciders, and perries. The main hall was the centre of much early attention as it was the first opportunity for many people to sample the wares of Bury’s latest brewery, Brightside. They had a new beer, the Beast (3.8%) on show, as did Outstanding with the aptly named Selling Out.

Elsewhere, Leyden caused a stir by having a beer, Brewer’s Gold, which was adjudged to be actually ok, and Greenmill didn’t disappoint by being disappointing. The best newcomer was undoubtedly Nook Blonde (4.5%) brewed by the Nook Brewhouse in Holmfirth. It was a zesty English style wheat beer with a citrus twist.

Overall, though, the micro brewers were put in the shade by the likes of Adnams and Dark Star. And it’s hard to see past Oakham Citra, despite being served by gravity, as beer of the festival. However, the Jessica Jane-Clement prize must go to Dunham Massey for their 6% IPA which tasted like it was knocked up in a garden shed using a Shepherd Neame recipe.

Breakfast Beer Tasting: Odell IPA

2011-11-18T07:29:00.002Z

Time to fire up the countdown to the weekend with a little IPA action.

Basics: Well regarded in many circles, this is a 7%, 60 IBU, IPA that has been given an American twist by the Odell Brewing Company from Fort Collins, Colorado. It poured a nice golden-orange with a large white head. There was a distinct and appealing aroma of pine and citrus.

Taste: Surprisingly not as immediately powerful as the aroma might suggest. Light-medium bodied, the subtle malt undertone perfectly complements the pine and zesty tropical fruit flavours. Bitterness builds to a sharp, but not overwhelming level.

Finish: Dry and lingering.

Conclusion: Fully deserving of its reputation; this is an expertly brewed beer that balances its flavours perfectly. Very moreish in nature, it drinks less than its actual strength.

The Kimberley Club

2011-11-15T10:25:00.000Z

The Kimberley Workingmen’s Club in Stacksteads, Rossendale is the stuff of legend. Few, outside of those interested in such things, have heard of it and fewer still have visited it. Even many locals aren’t aware of its location and yet internet forums are full of people willing to travel across the country to visit a genuine slice of social history.

Established in 1897, the KMC started out as an afterhours drinking venue for quarry workers. Legend has it that it was carried down into the valley on poles. There are various theories about its South African connections-there is a Kimberley Street close by, but what we do know is that surprisingly little has changed since those early days.

Once you have got up the steep hill, over the dirt track and through the gate; you are confronted with two very small rooms. There’s probably just enough room to squeeze all 36 members in. This helps to explain why visitation is strictly by invitation only. We were privileged to enjoy a special Sunday opening. Normal hours are Tues. Thurs and Fri after 9.30pm.

When you are sat in the inner sanctum with the locals (and their dogs), you really are transported back in time. In fact, time becomes meaningless as you sup under the light of the single gas light. Naturally there’s no electricity-the vacuum cleaner is oil powered and the only nod to food is a packet of nuts. They can’t keep crisps, they’d get too damp.

However, some modern elements are present. They received planning permission to build toilets in 1934, but actually only got round to building them in 1999. Prior to that, it was "ladies use the short grass and gents use the long grass".

They also do now have (a few) bottles of lager for anyone from outside of the valley. Of course, there are no handpumps, so all the beer is brought up from the cellar. Taylor’s Dark Mild and Best Bitter are the choices, and I have to say I was impressed with how well they kept them. £1.50 for the Bitter may have the £5-a-pint craft beer aficionados spluttering into their Bollinger, but I didn’t hear many complaints.

A great day out and thanks to the Kimberley and Uncle Albert for arranging it.

Saltaire & Shipley

2011-11-09T15:01:00.001Z

Saltaire is a part of Shipley in West Yorkshire and is famous for its model village that is an UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s named after mill owner Sir Titus Salt, whose former mill complex is now home to a large David Hockney collection. I’ve been and it’s very nice, but today the mention of Saltaire brings up thoughts of beer (frankly, most things do) and Saltaire Brewery.

The brewery was founded in 2005 and has produced a wide range of award-winning beers including their Triple Chocolate and, one of my favourites, South Island Pale. Intriguingly located in a Victorian building that once housed the generators for the Shipley trams, it’s been on the Tyson visit wish list for awhile.

The brewhouse is a 20 barrel affair and has a mezzanine bar that was soon full of thirsty punters. It was a record attendance-nearly 40-and included most, if not all, of the usual suspects: The Whitefield Holts Bandit, Pythagoras, Archimedes, Uncle Albert, the Wallsend Wonder, Jan & Dean, and even Moaning Myrtle-for a short time. All watched over by the timekeeper’s timekeeper, Stopwatch Sid.

A grand drinking session followed with all the beers tried being in excellent condition. This is not surprising as owner and head brewer Tony Gartland is passionate about beer and clearly knows his stuff. Certainly his brewery talk had enough meat on it to keep us professional brewery visitors entertained. Oh, and he’s a sparkler advocate, so you sparkler denialists can blow one off.

It was difficult to leave the brewery. Top notch beer served at only £2 a pint? Slightly embarrassing for some breweries nearer home that charge considerably more for considerably less satisfying beer. But Shipley itself has quite a bit to offer with several GBG pubs in the area. So after thanking Tony and his staff, take our leave we did.

Then followed a leisurely crawl from the Junction (not so good JHB) to the Shipley Pride (Salamander) and the Victoria, where I enjoyed some excellent Castle Rock. Of course, the famous Fannys was visited (Phoenix) where the barmaids won the award for best of the day. Ask Beth nicely and she may show you her tattoo.

It was then back to the Shipley to stock up on Acorn Blonde before our chauffeur driven transport whisked us away. A pint or more was then had in Idle before we had to finally say goodbye to Yorkshire. After a long and winding trip back to Bury, a hardy few staggered into the Art to finish the night, and themselves, off.

Thanks to Tony & crew for the beer and grub, and for a very enjoyable visit.

Hofbräu Berlin

2011-11-06T13:56:00.000Z

Fans of Munch and its legendary Hofbräuhaus may get a surprise on their next visit to Berlin. For last Friday saw the opening of Hofbräu Berlin. This, the third in a franchise-there are already two Hofbräuhausers in Hamburg, hopes to offer Berliners and any curious tourists a little slice of Bavaria.

Except, as befitting any homage to the original Hofbräuhaus, it’s anything but little. What they have done is create Europe’s largest beer hall. 6000 square metres is spread over three floors and incorporates some 2 kilometres of benching to seat 2,500 punters.

Despite the legal wrangling that forced a change of name and some local doubts as to what a Hamburger is doing involved; general manager Björn Schwarz is confident it will be a success. His figures tell him that there are plenty of Berliners ready to eat 120 tons of pork shank, 25 tons of the white sausage called Weißwurst, and drink a million litres of beer per year.

And if they don’t? Well its location at the heart of Alexanderplatz should guarantee that there are enough tourists to pick up the slack. But the true Hofbräuhaus is about more than just food and drink. So its Berlin clone offers a stage on each floor where yodelers, alphorn performers and glockenspiel players will entertain customers.

To complete the Munich experience, Schwartz says: “customers are encouraged to link arms and sway” in true Bavarian style. How the cosmopolitan Berliners will take to all this Bavarian jollity is anyone’s guess, but I suspect they may well enjoy the experience.

Booths@MediaCityUK

2011-10-31T09:04:00.000Z

Booths are the rather posh supermarket chain so beloved by the posh folk of the Fylde coast. Founded in 1847 in Blackpool, the company is still run by the Booth family and they now have 26 stores. Their emphasis is on locality and freshness-they are partners with Slow Food UK; thus marking them out against the other major chains.

Traditionally they’ve been found in deepest Lancashire and Cumbria-places you either don’t want to go to or can’t get to easily. Now they have opened a store in that cradle of civilisation: Salford. Hooray. You see, I like Booths. They actually sell things I want to buy. Unlike the shit that Tesco seems to mainly fill its shelves with.
Being famous for their range of bread, beer and cheese; all a beerhound needs to live, I naturally felt obliged to pay the new store a visit. It’s in the funky (i.e. posh) MediaCityUK which, naturally, is at the terminus of the MediaCityUK tram line. This is like a Salford version of the DLR, but not quite as good, obviously.
You can tell they’re catering for the BBC personnel who are missing London, though, as the stops have real time updates. Something the peasants on the Bury line can only dream of. Anyway, the store is only a few minutes’ walk from the tram stop and is laid out over two floors.

Downstairs is the fresh food: bread, fishmongers, butchers, cheesemongers etc. There is also hot food available as well. Upstairs is where the real treasure lies. Lots and lots of beer. And cider as well. Some interesting bottles here and surprisingly reasonably priced as well. Many were £1.49 and Adnams Lighthouse was only £1.09 a bottle.

So although my wallet will feel the pain, it’s a warm welcome to Booths@MediaCityUK.

Booths can be found at The Garage, Red, MediaCityUK, Salford, M50 2BS. Yes, it is a weird address.

The One Stop No Shop

2011-10-30T13:22:00.000Z

As regular readers (and there are some) will know, one of my pet hates is the overzealous shop assistant who demands proof of age when all sense and logic dictates there is no need. Several cases have been highlighted on this blog, but the latest example is a real doozy.

Diane Taylor wanted to buy her son a bottle of whisky. So she popped into a local One Stop Shop to do so. However, she was refused the sale on the grounds that she couldn’t produce any photo ID as proof of age. Considering the great-grandmother is-and I hope she won’t mind me saying this-no longer in the first flush of youth; this is somewhat of a farce.

Mrs Taylor is in fact 92. Yes, 92. And, despite producing a blood donor card and her bus pass, the witless zombie of an assistant refused to budge. As she herself put it later:”No one can convince me that I look under 25-I’ll only take 78 at a push”.

A One Stop Shop spokesman later apologised, but said staff cannot sell alcohol without seeing proof of age. What? If a 92 year great-grandmother standing in front of you isn’t proof of age, then I don’t know what is.

And what was the outcome of all this? Mrs Taylor simply went and bought her bottle elsewhere. Well done One Stop Shop. I hereby award you the title of Jobsworth of the Week.

SIBA Great Northern Beer Festival

2011-10-29T13:56:00.000+01:00

The second SIBA Great Northern Beer Festival is well under way and will be reaching its climax today. Last year’s event was, frankly, a bit of a damp squib with too little publicity and too much focus on the appearance of Hugh & Oz. The result was less than satisfactory for all concerned.

This year’s event should prove a lot better. The festival is at the Mercure (ex Ramada) Piccadilly which, for my money, is a better venue location and facilities wise. The publicity level was ramped up and numbers on the opening night were up on last year. Certainly the choice is unrivalled; 64 beers on handpump and with sparkler-what more could you want?
Sadly, there was some disappointment on the Thursday evening as several beers performed under par. Earlier favourites such as Allgates Double Citra soon disappeared and fans of hoppy beer were left somewhat flummoxed. However, a late surge did hold out some hope for future sessions (hopefully today) with Saltaire Stateside IPA being in particularly good form.

Alas, as per last year, I didn’t get any pictures of Tandleman working-I’m not that quick. However, I did get to have an enjoyable drink and a chat with Erlangernick, and the mighty Hardknott Sooty who was accompanied by his two handlers, Dave and Anne.

Congratulations to Hawkshead for winning the champion beer trophy with their Windermere Pale. A well deserved win for an incredible beer.

The Oast House

2011-10-27T16:21:00.000+01:00

It’s often been said that what Manchester lacks is a Kentish oast house. Maybe not by me. Or you. But someone must have thought it was needed because that’s what we’ve now got. An oast house. From Kent. In return, I believe, the good people of Kent got an IOU signed by Carlos Tevez.

Oh, and before we go any further, for those not familiar with the vernacular, an oast house is somewhere where hops are dried. Like they have in Kent. This one has apparently been shipped brick by brick, via Ireland, to Spinningfields.

Spinningfields is the ultra modern business, retail and residential development that lies between Manchester Deansgate and the River Irwell. What it has been lacking is decent leisure facilities and, of course, what I mean by that is a decent pub. That is where the oast house, from Kent, comes in.

The Oast House is the latest innovation from the Living Ventures Group who own the nearby Alchemist bar. Its design is very different to anything nearby or elsewhere for that matter and, indeed, came in for some controversy for being so. But I think they must be applauded for their innovation.

The Oast House has something of the Swiss chalet about it and there almost seemed a holiday vibe inside. This being only the second day of opening, it was rammed full of people eager to try the new kid on the block. Last night was the launch night and the place was full of champagne swigging celebrities such as Ryan Giggs and Eddie, the eager, legal beagle.

There seems to be a good range of drinks available including American and German beers. There are also four cask ales available via tap on the back wall. I would have preferred them to be more prominently displayed; via handpump on the lengthy bar, but this style of dispense almost seems du jour in the modern bar. Pints are around the £3.30 mark, but the Jaipur I’ve been on is £4 a pint.

An interesting and welcome addition to the Manchester scene. As usual, sustained quality will be the ultimate test.

An unusual feature is the outside kitchen. They wanted one, but there wasn't room inside, hence the separate structure. It's Manchester's first external kitchen, and could possinly be be the country's first permanent outdoor kitchen.

Chorlton Crawl

2011-10-21T15:39:00.000+01:00

Chorlton-cum-Hardy or simply Chorlton, if you’re local, is a little suburb of Manchester lying some 4 miles southwest of the city centre. With a population of around 14,000, it’s a mix of yuppies (de rigueur MacBook), students (de rigueur cycles) and a large housing estate at the Chorlton Green end of town.

There’s a London vibe to it-it’s busy in the week-and there are plenty of delis as well as a plethora of (mainly) bars and pubs. Beer isn’t cheap; expect to pay £3.20 a pint, but it’s the unusual high concentration of real ale that attracts many drinkers to make the trip out of town.

The Metrolink has recently started running through Chorlton making it even easier to get to and enabling you to avoid the waccy-baccy smokers who seem to populate the buses through Moss Side. With this convenience in mind, I undertook a crawl of CUH yesterday with the redoubtable Tandleman.

First stop was Oddest. They usually have a good selection on here and it just so happens to be nearest to the tram stop. We weren’t disappointed and soon were tucking into Mallinsons Citra. Of course, one is never enough. We also tried Red Willow Macclesfield Bitter and found it to be a quite pleasant golden session beer.

It all went drunkenly downhill from there as is the wont when Tandleman is involved. Highlights include discovering a Grafton beer on in Escape and practically sitting on the floor as we lounged in Parlour. We also paid a nostalgic trip to the Beech and sat in the window where Mr T used to sit when he lived in the area. A blue plaque will no doubt follow shortly.

Across the road, the Horse and Jockey offered us two delights. Not only was Dark Star American Pale available but Tanders, genetically bred to spot a bargain from 50 metres, saw the chance to buy bottles of Flying Dog Raging Bitch for the knock down price of £2.25. Sadly, they’re not as daft as they look round there, and our joy was limited to the one bottle. Still it set us up nicely for the crawl back to the station.

Manchester Whisky Festival

2011-10-19T13:54:00.000+01:00

Another year, another Manchester Food and Drink Whisky Festival. Last weekend saw the third one take place and, like every year, I felt obliged to attend. So, alongside Eddie, the eager legal beagle, Archimedes and the Whitefield Holts Bandit, we took a walk on the Scotch side of town.

Every year the event gets bigger and better. This year saw it held at the Lowry in Salford. The premise is simple. You pays your money and then have four hours to sample as many whiskies as you can. Binge drinking for the connoisseur pisshead, if you like.

There are different approaches to handling it and everyone has their own strategy. Some go alphabetically, some go clockwise, and some try to seek out the rarest whisky they can find. My own approach is to avoid the stingy bastards and find the person with the shakiest hands when dishing out the measures.

Technically they advise that you progress through the five broad types in order. So, delicate and sweet first (e.g. Glenlivet), then fruity and floral (e.g. Jura), and then rich and spicy (e.g. Evan Williams). The last two are robust and tangy (e.g. Oban) and intense and peaty (e.g. Ardbeg).

Without boring you with exact lists-you lose track after about 20-it’s safe to assume that I, along with the experienced imbibers, ignored the technical approach. One thing did become clear: the likes of Taiwan, Korea and even Japan have a long way to go to match the finest offerings of Scotland & Ireland.

Of course, four hours of whisky tasting takes its toll. Especially if you warmed up with some excellent pints of Allgates, spicy Bohemian hopped, Vital and the crisp Oregon hops of Santiam. So a wind down course of more beer was prescribed to restore our drinking chi.

First stop was the newly reopened Black Lion in Salford. Here I was glad to see the return of a quality beer (Roosters Yankee back in form) served correctly, i.e. with sparkler. A couple here led naturally to the Port Street Beer House where Kirkstall Pale Ale was the top dog. Less impressive was the keg offering of Thornbridge Wild Swan-once again a shadow of its cask form.

Just when we were leaving, Jan and Dean staggered in and forced another drink in our hand, but then it really was night-night time. It was back to that Garden of Eden, Bury, where, unlike London, you can get a decent late night pizza on a Saturday. A good day out, even if we didn’t squeeze any cider in.

Manchester's Not So Super Superloo

2011-10-13T21:51:00.001+01:00

This is one of Manchester's so called "superloos" on Stevenson Square. Manchester City Council leases each one from JCDecaux at a cost of £28,000 per year. But lack of use-hardly surprising if this is typical-means that they only raise an average of £3,400 in revenue. Leaving the Manchester taxpayer to stump up the rest. Makes you glad not to be one of those, eh? Here's an idea: what with the shortage of public loos in Manchester, why not ditch the superloo and, with the saving, employ somebody to supervise a proper toliet?

Manchester Food & Drink Festival

2011-10-13T21:25:00.000+01:00

Talking of festivals, Manchester’s annual Food & Drink Festival is currently in full swing and heading for its climax this weekend. There’s cooking demonstrations, food stalls-plenty of cheese, and lots to delight the olfactory system. Look out for the old pizzeria van and grab yourself a great pizza courtesy of their amazing portable fibreglass clay ovens.

Drinks wise, there’s the cocktails tent and of course, the beer festival hub. Here they’ve had a range of beers on, all served in soft, non-plastic, biodegradable cups. Allgates Citra seemed particularly popular.

Today it was the turn of Stockport brewers Robinsons to take centre stage. Debuting was the new beer from Bury’s very own megastars Elbow. Named after their album, it’s an easy drinking 4% golden ale. Also on offer is the full range of Robinsons and there’s Chocolate Tom in bottles. There’s also the Old Tom Ploughman’s, although it’s not really a Ploughman’s as it comes with pate.

Beer Festivals: Soup Kitchen

2011-10-13T16:39:00.000+01:00

Once beer festivals were the almost exclusive domain of CAMRA and perhaps a few specialist pubs. Increasingly however, with some notable exceptions, we are seeing the decline of the traditional CAMRA festival. More and more pubs and non traditional venues are holding them. The current Wetherspoons promotion is a good case in point. Organised on a national scale, it’s hard to beat for choice and price.

There’s no doubt this increase of choice is a good thing. But there’s a danger sometimes that this leads to more enthusiasm than quality. After all, beer festivals can be tricky beasts at the best of times, and organising the first one brings problem of its own. I was interested, therefore, to learn that the Soup Kitchen in Manchester was holding its inaugural festival.

The Soup Kitchen is on Spear St. Not far from the Port St Beer House, it’s now established itself on the extended Manchester N/4 beer crawl. It offers a limited, but often unusual, beer selection in a relaxed, mock canteen environment. They’ve recently opened up the downstairs area complete with two handpumps for weekend use.

It was downstairs that the festival was held. Originally there was going to be an admission charge, but they managed to arrange it so that there was no charge. This was welcome news as pubs/bars charging for entry for what will be a not-so-large range of beers is a no-no in my book.

There were about thirteen beers offered on gravity-sadly no handpumps-and three ciders. The free glasses were of the hard plastic variety and the beer choice was definitely on the ticking side. Indeed, two scoopers were the only other customers at the time. However, the beer quality was generally (one duff half) fine and you could imagine a good ambience in here come late on.

So, a welcome start, but a few points I’d like to see addressed. Firstly, you really should be using handpulls in this type of environment. Secondly, think about the beer range. If it’s a ticking fest, it needs to be advertised along those lines. There’s nothing wrong with it, but it does usually mean a lack of tasting notes which a lot of people find useful.

And finally: temperature. There were several fans blowing, but this is a warm environment, even before it gets busy, and plastic glasses don’t help. So, a more proactive approach to this next time, please. Even if it's just the old water and cloth trick. Sort that and I think the next one will be spot on.

The Oxford Companion to Beer

2011-10-09T18:46:00.002+01:00

Firstly, my thanks to Linda and the kind folks at OUP for sending me a copy of this hefty beast. I’ve finally found some time to have a little look at it and it’s been quite rewarding. It aims to be the beer equivalent of the well regarded Companion to Wine and at one level, the Companion to Food and Drink. And in many ways it succeeds.

Let’s be clear from the start. This is a scholarly work. With over 1100 entries and 166 contributors, it lays a serious claim to be the most comprehensive single book ever published on the subject. It certainly goes beyond the usual detail often found in the books that bestride the beer-buffs bookshelf. That’s not to say that it’s not for the layperson or that it’s densely written. It isn’t, but some of the articles may lead to some head scratching amongst non-brewers.

As is usual with these kinds of books, I found the best way to appreciate it was by dipping in at random. This is made easier by the alphabetical layout, which is heavily cross-referenced, but there is also a more narrative approach with subjects gathered together by topic. Dipping in I immediately discovered what a beer week was and why some imbibers develop red noses.

Of course, there is more to the subject of beer than simply lists of beer styles and hops etc. The Companion discusses issues such as social media, beer culture, and many other relevant topics. No doubt some of which will be debated. Speaking of controversy, I know you, like me, are eager to discover what it has to say about those little plastic beer angels...sparklers.

Well, it starts well by admitting there is heated debate about their use. Indeed to quote:”So heated is the debate over the sparkler that even the usually bombastic CAMRA sidesteps the issue.” Bombastic, eh? Ooh er.

Sadly, the article then goes on to try to simplify matters by perpetuating the myth that it is mainly a geographical divide. Oh well, nobody’s perfect. Garrett, I am available to write the correction for the second edition.

Quibbles aside, I think this will find itself on many a bookshelf come birthday/Christmas time. Anything that tries to raise the serious profile of beer and put it where it belongs; alongside the likes of wine and whisky, is to be commended. Just check the sparkler facts next time.

Update: The book is proving hugely controversial among beer aficonados now that they have had time to go through it. There seem to be huge gaps in its accuracies. On the chemical/brewing side-which is what I examined first-it's fine. So you can find all about hops and the brewing process, for example. However, when it comes to things like historical data-Scottish beer, for example, it's very patchy. So it's a case of buyer beware. Or wait till the second edition.

The Oxford Companion to Beer is published by OUP and retails at £21.00

Breakfast Beer Tasting: Smuttynose Shoals Pale Ale

2011-10-03T07:21:00.000+01:00

Bit in the doldrums today. So it’s time to reach for something with a hop kick to blast those blues away. Come on down Shoals Pale Ale from Smuttynose Brewing Company from New Hampshire, USA.

Basics: It’s an unfiltered 12fl oz bottle and is 5% ABV. It poured amber with a solid white head. There was a pungent, very appealing, aroma of bread/biscuit malt and plenty of tart fruit hops.
Taste: Medium bodied and very accomplished. There’s pepper and pine hops carefully matched to a doughy malt backbone. A crisp hop bitterness tingles in the mouth.
Finish: Crisp and lingering bitterness.
Conclusion: Tasty. An excellent example of the American Pale Ale style.

Today's Booze News

2011-09-30T16:02:00.000+01:00

Another day, another crazy supermarket alcohol-ID story. James Hood, 27, popped into his local Tesco in Chineham, Hants for some barbecue supplies. He stocked up with sausages, buns, ribs, and burgers. And Jack Daniels barbecue sauce. It was this prospective purchase that brought him woe.

For on attempting to buy the sauce, the checkout person asked him for proof of age. Unable to provide any, the embarrassed Mr Hood was forced to abandon it at the checkout. Why? Because it contains 1% alcohol and Tesco have a “Prove It” policy where anyone looking under 25 who is attempting to buy booze is required to prove their age.

Now most people may not regard 1% alcohol as “booze” and Mr Hood has rightly complained about it. For their part, Tesco have said that an automated message would have flashed up reminding the salesperson to check proof of age. Which may be correct, but are we to take it their staff are merely automatons unable to think for themselves?

Meanwhile, literally, concrete proof that being very pissed can save you from harm. An unnamed student walked away unhurt after being winched up from the roof of an accommodation block at Sussex University. After seeing him fall 20ft onto the roof, there were fears that he might have been seriously hurt.

However, the spirit of alcohol or is that alcoholic spirit, moves in mysterious ways. Being very pissed had made him so relaxed that he escaped without the usual fractures associated with trying to break a fall. And the reason for his late night fall? It’s believed he was trying to take a pee. Ah, we’ve all been there.

The Cask Report 2011-12

2011-09-26T14:25:00.001+01:00

The Cask Report 2011-12 is out today and, as usual, makes for interesting reading. Despite very tough economic times and the government’s continuing war on pubs and drinkers, there are still some promising signs:

Despite a 7.8% drop in overall on-trade beer sales, cask sustained only an estimated 2% drop. This disparity helps explain the fact that cask actually increased its share of the on-trade market to 15%.
Cask ale is more widely available than ever. A 4% increase in distribution in 2010 led it to being available in an additional 2500 outlets.

Of course, not everything is rosy-the 35% rise in duty over three years has a lot to answer for, but, in a declining market, the evidence is there that cask ale is still punching above its weight.

The report contains some interesting statistics: 69% of cask drinkers now fall within the ABC1 demographic. So perhaps Tony Blair was right after all and we are all middle class now? There’s also an attempt to clear up some of the still prevailing myths: cask drinkers aren’t set in their ways, and numbers of young drinkers of cask are growing.

Quality is also rightly seen as a key issue and research seems to back my belief that 3-4 handpulls is generally the ideal. It wisely avoids getting down bogged down in price issues, as it did last year, but there are still some abnormalities; “46% of cask drinkers recognise the Cask Marque as an indicator of quality”. Er, doesn’t that mean 54% don’t?

On a personal note, one of my haunts: the Black Bull, makes it into the report demonstrating the potential that cask can have. However, modesty prevents me from claiming all the responsibility for the 1737% increase in sales since they reintroduced cask into the pub...

Breakfast Beer Tasting: Dark Star Imperial Stout

2011-09-23T07:48:00.001+01:00

Dark Star Imperial Stout is the West Sussex brewer’s interpretation of this famous style. Earlier this year they, along with several other brewers, were involved in a project to bring the style back to St Petersburg.

Basics: It’s 330ml and is bottle-conditioned. Tipping the scales at 10.5% by alcohol volume, it’s definitely not a session beer. Is it just me or are these breakfast beers becoming stronger?

It poured dark as expected with a very small beige head. The aroma was a rather enticing heavy dose of dark fruits, liquorice and a little chocolate.

Taste: Full bodied and velvety. The alcohol is there, but is extremely well hidden. There’s liquorice and a hint of pepper, but the overall impression is a very drinkable blend of dark stone-fruits: cherries, plums and jujube.

Finish: Dried dark fruit and a little coffee.

Conclusion: The moreish strong fruit flavours are combined with the Target hops to deliver a very impressive beer. This would be a good beer at any strength, but at 10.5% it’s a stunning achievement.

Breakfast Beer Tasting: Indigo Imp Winter Solstice

2011-09-22T07:53:00.001+01:00

The nights are drawing in. Well that’s my excuse for trying Indigo Imp’s Winter Solstice. That and the fact it was the first one I pulled out of the beer cupboard.

Basics:It’s brewed in Cleveland, Ohio and is bottle-conditioned. It’s 12 fl oz and is brewed with four types of malt, Cascade hops and some cinnamon and orange peel is thrown in for good measure.

It proved very lively and poured a somewhat murky amber/chestnut colour. Aroma was a moderate mix of malt and a little grapefruit.

Taste: The initial smooth mouthfeel gave way to some sweet malt/toffee notes and a warming, spicy tingle. Gets drier as the hops kick in to restore some balance.

Finish: Short and dry.

Conclusion: Once you get past the rather murky appearance, it’s not bad, if not exceptional. The added cinnamon and orange peel seem rather wasted as the overall effect is of a more standard malt and hop brew.

Brewdog for Manchester

2011-09-21T08:20:00.000+01:00

With terms now agreed, it’s time to reveal the location of Brewdog’s proposed Manchester outlet. Opening next spring, it’s on the junction of Dale St/Newton St and Port St. Yes, Port St. So, with its proximity to a certain Port Street Beer House, and with the Soup Kitchen also nearby, there’s potential for a good mini-crawl. It also rather exacerbates the fracture of the traditional N/4. With other new openings planned, it looks as though this side of Manchester is definitely on the up.

How will Mancunians take to the bad boys of "craft" brewing? How will all keg go down in a cask heartland? As always, the proof will be in the drinking.

Breakfast Beer Tasting: Madcap Scotch Madness

2011-09-21T07:38:00.001+01:00

Sometimes you just need a good strong Scotch Ale to give you that kick in the balls in the morning. Or so the mad Scot who lives opposite says, anyway. Taking him at his word, I thought I’d try some Madcap Scotch Madness.

Basics: It’s an 8.5%, bottle-conditioned, 330ml Scotch Ale. And no, it’s not named in honour of the fact that the Scots are considered only a little less barmy than the Welsh. Although they are, obviously.

It’s brewed in the wonderfully named Eccelfechan and poured a very dark tawny colour. It was very lively, but settled down to a middling, beige head. The aroma was predominantly sweet malt.

Taste: Quite creamy initially. There’s some caramel and toffee, but also a noticeable vinous quality to it. Easy going enough considering its ABV, but lacking any real depth of flavour.

Finish: Brief burst of sweet malt.

Conclusion: Disappointing. I’m not a huge fan of this style of beer, but I think this one lacked anything to justify the heavy alcohol content. One for the mad Scotsman who lives opposite you.

The Tracks of my Beers

2011-09-07T08:49:00.000+01:00

Technology moves on at an ever increasing rate these days. No sooner have you splashed out on a radiogram only to see it quickly usurped by new-fangled transistors and music centres. The latest piece of groovy kit that is de rigueur is the Smartphone application.

This is a piece of electronic software tomfoolery that operates on your mobile telecommunications device. So instead of a map and compass, you can have sat-nav (satellite navigation) and instead of carrying your portable television everywhere, you can click on an app and watch TV on your phone.

Some of these can be useful when searching for the most important of life’s essentials: where to find the nearest decent boozer and where to source a decent pizza, for example. Some claim to be educational and helpful; calorie counting, for instance, could prove helpful for the diet conscious.

And now we have the NHS Drinks Tracker. This promises to quickly calculate your drink units, keep track of your drinking, and then give you personalised feedback. So, in the interests of science, I decided to try it out. Now, it has come in for a little criticism, and although it can’t tell the difference between Duvel and an alcopop, I found it generally easy to use.

Having used it for the minimum recommended period of seven days, the results are in. My average daily alcohol unit intake was 21.9 which, my “personalised” feedback informed me, is 17.9 over the recommended daily limit. This can (my emphasis) contribute to over 60 medical conditions. And that was it.

I have to say I was disappointed by this “personalised feedback”. I know it was a quiet week, but surely this level of abuse warrants something more dramatic. Where are the flashing lights and klaxons? Indeed, I was half expecting/hoping for a visit from Don Shenker and the boys from bogus charity Alcohol Concern.

There’s also an interesting and sometimes unintentionally funny info section. I particularly liked the “Can Drinking affect my sexual behaviour?” portion: 40% of 16-24 year olds surveyed agreed they would be more likely to have casual sex (no point in drinking otherwise) and 10% claimed not to be able to recall whether they had sex the night before. Frankly, if you were that drunk, it’s very unlikely.

The sting in the tale, though, comes with the disclaimer at the end. “This app is for entertainment purposes only.” Now you tell me.

Black Bull, Lowercroft Road

2011-09-01T18:06:00.000+01:00

It’s always heartening to see an underperforming pub come good again. So has been the case with the Black Bull on Lowercroft Road. Once a thriving community local, a change in management led to this Thwaites house see a spiral decline in its fortunes, and the removal of real ale only hastened the process.

Now under the steerage of Chris & Christine McClung, late of the Rose & Crown in Ramsbottom, the pub has seen a marked improvement in all areas. A sympathetic refit has given it a light, contemporary feel, and real ale is back in a big way with the full Thwaites range and a guest beer.

Once word had got out that the BB was back in business, customers-local and otherwise, started to flock back. Beer quality is excellent and the food operation is also of a very high calibre. So much so that, unusually for a non-rural pub, diners pack it out midweek lunchtime.

Having at last had the opportunity to try the food out myself, I can confirm the quality. My benchmark of homemade cheese & onion pie was stellar in terms of both pastry and cheese content, and the dessert of bourbon and pecan pie was also excellent. That, together with the beer quality, has seen the Black Bull force its way into the top 10 of Bury’s pubs.

The Black Bull Hotel, 8 Lowercroft Road, Bury, BL8 2EY
Open Sun-Thurs 12-12, Fri-Sat 12-1am
Food served: Mon-Fri 12-2 & 5-8, Sat 5-8, Sun 12-6

Irwell Works Brewery Bar Opens

2011-08-25T08:20:00.000+01:00

There’s good news for anyone wishing to sample the wares of Bury’s very own Irwell Works Brewery. The brewery, which has been brewing since November of last year, has opened a bar. Situated on the first floor of its premises in Square Street, Ramsbottom, it offers a choice of three handpulls and is open Thurs-Sun from noon onwards.

Thornbridge@PSBH

2011-08-23T23:56:00.001+01:00

Another week, another meet the brewer night at the Port Street Beer House in Manchester. They’re becoming a regular occurrence now and have often featured upcoming or more obscure breweries. Not last night, though, as we were in the presence of genuine British brewing royalty.

Thornbridge have developed a reputation for quality and innovation, and are well-known to those who are interested in beery matters. Realising this, the equally well-known brewer, Dominic, didn’t waste much time in senseless preamble, but led us straight into the beer tastings.

First up was the 5.1% Summer Ale. Brewed with ginger (from Waitrose) and sage. An interesting mix, but although the sage offset any excesses of ginger, subtle ginger is still ginger. So, mixed opinions here, dependent on whether you like ginger in your beer.

The second beer was Kipling. On keg. This might be considered good, if not for the fact that it’s an inferior copy of another product. That being cask-conditioned Kipling, of course. The keg version lacks the depth of flavour of the latter, and words such as “monotone” were banded about to describe its singular hop nature.

But things were about to get worse. Seaforth is their 5.9% English IPA. The idea being that, after the success of Jaipur, they would brew something similar, but with only English ingredients. A nice idea that turns out to be less than its parts. Jaipur is easy-drinking and refreshing. Seaforth isn’t; it tastes its strength and has an unflattering crystal malt tang to it.

As it happens, the mighty John Clarke, Generalissimo of Stockport Camra, was at hand, and it turned out we had similar views on cask/keg IPA. Namely that brewers, such as Thornbridge, were getting it wrong by kegging the likes of Jaipur and Kipling. The process would actually be better suited to Seaforth and its ilk. Great minds, eh?

I was getting a little worried now as we seemed to be on a slight downward spiral. What would be next? The dreaded Lord Marples? Luckily, I had no need to fear. The finale was worth the wait. Alchemy XVI is the latest in their line of experimental beers. We heard tales of Swiss brewers and two years maturation to bring this beer to fruition.

But it’s the dry-hopping that really captures you when you try it. A dry-hopped, 9.4% barley wine that is both complex and very rewarding. And don’t forget the shedload of hops that puckers the lips. Best beer of the evening. Pure genius.

*There was to have been another beer on display: Geminus, an 8.5% Double IPA. But, owing to technical difficulties, this wasn’t part of the official tasting. However, for those who waited, there was a chance to sample this afterwards. It would be unfair to judge it under these circumstances, but it seemed to have certain Lambic qualities.

Congleton and Sandbach

2011-08-15T16:00:00.000+01:00

Saturday saw a coach of thirsty imbibers on the hunt around the Congleton and Sandbach area. Even though there was a large turnout, somehow the conversation seemed more civilised; people could get to the bar unhindered, and no funny Scottish money was in evidence. Coincidence that Tandleman was noticeable by his absence?

Our first stop was the Queens Head in Congleton. Still retaining its traditional build of separate rooms with separate entrances, it offered an interesting selection of beers. One that caught the eye immediately was from new Cheshire microbrewer Merlin. Their Wizard was golden and generously hopped. It proved a favourite throughout the day and showed that sometimes micros can get it right from the start.

Next stop was an extended stay in Congleton proper. The Lord Mountbatten offered a good selection of local ales (more Merlin beers here), and the Counting House was an impressive Wetherspoons. Impressive with a very smart interior, an outdoor area, and still managing to be only £1.89 a pint. Oh, and they were having an Ossett festival-alongside Oakham Inferno-so plenty of excellent beer.

A quick stop at the Lodge in Alsager before our final pub calls in Sandbach. The Lower Chequer dates from 1570, and is believed to be the oldest building in town. Once again we had a good selection to choose from and we soon reacquainted ourselves with the landlord.

Hearing that the nearby Old Hall had recently reopened as a Brunning & Price outlet, the Don and I paid a visit. As to be expected from B&P, they have done an excellent job on it, and this Grade 1 listed building was well worth the visit. Six beers were on offer, including an excellent Titanic Iceberg. It was £3.30 a pint, but then, hey, you are in Cheshire.

The debauchery continued in Bury as we were led astray by Eddie, the eager, legal beagle. But it’s probably best I draw a veil over that in a family-friendly blog such as this.

Breakfast Beer Tasting: Sierra Nevada Torpedo

2011-08-13T07:32:00.001+01:00

Saturday. Time to chill out and ease into the weekend. With a busy day’s drinking ahead, I need something bold and punchy to get me in the mood. Torpedo is a self-declared “Extra IPA” and having tried it on cask recently; I’ve been waiting to try the bottled version.

Basics: This is a 350ml bottle and is 7.2% by alcohol volume. There’s Pale, and Crystal malt in there, along with Magnum and some Crystal hops. The name refers to their unique Torpedo dry-hopping system which combines Magnum, Crystal, and Citra to deliver 65 IBUs.

It poured clear amber with a generous off-white head. The aroma was strong and gave off malted bread, citrus and floral hops.

Taste: Strong initial flavours of tropical fruit and some light citrus and an unmistakable pine texture. A sweet malt backbone just peeks through to give some balance to the powerful hops and masks the alcohol perfectly.

Finish: Long and lingering dry hop blast.

Conclusion: Plenty of bold flavours here, but carefully balanced to create a very enjoyable and easy drinking strong IPA.

Letter of the Law

2011-08-11T18:30:00.000+01:00

I was in a pub last night, enjoying some of Thwaites excellent Triple C, when a notice caught my eye. Displayed very prominently at the bar was a sign detailing two offences under the 2003 Licensing Act. One informed you that it was illegal for you to purchase alcohol for someone who was under 18. But it was the second one that really caught my attention.

The second warning stated that it was an offence for anyone under 18 to purchase or attempt (my emphasis) to purchase alcohol. Attempt to purchase? The pub operates an “Age 21” policy, but even so, any would be under-age purchaser would most likely simply be turned away. How many are people are fined for committing this offence annually?

Indeed, I’ve never heard of any child being convicted of this offence, so the total numbers must be very small. Of course, the real purpose of the notice is to act as a deterrent to under-age purchasers. In which case, it might be wise not to reveal its likely impotency.

For the Metrolink tram signs that proudly boast “X number of people were caught without a ticket last year” tend to be counter productive. Instead of putting possible fare dodgers off, it usually engenders the response “If that’s how many are caught, imagine how many are getting away with it. It must be easy!”

Bye Bye Youngs

2011-08-09T08:41:00.000+01:00

The end of a long chapter in brewing history was announced today with the news that Youngs are to exit brewing. They are selling their 40% stake in Wells & Young to their business partner, Charles Wells, who will pay £15.1 million to take full control of the company.

Some will say this was inevitable after Youngs sold off their own brewery and became a minority shareholder in another venture. Of course, Youngs claim that it’s beneficial as it allows them to concentrate on their pub estate. But we’ve heard that before. More likely they are heading for pubco obscurity once their supply agreement with Wells comes to an end.

So, sad, but predictable, as these things often are.

London Update

2011-08-08T13:18:00.000+01:00

Last week in London wasn’t just about the GBBF. It also offered an unrivalled opportunity to measure the state of the local drinking scene. Unrivalled because, with the country’s biggest beer festival in town, there could be no excuse for not putting on a good show.

Let’s accentuate the positive: Top of the tree and straight in at numero uno with a bullet is the new kid on the block, the Craft Beer Co. Situated on Leather Lane, it’s obvious that a lot of time, money, and effort has gone into this place. The result? 16 handpulls and 21 others on draught. All in a modern, stylish, but relaxed environment.

But it’s not just about numbers. The selection-of both cask, and keg, is simply the best in London. And quality; the most important factor, after all, was excellent. The guys are enthusiastic and seem to have a good game plan. They’re also taking a punt and opening on Saturdays. Which is just what is required for beer enthusiasts who can only make it on weekends.

Other heavy hitters were the Euston Tap and the Southampton Arms. The ET nailed us with a splendid pint of Stone Ruination. I was going to say an expensive, splendid pint, but as £8 is the new benchmark, £7+ seems piffling. The SA had 11 real ales and 5 ciders, all served in good condition, but I think they have to be careful with their selection policy. Eclectic doesn’t always equate to good.

I can’t go without mentioning the seemingly retro disdain for sparklers in some quarters. Greenwich, in particular, was guilty of this. Are they too posh to sparkle or what? I mean the Richard the First is a classic boozer, but get sparkling, folks. Even worse was the Greenwich Union where the staff claimed not even to have a sparkler to affix. Thereby infringing my human rights and denying themselves the ability to showcase their beers in the best possible way.

Let’s finish on a high note. The lads from Steel City Brewing (actually just Gazza, I think) teamed up with Brodies to produce a hopbomb called Mental Hop Bastard. It does what it says on the tin. A great name for a great beer.

Flying Dog@PSBH

2011-08-05T13:40:00.000+01:00

Wednesday saw a sell-out crowd attend the latest Port Street meet the brewer event. Interest was high as the evening’s guests were the guys from America’s very own Flying Dog. FD have been around for some 21 years, and over that time have graduated from a brewpub in Aspen, Colorado to a state-of-the-art brewing facility in Frederick, Maryland.

Drinkers on this side of the Atlantic may be familiar with some of their distinctive bottled beers which grace many beer festivals and the better stocked bars and pubs. Over here to explain their philosophy-good people drink good beer, bad people drink bad beer, and answer questions were brewmaster Matt Brophy and CEO Jim Caruso. Both were enthusiastic and coped admirably with an increasingly rowdy audience.

Of the beers, three bottles were sampled. First up was Doggie Style, a 5.5% Pale Ale. This was well-balanced with the Cascade hops giving it a nicely rounded dry-hop finish. Next was the Belgium IPA, Raging Bitch. Again this was very drinkable for its strength and the Columbus and Amarillo hops complemented the Belgium yeast perfectly.

The third bottle-Double Dog-a double IPA, was more problematic. Despite being aggressively hopped with Cascade and Columbus, there was no mistaking the alcohol in this 11.5% effort. This made it slightly harder to neck than I usually like my beers, but an interesting beer, nevertheless.

However, the best was yet to come. We were treated to a cask version of their Single Hop Centennial Imperial IPA. This was copper in colour with lots of floral and herbal hops, plus a little citrus, in the aroma. Taste was excellent and although you could tell it was strong, the hop bitterness really cut through the sweetness to give a long, satisfying finish.

It really was a cracking pint and further proof that cask conditioning can work with strong IPAs. We had two surprises with this beer: Firstly when we were told it was 10%-it didn’t seem like it. And secondly, when we went downstairs and found it on sale for £8 a pint. Yes, Manchester has seen its first £8 cask pint. Now, whose round was it...?

So another great evening at Port St. Well done to everyone concerned.

No Smoke Without Fire

2011-08-03T15:42:00.001+01:00

Although much beloved by every sane person on the planet, the smoking ban still manages to fuel debate and generate the odd story or two. These used to be along the lines of non-compliance or defiance, but seem to have mainly died up. So it is even more surprising, and disappointing, to find someone in trouble simply for trying to comply with the law.

Dawn Lemm, of the Judge and Jury, in Colwyn Bay, was given a fixed penalty fine of £350 for breaching regulations. Her crime? While waiting for official “No Smoking” signs to arrive, she put her own up. Sadly for her, these didn’t show “a graphic representation of a burning cigarette enclosed in a red circle with a red bar which crosses the cigarette symbol’.

Dawn’s impromptu signage was also the wrong size: the law requires them to be rectangular and with the shortest side at least 6.3in long. Now this all seems very petty to me, and it’s not surprising that Ms Lemm refused to pay.

However, although the long arm of the law may not be able to reach the likes of Colonel Gaddafi, Llandudno magistrates had no such problem in dealing with Dawn and her heinous crimes. They fined her £150, with £120 costs, and £15 victims’ surcharge.

The Value of Pi(e)

2011-08-03T08:42:00.000+01:00

Thousands of eager punters will descend on London this week as GBBF fever grips the nation. No doubt they will, at some point, try some of the fine hostelries that London has to offer. And, no doubt, they will, at some point, eat a pie. But beware. London holds many dangers apart from painted ladies and unsparklered beer.

Today’s lesson for the unwary concerns a pie. Not just any pie, though. A 3-English-cheeses pie. A “homemade” 3-English-cheeses pie, to be exact. Now this culinary delight was purchased from a GBG pub that will have to remain nameless for now. Ok, it was the Bree Louise near Euston station, since you asked.

Doesn’t it look yummy? Doesn’t it look inviting? All puffed-up and round. But, just like a Camra blood-letting initiation, there’s more to it than that. Or rather; less to it. For as soon as the outer perimeter was breached, it collapsed into its constituent parts. This appeared to be just flaky pastry and nothing else. Not a trace of any cheese, English or not.

Yes, the pie was a dry, flaky husk. And my companions seemed to fare little better with their offerings. Polite enquiries as to if perhaps the fillings had been omitted were met with an indifferent shrug. To add insult to injury, the “seasonal vegetables” accompaniment was served in a dish immersed in some murky white liquid.

A thoroughly disheartening and dismaying experience, but I am sharing this personal tragedy so that perhaps you can be spared a similar fate.

There are eight million stories in the Naked City. This has been one of them. Let’s be careful out there and let’s do it to them before they do it to us.

With Bells on Their Toes

2011-08-02T20:32:00.001+01:00

Eccentric, some might say crackers, brewer Sam Smiths featured in the news recently as their spat with Cropton reached the High Court. Now they’ve hit the headlines again, with a seemingly strange enforcement of their strict no music policy.

The story centres on the Slubbing Billys. This innocuous troupe of Huddersfield based Morris Dancers had been performing in Durham city centre and fancied a pint. Now some would say that Morris Dancers and pubs go together as naturally as, well, Morris Dancers and pubs. But not the Swan and Three Cygnets, it appears.

For, shortly after entering the premises, the 15 strong group were asked to leave. Troupe member Duggs Carre said that: ”There was no room for argument. We were just kicked out. One of our group, in his Morris Men gear, had just ordered a pint without any problems. But two female members came in with the bells on their shoes and a woman member of staff shouted ‘No bells’ and that was it.”

This seems a tad extreme for, as Carre points out:” When you sit down, the bells don’t make any noise.” Fellow troupe member Jill Morris(!) said that they had performed all over the UK and Europe without any problem. She added: ”Apparently bells on our toes mean we will NOT have music wherever we go.”

A Sam Smiths spokesperson, as usual, had nothing to say on the matter.

West Lancs Wander: Revisited

2011-07-24T20:19:00.001+01:00

Yesterday saw the ever-hopeful band of ROB Camra venture into the wilds of West Lancashire. A variation of a trip that we last undertook some three years ago, it was interesting to compare and contrast the fortunes of the various hostelries.

First stop was the Original Farmers Arms at Eccleston. I’ve been here before and must admit to finding the Good Beer Guide description annoyingly misleading. It says that:”Up to 6 real ales are available, predominantly sourced from local micros.” They’re not; only two pumps are given over to micros. That aside, the Fuzzy Duck Golden Cascade was an easy start to the day

Our next stop, the designated lunch stop-as last time, was Croston. This proved disappointing on our last visit and I’d heard it had actually got worse. So it proved, at least for most of the party. The ex GBG listed Wheatsheaf was closed-no great loss judging by our previous experience here. The current GBG entry, the Lord Nelson, suffered from appalling service, whilst the nearby Grapes beer quality was less than stellar.

However, those of us more seasoned beerhounds who don’t mind going off-piste, whilst on the piss, were better rewarded for our efforts. The Black Horse, which on our last visit was a Cains house, was selling Moorhouses, and Everards (pronounced “fakatu”) Whakatu. Across the road, the sports club was selling a rather tasty pint of Arkwrights.

It wasn’t far to the Euxton Mills at Euxton and some Cocker Hoop and Cocky Blonde. The Red Herring at Coppull has a limited range, but is an interesting pub conversion. It once housed the offices of the mill next-door and has a decent outdoor drinking area where we enjoyed out Hornbeam Mary Rose.

The final stop undoubtedly offered the best selection of the day. Ten real ales were on offer at the Crown In Worthington . There was plenty to tempt the closet and not-so-closet ticker, but I found Oakham Citra to be the best of the bunch. This, despite Tandleman’s adjudging it to be inferior to Ossett Citra, brought much enjoyment to many. Perhaps too much to some people.

An excellent day out, socially, but Croston really needs to up its game to regain its once proud reputation.

Lyon Law

2011-07-20T01:24:00.001+01:00

There issome debate in these fair lands about whether the on and off-trade should betreated differently. The theory being that preference should be given to theon-trade as it represents the more responsible and better regulated side ofalcohol consumption. The off-trade is often regarded as being responsible forcheap booze and subsequent social problems.

Well, acrossla Manche, the authorities in Lyon are about to put that idea into practice.After years of denial, the French are finally admitting that they have aproblem with that Anglo-Saxon curse: le binge drinking. And yes, that is whatthey call it in the land of the smelly cheese.

As of Mondaythis week, shops will be forbidden to sell alcohol between the hours of 10pmand 6am. This is to counter what Lyon officials describe as the “massive andbrutal” summer consumption of alcohol in public. The ban will run until the 10^thof September and shopkeepers caught breaching the ban could face fines of €750.

This sort ofsocial experiment throws up a myriad of questions and possibilities. Whateffect will this have on the problem? Will youngsters drink less or simplyfrequent pubs and bars more often? Will there be a surge of desperate drinkersat 21:59 trying to stockpile their booty?

Of course,should such a measure be tried over here, I would expect people to be manningburning barriers and carrying out raiding parties. For is not the right tobooze after 10pm one of our hardest fought-for civil rights?

And What Would The Lady Like?

2011-07-18T14:44:00.001+01:00

It was first discussedway back in Januaryand now the wait is finally over. The moment has arrived. Ladies up and downthe country can breathe a collective sigh of relief. Yes, after two and a halfyears and a reported cost of £1M, Molson Coors have unveiled theirfemale-friendly beer: Animee.

From theFrench for “motivated” (could it be any more pretentious), Animee is describedas “bloat-resistant”. This apparently means that it’s less gassy and lighter intaste than other beers. And you will be spoilt for choice, as it will beavailable in 275ml bottles in three varieties; standard, rose and citrus.

Not to beleft out, Carlsberg, who flopped last year with their female-targeted Eve brand,are set to launch their Copenhagen beer in the UK in 2012. They describe itthus: “Copenhagen is intended for modern women (and men), who appreciate arefreshing taste delivered in a stylish design.”

And they goonto say: “The beer has a light, refreshing taste, while the design is rootedin Copenhagen as an international city of fashion and design.” I’m getting theimpression that it’s light and refreshing.

Of course “refreshing”from a national brewer usually means bland, but Jeanette Elgaard Carlsson,International Innovation Director at Carlsberg, puts it slightly differently:“Many young people aren’t keen on the bitter aftertaste of beer. Here oursurveys show that with Copenhagen we have created a highly drinkable beer witha balanced taste — a real alternative to white wine and champagne.”

So it’s alight, refreshing, balanced, alternative to white wine and champagne. But don’t wine and champagne have distinctive tastes? Will women really abandonthem to drink something bland and completely different?

The wholeidea is patronising and stupid. It’s like a throwback to the 70s. And it demonstratesjust how the big brewers still don’t get beer. Beer is inclusive and notexclusive. It’s about breaking down barriers, not building them. There is abeer for everyone and they should be spending their money promoting the vastrange of beer that is out there. Not treating a whole gender as lepers.

Some people have more money than sense.

Breakfast Beer Review: Kernel Imperial Brown Stout London 1856

2011-07-18T07:28:00.000+01:00

It’s Monday. And in the words of Bob Geldof:”I don’t like Mondays.” So what’s the best way to shake off the Monday morning blues? I don’t know, but I’m going to try and blur the edges with Kernel’s Imperial Brown Stout London 1856.

Basics: This is what we technically refer to as a ‘dick-kicker’. It’s 10.1%. Yes, the breakfast beer review has finally passed the 10% barrier. It comes in the standard 330ml bottle-probably no bad thing-and according to the label was brewed on the 15.2.11.

It was very lively and poured a very dark brown/black with a small mocha foam head. The aroma was a pungent combination of roast malt and coffee.

Taste: Powerful and complex. Initial flavours of dark chocolate, liquorice, roast malt and coffee. This develops into a strong, espresso like, bitterness that puckers on the cheek.

Finish: Long, dry-roasted coffee bitterness.

Conclusion: The powerful flavours successfully mask the high alcohol content, leading to a rich drinking experience.

Can't Give You Anything But My Love

2011-07-05T14:13:00.000+01:00

I think it was Elisabeth Barrett Browning who said of the sparkler: “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height. My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight.” And I think that pretty well sums up every rational person’s attitude to the sparkler. Never has something so small given so much pleasure to so many.

I was reminded of this with Tandleman’s recent post about a new type of sparkler. Wonderful news indeed. Of course I wanted one, and dropped a heavy hint to that effect. I may be above begging for free beer, but sparklers are a different matter. And lo and behold, one duly arrives at my door. I guess good things do come to those that deserve them. Or sometimes at least.

But before looking at that in detail, let us consider a brief history of the sparkler debate. For, inconceivable as it may seem to any sane person, it does have its detractors. No, honestly it does. The Neo-Luddites would have you believe it’s the work of the Devil. It’s a modern invention misused by landlords, it takes all the bitterness out of beer, except for Northern beers which are brewed that way. I’ve heard them all.

Sparkler Myths

“They are a modern invention designed to ensure that pubs can get away with serving less than a pint.”

Sparklers have been around a long time. As far back as the 1920s, publicans were being urged to acquire sparklers from Messrs. Farrow & Jackson of Great Tower Street, London.

“They are used by lazy landlords to disguise flat, unconditioned, tepid beer.”

To quote the great Tandleman: “A sparkler won't help dead in the water beer.”

“Some of the volatile components associated with bitterness are driven out of a liquid when served with a tight sparkler."

Sparklers do not, and cannot physically lower the “bitterness” of the beer. A sparkler drives out some carbon dioxide (hence the foam), and in the foam there is certainly a mix of compounds which (following Dalton's law of partial pressures) is in proportion to what was in the beer.

If we assume foam is about 25% beer, then in the 75% remainder is where the 'volatiles' would be. Carbon dioxide has a high Henry's Constant, so ripping through a sparkler may cause it to flash out some of these ‘volatiles’. I say may, as I’m yet to see any detailed chemical proof of this. And, in any case, this would affect the aroma, not the bitterness.

Which brings us to, who is behind this campaign of disinformation? Sadly, one of the greatest perpetrators is CAMRA itself. Like many organisations, it has its reactionary elements and they have often been in positions of power. This faction were very active in the 90s (the first sparkler war) and tended to see beer from the wood, served at 60 degrees Fahrenheit, as the ideal for real ale.

One consequence of all this was that CAMRA started giving sparkler dispense advice in the GBG. A good thing, yes? Yes...but the deck is rigged against the poor little sparkler. The default position is no sparkler. Fair enough, you might think, but there’s no real reason for it. And there was no consultation on it, either.

At least the brewers get to specify their preference, right? Yes...but there’s a little historical twist to this as well. The anti-sparkler brigade were terrified that their favourite beers would get the sparkler green light. So they arranged it that if a branch felt that a beer was better off without a sparkler, they could override the brewer’s wishes. Shocking, but true.

But enough of the historical persecution of the unfortunate sparkler. We come bang up to date with the futuristic Vari-Head model. Now everyone has a favourite sparkler; the black, the white, the red, the lesser-seen green, but this has the potential to supplant them all.

By means of a simple sliding mechanism, the pourer can adjust the sparkler. Thereby simultaneously satisfying the sparkler aficionado and those poor, deluded, numpties who prefer it sans sparkler. No more fiddling around and transferring of sparklers or hunting around for the one that some idiot made you take off. Like garlic bread, it's the future.

So here’s to the drinker’s best friend: the sparkler.

Tandleman Goes POTY*

2011-07-01T12:31:00.001+01:00

Last night saw the great and the good of Rochdale, Oldham and Bury CAMRA get together to present its Pub of the Year award. This prestigious award is given to the pub that the branch feels has been truly outstanding during the previous 12 months. Given the scope of the branch, and the number of contenders, winning it is no mean feat.

This year’s recipient is the Hare & Hounds at Holcombe Brook. Situated at the junction of Bolton Road West and Longsight Road, it has been ably overseen (with a brief hiatus) by Andy & Lynne for some 12 years. It has been opened up and sympathetically decorated over that time to give a comfortable, family friendly, vibe. It also boats an impressive two-storey rear drinking area.

However, this is CAMRA, so beer must play a part somewhere. And on that score, the Dogs has it covered. Ten handpumps dispense a wide variety of ales, all cooled and served with sparklers, naturally, and the current range can be viewed by looking at the ale cam on their webpage. Beer festivals are regularly held, with around 50 beers all served via handpump. The beer does tend to shift in here, with Oakham JHB and Inferno not lasting two hours last night.

So congratulations to Andy and his team, and if you get the chance, why not call in and try it yourself? It’s at 400 Bolton Road West and is open 12-11 Sun-Weds, 12-12 Thurs-Sat. Food is served all day and the 472/474 buses will take you past the door.

*I've always wanted to write that headline.

American Beer Tasting@PSBH

2011-06-29T12:23:00.000+01:00

Monday night saw me once more at the Port Street Beer House for one of their themed evenings. This time it was American beer. Now I don’t need much excuse to drink American beer on a Monday evening, but the launch of the PSBH American Beer Festival strengthened my moral case.

With Bruce Springsteen and Johnny Cash playing in the background, the place soon filled with a mixed crowd. The curious, the interested, the scholarly and the disquisitive were all there. The young and beautiful, and the old and wise were all there. Oh, and Tandleman as well.

The goodies were supplied by James Clay of Vertical Drinks and we were treated to a few nibbles to get us in the mood. These were very welcome; although the rush for the cornbread slowed somewhat once it had actually been tried.

Four beers were sampled

Left Hand 400 Pound Monkey

I generally like Left Hand beers, but this one wasn’t to my palate. Described as a “balanced IPA”, it appeared that “balance” in this case meant throwing in a lot of different malts and unusual hop combinations to try and offset the 6.8% ABV. Tasted fresh and had a good earthy hop aroma, but ultimately spoilt by niggling sweetness.

Great Divide Espresso Yeti Oak Aged Imperial Stout

This is a variation on this beer and yet again I enjoyed it. A complex and heavy (9.5%) combination of roast, coffee and chocolate. This one demands respect and proved a popular choice, but I’m not sure I’d want a gallon of it.

Sierra Nevada Stout

At only 5.7%, this was something of a shock after the Yeti. Still, it was smooth and pleasant enough not to raise much objection to. However, it did really suffer when compared to the (cask) Magic Rock Dark Arts. Now that was beautifully rich and velvety and, naturally enough, reignited the dispense debate.

Sierra Nevada Torpedo

This was the hop bomb that everyone was waiting for. A chance to sample this on cask, dispensed through a handpump. It suited the style perfectly, and gave advocates who claim that these beers are best served kegged, something to think about.

So another good event hosted by the PSBH and it was great to see so many people tucking into their beers with such gusto.

The PSBH American Beer Festival is on now and visitors should keep an eye out for some more Sierra Nevada exclusives.

Greater Manchester Cider & Perry Festival

2011-06-27T14:39:00.000+01:00

Talking of cider and the like, last weekend saw the inaugural Greater Manchester Cider & Perry Festival. The first, I believe, such event to be staged anywhere north of the Watford tunnel. A welcome addition to the festival circuit, it offered a rare chance for cider heads to sample around 60 ciders and perries.

It was, as these things tend to be, a very sociable affair, and was well-run by the people on the ground. One definite problem, though, was the venue. It was held in Copper Face Jacks, which is basically the basement bar of the Palace Hotel in Manchester. No natural light and no natural cooling. It gets warm down there. Very warm.

Now this isn’t a problem if you’re just drinking the usual chilled keg stuff or a bottle from the fridge. However, offering uncooled cider and perry to thirsty punters on a summer’s day, doesn’t do anyone any favours. Apparently the heating was to blame for Friday, but even without that excuse, Saturday’s offerings were simply too warm.

Everyone wants to see the beer and cider sold at these type of events presented at their best. How else are you going to convert the masses to you cause? And not being able to manage correct serving temperatures doesn’t exactly reflect well on CAMRA. So I’d suggest that before they put their name to anymore of these events, they ensure that the basics are covered.

Cider with Lizzie

2011-06-27T13:53:00.000+01:00

As we all know, times are tough, and we’re all in it together. You’ve got to earn a few bob where you can. And so if you happen to have an orchard that delivers a bumper crop, what better way to utilise that than by turning the surplus into cider?

And that’s exactly what dear old HRH Lizzie is doing. Yes, this autumn our gracious queen will be flogging cider from her Sandringham estate. The orchards there now cover 65 acres and produce 150 tons of apples each year. This will allow her to produce 1000 jugs of 6% apple nectar at £2.50 a pop.

Whether she will be manning the cider bar herself is, at present, unknown.

*The cartoon is courtesy of the Daily Mail

Tales of a Munich Virgin

2011-06-24T02:52:00.001+01:00

Five days soaking up the culture of Munich is a sobering experience. Five days on the piss, soaking up the beer of Munich isn’t. It’s rather knackering, actually. But mix the two and you can have yourself a great time. In fact, you can save yourself some time and energy by eliminating the former. After all, what self-respecting member of the bloggerati would waste valuable drinking time on culture?

The first thing you notice about Munich is that although it’s big, it’s perfectly navigable once you get your bearings. There are the S-Bahn and U-Bahn rail systems, but like many cities, the best way is to see it on foot. Alas, like many cities, they seem to have an aversion to signposting the streets, but a good map and/or sat nav to pinpoint your position should help with that.

Another, somewhat surprising, discovery was the relative difficulty in obtaining a late drink. We’re not talking about a very late drink, but just a nightcap. Tandleman (yes, Mr München was there) and I set quite a pattern in being the last patrons of several establishments. Of course, there are places you can get a drink, but not necessarily the places you’d choose. As this is something it shares with London, perhaps it’s a quirk of places with more money than sense?

Apart from that gripe, it has to be said that the pubs were wonderfully busy with people eating and drinking. Consumption remains at a very healthy level here, despite the relatively high prices. How long that can last, with Munich veterans complaining of rising prices, and the daily delivery of Euros to Ireland, is anyone’s guess. But hold on, what about the smoking ban? Hasn’t that caused 99% of drinkers to stay at home in an onanistic orgy of petulance? No.

Highlights

Hofbräuhaus: Much beloved by Tandleman, not so much by Mr’s T, you can’t visit Munich without visiting here at least once. Thousands of litres are drunk each day in this massive, rambling beer hall. Great for people watching, but there is better beer to be had elsewhere, I feel.

Augustiner-Großgaststätten: A well run, impressive building in the heart of Munich’s pedestrian precinct. A great place to sample their Edelstoff straight from the barrel.

Two other excellent Augustiner places were the Bräustuben, right by the brewery and the Keller, which has a terrific beer garden.

Altes Hackerhaus: Good selection of Hacker-Pschorr beers in this cosy, welcoming upmarket place. There was also an interesting menu with a rare (for Munich) sighting of salmon. Also memorable for the excellent waitress who provided first rate service all evening.

Der Pschorr: Just off the Viktualiemarkt, this was a smart, pricy, modern pub that also had a memorable waitress. Sadly for all the wrong reasons. Having spent a good few Euros in here keeping her in work, she came over, and very unprofessionally, complained about the size of her tip.

There were many more, but two outside Munich stand out.

Herzogliches Bräustuberl: This former monastery on the shores of the Tergensee is in a very picturesque setting, and the beer, particularly the Spezial, was terrific.

Klostergasthof Andechs: The hour walk up to this resplendent monastery is well worth it and, thankfully, a lot easier on the way down.

Munich really does have something for everyone. Just watch out for the cyclists. And take your brolly.

The 100 Word Breakfast Beer Tasting: Kernel Imperial Marzen

2011-06-14T07:44:00.001+01:00

It’s still a work day, but the holiday is getting closer. So, in preparation, and to ease me into that frame of mind, I thought “let’s try something different, but appropriate”. Welcome, Kernel Imperial Marzen.

Basics: This is a collaboration brew with Dark Star. Such a combination was always going to lead to something unusual and here we have it. It’s 330ml, bottle-conditioned, and weighs in at a respectable 9.1%.

It poured amber with good carbonation and a small off-white head. The aroma was quite pungent; marmalade, caramel and some citrus tones.

Taste: It’s got a surprisingly smooth mouthfeel for a beer of this strength. Lots of sweet, fruit malt which is nicely rounded out by the citrus hops.

Finish: Slight fruit bitterness.

Conclusion: Not a traditional Marzen, but well rounded and very palatable, nonetheless.

The 100 Word Breakfast Beer Tasting: Kernel Pale Ale Bravo Apollo

2011-06-10T07:24:00.001+01:00

Basics: It’s 500ml, 5.5%, and bottle-conditioned. It poured amber with good carbonation and a large off-white head. Aroma was pine and grapefruit.

Taste: Medium bodied and soft on the palate. There’s a very enticing cluster of citrus hops: orange and grapefruit, in particular, that give it a dry edge without going overboard with bitterness levels. This in turn means it drinks well under its strength and is very moreish.

Finish: A medium level of lingering dryness.

Conclusion: No surprises here. Yet another winner from Kernel. A very tasty and accomplished beer. You could easily have two or more at breakfast...

The 100 Word Breakfast Beer Tasting: Cumbrian Legendary Ales-Langdale

2011-06-07T07:23:00.001+01:00

The basics: It’s a 500ml bottle and weighs in at 4%. It poured golden-bronze with good carbonation and an off-white head. The aroma was malt and a waft of orange/citrus fruits.

Taste: It becomes moderately bitter after an initial sweet malt start. There’s a nice biscuit malt undertone which gives way to a floral hop bite. It’s easy on the gullet without being thin.

Finish: Short and slightly dry.

Conclusion: A good session beer. It’s a well balanced mix of fruitiness, malt and just enough bitterness to stimulate the palate. Quite moreish and is best seen as a summer beer.

Breakfast Beer Tasting: Kernel Export India Porter

2011-05-31T07:43:00.001+01:00

Tuesday morning. What does that mean? Yep, it’s Kernel time.

The basics: It’s a 5.7% and bottle-conditioned. This one was a real gusher-it must be the liveliest bottle I’ve ever had by far. Eventually it poured a dark brown with good carbonation and a creamy beige head. The aroma was of roast coffee and smoky whisky.

Taste: Initially quite a velvet mouthfeel and then the flavours start hitting home. Caramel and roast malt come through with resinous hop bitterness dominating in the end. Dry and satisfying on the palate.

Finish: Smooth with a short burst of medium bitterness.

Conclusion: I’m not exactly sure what an Indian Export Porter is supposed to taste like, but this a good find for fans of Porter. It slips down easy enough in a way that belies its strength and is another Kernel winner.

Breakfast Beer Tasting: Kernel Redemption

2011-05-30T07:34:00.001+01:00

Ah, Bank Holiday Monday. Everyone knows that means it most be Kernel time.

The basics: Redemption is a 6.1%, bottle-conditioned, Dark Mild. It’s actually a collaboration with the Redemption brewery; hence the name. It poured a deep brown with good carbonation and a creamy off-white head. The aroma was quite pronounced: lots of roast malt, and a hint of chocolate.

Taste: Medium mouthfeel and quite chewy. There’s plenty of roast malt and liquorice and maybe some dark toffee. What’s surprising is the relatively high level of bitterness. There’s the dry bitter edge that you would expect from a Kernel beer, but perhaps not in this style.

Finish: A medium level blast of roasted bitterness.

Conclusion: Its chewiness and roast bitter edge made it taste more like a Porter than a mild to me, but what’s in a name? It’s a very tasty beer that fans of either style can enjoy.

Breakfast Beer Tasting: Kernel Centennial Chinook Pale Ale

2011-05-27T07:18:00.002+01:00

Time to kick off the Bank Holiday festivities with another Kernel breakfast beer.

The basics: It’s a 5.3%, bottle-conditioned, Pale Ale. The aroma was an inviting blend of grapefruit and pine. It poured amber with good carbonation and an off-white head.

Taste: This has got plenty of bite and is very clean and crisp. There is a biscuit malt undertone, but the grapefruit and pine notes are at the forefront. Just as you would hop(e) for in a Pale Ale, there is a tart bitterness that is very appealing and refreshing.

Finish: Slightly herbal hop, long bitter finish.

Conclusion: Chinook, Centennial, Kernel. Rearrange the three words to make a very satisfying breakfast beer that consolidates the brewer’s reputation.

Moss Cider

2011-05-25T13:51:00.001+01:00

Last night was spent enjoying an evening of cider and cheese tasting. Cider? Cheese? What’s not to like? But it was a bit more than that. The event, hosted by the excellent Port Street Beer House, was ostensibly an introduction to the Moss Cider Project. It’s a fantastic community project, the details of which can be found on their wiki page.

Team leader Dan Hasler gave a very professional presentation, and along the way we got to try various ciders matched to a recommended cheese. I’m not going to list all the tastings-you should have been there-but there was some excellent stuff to be had. It was particularly interesting to sample America’s most critically rated cider, Original Sin, which hails from NY and is made with two types of champagne yeast.

Obviously the grand finale was why we were all there. Manchester is not (yet) renowned for its cider production, so the chance to finally try some of the Moss Cider was too good an opportunity to pass up. Cloudy and very lively, it proved a popular and fitting nightcap to the evening’s proceedings. If you get a chance to try some, I suggest you do so.

Update: Video of the tasting

Breakfast Beer Tasting: Windsor & Eton Knight of the Garter

2011-05-23T07:35:00.001+01:00

Burge’s Brewery closed its doors in Windsor in 1931. There was to be a small gap of 79 years before the historic town became home to its next brewery. Since their launch just over a year ago, Windsor & Eton have developed a reputation for producing some quality beers, but can they brew a good breakfast beer?

The basics: It’s a 500ml, 3.8%, golden ale. It poured crystal clear with good carbonation and a medium off-white head. The aroma was biscuit malt and citrus hops.

Taste: Clean and tangy. There’s a crisp, biscuit malt backbone combined with a good dose of juicy citrus hops. You can definitely taste the Amarillo hops which give it a very pleasing dry, bitter edge. Very quaffable and moreish.

Finish: Dry and lingering.

Conclusion: An excellent session beer, and proof once again that a low ABV doesn’t have to mean mediocre. I look forward to trying some of their other beers.

Breakfast Beer Tasting: Kernel Black IPA

2011-05-18T07:22:00.001+01:00

Back to life.

Back to reality.

Or so the song goes.. And how better to see in a return to normality than with a breakfast beer? I certainly could do with one before work. Obviously, though, you’re looking for a banker in such a situation. Something good that you just know will kick start the day.

Now, I’ve not tried it, but Kernel’s Black IPA comes highly recommended by none other than Tandleman. Whoa, I know what you’re thinking. Doesn’t that guy drink JW Lees? Yes, but everyone is allowed their little idiosyncrasies. Just ask Max Mosley.

The basics: It’s 33cl and tips the scales at 7%. The aroma was pungent and very enticing. A complex mix of roast malt, pine, tropical fruit, and lots of spicy hops really hit the olfactory nerve. It poured very dark, near black with excellent carbonation and a large beige frothy head.

Taste: Medium mouthfeel and an extraordinary balance of flavours that masks the alcohol content. There’s a lot going on here. There’s an initial burst of roast coffee and dark malt, before the resinous hop flavour comes through. Proper juicy, spicy, hops that give a lingering bitterness without seeming too harsh.

Finish: Deep and dry. You can taste the hops at the back of the throat.

Conclusion: Black IPAs were the new black of 2010, and with this, you can see why. Beautifully balanced and very moreish, this is a keeper. One for the beer cupboard.

An East Lancs Birthday Bash

2011-05-10T13:41:00.000+01:00

Last Saturday saw a hardcore bunch of miscreants wastrels, ragamuffins and reprobates join up for a birthday crawl of East Lancashire. Eddie the, eager, legal beagle has finally come of age. Yes, he’s bought his first razor and swapped his shorts for long pants. Such momentous moments cannot go uncelebrated, so a-drinking we did go.

The sensible lot started with breakfast (full-on dining during the trip was strictly verboten) and some Phoenix Hopsack at the Art Picture House. A leisurely coach journey then took us to the Healey Hotel in Rochdale. This is a cosy, multi-roomed, Robinsons’ pub that has had some much needed TLC in recent times and both the decor and beer were top notch.

Next stop was the picturesque hamlet of Bacup or “Backup” as the locals call it. Now Bacup is famous for its interbred residents and little else. However, there is a little oasis tucked away down a winding road: the Crown. This is a regular outlet for the excellent Pictish Brewery and both their Brewers Gold and Blue Moon were well received.

Up to Burnley next, passing the cheerful cherubs and their welcoming V signs along the way. You could tell the Clarets were playing at home as half the Lancashire constabulary was camped in the town centre. Luckily our stop-the Gannow Wharf-was just far enough away to ensure our drinking wasn’t disturbed.

Home to the Pot Noodle bar snack, the Gannow also offered up some tasty Bowland beers and a chance to try Burnley’s new brewery. Worsthorne have been brewing for less than three months and we sampled two of their beers here, Foxstones and Blonde.

The Swan with Two Necks at Pendleton is an old favourite and once again didn’t disappoint. It’s a great little pub with proper toilets (i.e. outside) and an excellent range of beer and cider. Phoenix and Bowland were both enjoyed here. Now the Swan is hard to beat as a pub, but if there is one that can lay claim to it, it’s the Victoria at Great Harwood.

The Vic is simply one of the best pubs in the country. It features in CAMRA’s list of Historic Pub Interiors and has lobby drinking, a great outdoors drinking area and old-school snacks such as Ploughman’s-In-A-Bag. Oh, and the beer choice is extensive and impressive. I stuck to the Windermere Pale, but there was plenty of choice. However, there is no blue plaque, as yet, to mark the Whitefield Holts Bandit’s historical transgression here..

The evening was drawing close now, but there was still time for two more stops. The first was the Peel Park in Accrington which is a good pub, but the pool room is wasted seating space in such a busy local. Last stop for all was the cracking Robin Hood in Helmshore. Once a Copper Dragon pub, it’s now owned by Hydes and sells their beers and guests. I enjoyed the Allgates Pacific Gem here.

The coach was now heading back to base, so there were tough choices to be made. A few wimps stayed on and were dropped back in Bury. The rest of us settled in my local, the Hare & Hounds in Holcombe Brook for a few nightcaps after a very enjoyable day out. Beer fatigue was now setting in, though, and there were a few choice sights. Some people even started eating. The birthday boy then did a runner and it was all downhill on Oakham White Dwarf after that...

The Future Of Bar Snacks?

2011-05-08T18:16:00.000+01:00

There has been a lot of gnashing of teeth (and rumbling of stomachs) in the beer blogosphere recently. The problem, as many perceive it, is the decline of the humble pub snack. For those of a certain age or those young and intelligent enough to realise it, drinking time is for drinking. However, a little nibble of something along the way often does not go awry.

But, in today’s full-on-food world, there seems little room for anything less than a full meal or a convoluted and extra-laden sandwich. The simple, and cheap, pub snack seems doomed. That is why I was interested yesterday to discover two pubs offering their own individualistic take on the traditional bar snack.

In the first, customers were offered a range of Pot Noodles at 99p each. An unusual occurrence, in my experience, but I have been assured, by no less an authority than Tandleman, that this is acceptable bar snack food. However, being fully au fait with these devilish delights, I wasn’t tempted on that occasion.

In the second instance, I was offered the opportunity to sample a Ploughman’s Lunch. In a bag. Yes, this was a Ploughman’s Lunch in a, er, bag. Part of the bar snacks in a bag range; this was too good a chance to pass up.

So what does the PLIAB consist of? Well, you get some crackers, some small pickled onions and, of course, some cheese. And, crucially, a spreader. All very neat. Sadly, the verdict amongst the judges was that it was “disappointing”. Perhaps it’s not the snack of the future, but it’s heartening to see that there are still alternatives to the gastropub out there.

Breakfast Beer Tasting: Hawkshead Red

2011-05-04T07:13:00.000+01:00

The basics: It’s 500ml and weighs in at a top-heavy Bitter strength of 4.4%. It poured red, as the name would suggest and had reasonable carbonation and an off-white head. The aroma was caramel malt and red berries.

Taste: Quite substantive and a little chewy. There’s caramel again, toasted malt and a dry red-fruit backbone. Hop bitterness does come through, though, to leave a dry aftertaste.

Finish: Starts bitter–sweet and finishes roast and dry.

Conclusion: Rich fruit and plenty of bitterness give this beer some kick. A rather good Best Bitter that should suit the traditionalists. One for your Uncle.

Breakfast Beer Tasting: Rudgate Battleaxe

2011-05-03T07:16:00.001+01:00

Well the holiday’s* over and it’s time to get back to work. Of course Friday has been the main topic of conversation. A large expectant crowd gathered in anticipation of the big event and when it came, it was met with a huge cheer and much jubilation. Yes, Windermere Pale certainly made an impression when it appeared on the bar.

But back to today’s breakfast beer.

The basics: It’s 500ml and is 4.8%. It poured a deep chestnut with reasonable carbonation and a tight off-white head. The aroma was roast malt and caramel with a tinge of burnt woodchip.

Taste: Medium bodied. There was an initial hint of summer berries, followed mainly by sweet malt and roasted nuts. There is some hop bitterness, but it dies on the tongue very quickly.

Finish: Sweet toffee and a slight woodiness.

Conclusion: I wasn’t really impressed with this at all. The malt/caramel flavours were only offset by a rather unpleasant woody aftertaste. A strong Bitter should be delivering more for the money. One for your great-nephew.

*The holiday has depleted stocks of Oatibix, so today's breakfast pairing was an Eccles cake.

Breakfast Beer Tasting: Struise Rosse 2008

2011-04-29T08:47:00.000+01:00

Today is, of course, a special day. A very special day. One we’ve all been waiting for with baited breath. It’s a day when we can all join in and share the moment. And, for such a grand occasion, I am more than willing to break my holiday embargo on breakfast drinking.

So, without further ado, let’s congratulate Open It.

Open It is the beer bloggers mind-meld where we all choose a beer we have been waiting to try and share the experience with our fellow imbibers. I’ve chosen a bottle of Struise Rosse 2008. Why? Because I found it in the beer cupboard and haven’t got a clue how it got in there. But I’m going to drink it anyway.

The basics: It’s 33cl, 6% and unpasteurised and unfiltered. It poured amber with a fluffy off-white head. The aroma was a pleasant mix of yeast, stone fruits (apricot, mainly) and light spices.

Taste: Medium bodied with a very smooth mouthfeel. It was also dryer than I was expecting. There’s some bread yeast flavour on the palate along with overripe cherries and apricots and a little tartness that comes through after the first mouthful.

Finish: Medium dry with a little sourness.

Conclusion: Surprisingly easy drinking Belgium ale. Would be a good introduction for the Belgium beer novice. One for your Lambic hating great-aunt.

Breakfast Beer Tasting: Islay Ales Single Malt

2011-04-24T07:25:00.000+01:00

Islay Ales come, naturally, from the isle of Islay where they have the honour of being the only brewery. They have been brewing since 2005.

The basics: It’s a bottle-conditioned, 5%, ale made with Pale Malt, Amarillo and Bramling Cross hops. It poured a healthy amber colour with a fluffy off-white head. The aroma, perhaps surprisingly given the name, was a pungent mix of grapefruit and orange.

Taste: Medium bodied and crisp. There is a gentle backbone of malt, but the hops dominate here. There is a very refreshing burst of citrus hops that builds and lingers on the palate.

Finish: Long and very dry, bitter hop finish.

Conclusion: Excellent. A very refreshing beer that drinks well under its strength. The Amarillo and Bramling Cross are combined perfectly to give a crisp, dry edge. One for the birthday bash.

Breakfast Beer Tasting: Thornbridge Wild Swan

2011-04-23T07:52:00.001+01:00

Not much introduction needed here. Thornbridge are known for brewing beers of distinction, from the sublime Kipling to the barely drinkable Lord Marples. Wild Swan is their session strength beer and is highly prized on cask.

The basics: It’s 500ml and says it’s 3.5%, unfiltered and unpasteurised. They also use the “C” word. Yes, it’s a “craft” beer. But I’ll try it anyway.

It poured a very pale gold with a soft, fluffy, white head. The aroma was a pleasing waft of spicy lemon and citrus hops. .

Taste: Light bodied and very clean tasting. A refreshing beer with plenty of zesty, spicy lemon tones, exotic fruit and a sharp bitterness. However, not surprisingly, it lacks the crisp definition of the cask version and feels more “softened”.

Finish: Lingering and pleasantly dry, hoppy finish.

Conclusion: Whilst lacking the complex subtlety of the cask version, this is an excellent and refreshing session beer. Perfect for breakfast or even, should you be that way inclined, for later in the day. One for your BBQ friends.

Breakfast Beer Tasting: Ole Slewfoot White Dove

2011-04-22T07:47:00.000+01:00

The oddly named Ole Slewfoot is named after an old North American Bear that has been the subject of many songs. The brewery produces variations on English and Belgium ales.

The basics: This is a Belgium style white beer. It’s bottle-conditioned, 3.7%, is naturally cloudy and is suitable for vegans. It poured very pale and very lively; it came out of the bottle faster than Usain Bolt at a free, all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet.

The head was large, white, and fluffy with an aroma of cloves, spices, banana and elderflower.

Taste: Thin on the palate. There is coriander and some spiced ginger, but in surprisingly low quantities. Perhaps they feared overload in such a low strength beer?

Finish: Meek and mild.

Conclusion: Not bad, but not as refreshing as I had hoped. There’s potential here, but it needs more oomph, as the appearance is rather of a thinner younger brother, rather than the real thing. One for your maidenly aunt.

Breakfast Beer Tasting: Nobby's Wild West

2011-04-22T07:39:00.000+01:00

Nobby’s Brewery is based in the Ward Arms pub in the High St of Guilsborough, Northamptonshire.

The basics: It’s 500ml, bottle-conditioned and 4.6%. It poured mahogany with good carbonation and a tight beige head. The aroma was roast barley, sweet malt and some fruit.

Taste: Medium bodied. A strong dose of roast barley, along with some coffee and a little liquorice toffee. The roast barley gives a lot of almost astringent bitterness that is never balanced out.

Finish: Medium level of roast coffee bitterness.

Conclusion: Not sure what this was supposed to be. Stout? Porter? The roast barley dominated too much for my palate and made it very one dimensional and quite hard to drink. One for the meter reader.

Breakfast Beer Tasting: Red Panther

2011-04-21T07:25:00.003+01:00

Panther have only been brewing since 2010 and explain their raison d'être thus:"Inhabitants of the small Norfolk town of Reepham claim to have seen a large panther-like cat prowling and secretly stalking the countryside. This hand-crafted ale is dedicated to this beautiful animal.”

The basics: This is a bottle-conditioned, 500ml, 4.1% ale. It poured tawny with reasonable carbonation and an off-white head. Aroma was fruit and biscuit malt.

Taste: Quite smooth on the palate. There’s some biscuit malt and a hint of toffee before the tart fruit and good old English hop bitterness kicks in.

Finish: Initially fruity, but becoming quite dry.

Conclusion: Well balanced mix of fruit and hops. A good solid, English Bitter. One for your cousin.

Breakfast Beer Tasting: Lymestone Stone The Crows

2011-04-20T07:23:00.000+01:00

Lymestone are based in Stone (no coincidence) in Staffordshire. They’ve been brewing since 2008. I’ve come across their beers several times, mainly in Wetherspoons, but hadn’t tried any of their bottled beers until today.

The basics: It’s 5.4% and 500ml. It poured deep ruby with a small beige head. The aroma was quite slight; with sweet malt, caramel and a little fruitiness

Taste: Medium bodied. The bottle claims Styrian Golding, Millennium and Nugget hops, but there was little evidence of them here. Mainly sweet malt and caramel with some dried fruit.

Finish: A short burst of caramel sweetness.

Conclusion: I’m not really sure what this is supposed to be-perhaps a strong Mild? But at 5.4% it really lacked any definition and was rather insipid. One for your dog.

Breakfast Beer Tasting: Quantock Stout

2011-04-19T07:18:00.004+01:00

Quantock are based in Somerset and have been brewing since 2007. I haven’t tried their beers before, but have heard good things about them.

The basics: It’s 500ml and is a bottle-conditioned, 4.5%, “distinctive dry Stout.” It poured black with a tight beige head. The aroma was a heady mix of dark chocolate, caramel and hints of coffee and dark fruit.

Taste: Medium bodied with an initially smooth mouthfeel. There’s a lot going on here with plenty of chocolate, coffee and lingering notes of dark fruit. Behind it all is a dry bitterness that builds up as you go further down the glass.

Finish: Medium dry bitterness.

Conclusion: Excellent. Does what it says on the tin. A satisfying, complex and, importantly for me, dry Stout. One for your great-uncle.

100% Cask

2011-04-18T20:44:00.000+01:00

It was doubly good news when the Old White Lion on Bolton St recently returned to the cask fold. Firstly, with the appearance of Bury’s very own Outstanding Blonde on the bar, it means that all the pubs in the town centre are once more offering real ale.

And, secondly, it was particularly gratifying to see a handpump back in use at the OWL as it’s a CAMRA Heritage Pub. More information about its historical content can be found here

As an aside, it also boasts some rather old-school keg fonts. Not surprising as it boasts some rather old-school clientele who love the old-school singalongs that the pub regularly hosts. So, if you’re stuck in the 70s, why not try the Trophy Bitter (brewed at Hydes, I think), the Bass Mild or the Whitbread Light?

Breakfast Beer Tasting: Dent Ramsbottom

2011-04-18T07:15:00.000+01:00

Dent Brewery are a Yorkshire brewery based in Cumbria. Eh? Yes, they’re in a remote part of the Yorkshire Dales National Park that is actually in Cumbria. So now you know.

The basics: It’s 500ml and comes in at 4.5%. It poured chestnut with little or no carbonation and a soft, quickly disappearing head. There was a slight aroma of sweet malt and toffee.

Taste: Medium bodied. It had a sweet malt, caramel taste with a little dried fruit underneath. No discernable bitterness, just a layer of sweetness that lies on the tongue.

Finish: Short burst of sweet malt.

Conclusion: An unexciting venture into the premium Bitter category. More Ramsbum than Ramsbottom. One for your sister’s boyfriend.

Beer of the Week: Buxton Gold

2011-04-17T23:12:00.000+01:00

Sampled at the Waterhouse in Manchester. This golden ale beautifully combines Liberty, Amarillo and Nelson Sauvin hops to give a very aromatic and refreshing beer.

Breakfast Beer Tasting: Mallinsons Tandleman: I Can't Believe It's Not Lees

2011-04-17T07:55:00.001+01:00

Well we said we would party like it’s 1999. And we did. And we saw in the dawn of a new day with nothing less than Tandleman’s own beer, due to the sheer number of requests for it. Plus it was the nearest case that was open.

But was that the right time to do it justice? It’s a well known fact that breakfast is the ideal time for an epicurean experience. So, on the morning of the day after the day before, I reached for this bottle once again.

On a technical note; people often think this was bottled solely for the Tandlemeister’s benefit. It was actually done for his better half, ‘er indoors, Mrs T, to give out to her colleagues and friends

The basics: It’s a bottle-conditioned 500ml, 4.6%, golden ale. It poured a pleasing pale gold with good carbonation and a tight, off-white head. There was a subtle aroma of soft fruit and citrus hops.

Taste: Light and refreshing. A smooth mouthfeel gives way to a medium bitterness and some dry, tart fruit hops. Lingers nicely on the palate.

Finish: A satisfying burst of bitterness and then finishing quite dry.

Conclusion: Maintains the proud record of Mallinsons brewing excellent session beers. Just like the great man himself, it should be a worldwide hit. One for the epicures.

Breakfast Beer Tasting: Great Divide Yeti Imperial Stout

2011-04-16T07:47:00.001+01:00

It’s the weekend. It’s Saturday. It’s the FA Cup semi-final Manchester derby. It’s the swaggering, moneybags vs. the poor underdogs. That’s Man City v Man Utd for those not paying attention. Win or lose, it’s a big day. And what better way to start such a big day than with a big beer?

And so to Great Divide Yeti Imperial Stout. Great Divide are based in Colorado and are well established on the American beer scene, having been brewing since 1994.

The basics: It’s a tiny 355ml bottle. However, even I can’t begrudge it that, as it weighs in at an impressive breakfast-bowl-busting 9.5%. Imperial Stouts were named after the connection with the Russian Imperial Court who liked their beers strong, so that’s fair enough.

It poured black as a coalmine with a very large brown, latte type head. The aroma was intense. Heavy doses of dark bitter chocolate, roast malt and coffee.

Taste: Impressive. Packed full of intense flavours, but it’s far more drinkable than I was expecting. Chewy chocolate and a lot of coffee here, but the real punch is the hop bitterness that attacks you like Balotelli at a team practice. Definitely 75 IBUs.

Finish: One for the hopheads. Lingering and powerfully bitter.

Conclusion: Superb and immensely drinkable. I don’t know if Catherine the Great would have recognised this as an Imperial Stout, but it’s a great drink, irrespective of that. One to keep under the bed.

Breakfast Beer Tasting: Wold Top Bitter

2011-04-15T07:31:00.001+01:00

Wold Top beers are quite common on this side of the great divide, but I had yet to try one of this Yorkshire brewer’s bottled offerings. Until today.

The basics: The bottle was 500ml with an unusual (for bottling) strength of only 3.7%. So a straight attempt at reproducing their flagship Bitter. It poured light-amber with little carbonation and a thin beige head. There is a subtle aroma of sweet malt and some fruit hop.

Taste: Medium bodied with a well balanced, moderately malty, base. There is some tart fruit before the bitterness of the hops comes through.

Finish; Short, but quite dry.

Conclusion: A successful adaptation of the cask version. The Crystal Malt and Northdown hops are used to good effect to create an easy-drinking, old-school, session ale. One for your doctor.

Breakfast Beer Tasting: Iceni Men of Norfolk

2011-04-14T07:15:00.002+01:00

Being a sucker for punishment, I decided to try yet another Iceni beer for breakfast. They can’t all be bad, can they?

The basics: It’s 500ml, bottle-conditioned and weighs in at 6.2%. It poured black and completely flat with no real sign of life. The aroma was slight; roast malt and some dark fruits.

Taste: Surprisingly thin for such a strong beer. Not much in the taste, but roast malt dominates with some dark fruit (blackberries?) and a little coffee round the edges.

Finish: Short with a little roast malt.

Conclusion: Flat and insipid. It doesn’t work as a strong Mild as there really isn’t anything to justify the strength and Mild doesn’t mean dull. One for the guy who’s always pushing in front of you at the bar.

Breakfast Beer Tasting: Summerskills Guzzale

2011-04-13T07:29:00.000+01:00

Summerskills are based in Plymouth and have been brewing in their present incarnation since 1990. The brewery owner is a former member of the Royal Navy and their logo is the ship crest from H.M.S Bigbury Bay. The Royal Naval Association benefits from sales of this bottle.

The basics: A 500ml, 4.6% bottle-conditioned ale. I liked the bottle which gave a lot of local detail. So I leant that the name of the beer stems from the nickname for Plymouth and where the lager malt, Pilgrim & First Gold hops came from.

This was very lively. It poured amber with a very large off-white head. There was a slight sweet malt, toffee aroma.

Taste: Quite creamy. Mainly caramel/toffee notes and a little fruit in the aftertaste. Not much in the way of bitterness.

Finish: Short and malty.

Conclusion: A reasonable standard Bitter. However, it lacks the bitterness to tickle my personal palate. One for you aunty.