Breakfast Beer Tasting: Kernel Summit

This morning’s little treat is yet another of the Kernel single-hop IPAs. Summit is an interesting hop. It’s got lots of technical characteristics that endear it to hop enthusiasts and I believe it was the first dwarf variety produced in the USA. It’s noted not only for its bittering qualities, but also for its aromatic prowess.

So, if anyone should be able to produce an excellent single-hop IPA from it, who else but hop experts Kernel?

It came in the usual bottle-conditioned Kernel size and is 7.5% by volume. It poured the usual hazy amber with a small off-white head. True to form, it was very pungent. Strong grapefruit and orange notes with some pine resin thrown in there as well.

The taste is interesting and very powerful. Citrus in nature, yes, but completely different to the previous Kernel tried. This isn’t exotically mixed tropical flavours but rather a direct punch of bitter grapefruit and (Valencia?) orange. The bitterness really comes through; leading to a mouth-puckering, dry finish.

This is superb, but it’s probably not for everyone. However, if you want to see what a single-hop IPA can deliver and fancy putting your taste buds in the ring with the Klitschko brothers, then this is for you.

Christmas Eve Breakfast Beer Tasting: Kernel Citra, Motueka, Chinook

It’s time to really get into that Christmas groove and sharpen the palate for later today. So we return to the Kernel and another of their triple hop whammies. This one comes in the usual 330ml Kernel house style bottle and is 7% by volume.

It poured hazy amber with a perfectly formed white head. The aroma was delightful: plenty of exotic and ripe citrus fruits and a touch of pine. Taste wise, it was medium-bodied and tangy. Mango, peach, grapefruit and lemon, it’s all in here. And just a touch of floral/herbal tanginess that I think must come from the Motueka.

This is a perfectly blended IPA that fizzes over the tongue and leads to a pleasingly bitter finish. I found it very refreshing-it doesn’t drink like 7%-and the perfect appetiser for today’s merriment.

Book Review: Craft Beer London

It’s no secret that London’s craft beer scene is booming. There’s even talk that, one day, they may rival Bury as the chic beer capital of the UK. Well, let them dream, I say. In the meantime, it can be difficult to navigate round the seemingly bewildering list of beer attractions that London has to offer. Yes, the internet is full of info, but it takes time and you need to know where to look.

This is where this pocket-sized guide comes in. You can’t beat having all the information you require at your fingertips and this handy little book promises you a compendium of the best that London has to offer. Compiled by Will Hawkes, the Independent’s beer expert, it breaks London down into manageable zones: Central, East, North etc and highlights the best places to try craft beer.

In a book of this size, there is only so much room for detailed descriptions. Thus this is reserved for the main entries. They each get a nice right up; including transport info. However, there is additional listing space given over to other places of interest in each area. As the emphasis is on where to sample craft beer, breweries and off-licences are featured as well as pubs and bars.

Of course, any book is out of date even before it’s published. However, given that these places tend not to be fly-by-night operations, I think that this, along with its electronic companion, will be useful for some time yet. It’s also something of an educational tool for the beginner: there’s a beer dictionary, a forward by Evin O' Riordain and Will even makes a good stab at answering “What is Craft Beer?”

And, although primarily aimed at the novice London beer drinker, there were a few tips in here that I wasn’t aware of. There’s a lot packed in here and I suspect it will find itself in more than a few imbiber’s pockets over the coming months.

Recommended.

Craft Beer London. Vespertine Press. £10

Put Down The Tablets And Pick Up Some Roquefort

So now it’s official. Celebrity chefs are bad for your health and mouldy cheese could help you live longer. Yes, these are the health stories of the week. Celebrity cookbooks from the likes of Jamie Oliver apparently not only hit you in the pocket but in the heart as well. According to research published this week, their recipes contain more fat and salt than is good for you and you’d be better off buying a Tesco Value ready meal. There’s even talk of banning them from TV until after the watershed.

On the other hand, it’s been an excellent week for cheese lovers. Lycotech, a Cambridge-based biotech company, think they may have uncovered one of the secrets behind the so-called “French paradox”. This is the puzzler that French folk, despite eating a high salt/saturated fat diet, are healthier and live longer than us Greggs pasty-munching lot.

The French get a fair portion of their saturated fat intake from eating cheese. Now it seems that, far from harming them, mouldy cheeses such as Roquefort are actually helping them. This is because it contains specific anti-inflammatory properties.  This works in the acidic rich environments of the body such as the stomach and the skin surface.

Anti-inflammatory action is also the key to relieving arthritic joints and preventing the build up of plaque on artery walls. The team of doctors, led by Dr Ivan Petyaev and Dr Yuriy Bashmakov, said: “We hypothesise that cheese consumption, especially of moulded varieties, may contribute to the occurrence of the ‘French paradox’. They added: “Moulded cheeses, including Roquefort, may be even more favourable to cardiovascular health.”

This may lead, the team believe, to these anti-inflammatory factors being extracted and used independently or as a part of today's pharmaceutical or beauty products such as anti-ageing creams.

Beauty products? Now I don’t need a reason to eat more Roquefort, but I prefer to spread it on cheese biscuits rather than on my face.

No Reservations Please, We're British

An increasing trend, brought into sharp focus by my latest London excursion, is for pubs to reserve tables for patrons. Now, of course, this has long been common practice in ones that major on food and is sensible, particularly if you’re travelling any distance. Nobody likes to turn up with Aunty Jean and find that there’s no room at the Inn.

However, we’re not talking about gastropubs (sorry, couldn’t think of a better name for them), Brewer’s Fayre or anything of that ilk. No, I’m addressing the ones that do very little or, even more frustrating, basically no food at all. I simply cannot see the justification in potentially alienating the customers who have already come through the doors and are willing to spend time and money there.

And it’s not even as though these are large tables best suited for groups. I’ve seen signs on little ones that can fit three people on at best. And this is isn’t some form of British Stammtisch in action. No, this is usurpers trying to circumvent tried and tested pub practice. Of course, you could sit at the table and wait to be ejected, but the point is; you shouldn’t have to.

If Billy Bones wants a table at 1830 for him and his chums, he should do like the rest of us and get there early enough.

The Morning After

Any serious drinker will have been there at least once. You wake up with a hangover and only a fuzzy recollection of the night before. Slowly the foggy haze lifts and the memory returns. Did you really say that? Did you really do that? And who hasn’t spent more on a night’s drinking than they planned to? I know I have. But have you ever considered trying to get that money back?

Well William Ilg did. Waking up to the realisation that he’d run up a $28,000 bar tab at the Hustler Club in Manhattan; this being America, he promptly sued. Mr IIg’s case was simple: the club should not have continued to serve him because he was "no longer capable of conducting financial transactions". Further, the club had committed “a fraud and wrongful conversion” because they wouldn't give him a refund.

Sadly for him, the court wasn’t having any of it. It rejected his case along with his request for punitive damages for the club’s “outrageous conduct”. Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Manuel Mendez dismissed the case saying: “There is no duty upon (Hustler Club) to protect the plaintiff from the results of his (voluntary) intoxication.”

If you can’t do the time, don’t do the crime.

Golden Pint Awards 2012

It's that time of year again when we recognise the best in the beery world. With so much dross around, it's only right that we recognise those that set the standard for others to follow. So, aftter much consideration; well, while I wait for my next pint to arrive, anyway, here's my tuppence worth.

Best UK Handpulled Beer: Hawkshead Windermere Pale

Runners Up: Oakham Citra, Magic Rock Curious NZ

Best UK Draught Beer: Summer Wine Oregon Pale

Runners Up: Magic Rock High Wire NZ, Kernel Table Beer

Best UK Bottled or Canned Beer: Kernel C.A.S.C

Best Overseas Bottle or Canned Beer: To Øl First Frontier

Best Overseas Draught Beer: Coalition Green Pig Fresh Hop Ale

Best UK Brewery: Allgates, Hawkshead, Kernel

Best Overseas Brewery: Coalition

Best Pumpclip or Label: Rukus Brewing Hoptimus Prime

Pub/Bar of the Year: Bailey’s Taproom

Beer Festival of the Year: Hare & Hounds, Holcombe Brook

Supermarket of the Year: Booths

Online Retailer of the Year: Beer Merchants

Best Beer Book or Magazine: Beer Atlas by Tim Webb

Best Beer Blog or Website: Zyphophile

Best Beer Twitterer: Eh? Don’t make me laugh

Food and Beer Pairing of the Year: Mexican Wild Bean Burrito & Alaskan Double Black IPA. For breakfast

In 2013 I’d most like to...Learn more and drink (even) more

And that concludes the voting for the Bury jury.

Unicorn Body Hair

No, I’m sorry; this isn’t about unicorn body hair. Ha. Made you look, though. This is actually an update about London. Or Landahn as good queen Bess likes to call it. I recently had the pleasure of once more perusing its golden streets in search of some new hostelries. And, naturally, pay homage to some old favourites.

Craft is, of course, the brand that has been taking London by storm in recent times. They’ve now opened another two outlets, both excellent in terms of choice (Fyne Jarl was the anointed one), but different in style. Their Brixton outpost is reminiscent of Leather Lane, a cosy, modern corner-fronted pub with nice views of the adjacent market.

Craft in Islington has a different vibe; with its front bar and distinctive coloured rooms. Islington, never too shabby on the pub front, is now setting the standard for new openings. The Pig and Butcher is packing them in with its gourmet food offerings but even they, like everywhere else visited locally, are paying more than a nod to the beer side of things.

I really liked the Earl of Essex. Its wraparound bar and beer board made a very good impression, despite it being crammed to the ceiling. I can see myself spending a bit of time in there at a quieter time. The same goes for the North Pole. This is another beer heavyweight; boasting an excellent range that, not so long ago, would have been unheard of in the capital.

Of course, no London trip is complete without a visit to the Euston Tap-where the delights of Summer Wine awaited. The Old Fountain was also as reliable as ever and delivered Oakham Citra which was enjoyed on their splendid rooftop terrace. And quality time was spent at Kernel supping their Columbus, Tomahawk, Zeus infusion.

So, another quality visit that leaves lots of possibilities for more exploration next time.

Top of the Pops

Some cheering news before Crimbo as the latest blog rankings see me creep back into the top 40 hit parade for the first time in awhile. Looking at the readership, I see that, outside of the UK, most readers are in the USA and Germany. My Cossack brethren in Russia and the Ukraine account for a sizeable batch and there are obviously some very discerning readers in Israel.

The search terms that drive people here always make for interesting reading. Surprising, but related terms: “you aren’t getting shit for Christmas” and “santa taking a shit” got me thinking, but “unicorn body hair” just left me perplexed. I can’t recall mentioning any such thing in a blog post and can only imagine what would happen to my rankings if I actually did.

Anyway...

Christmas is coming

The goose is getting fat

But I’m a vegetarian

So that’s enough of that.

New Lease For Dusty Miller

There are few genuine celebrities in the licensing world. However, tonight Bury will welcome one such rare beast as the new licensee of the Dusty Miller. The Dusty, a Moorhouses pub that featured for many years in the Good Beer Guide, has been closed since September and, until recently, there were fears for its future.

Now, after a £200,000 refurbishment, it’s set to reopen under the management of the man who once laid claim to being Britain’s most controversial publican. Nick Hogan made national headlines for continuing to allow smoking in Barristers in Bolton after the smoking ban came into force.

The story is well known to many, but suffice it to say that, after failing to pay £10,000 accrued in fines and legal costs, he was jailed for six months. His supporters-to whom he is somewhat of an Elizabethan martyr-quickly rallied round and paid the monies: enabling him to leave gaol after serving only twelve days.

He then turned up at the Swan with Two Necks in Chorley; where I stumbled across him whilst conducting a crawl for this very blog way back in 2008. The Dusty lies in an area badly served by good pubs and locals are hoping his experience will turn thing around. With his strong views on the pub trade, I’m expecting fireworks, if not any smoke.

Sadly, I’ve not been asked to be the guest of honour at tonight’s opening ceremony. That falls to the Cheeky-less Lembit Opik.

Talking Point: Cheese & Salt

It’s been a bad week for two of man’s staple requirements for a happy life: beer and cheese. No need to elaborate on the beer front: Dave’s smarmy face has been all over the news; first as he begins his jihad on booze one day and the next as he sidesteps Leveson and sticks his tongue up Murdoch’s arsehole.

No, what struck me was the latest attack on cheese. Poor Mr Mozzarella and other perfectly innocent members of the cheese family were once more put in the firing line. Last time it was over the amount of saturated fat that it can have. Now the so-called health "experts" are whipping themselves into a frenzy over the salt level of some cheeses.

“More salt in cheese than seawater," ran one alarmist headline this week as some parts of the media played up the shock and awe angle. The source of this latest outbreak of health hysteria was a report by Consensus Action on Salt and Health (Cash) which surveyed 772 supermarket cheeses and found that Cheddar had an average of 0.52 grams of salt per 30g serving.

Now some cheeses had even more salt than that and some had less, but the 0.52g made for a lazy comparison that Cash couldn’t resist feeding to the media. Katherine Jenner, Cash campaign director, said:”This survey shows that just one portion of cheese can contain more salt than a packet of crisps.” Well, yes it can-by 0.02 of a gram, but surely that’s not the point?

Crisps are a clear no-no health wise and have little, if any, nutritional benefit. Comparing them to cheese is disingenuous at best. Cheese is packed full of positive benefits: proteins, vitamins, it can aid sleep, fights tooth decay and boots production of the enzyme that makes us feel happy.

Salt in cheese is vital to mature and flavour hard cheeses such as Parmesan and soft-rind ones such as Camembert. It also is crucial in preventing bacteria from growing inside cheese and gives the food its savoury finish. With the high price of so-called “superfoods”, for many of the 98% of the cheese buying populace, it’s probably their healthiest buy.

Cash says that cheese ranks only behind bread and bacon (take that, you carnivore bastards) in terms of contributing salt to the British diet. I’ve no problem with banning bacon (see point above), so let the campaign to ban bread start here. But hold on, can’t you still legally buy crisps? Of course, as we know, the government doesn't like to ban products; merely lecture with one hand and collect our taxes with the other.

No, it’s as a director of the Dairy Council told the BBC: "The survey is mixing up the effect of cheese on health with the effect of salt on health. Salt is not added for taste or flavour but for safety and technical reasons." And, as levels are clearly stated on packs, customers are free to choose, anyway.

There is actually one more very interesting point to be made here. Graham MacGregor, chairman of Cash wants the government to step in and set lower salt levels for cheese makers: “For every one-gram reduction in population salt intake, we can prevent 12,000 heart attacks, stroke and heart failure, half of which would have been fatal.”

Of course we’ve heard magical figures like this before, haven’t we? And usually they are based on suspect propositions and little hard evidence. This is even more so in this case as they are based solely on the much repeated salt-is-bad mantra. However, as with alcohol, the truth may not always be as the government would have it. Read here for a summary of the contrary view.

So the message is clear...Leave our cheese be.

Hawkshead@PSBH

The last meet-the-brewer at Port Street for 2012 turned out to be a real humdinger. No surprise, really, as the party concerned were Hawkshead; who consistently brew some of the finest beers in the land. And who, with Windermere Pale, have one of the most suppable beers that money can buy.

Although the Cumbrian massive came down mob-handed, it was left up to Matt Clake, the brewer, to do all the talking. As you would expect from a fella from the land of hobbits, it was informal and pitched just right. We had an interesting discourse throughout the night, but unfortunately (not for him) as their beers are too damn good, I was unable to offer my usual services in brewing correction.

Of course WPA had to be drank, as did far too much of the tweaked New Zealand Pale Ale which, despite being boozy, is seriously addictive. There was also a welcome outing for the often overlooked Brodie’s Prime. This is a tasty dark treat that was one of the forerunners for many of today’s black IPAs.

However, it was the presence of two very special offerings on cask that had the beerati on their knees thanking the Great Spirit in the sky. Both of these were unique as usually they’d go straight for bottling. Both were Imperial Stouts of 8.3% that had been aged for six months in oak whisky barrels from Bladnoch Distillery in Lowland Scotland.

The first was full of beautifully balanced coffee-whisky flavours with a little bit of chocolate thrown in. Very nice for sitting by a fire with on a cold winter’s day. The second one was made with Lyth Valley damsons; with the addition of vanilla to offset the sourness. It was an interesting concoction that split opinion. Some people raved about it, others (me included) preferred the first one and, for some, it proved an Imperial Stout too far. 

An excellent finale to the 2012 MTB events. And 2013 promises to be just as interesting.

Breakfast Beer Tasting: Brasserie des Sources Bellerose Bière Blonde

We go across the water for today’s breakfast treat and say bonjour to this French beer. It’s a top fermented brew made with three hops from three different continents and is an attempt to cross a traditional “bière de Garde" with an IPA style. Interestingly it comes from the brewery founded by Gérard Depardieu and his two friends.

It’s a 33cl, bottle-conditioned, 6.5% beer. The label is a rather classy in the French way, although a 1950s pinup girl risks ire in some quarters. It poured golden with good carbonation and a sizeable white head. The aroma was yeasty with a touch of citrus. I believe it’s supposed to be lychee, but I got more orange and lemon.

Taste wise, it’s fruit-led and has a good, peppery spiced aftertaste. It’s a smooth beer that hides the alcohol well and you could picture this being served at a dinner party. Being an old fashioned type of beerhound, I like beer that I can actually drink and this one isn’t hard to sup at all.

The French, bless ‘em, aren’t renowned for their great beer, but this is more than a reasonable effort. It lacks the overt bitterness that IPA junkies crave, but the spicy dryness and combination of old world and new makes this a blonde you wouldn’t kick out of bed in the morning.

Petit Pont-l'Évêque

Pont-l'Évêque has a long lineage and lays claim to be the oldest Normandy cheese still in production. It can trace its history back to at least the 12th century when it was known as "angelot". It gained national prominence in the 16th century and became known by its geographical area of production.

Being a cheese of some stature, of course it is protected by an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) that sets out stringent requirements for any cheese that wants to go under that name. This was a Petit variety, so has to be 8.5-9.5 cm square, and have a minimum of 85g of dry matter.

The cheese itself is pale yellow with a white-orange washed rind that gives it a pungent aroma that may make you think that it’s stronger than it really is. Actually it’s very refined with a soft, creamy, buttery texture that brings a little piece of the Normandy sunshine with it.

It’s often recommended to drink Normandy cider with it or champagne. But I’ve just paired it with a bottle of Pinot Gris from Alsace and that seemed to work perfectly well.  

In The Black

The Grocer reports bad tidings for Diageo, makers of the “black liquidation with the froth on the top”. Sales of their star brand Guinness have fallen by nearly 10 million pints in the last year. That breaks down into a 15.8% fall for Guinness Draught and a 5% slump in Guinness Original sales.

Now, Guinness is a market leader and is a very heavily advertised brand. Indeed their esoteric adverts, while baffling the public, have long been the darling of the advertising industry. But times change and sales have been in decline for some time now.

Experts attribute various reasons for the fall-off in sales. Their traditional market is shrinking: there is a general shift towards lighter drinks and the growing premium bottle market has made inroads into their customer base.

Guinness is also under increasing pressure from the supermarket’s own brand Stouts. This is a difficult front to fight on as Guinness has traditionally been priced as a premium product. However, it seems that with Tesco’s Simply Stout available for £1.33 compared to £1.89 for Guinness, customers are voting with their wallet.

However, as you might expect, Diageo are not ready to throw the towel in just yet. They claim some of the fall in sales is down to customers switching pack sizes and will address the issue with a greater emphasis on “pack differentiation”. They also aim to hit back with that most traditional of weapons: advertising-£33 million of it, to be exact.

Most experts seem to think that Guinness is in irreversible, if gradual, decline. Whether the might of Diageo can prove them wrong, we will have to wait and see.

Cheap Booze Shock

Get ready to be outraged. Really outraged. Are you ready yet? Are you really ready? Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Tonight’s Manchester Evening News led with a humdinger of a story. You could feel the outrage from a foot away. A couple of things immediately struck me about the article. Firstly, it’s a non-story. But the famously parsimonious MEN always likes to make a crisis out of a drama and if it can be patronising, sensational and or just plainly wrong; so much the better.

Secondly, the tone is laughable. It leads with the fact that the cheap tramp juice contains more alcohol units than men should consume in a WEEK. Yes, you heard me, a WEEK. OMG. Call out the army. Call out the navy. But, (yawn) hold on, aren’t these the same units that, by the government’s own admission, are imaginary and therefore have no empirical basis? Erm...moving on.

Well what about the price then? It’s three times less than the proposed minimum unit price. Indeed it is three times less than yet another discredited figure plucked out of thin air. And what if is? We’re supposedly living in a free market, are we not? Of course cheap booze for the proletariat is to be frowned upon and there is clear frustration for the MEN that it cannot prove below cost selling.

Yes, but cheap booze is bad for you. Have you seen the 500,000+ alcohol related hospital admissions? That’s clever, linking the two. Well it would be if we didn’t know that’s another inflated figure that doesn’t stand up to scrutiny. But let’s work with it anyway. Just how many of these people actually buy their booze from B&M?* Or any of the other mentioned brands? After this free publicity, probably lot's more.

The truth is that it’s a tiny percentage of an increasingly declining market. It’s not called tramp juice for nothing. And it’s not exactly atypical of the market as a whole. But, as with all propaganda pieces, they have cherry picked the unusual in order to get their message across.

My favourite bit is the quote from Elizabeth Burns; who claims that the survey showed that booze has never been available more freely for a lower price. Erm...no it doesn’t and no it isn’t.

I eagerly await the riposte article that puts the facts right: that generally booze is dearer then ever and that people are actually drinking less of it, not more. But with the MEN’s track record, I’m not holding my breath.

*I do know someone who buys their booze from B&M. But he swears it's just the Oakham Citra.

Calling Time On The Supermarket Conversion

CAMRA has called on the government to close loopholes in the planning laws that allow the likes of Tesco to convert pubs into supermarkets without undergoing the usual local scrutiny. Research by CAMRA members has shown that, since 2010, over 200 pubs have undergone conversion; the majority (130) by Tesco: well, every little helps.

The appeal of pub-to-supermarket conversions is simple. A public house is, for planning purposes, already considered a retail unit. So if Tesco, Sainsbury’s etc want to open on the site, they can do so without undergoing the usual change of use process. This of course sidesteps the local authority and has the added bonus, if the premises are less than 280 sq metres, of bypassing the Sunday Trading Act.

This circumventing of local consultation has been highlighted before, but CAMRA believe it’s more imperative than ever that this anomaly is corrected. And they’re not alone. Greg Mulholland MP, chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Save The Pub Group, has written to all the major supermarkets asking that they cease to target pubs.

No one can pretend that this measure is some sort of panacea for the pub trade’s ills, but it seems only fair to correct legislation that makes it easier to convert a pub into a supermarket than a restaurant into a pub.

However, I fear that the appeal will fall on deaf ears. We have a prohibitionist government who are intent on less planning regulation, not more, and who are lukewarm towards pubs at best. So I won’t hold my breath.  

Breakfast Beer Tasting: Mighty Hop Black Pearl Porter

This morning we go to the dark side with a Porter from Dorset’s very own Mighty Hop Brewery. Based in Lyme Regis, they’ve been brewing since 2010 and are yet another outfit setup with the aid of Bury’s very own PBC (Brewery Installations) Ltd.

It’s a 500ml bottle and is bottle-conditioned, so careful with that pour. It came out a very dark, almost black, brown with little carbonation and a small tan head. The aroma was quite strong: lots of roast malt, burnt toast and caramel.

The beer itself was surprisingly light-bodied with a lot less roast than the aroma had. There’s toffee, caramel and a coffee. bitter chocolate aftertaste that dissipates quickly on the tongue. Not a heavy, slow supping, traditional Porter, but more of a session one.

You can’t really fault this on the easy-to-drink Richter scale. There’s enough flavour to keep those who like their Porters more substantial happy, but it’s not too heavy for those who aren’t naturally dark beer drinkers.

Seven Stars

Another link to Bury’s proud brewing past has gone with the conversion of the Seven Stars, on Rochdale Road, to Automoney. Originally a tied house of the nearby Crown Brewery (the photo is from 1952), the pub has gone through many guises over the years. Each seemingly bringing a further decline in fortunes. Its last closure turned out to its final hurrah and leaves but two pubs on Rochdale Road.

Tyson@Beagle

There’s a new kid on the block in Chorlton and it’s called the Beagle. Situated on the site of the former Scotts Hill, but probably better known in its former incarnation as Charango, this Beagle has a pedigree. Yes, it’s the latest outlet from the guys behind Common and the Port Street Beer House.

Each of their pubs has its own identity and the Beagle is unashamedly (modern) British in outlook. This can be seen in the range of drinks and its very promising food menu. The full details can be found on their website.

Now it’s fair to say that the Beagle wasn’t quite ready when the Beerhound first called. It’s still something of a work in progress-the telephone wasn’t even connected yet-but it’s clearly an impressive operation.

The second visit went much better: well there was beer for a start! Both the house beers tried were excellent and with the familiar face of Will, from the PSBH, at the helm, it’s clear that the Beagle will soon be an integral part of the Chorlton scene.

I look forward to visiting again shortly for a longer wining and dining session

Mr Tweed's Manx Adventure

If you are thinking of going to the Isle of Man in November: don’t bother. It’s closed. Or most of it appears to be, anyway. Its numerous railways are finished for the season and, particularly outside of Douglas, the landscape is as barren as George Osborne’s economic outlook.

Station

There is the aviation and military museum-handily combined (open Sundays), but don’t imagine an Imperial War Museum type structure. Think more shed-in-a-field. However, you will need to seek shelter from the unforgiving wind and rain that plagues this heathen backwater. That is where the local hostelries come in.

 

The IOM does have a number of good pubs and real ale is widely available. Choice has often been somewhat limited, but this has steadily increased over the years and, on my recent visit, I was pleasantly surprised by the range that is now available.

Castletown has two good offerings. The Castle Arms (AKA the Glue Pot) is the only pub to feature on a Manx note and is a very cosy local. The Okells IPA was on very fine form here. Nearby is the Sidings-known locally as the Duck’s Nest-which offers an impressive range of beers.

I was keen to try the revamped British in Douglas and it did not disappoint. Its decor is now relaxed contemporary with both service and food excellent. There are eight handpulls adorning the bar, although it was the rare sighting of a Meantime font that caught my eye.

Port Erin lays claim to the best beach on the island. Perhaps not quite as appealing in November, but the local pubs will keep you occupied. The Station is a well appointed Okells house, but the jewel in the crown is the Bay Hotel. This flagship of the Bushy’s estate is a cracker by any standard. Four traditional rooms and a roaring fire all add to the atmosphere and the beer wasn’t bad, either.

So why not give the Isle of Man a whirl? Look beyond their wicker man constructions and worship of pagan gods and you will find a good pub culture. Best visit in summer, though.

Breakfast Beer Tasting: Flying Dog International Arms Race

Now this is an interesting one. In a battle of the international (brew) dogs, it was decided that the UK’s very own Brewdog would go head to head against Maryland’s Flying Dog. The challenge: to brew the same IPA and then let the public decide which was best. The twist here is that they wouldn’t use hops.

Yes, two famous hop-led breweries producing a hopless IPA. Clever, eh? Instead they had to use spearmint, bay leaves, rosemary, juniper berries, and elderflower to impart bitterness. In a tightly fought series of blind tastings, the Flying Dog version emerged as the winner.

It’s 7.5% and comes in a 12oz bottle. It poured amber with good carbonation and an initial decent looking head that disappeared incredibly quickly. I got some bubblegum (spearmint?) and quite a bit of floral (elderflower?) notes in the aroma.

Taste wise, there is the usual solid malt backbone that you would expect from an IPA. Beyond that the overall impression is herbal. The unusual ingredients have been used to good effect to produce a dry finish that is similar to, but distinct from, hop infused bitterness.

Somewhat surprisingly, I found myself liking this beer. It’s something of a palate cleanser: the alcohol is well hidden and the various herbs and berries combine well to prick the old taste buds. It’s not going to replace the traditional hop-led IPA in my affections, but it’s a solid performer.

A Knight To Remember

I’ve been asked to recap this little trip to our fair capital as, unlikely as it seems, several of the reprobates involved may have had the odd drink or two. Apparently this has clouded their memory of some of the hostelries involved. The exception being the Lamb & Flag: possibly something to do with the clag-hair pulling gymnastic display that we witnessed there. 

So, as a public service, here’s a summary of our itinerary. Both Craft and the Euston Tap featured at the beginning and the end of the adventure with Magic Rock soothing the palate here. The impressive Parcel Yard at King’s Cross got a look in as did the snob screens in the Lamb. The Hat & Tun was very disappointing, but the Seven Stars and the Gunmakers were both on good form.

A new discovery and one worth revisiting is the Queens Head on Acton St. This smart, one-roomed boozer had a good selection on both draught and in bottle and with a barmaid from Portland, what more could you ask for? The first visit to Kernel brewery in its new location is also one that will be repeated; if only to top up the bottle collection.

First timers had their eyes opened at Ye Olde Mitre, while at the Harp it was more of a case of eyes closed for some. There was a good crawl of Borough with the Wheatsheaf. Market Porter, Brew Wharf and the Rake all delivering the goods. There was also a seemingly never ending queue of people wanting to have their photo taken with a big fake foam cock. Maybe it’s a London thing?

Special mention must go to the Old Fountain where, despite the inclement weather, we made full use of the rooftop terrace. Venturing inside to explore some of the excellent beers available during their beer festival, we were also treated to some rather good live music. And the Penderel’s Oak has to be praised for revitalising us with their breakfast. Well, for those of us who could manage breakfast.

I could mention the Stella on the clipper and someone being sick in Craft, but the Human Rights Act prevents me from doing so.

The planning for the reunion next year starts here...

Help Me Make It Thro' The Night

These are tough times for pubs. Particularly for the out-of-town local (OTL) that can’t boast a large car park for diners or lots of passing trade. In recent times we’ve seen a steady erosion of the street corner and mod-terrace type of pub that were once as common as an MP’s fiddled expenses.

Local authorities have heeded the smoke signals coming from the government and, ever since they seized control of licensing, seem to have made the suburban pub their public enemy number one. Whilst continuing to license and tolerate any number of premises in the town centre; the slightest infringement by an OTL is seized upon eagerly.

Sadly the local authority is now often acting at the behest of a disgruntled neighbour. Where once the attraction of moving next door to a pub was seen as moving closer to an amenity, this is no longer the case. The pub’s proximity is seen as a nuisance, an annoyance that is best curtailed. If you don’t use it why should anyone else, seems to be the attitude.

Thus in recent years we have seen pubs closed because taxi doors are being “slammed” (in permitted hours) or people are gathering outside for a smoke. I know, I know, if only we hadn’t forced them outside in the first place.

Sometimes it is an ex-regular who has had fallen out with his former haunt. Hence the closure of a mid-terrace pub that dared to have its jukebox playing at 7pm on a Saturday in June. Unacceptable as next door happened to have its windows open and that’s the last thing you expect from a pub in summer. Especially when you are no longer welcome in said pub.

So it was with some resignation that I read a recent letter in the local press concerning the Help Me Thro’. This is a pleasant, terraced Thwaites pub that, as far as I know, tries to cater for its customers; who mainly live nearby.

However, according to ‘Disgruntled Grandparent’ it’s frequented by “inhabitants of other areas” and is characterised by loud music etc. Even worse, the local councillor had the audacity to defend the place. What about serving his disgruntled constituents? All very sadly predictable.

But this week’s edition contains not one, but two letters carrying the fight to the pub’s misanthropic neighbour. Not hiding behind anonymity (pointless as the identity of the miserable sod is well known) they seek to put the record straight.

The councillor was acting in his constituents interests: the pub is a local business and it is frequented by responsible local folk who enjoy the odd night out. Music is restricted to once a month or so and is of the solo kind, not an ACDC jamboree. And if you can’t stand the heat, don’t move next door to a pub. How do you like those apples, my hostelry-hating frined?

In the words of the late Clive Dunn: “They don’t like it up ‘em.”

Seattle

Seattle is the largest city in the Pacific Northwest and still has the feel of a metropolis that has not reached its peak yet. Cocky, like a boxer on his way up; it boasts an excellent transport system that sees some of the highest transit user rates in North America and some of the very few electric trolley buses in the USA.

While it can seem brash and wears its prosperity on its sleeve, it’s undoubtedly fun. The skyline is dominated by the world famous Space Needle (great views, but overpriced) and the futuristic monorail that connects to the Needle. They’re very proud of their monorail. That’s fair enough, but I told them if they want to see a real monorail in action, they need to get to Blackpool; preferably during the Illuminations.

Although known as the Rainy City due to its rainfall, it was actually going through a near-record dry spell whilst I was there. And once you work out the address system, you’re on your way. Because, despite being a techno-hub, it’s quite traditional in other ways. Each district and the pubs therein, have their own characteristics.

Downtown

I advise (having done it the wrong way round) to start at the top of the hill (Tap House) and drink downwards.

Pike Brewing: One of the region’s oldest brewpubs. A fascinating place with lots of beer memorabilia adorning the walls. Brewing is actually powered by steam but, for legal reasons, they are unable to call the beer “steam beer”.

Collins Pub: Cosy boozer with a decent beer selection.

Tap House Grill: Has to be visited just to marvel at the 160 tap selection. Be warned, it’s expensive, even by Seattle standards.

Elysian Fields: Smart and modern; lots of wood and glass. This is the one on First Ave, further up from Pike. Very reasonable prices for some rather excellent beer. My favourite Seattle haunt and, in my opinion, the producer of some of the finest beers in the Pacific Northwest.

Capitol Hill

Another Seattle must-visit place is the Stumbling Monk. I was less impressed with the decor of this small, dimly lit dive-type bar than some people, but the knowledgeable staff and select beer choice makes it worth a visit.

Fremont Ballard

The Jolly Roger Taproom, home of the Maritime Pacific Brewing Company, offers around 14 beers including some cask-conditioned ones.

Other

I paid a few visits to Sharp’s Roaster and Ale House which is close to Sea-Tac airport. It majors heavily on food, but still manages a good list of 20+ beers and 500 spirits. Happy Hour is every 30 minutes when they spin a wheel to see what goes on offer.

Beers

Freemont Universale Pale Ale
Georgetown Lucille IPA
Elysian Idiot Sauvin IPA
Big Time Coal Creek Porter
Elysian Dragonstooth Stout

Summary

Seattle is a great city for drinking. It’s easy to get around and there are plenty of places worth exploring. My only annoyance was the determined effort to hide abvs from you and some of the prices. Although, outside of the centre, prices can be surprisingly reasonable. But be prepared to pay $3.50 for a small (8oz schooner) and $8.50 for a large (22oz tankard) glass of beer. But it’s certainly worth a visit.

Cap in Hand

Want to learn how to alienate many of your clientele and attract unwanted publicity? Then try banning flat caps and refuse to serve the Daily Mirror’s Paul Routledge for wearing one. Yes, that’s what Pearsons in Chorley have done. Now some pubs do have restrictions on baseball caps etc for security reasons, but this flat cap ban seems to go above and beyond common reasoning and is only nurturing their business rivals. Bets are on for how long it lasts.

Read the full story here.

The Worm Turns

There has been quite some debate both within and outside of the alcohol lobby this week over a recent article by Klaus Makela. Why? Well, the article takes to task the now seemingly orthodox view that cost-of-alcohol studies are an accurate model for governments to base policy on.

These sorts of studies-that try to quantify in monetary terms the adverse effects of alcohol-have become increasingly popular in recent years and have largely supplanted the traditional type of social study.

The reasons for their popularity aren’t hard to understand. Politicians love having figures to play with. For one thing, putting a figure on anything makes it easily identifiable as a problem. Our own government, for example, claims that “alcohol related harm” now costs society £21bn annually. And if you can quantify a problem with cost, you can be seen to be tackling the problem by making savings.

This lazy approach is easily sold to the media which loves simple stories that feature big numbers that they can highlight. Thus we face a barrage of stories about minimum pricing, alcohol units etc that highlight just how much the cost to society is and how much better off we will be in terms of pounds saved, Brilliant, eh?

But Makela basically rubbishes the notion of monetising societal harm. And this is important because it’s not just me-or even some less influential blogger-pointing out the flawed methodology. This is a heavyweight peer review of 30 studies carried out since 2000. It’s published by the Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs and will make for some uncomfortable reading in certain quarters.

What I found particularly satisfying is his demonstration that the controversial University of Sheffield study that advocated minimum pricing is only fir for wiping your arse with. Their model, based on guesswork and unsupported assumption states that a minimum price of 40p will see a reduction in unemployment of 25,000 in the first year.

But of course there are too many factors in play to justify this assumption. The economic climate for one. And it’s laughable to assume that 25,000 vacancies are just waiting to be filled when minimum pricing miraculously cures the stricken. In the real world, if a position is unfilled due to alcohol abuse, then it will most likely be simply filled by someone else.

So we cannot take seriously this “saving” of 25,000 jobs. And yet that accounts for 75% of the total savings credited to minimum pricing in the Sheffield study. Oops. The truth is that all of these cost-of-alcohol studies, from minimum pricing to monetising unprotected sex are built on a house of sand.

You can read the full article here

One thing that also struck a chord with me is how these so-called scientific studies only focused on the negative aspects of drinking and ignored the positive benefits. Politically inconvenient?

Ooh la la

Bad news for our Garlic loving cousins across la Manche as the French president, François Hollande, has announced plans to increase the taxation on beer by a whopping 160%. Traditionally the French have enjoyed very low beer tax rates, even though this doesn’t always translate to the price punters pay at the bar. However, this measure is certain to put further pressure on an already strained market.

Jacqueline Lariven, spokeswoman for the French brewer's federation, Brasseurs de France, estimated that this would translate to an immediate 20% rise in beer prices in bars and supermarkets. The allure for the president is clear: a projected €480m to replenish the country's coffers. But set against a 6% fall in EU beer production and an 8% fall in beer consumption since 2008; no wonder the Brewers of Europe trade group describe it as a “kick in the teeth”.

Kirkstall@PSBH

Monday evening saw the great and not-so-good head to the Port Street Beer House for a meet the brewer session with Kirkstall. Launched last year, they are an up-and-coming outfit based near Leeds on the side of the Leeds and Liverpool canal.

Although it was billed as a “meet the brewer” and he (Alex) was there, it was the gaffer, Steve Holt who did most of the talking. He gave a confident presentation that eschewed the basic malt-hops-yeast makes beer spiel and concentrated on the specifics of Kirkstall Brewery.

This was all for the good; as it’s safe to assume most of those assembled knew the ABC of brewing. What people are interested in (well I am, anyway) are what the brewery’s story is and what’s in their beer. Steve was obviously passionate not only about the Kirkstall beers, but also about the local heritage and the history of the original Kirkstall Brewery, Which all made for an entertaining and informative evening.

Kirkstall Pale Ale

Inspired by American Pale Ales, but tempered more for the British palate, the well-balanced mix of malt and hops gives an enjoyable fruit edge to the beer. A good start.

Black Band Porter

Another enjoyable beer. Dark and full of chocolate and coffee notes, but surprisingly smooth.

Three Swords

It should actually be three daggers, but that’s Yorkshire folk for you. This utilises three hops to give a good, crisp, citrus hop bite with an appealing dry finish. My favourite of the evening.

Generous George

A rare one-off brew named after a local character “Polish George”, this 6.5% beer has been dry-hopped with Marynka hops. It was described as “unusual” and it was. By Steve’s own admission, it was served rather fresh and will benefit from further maturation. Has the potential to be very good but, as tasted, was too boozy.

Dissolution IPA

Not served at its best: cloudy and yeasty from the cask. However, this recent silver medallist winner at SIBA is a class act normally and if you see it on the bar, I’d recommend trying it.

Framboise

Served last, this 3.6% dessert beer is brewed somewhere-Steve remained tight-lipped over exactly where-in Belgium. It caused something of a split in opinion. The minority opinion was that it was fruity and refreshing. While the majority felt that the tartness gave way too quickly to a syrupy sweetness. Why not try it and see what you think?
Next month: Hawkshead