Hark To Dandler Festival

The Hark to Dandler on Walmersley Old Road is holding a beer festival this weekend. Nothing unusual in that, you might think. Except it’s a J.W.Lees pub. And they normally would frown on buying outside of the tie. No less an expert than Tandleman himself conformed to me that this was highly unusual. 30 beers should be on over the weekend and could lead to serious problems. Once the regulars have tasted beer actually with hops in it, will they want to go back to Lees?

Comments

Tandleman said…
Always a danger which is presumably why they have resisted it.
1 May 2009 at 19:03
Anonymous said…
Are hops alien to Manchester? With the wonderful exception of the Outsanding Beer Co.

Ben
Liverpool
1 May 2009 at 20:08
Paul Garrard said…
I think I've only tried Lees beer once don't think it made a great impression on me. I'm intrigued by the name 'Hark To Dandler', sounds like something Rambling Syd Rumpo would sing about as he nadgered his moolies!
1 May 2009 at 23:50
Tandleman said…
It's a fox hunting thing. Dandler being the leading dog. We have a Hark to Towler and I think and a Hark to Topper in our area as well. there may be others?
2 May 2009 at 08:18
Tandleman said…
Ben - You haven't had Pictish and Phoenix then, which are in the general area.
2 May 2009 at 08:18
vanessa said…
I've never had "Lees" but it doesn't sound very good.
2 May 2009 at 10:18
John's New Blog said…
Lees is the only drinkable beer in the beer-desert that is the NW of England.
2 May 2009 at 17:32
Woolpack Dave said…
Oh come on John, are you including Cumbria in the NW England? I've never had Lees beers, but, it sounds like they are hop(e)less. Beer without hops is a bit like dehydrated water.
2 May 2009 at 23:39
elvis said…
I see that John comes from Wales which is renowned for its good beer.Not.
3 May 2009 at 08:35
Gazza Prescott said…
Strangely enough, despite being a total hop monster, I think Lees beers are great examples of old-fashioned regional brewing and I actually drink them - meaning they're in a very exclusive club of regional whose beers I'll drink!

But anyone who says the NW is crap for beer obviously hasn't got a clue (or hates hops!) - it's the best area for hoppy beers in the whole country with Pictish, Phoenix, Marble etc brewing some wonderful stuff, then you've got all the excellent Yorkshire brewers just over t'ills and most of them love hops too - Mallinsons, Elland, Roosters...
3 May 2009 at 09:31
Tandleman said…
Praise indeed. I don't think I'll add anything to that.
3 May 2009 at 12:13
RedNev said…
Good NW breweries from this side of the region include: Baltic Fleet, George Wright, Southport. I also like most Cains beers, although their dodgy (if legal) business practices have left a bad taste in the mouth. Gazza Prescott's list of good NW breweries is spot on. As for Welsh beers being rubbish, I quite like Brains, especially SA.
3 May 2009 at 14:45
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