tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31294693765980564372023-11-16T17:10:23.849+00:00The beermonster's blogIndependant reviews of Real Ale and Pubs at home and away.Steve Fosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725444056654111446noreply@blogger.comBlogger74125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129469376598056437.post-9493312274093726632023-01-02T21:57:00.000+00:002023-01-02T21:57:32.016+00:00UK Staycation 2021 Part 3 Returning to Norwich and Leeds. Then Oot On The Toon in Newcastle and Gateshead.<div style="text-align: left;"> Our last 2 visits during the Staycation period were returns to a couple of contrasting English cities, but both of which are alive with really good beer scenes, and a solid local brewing footprint. I think that the latter is sometimes overlooked when most of us travel to areas away from our own little town, but when we do visit we are quickly won over by the range of pubs available. On a side note, I do wonder if some of these places only fit into certain settings? We see these bars and the vibe they carry through eyes not used to sobriety. "If only we had....." we bemoan. The longing for this brewery, or that brewery, from a town far, far away, setting up its branded taphouse or bar in your backyard is all too prevalent. I, myself, have wished for many years for a <b><i>Brewdog, Tapped</i></b> or <b><i>Head of Steam </i></b>(among others) to locate one of it's bars here, in North East Lincolnshire, but would the siting of such a bar have the knock on effect of putting pressure on our local Craft brewery, <b><i>Docks Beers</i></b>, at the expense of beers brewed outside the area, by moustached folk heroes,(as they all seem to be on the beer labels!) and with no connection to the local community. Tough to answer. It could also cause an upsurge in drinking good craft beers too, and put the towns of Grimsby and Cleethorpes on the beer roundabout. Still, I doubt that there will be a mad rush to locate on the East coast anytime soon.</div><p style="text-align: left;">After all that thinking, we'd better crack on and return to the reality of actual beer drinking. I've always been left with a thirst after too much of that brain exercise.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><u>Norwich</u></h3><div>We set off to Norfolk's county city on a warm(ish), sunny September morning, with train changes at Doncaster (about 15 minutes, a little too tight for a drink) and Grantham. We had about an hour to kill here, so popped into <b><i>The Whistle Stop</i></b>, located on the platform, to, erm..stop and wet our whistles. Whilst Jane had a coffee, I chose one of the craft ales on offer, a lovely rich and dark roast porter, from local brewers <b>Zest</b>, called <b>Dark Storm</b>. Soon enough, we were back on track, or tracks, heading to Norwich. With plenty of time before we needed to check into our hotel, we headed straight out of the station, and after a little wander, plopped down in the <b><i>Coach and Horses.</i></b> <b>Cider</b> for the wife, and a pint of <b>Chalk Hill Brewery Black Anna Milk Stout, 4%</b> were soon being enjoyed in the sunshine. This pub is a very pleasant, and, at times, busy boozer, and has a good selection of beers from <b>Chalk Hill</b>, as well as guest ales and the usual commercial "favourites". We only stayed for the one, unfortunately, because we were already fed up with dragging our luggage around, so we decamped and headed, via <b><i>The Compleat Angler</i></b>, to our digs. Not a lot to mention about <b>Greene King's</b> <b><i>Compleat Angler,</i></b> other than the service was slow and atrocious, we ordered on the app but after 25 minutes had to go in and get it ourselves, as the order hadn't gone through. On top of that, my beer was cloudy and in poor condition. We left, very disappointed. In the past, we have enjoyed our visits here, but would not rush back in future.</div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Qixzjx1pPNTGtm9AUyZ4Hkf--A1KckSr4aV1JSpBUhTJpuxsB4LuF5Be8A1Xu6gVjRmMBwVrZCNzBDff12AN24qzRh4oKEvQU_YwbQuXWgkjlG1Cr60GZMfmTeuBSVo3_dgTPX3i-3EF-9hJlX71RPmfvQsgwy79zofaAPsoH5jloHwSBMClRthG/s4608/20210915_170130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2128" data-original-width="4608" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Qixzjx1pPNTGtm9AUyZ4Hkf--A1KckSr4aV1JSpBUhTJpuxsB4LuF5Be8A1Xu6gVjRmMBwVrZCNzBDff12AN24qzRh4oKEvQU_YwbQuXWgkjlG1Cr60GZMfmTeuBSVo3_dgTPX3i-3EF-9hJlX71RPmfvQsgwy79zofaAPsoH5jloHwSBMClRthG/w233-h114/20210915_170130.jpg" width="233" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Norwich's Red Lion</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br />After booking into our Travelodge, and freshening ourselves up a bit, we were out, enjoying the sights along Norwich's Yacht Station, enroute to our next pub,<b><i> Lollard's Pit</i></b>. Although on a busy road, the beer garden at the rear offers a relaxing area of solitude away from the hum-drum of motorists. I enjoyed a lovely <b>Red Ale</b> in here, which had good toffee caramel notes aplenty, <b>Boudicca Brewing Co The Red Queen, 4.5%</b>. We finished our drinks, cider for the lady, in case you were wondering, and sauntered two minute over the road to<b><i> The Red Lion</i></b>. There are 6 cask hand pulls on in here and I decided on <b>4% Golden Ale</b> from <b>Moongazer Brewery</b>, called<b> Jigfoot,</b> a well balanced fruity, bittersweet brew, that really hit the mark. This was followed by the equally satisfying and tropically fruity <b>No7 IPA</b> by <b>Hammerton</b>, The location of this pub is idyllic, nestled alongside the river, and, with the evening sunshine illuminating our vista, it just feels right to sit there and relax a while.</div><div>We left here, after that while, and headed into the city centre, breaking our trip at <b><i>The Adam & Eve</i></b>. My beer in here, another tropical<b> IPA</b>, was from <b>Woodforde's, Volt IPA</b>, with an ABV of<b> 4.5%</b>. It was quite fruity, but the finish just lacked a little in bitterness. </div><div>A trip to Norwich to me means a pit stop at<b><i> The Ribs of Beef.</i></b> There is always a good selection of local brews on in here, and <b>Woodforde's West Coast Wherry</b>, a <b>4.5% Amber Ale</b>, was my choice. This is big on malt at the start, before a good back bitterness takes over at the end. We then popped over the bridge to <b><i>The Mischief</i></b> for a swift one. By this point, the beer memory was struggling, so suffice to say my beer in here goes unlogged. </div><div>Our next stop was to be a cocktail bar (one has to pander to the needs of one's "Better 'Arf" sometimes!), but luckily, amongst all the glitz, glamour, artisan gins and niche mixers found in <b><i>Mr Postle's Apothecary,</i></b> there was also a supply of the bar's own contract keg<b> IPA,</b> weighing in at <b>4%</b>. This was ok, no great shakes, but refreshing enough. "The wife's drink....?" I hear you ask. Well, that was some sort of a glitzy, glamorous artisan gin cocktail, with some niche stuff in it.</div><div>Our last port of call, as we headed back to our hotel, was the <b><i>Last Pub Standing</i></b>, a chilled out "local's" local which hosts bands, comedy nights and also has some good beers on tap which can be enjoyed either inside or outside in the covered patio area. I had a <b>stout </b>in here, but failed to note it down, but Jane did say I kept saying how nice it was, and are we having a kebab !! So that was our first day over. Plenty of beer (other drinks were enjoyed by my long suffering Missus), a number of pubs visited and revisited, and a takeaway to look forward to. Marvellous.</div><div> </div><div>Our second day started with a stroll to the nearby railway station. We had decided to take the train to Cromer, take the sea air, and, hopefully, help blow away a few cobwebs from last nights imbibing. After a good long walk, bacon sarnie and (drum roll........) a cup of coffee, we headed to <b><i>The Gangway Cafe</i></b> <b><i>Bar</i></b>, which is located on the main road through the town. In here, I went for the <b>6.5%</b> dank, fruity <b>The End Is Always Near</b>, on tap, which has a nice bitter and citrus finish, which is brewed by <b>Verdant.</b> There is a good selection of craft ales on offer, on tap and in the fridge, and plenty of pastries, cakes and savouries to be had. Next up was a trip across the road, about 2 minutes walk away, and <i><b>The Red Lion Hotel</b></i>. The bar here has a really good selection of local ales, and a lovely outside area which has slate tables which you can chalk on, if you get bored. We didn't need the chalk, as the beers on offer were more than interesting. I had a couple of pints in here, <b>Woodforde's Head Cracker Strong Ale, 7%</b> and full of flavour, followed by a lighter <b>IPA</b> from<b> Green Jack, Mahseer</b>. Both were very good. We finished off our diversion to Norfolk's north coast at the <b><i>Albion.</i></b> the selections in here were not extensive, but cask was available in the form of<b> Doom Bar</b> and <b>Adnams Ghost ship</b>. I opted for the latter and very nice it was too. Resisting candy floss, novelty rock and doughnuts, we walked back to the station, albeit via a chippy ("<i>A man cannot live by beer alone" </i>: Anon), boarded our train, and were soon on our way back to Norwich, ready to prepare ourselves for another session, and, possibly, a bit of pub grub later that evening.</div><div>We stepped out later, retracing our route to the station, and then beyond, down Thorpe Road, until we<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfi8I6gwDO4j-LUBAifM8I1pnKxJIdem26jzUn-g6eKAdZ2JAhVdaF8y9nHybXYxjkrfb8sUqSaXzIAtJRbFB9YtIJ10Ph9RvQUR0cp4WiX6KjqRwZgrxyvgS_AH89_b7K3rV9AJJqOAOSBAxUtc216AZl8VzwoVkOPtx_YwAqELcYn-hdpEC7Feaa/s4608/20210916_175532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2128" data-original-width="4608" height="92" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfi8I6gwDO4j-LUBAifM8I1pnKxJIdem26jzUn-g6eKAdZ2JAhVdaF8y9nHybXYxjkrfb8sUqSaXzIAtJRbFB9YtIJ10Ph9RvQUR0cp4WiX6KjqRwZgrxyvgS_AH89_b7K3rV9AJJqOAOSBAxUtc216AZl8VzwoVkOPtx_YwAqELcYn-hdpEC7Feaa/w199-h92/20210916_175532.jpg" width="199" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>The Fat Cat & Canary</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> arrived at <b><i>The Fat Cat & Canary</i></b>. For some reason, I've never had the pleasure of visiting this highly acclaimed boozer, nor it's sister pub on the other side of the city, on Dereham Road. We sat outside here, after ordering our drinks inside. There are eight cask ales usually available, some from the<b> Fat Cat brewery</b>, alongside craft keg, world lagers and a good selection of ciders. This quirky pub is filled with pub memorabilia too. Jane had one, or rather 2 halves, of the ciders on offer, whilst I endulged in a <b>Fat Cat Lockdown IPA, 5.7%</b>, before sampling ½ a pint of <b>Fat Cat Tom Cat,</b> a<b> 4.1% </b> session<b> IPA</b>. Both were solid enough, with the former being fruitier and a little more crisp than the slightly dank character of the other. Sufficiently refreshed, and refuelled by our halfway pit stop, we pressed on to a wonderful and picturesque spot along the River Yare, near Whittingham Great Broad, where there is a channel that forms a loop and houses a small, but sufficient, collection of pubs and eateries. Our first stop on arriving was <b><i>The Rushcutters Arms</i></b>, a cosy and quaint river side inn serving a selection of cask ales alongside an ample food menu. We had a drink in here, a<b> G & T</b> for the lady, and a<b> Moon Gazer Pintail Norfolk Pale, 3.9%,</b> with a crisp, aromatic finish, which were spot on. We then strolled down to<b><i> The Rivergarden</i></b>, which also shared the same beautiful vista of The Broadlands as<b><i> The Rushcutters,</i></b> and we were certainly indulging in, especially as the sun was setting. We ordered some food, along with more <b>G's and T's</b>, and a <b>Wolf Golden Jackal, a 3.7%</b> , refreshing and light<b> Bitter</b>, followed by another of <b>Moon Gazer'</b>s brews, <b>Jigfoot 4% Golden Ale</b>. Lovely. As full as eggs, we strolled the nearly 2 miles back to our bed. Tomorrow would be our last full day of our Norfolk break, and we were keenly looking forward to it.</div><div>The morning had been decided. Jane wanted to do some of that window peering, looking at, picking up, putting down and going back to later stuff, shopping I think is the technical term for it, whilst I wanted to ogle at old buildings a while, before finding the shortest route to what would be our next pub stop. A midday rendezvous was prepared, and, duly, we ended up in the 17th century <b><i>Coachmakers Arms</i></b>. It was quite busy, mainly locals, but it still is very welcoming of tourists and travellers, and carries a varied selection of ales. We were soon enjoying a <b>Woodforde's Bure Gold, 4.3%,</b> light and bitter-sweet throughout (and served by gravity straight from the barrel) and a cider, in the quiet beer garden. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i>The Champion,</i></b> a <b>Bateman's</b> pub, is only a minute away, so we popped in there too. An <b>XB </b>was swiftly poured, as was an <b>Aspall's Cider</b>. Unfortunately, the <b>XB</b> didn't seem on top form, but still drinkable. We walked back to the hotel, via the <b><i>Adnams shop</i></b>, dropped off our shopping (5 take home beers for me and whatever Jane bought), and out we went again. We fancied a bit of sophistication with our grog, which saw us sat atop of the Norwich Union building, in <b><i>The Rooftop bar</i></b>. The views across the city, and beyond, are beautiful, the drinks? Well, we didn't find out. After being shown to our table we waited for service, and waited, and waited, and waited and......Nah, we weren't gonna waste our time here. We left, not even receiving an apology from the staff, just a shrug of the shoulders. To insist on table service only, and then to ignore your clientele is not good, especially as the place was not even half full. So, we decamped to <b><i>The Last Pub Standing </i></b>where I enjoyed a lovely pint of <b>Tindall Ales Liberator Pale Ale, 3.8%</b>, and Jane, a cold cider. This was a much nicer, and friendlier, experience. Our next stop was<b><i> St Andrew's Brew House,</i></b> a lovely pub with a modern cafe bar vibe. I perused the hand pulls and eventually decided to try the<b> St Andrew's Cork Cutters IPA</b>, which was swiftly followed by a second pint of the same. At <b>4.3%,</b> and displaying all the characteristics of a solid<b> IPA</b>, this was quite a good session Ale. We a stroll down the riverside next before settling down a stone's throw away from the River Wensum at <b><i>The Wig and Pen</i>. Aspall's Cider</b> was on here, and being eagerly enjoyed by my Better 'Arf, which gave me the opportunity to sample <b>Moon Gazer Hare Today Bitter</b> , a malty and very refreshing ale of<b> 4%</b>, before moving on to <b>Moon Gazer Jumper</b>, which was quite sweet and malty at the opening, and had nice big back hoppy notes ( ah, hops, very hoppy, that's why it's called jumper. Thank you brain for only just catching up). Sat outside in the UK, in the all too infrequent sun and warmth, even in September, with a nice pint, or so, of locally brewed ale is, sometimes, as good as it gets. It's a shame we overlook it, or rather, never fully appreciate it. </div><div style="text-align: left;">Later, that evening, we were out again, this time visiting <b><i>The Murderer's</i></b>, which on this Friday was a very busy pub. We were going to eat in here, but was told it would be a while for service, due to the numbers waiting for food. Not to worry, we'd somewhere else later, but for now, a quick pint would suffice. I opted for <b>Wolf Brewery's Edith Cavell, 3.7%</b>, with its nice blackcurrant edge to the bittersweet main body. I can see why this beer is an award winner. Apparently, from the quickly devoured contents of the wife's glass, the<b> G&T </b>wasn't too shabby either. I did want to visit <b><i>The Belgian Monk</i></b> before leaving Norwich, so we walked in that direction, stopping off on the way for a shared <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXzRcHvdIgl0JsusH8AvvaYRmAyc1Q9jj6Z4a7KHRVkkqSV1X4qzTV_gPWxS56yPN4Ti9lTedZBOgJuEu2DBDs5ejvs30T8Lwi0CA6wPxP3fDBq-Y8Ve6lJ4fQNjWJLVxuHpGHB-43KdF8GuUIsOlPfNa-p-yGOagBuI3pjgoylS0ldKFs8_dcD6dJ/s4608/20210917_223720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2128" data-original-width="4608" height="96" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXzRcHvdIgl0JsusH8AvvaYRmAyc1Q9jj6Z4a7KHRVkkqSV1X4qzTV_gPWxS56yPN4Ti9lTedZBOgJuEu2DBDs5ejvs30T8Lwi0CA6wPxP3fDBq-Y8Ve6lJ4fQNjWJLVxuHpGHB-43KdF8GuUIsOlPfNa-p-yGOagBuI3pjgoylS0ldKFs8_dcD6dJ/w207-h96/20210917_223720.jpg" width="207" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>The Belgian Monk</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Italian pizza, and a continental lager each.<b><i> The Belgian Monk </i></b>has a large patio area at the back, bedecked with plenty of big, table covering umbrellas, which, I imagine, transforms into a suntrap during the summer daylight hours. It also has an impressive array of Belgian beers. Jane stayed on the <b>G&T'</b>s whilst I eased myself through a couple of rich, fruity and complex beers. Although spoilt for choice, I eventually plumped for two beers from the <b>Brasserie Caullier</b> range, firstly, the <b>8% Bon Secours Ambree</b>, which is a sweet and wickedly drying brew, following this up with the wonderfully flavoursome <b>Paix Dieu,</b> a <b>Tripel </b>with an ABV of<b> 10%</b>. What a satisfying finish to another good day. Our final few hours, the following day, were spent back in, or rather outside, the<b><i> Red Lion</i></b>, where we reflected on our lovely time that we had spent back in Norfolk. The cider was still going down well opposite me whilst I ended our trip with a pint each of <b>Mr Winters Chevalier Bitter</b> at <b>4.5% , Lacon's Ruska 4.2% Pale Ale</b> and a <b>4.5%</b> creamy <b>Milk Stout</b> from <b>Nene Valley</b>, which was also <b>4.5%</b>. All were very nice, and sustained me well on our journey back to North East Lincolnshire. Our next trip would be Leeds, the following week.</div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><u>Leeds</u></h3><div>The weather had cooled a little for our trip to West Yorkshire, but still kept comfortable enough to ensure the thermal underwear remained packed away at home. Our train journey was uneventful enough, and we were soon looking, easily, for our first pub, en route to our hotel. Sounds familiar!! The industrially chic inspired<b><i> Tapped</i></b> was our opening venue. As we had about 2½ hours before we could check-in at our hotel, a mini session could be indulged in. I started off with a<b> Tapped Brew Co Mojo</b>, a <b>3.6%</b> session <b>Pale Ale</b>, before moving up to a ⅓ of <b>Newbarns Brewery'</b>s <b>11% Plain Dark Beer</b>. The <b>Mojo</b> was ok for an opening beer, if a little bland, whereas the <b>Plain Dark Beer</b> was a firecracker of a brew. <b>Stowford's Cider </b>was the Jane's tipple. We finished our drinks and edged a little further towards our digs, dropping in at <b><i>Whitelock's Ale and Cider House</i></b> on the way. To accompany another <b>Stowford's</b>, I went for a light, refreshingly fruity <b>Sea Of Dreams</b> by the <b>Neptune Brewery</b>, which was <b>4.2%</b>.</div><div><b><i>North Brewing Co's North Bar</i></b> followed, and yielded a lovely pint of <b>4.8% Fruit Lupe (Galaxy & Passion Fruit)</b> from<b> Brass Castle</b>, alongside a <b>Hogan's Cider.</b> That concluded the afternoon's drinking session, and, as planned, our last pub was just a couple of minutes walk away from the hotel. </div><div>After settling in to our room, gnawing through some crisps and a kit kat each, we were soon replenished and ready for adventuring out again. Luckily, just a few yards, across Vicar Lane, was the <b><i>Templar Hotel</i></b>, where I managed a swift pint of <b>Kirkstall Three Swords</b>, an aromatic and crisp <b>Extra Pale Ale</b> of <b>4.5%</b>. This pub is busy, bustling and is a good place to catch up on the daily sports without the coverage drowning out one's conversations. Our next stop was <b><i>Brew York</i></b>, in Brignall, which saw us enjoying a<b> cider</b> and, for me,<b> It's This Way Tony</b>, an <b>APA </b>of<b> 5.2%</b> from the <b>Brew York</b> stable (surprise, surprise), which was floral and resinous, but so easy to drink. <b><i>The Brotherhood of Pusuits and Pastimes </i></b>welcomed us next, but with a lack of craft and cask, <b>Budweiser Budvar</b> had to suffice. We decided to visit one more bar before finding somewhere to eat, and agreed on the nearby <b><i>Wrens</i></b>. The bar had 3 of its hand pulls dispensing and I chose to have a pint of local microbrewery <b>Sunbeam Ales Rain Stops Play</b>, a creamy and fruity <b>Pale Ale</b> of <b>4.5%</b>. With our glasses once again drained, we strolled back down to <b><i>Whitelock's Ale and Cider House</i></b>, for a fry of fish and chips each, washed down by another cider, for Jane, and, for me, a <b>4% Left Handed Giant Dark Mild</b>, which had a nice earthy edge to it. </div><div>After this, although it was only 9-30 in the evening, we were done. We'd been up reasonably early, had a couple of "train beers", supped quite a few brews in a selection of the city's bars, and finished up with full bellies from our lovely pub "chippie" supper, so it was time to waddle back to our Travelodge, barely a 10 minute walk, but 20 minutes waddling away. </div><div>The next morning we were out and about just after 10 o' clock and took a stroll around Leeds<br /> Waterfront, which allowed a few cobwebs to be dislodged from our fuzzy heads. We ended up at the adjoining bars of <b><i>The Hop</i></b> and <b><i>Archies Bar and Kitchen. Archies</i></b> primarily serves draft craft ales, mostly<b> SALT,</b> whilst <b>Ossett</b> cask beers are the mainstay of <b><i>The Hop</i></b>, although both brands are, just like the pubs, a joint venture. Guest beers are also available, and I started off with a lovely draft pint of <b>Thornbridge Allott,</b> a <b>Pink Lemonade Sour<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkq_ioUzSz2HSDKyIa_JwWXwTS5M19QxAAMqWw3I6c-2beDjYWoB-0f7pNYeSsci-hS10-l9TwJn0Uc5uO0K6uW7mCEFgvkqq0F5URSET9JQK2aSOiZrQXeSltC_41Winwg9UouXXzhdIyQgLWYI_I49j02tBtlFSACx0yk737nbwEia25osFik3p-/s4608/20210923_134837.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2128" data-original-width="4608" height="82" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkq_ioUzSz2HSDKyIa_JwWXwTS5M19QxAAMqWw3I6c-2beDjYWoB-0f7pNYeSsci-hS10-l9TwJn0Uc5uO0K6uW7mCEFgvkqq0F5URSET9JQK2aSOiZrQXeSltC_41Winwg9UouXXzhdIyQgLWYI_I49j02tBtlFSACx0yk737nbwEia25osFik3p-/w177-h82/20210923_134837.jpg" width="177" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Archies Bar & Kitchen, Leeds.</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table></b> of <b>4.8%</b>, which really awakened my palate, before moving on to <b>SALT Citra,</b> a sessionable <b>4.5%</b> Juicy <b>NEIPA</b>, and finishing with a wander next door to try a <b>3.8% </b>cask <b>bitter, Ossett Butterley</b>, and I wasn't disappointed. We left here, after Jane had finished her couple of coffees, quite refreshed, headed back underneath the station, but over the canal (you'll know what I mean if you've ever been to this area of Leeds) and dropped in at <b><i>The Head of Steam</i></b>. Whilst my beloved got back on the <b>cider</b>, I went "retro" with an old school <b>4.3% Camerons Strongarm</b>, with its tight creamy head and characteristic malty main body, which went down very well indeed.<b><i> The Banker's Cat</i></b>, a <b>Thornbridge</b> owned boozer, where I enjoyed three different brews by the host brewery, <b>Astryd</b> was the first, a Juicy <b>Pale Ale</b> of<b> 3.8%, Lukas</b> a refreshing <b>4.2% Helles</b>, ending up with, seemingly, everyone's favourite <b>Thornbridge</b> brew,<b> Jaipur</b>. This <b>5.9% IPA</b> is just so solid, and always a pleasure to indulge in. Our next, and final, port of call for the afternoon was <b><i>Assembly Underground</i></b>, a brilliant multi tap craft ale and street food hub, located, well, underground, in a basement. This is a great place to experience, and has something for most people to enjoy, whether it's one of the many draft beers on tap, or the plethora of food styles on offer. Jane had her usual offering of <b>cider</b>, on this occasion it was<b> Hogan's</b>, whilst I had <b>Verdant's Shipping Forecast</b>, a wonderful full flavoured<b> Imperial Porter</b> of <b>10.3%</b> as a starter, followed by <b>Deya's Steady Rolling Man</b>. This<b> 5.3% Pale Ale</b> was enjoyed with a Shawarma, one of the spicy street food offerings, and combined very well (looks like I'm doing food pairings now).</div><div>For the evening, we had booked into the Mowgli Street Food Restaurant, more spice in our lives, so decided to take it easy. We left our digs about 7-30, strolled down to the Boar Lane area, and then dropped in at <b><i>The Leeds Tap</i></b>. I had <b>Leeds Pale Ale</b> in here, which was good, followed by<b> Midnight Bell,</b> which I thought wasn't quite on song. We then went to enjoy some excellent Indian food in Mowgli's. We really enjoy the experience of these restaurants, and this visit did not disappoint at all. After the meal, we went for our last drinks of the evening, around at <b><i>Friends of Ham</i></b>. A large Bailey's for the wife, and a <b>8% </b>big, fruity, almost dessert like,<b> Overtone Chufft, DIPA</b> was my treat. A comfortable way to finish our second day. </div><div>Friday morning was taken up by a visit to The Armouries, a spot of brunch and a bit of window shopping. We then went our own ways for a couple of hours, I don't really care for looking in fashion outlets, and Jane likes to have a break from pub-hunting and beer swilling. So, after finding my bearings, doubting myself and then re-plotting my route to align with exactly where I thought I was heading in the first place (something I find I have to do more and more as I get older), I found myself supping a wondrous half pint of <b>SALT The Hexagon Project #08 Imperial IPA</b>, weighing in at<b> 8%</b>, in <b><i>SALT, East Parade</i></b>, following this up with a<b> Huckaback NEIPA, 5.5%.</b> Both were very good, but the <b>IIPA</b> particularly so. </div><div>We'd arranged to meet back at <b><i>Tapped</i></b>, but being a few minutes earlier than I'd expected, I dropped into <i>The West Riding Hotel Bar</i> and had a quite decent pint of<b> Leeds Pale Ale. </b></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDqEOpWpFqIvqNGs_2P5YNO0SCX_7Znv-C5tE8i2meBi8ZkADQVZvmoA1fWEgC8CyFzbjQpdEBEa0HWQvuXbuZOSvqjG9YUonlCjpytfOWG1kD1XoWlzTGVDWkYxx-MOozV8ktd6KhRBb19R6sLXNL_4FI3LEDcjsrPrkI2i24oBMwrPn8lOsRwBYz/s4608/20210924_144527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2128" data-original-width="4608" height="71" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDqEOpWpFqIvqNGs_2P5YNO0SCX_7Znv-C5tE8i2meBi8ZkADQVZvmoA1fWEgC8CyFzbjQpdEBEa0HWQvuXbuZOSvqjG9YUonlCjpytfOWG1kD1XoWlzTGVDWkYxx-MOozV8ktd6KhRBb19R6sLXNL_4FI3LEDcjsrPrkI2i24oBMwrPn8lOsRwBYz/w153-h71/20210924_144527.jpg" width="153" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Beerhawk Bar.</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Atom x McColl's 6% IPA, Feedback Loops</b> and <b>Magic Rock Psychokinesis NEIPA, 6.5%</b> were my next two beers, once I'd met up again with my intrepid shopper in <b><i>Tapped</i></b>, before moving on to <b><i>Beer Hawk Bar, </i></b>just a couple of minutes away. On our visit, alongside the various cans and bottles for drinking in, or take-away, 12 draft pumps were dispensing a further variety of craft ales, one cider <b>(Hogan's), Aperol Spritz</b> and <b>Budweiser.</b> I suppose that ticks all the drinking boxes! I started out on<br /> <b>Phantom Brewery's Huge Pitch Project Pineapple, Mango and Orange Sour, 7.1%,</b> which was no surprise to be fruity and sour, following up with a <b>Beerhawk x Brew York Barrack Oklava Baklava</b>, a big hitting<b> 9.5% Imperial Stout</b> which was, almost, chewable in its mouthfeel. I liked it in here, a really good "vibe" abounds, but we only stayed for a couple, as we had decided to go for some food before enjoying our last night in Leeds. We decided on <b><i>Pie Minister</i></b> for, obviously, a pie and mash teatime treat, it was very good too, and they do their own ( brewed by <b>Bath Ales</b>) <b>Pie PA</b>, which was an ok, no thrills beer that was a good pairing with the food.</div><div>That evening we headed out just after 7pm, and, with it being a Friday, it was definitely noticeable that more people were out in the city, but it was still quite comfortable, and not rammed, in most pubs. we started off in <b><i>Crowd of Favours</i></b>, enjoying the patio area, out at the back, with a <b>Turning Point x Almasty Unnatural Selection IPA, 6%</b>, a fruity brew with a slick back bittersweetness, and a cider for Jane. <b><i>Hop</i></b> was revisited next, and cask <b>Ossett Excelsius</b>, a light, refreshing, easy drinking fruity <b>Pale Ale </b>of <b>5.2%</b> was soon ordered, as was a <b>G&T.</b> Once these were downed, we wandered a little further along the Quays, and dropping in at <b><i>Craft Asylum,</i></b> a modern looking bar, also under the<b> SALT</b> umbrella. I managed another couple of craft beers in here, both from the host brewery, and both very good.<b>Hessian</b>, a <b>Coffee Porter, 6.2%</b>, which had a nice vanilla edge to temper the coffee, and the <b>5% Crash APA</b>, a fruit bomb of a beer. After these, and the <b>G&T</b>'s, I took Jane to<b><i> SALT East Parade</i></b>, where I'd started out my drinking journey earlier today. This morning it had been quiet, reserved, as I was the first visitor of the day, tonight, it was a full, lively music bar, and the music was good. A bit of 80's, 90's and Dance favourites, a bit of something for most, including us, the old dinosaurs. I repeated the drinks I'd enjoyed earlier in here, and we reflected on our time back in Leeds. It is evolving all the time. Where cask was king, the newer craft beers now have a foothold. It is a place that welcomes visitors well, and looks after them with good old fashioned Northern friendliness, and offers eclectic choices in its hospitality. The following morning, as we waited for our train, we popped back for a last couple of beers in <b><i>Archie's</i></b> and further concluded that another trip to Leeds needs to be planned.</div><div><br /></div><div>Our only other major drinking trip of 2021 was to Newcastle, in November. We only had 2 nights here, but still managed a fair few bars, and supped a few beers. Our first drink was at <b><i>The Centurion</i></b>, on the station. This former first class waiting room has a wonderful interior, which has been painstakingly restored. The tiles adorning the inside of the bar are valued at nearly £4 million alone. <b>The Great North Eastern Brewing Rivet Catcher, 4%</b> was my starter, and a fine pint it was too. A good start to our mini break. Next up was a paddle of beers in the nearby <b><i>Town Wall</i></b>. My paddle consisted of two <br />beers from <b>Fell Brewery</b>, a <b>Brown Ale</b> of <b>4.8%</b> called <b>Sepia</b>, and <b>Atlantic Crossings Transatlantic Blonde, 4.2%. Atom's 4.5% Decibel Pale Ale</b> and <b>Toon Waal Ale, 4.1%</b> and brewed by<b> Errant </b>made up the quartet.All were very enjoyable. Our next port of call was <b><i>Gunner Tavern </i></b>where the dark, sweet and malty <b>Firebrick Toon Broon, 4.6%</b> was swiftly put away. As it was nearly time for us to check into our hotel, we only managed one more drink, this time in the <b><i>Newcastle Tap</i></b>. Jane ordered the drinks whilst I "paid a visit", so I have no idea what was ordered, other than a fruity<b> IPA/NEIPA</b>.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfLpP8F6dKlLTzinKHBebkm_TGpElM2w4Fn9MNBpP5K1zkWvE0cQQPrpW-gLo7fMdF0KmSaMgC0E4a6P7vlbi0DMGekOsRDNlpgC0jXSmnq9A37gx8oyyE878r6_zeXb9X6ad9ZRNbDvdWD_6JRyrvS5_ENgLSBjD5REmaUUfLwGiTeyatV-VkrePy/s3264/20211110_134332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1504" data-original-width="3264" height="107" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfLpP8F6dKlLTzinKHBebkm_TGpElM2w4Fn9MNBpP5K1zkWvE0cQQPrpW-gLo7fMdF0KmSaMgC0E4a6P7vlbi0DMGekOsRDNlpgC0jXSmnq9A37gx8oyyE878r6_zeXb9X6ad9ZRNbDvdWD_6JRyrvS5_ENgLSBjD5REmaUUfLwGiTeyatV-VkrePy/w234-h107/20211110_134332.jpg" width="234" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>The Town Wall Paddle.</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div>After we'd found our hotel, along The Quayside, we decided to take a short stroll over Swing Bridge, which is a swing bridge, to Gateshead, starting of at <b><i>By The River Brew Co</i></b>. The selection in here was quite good, and included <b>By The River Big Trouble In Little Gateshead Imperial Stout</b>, a heavyweight, at <b>14%</b>. Now this was a good brew. Heavy on dark fruit cake notes, coffee, some back tobacco, but too easy to drink. Our next stop, also in Gateshead, was <b><i>The Central</i></b>, a boozer with a homely "local" feel about it, and with the facade reminiscent of a miniature Flatiron Building, and I do mean miniature. I chose <b>Errant Change Is Gonna Come IPA, 5.3%</b>, from the range of about a dozen cask and keg lines, and very nice it was too. It was now getting on a bit, and the yawns were suggesting an early night, but we did manage another couple of drinks before bedtime, after walking back over the river, this time utilising the iconic structure of The Tyne Bridge. We eventually dropped in at<b><i> The Bridge Hotel</i></b>. Another local <b>pale ale</b> was on offer at the bar, among the cask range, the name of which has now evaded me, but I was soon enjoying a swift pint of this before finishing off with a pint of <b>Hadrian Border Brewery Farne Island,</b> in <b><i>JDW's The Quayside</i></b>, which was a stone's throw from our Travelodge. </div><div>We didn't rush out the following day, it was cold, drizzly, miserable and certainly not a morning for exploration (I can't remember any stories of my ancestors being on voyages of discovery on cold and miserable Novembers in years past), but the clouds were due to stop yielding the wet stuff by lunchtime, so our next voyage around the city was on. Starting in <b><i>The Newcastle Tap</i></b>, with a pint of <b>Tapped Haze, 5%</b>, before moving on to the <b><i>The Bridge Tavern</i></b>, then the<b><i> Akenside Tavern</i></b>, both of which had good beer selections, before moving back down to Quayside, and, after a spot of "touristy stuff", having a drink at <b><i>Brewdog's Urban Garden</i></b>, an open, outdoor bar which is definitely a bit airish, to say the least, in November. <b><i>The Head of Steam,</i></b> and a pint of <b>Errant Loose Cannon Equanot Pale, 4.4%</b>, was next, followed by <b>Wylam's Writers' Block</b>, a<b> 4.3% Pale Ale</b>, enjoyed in<b><i> The Broad Chare.</i></b> We curtailed our afternoon here, returning to our hotel, before popping out later in the evening, for a bite to eat. We'd decided on some food, and a couple of drinks, back in the <b><i>Head of Steam,</i></b> but on the way we dropped into the bar at <b><i>Chart House Restaurant</i></b>, and I wasn't disappointed in my pint of <b>Three Brothers Trilogy Blond</b>e, a refreshing <b>3.9%</b> brew, on cask.</div><div>Our final day in Newcastle was spent just around the station area, starting at <b><i>The Delta Lounge,</i></b> taproom for the <b>Alpha Delta brewery,</b> where the brewer's own <b>Apollo Citra IPA, 6%</b>, and <b>Big Blue Birthday Blue Double IPA, 8.5%</b>, were greatly enjoyed. I picked up some beers for home in here,<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ENSQ_aiAzwJzgAmETjvUIWregSvvtsg6uK5M5TOc4CloEwK0aqVVeJxnKhEPfK8bQtFw4ftUDMZ6XFt37nkM3gVmHWU36PrSE1PSunWMPqSNtoB1Q_y6qhp0pkReSkt5ckr1YwJyBJB8sMr-qlsQGLAhR9WnkbVi5RGbuYevjS65C3WCbw0Lod3l/s4608/20211112_131254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="2128" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ENSQ_aiAzwJzgAmETjvUIWregSvvtsg6uK5M5TOc4CloEwK0aqVVeJxnKhEPfK8bQtFw4ftUDMZ6XFt37nkM3gVmHWU36PrSE1PSunWMPqSNtoB1Q_y6qhp0pkReSkt5ckr1YwJyBJB8sMr-qlsQGLAhR9WnkbVi5RGbuYevjS65C3WCbw0Lod3l/w85-h158/20211112_131254.jpg" width="85" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Big Blue's <br />Birthday</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> prior to Jane nipping to do a bit of shopping whilst I was visiting <b><i>The Split Chimp</i></b> (<b>Beartown Polar Eclipse, Black Treacle and Burnt Toffee Stout</b>, and also a half pint of <b>Three Kings Clever Chimp Session Blonde</b>), collecting another couple of "home" beers on the way out. We met up again in <b><i>Beer Street Micropub and Bottle Shop</i></b>, where <b>Art Cars</b>, from <b>Dig Brew</b> and <b>S43 Brewery's Duck Duck Juice</b>, both <b>5.5%</b>, were my chosen beers, before moving on to the station for our train home.</div><div>What did we make of Newcastle? Well, it's not lacking in pubs, Independent brewers or taprooms. Our visit wasn't long enough to allow us to visit the Byker area, which houses another good selection of boozers and breweries and taprooms. We have agreed to revisit Newcastle again, and try and dig out a few more jewels from this North Eastern hotspot.</div><div><b>Cheers, and keep it "Real"</b></div>Steve Fosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725444056654111446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129469376598056437.post-54120149495674428482022-04-18T17:30:00.003+01:002022-04-18T17:30:57.160+01:00UK Staycation 2021. Part 2. Edinburgh. Auld Reekie.<p> As the summer started to relinquish its warmth, and give way to the first cooler breaths of the oncoming autumn months, we were again boarding a train, this time going over the border from England, and into Scotland. Our destination was to be the beautiful and historically architectural gem of a city, Edinburgh. We were really looking forward to this visit, but, as the pandemic was still ongoing, we weren't quite sure as to how "open" Scotland's capital city would be. Whatever we may face on the restrictions front, we were determined to have a good, and boozy, time! </p><div style="text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPGvMHRAiYfRf980musXByBd2iiqUYCDNFbkebKmLIQ1spHO3Z6RDmyvxQzLUwwn88en6iKRigW8XfYH832Dyulv5df94-c6TsagFMUqUCljWUz63y0BGlEON5uSzdqHoJ0ovqqC7i15N83Y7L1SLYlMH3K_EK4scpiMHXov5a30xLgtk3qjgy-jZB/s4608/20210907_162238.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="2128" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPGvMHRAiYfRf980musXByBd2iiqUYCDNFbkebKmLIQ1spHO3Z6RDmyvxQzLUwwn88en6iKRigW8XfYH832Dyulv5df94-c6TsagFMUqUCljWUz63y0BGlEON5uSzdqHoJ0ovqqC7i15N83Y7L1SLYlMH3K_EK4scpiMHXov5a30xLgtk3qjgy-jZB/w108-h200/20210907_162238.jpg" width="108" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bellfield<br />Lawless Village.</td></tr></tbody></table><u style="font-weight: bold;">Day One</u> . We arrived in "Auld Reekie" (which gets its nickname, meaning "Old Smoky", from the days when smoke from open coal and peat fires hung over the the city like fog) just after lunch and, with just less than a couple of hours to wait until we could check in to our hotel, we decided to find a bar and slake our thirst. We initially tried to get into Cask Smugglers, adjacent to Waverley Station, but, as it was so busy, places were certainly at a premium so we had a wander, found our bearings and looked for another venue. We homed in on a bar across the road and about a 5 minute walk away, namely <i style="font-weight: bold;">The Newsroom Bar & Eatery, </i>an easy going and modern looking bar facing the National Records of Scotland building. Keg and bottled beers alongside the usual offerings, are available. In here, I went for <b>Bellfield Brewery Lawless Village IPA, 4.5%, </b>a rather middle of the road brew but still satisfying enough with soft tropical notes nestled on top of easy grapefruit and zest. Jane opted for the cider, which was the dry and crisp <b>Orchard Thieves.</b> It was pleasant sat in the window here, watching the world go by, whilst we refreshed ourselves after our journey. We did, though, have a hotel to find and were soon stepping back out into the warm Scottish sunshine and retracing our steps back towards Edinburgh's Waverley Station, and then beyond there, over the busy North Bridge and into the Old Town area. We were staying at the Travelodge (Edinburgh Central) in St Mary's Street, which on-route gave us our first view of The Royal Mile and, in the distance, the impressive St Giles's Cathedral, which all seemed to be totally enveloped by the atmospheric and haunting music of the bagpipes. You couldn't have been mistaken by being anywhere else! After we had easily found the location of or base, I was aware that there was a highly rated pub just around the corner, namely <i style="font-weight: bold;">The Holyrood 9A. </i>There was a nice selection of cask and craft keg beers on here, and I first chose the <b>Campervan Brewery Leith Juice Session IPA, 4.7%, </b>which was, well, juicy and had a nice citrus edge. I followed this up with a schooner of <b>Fallen Brewing Co Local Motive, 3.9%</b><i style="font-weight: bold;">, </i>a traditional <b>English Bitter. </b>This was a bit more hoppy than I expected, but still was very good. Both, as I recall, were craft keg. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_DDKYFNdGwe34yKGFGWaQ-XhBa4sLd9ql0YkePz0bVdERwhmvmyCB_AvYcmtUjifc77sG0hdhlJns4WLKZxLBPbV98buHrzmyQ1cSg_HnXtS9NvXlJ-_Sj-x9XjpbbP_YmplwFObw7nUOMLLiaYt0zDHM2HwgFhpiSgcicm7UJRqujBBMwuIl-QI_/s4608/20210907_182248.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2128" data-original-width="4608" height="92" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_DDKYFNdGwe34yKGFGWaQ-XhBa4sLd9ql0YkePz0bVdERwhmvmyCB_AvYcmtUjifc77sG0hdhlJns4WLKZxLBPbV98buHrzmyQ1cSg_HnXtS9NvXlJ-_Sj-x9XjpbbP_YmplwFObw7nUOMLLiaYt0zDHM2HwgFhpiSgcicm7UJRqujBBMwuIl-QI_/w200-h92/20210907_182248.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Black Bull in<br />Grassmarket Square</td></tr></tbody></table>After we had checked into our hotel, freshened ourselves up, changed and reviewed Google Maps for any hidden gems we had not already done our homework on , we set out to discover what Grassmarket Square and the surrounding area, stopping in at Greyfriars Kirkyard and discovering not only the monuments to Greyfriars Bobby, but also the final resting place of William McGonagall, known, maybe rather cruelly, as one of Scotland's worst poets. J.K. Rowling was also said to have taken inspiration for her some of her characters names in the "Harry Potter" stories from the headstones sitting in this peaceful graveyard. After this brief intermission, we strolled back out and across the road to Grassmarket, a lovely old marketplace in the shadows of Edinburgh Castle, which originally was the main trading area of the city for centuries, as well as the Executioners place of work until 1784. Its buildings now house a range of artisans, independent traders <br />and, of course, bars and restaurants. After our stroll, we decided on <b style="font-style: italic;">The Black Bull , </b>a bar under the <b>Cold Town Beer </b>umbrella, to quench our thirst. In here, or rather outside here, whilst Jane had a cider, I opted for <b>Cold Town Beer NEIPA, 5.5%.</b> Tropical fruit come to the fore, with a nice rounded citrus finish. It was so nice I had another. As with all the bars in this area of Edinburgh, the interior of the bar is, seemingly, dripping in history, and the walls display hints of yesteryear. Our next pub was the nearby <b>Fiddler's Arms, </b>which, due to the gradual reopening of leisure premises, only had limited beers on offer. After scanning the counter, fully masked, I went for <b>Williams Bros Joker IPA, 5%, </b>which was ok, but, unfortunately, it was not at its best. The bar itself was welcoming, as were the staff and its patrons, which seems to be the case where ever you choose to stop and have a drink in Edinburgh. Our next venue was just a five minute walk away from here, <b><i>The Bow Bar</i></b>, which became a favourite of mine during our visit. There is a good selection of real ales, served by Air Pressure Tall Fonts, a traditional Scottish method of serving cask beers, I was told, which is gradually dying out. Craft keg beers are also available, alongside a bewildering array of whiskies. I decided to go for <b>Tempest The Pale Armadillo, Session IPA, 3.8%,</b> which had a lovely zesty citrus lacing at the back, complimenting the slight candy fruitiness in the main. The cider was <b>Cidersmith's Craft Cider,</b> which was crisp and dry, and apple-y. Seeing that we were in Scotland, I felt it would have been bad manners not to try one or two drops of the local spirit After talking to the brilliantly knowledgeable staff, and my preferences noted on what I liked, and didn't like (I don't really do those big smoky whiskies) I was steered towards a wonderful Scotch Whisky,<i> Auchentoshun 12 Year Old Single Malt </i>was the bartender's recommendation, and, boy, was it a good one. I could have stayed all night, but we had to start our meander back to the hotel, all fuzzy and warm! What a great start to our stay.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><u><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixjDg_Wa8jWTz68cEx11zVIxr_Duzay7Prhmtqi2BRZq3lqFXxG41HKg9zDt93vpf3w6KVv6YxDfSFdi-FxXAoIkht5gzOKw3rMUpCmSzznucIA1L_6lyCtq04auuHKSZ1a_Pu79YLDEaTx0fTW8fvbMtoXK-hP24T86PpDw1AjXJpDJdNPrSqW2fw/s4608/20210908_165036.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="2128" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixjDg_Wa8jWTz68cEx11zVIxr_Duzay7Prhmtqi2BRZq3lqFXxG41HKg9zDt93vpf3w6KVv6YxDfSFdi-FxXAoIkht5gzOKw3rMUpCmSzznucIA1L_6lyCtq04auuHKSZ1a_Pu79YLDEaTx0fTW8fvbMtoXK-hP24T86PpDw1AjXJpDJdNPrSqW2fw/w93-h200/20210908_165036.jpg" width="93" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tranquility on <br />the Water of Leith</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Day Two</b>.</u><span style="font-weight: normal;"> We were up and out at a reasonable time, if 10-00 am fits into that envelope, as we had booked to visit Edinburgh Castle. I won't bore you with the details, but, needless to say, it is awash with Scottish and British history and well worth the trip, even if some parts were still not open, due to the circumstances thrust upon us all by coronavirus. We spent well over two hours in here before heading back out for a spot of lunch. We started by having a quick pint,</span><span><b> Stewart's 80/- Scottish Heavy, 4.4%</b></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">, in the </span><span><b><i>Last Drop Inn</i></b></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">, which had a wonderful malty backbone to it, before dropping in at </span><span><b><i>The Beehive Inn</i></b></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">. Owned by</span><span><b> Greene King,</b></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> under the</span><span><b> Belhaven Pubs </b></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">banner, our visit coincided with a lack of any cask ales at all, so I opted for a rather poor </span><span><b>Belhaven Best</b></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">, the name seemed ironic. The food was enjoyable enough though, and set us up well for the second outing of the day, a walk to the picturesque idyll of Dean Village, an oasis of peace on the Water of Leith, just 10 minutes away from the hustle and bustle of the city.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Later on, after a brief rest back at the hotel, we ventured out again, stopping off first at </span><span><b><i>The Jolly Judge</i></b></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">. This well reviewed hostelry, which has an ever changing line-up of brews, is situated just off the Lawnmarket area of the Royal Mile, is well worth a visit, although we only stayed for one on our call. </span><span><b>Two by Two Mosaic, Amarillo and Ekuanot IPA, 5%</b></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">, a lovely hazy, fruity brew, was my choice, and very nice too. As it was quite busy, and space being a a bit short, we bade farewell, which allowed another party to wander in and enjoy a beer or two. Next up was </span><span><b><i>The Ensign Ewart</i></b></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">, just a short stroll away. It usually carries 4 cask ales, but our visit saw only 2 on. I opted for the local </span><span><b>Stewart's Pentland IPA, 3.9%</b></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">, a lightly fruity brew with a nice hop finish. We popped into</span><span><b><i> The Castle Arms</i></b></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> next, just before it closed, it did seem like a quiet night around Castlehill area now, and sampled a pint of the really nice, sweet and malt driven </span><span><b>4.3% Scotch Ale </b></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">brewed by </span><span><b>Stewart's</b></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> for the pub under the name </span><span><b>Castle Arms No. 3.</b></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> During the day and early evening, a veranda is open at the back, which offers good views over the West Bow whilst one can enjoy a beverage, or two. We must try that next time we come.. One thing definitely worth mentioning too is that so many of the pubs in the area have excellent food menus, and foodies are very well catered for, with many dishes including quality local ingredients. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">We managed another couple of bars before returning to our hotel, firstly we went back to </span><span><b><i>The Bow Bar,<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs9hREU70MErTIlLFBGRjxRh3bt7M1zN0PVA4onEZ2gFNve0EG_Smsbq5nN93XSy_nQES8UDavOChRUTfad7Y5_laQfcG5DrmPfHi7giPTIFgcx6AcGFeC1FewlaDC7bArx5ZLWmT-XqhbkehqPn9r5BUqLtlNSBtKqLtofxNBSxItOg8_WLKh5-n5/s4608/20210907_204916.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2128" data-original-width="4608" height="93" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs9hREU70MErTIlLFBGRjxRh3bt7M1zN0PVA4onEZ2gFNve0EG_Smsbq5nN93XSy_nQES8UDavOChRUTfad7Y5_laQfcG5DrmPfHi7giPTIFgcx6AcGFeC1FewlaDC7bArx5ZLWmT-XqhbkehqPn9r5BUqLtlNSBtKqLtofxNBSxItOg8_WLKh5-n5/w200-h93/20210907_204916.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The drinks choice in<br />The Bow Bar takes some<br />beating.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></i></b></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> where I had </span><span><b>Crossborders Braw,</b></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> a </span><span><b>Tropical Pale Ale </b></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">of </span><span><b>5.2%</b></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">, followed by a measure of <i>Arbelour 12 year old Scotch Whisky</i>, another satisfying drop, expertly chosen for me by the bar team. Our last bar for the night was </span><span><b><i>Brewdog,</i></b></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> a stones throw from our hotel. We were the only customers in here, but it was getting late. Jane had been imbibing on G & T's all evening so decided on a soft drink, whilst I chose to start with a 2/3rd's glass of </span><span><b> Brewdog Mallow Lazer Quest, 6%,</b></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> before concluding the night on another schooner of </span><span><b>Brewdog Cosmic Crush Raspberry 4.5%</b></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">. Both were ok, but I do find some of these drinks a little "gimmicky". </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><u><b>Day Three.</b></u><span style="font-weight: normal;"> The day started on a slightly damper note, (rain and drizzle in Scotland? Surely unheard of!!) but we had already decided to visit the National Museum of Scotland during the morning, so it didn't impact too much on our plans at all. We spent about 3 hours in here, amongst galleries filled with various antiquities and artefacts. Some I can remember from my childhood and teenage years. Does this make these historically interesting objects seem too new to be in here, or am I getting old? Anyway, at the end we still had more to see. Not bad for a free entry event. Next, a trip back to </span><span><b><i>Bow Bar</i></b></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">, where a </span><span><b>Cromarty AKA IPA, 6.7%</b></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> ( a very good beer that eased our thirst easily) was quickly followed by a </span><span><b>4.2%</b></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> smooth and crisp </span><span><b>Blonde Ale</b></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> from </span><span><b>Fallen Brewing, </b>called <b>Odyssey</b></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">. Our next stop, after a bit of sightseeing, was back towards the station, in </span><span><b><i>Brewhemia</i></b></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">. This is a large, trendy bar, which has a few craft ales on tap, usually the more commercially available ones, alongside International lagers on draught and bottled. In here we chose</span><span><b> Goose Island IPA, 5.9%,</b></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> whilst Jane had </span><span><b>Stewart's Brewing Lager</b></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">, weighing in at 4%. Both were quite standard, and as expected. I finished off in this bar with a pleasing, medium sweet, bready and thirst quenching </span><span><b>Paulaner Munchner Hell, 4.9%.</b></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> We wandered back towards our hotel, stopping briefly at </span><span><b><i>OX184</i></b></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> where Jane had a soft drink, whilst I had the </span><span><b>Stewart's Brewing Edinburgh Gold, 4.8%,</b></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> before finishing off our afternoon session at </span><span><b><i>Salt Horse Beer Shop & Bar</i></b></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">. Jane had the cider in here, I can't remember which one though, whilst I had a </span><span><b>Pilot Mochaccino, 5.5%</b></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">, before doing a bit of shopping onsite and settling down to a </span><span><b>Black Isle Blonde, 4.5%</b></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">. Both were very good.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1mpGpJle8KaToWVEl6MiVBCH4ulz0Kby-LY_SD1VeBzAufQ4d21XzMUhpu60nKuqeDGbjWSXDqADORhP5Y6Vf421__U09N78oyOm3Gsg8J5YZiDVLEr-SP6R26LX9WGfT-5RYoqRize4pD4xh8BfVYMyRUrpHXMlqt-aDZ7NWFqtqPtimFo6mlW7i/s4608/20210909_205257.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="2128" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1mpGpJle8KaToWVEl6MiVBCH4ulz0Kby-LY_SD1VeBzAufQ4d21XzMUhpu60nKuqeDGbjWSXDqADORhP5Y6Vf421__U09N78oyOm3Gsg8J5YZiDVLEr-SP6R26LX9WGfT-5RYoqRize4pD4xh8BfVYMyRUrpHXMlqt-aDZ7NWFqtqPtimFo6mlW7i/w93-h200/20210909_205257.jpg" width="93" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hollyrood Pale<br />from Stewart's </td></tr></tbody></table><br />Our final evening in Edinburgh included a delicious meal at <i style="font-weight: bold;">Howies Restaurant, </i>Victoria Street, which saw us starting off with Haggis, Neeps & Tatties before moving on to two wonderful fish dishes, and a sweet (for the lady), washed down with a couple of G&T's (also for Jane), a couple of bottles of <b>Stewart's Hollyrood Pale Ale, 5% </b>and a Whisky Flight. The Craft Whisky selection was made up of <i>Auchentoshan 12 year old, Highland Park 12 year old,</i> and <i>Macallan Gold</i>. I'm getting to like those good whiskies again. The food, the drinks, the service and the ambience of this restaurant were just perfect, and left us with a wonderful feeling of being spoilt. Although we were stuffed, a little tipsy but more than satisfied with our indulgent evening, we still managed to waddle the small distance back to <b><i>The Bow Bar</i></b> for a soft drink (guess who's?) a lovely rich, full bodied <b>Crossborders Heavy, 4.1%</b>, and another well chosen Single Malt,<i> Balvenie Doublewood 12 year old</i>. We would sleep well tonight.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><span><u style="font-weight: bold;">Day Four. </u> Our final day started just before noon, after checking out of our hotel, and we decided to take things a little steady, as we only had around 4 hours before our train was due to depart, and had to squeeze in a spot of lunch somewhere along the way. After stashing our bags at the bag-drop within Waverley Station, we wandered over to the Rose Street area, which we hadn't really had much time to look at since we arrived. We had had our breakfast in the impressive former bank building in the neighbouring George Street, now a JD Wetherspoon pub called<b><i> The Standing Order</i></b>, on the previous morning, and skirted past it on the way to and from Dean Village, but not really stopped and explored what was on offer. Wandering along we soon became aware that some bars were still closed until later in the day, probably down to the ongoing restrictions, but one that was open was <b><i>Fierce Bar.</i></b> This<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitX2IH8gDHlkYGXooqeCi9sMPZHoKLeRpNq4z8xZ-lUJcKetav2Kya4vsAYEmaKcLudzgP2wNHANMgwa12_Fm8CVvxSzlox6b9_D5rU6ib662kW2d17suHmUuzQ5akepYROCwi0xXpnOwH1eyJL4S87v4hXdYcgGLZq8dITNHLVDubj9D2QQNXqR35/s4608/20210910_131525.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2128" data-original-width="4608" height="93" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitX2IH8gDHlkYGXooqeCi9sMPZHoKLeRpNq4z8xZ-lUJcKetav2Kya4vsAYEmaKcLudzgP2wNHANMgwa12_Fm8CVvxSzlox6b9_D5rU6ib662kW2d17suHmUuzQ5akepYROCwi0xXpnOwH1eyJL4S87v4hXdYcgGLZq8dITNHLVDubj9D2QQNXqR35/w200-h93/20210910_131525.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The drinks menu in <br />Fierce Bar, Edinburgh</td></tr></tbody></table><br /> small, compact and sparsely decorated bar has a great selection of beers on the menu, 20 taps are available for dispensing the brews along with a vast selection of bottles and cans from not only from the <b>Fierce Beer</b> brewery, but other craft brewers far and wide too. I had a couple of beers in here, starting with a juicy, hazy and well balanced <b>6.7% Moonraker 4 </b></span><b>NEIPA ,</b> from Estonian brewers <b>Pohjala,</b> before easing through the fabulous <b>Fierce Beer F.A.B. Barley Wine, 12.5%</b>, which was full of boozy richness with bourbon barrel notes and complimentary coconut spikes. A great brace of beers in a marvellous pub.</div><div>Next, we wandered down to <b><i>The Auld Hundred</i></b> for something to eat, where I reacquainted myself with another <b>Cold Town Beer NEIPA</b>. With lunch finished, we shot back to <b><i>The Bow Bar</i></b> for one last pint, <b>Stewart's 80/-,</b> and a dram, <i>Loch Lomond Inchmurrin Madeira Wood Finish</i>. We had our last drinks in Edinburgh back at <b><i>The Newsroom Bar & Eatery,</i></b> the ubiquitous cider and a <b>Caledonian Brewing Co Coast To Coast, </b>which was a smooth and rounded brew with a citrus kick at the end. This had been a lovely few days away, which had shot by all too soon. The bars we had dropped into were all pretty central, and didn't tell half the story of the real ale and craft beer revolution of this city. There are so many more venues waiting to be discovered by the Beer Tourist, and we would love to revisit Auld Reekie again. I hope you have enjoyed reading about our little trip, and until next time..</div><div><b>Cheers, and keep it Real.</b></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Steve Fosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725444056654111446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129469376598056437.post-6654488013771755252022-02-17T17:00:00.000+00:002022-02-17T17:00:08.396+00:00UK Staycation 2021 Part 1. Chester And A Return To Lincoln.<p> I've been really trying to finish a blog post I started about our last visit to foreign shores, namely Lassi on the Greek island of Kefalonia. We visited there back in September 2020! I don't know if it was the mental implications of the pandemic or the fact that Covid-19 had robbed not only this island, but many more holiday resorts across the world, of a great number of avid tourists, it just lacked the sparkle we were expecting. A taxi driver in Lassi told us that the numbers of travellers to Kefalonia was down by around 90%, a fact that was noticeable by the number of hotels, restaurants and bars that had remained closed during our stay. It was enjoyable, though, with sunshine on our backs, the locals showing excellent hospitality towards their guests, and, on the beer front, finding a few reasonable brews that were not just Greek Euro-lagers. I won't mention the earthquake we felt on one evening, which was like a train rumbling past our apartment, or Medicane Ionas (a rare Mediterranean cyclone with torrential rain and winds gusts of 99 mph) which kept us bunkered down in our temporary home for nearly 36 hours. On the whole, the experience was nice but tinged with a touch of guilt that we were able to escape in such dire circumstances, alongside the strange feelings that the near emptiness of most venues can have on you.</p><p>Last year, as more coronavirus uncertainties, lockdowns and travel restrictions were foisted upon us, we decided early on to jettison any aspirations of an international vacation, and we decided to stay here in the UK and sample a little more of the domestic warm-heartedness that we often hear about. We made a list of were we would like to visit, or re-visit and trusted to the railway companies to get us there. I hope that I can share some of our experiences with you. In the first part, I will cover our trips to Chester, in June, and Lincoln in August. I hope you enjoy it.</p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><u>Chester.</u></h4><div style="text-align: left;">Our first breakaway , which should have coincided with the easing of restrictions, was in June, to the fine historical city of Chester. Although the Covid restrictions, including check-ins at venues and table service only, were to be kept mostly in place for another few weeks, we did have sufficient wriggle room to allow us to go and try to have a good time. Arriving mid afternoon, we headed for our first port of call in the city, which was conveniently situated directly across from the railway station, <i style="font-weight: bold;">The Town Crier. </i>Part of the Stonegate pubs estate, this is a large, but quite friendly, hostelry, nicely decorated and serving real ale. There were two beers on during our visit and, whilst Jane plumped for a cider, I quickly decided upon <b>Town Crier Ale, </b>the house <b>PaleAle, 4%</b> brewed by <b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxjf9QIGsHZGi8KRAstPcmi5CDSU44jFPxJZAc4mxnemvkd2seaWMCyp6I_Nr_w8cE76ut7-puYg0HsNCuVpxmaSrUtshhifgfxMBgSLGi724UlJ78Qtii79sartazH0-LyFjIDnJGcbK7P0J0c0_Y2jxsSA2YMp0THG1XQVEIbdyjO0wZ8IrEMx2K=s4608" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="83" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxjf9QIGsHZGi8KRAstPcmi5CDSU44jFPxJZAc4mxnemvkd2seaWMCyp6I_Nr_w8cE76ut7-puYg0HsNCuVpxmaSrUtshhifgfxMBgSLGi724UlJ78Qtii79sartazH0-LyFjIDnJGcbK7P0J0c0_Y2jxsSA2YMp0THG1XQVEIbdyjO0wZ8IrEMx2K=w147-h83" width="147" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>The Old Harker's <br />Arms</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table>Mobberley Brewhouse. </b> No surprises really, it was solid enough, and very welcome after our trip. Next on the agenda, as we made <br />our way to our hotel, was a visit to <i style="font-weight: bold;">Old Harker's Arms, </i>a big and formidable old warehouse nestled alongside the canal. After a few minutes, we were shown to our table, and took a moment or two to survey the reasonable display of cask beers on tap. The pub has up to 9 real ales on the hand-pulls, and after another side order of cider for the wife, I eventually went for <b>Wild Horse Brewing Co Nokota, </b>a fruity session <b>IPA </b>of <b>3.8%. </b>We sensed that this was probably more of a food establishment at this time of the day, and, as we were taking up a large table, we decided to move on after our drinks, although we were not pressured to do so by the staff. Next up, and our last stop before the hotel, was <i style="font-weight: bold;">The Cornerhouse. </i>This quite cosy L-shaped bar, located in a mock Tudor building offers 4 cask beers alongside quite a surprisingly good range of craft ales in cans and bottles. As it was to be our last stop of the afternoon, I had two of the cask beers in here. Firstly <b>Merlin Brewing Co Castle Black Stout, 4.4%, </b>which had a roasted malt and slight fruit character with a nice bittersweet finish. This was followed by a <b>Mobberley Single Hop Pale Ale-Chinook, </b>a light, refreshingly bitter pale ale.</div><div style="text-align: left;">We bade farewell and headed to our base for the next three nights, checked in and, after a quick freshen up, we were out to explore the Bridge St area of the city. The first pub of the evening, a mere 10 minute walk away, and just over the old River Dee bridge, was <i style="font-weight: bold;">The Ship Inn. </i>This was more of a restaurant but they did allow us a table for a while and luckily they had a couple of cask beers on, although that number is increased when in "normal".times. <b>Thwaites IPA, 4%</b> was my drink in here, which was fruity, with a sweet citrus edge and a good hoppy backtaste. We walked back over the bridge after our drinks, hoping to drop into <i style="font-weight: bold;">The Bear & Billet </i>but, unfortunately, due to the circumstances forced upon by the pandemic, it had remained closed, whilst the neighbouring <i style="font-weight: bold;">The Cross Keys Inn, </i>it appeared, was only open on reduced hours. A real shame, but I believe both venues have now returned to normal service. We did have another pub firmly pencilled onto the list, and this one, <i style="font-weight: bold;">The Brewery Tap, </i>was<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxClLgd5V_TN33-sVlu7s6wW4b0dtpUi9TnNGrlxr-hfU5HvkZaC8Bay6BhI-2aIU2QeQRdGVMTYnc3zbM9gx_V6YkRIT2WrurkfolHir03Af4u9P9UY2JwfPsQ7oOOxHcf-dphlUMKzebZWLVL8AJTp6JPBJbXqJhjoujfnZ3lmX6hBarAu31TAFv=s4608" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="98" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxClLgd5V_TN33-sVlu7s6wW4b0dtpUi9TnNGrlxr-hfU5HvkZaC8Bay6BhI-2aIU2QeQRdGVMTYnc3zbM9gx_V6YkRIT2WrurkfolHir03Af4u9P9UY2JwfPsQ7oOOxHcf-dphlUMKzebZWLVL8AJTp6JPBJbXqJhjoujfnZ3lmX6hBarAu31TAFv=w174-h98" width="174" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Spitting Feathers at<br />The Brewery Tap.</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> most definitely still open. The beers on offer are mainly from the <b>Spitting Feathers Brewery, </b>and are available to buy by the 3 glass flight, which is very handy when you're "beer ticking". Jane had swapped to G & T's by this point, so I ordered my first selection. <b>Spitting Feathers Wavertonian Stout, 4.4%</b>, a nice roast and choco-coffee brew, <b>Spitting Feathers Empire IPA, 5.2%</b>, a big hop fuelled beer with a nice drying finish, and the<b> 3.9% Thirst Quencher</b>, from the same brewer which did exactly what it's name stated on the pump clip. My next flight, all from the same brewery, were <b>Honey Trap, 4.1%</b>, alongside <b>Session Beer</b>, weighing in at <b>3.6%</b> and <b>Special Ale,</b> an <b>English Bitter </b>of <b>4.2%</b>. All were pretty solid and well received by my good self. My final drink in here was <b>Twisted Wheel Brew Co Hoodoo Voodoo,</b> a <b>6.5% IPA</b>. This one had a good fruity back before a long resinous finish. All in all, these were all good beers covering a reasonable range of styles and in the very elegant and sympathetically restored surroundings of a 17th century great hall. By now, we were getting a little peckish and decided to grab one last pint (and, of course, a large G & T) before seeking out a takeaway and heading back to our hotel. We dropped into <b><i>Ye Olde Kings Head</i></b> where I finished off with a pint of <b>Facer's Clwyd Gold, 3.5%</b>, a <b>Ruby Red Ale</b> that displayed a big and robust malt backbone. </div><div style="text-align: left;">It was then time for a bit of nosh before retiring, and planning for the next day's visits.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The following day we decided to have a stroll around the city, taking in the City Walls, Chester Racecourse, Cathedral area and the banks of the River Dee. This allowed us not only to fully stretch our legs, but also blow a few cobwebs off from the previous evening's dalliances. Afterwards, coffee and lunch was taken before striding out again around the pubs. Our hotel was quite close to The Rows, the historic first floor shopping galleries in the city centre. Hidden within this medieval maze was a craft beer bar, which boasted a good selection of Belgian, and UK, craft ales, <i style="font-weight: bold;">The Cavern of the Curious Gnome. </i>We tried to find the entrance but, sadly, couldn't. We asked the locals were the way in was but they couldn't help us. This would not be the last time we tried to find a way in. It would remain curious for the length of our stay. We had also intended to go to <b><i>Telford's Warehouse</i></b>, a well reviewed hostelry along the canal, but this was thwarted by an outbreak of covid-19 amongst the staff, so we were told. This wasn't an isolated case, there were a few bars and restaurants having to rethink strategies due to the prevailing virus problems. So, we headed to<b><i> The Lock Keeper</i></b> instead. It was nice to watch the boats on the canal toing and froing, and with a decent pint of <b>Timothy Taylor's Landlord</b> in hand. We had a couple in here before moving on to the <b><i>Chester Taphouse and Kitchen</i></b>. Two flights, and a couple of ciders for the wife, were devoured, and, to be fair, all the beers were reasonably good. The beers sampled were all from the onsite microbrewery and were as follows:-</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1KwL911H_1wLZeurKL45U07K5lRlMby9WtK48VlQ2fyddEeolUVELW1u47s4xkWE4jXT1LWmyHtVxZtQxAjTUQ2RmtRfzhJL0Rn41NUskkxttJbDJqtIcTNMCwbtM9keo79wbt1xhMRhb26a38dyRX6bV7lMy6Tr2MuT5o5CdwBCaLaeC6KlyOtRj=s4608" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2128" data-original-width="4608" height="96" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1KwL911H_1wLZeurKL45U07K5lRlMby9WtK48VlQ2fyddEeolUVELW1u47s4xkWE4jXT1LWmyHtVxZtQxAjTUQ2RmtRfzhJL0Rn41NUskkxttJbDJqtIcTNMCwbtM9keo79wbt1xhMRhb26a38dyRX6bV7lMy6Tr2MuT5o5CdwBCaLaeC6KlyOtRj=w208-h96" width="208" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Chester Brewhouse and<br />Kitchen.</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Chester Brewhouse & Kitchen (CBK) Golden Boy,Blonde Ale 4%</b>, grainy and slightly earthy.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>CBK Delaware, Pale 4.8%</b> Sweet fruity start with caramel and a slight bitter finish.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>CBK Forest House Best Bitter, 3.6%</b>, a big malty brew with toffee and a syrupy mouthfeel.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>CBK Deva Viltrix American IPA, 4.4%</b>, Stone fruits in the fore with a sweetly bitter finish.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>CBK Caracala Porter, 5.6%,</b> light nuttiness over berries with coffee in the background</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>CBK Sunset Curfew IPA, 5.5%</b>, really light fruit in the main and some pine resin in the finish.</div><div style="text-align: left;">One thing I must mention about this venue, the bar staff, especially the young lady who waited on us,were fantastically friendly, informative and knowledgeable. Thank you for your time and patience.</div><div style="text-align: left;">As this was a holiday, the Better 'Alf decided she wanted to reconoiter the local retailers, whilst I, after a bit of reconnaissance of my own, settled into a <b>Samuel Smith's </b>pub within the Chester Rows, T<b><i>he Old Boot</i></b>. Although a friendly boozer, because of the brewery's zero tolerance on social media, I found myself slightly like a naughty schoolchild as I tried to send and receive text messages from the wife. The end result was a quick supping up of my very average <b>Samuel Smith's Nitro Keg Extra Stout,</b> and a rather quick exit to back the 21st century!!</div><div style="text-align: left;">Reunited, we made our way to<b><i> Ye Olde Custom House,</i></b> and a quite welcome pint of <b>Wainwrights Golden Ale,</b> alongside another cider for The Boss. Our last drinks out in the city, at least for this day, were at <b><i>Chester Bar Lounge.</i></b> Whilst I opted for the house<b> IPA</b>, of which I knew little of in way of brewery or ABV, Jane went for a a vivid green thing that, to be honest, tasted quite passable, even for a dedicated beer drinker. The strange concoction was called A Dill-igent Lady, and had a big splosh of gin in it and some dill. In a very controlled tasting, I found it not bad, but beyond that, I'm not sure.</div><div style="text-align: left;">As that night was a big England football evening, and the national team were to meet the Czech Republic in the 2020 Euro Championships, we decided to stay in the hotel and not risk the rules on close contact by visiting one of the sports bars, especially as the virus seemed to be growing again in this neck of the woods. Tomorrow would definitely be another day.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Our last full day in Chester started with another walk around the walls before adjourning to another local beer outlet. This one was a small bar and bistro known as <b><i>Moules A Go-Go</i></b>. Although mainly a food establishment, it does carry one cask ale, usually, I was told, from the <b>Weetwood Brewery</b>. The beer on offer on our visit was <b>Weetwood Best Bitter, 3.8%</b> which seemed a little flat and hazy to me, and a little lacking in taste, but was still drinkable. A walk back towards the shopping area was next, dropping in at <b><i>The Music Hall Tap</i></b>. Craft beers, International Lager and cocktails are the base drinks here, and cask ales are not available at all. Never mind, they had <b>Aspall's Cider</b> and I decided on an opening pint of <b>Beavertown Gamma Ray, 5.4%,</b> before moving on to the fruity and sour <b>Thornbridge I Love You Will U Marry Me, 4.5%</b>. With Jane now away to the shops I decided to decamp to the nearby Chester Indoor Market, or rather <b><i>That Beer Place</i></b>, a beer stall and bar within the building. The list of bottles and cans for takeaway is immense, but you can also drink in, and it boasts 8 taps as well. I picked up 3 different beers to take home as well as a pint of <b>Fallen Acorn Sith Faced Oatmeal Stout, 5.8%<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXWZvZnCzTOOTR6y6JIvLbJdUk9bI4HikY0xOreN4yQLvIHDCkMCXiy4hg4phLYlHsq5zb3Q1lKM6LoJS-H0KnmGicdmKOY5kdybadwe93wpxqMpeZ7zE7VA5h0C5kHoBrb0icbzsDKRj7fgMEer03GSvqducTlchiVT1g-zxAKWYJoPkzTNW_UPYc=s4608" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2128" data-original-width="4608" height="103" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXWZvZnCzTOOTR6y6JIvLbJdUk9bI4HikY0xOreN4yQLvIHDCkMCXiy4hg4phLYlHsq5zb3Q1lKM6LoJS-H0KnmGicdmKOY5kdybadwe93wpxqMpeZ7zE7VA5h0C5kHoBrb0icbzsDKRj7fgMEer03GSvqducTlchiVT1g-zxAKWYJoPkzTNW_UPYc=w233-h103" width="233" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>The bar in the <br />Pied Bull</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table></b>. Unfortunately, on my visit, the stall was closing early, so I could only stay for the one drink before moving on to my next port of call, <b><i>The Pied Bull</i></b>. This is not only a top class hotel, restaurant and pub of some repute, it is also the home to the only microbrewery within Chester's city <br />walls. My opening pint in here was <b>Pied Bull Pied Eyed</b>, an <b>English Bitter </b>of <b>4%</b> with some berry notes, plenty of caramel and a rising end bitterness. The Shopper joined me in here for our last beer/cider of the afternoon, which was nice, and I went for the another pub brewed <b>Bitter, Sensibull</b>, a <b>3.8%</b> beer with a more resinous backing than the previous brew. Both were very solid, and really enjoyable. <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">For the evening, we had decided on visiting the <b><i>Deva Tap</i></b>, a highly reviewed and top rated boozer just near the station. Our visit, though, left a bit to be desired. We were left waiting at the entrance quite a while, eventually shown to a table underneath a TV, which was almost deafening and, after a couple of requests to the staff, was eventually turned down. Table service was very slow in our area of the venue, but seemed more regular elsewhere in the bar, but when we eventually managed to get an order in, it was fetched to us quite quickly. We had a pizza in here which we thought was very good, washed down with a cider and <b> Seven Brothers Juicy IPA, 6%</b>, which was solid enough with plenty of tropical fruitiness at the fore. We decided to leave straight after our food and drinks, service, or lack of it, was our main concern, which was a shame as the beer board contained a good and varied selection. We did drop into the<b><i> City Tavern</i></b> on the way back to the hotel and although the beer offering wasn't great, the service was good, the welcome friendly and my pint of <b>Brains Rev. James Bitter 4.5%</b>, with a nice malty body and a refreshingly crisp finish. We wandered back to the hotel for one last time, as the following day we were checking out and catching the train back to Grimsby.</div><div style="text-align: left;">On our walk back to the station the following day, we popped into a small cafe near The Rows where I had a last beer in the city, a <b>5% Pilsner</b> from <b>Wrexham Brewing Co, Bootlegger 1974</b>, a reasonably light lager with a deceptive bite in the finish, which was quite welcome on such a warm late morning. We sat and reflected on our visit. It had been good to get out again, but with so many bars either closed or still not open fully, it left a slightly negativity to our trip. Would we come back? Yes, but it wouldn't be in a hurry, I'm afraid, or maybe not for a full 3 night stay. </div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><u>Lincoln-Revisited</u></h4><div>With things a little easier on the regulatory front, regarding the pandemic, Jane, and I, along with our friends, Dee & Steve, felt confident enough to take the short train ride to Lincoln for a couple of nights. Lincoln has always pleased me on the pub front. Traditional real ale and the growing craft keg seem to sit cheek by jowl across the main areas, with the swanky cocktail scene offering taking the middle ground. Most places I have visited before, and documented on this blog <a href="http://fozzy21.blogspot.com/2018/10/a-welcome-return-to-blogging.html" target="_blank">(Here)</a> , <a href="http://fozzy21.blogspot.com/2017/07/all-day-and-nearly-all-of-knights-in.html" target="_blank">(Also here)</a> <a href="http://fozzy21.blogspot.com/2017/01/a-tale-of-two-citiesand-resorting-to.html" target="_blank">(and here)</a> , but there always seems to be another bar that has appeared on the horizon, or an existing bar that as either changed its name or re-branded the drinks menu, so we were all looking forward to our experience. The first port of call for us, after getting off our chosen mode of transport, was <i style="font-weight: bold;">The Treaty of Commerce, </i>which was good pub to start out on our expedition. <b>Bateman's</b> beers on tap, all in good order, and, as always, a friendly welcome. I opted for <b>Bateman's Gold, 3.9%,</b> whilst Steve and Dee sampled the<b> XB Pale Ale, Bateman's 3.7% Pale Ale.</b> Both drinks were as they should be, spot on. (The cider was ok too, apparently). <b><i>The Cosy Club</i></b> was our next bar, just off the High Street and another visited previously. I had two drinks in here, a lovely smooth and moreish <b>Milk Stout</b> of<b> 4.6%</b> from <b>The Bristol Beer Factory,</b> followed by the crisp and sharp <b>Brewdog Elvis Juice</b> bottled <b>Grapefruit IPA, 6.5%</b>. Both were very nice. Next was the first of the new bars to me,<b><i> The Botanist.</i></b> More of a cocktail and eatery than a pub, this bar still has a few craft ales on offer. Again I savoured two brews on offer here, starting with the <b>2.5% </b>peach flavoured<b> Lindemans Pecheresse,</b> what more can you say about this excellent <b>Lambic</b>, and followed by <b>Magic Rock Murk Life Balance,</b> a lovely, fruity <b>Hazy Pale Ale</b> of <b>5%.</b></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjkb8e5rO__yk8n76ujkpB-tWQSlhIUmINgPKMadFbbVYKOHzcf5lZWUSzgEd1RRZBjnpNzOs-eReD0Rx0YzAQ84CFk8_mmlWoIU4lWRnkATRHsclgcjjt50i5ZCab6nm3eo5vALJc1QNcn8Q-Tnt5EBWIvtykrox2k8uFMBYO_dLj6KiZr3sdA098d=s4608" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2128" data-original-width="4608" height="88" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjkb8e5rO__yk8n76ujkpB-tWQSlhIUmINgPKMadFbbVYKOHzcf5lZWUSzgEd1RRZBjnpNzOs-eReD0Rx0YzAQ84CFk8_mmlWoIU4lWRnkATRHsclgcjjt50i5ZCab6nm3eo5vALJc1QNcn8Q-Tnt5EBWIvtykrox2k8uFMBYO_dLj6KiZr3sdA098d=w191-h88" width="191" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Big Paddles in the <br />Tiny Tavern.</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br />It was now approaching late afternoon, so we decided on one more bar before checking in at our hotel, and we headed for another bar we hadn't been to before, <b><i>The Tiny Tavern.</i></b> Not the biggest bar in the world, but quite friendly (unless you are a proud Grimsby Town Supporter in a Lincoln City heartland...). This is a pub that is a magnet for beer enthusiasts, and I mean enthusiasts!!The beer selection is good, and paddles are available to allow you to sample 3 beers of the selection on offer. We ordered ordered 2 paddles between us, plus a half each for our wonderfully supportive wives. Steve and I did sample each other's drinks, so I'll tell which beers were on which paddle, and our brief thoughts.</div><div><i><b>Paddle 1</b></i></div><div><b>Wilde Childe Sgt. Hugo Stiglitz, Pale Ale, 3.99% </b>Light, some subtle fruitiness with a floral finish.</div><div><b>Wilde Childe Tsar Bomba Russian Imperial Stout, 9%</b>. Big, boozy but also very easy to drink.</div><div><b>King's Clipstone Brewery Squire's Desire, 4.5%</b> Bitter. Lovely malt, toffee & caramel drive this one.</div><div><b><i>Paddle 2</i></b></div><div><b>Pheasantry Dark Ale, 4.2% </b>Smooth malt with a soft bitter-sweetness at the back.</div><div><b>Pheasantry Dancing Dragonfly, Golden Ale, 5%. </b>Refreshing with fruit and citrus notes.</div><div><b>Heritage Brewing Cliffhanger, Golden Ale, 4.8%</b> Rather bland and plain, but still drinkable.</div><div>What an end to a satisfying afternoon. We would regroup in another couple of hours, and try to do it all again.</div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLmyPXDoVHoamyq96Va97RKVOZo6hWLpgfTOmHim8QFAfMj_JbRS1C2u4omHFtF-lrpiTcGz-jOVKYtPH6al4ShsIYccExjho4sQ8sXICkYd349LBTEYYzX-sYGPop71VcnIdUu794vryqyOLhhBQN7w8jHNtbuuA9nblJeI3UaFekyrB5LqznRPkH=s4608" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2128" data-original-width="4608" height="98" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLmyPXDoVHoamyq96Va97RKVOZo6hWLpgfTOmHim8QFAfMj_JbRS1C2u4omHFtF-lrpiTcGz-jOVKYtPH6al4ShsIYccExjho4sQ8sXICkYd349LBTEYYzX-sYGPop71VcnIdUu794vryqyOLhhBQN7w8jHNtbuuA9nblJeI3UaFekyrB5LqznRPkH=w212-h98" width="212" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> <b><i>The Cardinal's Hat-full of beers</i></b>.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Early evening saw us stepping back out and making our way towards the area around the Cathedral, "up the bail", but our first stop would be <b><i>The Cardinal's Hat</i> </b>at the bottom of the lung busting hill facing us. Another must visit venue, and again, we opted for two paddles. This time, though, by the time Steve had sat down with his, he'd already forgotten what he had ordered! My paddle consisted of 4 excellent cask ales. This is what I made of them. <b>Zest Brewery Off The Radar, Dark Ale, 4.6%,</b> lightly smokey with burnt toffee, <b>Britt Brewery Working Mon's Dark, 5%</b>, a subtle choco-coffee mix which is very smooth.<b> Salopian Lemon Dream, 4.5%</b>. Speaks for itself, really. Like a Radler.<b> Animal XT Firefly. Golden Ale, 4.6%</b>. Oaty with balanced bitterness at the back. After these we slowly made our way up Steep Hill and to the next venue, <b><i>Bearheadz.</i> </b>Another bar I love to visit. They only have one guest cask ale on, but the keg beers are plentiful. In here my first drink was keg <b>Pohjala Kosmos,</b> a lovely <b>5.5% IPA</b>. My next drink was another keg beer, a superbly smooth <b>DIPA</b> of <b>8.2%</b> with a kick at the back, <b>Abbeydale Double Deception</b>. Steve doubled up on <b>Brass Castle Sunshine</b>, a <b>5.7% West Coast IPA,</b> followed by <b>Utopian Other World, Rich Ruby ESB, 5.4%.</b> Very nice. Next, we headed for another cocktail bar, <i style="font-weight: bold;">Citadel, </i>that has a lovely roof terrace, and which also had a couple of craft ales on too. As the ladies settled into cocktails, Steve and I went for the <b>Beavertown Gamma Ray</b>. By now we were getting a little full of alcohol, but also a bit peckish, so we decided on one last beer before trying to get some food. The beer was<b> Horncastle Ales Lucifer's Desire, 4.8%, Golden Ale</b>, the venue was the <b><i>Strugglers Arms</i></b>. Because of the restrictions on numbers indoors, we couldn't book into our chosen Indian restaurant, so we would have to make alternative arrangements. Oh, well.</div><div><br /></div><div>The following day we decided to have a wander round some of the pubs away from the tourist heart of the city. But first we started with a walk long walk, taking in Brayford Pool, sourcing some breakfast at <b><i>The Square Sail</i></b> and also ticking off some of the Lincoln Imp art installations that were dotted all around.We eventually made our way out to The Morning Star and had our first drinks of the day. <b>Timothy Taylor' Boltmaker </b>and <b>Pheasantry Dancing Dragonfly</b>, (and, of course, the ubiquitous offering of cider,) were the choices between us, and were all in top condition. Another stroll, this time up to the area around the City Arboretum was followed by a visit to <b><i>The Adam & Eve</i></b>, a lovely old boozer under the Greene King stewardship. The beer we had in here was <b>Castle Rock Harvest Rock Blonde Ale</b>, a beautifully crisp brew of<b> 3.8%</b>. Next up was <b><i>The Dog & Bone.</i></b> This <b>Bateman's</b> pub, tucked away down John Street, is a real gem, as are the couple who run it. The beers are well looked after and our <b>Bateman's XB</b> and the <b>Triple XB (XXXB)</b> went down very well, especially when sat in the sun in the beer garden.</div><div>We also dropped into <b><i>The Birdcage</i></b> for a quick pint, (<b>Azzaca Gold</b> from<b> Milestones Brewery</b> was my choice and very enjoyable) and <b><i>The Jolly Brewer</i></b> (<b>Welbeck Henrietta</b>) before heading back towards the city centre and a bit of food at <b><i>Huckleberry's Bar and Grill</i></b> ( formerly <i>Ye Olde Crown Inn</i>) I think this bar usually carries at least one cask ale, but on our visit none were on. There were a few craft beers available though, and the one I chose was <b>Guinness West Indies Porter,</b> which went down very well with a Beef Slider, and sweet potato chips. It was, though, soon time to getting back to our hotel, and getting ourselves ready for the evening. We had booked into the Indian restaurant we'd missed out on previously, so would only be visiting a couple of bars on the way up to the castle area. We stepped out around 7 pm and headed to the first bar of the evening, <i style="font-weight: bold;">The Horse and Groom. </i>The beers on offer on our visit included Timothy Taylor's Landlord and Ferry Ales Mosquito, so we sampled them both, and we weren't disappointed in either of them. Leaving here, we decided on a visit to The Dandy Lion, another bar that didn't have any cask ales on during our visit. It did have draft Beavertown Neck Oil available though, so we lubricated ourselves with this. Suitably refreshed, we dragged ourselves up the hill and round to Castle View Indian restaurant, where we enjoyed a fabulous meal and a few glasses of Lal Toofan, with a great view of, oh, well, you can guess! We also managed a nightcap in the neighbouring Victoria before waddling back to down to our hotel. </div><div><br />Our last day was rather easy, check out, grab some late breakfast and wandering not too far, because we had a train to catch later that afternoon, and our luggage. The girls wanted to do a spot of shopping, or maybe just escape us, for a couple of hours, so Steve and I had a wander around before dropping into <b><i>The Curiosity Shop</i></b>, situated at the bottom of The Strait, which allows you to people watch as the myriad of visitors and locals alike prepare themselves for the imminent hill climb. <b>Innis and Gunn Session IPA, 4.2%</b> was Steve's choice I here, whilst I opted for the <b>5.5% Defender IPA</b> from <b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh-f3uEpZfvbqTpJ5EIukprTP-Ne3_z5QCeJkXPnk3s92J4FYAbnoWnCAzin-u8AxDND44ySHyGio6AVa6XtbvTU8qOhXJQPykbm4v5dOeLB1az2MC8m64OekQleRFeCmBCscinbsIJM0OmqS_b_HsiQG3clwNUlfGO2_wJncU38k1BTQpWTXj41VnP=s4608" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="2128" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh-f3uEpZfvbqTpJ5EIukprTP-Ne3_z5QCeJkXPnk3s92J4FYAbnoWnCAzin-u8AxDND44ySHyGio6AVa6XtbvTU8qOhXJQPykbm4v5dOeLB1az2MC8m64OekQleRFeCmBCscinbsIJM0OmqS_b_HsiQG3clwNUlfGO2_wJncU38k1BTQpWTXj41VnP=w84-h172" width="84" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Defender from <br />the Myriad.</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table>Brooklyn Brewery</b>. Both were very refreshing and a much needed hair of the dog!. Next stop was<b><i> The Mailbox,</i></b> (a pub I hadn't visited for ages. In fact, the last time I was in here, it was called <i style="font-weight: bold;">Varsity</i>) and this venue had plenty of space, indoors and out, where you could settle down, watch music or sport on the numerous TV's and enjoy one of the reasonable selection of beers on offer. There are usually 3 cask ales on, I believe, but there was only one available on our visit, <b>Adnams Ghost Ship Pale Ale, 4.5%, </b>which we both started on and savoured its nice citrus flavours. We then moved on to the craft cans on offer, choosing <b>Tiny Rebel Clwb Tropica</b> and <b>Brewdog Hazy Jane.</b> We re-united with our wives in here, finishing off with one more for the road (or in our case, rail). Once again, Lincoln had come up trumps for bars, beers and food. </div><div>Jane and I had already got a few more trips lined up for September. The first one would see us heading to Edinburgh, and I will tell you more about that in my next blogpost.</div><div>Until then <b><i>Cheers, and keep it real.</i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Steve Fosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725444056654111446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129469376598056437.post-35016698510044631102020-10-13T21:42:00.000+01:002020-10-13T21:42:44.458+01:00You Can Gdansk If You Want To.<div><br /></div><div>
The last few months have been extremely challenging for us all. Lives have been lost across the globe, our health services have been stretched to their limits and we have had to re-educate ourselves in the art of social distancing. Jobs at risk, workers being put on "furlough". Economies have ended up left on the brink of collapse and life has changed immeasurably for the foreseeable future. All this from an invisible interloper called Covid-19, a coronavirus which is indiscriminate. It has. though, been very interesting during these strange times to see how innovative some people have become. Where politicians have failed in in keeping our spirits up, every social media platform has been full of silly video clips, animations and little humorous anecdotes which has kept us all entertained. Some TV producers have also come up trumps with some excellent "isolation" programmes. Another thing that has been noticeable has been the way, at least in the UK, that independent brewers and craft beer suppliers have rallied round and kept the beer flowing. Online deliveries, click and collect and even personal drop offs have all been available, keeping the morale of the nation, or at least the beer drinking section of our society, on the up. My regular monthly beer clubs, <b>Beer52, </b>and <b>Flavourly </b>have been delivering quite normally, as have as have my orders from, among others, <b>Beerwulf, </b>so I haven't run dry. Locally, I doff my hat to <b>Docks Beers, </b>and <b>Message In A Bottle,</b> who have also helped keep my beer fridge well stocked. The supermarkets have also had reasonable stocks of craft ales to dip into too. </div><div>Pubs and restaurants have now eased open again, sensibly, in most cases but not all, regrettably, keeping to social distancing and table service. Unfortunately this may not be altogether possible soon again due to more case rises. The dreaded second spike has started to take a grip. Let's hope we can guide ourselves through this phase. It's enough to turn one to drink.</div><div>Thanks to all those out there that have strived to combat this disease, and also those just trying to keep some normality in our unprecedented times. I, myself, worked for the first three months of the crisis, which at times was quite trying, before going on to a "flexi furlough" work programme. Although I have had a little more time on my hands, I seemed to gallop through any downtime I have had. For some reason, I don't know why, I have let my social media posts on MeWe and Twitter almost dry up. The blog too has not been updated in a while. Now, perhaps, that we are gradually easing out of this nightmare, and before we face the full blast of a second wave, I can get an appetite back for slinging a few words together. To start with I would like to tell you about our last beer trip, which was back in February and saw us flying out to Poland. After our delightful trip a couple of years ago to Poznan, <a href="http://fozzy21.blogspot.com/2018/03/doing-poznan-our-trip-to-poland.html" target="_blank">HERE</a> we decided this time on the Baltic city of Gdansk, which is part of the Tricity area which also includes Gdynia and Sopot. I hope you enjoy my review of our little break.</div>
<h3>
Gdansk</h3>
<div>
We, that's Jane and I, along with our friends Steve and Dee, had decided on having a bit of a drinking holiday. Planned for the end of February, we opted for a the cold northerly winds of The Baltic, as opposed to the gentle warm breezes of The Mediterranean, or sunning ourselves on one of a cluster of islands off the west coast of Africa. Why? Why not. Our choice was the city of Gdansk. As I said, this was a drinking holiday, the Polish do brew some very good craft beers, and it was only £200 per couple for return flights and 3 nights in a lovely hotel, which certainly made it so easier to agree on.</div><div>We flew out with Wizz Air from Doncaster Sheffield (or Robin Hood) Airport late on a Sunday evening, touching down in Gdansk shortly after 00-30 on Monday morning. Our hotel, <b><i>Celestin Residence</i></b>, was only a 10 minute taxi ride away, so we were soon sorted and arranged to have a wander around the city once we'd had a sleep, and after breakfast.</div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Monday.</h4><div style="text-align: left;">The following morning, after a good night's kip, and a bit of solid fuel, we ventured out. The morning was crisp, but not too uncomfortable when wrapped up. We all wandered down to the waterfront, a lovely area with bars and restaurants aplenty, and feasted our eyes on the historical buildings which housed them. After a good walk, taking in both sides of the Motlawa river and pausing for a ride on the AmberSky Ferris Wheel, our first beer was beckoning. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-iqoh_askCtyGlURGQg3o2zqAnTZxEH2Qvp3Jrp9zI_SXpNDhCCDgttmm8e4asMBRy7AHYP5_iP5knkFzOdUT4xYXsUq8kRftYguVOqcIeZNUS-kCM3ynsL1R42sNpCQSvlqFYTfxGI0/s1599/27d107c291a790f6d4b5c94c50103ef1.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1599" data-original-width="899" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-iqoh_askCtyGlURGQg3o2zqAnTZxEH2Qvp3Jrp9zI_SXpNDhCCDgttmm8e4asMBRy7AHYP5_iP5knkFzOdUT4xYXsUq8kRftYguVOqcIeZNUS-kCM3ynsL1R42sNpCQSvlqFYTfxGI0/w95-h169/27d107c291a790f6d4b5c94c50103ef1.jpg" width="95" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Shwarzbier in<br />Brovarnia Gdansk</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />I suggested we try <b><i>Brovarnia Gdansk</i></b>, a boutique hotel with a very nice cafe-bar which serves its beers brewed on site. Whilst the girls sampled the<b> Lagerbier</b>, Steve and I sampled the <b>Schwarzbier</b>, and very nice it was too, with treacle notes at the back and a freshness on the palate at the start. This was a good beginning to our break. We retraced our steps partly and then headed to our second port of call, <b><i>Polskie Kino</i></b>. This bar showcases the Polish film industry, with plenty of old film posters adorning the walls. It also serves a good selection of Polish beers too. The beers we sampled in here were, <b>Reden Milkolak Milk Stout, 5.6%, Amber Brewery APA, 5.2%, Rowing Jack IPA, 5.7%</b> and <b>Amber Brewery Pszeniczniak, 5.2%. </b>All were quite solid in their styles and went down very well. After these we headed to The Long Market (Dlugi Targ) area for a another couple of beers, and a bite to eat. We decided upon <b><i>Jack's Bar</i></b>, situated pretty centrally along the street. It is a quite roomy and spacious bar, with friendly staff, although the beer offerings are limited. We ordered a pizzas and opted for the<b> Browary </b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: 600;">Książęce (Asahi) Złote Pszeniczne (Golden Wheat Beer), 4.9%, </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit;">which complimented our meal well.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit;"><span style="font-style: inherit;">After this visit, Jane and Dee decided to go and take a look at the bargains on offer at the local shops and cordially enquired "would we like to join them?", "Erm??..." I was already for practising a form of social distancing after this invitation, then steered my drinking partner, Steve, in the direction of the nearby</span><b><i> Pijalnia Wódki i Piwa,</i></b><span style="font-style: inherit;"> a bar chain that is themed in the 1960's style subsidised milk bars. Just 3 or 4 beers are on offer, alongside vodka and basic food, but the prices are unbelievably cheap. Some other spirits are also available but this isn't a swish wine or cocktail bar, so don't expect row upon row of different liquers from all over the world.. We started on the beers, Steve opted for the <b>Warka</b>, whilst I went for the <b>Brackie</b>, both were, well, as expected, then it was on to the <b>Soplica</b>, flavoured vodka. We sampled hazlenut and cherry, then sampled them again, and again! What a place. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit;"><span style="font-style: inherit;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpcQ0OClFGVVp4nc-mHDj-L_dHNBQdbGd8dIobyLITOuhrJx7jgchmtJicSflDUWQ7jmHo2mEo1PNMZO5ydsNg1DPerAgNsz2rFwiFu175TPV5txkHKcjlJBmor_Nv8bE9zZ2DmxFgc3g/s4608/20200224_164710.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="2592" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpcQ0OClFGVVp4nc-mHDj-L_dHNBQdbGd8dIobyLITOuhrJx7jgchmtJicSflDUWQ7jmHo2mEo1PNMZO5ydsNg1DPerAgNsz2rFwiFu175TPV5txkHKcjlJBmor_Nv8bE9zZ2DmxFgc3g/w93-h165/20200224_164710.jpg" width="93" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>2 of the Piwnica <br />Rajcow beers</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />We were reunited with the girls and headed off to our last bar of the afternoon, </span><b><i>Piwnica Rajców Browar Restauracja,</i> </b><span style="font-style: inherit;">which houses</span><b style="font-style: inherit;"> </b><span style="font-style: inherit;">a multi-tap micro brewery in the cellar under Artus Court. The range of beers in here is very good and also features a self service "Beer Wall", which is available by purchasing a pre payment card at the bar. As we were only having the one, we chose the bar selection. Between us we sampled two of the beers on offer, <b>Piwnica Rajcow Marcowe, 5.5%</b>, a nice balance of sweet malt and hop bitterness with slight honey notes at the back, and a <b>6% Piwnica Rajcow Black IPA</b>, which was typical of the style with moderate caramel hints over a good, but tempered hoppy bite. We enjoyed our beers and then decided to return to our hotel for a breather and to get changed for the evening session, but not before having popping into the </span><i style="font-weight: bold;">Wisniewski Shop </i>for <span style="font-style: inherit;">a glass of warm <b>Wisniewski Cherry Liquour,</b> <b>16%</b>, on the way back. It had to be done, don't you agree?</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit;"><span style="font-style: inherit;">That evening, after a walk along the aesthetically illuminated Gdansk waterfront, taking quite a few snaps along the way, we stopped just to have a drink in one of the many fish restaurants, choosing the nearest to us, </span><b><i>Ryka na Wartkiej.</i></b><span style="font-style: inherit;"> Whilst the others went for </span></span><span style="font-weight: 600;">Książęce </span><span style="font-weight: 600;">Złote Pszeniczne, </span>I opted for the dark <b>4.1% Dunkel</b>, <span style="font-weight: 600;">Książęce Ciemne Lagodne. </span>Both were very refreshing. After assessing our position and that of our next hostelry on Google Maps, we decided to saunter to<b><i> Lawendowa 8,</i></b> a 12 tap bar only 5-10 minutes away. The selection of beers on in this small, but very welcoming bar, is quite large, and equally varied. The seating is also rather quirky with different styles of chairs and sofas adorning the each seating area. As we were beside the Baltic, I had made my mind up I was going to have a Baltic Porter this evening, so this lead me to having the strongest beer I have ever sampled. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheW4nQ04_vP4T3O4ibjaj_ahaorYlvymLQ6lAUr4QcUwrLas4aLL4wtF-i82P-E7EIyb4cslU4s5x3hEsjqmKMPieBXNIfdFilqTYOIYZg2ft6qEvGpd2eGpXXeazt97RRZJuumUs3-cI/s4608/20200224_213027.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="2592" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheW4nQ04_vP4T3O4ibjaj_ahaorYlvymLQ6lAUr4QcUwrLas4aLL4wtF-i82P-E7EIyb4cslU4s5x3hEsjqmKMPieBXNIfdFilqTYOIYZg2ft6qEvGpd2eGpXXeazt97RRZJuumUs3-cI/w86-h153/20200224_213027.jpg" width="86" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Lawendowa 8<br />The big one!!</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Weighing in at 22%, my beer of choice was<b> Podgorz Imperialny 652 m n.p.m. z Malinami</b> (with raspberries) <b>Wymrazany</b>. I found it incredibly smooth with berry fruit teasing the palate and masking the alcohol superbly. This was definitely a sipper, not a supper. As you may imagine, by this stage I was not really keeping tabs on what my drinking partners were enjoying, but they were enjoying something! The second, and last, beer in here was <b>Holy Moly West Coast IPA</b>, a beer of <b>6.6%</b> from <b>Brewery Hills</b>. My notes on this were, by this stage, rather sparse and almost unreadable, but I did write down "gd crisp, back long", so it couldn't have been too bad. </div><div style="text-align: left;">By now, we had had our quota and Steve was hankering for a kebab ( not a typical Polish late night snack, granted, but never mind) which saw us wandering a few blocks further out from our current location, finding an outlet, scoffing our kebabs with an accompaniment of <b>Tyskie</b>, before heading our way back towards our hotel, then taking the wrong turn several times causing us to be not lost but misplaced. Not to worry, our first day had gone well.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Tuesday.</h3><div>It rained quite heavily overnight, but by the time we were ready to emerge from our base, some blue skies were already showing. The girls wanted to do some "proper" shopping today, so after walking with them towards the taxi rank, Steve and I decided on a bit of a walk around the town, clearing the previous nights excesses from our heads prior to taking to the local brews again. Shortly after midday, we entered the first bar of the day, <b><i>Restauracja Barbados</i></b>, home to <b>Mini Browar Trojmieski (Tri-City) Lubrow</b>. Only two of their brews were available, due to the brewery in the middle of a relocation, and both of these were duly sampled. First up was<b> Lubrow SKM Pils, 5.1%</b>, an easy drinking pils, followed by the slightly sweet and grainy<b> Lubrow Piwniczne Kellerbier, 5.3%</b>.</div><div>Our next port of call was just over the busy main road, or rather under it, and situated at the railway station, the<b><i> Browar Gdansk Craft Beer Hotel</i></b>, which also housed it's own brewery,<b> PG-4.</b> The pumps had 6 of the brewery's beers on, and as paddles of 4 beers were available, we managed to try all that were on tap. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJI6MU4ZZN5YaeaOPQUpJ9rDyOdZMau2zMuVz66bHWrDpS8jBNbKBCkSMDNNGUepBSRjWajXaCNZ8OKmiYVbRfKcOQPKBXUw-FzilnFhnu7hIlaaeXsmQ138Ey1b0ecv6ZBbIidHvOsj4/s4608/20200225_130354.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="92" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJI6MU4ZZN5YaeaOPQUpJ9rDyOdZMau2zMuVz66bHWrDpS8jBNbKBCkSMDNNGUepBSRjWajXaCNZ8OKmiYVbRfKcOQPKBXUw-FzilnFhnu7hIlaaeXsmQ138Ey1b0ecv6ZBbIidHvOsj4/w163-h92/20200225_130354.jpg" width="163" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">The PG4 Paddles</span></i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />These were <b>PG-4 Starogdanskie, 5.2%, PG-4 Pils, 4.9%, PG-4 Irish Red Ale, 5.1%, PG-4 Gdanskie Mocne, 7.3%, PG-4 Dry Stout 4.4%</b> and <b>PG-4 Pszeniczne, 5.2%</b>. We couldn't fault any of them, all solid examples of their styles. My favourite though was the <b>Dry Stout</b>, whereas Steve preferred <b>Pszeniczne </b>(wheat beer) which we further enjoyed in 500ml form. After being joined by our intrepid shoppers, we had some lovely food in this quite modern and stylish bar, with another beer, of course, before retracing our steps back to <b><i>Restauracje Barbados</i></b>. one more in here and we were off again, this time to <b><i>Labeerynt,</i></b> a bar situated underneath the <b><i>Polskie Kino</i></b> bar. Steve and Dee carried on back to the hotel while Jane and I popped in here, before finding a place to eat for later that evening. In this basement bar, which carries a good selection of mainly Polish beers, I enjoyed a <b>Pinta Bawarka Weizen, 6.1%</b>, following it up with <b>Tre Kumpli Pia, New Zealand session IPA,</b> which was <b>4.4%.</b> Another good session over, and not a bad beer to be had. Marvelous. </div><div>That evening we went out for some authentic Polish cuisine, and the venue we chose was <b><i>Gdanski Bowke</i></b>, a restaurant that has an old maritime theme running through it, and which has been trading directly on the waterfront, not far from The Long Market, for over 200 years. <b><i>Gdanski Bowke</i></b>'s products are all freshly prepared from quality ingredients. They also have a local brewery to supply the house beers, which are unpasteurised. Steve and I started on the mixed paddle, showcasing their three house brews, <b>Lager, Wheat</b> and<b> Dark</b>. All three were spot on, and were worthy companions to our excellent food.</div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVBEtA1dLhHJBC3SbM6DZY8g8FgAXJ6ValeLb4-rI7CmdMmtLdfuxddjlipdi85RgQQU3r7oe4CA1I9PSflQwK97BhUU5rzYw7kWOWx90q6Nu-Au3-46WabbngX_I5hWD_I_Zo0oNm5EI/s4608/20200225_212239.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="108" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVBEtA1dLhHJBC3SbM6DZY8g8FgAXJ6ValeLb4-rI7CmdMmtLdfuxddjlipdi85RgQQU3r7oe4CA1I9PSflQwK97BhUU5rzYw7kWOWx90q6Nu-Au3-46WabbngX_I5hWD_I_Zo0oNm5EI/w192-h108/20200225_212239.jpg" width="192" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The Vodka paddle in <br />Gdanski Bowke.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />After this, whilst Steve had another paddle, I opted to go for the <b>Vodka</b> selection, 5 different shots of the local spirit. The selections were <b>Wheat, Rye, Potato, Barley</b> and <b>Clear</b> and the difference between them was clearly noted, as was the smoothness. With bellies full and an earlier night beckoning, we left the banks of the Motlawa river and after dropping back in at <b><i>Pijalnia Wódki i Piwa</i></b> for a couple of <b>Soplica</b>s, we headed for one last beer at <b><i>Pub Red Light</i></b>, just a couple of streets away, but on the way back towards our hotel. This is a very busy night time pub, but we managed to squeeze in, and were served reasonably quickly. There is a large interior to this boozer and we did manage to be seated with not a lot of trouble. My beer of choice in here was a bottle of <b>AleBrowar Sweet Cow Milk Stout, 4.4%.</b> No surprises to this one, sweet, tempered white coffee at the fore and a smooth sweetly bitter finish. Not bad, to be fair, just a touch on the thin side. Over the hustle and bustle in here I couldn't hear what my partners in drink had chosen, but there didn't seem to be any pulled faces or grimaces, so I assume they were happy with their drinks.</div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Wednesday</h4><div><br />Our last day in Gdansk was a bit cooler. After we packed and stored our cases, we set out to grab a spot of late breakfast. There was plenty of choice around the Long Market. Zapiekanka was my preference, the open pizza style sandwich which has been popular since the 1970's in Poland. I wasn't disappointed, and it soon filled a void in my stomach. Our flight was due out at 8pm,so an easy session was planned.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8PkojMSxIRv0phAcs_d4nXuF4ITGlemmNTpxBK36_BgnaOmXtxCqEzlWc1roFfF-KyM4pUvQHVJfEEogbdixCH-tam1oEBmhk9yW_awPi9fJ_SF04DILSFsPEgglWkAGkm_wYEM9buTA/s4608/20200226_132521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8PkojMSxIRv0phAcs_d4nXuF4ITGlemmNTpxBK36_BgnaOmXtxCqEzlWc1roFfF-KyM4pUvQHVJfEEogbdixCH-tam1oEBmhk9yW_awPi9fJ_SF04DILSFsPEgglWkAGkm_wYEM9buTA/w200-h113/20200226_132521.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The S.S. Soldek<br />seen from Cala Naprzod.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div>To this end, we had a reasonable walk around the waterfront again, one last look at the sights we had started to grow accustomed to, before dropping in at <i style="font-weight: bold;">Cala Naprzod, </i>on an upper floor of <i style="font-weight: bold;">Osrodek Kultury Morskiej (Centre of Marine Culture) </i>at the Dlugi Pobrzeze. This restaurant and bar offers a wonderful view of the Motlawa Riverfront, and across to the S.S. Soldek museum ship, and was a great vantage point to reflect on our last few days here. We did this over a quartet of Polish beverages. What other way could it have been done? Jane's drink was <b>Sopocki Cydr, 4.5%, </b>cider from neighbouring Sopot, Dee had a <b>Browar Gosciszewo Lager, 5.7%, </b>whilst Steve and I opted for <b>Ksiazece IPA, 5.4% </b>and <b>Komtur Piwo Ciemne, 6.5%, </b>also from <b>Gosciszewo, </b>respectively. Suffice to say all of them were very pleasing, especially with that vista stretching out before and below us. </div><div>Our next port of call was <b><i>Cafe Lamus</i></b>, situated behind <b><i>Lawendowa 8</i></b> and seems to share the same taste in furniture. There is an adequate selection of beers available and we were soon settled at the back of this friendly bar with a selection of drinks, among them <b>Maty Rohozec Skalak Tmave Black Lager, 5.9%</b> and a <b>6% AIPA</b> from <b>Browar Podgorz</b> called <b>Siostra Bozenka</b>. We doubled back to <b><i>Polskie Kino</i></b>, and whilst the rest of the party had the same as our first visit, I sampled the local <b>Browar Amber Grand Imperial Porter, 7.8%</b>, which was sweet an rich at the front, with some lovely plum notes punching through at the finish. As Steve hadn't visited the bar downstairs,<b><i> Labeerynt</i></b>, we popped down for a quick pint while the girls chattered away upstairs. We had a glass each of the <b>Hazy Disco Original DDH IPA, 6.7%,</b> which imparted lovely zest and grapefruit notes over soft fruits, very nice indeed.</div><div>The time had come to visit our last venue and to enjoy the hospitality of this inviting city for one last time this trip. <b><i>Pulapka</i></b>, a modern, stylish bar with several taps and a huge selection of craft bottles. The girls opted for soft drinks in here, Steve forgot what he'd ordered soon after sitting down but I opted for a memorable <b>Harpagan Skowyrna Wyderka Farmhouse Polish Pale Ale, 5.6%</b>, a very light and refreshing beer with a wheat beer character. Another good beer in another good pub in a lovely city. </div><div><br /></div><div>So that was it. Gdansk, pre-pandemic, was certainly a place that offered the craft beer drinker plenty of options. There are quite a few local and regional beers to be had. Poland seems to have some super craft brewers in general and, when the chance arises, I would certainly not hesitate in going back.</div><div>Until the next time, stay safe and:-</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Cheers, and Keep It "Real"</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>
Steve Fosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725444056654111446noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129469376598056437.post-3673634254698262472020-01-19T16:42:00.000+00:002020-01-19T16:42:34.657+00:00Home and Away. ( or from Docks to the Trent)As we enter the start of another year we all tend to look back over the previous twelve months, or so, to see what has altered, good or bad, in our little bubbles. As I reminisce I thought it correct to sing the praises of our improving beer scene in North East Lincolnshire. For all too long I have been forced to admit that this neck of the woods has been bereft of a thriving beer scene. Yes, the big brewery chains kept a foothold (<b>M&B's Ember inns, Greene King</b>'s offerings, and the ubiquitous <b>JDW</b>'s all have retained pubs here), serving some reasonable brews, but many a time just pretty average ale, and the same beers usually found in most of their outlets everywhere else in the land. Now don't get me wrong, to see some cask beers on the bar was encouraging, but they were usually overshadowed by the <b>John Smith's, Worthington </b>and <b>Guinness</b> pumps, dispensing their Smooth, Cold, Extra Cold and similar variations to the masses. We did still retain a few independent bars we could be pleased of, flying the flag for the more discerning tippler, such as <b><i>The Nottingham House</i></b>, <b><i>Willy's Wine Bar</i></b>, and <b><i>The No2 Refreshment Rooms</i></b> for instance, but on the whole it has been pretty dour. A decent day out had to be sought elsewhere. Then things started to change. Craft ales started to just squeeze itself into one or two establishments. Bottles and cans of the more popular and better known craft brewers, like the American brewers <b>Brooklyn</b> and<b> Lagunitas</b> and the UK's <b>Meantime, Brewdog</b> and <b>Campden</b> were appearing in the fridges, albeit next to the continental lagers. Gradually, beer seemed to somehow get a bit trendier in the area, and then, within a relatively short period of time, a specialist beer shop,<b><i> Message In A Bottle,</i></b> opened up in 2015, <b>Axholme Brewing Co,</b> situated in neighbouring North Lincolnshire , and brewing since 2012, started to push bottles and casks of the excellent<b> Cleethorpes Pale Ale</b> more prominently in the area, as well as some of their other noted ales (such as <b>Best Bitter, Special Reserve</b> and the odd commemorative Grimsby Town beers too) which secured a locally brewed real ale option. The fuse was lit. Since then the progression in the local real ale and craft ale scene has been steady but obvious. It has taken time, but it is more than holding its own. Noticeably in the make-up of <b><i>Message In A Bottle,</i></b> <b>Axholme Brewing</b>, and the newest kids on the block,<b> Docks Beers</b>, there is also a shared DNA. The faith shown in the region by this group of entrepreneurs is being recognised by us drinkers, but more than that. It has, in my opinion, given others a chance to see the lay of the land, and led to others investing in this sector of imbibing in the area. I would like to pay homage to a couple of these now.<br />
<h3>
<u>Docks Beers</u></h3>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Docks Beers. </b></td></tr>
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Since the demise of<b> Hewitt Brothers Ltd,</b> in 1968, Grimsby has never really had a commercial brewer in the town, not as I recall anyway. Beer was coming out of the small plant behind <b><i>Willy's Wine Bar</i></b> which is over the old borough border in Cleethorpes, but this has never been on a large scale. All this changed just over a year ago, October 2018, when <b>Docks Beers</b> opened a brewery and taphouse in the town. This is the offspring of the cask brewer <b>Axholme Brewing Co</b>. After more than half a decade of successful real ale brewing, the brewery's business partners, Will Douglas, Charles Lumley and Sharam Shadan, who had joined forces back in 2017 with Jules and Mike Richards, the founders and brewers of <b>Axholme</b>, decided to spread their wings a little, up the production of the beers and with local knowledge, and roots firmly in the town, made plans to set up shop to brew craft ales in a second microbrewery, in an old church, the former St Barnabas Church in King Edward Street. This is not far from Grimsby's town centre, and a stone's throw from the still beating heart of the famous docks. As I mentioned, this was not only a brewery, the building was to house a taproom and bar as well. This new venture was eagerly anticipated by those who enjoy a good beer or two. To say it gradually grew would be fantasy. It more like exploded onto the local drinking scene. On opening, the place was buzzing, and, I'm pleased to say, still is. The premises plays host to the brew plant (although the original brewery at Crowle is still very much up and brewing) and a canning area which all can be scrutinised from the comfort of the bar and seating area. It is clean and modern in design, and the vibe is very friendly. The core beers are <b>Hard Graft, 4%, </b>an excellent Pale Ale, <b>Never Say Die, AIPA, 6%, </b>which has a good bite to it, the sweet and creamy choco-coconut <b>Graveyard Shift Stout, 4.5%, </b>which accompany the very refreshing Pale Lager <b>Overtime, 4%. </b>Also available at various times have been <b>Wind Power Session IPA, 3.5%, <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The bar at Docks Beers.</b></td></tr>
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Midnight Oil, </b>a very moreish <b>BIPA, 5.5% </b>and a Brut IPA also of 5.5%, <b>Brut Force</b>. Add to these a string of very good collaboration brews with the likes of <b>Magic Rock, Brew York, Salt </b>and <b>Vocation</b>, you can see this is going to be the bedrock of the local drinking culture for years to come. There have been the very successful Tap Takeovers too, staged on a regular basis and showcasing other brewers of note. Street food is another key element, with everything from dirty burgers to Canadian style poutine being sold from the vendors' stall outside, usually at the weekend. Local bands have appeared here on occasions as have the popular Indie Rock group The Sherlocks. So, as the first Anniversary of its opening has recently been celebrated, what is in store for the future for this venue? The next step for the company has been announced, it is to open the room upstairs, which boasts a wonderful arched, beamed and open area. It is to be named <i style="font-weight: bold;">The Docks Academy, </i>a music, comedy and events venue, with around a capacity of 300 . This happens in March 2020, with famous local choirboy, comedian, celebrity goalkeeper and former Soccer AM funnyman (among other talents) Lloyd Griffith already selling out for the opening nights which are included on his UK tour. More comedy acts are to follow and I am sure that it will become a big draw for musicians too. (The Sherlocks have just announced a return visit.) What a fantastic boost to the community this venue is. More original beers are in the pipeline, further collabs promised and bright outlook is envisaged. Oh, did I mention the excellent selection of cans and bottles for on and off sales, and some cool looking merchandise? Cheers <b>Docks Beers.</b><br />
<h3>
<u><br />Vittles & Co</u></h3>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Vittles & Co</b></td></tr>
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Just tucked away near the railway station is this newly opened cafe-bar. The tap selection is small, <b>Vittles & Co</b> are from over the Humber. It has, in fact, probably the smallest commercial brewery in Hull, with a brewing capacity of about 50 litres. It runs a quite successful bar and bottleshop situated on the city's <b><i>Trinity Market</i></b>. It is against this back story that Hull and East Yorkshire beers feature so regular on tap in the Grimsby bar, or have done on my limited visits.<b> Atom Parsec DDH Pale, 5.4%</b>, a lovely crisp, fresh citrus <b>APA</b> that imparts a nice dryness on the palate, was the tap offering on my last visit a couple of weeks ago. The fridge selection is quite good and includes, amongst a host of others, <b>Docks Beers, Bricknell Brewery</b> and <b>Brew York </b>as well as a quite a few continental brews. The staff are very friendly and take time out to engage with you, which is also very pleasing. This is a sit and chill venue, a place to meet up at, something we all need to do sometimes. Although this review is a little short and concise, it hopefully relays the fact that this is another good business venture that is evolving in a more cultural Top Town area of my home town. Coffee and a cake, or a good beer and a yarn. Both are in style here.<br />
just one in fact, but it is always local-ish. <br />
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Although I haven't had chance to visit yet, <b><i>The Cleethorpes Taphouse and Kitchen</i></b>, situated by the resort's Boating Lake, has a rather good selection of craft ales on too. It also comes highly rated for its pizzas. I intend to get there to experience their delights soon. Add to this another new craft bar in Grimsby town centre, <b><i>Annie's Bar,</i></b> and you can see how things are growing. And on that encouraging note, I will move on.<br />
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<h3>
<u>Nottingham. Re-visited.</u></h3>
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For the first time in 4 years, Jane and I made a return visit to Nottingham in November. Our last visit is recorded <a href="http://fozzy21.blogspot.com/2015/11/the-nottingham-crawl-narrowboats-crow.html" target="_blank">(Here)</a> . A bit of Christmas shopping was on the agenda, but beer was to be boss with me.<br />
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<b><u>Wednesday.</u></b></div>
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Arriving by rail at Nottingham, via Lincoln and Newark, through a landscape that had begun to look more like Venice after record breaking rainfall, we started our 3 day break with a visit to some old favourite haunts on our way to our hotel. First up was <i style="font-weight: bold;">Fellows, Morton & Clayton, </i>just a stone's throw from the station, in Canal Street. A friendly and relaxed welcome, as is afforded in most of Nottingham's pubs, was offered, and accepted. The cask selection isn't massive but ample and varied enough. My choice was <b>Shipstones Nut Brown, 4%, </b>brewed in Nottingham at <b>Little Star Brewery.</b> A solid enough start, no frills, no surprises. Next up was the neighbouring <b>Castle Rock Brewery </b>owned pub, <b><i>The Canalhouse.</i> </b>The selection in here never fails to impress me. Cask and craft sit cheek by jowl on the bar in this boozer, as well as an impressive array of bottled and canned beers in the selection of fridges. It is a quandary sometimes to make your mind up. I eventually opted for <b>Castle Rock Twistin' My Melon Man, </b>a watermelon <b>IPA </b>of <b>5%</b> and full of fruitiness. I followed this with a Belgian inspired <b>Dark Strong Ale </b>from a collaboration between <b>Torrside Brewing </b>and <b>Solvay Society, </b>the excellent full flavoured dark fruit and boozy back noted <b>Give Thee Peace, 8.2%. </b>Marvellous. Our next port of call was the tourist magnet of <i style="font-weight: bold;">Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoFkAAYAqZaLOxow3hoZ4wdXmO6lgkv61lFs4kmzxOU3_0AATI0N8BBABwHt-Sz2GbDS09fljizfb7EioqvzRTPLw_kODz1X34fiH9e_3RBFeX-pdVbSAcpSXw2cK6kGnaw-lygTqk9Yg/s1600/20191120_152235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoFkAAYAqZaLOxow3hoZ4wdXmO6lgkv61lFs4kmzxOU3_0AATI0N8BBABwHt-Sz2GbDS09fljizfb7EioqvzRTPLw_kODz1X34fiH9e_3RBFeX-pdVbSAcpSXw2cK6kGnaw-lygTqk9Yg/s200/20191120_152235.jpg" width="112" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Ye Olde Trip.</b></td></tr>
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. </i>The oldest inn in England is always worth a trip (no pun intended), with all that history oozing from every wall in this tavern. The beer selection is OK, but not as extensive as some local bars. <b>Nottingham Brewery Extra Pale Ale, 4.2%, </b>a light and refreshing Pale ale with tempered fruit highlights was the beer I decided upon. Again another good beer had been savoured before moving on to our last port of call of the afternoon, before checking in to our hotel, <i style="font-weight: bold;">The Crafty Crow. </i>Two beers were sampled in this establishment, both of top quality too. First up was <b>Ten For A Time Of Joyous Bliss, </b>a <b>4.7% Christmas Cake Brown Ale </b>from <b>Magpie Brewery, </b>which did impart fruit, spice and a rich sweetness expected of beer with such a culinary inspiration. Next was the <b>6.3% Banana and Coffee Milk Stout </b>from <b>Totally Brewed, Let's Modify The Van, </b>which was decent enough, but slightly lacking in the banana notes. Again, this is another great boozer with plenty of cask and craft keg on tap.<br />
After checking in at our hotel and chilling out for a couple of hours, we were out again, just to top up! First of the evening's stop-offs was <i style="font-weight: bold;">The Ned Ludd. </i>In here, whilst Jane had a G&T, I had a <b>Salem Brew Co (Bateman's) 4.4% Dark Fruits Porter. </b>A reasonably fruity beer, but not as as big on those dark fruits as I was expecting. Next, after browsing Nottingham's lovely Christmas market, complete with a huge outdoor ice rink, we dropped anchor at <i style="font-weight: bold;">The Six Barrel Drafthouse, </i>towards the Hockley area of the city. This busy pub offers a varied selection of beers, mostly local. Our drinks in here were <b>Totally Brewed See You At Six, </b>a <b>stout </b>of <b>6%</b> with a smooth mouthfeel. Coffee and vanilla notes combine which helped to push this over the line, and <b>Pheasantry Excitra. </b>This <b>blonde</b> ale imparted slight resin notes over gentle citrus, with an uplift of sweetness towards the end. Our penultimate venue was found just around the corner in Stoney St. <b>The Angel Microbrewery. </b>On entering I scanned the pumps but couldn't see any of the beers that are brewed on site. T|hat isn't to say there wasn't any on, but more the fact that my sensory system by now could have become a little impaired! Anyhow, there was <b>Navigation Brewery Rebel Golden Ale, 4.2% </b>on, which I duly sampled. My scrawled notes on this one, found on a beermat the next day, read "OK. Swt b4 cit..bit dry sum frt..." next to an undecipherable doodle, which just about summed it up. We should have headed back to the hotel after this but, alas, this resulted in us passing, and entering Nottingham's <i style="font-weight: bold;">Brewdog. </i>Who could resist, I ask. Jane by now was on soft drinks, whereas I opted for a sensible(?) half pint of <b>Brewdog Fanzine #28 Serial Imperial. </b>I recall finding this one a little too sweet and sickly for my taste, but manfully still finished it before staggering back to our digs, via the almost closed Christmas Market, and possibly buying, and devouring, the last Bratwurst left in the city at that time of night. What a wonderful first day it had been<br />
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<b><u>Thursday</u> </b> <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Annie's Burger Shack</b></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb5Qg0epV4nxN3uNPQNHQ3kziXyNPpHD3scoYku2GMkAOSa3WHZT7PwrevG1PrN2hXkjX65n4jLbo_rBmgYvkHz2kNtSau1qTT1tWoEDZsoZ8LK03xOTYy2TPg_yBpA9EOq9U-keSAbtI/s1600/20191121_141623.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><b></b></a>After yesterday's indulgences, we decided upon an easy paced morning, starting with an excellent <i style="font-weight: bold;">The Three Crowns </i>on Parliament Street, which was very good, and excellent value. There was some Christmas shopping to be had, which I took part in merely as an unwilling spectator. I was, eventually, relieved of my duties and set out for a bit of a walk and some casual sightseeing. Soon after, I ended up with a pint of <b>Totally Brewed Crazy Like A Fox, </b>a<b> Copper Ale </b>weighing in at <b>4.5%, </b>in my hand whilst seated at the bar of the American themed <i style="font-weight: bold;">Annie's Burger Shack. </i>Although food is king in here, especially burgers and ribs, the drinks selection is quite reasonable. My choice was laced with light biscuit notes and a gentle floral finish. Not a big hitter but certainly a more than welcome hair of the dog (or fox). Next stop was <i style="font-weight: bold;">The Head Of Steam. </i>Surprisingly I appeared to be the only customer in, but, hey-ho... Among the good number of pumps I espied <b>Northern Monk Festive Star, 5.2%, </b>a <b>porter </b>with vanilla and cinnamon over a lovely smooth chocolate maltiness. I opted for just the one beer in here.<br />
breakfast at <br />
I met up with my festive shopper, Jane, in <i style="font-weight: bold;">The Pitcher & Piano, </i>the pub facing the previous hostelry where I had a bottle of <b>Founders All Day IPA </b>as there was no cask ales on at the time. sited in a former church, this is a beautiful bar to finish, with years of ecclesiastical worship looking down on you. Most of the fittings seem to be untouched, including the stained glass windows. We moved on after one in here, dropping in at <i style="font-weight: bold;">The Old Dog And Partridge. </i>I enjoyed a wonderful pint of <b>Nottingham Brewery Rock Mild, 3.8%</b> in here, which was spot on. This is a great "locals local", with quite a few characters within, but it is also very friendly and welcoming. It is part of the <b>Greene King</b> empire, so you can also expect to see the chain's usual stock on the bar. Our next ports of call were <b><i>Hop Merchants</i>, </b>where we were soon sampling the lovely <b>Laine Brew Co Ripper IPA, 4.8%, </b>a nice hoppy IPA which cleanses the palate and imparts good citrus notes throughout, and <i style="font-weight: bold;">Copper Cafe, </i>where I enjoyed a light, citrus and fruity beer, <b>New Dawn Pale Ale, 3.9%, </b>another from <b>Navigation Brewery.</b><br />
We'd booked to eat out at the fantastic <b><i>Mowgli Street Food</i></b> that evening, so grabbed a quick drink beforehand in <b><i>Lloyd's No1.</i></b> Jane had a cider whilst I quaffed the more than reasonable <b>Bell's</b> (brewed by <b>Banks'</b>) <b>Light Hearted Ale 5%. </b>After this we popped across the road for our Indian meal. Our meal, probably the best experience of Indian food we have encountered, was complimented perfectly by <b>Curious Brewing Session IPA, 4.4%. </b>After this we wandered back towards our hotel, dropping in at <i style="font-weight: bold;">The Barrel Drop </i>on the way for our last drinks. I finished off in here with <b>Siren Yu Lu Session IPA, 3.6%</b>, before a final pint of <b>Goff's Jester Brew 10 "Skinny" Latte Stout, 4.7%.</b> Both were good beers.<br />
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<b><u>Friday</u></b><br />
Friday saw us grabbing a coffee and bacon bun in what used to be <b><i>The Flying Horse</i></b>, now <b><i>200 Degrees Coffee Shop & Barista School.</i></b> A good start to our final day. I decided on some shopping of my own this time, at <b><i>The Brew Cavern</i></b> in the adjacent Flying Horse Walk. The selection is quite varied and features many local microbreweries. After making my purchases, I had another wander around the centre, ending up at<b><i> The Malt Cross</i></b>, where I enjoyed two of their beers.<b> Adnams Blackshore Stout, 4.2%</b>, and a <b>Black Iris Snake Eyes Pale Ale, 3.8%</b>. Both were true to their styles. As time was now getting on, I met back up with Jane, and we decided to head back towards the station area, initially dropping back into <b><i>The Canalhouse</i></b>, where I sampled <b>Counting Crows Red Ale, 4.4%,</b> before adjourning just around the corner to <b><i>The Barley Twist</i></b>, another<b> Castle Rock </b>pub, (and brewers of my beer choices in both establishments) and enjoyed a <b>4% Session IPA.</b> Our last stop before returning home was<b><i> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2kLkNRsDyrwqsjC-ZeRVReVHelEk13ZoWOlkKZvsToYIkSneKWVQHgmEIAqssiwuMErHaJ-nIDgRYby3tzKkXAVAhsGwZoTZnHpOVJKTq2k3R38QtkcIvT0BwyW-l3h3toJ54Ztm2Cug/s1600/20191122_145120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2kLkNRsDyrwqsjC-ZeRVReVHelEk13ZoWOlkKZvsToYIkSneKWVQHgmEIAqssiwuMErHaJ-nIDgRYby3tzKkXAVAhsGwZoTZnHpOVJKTq2k3R38QtkcIvT0BwyW-l3h3toJ54Ztm2Cug/s200/20191122_145120.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Squeezing in at BeerHeadz</b></td></tr>
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BeerHeadz Cabman's Shelter,</i></b> a tiny pub tucked away at the rear of Nottingham Railway Station. A sympathetic restoration and an ever changing selection make this an interesting find. I opted for a beer flight in here, featuring <b>Squawk Brewing Roller Bitter, 4%, </b>alongside T<b>he Woodford Experiment Experimental English Bitter 4.8%</b> and, finally,<b> Baker's Dozen Magic Potion No20 Hallertau Blanc Pale Ale, 3.8%</b>. All three were just right.<br />
So, that was that, another thoroughly agreeable break in this great city. My delight of spending some time here never seems to diminish.<br />
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Well, all that remains is to wish any long suffering followers of this blog a very Happy New Year,( or maybe a Hoppy New Beer) and I hope to be able to share with you a few more of our drinking trips in the coming 12 months. Our next trip away is to be to Gdansk, on the Baltic coast of Poland which will be in February, so until then:-<br />
<b>Cheers, and keep it "Real"</b>.</div>
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Steve Fosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725444056654111446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129469376598056437.post-22263432994753168762019-09-14T11:27:00.003+01:002019-09-14T11:27:59.943+01:00The Italian Job And A Bit Of PorecSo, another British summer is in full swing. Well, it has poured it down on and off for the last six weeks, with lightning strikes aplenty, making some nighttime scenes resemble something from The Hammer Film Studios. Recently the Cornwall coast seemed to be disappearing under the constant storminess of Atlantic low pressure trends, Derbyshire came close to making a sequel of "The Dambusters" AND as we battened down to "very unseasonable" 50-60 mph gusts of wind, half the country was struck down with power cuts partly due, ironically, to the North Sea wind farms suffering generator failures! But at least we are not in meltdown, as we were recently. The mercury on that occasion rose above the 30 ° C mark, leaving roads, rail tracks and office workers buckled in the heat. As I said, just another British summer. At these junctures I find myself reflecting on some of our little jaunts, and also remembering that I have failed to get these down on the blog! With that in mind, here is my latest write up. I do hope you enjoy it.<br />
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Sorrento and The Amalfi Coast.</h2>
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As some of you who follow me on MeWe and Twitter know, Jane and I have recently returned from 7 days in Sorrento, with its tight maze of Old Town back streets, cosmopolitan café bars and majestic views over The Bay of Naples and Vesuvius. It is quite a busy, bustling place to stay, not a sleepy beach resort, which was a bit of a change from some of the summer breaks we often choose. Our hotel, <b><i>Zi' Teresa</i></b>, was situated quite centrally, but still far enough away from the centre to offer some respite from the crowds. The staff here were excellent. The friendliness was as warming as the Mediterranean climate. Our room was serviced everyday and kept spotlessly clean. We had chosen well. As always, I had done my drinking homework, and had my list of of establishments I would like to visit over the week. Luckily some of these were only metres away from our base, so would be easy to tick off. Before all this though, a walk around the area was decided upon, just to get a feel of our locale, giving us time to soak up the view, and some of those warm sun rays, as well as having a pint (or the metric equivalent) before grabbing some nosh. Most of our requirements were accounted for at <i style="font-weight: bold;">The Foreigners' Club</i>, which holds a prominent position high up, overlooking the bay. The view from terrace here, across the water, is simply beautiful. The experience was further enhanced by the slowly sinking evening sun and an ice cold <b>Birra Moretti </b>(although I would have preferred it if the bar had have stocked at least one craft beer)<br />
The hustle and bustle of the Old Town were sampled next, highlighted for me by the free tastings of Limoncello. Jane always finds a strange enjoyment in dragging me round the artisan retail outlets so I can see how much tat I am missing out on. Following on from this, and in search of a touch of air to ease the humidity found in the enclosed environment of the tourist shops, we retraced our steps back towards our hotel, dropping in at the neighbouring pizzeria, <i style="font-weight: bold;">Master Hosts. </i>A pizza each (way too much to eat in a single sitting, believe me), a portion of fries and two bottles of <b>Peroni </b>were feasted upon in this most amiable of eateries before we trudged, tiredly, back to our awaiting room. From tomorrow I would be sniffing out some of those Italian craft beers and those bars I had researched.<br />
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Over the coming days, we found, and enjoyed quite a few local bars, and Italian brewed craft beers, along with one or two World beers too. So, here is my list of those bars, and the beers we sampled within.<br />
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<u style="font-weight: bold;"><i>The Horse Shoe Pub.</i></u><br />
Situated on the periphery of the Old Town,on the Corsa Italia, this is a really friendly boozer. Inside you will discover 9 taps for the dispensing of craft beers, and a couple or so craft bottles alongside the usual contenders. There are a few tables on the front outside were you can watch the world go by whilst imbibing on your beer of choice. In here we sampled a couple of brews on our first visit, both from <b>Birrificio Angelo Poretti (Carlsberg Italy) </b>and both weighing in at <b>6.5%</b>.<b> </b>First up, I was told, was a <b>Brown Ale, </b>(although the tap did say <b>Pale Ale</b>), which was quite smooth and malty with delicate chocolate notes at the back. Next, <b>Birrificio Angelo Poretti Pale Ale, </b>(which WAS the same as the pump clip). This was light, fruity and had a nice lift of bitterness at the finish. On a later visit, I had a lovely fruity <b>5.9%</b> <b>Weissbier </b>brewed by <b>Carlsberg </b>under the branding of <b>Jacobsen. </b>(J.C. Jacobsen was the founder of <b>Carlsberg </b>in 1847).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The taps at La Bottega<br />Della Birra.</td></tr>
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<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">La Bottega Della Birra.</u><br />
This excellent bar and beer shop is tucked away from the Old Town, on Via San Nicola.Every question you may want addressing about beer will be expertly answered here by the staff. They know their stuff. 7 pumps dispense a selection of European Craft beers, among which is the local <b>Birrificio Sorrento Syrentum, 6.5%, </b>which we sampled, twice.<b> </b>This <b>Saison </b>styled golden beer is moderately fruity, some honey notes within, with citrus bitterness, from lemon peels, at back. Also in here is a monumental selection of very good local, national and worldwide bottled beers. The selection of glasses from the different brewers is quite impressive too. If you can't find something you fancy in here, give up!! I sampled the following beers in here over our couple of visits. <b>Birrificio dell'Aspide</b> <b>Gairloch Strong Scotch Ale, 7%, </b>an excellent brew with dark fruit and light chocolate notes, <b>Jurmanita IPA, </b>Caramel, hoppy and a touch of floral hints, with tropical fruit at the edge. <b>Toccalmatto Maciste Heroic DIPA, 8.5%, </b>which was big, punchy sweet malt over a slightly complex, but perfectly balanced fruity, citrus dry finish. From the vast selection of bottles, I also took the opportunity to fetch a few Italian Craft Beers home from here.<br />
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<i><b><u>Star Pub Burger Bar.</u></b></i><br />
An interesting find, at a quite busy area of town. 4 or 5 draft taps and a handful of bottled craft ales on offer alongside some excellent cocktails AND burgers to die for!! But I am here to tell you about the beer. Jane had a wonderful G&T in here whilst I had a lovely <b>Brasserie Du Boq St Benoît Brune, </b>a lovely dubbel of 6.5%. Eat, drink and feel very satisfied..<br />
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<b><i><u>Frankie's Bar Pizzeria</u></i></b><br />
Not far from <i style="font-weight: bold;">The Horse Shoe, </i>this place has a hidden depths of beery delights. You will find a dozen Craft ales here across the taps and bottles, efficient and knowledgeable bar staff and great food. In here I had <b>San Gabriel Birra Nera Optergivm, </b>a good solid <b>Porter </b>of <b>5.5% </b>followed by a <b>Hibu (Heineken) Gotha Tripel, 7.7%, </b>which was wonderfully fruity, with pear and yeast esters at the back but very noticeable.<br />
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<b><i><u>Bar Del Carmine.</u></i></b><br />
We had walked past here a few times before settling down to a late night pizza, and enjoying one of their occasional selection of craft beers from the <b>Karma Birrificio. </b>On our visit, not all the beers were available from the menu, but the <b>Karma Carmina American IPA, 6%, </b>was definitely worth a look. Malty, with fruit notes and hints of spice, this was an enjoyable beer, especially with a view onto the Piazza Tasso.<br />
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<b><i><u>The Banana Split Bar.</u></i></b><br />
Although this was our "local" bar, we only had 3 visits here during our week, but, we were always greeted with a smile and efficient service. Irish, Italian and some US beers are available, and the cocktails are good too. Among the beer range here, I found the <b>Birrificio Angelo Poretti (Carlsberg) 6 Luppoli Bock Rosso, 7%, </b>very agreeable. Guinness, the friendly dog, is always around to be stroked and you are always made to feel very welcome here.<br />
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<b><i><u>The Golden River Pub.</u></i></b><br />
Just a short amble from <i style="font-weight: bold;">The Banana Split </i>is this good boozer. Although we didn't eat here, we were told the grub was excellent, but for me the beer fridge was my draw. Over a score of bottled beers await your palate, along with the regular Italian mass produced beers. We dropped anchor here a couple of times, during which we sampled <b>K Birr Natavota Lager, 5.2%. </b>Also from the same Italian brewery, we tried the <b>Cuore Di Napoli APA, 6%. </b>Another local brew was the <b>Stimalti Sta TIPA, 5.5%.</b>We also had the Belgian brewed <b>Brouwerij Haacht Tongerlo Prior, 9%. </b>Not a bad brew among them.<br />
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<b><i><u>The Corner.</u></i></b><br />
Only a ten minute walk away from our hotel base was this pub. We only managed one trip here, but it was well worth it. Italian and Belgium beers sit side by side in the fridge. We sampled 3 bottled beers in here, and all were good. These were <b>Birra Antoniana Marechiaro, 5.2%, Browerij Huyghe Mongozo, 5%, </b>and also <b>Chimay Red, 7%. </b>Another friendly bar with excellent staff.<br />
<br />
Just a twenty minute walk away from the Piazza Tasso area, you will come along to the former fishing village of Marina Grande. The view out to sea is peacefully stunning, with the high cliffs rising up behind the , adorned with hotels and a spattering of restaurants, offering an interesting backdrop. There is a very relaxed atmosphere here, shielded from the busy heart of Sorrento. The bars and restaurants here are, mainly, part of the local fishermens' co-operative, and, from our impression, good food is the high on the agenda . We settled down here on our couple of visits at <i style="font-weight: bold;">Taverna Azzura, </i>mainly because it was near the selection of <b>Birrificio Angelo Poretti </b>taps. The beers sampled were all from this brewery. <b>4 Luppoli Lager, 5.5%, </b>which had a good malt and hoppy balance, <b>7 Luppoli Floral (La Fiorita) 5.3%, </b>elderflower, straw notes abound, and <b>8 Luppoli (Citrus Taste) 5.5% Saison </b>style, which was tangy and zesty. All were served cold and, as they gradually warmed, imparted different depths of interesting notes.<br />
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<u><b><i>Hotel Montemare, Posistano.</i></b> </u><br />
A trip around the Almalfi Coast is a mainstay of any tourist's agenda, and we were no exception. We went by the service bus, which was interesting. We ended up packed in like sardines, the heat rising inside, as well as out, but it was an experience. We had a couple of hours in Amalfi before travelling back to Positano. Both are picture book towns, clinging on to the high terrain whilst still dangling their toes into the blue seawater. We didn't find any craft ales in the bars we passed by in Amalfi, although I had a cracking <b>Limoncello Spritz, </b>as we watched the people scurry by in the crowded main square from our quiet little haven. In Positano, after a stroll round the promenade area, we settled down at the beach-side at <i style="font-weight: bold;">Hotel Montemare. </i>In here we had <b>Birrificio Sorrento Minerva Amber Ale, 6%. </b>I found this one had a nice moderately sweet caramel opening with a balanced orange citrus bitterness at the finish.<br />
<br />
We also managed to pick up a few beers from the local supermarkets in Sorrento. Among them we managed tastings of <b>Birrificio Angelo Poretti (Carlsberg Italy) 3 Luppoli, 4.8%, </b>a rather malty, but well balanced <b>Pale Lager, Peroni (Asahi) Gran Riserva Rossa </b>a <b>Vienna style Lager, 5.2%, </b>also<b> </b>the fruity, sweet malt brew, which was herbal in parts and gently spiced <b>Mastri Birrai Cotta 37, 5.5%.</b><br />
Three other beers we came across were also from the <b>Heineken Italy </b>stable<b>. </b>First up was<b> </b><b>Birra Moretti</b> <b>Baffo d'Oro (White Moustache), 4,8% </b>followed by the <b>6.8% </b>fruit, orange citrus and bread inspired <b>Birra Moretti</b> <b>Gran Cru, </b>and also <b>Birrificio Di Assemini Ichnusa Non Filtrata, 5%. </b>I found this one just a bit over sweet, with slight citrus and yeast notes at the back, but still quite drinkable.<br />
<br />
Talking to some local drinkers, and tourists returning to the area, The Sorrentine Peninsular, it seems has had an awakening, in some bars at least, on the craft ale front over the last few years, with microbrewers popping up all over. It is available in quite a few bars, but you must still do your homework to find them. Is it worth digging them out? Well, on the whole, yes, there seems to be a good variety of most styles to have a look at. We did think the prices were a little on the high side, the cheapest bar prices for craft keg or craft bottles (usually 330ml) was upwards of 7 euros, but there again the usual popular Italian branded draft lagers were not a lot cheaper.<br />
<br />
<h2>
Porec, Croatia.</h2>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">September 2018 saw us spend two weeks on the Istrian Riviera, staying in a self catering apartment on the Plava Laguna complex, surrounded by wooded parkland, just over a mile away from the picturesque historical town of Porec. With the relatively small tidal rise and fall of the Adriatic on the doorstep, and plentiful bays and inlets along the coast. the area has a lakeside feel to it. Along the walkways, through the trees, there are a number of restaurants and bars serving the neighbouring hotels and holiday apartments dotted about the lagoon. </span><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Porec, is easily reached by either the coastal path, the walkways through the parkland or the "Noddy Train". The tight streets lead to open squares and an abundance of eateries and drinking establishments. This is a good place to increase your waistline!</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;">What of the beers, then? Well, as in most continental places, lagers are quite prominent, and we sampled most of the popular Croation ones during our period here. To be fair, they all stand up quite well to most other lagers from the Mediterranean region. The market leaders here are </span><b>Ozujsko, </b>brewed by <b>Zagrebacka Pivovara </b>(now owned by <b>MolsonCoors </b>) 5%, which has a light malt start, some fresh grass notes before a medium bitter finish. Solid enough stuff really. Next on the list is the <b>Heineken Hrvatska </b>controlled <b>Karlovacko, </b>also 5%, which was sweet, lightly bitter and, although very refreshing, wasn't quite punchy enough for my taste. <b>Favorit Pivo </b>(<b>Istarska Pivivaro) </b>a pale lager of identical strength, was very much down the same route, thirst quenching but just a touch bland towards the finish. Others we came across were the <b>5.2% Istarsko Pivo </b>(brewed by the obvious!) which had a few highlights of bread dough, but not much more, <b>Pan Lager </b>( <b>Carlsberg </b>brewed) <b>4.8% </b>which was light and watery, and the sweet, rather metallic tasting, <b>Union, 4.8% </b>and the Slovenian <b>Lasko Zlatorog, </b>(owned by <b>Heineken </b>and, as far as I can ascertain, brewed at the same brewery as <b>Union</b>) <b>4.9%. </b>As I said, quite standard stuff. Things do get more interesting when you see some of the other beers on offer from these brewers. Some dark beers are available if you look. My favourite was one of Croatia's strongest commercially brewed beers, <b>Tomislav Crno Pivo</b>. This<b> 7.3%</b> medium sweet<b> Baltic Porter</b> styled brew (from the <b>Ozujsko </b>stable) with dark berry fruits at the opening, had some pleasing chocolate and coffee grounds hints coming through to make a good balanced finish. <b>Ozujsko Rezano 5.9%, </b>was another good one. This <b>Dunkel </b>style beer is a brewery mix of 60% <b>Ozujsko Amber</b> (which I failed to find) and 40% <b>Tomislav</b>. Both <b>Karlovacko </b>and <b>Pan </b>have dark beers too in<b> Karlovacko Crno, 6%</b> and <b>Pan Tamni, 5.5%. </b><br />
So, What of the Craft Ales? During our stay, we were quite lucky and managed to tick of a few Croatian Craft Ales quite easily. Not only did we find a few bars stocking a good selection of these brews, the supermarkets also carried a few AND our stay coincided with the annual Tuna Fish Festival, which not only had loads of street food on offer, along with free entertainment, but also boasted a Craft Ale pop-up bar. What follows is a list of the beers we managed to source during our stay, with just a brief description. I would say though that I never tasted a bad beer, and I was more than happy with my selections.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bura Brew <br />
in The Beer Garden</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<u style="font-weight: bold;">Bura Brew.</u><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>are based in Porec and have been brewing since 2016. Their beers are <b>Optimist Golding Ale 5.5%. </b>A crisp Golden Ale with a touch of yeast over malt at the front. Some honey notes before a bitter, dry finish. <b>Redsand Amber Ale 5.8%. </b>Bitter-sweet start, some fruit and biscuit and a dry finish. <b>Tornado IPA (Istrian Pale Ale), </b>with a nice citrus crispness, <b>6.2%. Hurricane IPA, 5% </b>has nice rounded tropical fruit notes coming through. This is the core range. I did manage to try two limited editions whilst I was here too. <b>Istrian Belgian Ale (IBA), 6.1% </b>which was fruity, with back spice notes and nice yeast spikes in the finish. <b>Trippin' Tripel, 8.1%, </b>is a lovely well balanced brew. Moderately sweet at the start, then hoppy bitterness over candied fruit leads to a dry and long finish. Very nice.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gold, Always Believe<br />
In Your Soul.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<u style="font-weight: bold;">Bujska Pivovara,</u> based in Buje near the Croatian-Slovenian border, is the home of the <b>San Servolo </b>beer range. The six bottled brews available around Istria are <b>San Servolo Lager, 5.1% </b>which is a clean, crisp brew, with grass notes and slight back bitterness, <b>Premium Crveno Pivo (Red Lager), </b>which has a lovely medium sweet malt signature throughout, <b>Tamno Pivo (Dark Lager), 5.6% </b>that has a rich velvety mouth feel, and has nice, but subtle, coffee and chocolate notes. The <b>6% India Pale Ale </b>has a good hoppy bitterness tempered well by the floral hints, whilst the<b> American Pale Ale, 6.4%</b>, has nice tropical fruit and zesty citrus at the back. There is also the Limited Edition <b>San Servolo Gold, 7.1%. </b>Biscuit and caramel over light fruit at the start, which leads to a nicely balanced bitter-sweet and dry finish. Quite a lively beer.<br />
<br />
<u style="font-weight: bold;">SUXO Brewery</u> are in Pula and produce 4 beers. We managed to taste three of the range at the Tuna Festival. <b>The Butcher 5.7% Red Ale </b>had a good rounded malt and fruit body and a reasonably dry, slightly bitter finish. <b>The Reaper Golden Ale, 6.2%, </b>is quite sweet, backed by stone fruit and has a slightly acid tang in the finish. <b>Dark Maid, 6%</b>, was smooth, slightly creamy and had coffee and milk chocolate towards the finish.<br />
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</div>
<u style="font-weight: bold;">Pivovara Medvedgrad.</u> We found a few of these beers in the supermarket, although they are available in some local restaurants.<b> Dva Klasa</b> is a <b>Weissbier</b> of <b>4.6%,</b> <b>Zlatni Medvjed 4.4%, </b>a pretty solid <b>Pilsner. Crna Kraljica, </b>is a <b>Black Lager</b> of <b>4.8%</b>, which has some good choco-coffee back notes, <b>Baltazar</b> is an India Pale Lager, with an increasing hoppy bitterness in the crisp and dry finish. The <b>7% Fakin IPA </b>is a bittersweet brew with subtle notes of berries and citrus (and quite moreish) whilst <b>Ljeto u Zagrebu, 5.2% Witbier </b>had a nice spikes of orange and coriander.<br />
<br />
<u style="font-weight: bold;">Pivovara Daruvar </u>brew many beers. Among them are the <b>5th Element </b>beers.<b>LELA, </b>a<b> Blonde Ale</b> of <b>4.5%</b>, an <b>American Blonde Ale, 5.3%</b> and an <b>Imperial IPA, 7.5%, </b>which we picked up from the local supermarket. We found them all quite sound.<br />
<br />
<u style="font-weight: bold;">Zmajska Pivovara, </u> Brewery based in Zagreb, we tried 3 different beers in Porec, <b>Zmajska Pale Ale, 5.3%, </b>malty start with a dry and crisp citrus finish. <b>Pozoj IPA, 7.3%</b>, slight sweet tropical fruit over pine resin. Citrus finish.<b> Porter, 6.5%, </b>a very good mix of roasted malt, chocolate and coffee, very nice.<br />
<br />
We also had 4 different brews from the excellent <b>Garden Brewery, </b>which were their <b>Pale Ale,5.1%, Craft Pilsner, 4.5%, Citrus IPA, 7.2% </b>and their lovely, velvety <b>Stout, 5.7%,</b> and beers from <b>Hotel Golf (Varionica Pale Ale, 5.2%) </b>Also sampled were the <b>4.5% Patak Pale Ale</b>, from the <b>Pivovara MBC, Slawoner, Pivovara Medimurski Lepi Decki MINA Brown Ale, 4.6%</b> and <b>Lepi Decki Kaj-El APA,</b> weighing in at <b>5.2%</b>. There were other a few other Croatian brews available too, alongside beers from Belgium, Austria, Germany and some from the neighbouring countries.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beer Garden, from the<br />Stage!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Bar wise, the wonderful town of Porec can offer quite a few Craft Ale outlets. <i style="font-weight: bold;">Epulon Bar </i><i>, </i><span>in the middle of the Old Town, is mainly a</span><b> Garden Brewery</b> pub when it comes to beer, <b><i>Beach Bar Jedro</i></b> has bottles of <b>Tomislav</b> on the menu (with a great view of the lagoon), <b><i>Caffe Bar Corner</i></b>, which is on the north side of the peninsular, offers a few bottles in the fridge, including <b>Sierra Nevada Porter, 5.6%</b>. <b><i>Wine Corner</i></b> another cafe bar in the OldTown centre, has <b>San Servola</b> on offer too. My favourite two pubs though were <b><i>Terra Magica</i></b> and <b><i>The Beer Garden.</i></b> Both bars share a frontage, a parkland which has live music most nights.Food is available at both venues too. The staff are very friendly and attentive and with <b>San Servolo </b>on at <b><i>Terra Magica</i></b>, and<b> </b>a full range of the<b> Bura Brew </b>bottled beers, and <b>Zmajska Pale Ale</b> on draught at <b><i>The Beer Garden</i></b>, you can't go wrong. We loved Porec, and would love to return soon.<br />
For now, as we look to getting away again, I would just like to finish by saying :-<br />
<b>Cheers, and keep it Crafty</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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<br /></div>
<h3>
</h3>
</div>
Steve Fosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725444056654111446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129469376598056437.post-41957446744886960362019-03-22T11:26:00.004+00:002019-03-22T11:30:02.210+00:00Paphos, Mandria and Nicosia. More Beer and Fun In The Sun.<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
As you are probably
aware by my previous postings on this blog, <a href="https://fozzy21.blogspot.com/2017/11/we-had-joy-we-had-fun-we-had-craft-beer.html" target="_blank">(HERE)</a> and <a href="https://fozzy21.blogspot.com/2016/12/cyprus-aphrodites-birthplace-and-brewery.html" target="_blank">(also HERE)</a> over the past few years
Jane and I have been extremely fortuitous to have been able to spend
a little time each summer visiting friends of ours, Geordie and
Lynne, on the beautiful island of Cyprus. Last year, back in June, we
would be joined by Doug and Sharon, 2 more of our hosts' friends,
also from North East Lincolnshire.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
For the first time we
would be flying from London Stansted airport, a departure point I
last visited during the early part of my taxi driving days in the
1990's. Then, as I recall, it boasted a sizeable and modern terminal
building but lacked the air routes and passenger footfall it has now.
In fact, on my previous visit, I arrived, parked outside the main
entrance to the terminal, as you could then, and was amazed that I was almost the
only cabbie dropping a fare off there. How times have changed. It now
has around 25 million passengers a year using the facilities with
queues seemingly everywhere. This is accompanied by the constant
rumble of aircraft noise, as they are either taking off or landing.
After we arrived, and dropped the car off at the Meet and Greet, we made our
way into the terminal and, after eventually clearing security, we
decided on a drink and a bite to eat. Among the adequate number of
restaurants, cafe bars and eateries is<b><i> The Windmill,</i></b> a Wetherspoon's
outlet which, although not as cheap as its High Street cousins, did
have a reasonable selection of cask and craft beers and a good
selection of food on the menu.We ordered a pizza and, during our wait
to be called to the gate, sampled three of the beers on offer.
Starting off with the solid tasting fruit and citrus Golden Ale from
<b>Hanlons Brewery</b> , the 4.2% <b>Yellow Hammer,</b> before a bottle of
<b>Redemption Brewing's Big Chief IPA</b>, 5.5%, a good hoppy beer, with
just a hint of honeyed sweetness. These were swiftly followed by a
malty, slightly fruity bottle of <b>East London Brewing Co. Cowcatcher
APA</b>, 4.8%. After these it was time to make our way to the gate, board
our already slightly late Jet2 Boeing 737 aircraft, taxi out and
wait.....wait for another 50 minutes. Apparently we, as many others,
had become victims of an industrial action within France's Air
Traffic Control.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We arrived at Paphos
Airport around 10-30pm, remarkably just after it had stopped raining,
the last bit of precipitation we would experience for the duration of
our trip, and we were soon being chauffeured by our hosts back to
Mandria. Tonight would be a quiet night, just a few local Cypriot
favourite<b> Keo</b> or <b>Leon</b> beers to wind down, catch up on the gossip and
enjoy the company.
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Over the next few days
we would be out for meals, both in Mandria and Paphos, but the choice
of drinks were usually <b>Keo</b> or Leon. There were exceptions, but one
must dig around, or do some prior research, to find Real Ales or
Craft Ales. Luckily by now I did have that little bit of prior
knowledge of the area, and I don't mind the usual Cypriot lager beers
on a hot day either. So here is a potted review of what we managed to
find on our most current expedition.</div>
<h4 style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />Paphos</h4>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi78zllYQRi-gppoWIl0r5I34wXI_N7fHXlukM_iGKg2zvjfxxoagimCj2wuyGbRxRNYqLenjhBt7eCBYKnIZwvC0NR8r_hynqnQBlNGc_bwJtqe-RReVau019NC6YdiCIm5lb9_uxBEJU/s1600/20180623_124957.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi78zllYQRi-gppoWIl0r5I34wXI_N7fHXlukM_iGKg2zvjfxxoagimCj2wuyGbRxRNYqLenjhBt7eCBYKnIZwvC0NR8r_hynqnQBlNGc_bwJtqe-RReVau019NC6YdiCIm5lb9_uxBEJU/s200/20180623_124957.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Wooden Pub 2, <br />
Tomb of the King's Road.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
One bar we had visited
on previous trips is <b><i>The Wooden Pub</i></b>. Situated overlooking Paphos
Harbour and Municipal Baths, it is in a good area to start, finish or
base yourself for a few drinks when you are in the resort. It is one
of a couple of the local <b>Aphrodite's Rock Brewery</b> pubs in the resort.
The selection is quite good, with some cask from <b>Aphrodite's Rock</b> and
local beers in bottles from <b>True Ale</b> and<b> Hop Thirsty Friends,</b> nestled
with the Greek based<b> Septem</b> brews, alongside which are some British
beers, such as <b>Brewdog </b>and<b> St Austell.</b> The vibe is easy going, and if
you just want to chill and watch the world go by,it is the perfect
place. For the slightly more athletic, there are the options of board
games available to help you exercise your brain, if nothing else.
Just a 15 to 20 minute stroll away from here is <b><i>Wooden Pub 2</i></b>, on The
Tomb of the Kings Road. Offering a bigger site, which includes a
quite sizeable outdoor beer garden, this a good place to chill out
too. I believe it does offer a bit of entertainment, local bands and
singers, during some evenings. The beer selection is much the same as
its sister pub and the staff are very friendly, taking the time to
have some interaction with the punters. During my visits to the two
<b><i>Wooden Pub</i></b>s I managed to sample the couple of beers on offer from<b> Hop
Thirsty Friends</b>. First up was <b>Humor Weiss</b>, 5%. This Wittbier is
mildly fruity, some banana notes are evident, before a viscous,
fruity finish. The second brew, brewed, incidently, for <b>Hop Thirsty
Friends</b> by Greek based <b>Septem Microbrewery,</b> was <b>Humor IPA</b>, 6.5%.
Quite a solid, if typical IPA, to be fair. There is a reasonable
bitterness, balanced well with citrus fruitiness, and a long dry
finish. A good beer to quench your thirst on. I also had chance to
re-sample some of the disappointing <b>True Ales</b> I tried last year and
some new ones. I started with the spicy<b> Vienna Ale,</b> followed with
the reasonably fruity <b>Porter </b>and finished on the quite grainy <b>Blonde
Ale,</b> all 5%, which is an improvement in ABV's on the previous
offerings. I also bagged a <b>True Ale Ginger Ale</b>, coming in at the same
strength, which was quite malty, with yeasty esters at the
opening, before the subtle ginger heat kicks in. I would say that
they are not quite there with these brews just yet, but there has
been a huge improvement in the last year and they are not too far
away from producing a decent selection of beers.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
There are, of course,
quite a few bars and restaurants in and around these two areas of
Paphos, but most other places usually offer just<b> Keo, Leon</b> and
<b>Heineken</b>. It is worth just asking, or looking at the beer fridge
behind the bar though. Some do carry <b>Aphrodite's Rock</b> in bottles, and
I did notice <b>Wadworth's 6X </b>on tap (keg I would guess) in a couple of
establishments. Although I didn't get to visit this time, both the<b><i>
Old Fishing Shack Ale and Cider House</i></b> in the resort, and <b><i>The Beer
Seller </i></b>beer shop, just outside in the Geroskipou area, are going
strong under the stewardship of Athos. There are a few bottled
beers, some from the UK and Belgium, appearing in the supermarkets
too.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
On our last visit we
found the major rebuilding works were still ongoing in the Old Town
area. Roads were dug up, pavements non-existent and, to be honest, a
right mess. I can, happily, report that almost all the work is
finished. It has made it a bright and airy place to walk around,
steeped in history but with a modern facade, although I haven't had
chance yet to sniff out any real ales or craft beers in the bars.</div>
<h4 style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />Mandria.</h4>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKfz_YiZdou5RuS_tsz_44DSovAaC3BE6yQEdakG-OeQOY9pRq7Ns_2frF95f33ulko6QYCIAUtwHBxYV8irVQ9ownEEpExSeYHZBf-9dGZpLMoARU3PQMQnBuVKEm3cz13UZSdljO6kI/s1600/20180624_170836.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKfz_YiZdou5RuS_tsz_44DSovAaC3BE6yQEdakG-OeQOY9pRq7Ns_2frF95f33ulko6QYCIAUtwHBxYV8irVQ9ownEEpExSeYHZBf-9dGZpLMoARU3PQMQnBuVKEm3cz13UZSdljO6kI/s200/20180624_170836.jpg" width="112" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">8.5% Duvel in <br />
Klimataria</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
You will find Mandria
just a short drive south of Paphos Airport and, although quite
modern, it does have a certain type of old village charm to it. It is
a growing area with a mixture of resident ex-pats, holiday home
renters and owners, International tourists and, of course, local
Cypriots. Raves and night-clubbing it isn't, but more than half a
dozen cafe bars and restaurants adorn the village centre, each with
its own character. The food choices are more than ample, Italian,
Fish and Chips, traditional Cypriot dishes, and take-away options are
all catered for. There seems to be a local competition as to whom can
supply the biggest pork chop or the most spare ribs so the meals in
the village are very good value for money, whoever you choose.The six of us enjoyed quite a few "competitive" meals here. As for
beer, two neighbouring bars deserve a mention. <b><i>Klimataria</i></b> offers all
the usual suspects but, if you ask, you will find bottles of 8.5%<b>
Duvel Belgian Strong Beer</b> on offer from the fridge here. They are
quite reasonably priced too, and, lets face it, this beer, with its
grassy and floral notes, spice at the back leading to a long citrus
finish, rarely disappoints. Directly over the road is<b><i> Kentrpoikon</i></b>.
You can find two of the<b> Erdinger Weissbrau</b> beers,<b> Weissbier
Hefe-Weizen</b> and<b> Erdinger Weissbier Dunkel</b>, on tap here. Both are 5.3%
and as”standard” as you would find anywhere.
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<h4 style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
A trip to Nicosia</h4>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
On our first ever visit
to Cyprus, back in 2005, we stayed in the Protaras area. One of our
many highlights from that trip was a visit to the only divided
capital city in the world, Nicosia. It was quite fascinating and
crossing the fortifications of the “Green Line”, (UN buffer Zone)
showed more than the physical divide between the Greek influenced
Republic of Cyprus and The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Back
then, a visa to cross over the border cost £1 CYP and restrictions
over goods were very strict. Now it's more relaxed and it has more
border crossing points, making it somewhat easier, although tensions
still exist. But this isn't a history lesson, nor a political
analysis. I will leave that to those who are more qualified.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU1ijkmlgXVrQhs9gE_n4PvspMn7CCaoKP2pqRvIINRpwXqOt_aPKzu-TETtRk_J6dmkGKbEPS4_eY7-Iemrok6LVvzXNo05bs3M90Yf0HoXW3YInC1bMZrWA3oE9s-D7-vvsGPNAF3t4/s1600/20180621_165721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU1ijkmlgXVrQhs9gE_n4PvspMn7CCaoKP2pqRvIINRpwXqOt_aPKzu-TETtRk_J6dmkGKbEPS4_eY7-Iemrok6LVvzXNo05bs3M90Yf0HoXW3YInC1bMZrWA3oE9s-D7-vvsGPNAF3t4/s200/20180621_165721.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No Craft beer. Just a light lunch,<br />
Northern Cyprus style</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
On our
trip, after taking the bus from Paphos to Nicosia, we stayed just a
couple of blocks away from the crossing point in Ledras Street. We
cooled down with a couple of <b>Keo's</b> (of course) on our arrival at the
nearest street cafe-bar before crossing over to the TRNC for a bite
to eat. Now, if you want real ales or craft ales in the north you
will struggle. On our trip over, I did have a couple of “possible”
bars on my list. Unfortunately, with it being late afternoon, a few
bars were not open which curtailed our beer search, so food (which
was very cheap, plentiful and absolutely wonderful) and<b> Efes </b>were our
rewards. Our next trip here might uncover those elusive brews I have
been searching for. Afterwards we wandered around a little while
before crossing through the checkpoint and proceeding back over the
border. We'd had a rather pleasant afternoon, one we hope to do
again. Our next stop was <b><i>Brewfellas,</i></b> a friendly craft ale bar, just
off Ledras Street. It has a pretty good range of beers on tap, as
well as a great selection of botles and canned craft beer. Also there
is a beer shop adjacent. We had planned to go out later that evening,
so we just had time for a quick drink before heading back to our
digs. My choice was <b>Tempest Brewing's Elemental Porter,</b> 5.1%, a nice
bitter-sweet brew with coffee and Dark Chocolate, whilst Jane had
the <b>Budweisser Budvar Czech Pilsner</b>, 5%. Both were very well kept.
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh34fcqStTsRC_uhpWbT-Fev5V22jbylrkOTz6gGJn13RLJJm68qnKMOu65jnb51OGxWwNJKcR2DeCc8YylWLcXkmwSOo5casQ7_zcvVUZT7D2bjl6YmZYMbInruRdZb5Ny6leHHpSdXVg/s1600/20180621_210116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh34fcqStTsRC_uhpWbT-Fev5V22jbylrkOTz6gGJn13RLJJm68qnKMOu65jnb51OGxWwNJKcR2DeCc8YylWLcXkmwSOo5casQ7_zcvVUZT7D2bjl6YmZYMbInruRdZb5Ny6leHHpSdXVg/s200/20180621_210116.jpg" width="112" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pivo's beer menu.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After freshening up
back at our digs, we strolled out to a microbrewery and taphouse not
too far away from were we were staying. This was<b><i> Pivo Microbrewery,</i></b>
nestled close to the city's divide. This is a bright and airy bar,
and has a mixed customer base of tourists and locals, but the love of
beer is the the draw, along with knowledgeable staff and what looked
like excellent food (although we didn't eat here ourselves after our
huge plate fulls of grub we received over the border!). There are
quite a few in-house brewed beers on tap and in bottles, and the
range should suit most beer seekers. We started off with the 4x 0.2l
Beer Tasting selection. This consisted of <b>Pivo's Sitarenia Bavarian
Weissbier</b>, a malt driven brew with subtle stone fruit and bubble-gum
at the back, 4.5%, <b>Blondie</b>, a 4.3% nicely balanced Bohemian Pilsner,
a Czech Dark Lager, 4.2% <b>Noir</b> which imparted a nice mix of dark
fruits tempered by light chocolate onto the palate and <b>Hoppy</b>, a quite
complex American Pale Ale of 4.5% its fruit, floral notes and a
tingle of citrus at the back which forces through to dominate in the
finish. After sharing our four beers, Jane carried on with another
<b>Blondie</b> whilst I went for the last 2 beers on tap. <b>Smoked Fish,</b> an
American <b>Smoked Ale</b> of 4.9%, certainly has plenty of smoke in the
taste with sweet fruit and just slight strains of citrus adding to a
quite heavy mouthfeel, whereas Hopfish is totally opposite. This
Summer Ale is light, hoppy and has a good citrus buzz to it. A very
refreshing beer of 4.1%. It was now time to move on, so we headed
back to <b><i>Brewfellas</i></b>, which, by now, was quite busy. A G&T was
Jane's order, which was poured with a very generous spirit measure. I
decided to go for a half of <b>Tempest Marmalade on Rye</b>, a big robust
tasting DIPA of 9%, where sweet fruitiness is balanced its citrus and
a lovely back bitterness. Last up was another half, this time
<b>Northern Monk/Against The Grain Collaboration</b> Peanut Butter &
Jelly Brown Ale, 10%. Wow! What a big punchy flavour. Jammy,malted
caramel and biscuity sweetness on the outset, then the nuttiness of
the peanut butter, and more fruit combine to lift the sweetly dry,
but balanced, big finish. The high alcohol strength is not
noticeable in the least. A surprisingly easy to drink beer,
especially with that high ABV.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We had really enjoyed
our night out in Nicosia and the following day, as we sat outside
another friendly and quaint cafe-bar, sampling more generous food
servings and local hospitality, we had already made our minds up to
return here on our next break in Cyprus.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNd4_P2q-Nqhe35vmfx5XRVT7BrrEbjQz8RPUlhAhdyRtwZYpHQA1jcr9VWcB5__q_EG9o_FgSI7nl3-k41d9xkqKNKjI711TUEYRTC7Mh1l3UB_EMvBM3TC6DY8z5ZCB4-wk02DSMwCg/s1600/20180621_185655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNd4_P2q-Nqhe35vmfx5XRVT7BrrEbjQz8RPUlhAhdyRtwZYpHQA1jcr9VWcB5__q_EG9o_FgSI7nl3-k41d9xkqKNKjI711TUEYRTC7Mh1l3UB_EMvBM3TC6DY8z5ZCB4-wk02DSMwCg/s200/20180621_185655.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brewfellas, Nicosia.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Another highlight of
our visit was Sunday dinner, Cypriot style, taken at a traditional
Taverna up in the hills beyond the Asprokremmos Reservoir, overlooking Paphos. There is no menu, or set
meal, you book in and sit back and, over a cool beer, wait. Then it
arrives, almost meze style. You are not quite sure what will come
next, but you will get fresh bread with mixed starters, plenty of
vegetables and huge roasted potatoes, piles of whatever meats are
being cooked, and followed up with a dessert. Last, but not least,
the zivania spirit comes out! Marvellous, and good value for money
too.<br />
Our 8 days in Sunny Cyprus seemed to be over so quickly. As we
reflected at the airport, awaiting our flight back to Manchester, it was clear that we would returning soon as this is
still one of our favourite places to visit.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Cheers and keep it
“Real”</b></div>
<br />Steve Fosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725444056654111446noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129469376598056437.post-27913651216849977392018-10-14T12:00:00.000+01:002018-10-14T12:18:00.544+01:00A welcome Return to Blogging<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Here we are, entering the second quarter of October 2018 and I still have not blogged about
anything that has happened since our trip to Poznan last November!. How rude of me. This is partly due to my work and free time balance, as well as a gradual
change in my drinking habits. With the allotment, grandchildren and jobs around the house taking some precedents, my habits have been slowly going from “Big Nights Out” to drinking in leisure at
home, enjoying the garden and sampling beers delivered from beer suppliers <b><i>Flavourly, Beer52</i></b> and <b><i>Honest
Brew</i></b>, along with others sourced from the Cleethorpes beer shop,<b><i>
Message In A Bottle</i></b>, as well as any additional beer shops we come
across on our travels. I must admit that the supermarkets seemed to
have upped their game too when it comes to supplies of better quality bottled and canned beers. The Beermonster does still manage a trip
out to the pub, from time to time,mostly away from my hometown, and, because of that, there are
tales to be told. I will now try to expand on these tastings just a little further.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9TY9o7Mmph0AQLZL9BGN0R9sRqxEKF2ImWDDRW44yB10b_VdEN4GBEh6r7xX5EPnHR8Cni_rUoNrCXyLIOmNsNJ2wNPzOhEkJeOHon2lrEuyV-DTvnCkNzEUWZHcERUdVnZ0pSdThXfE/s1600/20181013_161659.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9TY9o7Mmph0AQLZL9BGN0R9sRqxEKF2ImWDDRW44yB10b_VdEN4GBEh6r7xX5EPnHR8Cni_rUoNrCXyLIOmNsNJ2wNPzOhEkJeOHon2lrEuyV-DTvnCkNzEUWZHcERUdVnZ0pSdThXfE/s200/20181013_161659.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now open. Docks Beers<br />
Brewery and Taproom, Grimsby.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
First of all, though, a little bit of better news from our local beer scene, namely North East Lincolnshire. The Craft and Real Ale offerings has, at last, started to improve
slightly over here in Grimsby and Cleethorpes. <b>Axholme Brewery </b>have
managed to expand its availability of their cask and bottled ranges
into more pubs in the area, especially their <b>Cleethorpes Pale Ale
</b>Cask. They have also just put the finishing touches to a second brewery,
this one in Grimsby, between the main shopping area and the town's
dock, which will go by the name of <b>Dock Beers</b>.There is also a Tap Room bar on site. I can't wait for my first visit. Meanwhile, up in neighbouring Cleethorpes,<b><i> The Counting House</i></b>, and
<b><i>Arthur's House</i></b> and a new and relocated <b><i>Society Bar </i></b>have all emerged to
plump out the growing craft beer and cocktail offerings in the
resort. We have visited The Counting House on a couple of occasions,
which is housed in a former bank in Sea View Street. The range of
beers, which isn't huge, usually contains one of the <b>Axholme Brewery</b>
beers. There are plenty of cocktails on offer though. During a couple
of our trips to Cleethorpes, we have also popped into<b><i> The No 1 Rereshment
Rooms</i></b> on the station, which is not to be confused with the other excellent real ale bar situated on Cleethorpes Station, the<b><i> No 2
Refreshment Room,</i></b> or <b><i>Under The Clock</i></b>, as it is known. <b><i>The No 1</i></b> has a
good selection of cask ales, spread over two bars, and the clientele
are very welcoming. Although the upholstery, on our last visit,
certainly needed an upgrade, the memorabilia spread around this
multi-roomed bar certainly adds to the character. We usually pop into
<b><i>The Bobbin</i></b> whilst we are in the resort, and, on our last visit, we
opted to go for each of their three new craft cans on offer from Cork's
<b>Franciscan Well Brewery</b> (part of <b>Molson Coors)</b>. First up was<b> Friar
Weisse Wheat Beer,</b>4.7%, which had a fruit and clove aroma, which is
followed by citrus, some yeast and soft spice. Next up was <b>Chieftain
Irish Pale Ale,</b> 5.5%. This one has a solid malt backbone, with
tropical fruit, hints of vanilla, some citrus along with a nice hoppy
lift at the back. Last up, <b>Rebel Red Ale</b>, 4.3%. Plenty of caramel
throughout, with some berry fruitiness coming through at the end. It is, at last, looking a slightly more promising beer scene in our neck of the woods. One only hopes that this continues.</div>
<h4 style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Louth</h4>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3M5QTPhBeZK2vKA_EeWpfDwjukuPWdv1g3Uqk8qlP7PI8syqVifb2CYKOm4krYKCsPUCrPGQk0WRetPakMuScg4K0hC7285mp2L6-7IsXcy78esrtIn3cdreNzU3osWuin95K57XO5gA/s1600/20180310_174454.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3M5QTPhBeZK2vKA_EeWpfDwjukuPWdv1g3Uqk8qlP7PI8syqVifb2CYKOm4krYKCsPUCrPGQk0WRetPakMuScg4K0hC7285mp2L6-7IsXcy78esrtIn3cdreNzU3osWuin95K57XO5gA/s200/20180310_174454.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Consortium in Louth.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
One of our days out
earlier this year was to The Capital of The Lincolnshire Wolds,
Louth. This visit was days after the last snows of a very long
winter, and saw the last vestiges of the white stuff still draping
over the the base of the hedgerows, and the River Lud angrily thundering
through town, brown and moody looking. We have been to this market
town many times before, and I have also reviewed most of the drinking
establishments within it. This time, after a meal in <b><i>The Woolpack</i></b>,
followed by a couple of beers in <b><i>The Gas Lamp Lounge</i></b>, we wandered
back into the centre of town to the recently opened microbrewery and
micropub, <b><i>The Consortium</i></b>. This former coffee shop is the smallest bar
in Louth, and probably one of the smallest in Lincolnshire. Although
space is at a premium in here, the ambiance is friendly and the decor
tasteful and fitting with the ethos of the place.It has a good half a
dozen cask brews on offer, some of which are The <b>Consortium'</b>s own.
The beers we sampled in here were all from the house brewery. I
started with a 3.9% <b>Lincolnshire Porter</b>, a nice plummy porter with just an edge of coffee at the back and a nice dry finish. Jane went for<b> King Lud</b>, 4.4%, a nicely crafted Pale Ale, with a citrus fruit over a balanced bitter-sweetness in the main which leads to a zesty bitterness at the back. Whilst Jane stuck with her choice, I went for<b> Consortium Brewing Co's Street Beer Series IPA</b>, 4.5%. Although not quite as punchy and hoppy as some IPA's, this was still a good refreshing brew. Red berries and some soft fruit combine well with zest and leads to a crisp finish. </div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
After our session here, we decided to visit a pub that has won many Real Ale awards over the years, <b><i>The Brown Cow Freehouse</i></b>, in Newmarket. Being short of time, the last bus was due to leave in 30 minutes, We quickly ordered our drinks, <b>Fuller's London Pride</b>, which we enjoyed in the packed surroundings of the bar before rushing back to the bus station. The beers all seemed to be in good order, the bar staff are friendly and, by the size of the portions on the plates, the food is well received by the many punters who frequent this freehouse.<br />
What a good day we had experienced yet again, and we often wonder why we don't nip on the bus there more often, although the 40 to 50 minute ride back on the bus with no toilet does suggest one reason!<br />
<h4>
Lincoln</h4>
<div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_oQimpKstkgq-Z_z1Ab0C-spuVMF2toZ7LifwOqrw2SWDcCjwP6KjWhqHzjmWtiZZOx-qH0wQEE8iv3tHck00Y2ot4chj555lk26wc3Z-ZiHtJxpm_Kx_gmp05Ra-EKHV_VIFrvWbkm4/s1600/20180608_130428.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_oQimpKstkgq-Z_z1Ab0C-spuVMF2toZ7LifwOqrw2SWDcCjwP6KjWhqHzjmWtiZZOx-qH0wQEE8iv3tHck00Y2ot4chj555lk26wc3Z-ZiHtJxpm_Kx_gmp05Ra-EKHV_VIFrvWbkm4/s200/20180608_130428.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Cosy Club's interior</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Jane and I (well, Jane really) decided on a bit of pre-holiday shopping, and, as we hadn't been there together for a while, we opted for a day out in Lincoln. Arriving by train, we wandered up towards the High Street area to do the retail therapy bit before heading to our first pub of the day. We decided to give <b><i>The Cosy Club,</i></b> housed in the recently renovated Corn Exchange building, a look. This is a wonderfully and sympathetically decorated bar with original marketplace advertising on the walls joined by paintings of the custodians of this former trading place. I would feel the need to grow and wax a fancy moustache if I were to be a regular here, such is the authenticity of the surrounds. On our visit the only cask ale on was <b>The Lincolnshire Brewing Company's Cheeky Imp</b>, a 4.6% nutty and malty Bitter with a nice bitter-sweetness throughout. Part of the profits go towards Lincoln City FC's Future Imps programme. Being a Grimsby Town fan that was a big sacrifice to make in the name of beer reviewing, but the beer did win. Next up, whilst my Good Lady visited another couple of shops, I was let off the reigns for an hour to do my own bit of exploring. My next port of call was <b><i>The Dandy Lion Alehouse</i></b>, in Newland. In here I chose a <b>Lagunitas Day Time Ale</b>,4.6%, a nice floral and citrus IPA style brew, with a wonderful lemon sherbert like tickle in the dry finish. The pub has a relaxing feel, and is quite modern in its interior design. After this it was back to the hustle and bustle of the centre, and another bottled beer in <b><i>The Curiosity Shop</i></b>, situated at the beginning of The Strait. Inside, the decor is best described as shabby chic, I suppose, but an amiable warmth is forthcoming from the bar staff. My beer of choice was<b> Brooklyn East IPA</b>, weighing in at 6.9%. I sat outside and savoured the bitter opening to this one, which is followed by a hint of treacle sweetness and some citrus zest. There are hints of dark fruit in the depths but citrus and zest are the main players. Nice. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFpvqLMUPPGuctwIBRTYv6l9xQstqf3IYrgjM7Up9LBYsFis2Gxz1md_j4UKHjZUk6InEwDLqnyQoQOuqJ7LNUo9O8aZgez8aWWz9l5Kra1bNY5JL05bNCdqjoixTnDVWFCh4kWOQ9aMg/s1600/20180608_142901.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFpvqLMUPPGuctwIBRTYv6l9xQstqf3IYrgjM7Up9LBYsFis2Gxz1md_j4UKHjZUk6InEwDLqnyQoQOuqJ7LNUo9O8aZgez8aWWz9l5Kra1bNY5JL05bNCdqjoixTnDVWFCh4kWOQ9aMg/s200/20180608_142901.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cask beer flight selection in <br />
The Carinal's Hat.</td></tr>
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Now reunited with a happy shopper, we popped across the road to <b><i>The Cardinal's Hat.</i></b> I have previously reviewed this pub ( <a href="http://fozzy21.blogspot.com/2017/07/all-day-and-nearly-all-of-knights-in.html" target="_blank">Here</a> and also <a href="http://fozzy21.blogspot.com/2017/01/a-tale-of-two-citiesand-resorting-to.html" target="_blank">Here 2</a>) so straight on to the beers. Jane had decided to keep to cider in the main today so that was an easy pick. I decided to go for the Beer Flight, four of the 1/3 pint measure sampler cask beers for £5.25. My selection was <b>Pentrich Brewing Rain of Ruin,</b> at 9% a lovely big and punchy Imperial Stout, 4.5% <b>Factory Pale Ale</b> from<b> Manchester Brewing Co</b>, and two from <b>Dukeries Brewery</b>. These were<b> Lord Furnival Strong Golden Ale,</b> 5.1%, and <b>Castle Hill Best Bitter,</b> 4.2%. All four on my flight were good solid beers and certainly well looked after. The food is good here too. We shared a platter of meats, which came with bread, olives etc. Fed and ready to go, we took a gulp of air before marching from here up The Strait and Steep Hill towards its summit, and our next bar, <b><i>BeerHeadZ</i></b>. Another first visit to this bar, and what a place! I counted 15 cask and craft keg pumps and a fridge full of more craft ales. We sampled three beers in here, First up was <b>Fyne Ales Loch & Key,</b> 5.5%, a nice brew with soft flavours of citrus, berries and just a touch of pine. This was followed by a <b>Kinver Brewery Kinver Egdge</b>, a nicely balanced nutty 4.2% Bitter, with soft hops at the back. Jane, meanwhile, deserting the apple juice, had the <b>Wellbeck Abbey Brewery National Treasure,</b> a Golden Ale of 5.4%. Although nothing exceptional, it was still a solid brew with a medium biscuity sweetness and dry and bitter finish. Our next stop, the final one at this altitude, was <b><i>The Lincoln Tap House and Kitchen</i></b>. There is a lovely roof terrace here, which gives a nice view over Bailgate and towards Lincoln Cathedral. The bar, downstairs, hosts 10 different pumps and from these we ordered a<b> Beavertown Neck Oil</b>, 4.3%, a light, crisp and refreshing Pale Ale and an <b>Aspall's</b> 5.5% <b>Suffolk Dry Cider</b>, before taking in the view. We, finished our drinks, bathed in sunshine but with an edge of coolness still in the air, and decided it was time to retrace our steps towards the bottom of Steep Hill, grab a final drink or two, before moving on to the train station. On the way down the hill, towards <b><i>The Strait And Narrow </i></b>pub, we popped into <b><i>The Crafty Bottle Beer Shop</i></b>, this was for MY retail therapy. After picking up a few little treats for home we settled ourselves in the large but cosy interior of <b><i>The Strait And Narrow</i></b> and ordered our drinks. This time it was <b>Waen Brewery Lemon Drizzle</b>, a 3.7% Golden Ale with, obviously, a cake and lemon tang to it, and a 4% <b>Timmermans Peach Lambic</b>. A sweet and fruity ending to our Lincoln visit, and, besides a slight bag malfunction which enforced a hurried game of "Chase the Bottle" down the lesser slope of this area of Lincoln, our enjoyable day out uneventfully came to a close. We boarded our train back to Grimsby in the knowledge that our next big day out would be in the warm Mediterranean sunshine of Paphos.....but that is another story.<br />
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Cheers and Keep it "Real"<br />
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Steve Fosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725444056654111446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129469376598056437.post-47321086652217580402018-03-17T11:25:00.001+00:002018-03-17T11:25:39.598+00:00Doing the Poznan. Our trip to Poland.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUog47w2VnuI8_dNnF0fDnqknNmLmbD1Yi7bOXP7RZvyRcRMIMzfMOEy34w7k8mjmTAnM8DtGb7FM6dKNkTrEBWUDO-XxH90SOvoSmx8kZia3GKKUkByKvjpZ73OIkZj_p0MoqR0TsUlw/s1600/20171108_110731.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUog47w2VnuI8_dNnF0fDnqknNmLmbD1Yi7bOXP7RZvyRcRMIMzfMOEy34w7k8mjmTAnM8DtGb7FM6dKNkTrEBWUDO-XxH90SOvoSmx8kZia3GKKUkByKvjpZ73OIkZj_p0MoqR0TsUlw/s200/20171108_110731.jpg" width="112" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Town Hall</td></tr>
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In November, The Wife and I had a few days booked off together and, after looking around for a cheap UK break with no success, we decided to see what was on offer a little further afield. We found that Eastern Europe was very affordable, with flights as cheap as £12-99 each, each-way from nearby Robin Hood Airport.<br />
"Fancy Poland?" I asked Jane,and having given her brief lowdown of what I knew of the area, bolstered with a few stories shared with me by a former Polish workmate, Evek, it was agreed we would give it a look. Our chosen destination would be the city of Poznan<br />
Poland has long been a country that has intrigued me. It is situated at the northern crossroads of Europe, which has meant it has become pivotal in the expansion plans of many a neighbouring state. Skirmishes there have been plenty. The changing face of Northern Europe over the last 250 years ago has mostly seemed to include either the partitioning, annexing or redrawing of the nation's boundaries. That is not to say that Poland, or its people have just rolled over, no, far from it. Brave is a word often used in describing the Polish in the history books. This, though, is a beer blog, so I shall leave the rest to those more qualified.<br />
Our flight, with Wizz Air, which was late evening,checked-in, boarded and departed on time, We soon arrived in Poznan just after mid-night, got a taxi to our hotel, <b><i>Hotel Vivaldi,</i></b> and, being that we had enjoyed a few relaxing beers earlier in the day, before turning in, we settled for a mini-bar<b> Lech</b> for a nightcap, which was crisp, refreshing with a nice bitter uplift at the back. It is a basic lager, no frills, brewed in Poznan, albeit under the Japanese <b>Asahi</b> umbrella, and, well, not a lot more can be said. We would have almost five full days to explore the city, starting after a good nights sleep.<br />
Poznan is quite a well appointed city for things to do, with a myriad of museums, castles and the like for those with an interest in history, along with galleries, huge parks and at least a couple of big retail therapy centres, for those with other wallet draining pastimes on their minds. Most of the facilities can be easily reached by the local trams. The starting point for most visitors, and the Jewel in the Crown, is Stary Rynek (The Old Market Square) with the postcard perfect Town Hall and its picturesque former Merchants' Houses which envelop it. The Town Hall plays host to two mechanical butting goats, which are a big tourist magnet here, especially on the stroke of noon, as they emerge from the clock tower and perform their party piece. The surrounding buildings are a mixture of bars, restaurants, craft and souvenir shops, and gives this area a nice busy and bustling feel. From this central point, the streets spread out like a spiders web and it can be quite easy to find yourself if not lost, then certainly in a different place that you thought you were! Mind you, most of theses streets can offer more drinking and eating establishments to rest in and regain ones' bearings.<br />
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Wednesday</h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVYI7aZxo1Bv2bLknFFgVs1iHDGTcsPXldDULDLwNofqxba3tdemzs8t2pEglRIbZj2TqG93YonFE1jGQIfoCoMlXhF-nmZyD8HXU1UwwDsQZGgQ267AMMy_1Te2wam7qo1dhad7PPPV8/s1600/20171108_112641.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVYI7aZxo1Bv2bLknFFgVs1iHDGTcsPXldDULDLwNofqxba3tdemzs8t2pEglRIbZj2TqG93YonFE1jGQIfoCoMlXhF-nmZyD8HXU1UwwDsQZGgQ267AMMy_1Te2wam7qo1dhad7PPPV8/s200/20171108_112641.jpg" width="112" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first Porter Balticki<br />
from Brovaria</td></tr>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">With all this in mind, on a cold November morning, we walked into the city's old town, which took around 30 minutes, and a couple of directional adjustments, to experience what was on offer. After a good look around at the picture perfect surrounds, we entered our first bar of the trip. This was </span><i><b>Brovaria</b></i><span style="font-weight: normal;">, and after a very polite welcome from the bar staff, we were soon seated, looking out on the Stary Rynek, Jane, warming her hands on a coffee, whilst I sampled an excellent 9% </span><b>Brovaria "Porter Balticki"</b><span style="font-weight: normal;">. This brew was full of roasted coffee and dark chocolate flavours with a good back taste of sweet dark fruits at the finish. I was really surprised at how easy this one slid down, it was incredibly easy drinking for a beer of this ABV. A quick check of the watch saw noon arriving, so we finished up our drinks in favour of what was on offer atop the Town Hall. After the duo <i>Capra</i> cranial entertainment, we relocated to our next bar. </span><b><i>Pijlnia Wodki i Piwa,</i></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> just away from the square in Wroclawska, gives the impression of an old 1960's style American Drive-in, but with a noted East European slant. Again, the welcome was genuinely warm. In here we sampled </span><b>Zamkowy Brackie,</b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> 5.5%, a rather sweet and creamy pilsner with a reasonable back bite of bitterness, and the slightly malty and grassy </span><b>Warka Classic</b><span style="font-weight: normal;">, also 5.5%. Both beers were more than OK, and were setting us up nicely.</span><i> <b>Guliwers Bar</b>,</i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> opposite the Town Hall was to be our next port of call. The beers in here all seemed to be Polish major brands, so we shared three of the </span><b>Tyskie (Asahi) Ksiazece </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">brews. </span><b>Ksiazece "Czerwony Lager</b>"<span style="font-weight: normal;">, 4.9% has slight caramel opening and then leads through to a slightly bitter-sweet and floral finish. </span><b>Ksiazece "Chiemne Lagodne"</b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> is a 4.1% dark Lager, and the taste has a nice touch of bitterness throughout, balancing an IPA type backtaste of resinous hops, with yeast esters just coming through to balance it further. The final of this trio was</span><b> Ksiazece "Zlote Pszencizne"</b><span style="font-weight: normal;">, a golden wheat beer offering, which was bright, slightly fruity and had a reasonable hoppy backtaste, 4.9%. To be honest, I have had better beers, but I would not hesitate giving them another go if lack of options dictated it. Feeling a bit peckish now, we headed to get some street food before having another drink. We decided to try zapiekanka, a sort of foot long Polish pizza. Very nice, with a topping of mushrooms, cheese and a chilli ketchup being my choice. Grazing done, we headed back to </span><b><i>Brovaria</i> </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">and sampled </span><b>Brovaria "Wheat</b>",<span style="font-weight: normal;"> a beer full of little jabs of flavour, some fruit, then a hint of spice, a bit of citrus. The beer is quite complex but not overly so. </span><b>Brovaria "Pils"</b><span style="font-weight: normal;">, is an acquired taste. Slightly astringent, some viscous traits and a mish-mash of fresh, but slightly conflicting citrus flavours. It isn't bad, but just sort of tries too much to please. Overall though, not a bad first day. Now the walk back to the hotel faced us. We headed this way, then with a surety we were going correctly, turned a corner, and another and.....Oh, this doesn't look right. A few more </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">twists and turns later, punctuated only by finding an excellent Craft Beer shop and exchanging views on my map reading skills with the long suffering Jane, we finally, and luckily, arrived back at our hotel. We put some beers in the fridge, which I will review at the end, chilled out ourselves and then headed to the hotel's bar. Jane was on G & T's tonight, so I plumped for </span><b>Kolobrzeska Fabryka Piwa "Colberg Black Lager" , </b>6%. A sweet malt opening, with plummy dark fruits at the back tantalise the tongue but do not overpower all else. The finish is long and pleasantly bitter-sweet before a waft of dryness satisfies the palate still further. I liked this one, in fact I liked this one a further couple of times!<br />
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Thursday</h4>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">We started the day with a hearty buffet breakfast, a walk around the extremely interesting Park Cytadela, stopping off at the Muzeum Ubrojenia and the War Memorials, before buying a multi-trip ticket for the trams. Shortly after noon, yes, we would miss the goats today, we were on the tram going back to the centre. Today I would have to embrace shopping into my day. First stop though would be </span><b><i>Green Line</i></b><span style="font-weight: normal;">, a cafe bar with an impressive selection of local beers, situated in Stary Rynek. We chose </span><b>Fortuna "Imbir"</b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> (ginger) stout 6.1%, and </span><b>Miloslaw "Pilsner"</b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> 5.4% to start. </span><b>Fortuna "Imbir"</b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> has a slight cola taste at the start, then a rich stem ginger flavour comes through. The finish is medium long. I like ginger so I quite liked this, others may not. Jane's </span><b>Miloslaw "Pilsner"</b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> is not an average tasting lager, floral herb opening, then a bright light sweetness followed by subtle hoppy bitterness. Very nice. I followed</span><b> "Imbir"</b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> with </span><b>Fortuna "Miodwe Ciemne"</b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> (dark honey beer), 5.6%. Good strains of honey sweetness greet the taste buds from the off, some malt follows, but honey is in charge. I found it quite nice, even for such a sweet beer.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT3Lm2bDxV-Cu3YMELqXEzZp_azpMEAvt27PSrZU1uPspdtyAvJTkN7ItW4FBcKLcEWcT3etkRXfzyWjPyxzg5JIuivyVKPqNrI6JuMRw165iMh8_7_0rCqZixVtHvwAcEBXXbO9KkeFw/s1600/20171109_150603.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT3Lm2bDxV-Cu3YMELqXEzZp_azpMEAvt27PSrZU1uPspdtyAvJTkN7ItW4FBcKLcEWcT3etkRXfzyWjPyxzg5JIuivyVKPqNrI6JuMRw165iMh8_7_0rCqZixVtHvwAcEBXXbO9KkeFw/s200/20171109_150603.jpg" width="112" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cathedral-like<br />
Stary Browar</td></tr>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Following these drinks we wandered off to do some shopping, or rather I was encouraged to show my Good Lady where the closest of the shopping centre was. To be fair, I wanted to see it too, as it was housed in a former brewery. </span><b>Stary Browar,</b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> was the home of the former </span><b>Hugger Brewery</b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> from the mid 19th Century until around 1945. After being left in ruins it was partially reconstructed and in 2003 eventually turned into a shopping centre. Inside this mammoth, almost cathedral like, building, over 200 stores and restaurants are sited. A good amount of the original architecture seems to have survived. We decided to have another quick drink, back near the centre, and then jump back on the tram to our hotel, for tonight we would be sampling the local cuisine. Our last drinks of the afternoon were enjoyed in </span><b><i>Chmielnik</i></b><span style="font-weight: normal;">, a bar just away from Stary Rynek. This extremely well stocked pub, it carries an excellent selection of Polish craft brews, is surprisingly large on the inside, considering its street-front facade. It also boasts a decent sized beer garden too. On our visit, just at opening time, it was very quiet, but we were advised that peak times here see the place rammed. Jane's choice in here was </span><b>Miloslaw "Marcowe"</b><span style="font-weight: normal;">, a 6% Marzen styled beer,which was reasonably tasty, some malt and bready hints coming through before a balanced dry hop finish. I went for a </span><b>Miloslaw "Black IPA z Yuzu",</b> 5.6%. There is a good roast malt hit at the start of this one, then a deep citrus back taste comes through. There is a slight resinous feel on the palate which I believe must be the Asian Yuzu fruit strains coming to the fore. Interesting, and not bad at all.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO31ltxGsJUrV7b4mJHzj_UeoYi8u33E1GBY2DFU8yWIv2RSZ3fGkilzs0hxaWyxzoDVbJXfJ6zOn4-fZYsGS1EPAR7iBPS4I8vny93ILBwBPmSwTOAtnYjkOfbsoM9NEhnqy-e1QNQ0w/s1600/20171109_204315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO31ltxGsJUrV7b4mJHzj_UeoYi8u33E1GBY2DFU8yWIv2RSZ3fGkilzs0hxaWyxzoDVbJXfJ6zOn4-fZYsGS1EPAR7iBPS4I8vny93ILBwBPmSwTOAtnYjkOfbsoM9NEhnqy-e1QNQ0w/s200/20171109_204315.jpg" width="112" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Restaurant tipples.</td></tr>
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Later that evening we returned to the Old Town area for a quick drink in<b> The Tropicana Bar</b>, "<b>Lech" </b>and "<b>Warka Classic"</b>, whilst our table at <b><i>Wiejskie Jadlo Restaurant </i></b>was readied. The meals in <b><i>Wiejskie Jadlo</i></b> are authentic, extremely appetizing and are not served in small portions. For starters we had Barszcz Zurek (soup in a bread bowl) and Bigos (hunters' stew) which were absolutely beautiful. We followed this with a mixed Polish meat platter to share. Oh my goodness! A huge pork cutlet and a steak each, plus a pork knuckle to share, along with all the trimmings, pickles AND Polish dumplings (pierogi) What a feast. We washed this banquet of food down with two local beers apiece. Jane chose the <b>Ksiazece "Czerwony"</b>, which we had previously sampled, whilst I went for <b>Browar Czarnkow "Noteckie Ciemne Pelne" </b>5.6%, a full flavoured brown ale which had lovely coffee taste, tempered with rich dark fruits. The finish was long with a good bitter dryness.<br />
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Friday</h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We had agreed that today would see us(?) do some Christmas shopping at the big Posnania Shopping Centre, a 20 minute tram-ride away.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> With this in mind we left Hotel Vivaldi in torrential rain and eagerly waited for our tram. As usual, it arrived on time and we were on our way. In Posnania there are over 200 boutiques, 40 cafes and restaurants as well as many medium-sized stores. Whilst my beloved would be bargain hunting, I had my own agenda, a visit to<b> Bierhalle.</b> After our initial wander, we decamped to the Man Creche so the main event could begin. This is a bright and airy two-storey bar in a German style. The beers are unfiltered and unpasteurised. We started of with a 400 ml <b>Bierhalle "Pils"</b>, 4.9%, whilst I indulged in a 1 Lt glass of 4.8% "<b>Dunkel"</b>. The "<b>Pils"</b> was lightly bitter at the start, some grassiness with just a hint of spice at the back. The "<b>Dunkel"</b> had bready hints, some nuttiness all wrapped up in a nice sweet caramel body, ending with a nice spike of bitterness. Left to my own devices, I followed up with the smaller 400 ml <b>Bierhalle "Weizen"</b>, 4.8%, which started out with a nice sweetness, before yeast esters and lovely soft fruit come in to play.There is more fruit at the back and some herbal aromatics. I really enjoyed this one.Next was <b>Bierhalle "Pumpkin Ale"</b>, a nicely spiced ale, cinnamon, nutmeg and the heat of ginger were definitely evident, and complimented the maltiness and light floral hoppiness. 5.8%. Jane had now returned and was indulging in another "<b>Pils"</b>. On paying neither of us could believe how little it all came to. All that beer for just a few pennies over £12-00. Cheap as chips. Shopping done, with a few Christmas pressies for the Grandchildrenin hand, we headed back to the tram stops. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">With the weather still bad, we decided to head straight back to the hotel and come out later for a bit of a night out.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Piwna Stopa beer board menu</td></tr>
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Early evening saw us heading back out towards the highly acclaimed <b><i>Piwna Stopa</i></b> bar, just away from the centre. With it still being relatively early, we were surprised at how busy it was. Along with a roaring log burner, and plenty of people, we were greeted by an array of local, national and world bottled beers as well as 16 beers on tap. This was taking Craft Ale seriously. We decided to try the taps, firstly having a 6.5% German brewed <b>Aecht Schlenkerla "Rauchbier Urbock"</b>, a lovely brew with sweet caramel leading you to a nice smokiness, almost like a Christmas ham!, and<b> Browar Stu Mostow "WRCLW Pils"</b>, 5% which was a touch biscuity, with grapefruit coming through at the back, making it more an IPA, I thought. Second up were a lovely heavily fruited Brown Porter (although it poured very clouded off-white) called <b>"Lost Berry"</b> from <b>Maryensztadt</b> 5.2%. We also tried "<b>Jack Strong"</b>, a 7.6% Imperial IPA from the same brewer, which had a big bold malt flavour, some herbal traits and a rich sweetness. The finish is increasingly dry and makes it quite moreish. Next up was <b><i>The Brothers Bar</i></b>, a much quieter place just 5 minutes walk away. There was a reasonable selection of keg beers in here, but not much in the Craft line so I opted for a Czech brewed <b>Zubr "Schwarz" </b>a 4.1% Dunkel, which was bitter-sweet with a delicate, almost floral hoppy finish. Jane had a small shot of the local <b>Soplica </b>hazlenut liqueur, which, by the smile on her face, went down very well.<b><i> Draft Board Game Pub</i></b> was the next bar of the evening. This is a quirky place, Craft Ales at the bar and an area downstairs for games devotees. Serious stuff if you play. We ordered our drinks and then popped downstairs, out of curiosity, and were amazed at how focused these players were. The games are all free and some are still being developed there before going on to be enjoyed in the outside world. Apparently we were rubbing shoulders with World Champions in a Star Wars game. Our host, who was there to show interested parties how to play, was excellent company and took the time to just chill and discuss Polish life, history and an insight into the following day's Independence and St Martin's celebrations. What a nice guy. <b>Browar Za Miastem "Wlasne Sprawy American Pale Ale",</b> 5.6% was my selection from the bar, which I found solid enough, some nice sweet malt then hints of sour bitterness at the back. "<b>Tyskie Gronie"</b> was Jane's favoured tipple. By now we were getting peckish. We decided to head back to Stary Rynek and were invited in to sample the delights of <b><i>Rynek 95 Restauracja</i></b>. Goose, all the trimmings was offered, at a price one could not refuse, so we were soon sat downstairs, in the catacombs, almost, waiting for our meal.To go with the food Jane had a "house" beer, by this time my memory chips had started to go on the blink, so I can't quite recall which Polish lager it was. I, of course, could remember, through my memo app and photo evidence, my choice. <b>Paulaner "Hefe-Weissbier",</b> a Dunkel which imparted nice sweet malty flavours with fruit and bready yeast coming through.<br />
By this time, we were both getting a little tipsy, so decided one more bar and a taxi back to our hotel was the order of the day. One place high on my list was <b><i>Basilium,</i></b> just a stroll away from Stary Rynek. Off we went. Good decision. This was a modern bar, that had a brilliant selection of local brews and a very, very knowledgeable barman. The clientele were extremely friendly, and the <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Basilium, Great bar, good beer.</td></tr>
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ambiance very relaxing. In here, after suggesting our preferences, we were served with our beers, and went to sit with the locals. <b>Waszczukowe "Lycha Zbycha Whiskey Stout",</b> 6.9%, a beer with a smokey peat vein running through with slight coffee and light chocolate at the back, was my first beer, which was followed up by another from <b>Waszczukowe, "Ruda Maruda".</b> This Red AIPA, 6.2%, has a balanced caramel opening as bready notes and some citrus gradually ease through. The finish has slight tropical fruitiness, a reasonable hoppy bitterness with just an edge sourness. We could have stayed here longer, enjoying good beer and friendly conversation but it was Polish Independence Day the following day and Saint Martin's ( swiety Marcin) Day in Poznan in particular, which would feature a colourful parade, street food and, of course, the locally produced and certificated croissants, or "rogale" which are eaten in great numbers, and we would like to experience it.<br />
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<h4>
Saturday</h4>
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We awoke quite early and I immediately set about prising my tongue off the roof of my mouth before having a couple of cups of coffee, slowly nearing a state of readiness for the day. We eventually left the hotel, jumped on the tram and headed off to the aptly named Saint Martin's Street. The weather by this time was awful, but the street food was interesting, tasty and very traditional, and the parade was well worth catching. Colour, firecrackers, smoke and a glimpse of history mixed with the aromas of the food stalls made for a quite a spectacle. We were glad we joined the throngs of locals on their big day of<span style="color: #222222;"> celebrations .</span><br />
Still slightly hungover from yesterday's imbibing, and now rather cold and damp as well, we decided on a quick drink and then back to the hotel. Our hostelry of choice was to be one of the two <b><i>Ministerstwo Browaru</i></b> bars. This one is just off St Martin's Street. The place was very busy, and only had one member of staff on at the time of our visit. I went for a local "dark" ale whilst Jane chose a lager styled beer. Because of the lively and hectic nature in this crowded bar, caused by the day's poignancy, observance, merrymaking and jollification, I failed to note with which beers we were supplied, but needless to say, both were excellent. We would have stayed for more but being cold, wet and still quite weary after last night's excesses, we decided to head back to the hotel. Once ensconced in our room, Jane settled down to watch a Polish film with Polish subtitles about the post war independence, whilst I settled down to write up my beer and pub notes whist enjoying a glass of <b>Soplica</b>, and one of my shop bought beers.<br />
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<h4>
Sunday</h4>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Komes in Motownia</td></tr>
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Our last day in Poznan, for this trip, was now here. We went down and enjoyed another hearty and varied breakfast in the hotel. We decided another walk into town and a visit to Stary Rynek would set us up for the journey home. The weather was bright, sunny but cold and pleasantly bracing, which added a little haste to our meander. We were soon back in the centre, ready to bid farewell to the familiar facades we had become very acquainted with during our stay. We wandered round, took some more photos, bought a few goat related souvenirs and then went for a drink. This time we chose to try <b><i>Motownia Premium Bar and Pub</i></b>. We were, again, warmly welcomed into the large and friendly bar and soon decided on our drinks. Jane went for "<b>Grzaniec Galicyjski"</b> (the local mulled wine) whilst I went for <b>Fortuna "Komes Baltic Porter",</b> 9%. The <b>"Komes"</b> has a really big dark chocolate backbone with a fair lacing of liquorice and some dark fruit. There is a slight sourness which helps raise it further.The finish is dry and the high ABV is well hidden. This was followed up by a <b>Fortuna "Mirabelle"</b> (Plum) beer, 5.1%. Another enjoyable brew from this brewery which was full of fruity flavour. A sweet, almost jammy, plum taste sits proudly on top of a good malty opening, alongside a mild tartness. What a nice, satisfying fruit beer.<br />
Time was ticking, so we decided on a last visit to <b><i>Basilium</i></b> before heading back to our hotel to pick up our bags. On entering we were remembered and greeted as regulars. The barman recalled my tastes, and which beers I had experienced last time. I was offered a local dark beer I had not had before, <b>Browar Waszczukowe "Grazyna Sprezyna Toffee Stout"</b>, 4.5%. a beer which has a reasonably sweet malt opening, with that toffee pushing through. Some chocolate is evident, as is vanilla. Jane opted for a locally brewed cider which she assured me was very good, if a little sweet. My last one in here was <b>Kingpin "Fake Lancelot",</b> a Saison of 6.3%. Peach and sweet caramel at the start give way to more fruitiness, some fresh grass and a good bitter and dry finish. A nice way to round off our final afternoon in Poznan's beautiful and historic centre. We headed back to pick up our bags from our hotel, and await our taxi back to the airport. I decided on a bottle from the hotel bar whilst we waited. <b>"Latarnik Rewalski"</b>, a Wheat beer of 4.8% from <b>Minibrowar Kowal.</b> Slightly darker than some wheat beers, but certainly not in the dunkel envelope, there was some lovely fruit flavours going on in the glass, orange, slight peach were especially noticeable, with just a modest coriander hint at the back. This was to be the last Polish craft ale we were to sample whilst in Poland, although we did pick up some at the airport's duty free counter to sample back in the UK. As we sat in the airport departure lounge, grabbing a quick 5.6% <b>Zywiec Premium</b> we were pleased we had decided to try the Polish hospitality and experience all those great beers and friendly , embracing pubs along with the good hearty meals. We will be back again to try a few more, no doubts about that.<br />
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<h4>
The "extra bottles, and Duty Free.</h4>
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On Wednesday's alternative route-marched return to Hotel Vivaldi, I mentioned we came across a Craft Ale shop, one of the various <b>Duzy Ben</b> stores which are dotted about the city. Well, it would have been daft not to pop in! We picked up 5 different beers in here to sample back in our room. The selection of local, national and international beers and ciders within was very good, as was the medley of wines, liqueurs and spirits. <b>Fortuna "Miloslaw"</b>, one of the beers already reviewed, was among the quintet of beers. The others were, <b>Zywiec Group/Heineken "Warka Strong", </b>a sweet malty Strong Pale Lager, 6.5%, with a slight metallic edge, some nuttiness comes through in the sweet roast malt finish. Not bad, to be fair. "<b>Puola/Polska Finish Export Stout"</b>, 8.8%, a collaboration brew from <b>Browar Wasosz</b> (Poland) and<b> Humalove</b> (Finland) is a stout brewed with Lingonberries which was dark, rich and has a good punch of bitter fruit and the warmth of fortified wine coming through. Some coffee enters the fray towards the long dry and mildly bitter finish. Very nice. <b>Browar Jana "Porter Baltycki",</b> 8.8% was another excellent offering. There is a lovely cherry fruitiness at the outset of this one, which combines well with dark chocolate and just a hint of roast malt. These flavours carry on to the finish which is medium dry. <b>Doctor Brew "Yellow Bourbon Dark Lager, with coffee milk"</b>, 4.9%, was an earthy tasting beer, some vegetable traits and the mildest tang of coffee. Not to my liking, I'm afraid, but hey ho!<br />
We also managed to pick up a further 4 Polish Craft Ales, purchased from the airport's Duty Free franchise, to taste when we got back to the UK. All of them were from <b>Browar Zamkowy Cieeszyn</b>.(also under the <b>Zywiec</b> umbrella)<br />
First was their 9.8% "<b>Porter"</b>, a brew which has a bready, biscuity taste at the back of a choco-coffee opening gambit. Some roast malt and nutty hints and very well hidden alcohol strength. <b>"Mastne"</b> is a 5.8% "Traditional Ale" and also comes under the guise of "<b>Brackie Mastne</b>" Caramel sweetness is the first sensation to hit the tongue, then a medium bitterness before a drying medium finish. <b>"Double IPA"</b>, 8%, had tropical fruit over caramel at the start with some grassy highlights. A slight spice warmth appears on the palate and then leads you to a mildly bitter-sweet finish. Marvelous. Last up was their 6.2% "<b>Stout"</b>. Just a touch thin and watery, I thought, but there are nice rounded spikes of spiciness and chocolate, caramel and a hint of nuttiness. The finish is dry with a touch of sour tartness. All in all I found these beers not too shabby at all. They were all worth tasting, and quite varied.<br />
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Until the next time, <b>Cheers, and keep it "Real"</b><br />
<br />
, </div>
Steve Fosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725444056654111446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129469376598056437.post-9016646114337644302017-11-07T13:34:00.000+00:002017-11-07T13:34:54.781+00:00We Had Joy, We Had Fun, We Had Craft Beer In The Sun...Jane and I have been really fortunate to enjoy two Mediterranean breaks this year, both times we found ourselves returning to previous haunts. Firstly, in June, we visited Malta and Gozo, following up with a September excursion to Cyprus, which took in the Paphos area as well as an overnight stay in The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. As was expected, the weather was fabulous in our chosen locales during our visits which was very encouraging for us to move in the direction of liquid refreshment. So, out and about, what did we discover on our re-visits to these wonderfully picturesque and very hospitable Island nations lapped by the Blue Azure sea.Well, let's find out.<br />
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<h3>
Malta and Gozo</h3>
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After spending a week on Honeymoon here last year, and enjoying a few of the beers <a href="http://fozzy21.blogspot.co.uk/2016/08/malta-sun-beer-and-ollys-last-outing.html">( Reviewed Here )</a> we decided to return for a fortnight this year, and soak up a bit more of what the islands had to offer. I was especially on the lookout, as always, for a few different beers and ales, and craft ale bars, which my research had showed me existed across the Islands. We arrived late evening at our resort, so had a low key first night. Staying in Mellieha again , we sank a couple of <b>Farson's Hop Leaf</b> beers and <b>Cisk Lagers</b> locally, before turning in. Tomorrow I would have my "beer radar" tuned in and turned on and the search for new beers to review would start in earnest.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Catching up with Farson's</td></tr>
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A trip to the supermarket the following day threw up the usual <b>Farson's</b> offerings, but I did manage to get my hands on a trio of this brewers' beers that I had managed to miss out on last year. First up was <b>Farson's "Double Red"</b>. This 6.8% Premium Strong Ale has a big, bold sweet malt body but is well balanced with a back hop bitterness. The hop bitterness carries on to the finish and helps create a rather palatable brew, especially in the hot sunshine. The second brew was <b>Farson's India Pale</b> <b>Ale</b> 5.7% This is a light, quite floral IPA with just a hint of hoppy bitterness at the back. There is some well balanced malt sweetness within the body, and I found it a very enjoyable beer. At 9%, <b>Cisk Strong </b>was the last of the three I sampled, which puts my tastings of this brewer's wares up to a round dozen. <b>Strong</b> is quite sweet, but not cloying, and there is a dark fruit lacing to the opening. The high ABV is quite well disguised and the finish has a sort of sherry barrel infused warmth. I was surprised at how drinkable this one was, especially after some "cheap" beers I have suffered at these inflated strengths. Speaking of which, may I introduce to you<b> Cody's.</b> These beers are brewed by <b>Oettinger Bier Gruppe</b>, Germany and the two I purchased from the local supermarket were very cheap. <b>Cody's Extra Super Strong,</b> 12%, was very sweet, sickly, and every percent of alcohol within was evident. Spicy on the back of the palate, but not in a nice way, which leads to an unbalanced alcohol burnt finish at the back of the throat. This was not a good brew. The "lighter" 8.9% <b>Super Strong </b>was a touch more palatable, but was still too sweet, cloyingly so, and still imparted an awful alcohol burn as it went down. I felt these were beers made for a certain market, those who wanted to reach a certain state of stupor as quickly as possible for whatever reason. I wouldn't have them again. They were certainly not to MY liking, but each to their own.<br />
Other bargain bucket beers we encountered included a refreshing but rather thin and watery lager, imported from Poland's<b> Van Pur SA,</b> by the name of <b>Barley Classic</b>. At 4% it merely acted like flavoured water in the heat, and as cheap as 50 cents in some places, I could see why it sold. We also encountered the EU brewed (no specific location but for Malta's <b>Cassa Camilleri), 1565 Victory Lager</b>. This, brew at 4.5%, was another no frills, average Euro-beer, which was slightly sweet, medium grass notes at the back with an OK, medium finish. We also discovered, in the Spinola Bay <i style="font-weight: bold;">Labour Party </i>bar, cans of <b>Zagorka Special Lager</b>.This, too, was a run of the mill beer. Imported from Bulgaria, it slaked a thirst, but very little else.<br />
You must be wondering by now if, besides some of the <b>Farson's</b> range, there are any half decent beers in this small archipelago. Well I can tell you that Craft Ales and Bars are available, especially if you do limited research beforehand.<b> Lord Chambray,</b> based in Gozo, <b>Phoenix Raw Beer</b>, produced in Naxxar, and <b>Stretta,</b> a Euro-brewed beer made from a Maltese recipe, are all in evidence if you look beyond the numerous tourist bars, and in Sliema there is a micro-brewery and pub, <b><i>The Brew,</i></b> which is now producing its own beers. So, are any of them any good? I'll begin with the <b>Lord Chambray</b> beers, or rather the ones I didn't get round to sampling last time.<br />
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<b>Lord Chambray Special Bitter.</b> 3.8%<br />
Quite a nice brew, with a good dry bitterness throughout. The finish has a reasonable citrus twang to it. I would say this is nearer a Pale Ale in style than a Bitter. An enjoyable beer.<br />
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<b>Lord Chambray Golden Bay </b>5.2%<br />
Another refreshing brew, with medium malt and hop notes. To be honest, I found this one just a touch on the plain side. Pleasant, but just lacking in interest.<br />
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<b>Lord Chambray Winter Ale</b> 8%<br />
I really liked this one, my favourite from the Lord Chambray Brewery. Full flavoured, with dark fruit and a medium sweet malt combination at the outset. The spice kicks in next, with cinnamon and nutmeg springing out to announce themselves. The finish is smooth and packed with fruity flavours and a good bitterness that creeps in. A very good winter ale, drank in near 30 Celsius.<br />
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That concludes this brewery's beers, with the exception of<b> Flinder's Rose</b>, which is a seasonal brew which wasn't available when we were there. All in all, they are not too bad at all. They are available at quite a few bars, restaurants and the bigger supermarkets. They are not the cheapest of beers, but they are worth a try if you come across them. The other Maltese Craft Ales I have included below.<br />
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<b>Stretta India Pale Ale No 1</b> 6.3%<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stretta & Rust<br /> in La Bottega</td></tr>
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A confusing bloodline precedes this beer, crafted from a Maltese recipe. The bottle label states "Brewed & Bottled: <b>Brouuwerij Troost Westergas</b><i>, </i>....Amsterdam" but on line sources state the brewer as <b>Opperbacco, </b>an Italian micro-brewer. Whoever brewed this IPA, they certainly did a good job of it. Smooth malt at the outset with floral notes coming through, just a hint of oranges is detectable at the back. There is a wave of tropical fruits, some yeast esters, then a long, crisp citrus edge that works its way to the bitter and dry long finish. Very nice. We still have the new <b>Stretta Muzajk Atlantic Pale Ale</b> to sample the next time we visit.<br />
<br />
<b>The Phoenix Raw Beer</b><br />
A collection of 4 beers, brewed in Naxxar. These bottle conditioned ales are reasonably easy to find, mostly in the craft bars around the island. Here are my reviews of the range.<br />
<br />
<b>Blonde, Floral Ale.</b> 4.7%<br />
Quite effervescent on uncapping. First taste is sweet malt. There are veins of honey, yeast esters and soft fruit also in the opening mouthful. This then leads to a more balanced bitter-sweet finish with a touch of grassiness right towards the end. Not bad, just a tad too sweet for my palate at the start.<br />
<br />
<b>Rust Rabat Ale</b>. 3.9%<br />
An English style Bitter with good malt and a hint spice tones and the start. Hoppy and dry at the finish with a hint of citrus bitterness. Quite well balanced.<br />
<br />
<b>Rubin Double Ale (Dubbel</b>). 6.5%<br />
Rich roast malt opening with toffee and caramel enveloping the taste-buds. Dark fruits linger and spice combines with citrus notes towards the reasonably long finish, which is crisp and very dry.<br />
<br />
<b>Tar Robust Porter</b>. 5.1%<br />
The first thing noticeable is the carbonation, but after the opening gush, chocolate, coffee and cinder toffee creeps out. It is quite well balanced and eventually yields some dark fruit at the back. A good bitter dryness is at the finish.<br />
<br />
All taken into consideration, these are not too bad. Are they World award winning ales? I doubt it, but they are not bad beers at all. They are an enjoyable distraction from the usual and I would not hesitate to have another of any of the range. I do think the fizz needs sorting out a bit though, which is going to be hard to control in these temperatures, I would imagine.<br />
<br />
<i><b>The Brew Bar and Grill.</b></i><br />
A micro-brewery and bar producing its own beers on the waterfront in Sliema. On our couple of visits, it had 5 of its 6 beers on tap. The missing beer during our stay was <b>Vienna</b> a 5% Pale Ale.<br />
<br />
<b>Pilsner</b>. 4.8%<br />
This is a nicely hop bittered beer, with just a hint of tartness to add interest. Long bitter and dry at the end with a touch of yeast esters towards the final fling. Very refreshing.<br />
<br />
<b>Honey.</b> 5.3%<br />
Sweet, but not cloying, with a nice caramel taste before the floral honey notes arrive. The finish is nice, bitter and long. Quite nice, if you are a fan of honey beers.<br />
<br />
<b>Dark.</b> 5.5%<br />
Chocolate and dark fruits are the backbone of this one. After the well balanced opening sweetness comes a good bitterness, which is carried on to the end and leaves a tart aftertaste. Simple opening, complex finish. Nice one.<br />
<br />
<b>Golden Ale</b>. 6%<br />
A fruity and quite creamy ale. Berries at the back and nice yeast esters at the finish. Very refreshing.<br />
<br />
<b>Ginger Ale</b>. 4.5%<br />
Now, if you were expecting a "<b>Crabbies</b>" style ginger beer, forget it. This is a good malty beer with a nice rounded pale ale styled taste, but with a subtle ginger infusion. It is extremely well balanced and the infusion of ginger at the back really works well.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Beer Menu in<br />67 Kapitali</td></tr>
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Not a bad selection of "home" beers, but add to that a quite adequate selection of International beers, spirits and cocktails, this is a good place to drop anchor, people watching, with the dramatic backcloth of Valletta's skyline and Manoel Island, and enjoy the sun and beer. Speaking of bars, there are an increasing number of Craft Ale bars dotted around the Island. Starting in Sliema, well, just next door in neighbouring Gzira, just a 10 minute walk from<i><b> The Brew,</b></i> we found <b><i>Good Thaimes</i></b>. This laid back bar is tucked away just a street back from the main road and just beyond the entrance to Manoel Island. It has another reasonable selection of International bottled beers, among them quite a few Belgian brews and a good selection of the Maltese Craft Ales. One we missed out on was<br />
<b><i>The Hole in the Wall</i></b>, which also gets good reviews for its ales. Across in Valletta, the Craft Ale scene is also beginning to take off. We had a couple of day trips here and enjoyed the hospitality of two really good bars. First, <b><i>La Bottega</i></b>, in Merchants Street. This is a small coffee shop styled bar. On entering, the array of beers available soon manifests themselves to you from the shelves. The staff are very friendly and have a good knowledge. It is another place to watch the world pass by, accompanied by a good cold Craft Ale. The next bar on our list of the Capital was<b><i> 67 Kapitali. </i></b>Now this is a must-visit place for beer drinkers. Owned by English ex-pats Lena and Dom, this bar, in Bakery Street, has a wonderful vibe. it is also the only place we saw Craft beers on tap, and an excellent selection of beers from all over the world. Lena and Dom are really serious about beer, and never shy from answering any questions about the cafe-bar's wares.The rest of the staff we met were also enthusiastic about their beers and ales too. A truly excellent way to unwind in Valletta. There are a few other bars in the city offering Craft Ales, <b><i>StrEat Whisky Bar</i></b> <b><i>and Bistro</i></b> and <b><i>Gugar Hangout Bar</i></b> are two of the others nearby although we didn't have chance to visit them. <b><i>St Julian's Band Club,</i></b> Spinola Bay, is a good bar to drop into in St Julian's. Along with the usual <b>Farson's</b> selections, one will find a fridge of Craft Ales too. This being a local band club, the prices are cheaper than many of the surrounding hostelries, although<b><i> Tony's Bar,</i></b> just across the way from here, also offers a limited number of Craft Ales at a reasonable price. All taken in to account, this was another enjoyable break in Malta and Gozo, a place we hope to return to again in the future.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Cyprus. Both sides of the Green Line.</h3>
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The last time we were in Cyprus <a href="http://fozzy21.blogspot.co.uk/2016/12/cyprus-aphrodites-birthplace-and-brewery.html">(Here)</a><span id="goog_526079795"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_526079796"></span> we stayed in the centre of Paphos and were lucky enough to be shown around by good friends of ours, taking in, among other highlights, the great <b><i>Aphrodite's Rock Micro-Brewery</i></b> <i>and Brewpub</i> based in nearby Tsada, which produces some very good Real Ales on the Island, not to mention fantastic meals. This time we wanted to see what other beery offerings were out there. During our previous visits, we had always enjoyed the two best selling Cypriot brewed beers, <b>Keo </b>and <b>Leon</b>, and this time they again tasted just as good in the heat of The Med. We were based just south of Paphos airport in the village of Mandria, at the home of our friends with a very loose schedule, apart from an overnight stay over the "Green Line" in The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus later in the week. Arriving late on Sunday evening meant our first foray out was not until Monday afternoon. We were offered the use of the car, after chauffeuring Geordie, one of our hosts, to the beautiful Aphrodite's Hills Golf Club for a round. Golf isn't our "gig", so this type of round was not for us, so after a little while, we were again on the B6 road, heading towards the British Sovereign Base Area of Cyprus around Episkopi, eventually stopping at <b><i>The Bottle Shop</i></b>, a lovely well stocked off licence on the outskirts of Ypsonas, near Kolossi. I had heard of a brewery around here, <b>True Ale</b>, run by a Russian family, which was producing four bottled craft beers, so this shop offered a good starting point to find them. Unfortunately, I was informed by the shop proprietor of some "exploding" bottle issues with their wares so these, we were told, had been recalled. That meant we had drawn a blank on them on this occasion. More of that to come. Whilst we were here I decided to grab a couple of beers anyway, it would be daft not to, and eventually I decided to pick, amongst the ample bottled stock, two beers from Belgium. We sampled these later, back at base camp, although Jane, who had chosen her favourite Cypriot tipple, ouzo, back at the shop, declined, preferring to enjoy that instead. First up was <b>Floreffe Bierre d'abbaye Prima Melior,</b> 8%, a beer with sweet caramel as its backbone, followed by liquorice and dark fruits lurking before a very long slightly bitter finish. Next, <b>Waterloo Triple Blonde</b> from <b>Anthony Martin Brewery. </b>This is a lovely fruity brew with some yeast esters at the back, with a floral kick coming through. The finish is very dry and moreish. A mixed start to my Craft Ale quest then. I would eventually track the <b>True Ale</b> beers a little closer to our holiday base, at <i><b>The Wooden Pub 1</b></i> in Paphos a few days later. After the wait, and anticipation, I was reasonably pleased to actually have them in front of me. How did they fare? Well, not so good. Here are my reviews.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Muddy Water ?</td></tr>
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<b>True Ale Porter.</b> 4.5%<br />
A very thin tasting brew, slight hints of liquorice and a faint dark fruits lacing, but not much else. It is very lively, in fact too lively which is reflected in the dirty-looking pour. It is not a memorable beer at all.<br />
<br />
<b>True Ale Blonde Ale.</b> 2.5%<br />
A touch of orange and soft fruits in the opening taste, bread and yeast esters then seep in. The flavours are too subtle and this, again, gives it a very thin taste on the palate. The finish is very short and leaves very little to get excited about.<br />
<br />
<b>True Ale Pale. </b>3%<br />
This one is easily summed up. It is better to be concise about these as one would struggle to expand further. This Pale is a bit fruity, a bit yeasty, a bit boring.<br />
<br />
<b>True Ale Wheat.</b> 3%<br />
Three down, one to go. Surely this one will bowl me over. This was served with a slice of orange, as suggested by the knowledgeable staff member who served me, which was a good idea. The beer had no taste at all, pre and post orange slice, but the orange slice was very nice and refreshing.<br />
<br />
I had been given fair warning by the bar staff that these were not the best beers on offer here, this is a <b>Aphrodite's Rock Brewery</b> pub after all, but if you don't try, you can't comment. I was also advised about the high price too. I have to agree that these beers have a long way to go before I would sample them again. They are too expensive, coming in at €5.90 a bottle, too weak in ABV and just lacking in any taste. Add to that the vesuvius style uncapping and you can see major improvements are needed. I hope these problems can be ironed out and, maybe, my next visit will yield a few positives for this brewery.<br />
<br />
The outlets for Craft Ales in the Paphos area is a touch limited, although most supermarkets sell one or two British bottled beers. The beers in the bars are the usual suspects, although more are stocking the <b>Aphrodite's Rock</b> beers, which is good to see. Incidentally,<b> Aphrodite's Rock </b>have also opened a second outlet in the resort, <b><i>The Wooden Pub 2</i>,</b> just standing back from the Tomb of the King's Road, which is very good to see. On our previous visit to Paphos, <b>Everards' Beacon,</b> brewed under licence on Cyprus, was on tap in a few bars but this trip we noticed that this seems to have been replaced by <b>Wadworth's 6X.</b> We assumed this is by similar agreement. There is, however, an excellent Beer and Cider shop, by the name of <b><i>The Beer Sellar,</i></b> on the edge of the main town, heading towards Geroskipou (Anthipolochagou Georgiou Savva 34, to be more accurate) This is owned by Athos, who also has <i><b>The Old Fishing Shack Pub.</b></i> Now, if you want to talk passionately about ale, beer and cider, surrounded by a massive selection of world beers, and stock up on a few bottles, this is the place to go. Athos will share his knowledge freely to like-minded connoisseurs of the brewers art and steer you in the right direction. On our visit we managed to pick up a great selection of beers from the Greek Micro-brewer Septem. Each represents a days of the week. As we know, the eighth day was when the Big Man upstairs created beer. Here is my sampling notes.<br />
<br />
<b>Septem Monday's Pilsner.</b> 5%<br />
A nice well hopped Pilsner, with lovely grassy back-taste. There is a smooth fruitiness, a hint of citrus and a rounded bitterness at the finish. A very well balanced beer, and a very refreshing Pilsner.<br />
<br />
<b>Septem Wednesday's Wheat IPA.</b> 6%<br />
Bitter orange and sweet caramel are the opening gambit of this IPA. Citrus zest gently envelops the palate soon afterwards. The citrus zest then drives this beer to a dry and bitter finish. A really good IPA.<br />
<br />
<b>Septem Thursday's Premium Red Ale Beer.</b> 4.5%<br />
A big malty brew with dark fruits and caramel combining to give this beer a real solid base. There is a tingle of spice evident which stimulates the taste-buds with gentle warmth. The finish is very long and dry.<br />
<br />
<b>Septem Friday's Pale Ale.</b> 4.7%<br />
A really nice pale,with a smooth rather earthy taste. A touch of grass, some floral notes at the back and a lovely bittersweet finish that is incredibly well balanced.<br />
<br />
<b>Septem Saturday's Porter.</b> 5.5%<br />
Roasted malt and slight burnt toffee hints are in the opening to this beer, which adds a nice backcloth to the ensuing coffee and slight chocolate flavours. Sitting at the back there lurks an almost red grape type richness that carries on into the long, warming and dry finish. One to savour.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Septem Sunday's Honey Golden Beer.</b> 6.5%.<br />
A rather sweet beer with caramel malt opening before a real whoosh of honey takes over. This then leads to a bitter-sweet and quite dry finish. I am not a big fan of honeyed beers but I did rather like this one.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eighth Day, but not a<br /> week ending.<br /></td></tr>
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<b>Septem Eighth Day IPA.</b> 7%<br />
This brew opens with a good tropical fruit taste, some yeast esters are also present and give it a real depth of flavour. There is a lovely creaminess on the palate and this all eases through to a wonderful dry bitterness at the finish. This is a really solid brew and one I enjoyed greatly.<br />
<br />
<b>Septem Lava Imperial India Red Ale.</b> 9%<br />
Well, you will probably notice that Tuesday is missing. I don't know if it was there in the first place! Anyway, in its absence I chose this one. Lava taste quite like a Scotch Ale at the outset, with traits of rich dark fruits coming through turning it almost into a Christmas cake in a glass (without the lumps!). At the back the smooth rich flavour has a port wine kick to it. The high ABV is very well hidden and makes it very drinkable indeed.<br />
<br />
This is a good selection of beers from this Evia, Greece based Micro-brewery. They are packed with well balanced flavours and seem to cover most bases and styles. I would gladly give them all a second sampling next time around. Another couple of beers we picked up at<i><b> The Beer Sellar </b></i>were <b>Marea Blonde,</b> 4.5% from<b> Elixi Brewery,</b> which was filled with floral notes, some peach hints and yeast esters at the back, and a collaboration brew from the <b>Newcastle </b>and<b> Caledonian </b> Breweries. The collaboration beer,<b> Caley Amber Ale,</b> 6.5%, was quite a sweet tasting beer at the start, with the malt slowly ebbing to allow a hint of fruit and some citrus bitterness through. The finish is increasingly dry and quite long, making it a very interesting and quite complex ale.<br />
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Whilst in Cyprus, we had planned a night, over the Green Line, in The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. We had been across the border in the past, using the the Famagusta crossing and Ledra Street in Nicosia. This time we would be crossing at Kato Pyrgos, up towards Morphou Bay. We arrived via the picturesque road passing through Polis,and Pomis and were very much surprised to find only a single car waiting in front of us. The paperwork was swiftly dealt with and within 10 minutes we were through and admiring more stunning scenes as we drove up into the mountains, before gradually winding our way down towards the coast and our destination, Lapta. We booked into our hotel and then ordered a beer. I had heard of a brewery here,<b> Lion's Heart,</b> but this had subsequently closed, so our options on the beer front would be mainly from <b>Anadolu Efes Brewery </b>in Turkey. Whilst there we managed to sample the following beers.<br />
<br />
<b>Efes Pilsen.</b> 5%<br />
Malty at first, some grass tones and a reasonable, but short lived, bitter finish. Refreshing, but ordinary, lager. A welcome beer in the heat.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Efes 100% Malt </b>5%<br />
A moderately sweet beer, some slight honey style traits, a hint of a metallic twang at the back, but overall another drinkable, but average, brew.<br />
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<b>Efes Xtra. </b>7.5%<br />
Very sweet, quite metallic and unbalanced throughout. An acquired taste but not mine.<br />
<br />
<b>Efes Xtra Shot</b> 9%<br />
Quite similar to Xtra but more sickly sweet than that. The metallic taste is still there, very distracting and making it more unbalanced. A beer to forget in a hurry although others may think otherwise.<br />
<br />
<b>Bomonti Red Ale.</b> 5.3% ( brewed by<b> Efes</b>)<br />
To be fair, not bad. A wave of caramel malt leads before a nice bitterness, and hints of citrus, leads you to a bittersweet and reasonably long finish.<br />
<br />
<b>Bomonti Filtresiz.</b> 4.8% (<b> Efes</b> )<br />
A clean and crisp lager taste with some grass, and slight citrus notes at the back. There are bread-like tones that come through and the finish is slightly sweet but dry. Not too bad at all.<br />
<br />
<b>Tuborg Gold </b>5% (<b> Túrk Tuborg/Carlsberg</b>)<br />
A sweet caramel opening with a touch of fruitiness before a balanced bitterness takes over. I thought this was a fairly decent beer.<br />
<br />
There are plenty of bars and restaurants in Northern Cyprus, Kyrenia, especially, is a bustling place full of watering holes. Craft Ales, though, are not so prevalent. On our visit, we didn't find a single establishment stocking any of these brews. That is not to say they are not available, but just quite hard to find. A nice place to visit, but not a beer tourism hot-spot.<br />
<br />
Malta, Gozo, Cyprus and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus have quite a lot in common, beautiful beaches lapped by the azure sea, hot summer sunshine and that laid back Mediterranean way of life. There are differences when it comes to the beer drinking culture though. The Maltese Islands seem to have embraced the Craft Ale revolution, with Valletta seemingly leading the way with cafe bars being "The" places to chill. Most major villages and towns have at least one outlet for the local craft brews, which is quite promising. <b>Cisk </b>will still be top of the bill, but years of<b> Farson's </b>producing the other varied brews in their portfolio has given the "other" styles more of a chance of getting a foothold in the market. The Paphos area of Cyprus, on the other hand, is a place one has to do a little bit of leg-work and research to help you discover a few Craft ale bars, although the Real Ales from <b>Aphrodite's Rock Brewery </b>are getting more freely available, especially the bottle conditioned brews. It is usually quite rewarding when a new outlet for beers and ales is found here on your travels though. <b>Keo </b>and<b> Leon,</b> understandably, will still probably remain the top sellers across the whole of the south of the island for the time being, though, because, let's face it, it is very hard not to enjoy cold lager in that heat. Northern Cyprus,admitedly, certainly has a lot more to do, but I am sure, eventually, things will change.<br />
I must just mention at this juncture the bars of Mandria, and neighbouring Kouklia. For two small villages each boasts a good handful of eating and drinking venues. The competition in each location certainly helps boost portion sizes and keeps the beer prices down. Kouklia also boasts <i style="font-weight: bold;">Fozzie's Bar, </i>although we merely share a name, not any profit!<br />
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Our next overseas trip will take us to a slightly cooler part of the Continent, Poznan, in Poland, which, we are reliably informed, has a lot to offer the beer tourist. We will soon find out.<br />
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<b>Cheers, and keep it "Real"</b><br />
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Steve Fosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725444056654111446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129469376598056437.post-29390057020580387942017-07-27T09:53:00.000+01:002017-07-27T10:06:07.889+01:00All Day And (nearly) All of The Knights in Lincoln.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguTJDGZq6P1YFCa1T_Ljhx_NYi0OO1AqcWSBieW_cFT_rsAq445YVCPGg6AI4-cp3xabKATxsyBRnB9GoCDM-IJAFpf6uF4EKw4DLG_nwvm4oUGT26YCfapsN4_5UU72w-XHzKSIBAEOU/s1600/20170526_125900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguTJDGZq6P1YFCa1T_Ljhx_NYi0OO1AqcWSBieW_cFT_rsAq445YVCPGg6AI4-cp3xabKATxsyBRnB9GoCDM-IJAFpf6uF4EKw4DLG_nwvm4oUGT26YCfapsN4_5UU72w-XHzKSIBAEOU/s200/20170526_125900.jpg" width="112" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Knight to remember?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipJeNLb7t9FST-0GdiH2VaON84y26utQRr6B1PLX2bk4x7pNt2T4lfnuXelWi8qL8WyJvBC65mVrZffl-7-RrADKAoFNSv8H25a1mSOtSQb_dtMAgP68WHiTKqpVrnQvlao1EeOt-8P2Y/s1600/20170526_111901.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipJeNLb7t9FST-0GdiH2VaON84y26utQRr6B1PLX2bk4x7pNt2T4lfnuXelWi8qL8WyJvBC65mVrZffl-7-RrADKAoFNSv8H25a1mSOtSQb_dtMAgP68WHiTKqpVrnQvlao1EeOt-8P2Y/s200/20170526_111901.jpg" width="112" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Or Steve enjoying a<br />
Blue Moon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Just prior to Jane & I flying off on our Summer vacation to Malta, I had arranged a day out with a friend of ours, Steve, in Lincoln. Now, although we only live an hour away from the County capital of Lincolnshire, we are not what you would call frequent visitors to this history steeped cathedral city. Steve had been there fleetingly, by car, on shopping trips, being dragged around as part of his partner's retail therapy. This was usually followed by hitting the nearest pub to the car park for a spot of lunch and a quick pint, then the drive home. He forlornly admitted to not being aware of the lay of the land when it came to the cask beer bars and craft ale establishments of the city. I, on the other hand, had been a couple of times over the last couple of years, my last trip as recently as December <b><a href="http://fozzy21.blogspot.co.uk/2017/01/a-tale-of-two-citiesand-resorting-to.html">(Here)</a></b>. So, we set a date, found the times of the trains and arranged to meet up. Our chosen Friday morning duly arrived, and with newly acquired tickets in hand, not to mention 30 minutes to waste before departure, we re-adjourned to <i><b>The Yarborough Hotel,</b></i> purchased a couple of beers and waited. I chose a can of <b>Sixpoint Brewing Co "Bengali"</b>, an IPA of 6.5% with slight tropical fruit tones coming through on the back of a wonderful bitterness, which leads to a good zesty grapefruit finish. Steve, meanwhile, plumped for the creamy, orange and coriander laced <b>"Blue Moon"</b>, the 5.4% Belgian White Ale brewed by<b> MillerCoors</b>. Whilst enjoying these beers in the hot May sunshine of North East Lincolnshire ( and, yes, it was hot!) I relayed to my drinking partner the recently acquired news that "It's the Lincoln CAMRA Beer Festival this weekend too!"<br />
"Oh, we're not going to get pissed and miss the train home, are we?"<br />
I assured him all would be well. A Beermonster has a homing instinct like a racing pigeon when it comes to relying on public transportation after several beers. Well I hoped I was correct in my assumption. I was also aware that there would also be the distraction of some Street art to contend with on our crawl. We finished off and headed back across the road to the station.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhphne_p2HzL80B0pKvNNaZ8X8I5rzLqESTpSBz52QnGsO84yQ5I7boHyHVztIICE9MalO8pwbTChwQCYMvqAPljPfdyi9scJriqZMrGSUjJoZi4xOKiZjbKvHBLlyuQsrnkTolX6COMyE/s1600/20170526_130720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhphne_p2HzL80B0pKvNNaZ8X8I5rzLqESTpSBz52QnGsO84yQ5I7boHyHVztIICE9MalO8pwbTChwQCYMvqAPljPfdyi9scJriqZMrGSUjJoZi4xOKiZjbKvHBLlyuQsrnkTolX6COMyE/s200/20170526_130720.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A small selection of The Cardinal's Hat<br />
beer selection.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Around 60 minutes later, just after midday, we alighted our train at our desired location. I took my unofficial Beer and Pub Guide stance next to my willing-to-learn hostelry tourist, advising ".....just one to start in the <b><i>T.O.C</i></b>.", as we headed round the corner to <b><i>The Treaty of Commerce</i></b>. In here I sampled the<b> B&T Shefford Brewing Co</b> 3.8% "<b>Plum Mild"</b>, which had a reasonable liquorice malt taste at the fore before the plum back tones hit the palate. The finish was dry and satisfying. Steve went for a favourite of his, <b>Bateman's "Gold</b>", 3.9%. Unfortunately, he had to wait a while for the barrel to be changed, and when his favoured beer did arrive, it wasn't, shall we say, on top form. It wasn't undrinkable, but just not at its best. Being outside now, it did not deter us from enjoying the lovely rays of sunshine allowing us to bask in the pub's beer garden. After these, we partly retraced our footsteps back, before heading up the High Street, (passing many a Knight on the way, as part of Lincoln's A Knight's Trail, celebrating 800 years since The Battle of Lincoln. I think we encountered a fair few of the 30 odd statues on our meandering) and onto The Strait to the next pub on our agenda, the well stocked<b><i> Cardinal's Hat.</i></b> "<b>Lilith's Lust</b>" a Bitter of 4.1% from <b>Horncastle Ales</b> was Steve's choice, which had a good malty body with a slightly spicy bitterness, and was as traditional as any bitter should be. I went for <b>Brass Castle "Hazelnut Mild"</b>. This 4.2% brew had coffee, slight chocolate and moderately sweet toffee hints at the outset before the nuttiness steers you to a bitter-sweet finish. I enjoyed this one, but the sweetness would become a bit cloying if drank as a session ale. After taking on these brews as sustenance, we were ready to face Steep Hill in one controlled, exhausting push. A couple of landmarks, more Knights and places of interest were intimated to, briefly, with gasps of breath taken in between, but on the whole it was a pretty silent transit up the slope. Our next stop was the<b> Samuel Smith's</b> managed <b><i>Widow Cullen's Well.</i></b> This lovely pub, in the Cathedral Quarter is as cheap as chips, friendly and in keeping with its historic surroundings. It also boasts its own well underneath it, which can (almost) be seen through a perspex viewing hatch on the way to the toilets. There was just the one cask ale on,<b> Samuel Smith's "Old Brewery Bitter",</b> the only cask beer brewed by this brewery now, and there was no guest cask beers, as is the norm, although the keg range was quite ample. Oh, well (no pun intended), we would have to have a pint each of that, then. To be fair it is quite a reasonable beer to sample, with slight biscuit and hints of fruit helping to lift this 4% ale to a reasonable bitter and moderately dry finish. Next up on the tour, after finishing our reviving pints of <b>OBB</b>, and situated just round the corner from our previous hostelry, was the recently opened <b><i>Cask-Restaurant and Brewhouse</i></b>, in Drury Lane. This alehouse is in the footprints of both the Cathedral and Lincoln Castle, with great views of the latter's formidable walls. There were half a dozen cask ales on offer, all local, as well as a brew plant situated inside the pub. On our visit we were informed that the pub's very own beers would be available in a few weeks, so we settled for pints of <b>Dukeries Pale Ale</b>, 4%, and <b>8 Sail Brewery'</b>s 4.7% "<b>A Knight's Ale</b>". Both had fruity undertones and citrus at the back, but "<b>A Knight's Ale</b>", my chosen brew, had a satisfying malt vein running through to the finish, which was quite long.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
It had now been over 4 hours since my drinking partner had eaten, so, solids had to be sought out. Curtis, the Butcher was our next port of call, (having passed another Knight, or two en-route ), as it was the nearest grub outlet to where we had left, in the direction of our next pub, <i><b>The Strugglers Inn.</b></i> Steve eagerly awaited his Big baguette, filled with chicken, salad and whatever else could be crammed in, whilst I was perfectly happy, if I had to graze, with a Lincolnshire sausage roll.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUEp8OueNnfLmO5kbeD2Se3579txxNATxLZu6l2qy-jY4jNZ5rbDimCfKK5e-b2kZisvC8u1kqpvWys4NgTyRFwGs068Xlde2QxMmgLO5BN7Sp_DwHe8Gz_9RGZMVXjcLnHcmeSKSDM84/s1600/20170526_152214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUEp8OueNnfLmO5kbeD2Se3579txxNATxLZu6l2qy-jY4jNZ5rbDimCfKK5e-b2kZisvC8u1kqpvWys4NgTyRFwGs068Xlde2QxMmgLO5BN7Sp_DwHe8Gz_9RGZMVXjcLnHcmeSKSDM84/s200/20170526_152214.jpg" width="112" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Strugglers beer garden</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
"Is that it?!, ...A sausage roll?....Just one?......Nah! I couldn't do that.......Just A sausage roll??!" went the conversation as we made our way round to the other side of Lincoln Castle, finally coming to rest at<b><i> The Strugglers</i></b>. My last visit here, in December, was marred by an alcohol induced self inflicted dose of amnesia, so, it would be nice to see the place again to discover what I missed last time, even with only one sausage roll on board. Steve went for a pint of 4.6% "<b>Minerva</b>" from <b>Milton Brewery,</b> which is a Golden Ale which after initial fruit and caramel, had a big hoppy punch, and refreshing bitterness. I had a half of <b>Newby Wyke "Nagato",</b> 6%, which was dry and fruity at the outset and followed by a big as a beach-ball grapefruit finish. Wow! This was a good beer.<br />
"Only half, is it?", Steve enquired, followed by "I couldn't do that"<br />
" Well, Yes. To be fair,.." I replied, "... sometimes less IS more, somehow, especially with some of these bigger flavoured brews. You don't get bogged down with all those flavours and subtle undertones which are going on if you savour them,and don't just sup them......equally important if you have only had one sausage roll!!" After more beer garden tanning, we left to reconvene at <b><i>The Victoria,</i></b> barely two minutes walk away. Now back in the pint envelope, it was to be <b>Bateman's "Mr George"</b> <b>Golden Ale</b> for me, and a pint of<b> Timothy Taylor's "Landlord" </b>for Steve. "<b>Mr George"</b>, 4.4%, is a light, slightly fruity beer with a pleasant, quite floral hopped finish, which is extremely refreshing. It was most welcome on this warm afternoon as we, again, chose to sit outside and bake a little more in the sun. Our minds, or rather my guided tour itinerary, started to turn towards the <b><i>Beer Festival</i></b>, taking place in <b><i>Lincoln's Drill Hall.</i></b> The plan was to head off there next, but on retracing some of our footsteps, coinciding with a visit to <b><i>The Crafty Bottle</i></b> beer shop, I needed to stock up on some beers at home, We, complete with a carrier bag containing half a dozen "home" beers, entered the <b><i>Strait and Narrow</i></b> for one more before the Festival. I like the modern and cosmopolitan feel in here, and the range of beers, cask, craft and bespoke International lagers is quite impressive, as is the spirits and liqueurs line-up. Steve once again went for <b>Timothy Taylor's</b>, but I could not pass up a <b>Bude Kreft Beer "Draco Raspberry Milk Stout",</b> 4.5%.. Chocolate, toffee and raspberry, of course, are in the main of this smooth stout. The flavours combine extremely well and are well balanced. The finish is moderately sweet at the front with a dry bitterness gradually taking over. Very enjoyable.<br />
We arrived at the Beer Festival (via more of those Knights) around 5-30 pm and there was a very good turnout. With this being the second day of three we had missed out on some of the beers , the good ones always run out first, but there was still an enormous array to choose from. We took the beer list, ticked off the ones we had tried previously, and then picked out a few we would try to get through. Sensibly, we both decided on sampling halves instead of pints. We managed to sample eight different brews between us. Other than ticking the sheet, we didn't bother making our own notes but suffice to say, they all kept pretty much to their festival descriptive billing.Our beers were:-<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUbpGbgbbMKZ3QmOpU9EafJxFiCe4fMfS4ehRwsukmCqABZlat5wzqbC7vXc2JVdgilxUamYs7FJR35eymSC2TTe2I2-iYPsFCBVjgAWESjjPRE9JmgoTBXbUGVX-d8fkZu7WVpLW876E/s1600/20170526_173521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUbpGbgbbMKZ3QmOpU9EafJxFiCe4fMfS4ehRwsukmCqABZlat5wzqbC7vXc2JVdgilxUamYs7FJR35eymSC2TTe2I2-iYPsFCBVjgAWESjjPRE9JmgoTBXbUGVX-d8fkZu7WVpLW876E/s200/20170526_173521.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great turnout at a good location.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Axholme "Dockers Mild" </b>3.5%.- described in the Festival notes as "A classic dark mild."<br />
<b>Castle Rock "Hemlock Bitter"</b> 4% -" Full flavoured with fruity notes on the palate, hop ending."<br />
<b>Chadwick's "Castle Mill Mild" </b>3.6% -"Black full bodied dark mild, smooth rounded, with a liquorice aftertaste"<br />
<b>Ferry Ales "Smokey Joe Porter" </b>4.9% -" Classic style Porter with slight smokiness"<br />
<b>Lincoln Green "Big Ben" </b>6% - "Dark mild with hints of toffee & treacle. Sweet finish"<br />
<b>Marble "Pint" </b>3.9% -"Dry session bitter with notes of citrus & grapefruit"<br />
<b>Mighty Oak "King's"</b> 4.2% -"Deep golden beer brewed wit NZ Nelson Sauvin hops. Long bitter finish<br />
<b>Peerless "Triple Blonde" </b>3.8% -"Blonde beer with fruity, citrus finish"<br />
We finished off, and decided to make tracks for the station. "Just one more on the way back?" I suggested. It was agreed we would pop in the <b><i>Jolly Brewer</i></b>. "Where is it?" enquired Steve, as we came out of the Drill Hall. "There" I said, pointing at the green painted facade of the pub directly opposite.What a good place to have another pub! 2 minutes later, we were entering the pub which, surprise, surprise, was also holding its own Beer Festival! Talk about lucky, eh.<b><i> The Jolly Brewer</i></b> had the its usual offerings on the bar inside, and a dozen festival ales in the beer garden to the rear, not to mention a good line up of real ciders. This being a sort of celebration to Lincoln, its pubs and local Ales, we decided to raise a glass to a fantastic day out with a pint each of <b>Lincolnshire Brewing Company "Festival Beer"</b>, 3.7%. Brewed for <b><i>The Jolly Brewer Festival</i></b>. All I can say is this beer reflected our day. Easy going, pleasing and good for a session.<br />
Next post on The Beermonsters Blog will be a surprising return to Malta and Gozo.<br />
Cheers and keep it "Real"Steve Fosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725444056654111446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129469376598056437.post-82403477618932902102017-06-11T15:02:00.000+01:002017-06-11T15:24:30.320+01:00The Model of Craft work<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
It has come as no
secret, or any surprise, that the brewing of Craft Ales, once looked upon as rather
a gimmick by beer lovers, and, seemingly by others, a bohemian and almost dark art indulgently practised in the far corners of the brewery, or even the shed, by geeky individuals, has
now become more of a staple part of the discerning beer drinkers'
arsenal. There was also a time, not too long ago, that the bottled
beer market was dominated by just a few “foreign”, or continental, lagers
(mostly brewed under licence in the UK), along with a smattering of pasteurised
examples of the leading keg beers of the day. A can of beer always
tasted “tinny” and was merely there to wet your whistle after the
pubs closed. There were exceptions, of course, but my own forays always ended in memories of blandness. So, fast forward a touch. People initially wanted better beer in the pubs, CAMRA, among with other organisations, helped deliver its members wishes and now, with cask ale seemingly, going from strength
to strength since that popular rebirth of living beer styles, what has fired this interest in craft ales? My own
experience and curiosity in this field has been driven from my
obvious love of the aforementioned cask beers, and my disappointment of sourcing good beers locally. I have grown up and still live in an area
that has struggled to satisfy the thirst of Real Ale drinkers for as
long as I can recall. Over the last few years, Grimsby has lost a
raft of decent cask houses, and the selections at some others has
been reduced down to one or two “safe” brews (<b>Doom Bar, Greene
King </b>etc), or removed altogether. <i><b>The Tap & Spile</b></i>,
once offering up to eight different ales, has gone, <i><b>Swigs</b></i>,
a <b>Willy's Brewery </b>outlet that also had ever changing guest
beers, now a restaurant, <i><b>The Royal Oak</b></i> is a solicitors
offices and <i><b>Walters</b></i> now only offers<b> Doom Bar</b> (
as does <i><b>The Parity</b></i> alongside the <b>Greene King.)</b>
after an array of pumps stopped offering a decent choice. The local
<b>Wetherspoon's</b> is still open, which does give a reasonable
choice but at times service and beer quality could be better, and
with the closure of our second <b>JDW</b> in town, the clientele can
be rather...erm...earthy at certain junctures. Neighbouring
Cleethorpes is much better, with new bars selling some cask and
bottled craft making shoulder room against the long established Real
Ale boozers, but when I fancy a quick pint, or two, I don't want to
be jumping on the bus or train there and back, which also adds to
holiday resort prices at the bar.
</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFkJcr_ATOHPGX-0yQSmZNz_bmtueC7rAi6p5OT_vnaHWNsevdnQaCq6MrxjqUck70M4q4erj5-a4IQAbWdbZoUnxXhLvlLLK9aXrMScz4m3rdtXq-7BALYgL5klq9tAXVXMqLYP7YcnM/s1600/20160802_173849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFkJcr_ATOHPGX-0yQSmZNz_bmtueC7rAi6p5OT_vnaHWNsevdnQaCq6MrxjqUck70M4q4erj5-a4IQAbWdbZoUnxXhLvlLLK9aXrMScz4m3rdtXq-7BALYgL5klq9tAXVXMqLYP7YcnM/s200/20160802_173849.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Typical supermarket range. Some craft<br />
Some not, some in sheep's clothing!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I have tried
the supermarket ranges, some good, some not so, but regardless of the
size and variety of the stock, one can soon exhaust the offerings
and, lets face it, many are repeated from one chain to another. The
thing is, though, there has been a progression. First, bottled
versions of cask pub regulars, alongside German and US lagers, and a
smattering of Belgian beers. Then the start of the craft revolution
hit. Big punchy IPA's seemed to be the thing, mingled with Golden
Ales and barrel infused dark beers. There are more craft beers now
appearing in these bigger shops, admittedly, many “home brand” beers,
usually produced by one the big brewers, have also diversified in style a
touch and got better, which must be commended. But, as is usually the case, we craved for more. Supply and demand kicked in and Boom, The Craft Beer Revolution takes place.You could go safe, but still find a host of different beers all under the same style, all just a tad different, or you could be adventurous, with an AIPA, a Witbier or, maybe, a Watermelon Sour to experiment with. Another pleasing
aspect of the Craft Revolution is the growth of the Beer Shop. When I
was growing up, every little community had at least one grocer,
butcher, bakery, paper shop, green grocer and “beer-off” (or
off-licence) . Each sold what it said on the facade. Simple. Then,
well,we all know what happened when convenience was the buzz word in
local retail. You could now buy a banana, newspaper, bread loaf,
sausages as well as a bottle of beer without having to move further
than the one shop. Some of the independent traders either closed, moved on,
became more bespoke and niche or embraced the new one size fits all
form of trading and became franchisees. We, the consumers, on the
other hand, over the last couple of decades or so, have had our horizons
broadened, by foreign trips and tourist travel in the UK,
through to trawling the Internet, not to mention social media."New" foods from every corner of the globe are now sought after. Specialist deli counters and the like have sprung up and prospered. Beer
drinkers are no different. We want to try these new brews and styles. Like
minded entrepreneurial beer lovers wanted to supply us. The result is
a shop that almost exclusively sells beer. What it says on the facade is what it sells Brilliant. Almost a throw
back to the old days. Jobs a good 'un. (deja vu, anybody?)</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I have
sampled a few of these premises and find myself like a child in a
candy shop, as I stare in awe atthe vista presented to me. It is always fun to try and find one on our visits away from our own area
as most do stock beers from breweries specialising in that locality.
Some of those I have visited are mentioned here. Our local beer shop
is <i><b>Message in a Bottle, <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6eYzVDX6xHSuBQSppVbfNtk300Q51YbgpxrUKnByIFcmUdx_gDuiQdYc-Vhdqloi76xSblEGdbRItUspUSVncKGAFiG5LQXK4b9XKPOLO6ZbtzgcPPPDAZlDWqy0hGwXCRfynCeE2ONA/s1600/20151206_141056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6eYzVDX6xHSuBQSppVbfNtk300Q51YbgpxrUKnByIFcmUdx_gDuiQdYc-Vhdqloi76xSblEGdbRItUspUSVncKGAFiG5LQXK4b9XKPOLO6ZbtzgcPPPDAZlDWqy0hGwXCRfynCeE2ONA/s200/20151206_141056.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Message in a Bottle in Cleethorpes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</b></i>based
in Cambridge Street, Cleethorpes. Run by Charles Lumley and family,
who also has business links with the excellent local (Crowle) brewers
<b>Axholme</b>,
it features a great range of local, national and World beers. It is a
wonderfully friendly outlet, with a nice relaxed atmosphere. If you
are a CAMRA card holder, a discount may be available. On my last trip
here, I managed to espy an <b>Amarillo
IPA</b>
brewed by <b>East
Coast Brew Co.</b>,
a new brewer based in my home town. There is always a local beer in
here to raise the eyebrow. On the Strait in the Cathedral Quarter of
Lincoln, you will find <i><b>The Crafty Bottle</b></i>.
Although owned by <b>Lincolnshire
Brewing Co.</b>,
the range of beers in here are very varied, and not just from the
host brewers. It is also well placed for the local Real Ale bars too.
Now, the next mention goes to, the shop with the largest beer
selection I have ever experienced on my trips. This one, situated in
York, is <i><b>The House of Trembling Madness.</b></i>
This magical drinkers' emporium has beers, beers and more beers on
the ground floor, spirits from every corner of the World on the next</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirqFbqF5FCRhMoQsnj6ONG9zbU4u0yz4WbKQLl63lBgZ8UTTH5bZOfrJxJLn8xSVJM31E55hk87v8rU5kR3lyyukeb51gV3nGjibyp2k0-1Tq4yeO8G2ZuEVesJkFAu6iu5I8-wQxxsgg/s1600/20161109_135709.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirqFbqF5FCRhMoQsnj6ONG9zbU4u0yz4WbKQLl63lBgZ8UTTH5bZOfrJxJLn8xSVJM31E55hk87v8rU5kR3lyyukeb51gV3nGjibyp2k0-1Tq4yeO8G2ZuEVesJkFAu6iu5I8-wQxxsgg/s200/20161109_135709.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still Trembling at the stock range.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
,
and a wonderful bar and eatery at the top. It is a proper shop in the
heart of this historic City, not a faceless warehouse.The beers are
from near and far, local, national and continental, and it is a not a
challenge to find a bottle never tasted before, whoever you are.<br />
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Most
breweries, nowadays, have a craft beer shop on site, or nearby, which is
very handy. <b>Adnam's</b>
in Southwold is a very good one, but there are many, many more across the
country, and most sell on-line as well. These beers are also
available at the growing number of beer wholesalers nationwide.Drop in and buy or log on, pick your beers, pay the
p&p and, hey presto!,your order turns up within a day or two. The
mention of on-line sales leads me to the my latest way of beer
purchase. The Beer Club. In the UK there are quite a few. The deal
is, usually, a fixed subscription, honoured for an initial 3 monthly
deliveries, and then, it's up to you to keep the boxes coming or
cancel when you wish. I am currently a member of two of these clubs,
<b>Beer 52</b>
and <b>Flavourly, </b>both easily found on Google, and I have had no problems in getting my beers, which are usually
small brewed batches, or from a featured brewer. I will, no doubt,
join one or two more clubs in the future, and order a few from other internet suppliers.</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
So,
where does this leave traditional cask ales? Are they under threat?
Well, no, I don't think so. Some less consistent brewers of quality
beers and ales may struggle, but I do believe that, on the whole,
those discerning drinkers making the choice to try bottled craft
beers for the first time, and seeing the different and sizeable
range, style and varied tastes available may will be driven by
curiosity to give the pub handpumps a go. (I have noted that the
student fraternity seem to quite interested in the bottled craft
market which, in turn, could secure the cask market growth for years
to come) Let's just remember that a few years back the Gin market was
struggling. There were a few labels out there, struggling along, then
the Gin Revolution hit with a bang! Small Batch Gin is now big
business, different flavours using interestingly different aromatics
and botanics, and has encouraged the partaking of the big brand
gins down the local. Enough said. Now, where's my delivered box of beers gone.</div>
<br />
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Cheers
and keep it <strike>“Real”</strike>
Crafty!</div>
Steve Fosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725444056654111446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129469376598056437.post-13664395744411308072017-03-27T21:47:00.000+01:002017-03-27T21:49:19.596+01:00Aldi, Aldi, Domino Dancing.<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
As most of
you are aware, <b>Aldi,</b> the German based discount supermarket which has
a foothold in many countries worldwide, has always been quite
competitive along the beers, wines and spirits aisle. The recent sea
of change across the food retailers in this sector has shifted
somewhat of late. All the major supermarket chains have been adding
to their beer lines with a more tailored style of wares. The cheap,
nasty shop brand beers, (and I can remember, usually at someone's
barbecue or house party, having some truly awful cans of pish wrapped
up as bitter, best bitter and the like, usually 4 units for a
giveaway price), are now being nudged to one side of the shelves, to
be superseded by the new kids on the block. Craft ales. At the
discount priced end of the market,<b> Lidl </b>released a very good
selection of “<b>Hatherwood</b>” beers in 2015 <a href="http://fozzy21.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/a-lidl-light-refreshment-budget-beers.html" name="(Reviewed Here)">(Reviewed
Here)</a> and have received many plaudits, so would rivals <b>Aldi</b>, with
a range of beers grouped under two umbrellas, “<b>The Great British
Brewing Company</b>” and “<b>Harper's Brewing Co</b>” all fall down like
dominoes, or would they be dancing down over my taste-buds ? I will
review each group separately as they really need that respect.</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><br />
</b></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl4kFMkgB5wet79_NPG_iMnYNOHPRYeeOLt01lPkgJnwTHQqfeNUlYjSkwbJU-KLfUEHa47t8h1bL_g2I_sgUFDZPoNq7-1_jIQuXWWzUKXwZjrcGUdZurMo7o1MltTaUN0D-1AGpXyR0/s1600/20161128_135737.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl4kFMkgB5wet79_NPG_iMnYNOHPRYeeOLt01lPkgJnwTHQqfeNUlYjSkwbJU-KLfUEHa47t8h1bL_g2I_sgUFDZPoNq7-1_jIQuXWWzUKXwZjrcGUdZurMo7o1MltTaUN0D-1AGpXyR0/s200/20161128_135737.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Harper's range with a stray<br />
German lager also lurking.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3 style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Harper's
Brewing Co. Beers</b></h3>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
These are a
collection of 5 different 500ml bottled beers brewed by the<b> Marston's
Brewery</b>, and the variety is quite reasonable, with Amber, Brown,
Golden, Red and India Pale Ales all represented, although a Stout or
Porter would have been nice to see alongside these. So, what did I
make of them?</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Golden Crown</b>
4.1%</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
This is the
beer with the least ABV of the range. It pours with a straw coloured
golden hue and a finger of white froth on top, but the head soon
dissipated. The mouthfeel is quite carbonated, and fresh. The initial
flavours are of biscuit and slight caramel, with fruit slowly coming
through. The finish is also reasonably fruity, but well balanced as a
nice tang of bitterness. This is not a bad beer, to be fair, and went
down very well.
</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Amber Stone</b>
4.4%</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
This is a
fruity Amber Ale, with a caramel backbone. There is a fair raisin
hint to it but the malt drives it. This is not an overly sweet brew
though, in fact it is quite reasonably balanced. The carbonation is
evident at the pour, but the froth soon subsides. This would be a
nice beer for those lazy days in the garden, rather than a session
beer in the winter, huddled round the fire.</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>New Bridge
Brown Ale</b>. 4.7%</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
This beer
bears quite a striking resemblance to another World famous Brown Ale,
which comes from the North East, Northumberland to be more exact,
….oh, sod it, This beer is just like <b>Newcastle Brown Ale</b> in its
looks. The clear bottle and simplistic labelling could easily lead to
it to be mistaken for the other more well known Ale. There is less
ABV, but only marginal. What of the taste? Well, I preferred the<b>
North Bridge </b>brew. It is sweet, with good strains of chocolate coming
through with that lovely nutty caramel taste. I don't like too much
sweetness in my beers, and I found that it was well balanced in this
one.</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Medusa Ruby
Red Ale</b>. 5%</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Malt drives
this ale. The backbone is nice and sweet, but not cloyingly so, with
dark fruits easing themselves through, pleasingly, to give a nice
roundedness. There is a well balanced bitter-sweet finish which all
goes to make a very good brew, especially at this level of the
market. I tasted this one, initially, with a friend of mine, and, as
his was a blind tasting, there was a certain amount of persuading
that this was NOT <b>Wychwood Hobgoblin.</b> I can understand that close
comparison.</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><br />
</b></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Wild Bill's
IPA American IPA</b> 5%</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Dry, bitter
and sharp are three words that spring to mind when tasting this brew.
There is biscuit and fruit at the fore, with a good lacing of toffee
notes ready to come through. It is an easy drinking brew, which has
most of the characteristics of a Craft A/IPA, but just holds back a
touch and is not quite as full flavoured and “in your face” as
some. It is still one to enjoy, maybe whilst just chilling in front
of the TV, or on a lazy afternoon.</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjjXq8dS8x31FIEz3QN_Tpf6bvVRptT4s-HjkrMcRkaMOWAzvJUkQodftJerk3NoQlEI4uTwSHfWlh7AmUQKY5I_ipz0S5R9X-wxnE3BKWUK-7g3n1oQvJ9kAohEkKJnyYya3tVkjc-Zs/s1600/20161128_135942.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjjXq8dS8x31FIEz3QN_Tpf6bvVRptT4s-HjkrMcRkaMOWAzvJUkQodftJerk3NoQlEI4uTwSHfWlh7AmUQKY5I_ipz0S5R9X-wxnE3BKWUK-7g3n1oQvJ9kAohEkKJnyYya3tVkjc-Zs/s200/20161128_135942.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Great British Collection.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3 style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The Great
British Brewing Co.</h3>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
This is a
selection of 5 craft ales, brewed by <b>Brains', Sadler's, Twickenham
Fine Ales</b>, along with 2 from<b> Hog's Back Brewery</b>, are presented in
330ml bottles and also cover most bases for the discerning drinker.
They are simplistically labelled, and bear the Great British Brewing
Co tag around the neck. The origin is not disguised in the least, and
is prominent on the front. Each carries a description of its merited
tastes, and, to be fair, you do get what it says on the label.</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Sunny Dayz
Golden Ale (Hog's Back)</b> 3.8%</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Hoppy, with
citrus fruit lingering on the palate. The dry finish sparkles with
floral notes. A very pleasant, light and refreshing ale.</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Spill The
Beans Coffee Porter (Brains) </b>4.4%</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Not a heavy
Porter, but quite reasonable. The sweetness and choco-coffee back
taste does stay until the last and, overall, not too bad at all. It
is a porter aimed more towards the session drinker, I would assume,
and not a one-off explosive dark beer, like many Imperial strength
stouts and porters out there at the moment.</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>All For One
4 Hop Lager (Hog's Back)</b> 4.5%</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Quite a
fresh tasting brew. A nice depth of flavour hides beneath the straw
colour. The initial malt tingles on the tongue, then slight honey and
biscuit tones lead you through to a well balanced bitterness at the
finish.</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Red Rye IPA
(Twickenham Fine Ales)</b> 4.7%</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
This is a
beer that seems to build slowly. First fruity raisin like hints, then
caramel takes over, followed by the bitterness. I found it an OK
beer, but a bit unbalanced.</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Land of
Liberty American IPA (Sadler's)</b> 5%</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
There is
quite a sweet taste to this one, which masks the tropical fruit and
citrus from coming through. When it does appear, it is quite
reasonably balanced, and has a nice bitterness at the finish. It's
just that opening sweetness that lets this one down.</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Well, that
is the<b> Aldi</b> line-up. Two separate beer lines for the same ,supermarket. One for the
more traditionalists, and the other bending more heavily towards the craft market.
Both are quite solid, and, apart from a couple of questions about the
interpretation of the styles, they do come across quite well. If you
want beers for a lazy afternoon watching the sport on TV, or to stock
up with a few bottles for those long awaited barbecues at a smart
price, then you can't go wrong with either collection.</div>
Steve Fosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725444056654111446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129469376598056437.post-54293088021601292342017-01-20T09:19:00.000+00:002017-01-20T09:47:56.451+00:00A Tale of Two Cities.....and resorting to a Beer Festival.Well another year has come, and gone, with a few refreshments partaken of (quite a few, in fact) . I, unfortunately, have struggled to keep up on this blog with tales of my imbibing of the beverages on High Days and Holidays,( even the general pee-ups!)over the last few months Never mind. I will strive to keep you all up to date. (Another New Year's resolution to to be kept in a sad state of disrepair there, then). So, to try and catch up a touch, I will give you my drinkers opinion on 2 of the most popular tourist cities in our neck of the woods. York and Lincoln. Both have had the privilege of my beer tokens in the past, but not for a while. Here we go, then.<br />
<h4>
<br />York.</h4>
<div>
On a cold, wet and depressing day in November, we, that is Jane and I, along with my Aunt Pauline, set off from Alford on a coach bound for one of my favourite locations for real ale drinking in the country, the fine City of York. Back in the day, when t'interweb was around, but still a novelty, I was given a downloaded piece of paper stating, and directing a young Beermonster to, the 39 pubs situated within the City walls. Over the course of two weekends during that year, I, rather we, managed to reach 31 of those on the list, PLUS find another 2 unlisted outlets! Those were the days. Our trip today, though, was to be much shorter in length, around 5 hours before returning back to Lincolnshire. Still, with a smartphone, CAMRA Good Beer Guide recommendations slipped neatly in the wallet, and the ladies happy to do the shopping malarkey, I was confident of giving York a good looking at. The weather was awful, so after getting from coach park to shopping centre, we headed for the first pub we could find, and so starts my review in earnest. These are the pubs, and drinks enjoyed.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">The Golden Fleece. </u>The Pavement.</div>
<div>
This is a pub with two bars, as well as history, and ghost stories, oozing out of the walls. It is said to be the most haunted pub in the country, although the only spirits we saw came with a mixer and ice. The staff were pleasant, and the beers on offer quite reasonable. We chose to sample <b>Timothy Taylor's "Landlord"</b>, and <b>Rooster "Yankee"</b> and both beers were presented excellently. I have reviewed both beers previously, but we certainly had nothing to complain about here.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ZNygV06ayz77CMdrorqBxB0jwto-gNk3q1KuPhi0gvnmgpxtVE5gNTPK5EQIY89TK5oQ4ee-RmyTqWTtMFKHStLwGE5w7KMGOtKFpaXkWAVbcHxYUGe6QNw6CfQeQJnSCSQoqkQ8xuI/s1600/20161109_122754.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ZNygV06ayz77CMdrorqBxB0jwto-gNk3q1KuPhi0gvnmgpxtVE5gNTPK5EQIY89TK5oQ4ee-RmyTqWTtMFKHStLwGE5w7KMGOtKFpaXkWAVbcHxYUGe6QNw6CfQeQJnSCSQoqkQ8xuI/s200/20161109_122754.jpg" width="112" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Stouter Stout</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">The Duke of York.</u> King's Square.</div>
<div>
This pub is part of the<b> Leeds Brewery</b> group of pubs, and has a good range of the brewery's wares on the bar. It is modern, but tasteful inside, and a lovely, comfortable ambiance. I chose a pint of 4.7% <b>Manchester Marble Brewery "Stouter Stout"</b> which was rich, dark and had wonderful roast flavours throughout. There was a good hint of dark chocolate, coffee and raisins, in the main, and the finish was pleasingly dry and oh, so long. What a nice brew. A great pub with good beers.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Pivni, York.</u> Patrick Pool.</div>
<div>
My radar was a bit askew looking for this one. I probably walked almost past it at least twice, but, eventually, I found myself sitting in this den of real ales and craft beers. It offers a fairly extensive range of cask beers, craft kegs and bottles and cans, so you should find something to tickle your fancy. I went for the "house"<b> Tapped "Dry English Stout"</b> 4%. It was quite a nice brew, with roast flavours throughout, but a touch thinner than I expected. Nonetheless, this is still a good beer and, maybe, could be a good "session" stout. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">The House of Screaming Madness.</u> Stonegate.</div>
<div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcl0ekVYwHfYKooX0ifxZDH53ZLIBJoEeRqqSVciDe-1ogVbAEPqfWarxEcZBthuIGXhgCQahR9Eb_s9A-vxShjOP82kXXF_KGXkOiaJ46GP6vPQjrnzWQl7vUXBPWLIzJs_xT33Ko83o/s1600/20161109_135709.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcl0ekVYwHfYKooX0ifxZDH53ZLIBJoEeRqqSVciDe-1ogVbAEPqfWarxEcZBthuIGXhgCQahR9Eb_s9A-vxShjOP82kXXF_KGXkOiaJ46GP6vPQjrnzWQl7vUXBPWLIzJs_xT33Ko83o/s200/20161109_135709.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beers Screaming out at you.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Wow! What a place. The facade is quite ordinary, shop-like, in fact, and is easily passed by. When one enters here,though, it is the most complete beer and drinks establishment for miles, and would put in the shade any similar off licence-cum-pub I have ever visited before. The downstairs is a beer shop, with a myriad of brews from all over the UK, Europe and the World. The second floor houses an almost complete range of Spirits, Liqueurs and Aperitifs from every corner of the globe. Finally, the Jewel in the Crown. The upstairs bar and eatery. It is tight, busy but rewarding with a few hand pulled ales on the small bar, and those dispensed are all of a good quality. Being almost 1-45 pm, and feeling peckish (we had arranged to meet up again around 2-15 pm for lunch) I opted for something with substance. A meal in a glass, <b>Arbor "Breakfast Stout"</b>, a 7.4% Oatmeal Stout which was absolutely rammed to the brim with lovely sweet chocolate and roasted coffee flavours. This was an brilliantly crafted ale, and was really smooth to drink. The finish had a viscous feel, but was tempered by a nice dryness. This is a true paradise for any beer drinker.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">The Shambles Tavern.</u> The Shambles.</div>
<div>
Is this a beer shop, cafe or pub? Whatever it is, it is doing it well. We ate in here, the food was well cooked and portions large, and also enjoyed the "house" ales, brewed by <b>Rudgate Brewery</b> to accompany them. As we were table served, I can't really tell you a great deal about the beers, other than they didn't disappoint. It is another great place to stumble upon, and the prices for food and drink were not "tourist" rate.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Pavement Vaults.</u> Piccadilly</div>
<div>
Part of the Pivovar Group, who own the York Tap, Sheffield Tap and Pivni, among others, this is a very modern looking bar with a cosmopolitan feel about it. It is quite a cafe bar styled place, and very welcoming. I chose the local 4.8% <b>Arbor "Smac My Brew Up" Pale Ale</b>, whilst the ladies went for the <b>Gun Brewery "Project Babylon Pale Ale" </b>4.6%. The Arbor brew was light, with slight grass and a decent enough citrus kick at the start, with a bready hint in the main. The finish is dry, bitter and has a good zesty orange peel bite to it. The<b> Gun Brewery</b> offering was also light, but a touch more fruity before the onset of the dry hoppy bitterness.<br />
<br />
This was our last pub of the day as we had a coach to catch back to Lincolnshire. It was only a sample of the vast array of real ale, and craft, pubs in the City, and it was a rather like standing standing at the edge of an ocean, wanting to go swimming to the other side, when you know the best one can manage is a quick paddle! One thing is for sure, you are spoilt for choice whenever you visit this Minster City.<br />
<h4>
Lincoln</h4>
</div>
<div>
Again, it has been a while since I last visited here. I had arranged to have a long promised few bevvies with Andy, a former work colleague, friend and Lincoln resident, oh, and an Aston Villa fan, but we can forgive him that! So, on a very foggy December lunchtime, after a couple of beers in Grimsby's Yarborough Hotel, I boarded my train for the short 1 hour journey to the fine cathedral City of Lincoln.The plan was to meet up, have a couple or so beers, then drop my overnight bag back at Andy's before going back out for a leisurely tipple or two later on. The plan didn't quite work out like that, but never mind. This is a review of our day and evening out in Lincoln.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">The Treaty of Commerce.</u> High Street.</div>
<div>
With this <b>Bateman's</b> run pub being only a stone's throw from the station, it is a place I have always gravitated towards on my trips to Lincoln. It always offers a good range of the brewery's own wares alongside a small range of guest ales. It is a busy little boozer and, although a little more dog-eared than my initial visit about 15 years ago, it is still as welcoming as ever, and serves a bloody good pint. I settled down and waited for Andy with a pint of the 4.1% <b>Adnams "Jack Brand Mosaic Pale Ale". </b>This straw coloured Pale Ale is light on the malt tastes, with fruit, pine, citrus and hints of doughy bread lingering on the palate. It is not heavily bittered which makes it a very good session beer. I followed this with a pint of <b>Gales "Firecracker", </b>a 4.8% Spiced Winter Ale which, since taking on the George Gale & Co label in 2005, is now brewed by <b>Fuller's. </b>There is a real malt driven backbone to this beer, with good strains of Christmas spice (cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg are noticeable, along with a few others, all nicely balanced) and dark fruits. It is pleasingly sweet, but with a nice bitterness to round the complexities. I found it to be a very good seasonal ale. All in all, a very homely pub with good ales.<br />
<br />
<u><i><b>The Hop and Barley</b></i></u>. High Street<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A good selection at the Hop & Barley.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This is billed as Lincoln's first Micro-pub, and is on the road leading out of the City centre, about 10 minutes walk from the station area. It is sited in an old hairdresser's premises and has a modern, quite sterile feel to it on first entering. The bar is not large, but has a wonderful array of ales to choose from. I opted to start on the lusciously dark and smooth tasting <b>Derventio Brewery "Barbarian Stout",</b> 5.5%, which was packed with coffee and chocolate flavours and had a lovely dry and long finish. The chocolate lingers quite a while on the palate, and gives one a nice mouth feel. My next brew, also a Stout, was the Chesterfield brewed <b>Spire Brewing "Yaroslavna</b>" 6%. Alongside the coffee notes, which were pleasingly punchy, lies a subtle vein of liquorice. The strength is well hidden, and the flavour, along with a smoothness on the palate and the increasingly dry finish, make this a very moreish ale indeed. A word about the toilet facilities in here. If you are into the Marvel comics, you may be quite surprised at the decor in the smallest room.<br />
<br />
<b><i><u>The Ritz ( Wetherspoon's)</u></i></b> High Street.<br />
Situated half way between the previous two pubs is this former cinema, now part of the JDW chain. The drinks range is pretty typical, with a few local ales alongside National and guests. It is quite busy, as these pubs usually are, but what does make this place worth a visit is the Art Deco facade and the tasteful decorating inside. It is nice to see these old buildings being restored and saved for future generations. Instead of a cask ale, I chose to sample one of the craft cans on offer here, namely <b>Flying Dog's "Snake Dog</b>" a punchy, full flavoured 7.1% American IPA.<br />
<br />
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">The Jolly Brewer.</u> Broadgate<br />
I have passed this pub quite a few times on previous occasions, don't ask me why, but I s shall definitely make sure to pop in again. The green, slightly garish, exterior here doesn't do justice to the bright and airy Art Deco interior. There is a range of 2 regular, at least 4 guest ales on in here, The beers sampled in here were <b>Welbeck Abbey'</b>s 3.6% Golden Ale, "<b>Henrietta</b>" and <b>Dukeries "Baronet"</b>, a bitter of 3.9%. This is a place were you arrive a stranger but leave a friend, and it had a quite eclectic mix of customers.<br />
<br />
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">The Dog and Bone.</u> John Street<br />
This award winning local, just away from the main City centre is well worth finding, although on our discovery we were well on our way to those wobbly legs one acquires after drinking on an empty stomach! So there we were, slurring and giggling, and I with an overnight bag still slung on my shoulder at 8-45pm. Oh well, best laid plans of mice and men. It serves 2 <b>Bateman's Ales</b> along with 4 ever changing guest ales. I opted for the 4.2% "<b>Dark Secret</b>" from<b> Horncastle Ales</b>, although besides noting in the memo app of my phone that "I liked it", my memories of it are sadly blurred. I do recall that it was very homely and tidy, and that the bar staff were very engaging about there wares. Undoubtedly, the pubs we had visited were all well worth it.<br />
<br />
After finishing our drinks in <b><i>The Dog and Bone</i></b>,we shot back to Andy's, dumped my bag and shot back out, this time up around The Bailgate area. We visited a further 3 pubs, <b><i>The Strugglers</i></b> in Westgate, were a pint of 4.5% <b>Dukeries "Mining Stout</b>" was partaken of, <b><i>The Victoria</i></b> in nearby Union Road ( <b>Wadworth's</b> Pusser's Rum infused "<b>Swordfish</b>" 5%) before finishing off at <b><i>The Strait and Narrow,</i></b> situated on The Strait. I finished off in here with a Manhatten cocktail, whilst Andy kept on the beer. All in all it had been a good session, but a very heavy one, and I am pleased I only "go for it" like this every once in a while! There are quite a few other real ale establishments in this Cathedral area of Lincoln, which are all worth visiting, but even I have my limits. Next time, definitely next time. We grabbed some food, I chose the ubiquitous greasy kebab, which I was really looking forward to eating, and jumped in a cab back to my digs for the night. Early the following morning, I awoke, surveyed the pile of cold supper still in the box and ceremoniously condemned its body to the bin. What a waste. A few coffees later and I was ready for my long walk back towards the railway station, but not before another couple of visits.<br />
<br />
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">The Cardinal's Hat.</u> High Street<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIaMrRjeA134u8Z3KCDeftgj2Pm9O_zyKOII3JOUk2IjDVlT1U8kRJo0j02v8pFVtosZ7mU57EJWq2JJOgRKNlH0IQLgoN2gEks2OfwmbuGzQQiOLTHEo6iBOacy9zjUX04SISQrnoJUc/s1600/20161207_140013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIaMrRjeA134u8Z3KCDeftgj2Pm9O_zyKOII3JOUk2IjDVlT1U8kRJo0j02v8pFVtosZ7mU57EJWq2JJOgRKNlH0IQLgoN2gEks2OfwmbuGzQQiOLTHEo6iBOacy9zjUX04SISQrnoJUc/s320/20161207_140013.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hats off to the Cardinal's Hat.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Situated just at the beginning of The Strait, The Cardinal's Hat is housed in a Grade II listed building which dates back to the 1500's. History oozes out of every pore of this excellent Alehouse. The cask and craft beer selection is excellent, and they are available by the pint, half and one-third of a pint, as part of the "beer flights" deal.On entering, you are greeted warmly, and the staff try to steer you towards your favoured beer style with a genuine wealth of knowledge. I decided on<b> North Riding "Rum and Raisin Dark Mild</b>" for my tipple, and this 4.3% brew was absolutely delicious. It tasted exactly like its descriptive title, and was wonderfully long and dry in the finish. I was very pleased with, not only my final pub of my visit to Lincoln, but also of my last beer tasting. Marvellous.<br />
<br />
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">The Crafty Bottle.</u> The Strait.<br />
I had one last place to pop into before hurrying back to the station, and that was to pick up a few bottles from The Crafty Bottle beer shop. The selection is, maybe, not the largest you will find, but still quite extensive. There was a reasonable number of local bottled ales available, along with a good representation from many other UK brewers. The US and Europe were also on show, so I would think most discerning beer lovers could find a tipple to their liking in here.<br />
<br />
I chose my beers, and managed to get back to the station with 5 minutes to spare. Relaxing as I looked out on the now bright and sunny County capital, I reflected on a my 24 hours, promising to come back soon.<br />
<h4>
Cleethorpes Beer Festival.</h4>
</div>
<div>
Back in October, before my visits to Lincoln and York, we, Jane and I, along with a couple of our friends, were lucky enough to be able to attend this year's Cleethorpes Beer Festival a visit. This was <b><i>Message in a Bottle</i></b>, which was selling its wares either to drink in, or take-away. There was hot food available, as well as a stage which had appearances from local up and coming bands. After choosing a bottle of <b>Axholme "Promotion Pale Ale" </b>from the beer shop people, brewed to celebrate my beloved Grimsby Town's rise from Non-League football back to Division II of the Football League, we found a table and sat down to explore the beer list. The World Lager Bar had 6 beers on tap,( 3 from Belgium, 2 German beers and one from the <b>Fourpure Brewery </b>in London.) and 4 ciders from <b>Snails Bank</b>, with <b>The Orgasmic Cider Co</b> having a single representation. The Real Ale and Cider Bar across the room had at the outset 26 beers and 12 Real ciders on offer. Not a bad selection, to be fair. I had tasted a dozen of the beers before ( <b>Timothy Taylor "Boltmaker"</b>, a few<b> Bateman's</b> ales, "<b>Proper Job" </b>from<b> St Austel</b>, and the like), so concentrated on the ones new to me. So here we go, a run down of those beers we savoured at this great little beer festival.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs70IB9MzLuqpka9aiUhHuMruAdjGkuZ1WzI-Fnyr49-hgjUjH8Zlm73Z8n_cutJZLS1gfs4LHn45WLmkhQFZ2rPO1C7DdGmKdMo8IwF7SH8047DOXKg-TSx7L6fB_5Wiod27Wt8wDfPs/s1600/20161022_185448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs70IB9MzLuqpka9aiUhHuMruAdjGkuZ1WzI-Fnyr49-hgjUjH8Zlm73Z8n_cutJZLS1gfs4LHn45WLmkhQFZ2rPO1C7DdGmKdMo8IwF7SH8047DOXKg-TSx7L6fB_5Wiod27Wt8wDfPs/s200/20161022_185448.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The stage is set.....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
the 2nd year it had taken place, at The Beachcomber Holiday Centre in the resort. We arrived around 6pm and were pleasantly surprised at the set up. There was an World Lager Bar, a Cask Ale Bar, both of which had ciders, either bottled or on tap, as well as a bar manned by the owners of Cleethorpes' own Beer shop, <br />
<br />
<b>Willy's Pub & Brewery "Wai'Me? 3.9%</b><br />
A light Amber Ale with slight caramel backbone. OK bitterness, and a refreshing citrus finish. I found this beer pleasant, but not outstanding.<br />
<br />
<b>Bateman's "East Coast Screamer" 4%</b><br />
A Golden Ale with pleasant bitterness and punchy citrus kick. A nice American IPA styled beer but maybe just holds itself back, in a dignified way from those "in your face" IPA's offered by our cousins across the pond. Nicely balanced.<br />
<br />
<b>Longhop "Plain Jane" </b>4%<br />
A crisp well balanced session ale, which has nice citrus notes throughout, with floral hints in the finish. A good beer indeed.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Cameron's "Thirst Blood.</b> 4.3%<br />
You usually get a good beer from Cameron's, and true to form this American Rye styled ale, with a sweet malts and bready hints, which combine well with citrus in the finish, certainly ticked a few boxes. The finish wasn't overly bitter, but quite satisfying all the same.<br />
<br />
<b>Charles Wells "Golden Cauldron</b>" 4.1%<br />
This Golden Ale is sweet, slightly herbal and has subtle fruitiness to it. It is a touch thin in the mouth but is not too bad as a session beer.<br />
<br />
<b>Bateman's "Texan Triple Hop" </b>4.2%<br />
Although the name hints towards something different, this ale was not as hoppy as we expected There is a reasonable sweet malt body to it, but the anticipated dry bitterness does quite get there, although it was still quite refreshing and definitely quenches ones thirst.<br />
<br />
<b>Axholme "Cleethorpes Pale Ale</b>" 4.3%<br />
I was eagerly awaiting tasting the cask version of this beer, which has as one of its ingredients local sea buckthorne berries. Well it was worth the wait. It is light, fresh and has an almost sherbet tingle to it. The citrus stretches almost undiminished into the long bitter finish. This was my favourite beer by far.<br />
<br />
<b>Steamin Billy "Skydiver</b>" 5%<br />
This is a sweet, warming bitter, with dark fruit evident, along with hints of treacle. The finish is long, but it lacks in bitterness. Not too bad a beer though.<br />
<br />
<b>Castle Rock "Screech Owl" </b>5%<br />
This is an excellent quite well balanced IPA. There is good bitter-sweetness, slight grassiness and reasonable fruitiness. The finish is hoppy and long with some floral notes. Very nice.<br />
<br />
I really enjoyed the Cleethorpes Beer Festival. It was well run, even though not under the CAMRA stewardship.There was a good selection of beers, ciders, craft ales and country wines. Oh, I nearly forgot. There was also a International Gin Bar in one of the adjoining buildings too!! Add to this a good varied mix of all ages, live music and good friends and you are on to a real winner.<br />
<br />
Cheers and keep it "Real"<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Steve Fosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725444056654111446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129469376598056437.post-7366452619546238212016-12-01T17:12:00.001+00:002016-12-01T17:19:14.451+00:00Cyprus. Aphrodite's birthplace and Brewery.<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Most forays
to the popular beach hotspots of Europe do not, usually, include a
visit to a brewery producing “traditional” real ales. Reasonable
local keg, bottles, cans and sparse offerings of craft beers are
possible to find, and in the hot, arid and sunny climate a cool local
beer, usually lager in style, seems to suffice the quenching of the
thirst, although a repeat performance with your chosen tipple, in the
cooler, damper breezes of home after finding your favoured holiday
beer in a local supermarket, almost always ends with disappointment.
So, where is this blog posting heading? Well, back in September, we
flew off to our destination of choice, armed with fond memories of
previous beery offerings, and a promise to visit a proper Real Ale
brewery which has been highly rated by many since it opened only a
few years back. So, here goes. A review of one of Europe's most
beautiful and enchanting islands. Cyprus. Also the home of
<b>Aphrodite's Rock Brewing Company</b>.</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Cyprus.
Reputed to be the birthplace of Aphrodite, the Greek Goddess of love.
A beautiful Island in the Eastern Mediterranean. Hot, sunny and
unbroken blue skies greet the visitor. What a place to spend your
holidays. Cyprus is one of our favourite destinations, and this year
we were able to re-kindle our love of the island, the first time for
about 10 years. Previously, we had stayed on the east coast, around
Protaras, but this time the West coast beckoned, so we decided to try
Paphos, a city of archaeological interest, on our return. Following
our flight, we arrived rather late on a September Sunday at our base
for the next two weeks, Tasmaria Apartments, on the main road through
the small, but vibrant, city. The busyness of the road initially came
as a shock, but with the hotel sitting slightly back from the new
dual-carriageway, and our room being at the back, we can honestly say
we didn't get bothered by the traffic in the least. We were soon
booked in, and then decided to stretch our legs, all of the 20 yards
to <i><b>Tramps Bar</b></i>, right next door. This is a very friendly
bar, which always has a eclectic mix of locals, usually ex-pats, and
tourists. Alongside the <b>KEO, Leon</b> and <b>Carlsberg</b>, I did
espy a pump proclaiming <b>Everard's “Beacon”</b>, which I later
found out was brewed under licence on the island. Hey!, it was
holiday time, around midnight and we were still basking in 20° C of
warmth, so we chose the <b>Leon.</b> I will reflect on the more
usually served beers of Cyprus later, but I will admit that a cold
<b>Leon </b>on a warm night, after quite a few hours travelling via
car, plane and coach, was more than welcome. Over the next couple of
days, many a bar in Paphos was discovered (there are plenty, and they
are not hiding) and the <b>KEO</b> and <b>Leon</b> were partaken of.
I did have the phone number of a friend, an ex work colleague of
mine, Geordie, who had retired to these parts a couple of years back,
and having promised to have a drink or two with him if we were ever
to re-visit Cyprus, I gave him a quick text on the Wednesday evening.
The plan was for Jane to do some retail therapy on Saturday afternoon
at the local Mall, whilst I would meet up with Geordie, over the
football, sink a few beers and have a good old yarn about what we had
both been up to over the last biennial period. This is were I had
underestimated the generosity and friendship of my old work mate.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgni0gDjS8_iKAVpjVdteV6B8KoNCzYWblF1qnsAbK_nTh5ZDzVk-E3AE1cqyCFl5y6tDk1q3Ridh65dW1BINV6pPmBBPvgGJ6wTopQVIpJ6dopCAylAO_elyxEHwIwbVfrlpwVo6D81ok/s1600/20160918_181152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgni0gDjS8_iKAVpjVdteV6B8KoNCzYWblF1qnsAbK_nTh5ZDzVk-E3AE1cqyCFl5y6tDk1q3Ridh65dW1BINV6pPmBBPvgGJ6wTopQVIpJ6dopCAylAO_elyxEHwIwbVfrlpwVo6D81ok/s200/20160918_181152.jpg" width="112" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lynne & Geordie.<br />Best tour guides on <br />Cyprus.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Where are
you two stayin', Fozzy?” was the reply to my opening gambit of
football and drinks.</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Tasmaria”</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Can't
make it on Saturday. Charity raft race for the local Animal Welfare
Shelter (PAWS). I'll pick you and Jane up tomorrow, and give you the
Grand Tour......”. And so it was. The very next day, Geordie, his
lovely wife, Lynne, and Dexter, the dog, pulled up outside our hotel
at the start of one of the most wonderful holiday experiences we have
ever had. We visited bars nestled in places even the locals would
need reminding of, with views which would bring a tear to a glass eye
they were so beautiful. Churches, beauty spots, secluded beaches and
even shipwrecks, among other things, were shown, and lapped up
gratefully by us. The tour was more than Grand, it was Magnificent.
All in all we enjoyed their company for the best part of 7 days of
our 14 on the island, and never tired of it once. We cannot thank
them enough, and were very humbled at their insistence to “stay
over” for a couple of nights at their homestead in Mandria, which
allowed us to explore so much more of this area. Sunday, after a trip
around Pissouri (Aphrodite's Rock, and all) and the areas nearby, saw
us eat at the brilliantly situated Bonamare. With a great view of the
local airport, and one of the best positions for dramatic sunsets in
the area, it is a great bar to visit. That evening, after some of the
largest food portions we have both ever experienced at a pub, and
washed down, back at Mandria, with a bottle, and a bit of a quite
reasonable brandy ( described as “9 Euros a litre bottle from the
Bulgarian shop. Asda price!”), Geordie kindly insisted to pick us
up and run us out to the <b>Aphrodite's Rock </b>Brewery<b>,</b>
in Tsada, the following Tuesday. What a Gent! It is not the easiest
place to reach via public transport.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_h6Qi9MgQXRxry8Aw51AExDSsBQo_oG2opHjubRn_RFvz8AGsUzhGK3aKD2-hZ6p9OFxq0l4MDglx8HvHMnoljV721NGFxoLReG3SVjebwKbS2SEzKjLbUYQrB0rBLexTTiIZ8ypyaQ/s1600/20160920_133527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_h6Qi9MgQXRxry8Aw51AExDSsBQo_oG2opHjubRn_RFvz8AGsUzhGK3aKD2-hZ6p9OFxq0l4MDglx8HvHMnoljV721NGFxoLReG3SVjebwKbS2SEzKjLbUYQrB0rBLexTTiIZ8ypyaQ/s200/20160920_133527.jpg" width="112" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Up the Creek with a<br />
Paddle</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
So, moving
on to Tuesday, we were picked up and, after a tour of the area around
Tsada, we visited Minthis Hills Golf Club, which contains a 12<sup>th</sup>
Century monastery on the course. Next stop was the much awaited visit
to <b>Aphrodite's Rock Brewing Company</b>. On arriving, we were
quite surprised at how busy this little place can be. We were soon
shown to a table though, and settled down to sample the selection of
real ales on offer. The choices are quite good, to be fair. There are
real ales, ciders, wines and soft drinks all available, with brewery
tours, drink and pizza combos, Sunday lunch deals, drinks, and food
separately. We decided to taste the wares, and just have a spot of
lunch alongside. To enable us to taste the full range on offer, I
decided on a paddle of 5 of the beers on offer, served in 200ml
glasses, whilst the other beers were sampled between us as pints. Our
findings were as follows.</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Yorkshire
Rose</b>. 3.8%</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
What a great
Yorkshire Bitter styled beer this is. It is smooth, full bodied and
has a slight floral hint to it. A touch of spice is also there, after
the initial sweet, caramel and toffee opening. It would be as much at
home in The Pennines as it is in the Mediterranean sunshine.</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Lian
Shee</b>. 4.5%</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I first
encountered this brew in its bottled form, in the Harbour area of
Paphos, and as much as I enjoyed it then, I liked the cask version a
lot more. It is a creamy Irish Red Ale, with a big boost of malt and
caramel at the start. There is a nice controlled bitterness towards
the end. A really nice beer indeed.</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Extra
Special Bitter</b>. 5%</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
This is
quite like a Brown Ale, but not quite as sweet. It is driven by a
malty sweetness, but well balanced and tempered by an earthy back
taste.</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Oktoberfest</b>.
4.8%</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
German by
design, but undeniably a beer crafted for British tastes. Again, a
malt sweetness leads, but the hoppy bitterness lurks in the
background, waiting to help in the final balance of this nice beer.
There is also a slight, but noticeable, fruitiness, with just a hint
of plums on the palate.</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>West
Coast IPA</b>. 6%</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
This is a
good IPA. It isn't as punchy and “in your face” as some of the
beers of this style, but the well hopped flavour is there. Just
giving you a nudge towards the end of the initial mouthful. It is
rounded in the main, but that telltale bitterness really allows this
beer to reach new heights.</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>London
Porter</b>. 4.8%</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpSredA6Wx40fO7m2hWPAUkz78xzX5njluv6gM45NHCfoYBusEvNXnS6xjPjUVjbYbde7eNy4BCa2r0200GPYEIqTE6W47FbQMau0L61h-C2mo9mIxMB9Q3aX3xR26O3hWQp9XCg6e374/s1600/20160920_135332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpSredA6Wx40fO7m2hWPAUkz78xzX5njluv6gM45NHCfoYBusEvNXnS6xjPjUVjbYbde7eNy4BCa2r0200GPYEIqTE6W47FbQMau0L61h-C2mo9mIxMB9Q3aX3xR26O3hWQp9XCg6e374/s200/20160920_135332.jpg" width="112" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The paddle beer today</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I had heard
good reports of this one, and was not disappointed. The beer sat in
the glass rather proudly, with a fine and dandy creamy white head
atop. Now, I have had drinks before that have been good looking in
the glass, but have failed in the flesh, so to speak, but not this
one. The aroma is of chocolate and roast malt and the choco-malt
theme carries through into the main taste, with liquorice and a hint
of spice sitting alongside these very nicely. Carob is listed as one
of the ingredients, and possibly adds to the chocolate vein, dark
iridescent colour and smooth mouth feel. Make no mistake, this is a
great London Porter.</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Rock
Premium</b>. 4.8%</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
A Bavarian
styled craft lager, with a bready aroma and quite a light, subtle
taste. There is a quite floral aftertaste, and the bitterness is not
too prominent. A good thirst quencher.</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Sorrella
Fine Traditional Cider</b>. 4.2%</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
One of four
bottled ciders on offer from the brewer, and quite a reasonable
tasting one too. I am no expert but T'other 'arf definitely enjoyed
it, as the empty glass and satisfied smile proved.</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
What an
excellent afternoon. Add to this some nicely prepared food and a
wonderful view of the surrounding countryside, with dramatic hills
drenched in sunshine, and I struggle to believe there is a better
place to be to have a piss-up in a brewery!</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5mIoC0LEyakGolHx0ribw32YXbhbNFrGMgMh0JhNp7NW9A3lXwSsgUHF_oqoKumWTwEjObVNiD5zza89h8bs6ciiJbnsNfevPyQVgIFtc195zSZmbXOnaCyFkkaT7Z2T-i4CokNKbxMo/s1600/20160913_103110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5mIoC0LEyakGolHx0ribw32YXbhbNFrGMgMh0JhNp7NW9A3lXwSsgUHF_oqoKumWTwEjObVNiD5zza89h8bs6ciiJbnsNfevPyQVgIFtc195zSZmbXOnaCyFkkaT7Z2T-i4CokNKbxMo/s200/20160913_103110.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the <br />
Refreshments for the balcony.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
What of the
other beers available on Cyprus? As I have mentioned, <b>KEO</b> and
<b>Leon</b> are the local mainstream beers, with a pump or fridge
full at most places. We did stumble upon a few other beers in the
local Lidl, but these were only imports, although, probably available
as staples. I have included these in my reviews as well.</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>KEO Pale
Lager</b> 4.5%</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The most
popular beer on the island, and has earned the odd award along the
way. It was first brewed, in Limassol, back in the 1950's. It is
light, with sweet malt shining through before a very slight
bitterness from the hops. The finish is dry, with floral hints on the
palate. To be fair, it is a quite refreshing and reasonable lager,
and easy drinking. I don't mind it. It was usually my drink during
the heat of the day.</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>KEO
Light</b>. 3.5%</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The name
sums it up really, it is the same as the original, but a lesser ABV
value, a touch thinner in taste and a touch less carbonation. Nothing
special, but not a horrid brew either.</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Leon All
Malt Beer</b>. 4.5%</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I remember
drinking this on my first visit to Cyprus, and found it a touch
darker and heavier in taste than I found this time. It was first
brewed in1937, but the company, Photos Photiades Breweries, suspended
production in 1962, after it acquired the licence to brew Carlsberg
here. It was brought back in 2003, but I believe a slight tinkering
of the recipe has since taken place. It has a smooth sweet malted
flavour throughout, and a hint of grass in the after taste. Medium
bitterness, and carbonation is not heavy.
</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Ermis
Argus Hellenic Lager</b> 5%</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I found this
in Lidl. It is light, with slight fruit aroma, and the taste is
reasonably fresh. Quite highly carbonated, and a metallic backtaste
at the finish.</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Ermis
Gold Hellenic Lager</b> 5%</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
This was
very much the same as Argus, but a much sweeter taste towards the
finish. They are not classics, by any means, but at only a few cents
for a can, they are worth a punt to keep one hydrated in the sun!</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Perlenbacher
Radler (Cloudy</b>) 2.5%</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Refreshing,
but not anything more than a very lemonade driven shandy. Not a lot
more to say, really.</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Perlenbacher
Weissbier. </b>5%</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
This was not
so bad, really. It starts out with yeast and fruit on the nose, and
leads onwards, with more fruit, some herb hints and nice yeast
esters. There is a smooth creaminess in the mouth, and only a light
carbonation. I am no expert when it comes to this style, but I did
enjoy it.</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Kamenitza
Lager. </b>4.4%</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
A bottle from the aforementioned Bulgarian shop in Paphos, this was a
quite malty brew, with a astringent bitterness in the finish. The
aftertaste is a little sour. I suppose “acquired taste” sums this
one up.</div>
<h3 style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>The Old
Fishing Shack Ale and Cider House.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjirTjqBpIw73HGr882c2H_d9aObsM5hQCXY09RuAefdFGVKfOJTrk8BvLeFPzktrSOOVwqETXwkNQE-uKBeYJY2rry_wqBxbZJm4rVDCuQNDRnndqQmYPvvirHqlMSxIo-6chlqYNIl1U/s1600/20160913_185324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjirTjqBpIw73HGr882c2H_d9aObsM5hQCXY09RuAefdFGVKfOJTrk8BvLeFPzktrSOOVwqETXwkNQE-uKBeYJY2rry_wqBxbZJm4rVDCuQNDRnndqQmYPvvirHqlMSxIo-6chlqYNIl1U/s200/20160913_185324.jpg" width="112" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Gone Fishin'"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</b></h3>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
There are a myriad of pubs, bars and restaurants in, and around,
Paphos. We found our way around quite a few. You have the Tomb of the
Kings' Road, with, <i><b>Thomas's Jungle Tramps, Yiamas, The Green
Corner,</b></i> to name but a few, and the web of streets leading
off, and the Old Paphos Town area, a bus ride or energetic walk away
with its selections, then on to the famous Bar Street, just off from
the Harbour is, well, full of bars. Most around here are much of a
muchness, but if that's your gig, who am I to say otherwise? The
Harbour has quite a few more up market establishments, and a nicer
ambience, but no matter where you wander, you will find a refeshment
station to suit your needs. One place that is worth digging out is
<i><b>The Old Fishing Shack Ale and Cider House</b></i>, tucked just
away from Bar Street. The owner has a terrific knowledge of his
wares, and the selection of beers here is vast. There are beers from
all over the World, and many rare ones and vintage Ales too. It is
not a cheap place to drink, but a very enjoyable, and interesting
diversion. You will be amazed at the collection.Off sales as well as
bar sales. It certainly is not a cheap night out, though, with almost
all the beers having to be imported, but carefully reading the “menu”
can avoid you choosing a 100 euros plus vintage beer by mistake. We
had four different beers in here, firstly I had a <b>Belhaven
Scottish Oat Stout, </b>a lovely heavy stout of 7%, which had a nice
sweetness that combines well with coffee and the bitterness of dark
chocolate, Jane opted for <b>Greene King St Edmunds Golden Beer,</b>
4.2%. This is a straightforward tasting beer. No complexity at all.
There is a slightly sweet malt flavour to start, then a pronounced
full stop of dry bitterness at the end. We followed these with a
<b>Barock Dunkel</b>, courtesy of <b>Weltenburger Kloster</b>, a 4.7%
dark brew with a rich smooth fruity taste that has a fine vein of
spiciness to it, and a nicely bitter-sweet finish, and a <b>Fucking
Hell.</b> This beer comes from the Austrian village of Fucking, and,
to be fair, is a bog standard lager. It is 4.7% and light, hoppy but,
besides the name, not that memorable. It looks good in a photo
though.</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjptc_Yok_yUEuOZbepBrV8_LKnmwfQPRALwjA-pvZKZpV44BsaBTIqAGZoxbPcoxwPYB82f09zxahsnpFRVGPx4CnTgyJJvAtwj1eNACUPaXiAoMfpOzEqvZKNDAV_FnYMM_kwFRwWp0c/s1600/20160921_214534.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjptc_Yok_yUEuOZbepBrV8_LKnmwfQPRALwjA-pvZKZpV44BsaBTIqAGZoxbPcoxwPYB82f09zxahsnpFRVGPx4CnTgyJJvAtwj1eNACUPaXiAoMfpOzEqvZKNDAV_FnYMM_kwFRwWp0c/s200/20160921_214534.jpg" width="112" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brandy Sour and Ouzo<br />
Special.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Ouzo, Brandy, Zivannia,</b> and the various
cocktails (the best <b>Brandy Sour</b> was at <i><b>La Boite 67</b></i>,
whilst the best <b>Ouzo Special</b> was in the <i><b>Rose Pub,</b></i>
both in the Harbour area) that just about covers our trip to Paphos.
We enjoyed it immensly, and have vowed to return soon. We managed to
get to a Mediterranean real ale brewery, and a beer shop-come-tavern
, soak up loads of sun, ate like hogs and enjoyed Lynne and Geordie's
rich hospitality. What's not to like. As they say on the Island of
Cyprus “Yiamas”.</div>
Well, besides the <br />
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Oh, that <b>Everard's Beacon, </b>brewed here under licence. It is
the smooth version, and quality does vary, but find a bar where it is
popular and it does make rather a change from the lager.</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Cheers
and keep it “Real”,</b></div>
Steve Fosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725444056654111446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129469376598056437.post-59469343126788666332016-10-11T11:48:00.001+01:002016-10-11T11:50:15.266+01:00Local Links in Lincs.<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
With the Real Ale pub scene in my home town at best being somewhat,
erm...unpredictable, with a local choice of either of the 2 JDW's (one being
turned into a hotel and the other due to close) or a couple of other pub chain outlets, which are probably the safest havens
for a reasonable variety of cask ales, it is fair to say it does not boast of too many cask establishments, although we do meander through the town centre more often than we should. The thing is, though, it
can become a little boring and monotonous to be going out and
visiting the same hostelries again and again.....and again. You get
to the point where it is almost a chore, rather than a pleasure, to
go out for a couple of beers. With this in mind, I have been
“sniffing out” a few places around the locality where we can have
a bit of a “jolly”. The main problem to that in our part of
Lincolnshire is the lack of public transport links, especially after
the sun is on its downward trajectory. That, although problematic,
hasn't stopped us altogether, just slowed up the process, and has
lead to more of an afternoon imbibing nature! So, what is out there
in our locality, beyond the boundaries of North East Lincolnshire's
two biggest towns, Grimsby and Cleethorpes? Let's have a peep.</div>
<h4 style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
Tetney Lock.</h4>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
This small village, not to be mistaken for its neighbour, Tetney (which also has a pub, <i><b>The Plough</b></i>), </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCZrcmYEZBepiVmjZFh77lTiiYXi7ZaDVDaZAwkM2iC_6P9jNJuvH_teWNkXly8ngPxSV-nA5tHQtJORGIDfvwWKD9wdp7S9EA_LbgtF8Sf3zinGdFWPyi_-VfjokmHAmc_A85SuZ4pNo/s1600/20160209_124550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCZrcmYEZBepiVmjZFh77lTiiYXi7ZaDVDaZAwkM2iC_6P9jNJuvH_teWNkXly8ngPxSV-nA5tHQtJORGIDfvwWKD9wdp7S9EA_LbgtF8Sf3zinGdFWPyi_-VfjokmHAmc_A85SuZ4pNo/s200/20160209_124550.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walk to, or stagger back from<br />
The Crown & Anchor</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
is
only around 6 miles from the Caravan Parks of Cleethorpes, by road,
or a 4 mile walk across public footpaths, bridleways and the odd field. We, my
recently retired friend, Steve, and I, chose the latter. It was a
pleasant, but rather cold February day when we set out on our
journey. The walk itself took about an hour and a half each way, with
beautiful views of the Mouth of the Humber (no, not me, before you
start writing your own script!!). There is a wealth of wading birds
and the like in this area, as well as the various sized ships either
heavily lumbering up to the deep water ports of Immingham and Hull,
or the smaller craft zipping in and out to the new growth of offshore
wind farms. As a boy, I used to make my way, usually with my dad, to
the waterfront of the Humber, and watch the many trawlers, jockeying
for position, waiting for the lock gates of Grimsby's Fish Dock to
open, sadly, just a memory now, as our fishing industry has almost
disappeared. Back to our walk. We arrived a little further down from
Tetney Lock, and strolled along the banks of The Louth Navigational
Canal, until we reached our destination.<br />
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><i>
The Crown and Anchor</i></b> has been here since Victorian times and is the
only pub in the village. After the locals, most of the daytime
clientele are either walkers or anglers from the adjacent canal,
although we have been told that the restaurant side of the business also attracts quite a few from the area on a night. On offer were “<b>Doom
Bar</b>” and “<b>Black Sheep</b>”. There is a third beer usually on, but
not today. We sampled both, and found them in good form. Not a bad
place to have a wander to, but next time we might do it in the Summer
sun.</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<h4 style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Barnetby, Wragby and Brigg.
</h4>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I
like Brigg. I have had many a good afternoon and night here, but it
has become a bit of a bind to get here. There used to be a regular
bus service straight from Grimsby, to Sheffield, via this charming
town. Alas, no more. The direct train only runs on Saturdays, to
serve demand from Brigg to Grimsby, so the easiest way is to get the
train to Barnetby, and either hope to catch the Wolds Villager bus
service or, walk the 4 miles, mostly with the company of the noise
from the busy A18. My last visit was for a meal to bid farewell to
Tracey, a good friend and former workmate, who had left to pursue a
career as a postie. I chose to jump on the train and do the walk,
having a stop on the way. Arriving at Barnetby station, I espied the
<b><i>Whistle and Flute</i></b> public house, just at the side of the platforms. I
am told that the tribute acts on here at weekends are quite good, and
although I didn't pop in this time, I will visit here on my next
trip. I left the town, passing by the <b><i>Railway Inn</i></b>, which appeared
closed, and on to the A18. After 50 minutes, or so I arrived at
Wrawby, the home of <i><b>The Black Horse,</b></i> and <i><b>The Jolly Miller.</b></i> During the
week it is rare to find either of these pubs open before 3pm, as I
found out! I arrived at <b><i>The Jolly Miller </i></b>just before opening time,
and was ushered round the back to the bar, where I found a selection
of three real ales. My choice in here, to help quench my thirst
before setting out on another mile or so's stroll, was <b>Bateman's
“Pilgrim Fathers IPA</b>”, an Ale of 4.4%, which was light,
refreshing a full of punchy grapefruit notes. The young lady serving
in here was polite, chatty and very friendly. I enjoyed my 20 minutes
in here. One to return to.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZEKyhbBBW5M_SD97pIynKcMiOJSsx4xVbgP4kEAE5g8c_BymihUb5UYfDmhUHIeTdOBk6pIdN8dEsGV51uJK3iIZFrL61umyfgoyAlkSujb4m1e0xuHakAy83W9fcLKEd1NH5OcOFTpo/s1600/20160516_154158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZEKyhbBBW5M_SD97pIynKcMiOJSsx4xVbgP4kEAE5g8c_BymihUb5UYfDmhUHIeTdOBk6pIdN8dEsGV51uJK3iIZFrL61umyfgoyAlkSujb4m1e0xuHakAy83W9fcLKEd1NH5OcOFTpo/s200/20160516_154158.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr Day outside his favourite local.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I then stepped out to Brigg, and had
agreed to meet up with another ex-workmate, Steve Day, in his
favoured local, <b><i>The Yarborough Hunt</i></b>, a <b>Tom Woods </b>pub. This place had
a good, old fashioned feel about it, with many posters and ornaments
of a previous era on display. I now know why Steve feels at home
here, he could be part of the décor, the silly old sod! The beers
are mostly from the<b> Tom Woods </b>stable, but it does also have guests
Ales on. I started on “<b>Bomber County</b>” at 4.8% <a href="http://fozzy21.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/the-northern-lights.html" name="(Reviewed Here)">(Reviewed
Here)</a> , before joining Steve on “<b>Lincoln Gold”, </b>4%, the core
Golden Ale, with a nice fruitiness to the taste and a smooth,
gradually bittered long finish. Another beer to slake ones thirst on
a hot day. After an hour of chewing the fat, and putting the world to
rights, including the fortunes of our beloved Grimsby Town FC, it was
time to move on. My next stop was the former <b><i>Black Bull</i></b>, now<i><b> Dexter's
Alehouse and Kitchen</b></i>, to meet up with for a meal and drinks with
Tracey and the others. Dexter's is a very compact bar, which lends
itself more towards eating, but there is room for the casual drinking
visitor too. I ordered my beer,<b> St Austell “Proper Job</b>”,<a href="http://fozzy21.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/it-was-only-winters-ale.html" name="(Reviewed Here)">(Reviewed
Here)</a> one of the reasonable range of three cask ales, and then we
sat down to have our meal and celebrate Tracey's new job. The beer
was well kept and the food more than adequate, and reasonably priced.
Not a bad place to pop in to at all. We then moved down the road a
little to the local J.D. Wetherspoon's pub, <b><i>The White Horse</i></b>. The
interior here is bright and airy, with a modern look, but, otherwise,
just a typical JDW pub. There are 7 cask pumps on display, and the
staff are friendly. In here I had a 5% ale from the New York based
<b>Ithaca Beer Co. “Nut Brown Ale”</b>, brewed in conjunction with the<b>
Caledonian Brewery.</b> It is a very malty brew, with hints of chocolate
and coffee. The nut taste comes in the finish, and makes for a nicely
balanced beer. Not too bad at all. I followed this with a pint of
<b>Ascot Ales “Anastasia's Exile Stout</b>”. The taste of this 5% brew
is a nice blend of roast malt, chocolate and good strains of vanilla.
The finish is sweet and smooth, with a tad of bitterness. I enjoyed
my visit to Brigg, as I always do. Besides the pubs reviewed here,
there a a few more, all within easy walking distance of the town
centre. It is just a shame about those transport links from Grimsby.</div>
<h4 style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
Sunny Sutton on Sea via South Reston.</h4>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I have an Aunt who lives out near Alford, pretty much in the sticks.
There aren't a plethora of hostelries in her immediate area, but a
little way away you can usually find a village pub or two. In South
Reston is the community hub pub <i><b>The Waggon and Horses</b></i>, which, besides
the bar, also boasts a thriving restaurant, picnic and play area,
caravan and camping site and a local shop for supplies. The Lounge
Bar is roomy and wood panelled, with a selection of<b> Bateman's Ales</b>,
and a house beer on tap. We only had a couple of halves, as we were
in the car, but it was noticeable what a busy village pub this is,
and an integral part of the local community, and passing
holidaymakers from nearby Mablethorpe.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvITJ1_j5WFwTzg-f0s1qvnIkUD8kDf-0E80mA3mUUoC72qHDIZBHUfY72B-pmwkmbWH2ZEkj-2YoqBBYhLi81qirhRrQhRdr53RKJvl1K2ugPCgnlI45_wOeph9RfsuebJQaUo1xsrwI/s1600/20160715_221649.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvITJ1_j5WFwTzg-f0s1qvnIkUD8kDf-0E80mA3mUUoC72qHDIZBHUfY72B-pmwkmbWH2ZEkj-2YoqBBYhLi81qirhRrQhRdr53RKJvl1K2ugPCgnlI45_wOeph9RfsuebJQaUo1xsrwI/s200/20160715_221649.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bacchus beers on the bar.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Speaking of Mablethorpe, just next door is the small town of Sutton
on Sea. This is a holiday resort in miniature, with a frontage of
about a mile, nestling between Trusthorpe and Sandilands. You can
drive through it within a blink of an eye. We, on the other hand,
chose to visit for a meal, and a few drinks, at a couple of
establishments, and were quite pleased we did. Our first stop was for
a meal at <b><i>The Sea Breeze Restaurant,</i> </b>on High St. the food is well
cooked, well presented and very tasty. Beer, as well as wine, is
available, either draught lager, or, as I chose, bottles of
<b>Bateman's</b>. In stock was <b>“XXXB</b>” or
“<b>Combined Harvest”</b>, both sampled and both enjoyed. I have
reviewed both previously, so I shall not expand any further. After our meal we left, crossed the road
and entered <i><b>The Bacchus Hotel. </b></i>What a gem of a place. We entered,
just as the quiz was coming to an end, and managed to squeeze in on a
table near the bar. The beer range not only has guest ales but also
prominently features a couple of beers from the on site
micro-brewery. It was these beers we sampled. First up was <b>Bacchus “Sutton Pride”,</b> a 4.3% Bitter which is quite solid, to
be fair. It isn't a World beater but is a good malty brew, with sweet
caramel balancing the bitterness well. The other brew on offer at the
pump from this brewer was <b>“Sutton Blonde”</b>, 4.2%. This is a light
tasting beer with a citrus bite to it. The finish is quite floral,
but quite moreish. All in all, not a bad little place to drop anchor,
and I hope the brewery enterprise goes from strength to strength.<br />
<b><br /></b></div>
<b>The Number 5 Route.</b><br />
<div>
The Stagecoach No5 bus runs from Cleethorpes through to Immingham, which, after leaving Grimsby via The Trawl pub, runs down the B1210 and passes through the dormitary villages of Healing and Stallingborough. This route, which also runs to a reasonable time in the evening, opens up the Immingham corridor to 3 more real ale establishments. First stop is Healing, and <b><i>The Healing Manor</i></b>. Recently refurbished and improved greatly, there is no a pub on sitge, <b><i>The Pig and Whistle</i></b>, which, on my last visit, served cask ales, one of which is the <b>Tom Woods</b> brewed house bitter. Modernity is the feeling of this place, but stylish too. The next stop suggested is Stallingborough roundabout. Here you can go left and find the up-market <i><b>Stallingborough Grange,</b></i> featuring <i><b>Thatcher's Inn,</b></i> which I haven't visited in a while, or right to <i><b>The Green Man</b></i>. This is a Stonegate pub, and not only offers a range of ales, but also has a CAMRA card discount.The meals in here are also supposed to be very nice. There is another pub a little further down the B1210,<b><i> The Farmhouse,</i></b> but, although I pass it most days to and from work, I have yet to stop there.</div>
Add
to this little list the likes of Barton upon Humber <a href="http://fozzy21.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/england-fail-barton-by-rail.html" name="(Here)">(Here)</a>
, Lincoln (soon to be re-visited), and Louth <a href="http://fozzy21.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/it-was-only-winters-ale.html" name="(Here)">(Here)</a>,
which are all a little easier to reach by public transport, along
with a few villages along the way, things maybe are not too bad in the
area. With a little more effort by our local publicans to promote
real ales (and to look after it better), or a more expansive and better timed public
transport system, things could be a whole lot rosier.<br />
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Cheers and keep it "Real"</b></div>
Steve Fosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725444056654111446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129469376598056437.post-69010857697689817792016-08-19T10:06:00.001+01:002016-08-19T10:06:34.302+01:00Malta. Sun, Beer and Olly's last outing.<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
This, I
suppose, is just a continuum (Ooh, there is another word, besides
vacuum, that contains 2 consecutive u's) from my last post <a href="http://fozzy21.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/pull-out-stopper-lets-have-whopper.html" name="(Here)">(Here)</a>
.After we got married, we shot off to Didsbury, to stay overnight at
The Britannia Country House Hotel, before jetting off to Malta the
following day. On the way, travelling via our favoured of Doncaster,
Barnsley and then over the the Pennines on the Woodhead Pass, we
decided to drop anchor for a spot of lunch. Just past the Flouch
roundabout on the A628 there lies a Country Inn and Hotel, of which I
have often wondered what was lurking behind their doors, as I, on
many occasions have driven along this route. We agreed that this
looked as good a place as any to have a break, and we were soon
settled inside <i><b>The Dog and Partridge</b></i>,
a 16<sup>th</sup>
Century hostelry with hotel, restaurant and a reasonable range of
cask ales. We ordered a couple of sandwiches off the lunch bar menu,
and settled down to wait with our chosen ales. Jane chose the 3.8%
<b>“Barnsley Bitter”</b>
from the <b>Acorn
Brewery, </b>a
bitter disappointingly served in our last write up, this half pint
though was much better. A rich malt taste, with caramel and a hint of
biscuit precedes a medium sweet, and balanced dry finish. My tipple,
also shared by T'other 'Arf, was from the <b>Bradfield
Brewery, “Farmer's Blonde”</b>,
4% ABV. Fresh and zesty, this was a good thirst quencher, with just a
tad of summer fruits on the palate with reasonable citrus and a
slight oiliness detectable. It was a shame we couldn't have had a
little longer here, but our absolutely huge, and delicious,
sandwiches had arrived, and been eagerly devoured, and I was driving,
so it was time to move on. Within an hour we were at our hotel in
Didsbury. We had a meal booked for later that evening, which meant we
could have a wander round this now more familiar part of Greater
Manchester. We started off in <i><b>The Art of Tea</b></i>,
a Cafe Bar on Barley Moor Road. Although not a cask lover's paradise,
this bar has quite a reasonable selection of bottled beer, and
amongst these we chose to sample the ever popular 5.9% IPA from
<b>Thornbridge, “Jaipur”<i>,</i></b>
with its lovely plum and peach fruitiness balancing the zesty citrus
backbone. It is as good in a bottle as it is in cask form. Jane had a
6% Organic Cider, with a nice red apple taste and a good
bitter-sweetness, from<b>Wyld Wood, </b>whilst
I finished on a <b>Tickety
Brew “Coffee Anise Porter”. </b>At
5.1%, the porter was a delightful beer, with, obviously, coffee and a
spice punch to the smooth sweetness in the malt. A really good beer.
We're beginning to enjoy this cafe culture of drinking, although the
prices for civility and a relaxing ambience do seem a shekel or two
more than the traditional pub scene. Our next ports of call were <i><b>The
Slug and Lettuce </b></i>(
<b>Wells “Bombardier”</b>
were the drinks tasted in here), then the very Irish pub, <i><b>The
Station</b></i>,
for a <b>Power's
Whiskey,</b>
before partaking in a couple of cocktails, <b>A
Devil's Manhattan</b>
and a<b> Porn Star
Martini,</b>
in <i><b>The Didsbury Lounge</b></i>
(<a href="http://fozzy21.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/algarvian-delightsvia-didsbury.html" name="Pubs Reviewed Here">Pubs
Reviewed Here</a>) We then moved back up towards our hotel, and
enjoyed a lovely meal in <i><b>Albert's Restaurant,
</b></i>ultimately
finishing off at <i><b>The Woodstock</b></i>
with <b>Thwaite's
“Waiwright's Golden Ale</b>”.
A lovely evening indeed.</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The following day we set off to Manchester Airport, after a stroll
around the grounds at the hotel, sharing our taxi transfer with
another couple from our location. We alighted at Terminal 1,
collecting our hold luggage and cabin bag from the driver at the
boot,checked in and headed to security. “I'll just take your tablet
out of this bag” said I, followed by “How much coffee are you
taking?” as I discovered a huge jar in the top of the case. “Just
a little bag full, it's in the hold bag though”. Oh dear, or words
to that effect, as the realisation of having the wrong case, with our
holiday documents, Euros and Pounds Sterling along with the car and
house keys now elsewhere on the airport. “Ring somebody!” Jane
exasperatedly shrieked. “Ring the taxi”</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“What? He'll be on the motorway now, and won't have time to search
his boot, or find who he dropped off” “</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Well, ring the taxi firm, the hotel, err.....”</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
It was then a voice said “Oh great, I've found you. I looked for my
husband's medication and realised it was the wrong bag.” After a
few deep breaths, sighs and skipped heartbeats and many a Thank you,
we were both reunited with the correct bags. <i>Note to self: Make
sure to ID and mark ALL your bags!</i></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We needed a drink. Terminal 1 has a few options for food and drink,
mostly fizzy keg rubbish at high prices, but the departure lounge
upper level does have <i><b>The Grain Loft,</b></i>which serves cask
ales, mostly from local breweries. So, after a quick pint of “fizz”
lager in <i><b>Cafe Balzar</b></i>, downstairs, we popped up the
escalator for a “proper” pint. In here we went for a <b>Weetwood
“Cheshire Cat”</b> a 4% Blonde Ale, which is packed with citrus
and zest, but has a nice rounded bitter-sweetness throughout, and a
“<b>Manchester Bitter</b>”, 4.3% from the <b>Marble Brewery.
</b>After a nice citrus burst, this beer leads to a lovely dry
bitterness, and is very easy drinking. I did finish off on another
ale, but it was presented to me by T'other 'arf as I returned to our
table after a visit. Because it was so busy at the bar Jane was
unsure which one she had chosen, and I wasn't about to push through a
crowd to find out. It was very good all the same.</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We then proceeded to our gate, onto our aircraft and, a touch later
than planned, Jet2 whisked us to the lovely Islands of Malta.</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<h3>
<b>Malta. </b></h3>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We stayed in the town of Mellieha at <i><b>The Solana Hotel</b></i>.
We found it a wonderful friendly place. The rooms to the rear are
much quieter than those on the roadside front. The facilities are
more than adequate, with restaurants and bars, 2 swimming pools, the
outdoor one giving a splendid rooftop view of the local church, spa
and staff who are really helpful. The area has the usual collection
of bars, restaurants and cafe bars, and we did manage to visit a few.
Most serve the Island's most popular lager beer, <b>Simonds Farsons
“Cisk.” </b>It is often in bottles or cans, but is also available
on tap in a few outlets. The <b>Farsons</b> range is quite broad, to
be fair, and I have reviewed most of the range below.</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Cisk Lager Beer</b>. 4.2%</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Not a bad thirst quencher to be honest. There is malt, and a
grassiness is noticeable. There is a definite astringency in the
finish. This is available in various guises, the bottle and can
versions are similar, but the keg variant is certainly more lively,
and feels fresher on the palate.</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Cisk Export. </b>5%</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
A bit more bite than the ordinary lager, but the taste is basically
the same. My tasting was bottle only, but it is also available in
cans.</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhGRnxVnKBLEewjvaJM9sXaoQyFbSkfkSAFDzKKcrrRuF03fgdfZPaJg00jiMMZ-IIcRyUzL-7WIiypt0oggiz5G05eNj2jhh-8o8ljouyhGcNGHFp2lHJEDfDbWbEnMIoHcTcR04sMkY/s1600/20160606_144614.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhGRnxVnKBLEewjvaJM9sXaoQyFbSkfkSAFDzKKcrrRuF03fgdfZPaJg00jiMMZ-IIcRyUzL-7WIiypt0oggiz5G05eNj2jhh-8o8ljouyhGcNGHFp2lHJEDfDbWbEnMIoHcTcR04sMkY/s200/20160606_144614.jpg" width="112" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis1gqwiN-59v6GTrxhFazP6gOEsKoLHvu1ttbKcZq7GopFYA3Su3oPb9EVbiSroteqZxOLOettRnV-T3m5a3A25E_t5AJMXc_PdvLfHuOe5ZMsf9tOCMO1LiNo6tikEHTGHr1VFcmbLl8/s1600/20160604_100458.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis1gqwiN-59v6GTrxhFazP6gOEsKoLHvu1ttbKcZq7GopFYA3Su3oPb9EVbiSroteqZxOLOettRnV-T3m5a3A25E_t5AJMXc_PdvLfHuOe5ZMsf9tOCMO1LiNo6tikEHTGHr1VFcmbLl8/s200/20160604_100458.jpg" width="112" /></a><b>Cisk Excel</b> Low Carbohydrate
Lager 4.2%</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Not too bad, really. A little lighter in carbonation, and hints of
bread are noticeable in the finish.</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Cisk Pilsner</b>. 5.5%</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Now this is a good beer. A touch more malt taste to it, with a nice
earthy back taste. The finish is dry, reasonably bitter finish. There
are also light floral notes in the aroma. Very refreshing.</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Farsons Hopleaf Pale Ale. </b>3.8%</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
This Golden coloured Pale Ale has a touch of citrus, followed by
caramel in the initial tasting. A faint nuttiness is determinable,
but it is not a big punchy pale ale taste, more an average bitter.
OK, but not a memorable beer.</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
F<b>arsons Blue Label Ale
</b>3.3%</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Not bad, really. It is rather Mild like, but with hints of an old Nut
Brown Ale. The nutty maltiness carries through to the finish, but
doesn't overpower. There is a reasonable bitterness in the dry
finish. I did have this on tap in Valletta and found it quite smooth
and creamy, more so than the canned version.</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Farsons Lacto </b>Milk Stout.
3.8%</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
A rather thin stout which pours almost black in the glass. The taste
is quite sweet, with raisins and other dark fruit coming to the fore.
There is a slight coffee hint and the finish has a good dry
bitter-sweetness. Overall, not bad at all.</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Cisk Chill</b> Lemon flavoured
Lager. 4%</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Chill comes in two types, Berry and lemon. I chose the latter.
Reading some reviews, this has been a heavily criticised brew.
Personally, we thought it made a pleasant change. Admittedly, there
is not a strong lager taste to it, but it does rear its malty head at
the end. The lemon is unavoidably constant, and there is also a lot
of sweetness. OK, I wouldn't order it on a wet, cold Wednesday night
in Grimsby, but in 30 degrees Celsius, looking out at Mellieha Bay in
the distance, just the job.</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Cisk Shandy</b> 2.2%</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Yes! I tried a shandy. It was quite refreshing, and I was very hot.
It also made me reminisce about growing up and, as a pre-teenage
brat, enjoying a Shandy Bass as a treat with the “gang” on the
local park. This one was very similar to that drink of yesteryear,
still lodged in my memory, but didn't come with bits of picnic
sandwich floating about in it. The sharp citrus of the lemonade
perfectly tempers the maltiness from the beer, and, although I would
sooner have a beer most times, it made a refreshing change.</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<h3>
<b>The Island of Gozo and its Craft Beers</b></h3>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We had a day out on Gozo, visiting
the capital, Victoria, and wandering around the streets and,
eventually up to the Citadel. This is a lovely island, quieter and
less busy than the main island, which, itself, can hardly be
described as hectic. There are plenty of food and drink distractions
around the area, giving it a nice cosmopolitan feel, and it is rather
agreeable to sit back with a nice cold beer just watching the world
go by. I was aware of a Craft Beer brewery on the island, <b>Lord
Chambray Microbrewery</b>, but knew
we wouldn't have enough time to find and visit it. Fortunately,
walking back to the Bus Station, we popped into a tourist craft shop
and, lo and behold, 3 of the brews produced by the brewery were
stocked there. They weren't cheap, though, costing over 4 Euros per
330 ml bottle. The three beers I sampled were;-</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Lord Chambray San Blas</b>
English IPA 5.7%
</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The first of these bottle conditioned beers was a full blooded IPA,
with hints of tangerine and slight grapefruit strains. The overall
taste is very citrus driven and the finish increasingly dry. The
balance is very good, with the bitterness not too heavy, but
definitely present.</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Lord Chambray Fungus Rock</b>
Dark Ale/Stout 5.5%</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Not too bad a dark beer, but more like a Black IPA than a Stout, I
thought. The roast malt has hints of liquorice and a good
bitter-sweetness. There was a slight floral aroma which also returns
in the dry finishing taste.
</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Lord Chambray Blue Lagoon</b>
Blanch/Witbier 5%</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Orange and coriander a very noticeable in this, the best of the three
brews sampled. Spice and a touch of yeast esters are also prominent.
The beer is very well balanced with hints of darker fruits in the
long satisfyingly dry finish.
</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
All in all, not a bad selection from the Lord Chambray Brewery. They
aren't the most brilliant craft beers you will sample, nor are they
terrible, nowhere near, just pleasing to find, and worth a punt.
There are more beers in their portfolio, and I hope to track these
down when we re-visit The Maltese Islands, hopefully next year.</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<h3>
<b>Bars.</b></h3>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Just a quick run down of a few bars we visited whilst in Malta. As in
so many Mediterranean resorts, there are quite a few outlets selling
beer, not just “pubs”, but a host of other places with bars, or
even just a fridge and a counter. I won't include every hostelry we
visited, just a few we really enjoyed.</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
In Mellieha we discovered a few good ones. First up was <i><b>The
Cross Keys</b></i>, a bar and adjoining pizzeria. We popped in the
pub for a quick drink before nipping for a pizza next door. Inside,
we were served by one of the most amiable of barmen. Sorry, I didn't
catch his name, but he was friendly, talkative, interested in our
meagre lives, but not pushy or obtrusive. A native of The Emerald
Isle, he gave us a few tips about the island and places worth a
visit. He is certainly an asset to this great establishment, and,
although we didn't get time to pop back in until our last night, he
remembered us and greeted us with a wonderful Irish warmth. The
pizzas were to die for too.</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Just around the corner from our hotel was <i><b>Charlie's Bar. </b></i>There
is a pool, and outside area to relax in during the day. The bar
itself is It has an unmistakeably British feel to it, and is run by
two ex-pats, Michael and Mary. Walk in a stranger and walk out a
friend. On the main street, there are a few reasonable bars, <i><b>Bar
120</b></i> has a bit of more modern music on and is worth a look,
and further down you will find <i><b>Greystones Pub and Restaurant</b></i>.
Up towards the Parish Church of Mellieha, sits <i><b>Square Bar,</b></i>
set in a quieter part of the town, but the real “gem” is just
across from here.<i><b> The Imperial Band Club</b></i> is open to
tourists, and is a place where locals, band members and proud
supporters, gather, set the World to rights and relax over a cold
beer. (The Mellieha Imperial Band perform all over the World) The
view is of the Church, which is a wonderful sight during the day, but
absolutely captivating when lit up at night. The prices are cheap and
the service efficient. One quirkier place is at the Pergola Hotel.
This is <i><b>The Cave Bar,</b></i> which just about describes
exactly what it is.A bar in a cave.<br />
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdnvC_czNPfJvNEU6p8f4jmgDeaoanWAnZVsMRf1mudmfL9kI-qosEnfcQLva0EN7Pz-7lFGC7rf8a9fjyf5olaZNukilwkXmaPyjB860Pch2YZ-YLFi2Go_Xm2C2xS_Q0YXpFH90f3dY/s1600/20160606_171253.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdnvC_czNPfJvNEU6p8f4jmgDeaoanWAnZVsMRf1mudmfL9kI-qosEnfcQLva0EN7Pz-7lFGC7rf8a9fjyf5olaZNukilwkXmaPyjB860Pch2YZ-YLFi2Go_Xm2C2xS_Q0YXpFH90f3dY/s200/20160606_171253.jpg" width="112" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Pub, Valletta.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Valletta, the capital, has wealth of drinking establishments within
the city, and also offers cheap ferry links across the magnificent
The Grand Harbour to the Three Cities (Birgu (Vittoriosa), Senglea
and Cospicua) and across to Sliema, via the Marsamxett Harbour. This
gives you even more choice. Sliema, very much a bustling resort, has
the usual array of cocktail bars and tourist pubs and those cafe bars
too. We popped into two of the latter on our visit, <i><b>Black Gold</b></i>
and <i><b>Tony's Bar</b></i>, both overlooking the harbour with great
views of Valletta across the water. A very nice way to watch the
World, and his Wife, pass by. The Three Cities area is a mixture of
expensive yachts, with seafront apartments, and quiet Mediterranean
squares among the sprawl of domesticity. We found the lovely sun
trap, Victory Square, in Birgu just a short amble from the waterfront
and perched in the sun to enjoy a delightful light lunch and, of
course, a few beers, at <i><b>Cafe du Brazil</b></i>. A very nice
lunch indeed, with excellent food and efficient service. Back in the
Valletta, I had one place I wanted to visit, and after a couple of
stops along the way, we found <i><b>The Pub</b></i>. Why was it on my list? Well, hell-raiser, brilliant actor and the original Beermonster, Oliver Reed, star of stage, screen and many a bar, took his last drink in this pub before departing this Earth back in 1999. After abstaining from the booze for a few months, he was filming the film “Gladiator” in Malta. During a break, he was enjoying a few casual beers in this establishment when the crew of a Royal Navy frigate descended on it. Legend has it, and who is to doubt it, that a drinking competition broke out and, after several bottles of rum, many a beer and a few other drinks were partaken of, poor old Olly's ticker gave way. He was rushed to hospital but could not be revived A tragic but some may say, fitting end.<i><b>The Pub</b></i> is very, shall we
say, “earthy”. It is not a venue for best suits and party
dresses. The ambience though is warming and the walls are, along with
the Oliver Reed memorabilia, adorned with hat bands of the various HM
and Commonwealth Naval ships whose crews have visited this place over
the years. One quick story. I could have sat anywhere inside on our
visit. I just plumped down, with an excellent pint of draught “<b>Blue
Label</b>”, and thought no more of it. After nipping to the loo
before leaving, Jane enquired ”Do you know where you've been
sitting for the last half hour ?” Thinking it may possibly have
been Mr Reed's last perch, but still really at a loss, I invited an
answer.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4brsJw609UQ0RcsReXzmILBVAeoVAPAucCgjplCNzteLuFZS9Fa2DBNuNqOG2bgkn8cZ2zHr4IzMJ9vRRgKJCIZoqSHC1AUFKf82WSwa54piKeDDHzPtwfNe_4noutU3GKhyhmphUEeI/s1600/20160606_172301.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4brsJw609UQ0RcsReXzmILBVAeoVAPAucCgjplCNzteLuFZS9Fa2DBNuNqOG2bgkn8cZ2zHr4IzMJ9vRRgKJCIZoqSHC1AUFKf82WSwa54piKeDDHzPtwfNe_4noutU3GKhyhmphUEeI/s200/20160606_172301.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coincidental seating plan in The Pub.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“Look” Jane replied, pointing to the hat band, among the
hundreds in here, of HMS GRIMSBY.</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
What were the chances of that.</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Well that is my review of Malta and Gozo. Some but not all of the
beers to be found, a few of the bars we discovered on our visit, and
a bit of the feel of this lovely sun drenched craggy Island group in
the middle Mediterranean Sea. We loved our visit, and have already
vowed to return. I will also return with a few more posts and reviews
in the beermonster's blog very soon.</div>
<br />
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Until then, <b>Cheers and keep it “Real”</b></div>
Steve Fosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725444056654111446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129469376598056437.post-34268335619848513622016-07-22T11:09:00.002+01:002016-07-22T11:09:44.664+01:00Pull out the Stopper, Let's have a Whopper<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Yfq8qc8mZrp6uDZv3oSjRH-c7e_w4BPNRVEAKPTfHAf7EfjXYTPw0wDEZ-Tq8QvGfV_lH2BzibJzZJxHA41ZLI2jGN_0CU4kf_rsEAJiITnALZPv_UTgKUFbvLGmIfQ93Aa7OK_-yRM/s1600/IMG_20160602_091811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Yfq8qc8mZrp6uDZv3oSjRH-c7e_w4BPNRVEAKPTfHAf7EfjXYTPw0wDEZ-Tq8QvGfV_lH2BzibJzZJxHA41ZLI2jGN_0CU4kf_rsEAJiITnALZPv_UTgKUFbvLGmIfQ93Aa7OK_-yRM/s200/IMG_20160602_091811.jpg" width="120" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Happy Couple</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;">After the last blog post, I, or rather We, (Jane and I) became a little, shall we say, busy. That meant a slight break from posting on the blog. The reason? On the 2<sup>nd</sup> of
June, T'other 'arf and I tied the knot! In a very private ceremony,
just the two of us, along with Coral and Sally, who work in the local
British Heart Foundation shop in Cleethorpes and agreed to be our
witnesses, met up at the Registrars' office in the resort, and, with
the 2 officials also in attendance, T'other 'Arf became my Better
'arf. This was, and will always remain, the best day of my life. We
had kept this a secret from family and friends for a whole 9 months,
although they had been advised for years that if we were ever to get
married, this is exactly how we would do it. Some people never
listen! We had decided to honeymoon in Malta, so immediately after
the ceremony, we were in the car and off to a hotel in Didsbury, via <b style="font-style: italic;">The Dog and Partridge, </b>near Flouch, a Pennines pub situated on the A628 Woodhead Pass, before flying out to this wonderful Mediterranean island the
following day.</span></div>
<h4 style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Catching up.</h4>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">But, hold on a while, I am getting ahead of myself. In
my last post, I signed off with a promise of a review of <i><b>The
Nottingham House</b></i>, Cleethorpes, Beer Festival, so here we go. Steve, my
recently retired friend, and I agreed that, as our womenfolk were on
a work's night out, we should plunder the spoils available at <i><b>The
Notts'</b></i>. On arriving, we were soon perusing the “menu” of beers, a
reasonable mixture of local and nationwide ales. When I say “we”,
I really meant I, as vain Steve, as usual, hadn't brought his reading
glasses. I was now, not only offering my limited advice on said
beers, but also reading out the tasting notes, brewers, ABV, and
pointing out where the toilets are ( “Big sign over there, and
through the door, mate”). We started off in here with two from the
<b>Dancing Duck Brewery, “Dark Drake”</b>, a 4.5% smooth drinking
stout with a big coffee punch complimented by hints of liquorice and
caramel, and the 4.3% Blonde Ale, “<b>DCUK</b>”. This is a beer
with a strong citrus backbone, with pine and zest throughout. Both of
these beers were well received. Next up I chose a Mild, <b>Nottingham
Rock Ale's “Mild</b>”, a 3.8% beer with a lovely balanced mix of
coffee, malt and sweet caramel. I thought it an excellent, easy
drinking beer of this style. Steve's preference was for the light,
citrus Ale, brewed from malt and torrefied wheat,namely, <b>Grafters
“Moonlight”</b>, 3.6%. Next up Steve kept to one of the lighter
brews, and chose <b>Bridestones “Sandstone”</b>, a Lager styled
beer of 3.9%. A very fresh tasting beer, with a nice hopped finish. I
opted for another dark beer, the lovely, </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy0c3U8L_xP8nLWbsHxeJv2Hoj8dOnJMmUzCsRUgCW_NNmvH5rr4iiv-uNBGJh-OSOqWK1lva5kBbgjX8w_CPTqh5fHsbCmudrXkKnsm9V3TmalFJcQrGXQ8qNWTNE3OVyWFOsa5HlwAo/s1600/bs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy0c3U8L_xP8nLWbsHxeJv2Hoj8dOnJMmUzCsRUgCW_NNmvH5rr4iiv-uNBGJh-OSOqWK1lva5kBbgjX8w_CPTqh5fHsbCmudrXkKnsm9V3TmalFJcQrGXQ8qNWTNE3OVyWFOsa5HlwAo/s1600/bs.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">fruity, coffee and chocolate
tasting “<b>Black Sabbath</b>”. Far from leaving me Paranoid
(sorry! Couldn't resist that one) it left a wonderful taste in the
mouth which was sweet and rounded. This<b> Brunswick Brewery </b>beer
with an ABV of 6% was a real gem, and certainly belied its strength.
My fellow taster then went for <b>Thornbridge “Wild Swan</b>”, a
3.5% light Golden Ale which imparted lovely flavours of lemon, slight
herb tones and just a hint of spice, whilst <b>Titanic “Chocolate
and Vanilla Stout”</b> was next up for myself, which was exactly as
it said on the tin, so to speak! A great tasting stout of 4.5%. To
finish on at this good festival, we chose the same beer, “<b>Crop
Circle</b>” a 4.2% Golden Ale from the <b>Hopback Brewery</b>. This
is a light, fruity beer, with hints of citrus, and an excellent bitter
dry finish. With its mix of gravity and hand pulled beers, The Notts
Beer Festival is always a pleasure to visit. If you are ever in the
area, festival or not, get yourself in to this great traditional
boozer. The night fast ebbing, we felt the need to head back up to
Grimsby, and meet up with our beloved ladies, which is where this
chapter ends. Back now to the secrecy, and a couple of days out doing
some deceptive wedding shopping. We are sneaky you know!</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<h4 style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Hull. Re-visited.</span></h4>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbgqXvOwUQl2yh5ysb_w1LOVGWe5AH2IXGX_qq5qN3ZvH63_izzdZCDhJJM2A9nDvgzQQF8xBq_k2dKrK4KIa8ysYPp1m5PH_Jv-JXPYkQ-d0-dIJOEt3T364Tk10GIN4sk5-SviGCZEU/s1600/20160430_125637.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbgqXvOwUQl2yh5ysb_w1LOVGWe5AH2IXGX_qq5qN3ZvH63_izzdZCDhJJM2A9nDvgzQQF8xBq_k2dKrK4KIa8ysYPp1m5PH_Jv-JXPYkQ-d0-dIJOEt3T364Tk10GIN4sk5-SviGCZEU/s200/20160430_125637.jpg" width="112" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Old House, Hull.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;">Part
of our secret wedding plans necessitated my future wife to purchase
certain “accessories” ( shoes and the like), from sources outside
of North East Lincolnshire, secrecy and beer hunting to the fore. We
started our shopping spree back in November with a visit to
Nottingham, where ale was consumed and dresses browsed, </span><a href="http://fozzy21.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/the-nottingham-crawl-narrowboats-crow.html" name="(Here)">(Here)</a>,
and carried on with trips to Sheffield <a href="http://fozzy21.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/lubricating-wheels-of-steel-sheffield.html" name="(Here)">(Here)</a>
(rings purchased at a lovely jewellers called Morris Bywater) and a
previous trip to Hull, <a href="http://fozzy21.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/hull-of-day-out-and-other-jottings.html" name="Here">(Here)</a>
. A further trip to Hull was planned, as was an excursion to Doncaster. I
could get used to this wedding planning malarkey! So off we popped,
across the mighty Humber Bridge on the Humber Flyer bus. An hour
later and I was thirstily stood outside The St Stephen's Shopping
Centre whilst some browsing and perusing was going on inside. We then
decided to follow separate pursuits, with me deciding to have a look
around the Holy Trinity Church and Old Town area, whilst some shops
were on Jane's agenda! I was quite surprised at the interior of Holy
Trinity. I am not a religious person, but do like the architectural
look and feel of these ecclesiastical monuments. As you walk in, the
high ornate ceilings and fantastic commemorative windows dominate,
and light floods in some areas and dapples in others, leaving an ethereal sight to take in. There are wonderful treasures and
reminders of the hard life of the area's fishermen, and their losses,
all around. An area for The Falkland's War,( Hull sent the North Sea
Ferry MV Norland to the conflict), is also respectfully covered. After
this interlude it was time (11-55 ) to find a hostelry for
refreshment purposes. I wandered back to the Scale Lane area and
dropped into a bar we somehow missed on our last visit. Situated at
number 5 Scale Lane, the<i> </i><b><i>Old House</i> </b>is the city's oldest
domestic building. The interior is a little dark, quite small but
very homely. The beer selection isn't huge, but it does carry beers
from the local <b>Yorkshire Brewing Company</b>. My pint was “<b>Mutiny</b>”
a Porter of 3.6%. There was a really good fruity backbone to this
beer, which then leads to a coffee edginess with a faint, but
certainly noticeable, dark chocolate hint. Although a little thin in
the mouth, it does leave a nice taste on the palate. Heading back
towards the centre of the city, I walked past, stopped and then
walked back to <b><i>Oscar's Cocktail Bar</i></b>. I had noted the
chalkboard outside proclaiming “Cask Ales”, so I had to
investigate. Well done, Sherlock! In side this modern bar, which was
showing the Hull City early kick-off game on the screens, were a
selection of beers from the <b>Great Newsome Brewery</b>. Of the four
cask beers on offer, my tipple was to be “<b>Holderness Dark</b>”,
a Mild of 4.3%. This was a lovely creamy mild with a well rounded
nuttiness on the palate. One to savour and very enjoyable. T'other
'Arf had joined me by now, and her <b>Great Newsome</b> beer was
“<b>Frothingham Best”</b>, also 4.3%. This was a delightful Best
Bitter, with a fruity taste at the outset, which is well balanced by
medium bitterness in the finish. I liked this bar, and I will
certainly pop back in again on our next visit. Do they show Grimsby
Town games on those screens??!<br />
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Just a 5
minute stroll away, in the wonderfully named Land of Green Ginger,
(nobody knows how this area of the Old Town, formerly Beverley
Street, got its name, but reading up on it I think the most likely
theory has to be it originated from the Dutch immigrants who lived
and traded here in the middle 1600's onwards. Whether it is a
corruption of one of these emigres, Lindergroen Jonger, who had set
up business here, or a play on another possible trader's name,
Lindegren, which leads to the street being “Lindergren's Ganger”
or walk, are also up for discussion) along here is <b><i>The George
Hotel.</i></b> A former gatehouse to the long demolished hotel of the
same name This friendly boozer has a very striking Edwardian
interior, with large mirrors and plenty of panelling on show. 5 cask
ales are on display. The welcome is warm and genuine, and we were
soon settled down with our drinks. Jane went for a half off “<b>Otter
Ale</b>” from the brewery the same name, whilst I indulged in
another dark beer, “<b>Queen Rat Stout</b>”. The 4.5% “<b>Otter
Ale</b>” was mahogany in colour, and leads with a big malt aroma
and opening taste. Fruit and hints of a floral nature then impart
themselves on the palate. The finish is medium in bitterness, and
very satisfying. <b>Rat Brewery's</b> offering, a Stout of 5% was rich and
wholesome in the mouth, with chocolate prominent but not
overpowering. There were hints of spiciness, and a good bitterness in
the finish. Another very good beer. We decided on a visit to<i><b> </b></i><b><i>The
Hop and Vine</i> </b>for our last drinks of the afternoon. This Hull
CAMRA award winner is situated in Albion Street and since opening 9
years ago has dispensed over 1150 different cask ales through the 3
hand-pulls on the bar. It has also been cider Pub of the Year
locally, and been in the mix for the National title too. Not bad for
Hull's smallest pub. My beer of choice in here was “<b>Triple
Chocoholic</b>” a 4.8% stout from <b>Saltaire Brewery,</b> a beer I
have had before, and one absolutely rammed with chocolate flavours. A
very satisfying brew, if you like chocolate. Jane chose a “<b>Long
Day IPA</b>”, also from <b>Saltaire</b>, an ale of 3.8% which was
very dry on the palate, but gave a good citrus rush, mainly oranges,
but some lemon hints. Quite a refreshing brew. Although tucked away
just a little, this is a bar one must eke out. The beers and ciders
are very well kept, and for the discerning drinker, that means so
much. What a good day we had, again, across the river. Its a shame
there are no late buses back to Grimsby, but at least a reasonable
afternoon session can be enjoyed. Next up? Doncaster, of course.
</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<h4 style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Doncaster
mini trip.</h4>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_NSdEL1TnRlYB5NA6ngfyR_skgbLLLHAnemH8WM_T2dPAzgH9siFX-L5LT5gpHTNwvftSOiJfbMP5rvjFbbYPf2Td63-zhzF3MDddRVphx363PS5vW3Fy1P2T4jJErfacCmrObq7yG-Q/s1600/20160526_174434.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_NSdEL1TnRlYB5NA6ngfyR_skgbLLLHAnemH8WM_T2dPAzgH9siFX-L5LT5gpHTNwvftSOiJfbMP5rvjFbbYPf2Td63-zhzF3MDddRVphx363PS5vW3Fy1P2T4jJErfacCmrObq7yG-Q/s200/20160526_174434.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Doncaster Brewery and Tap.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I needed to
get suitably attired, apparently jeans or shorts and t-shirts don't go well at
a wedding, especially as the groom! Off we went again, this time on the train to Doncaster. After a few
shop visits, a wander round The Frenchgate, and before Lakeside, we
ended up in <b><i>The Plough</i></b>, in West Laith Gate. The welcome is
friendly, the pub cosy but, unfortunately, our pint and a half of
“<b>Barnsley Bitter”,</b> from <b>Acorn Brewery</b>, lacked its
expected sparkle and was a less than average pint. It wasn't off, it
just wasn't quite “on”. I have been told this is quite unusual
for this establishment, so I will give it the benefit of the doubt
and re-visit in the future. Later, our next pub visit was to St
Sepulchre Gate, and <b><i>The Corner Pin,</i></b> a good locals local, but very
accepting of passing strangers. Our beer in here was <b>Leeds “Pale
Ale</b>”, at 3.8%, a good “session ale, and it was served up to
perfection with a fresh taste, slight citrus hints and a nice
bitter-sweetness in the finish. As time was ticking, and we had a
train to catch, we left here and popped into the nearby <b><i>Leopard</i></b>,
also in St Sepulchre Gate. This is another very friendly hostelry,
and has an excellent range of Real Ales. The ales are from local
Yorkshire breweries and we chose two from the <b>York Brewery</b>.
Jane chose the “<b>Yorkshire Terrier</b>”, the 4.8% Premium
Golden Ale, a favourite of ours, whilst I went for a Fruit Beer from
the<b> York</b> stable, 4.7% “<b>Off the Wall Black and Weiss</b>”.
The taste of this beer is distinctly blackberries, which is evident all the way to
finish, and the tart bitterness is well balanced though, within the
sweetness of the ale. A very unusual, but satisfying pint. We could
have stayed here a while longer until our train was due, but I had
been advised of another “must visit” alehouse, just five minutes
away, so off we went to find <b><i>The Doncaster Brewery and Tap</i></b>, in
Young Street. <b>Doncaster Brewery</b> ales in here.The pub is quite airy and modern and seems to be a good place to drop anchor and have a natter. The beers are brewed on site at the brewery in the back of the premises, and the selection offers most people with an option. Between us, we sampled three excellent First up was <b>“Peppercorn
Dunkel</b>”, a 6.3% dark ale which leads with dark fruits and hints
of liquorice and has a nice dry finish with just a touch of balancing
heat from the peppercorns. I really enjoyed this one. “<b>Three
Legs Bitter</b>” was next, which was a typical malty Yorkshire
Bitter of 5%, with a creamy smooth mouthfeel, and a well balanced
bitter-sweetness. A beer that is very moreish. Last up was the truly
gorgeous tasting “<b>Stirling Single</b> <b>Coffee Stout</b>” It
certainly hides little away by its title. Coffee it says, and, by
crikey, coffee is what you get in this 4.5% ale.. With only 20
minutes left, we regretfully headed back towards the station, and
onward to Grimsby. We had a good day in “Donny” and enjoyed the
pubs we visited. Who knows? I may go shopping again!!<br />
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
After our
ceremony, which, unbiasedly, we thought was lovely, and after a few
snaps, we drove away from North East Lincolnshire, en route to
Manchester and romance in the sun. A beer or two were partaken of, and soon I will posting about these and I will also be reviewing some of the beers of Malta and Gozo.
Until then:-</div>
<br />
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Cheers and
keep it “Real”</b></div>
Steve Fosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725444056654111446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129469376598056437.post-39412527404809460672016-06-01T11:48:00.001+01:002016-06-01T11:50:42.137+01:00Food, Glorious Food, and an Ale or Two besidesIt's been a while since I the had time to rattle the keys on my trusty laptop. I haven't shied away from a glass or so of the the ale, though. The reason is I also have an allotment, and with this Spring being so wet, then frosts late in the season, T'other 'Arf, and I, have had to try and concentrate on that, mainly. Throw into the equation our gainful employment and grand parenting duties, it all adds up and eats away at our recreation time, which includes my blog entries. Never mind, a couple of weeks of steady, more seasonal weather has allowed us to almost get where we would like, and backs, joints and muscles can testify to that. We have managed to sample a wide range of beers in this time, First, we had a meal and beer-tasting evening at the home of our closest friends, Dee and Steve, with whom we enjoyed a trip to Leeds with last July. The Wetherspoon's World's Biggest Real Ale Festival was also given a coat of looking at, as was Cleethorpes' Nottingham House Beer Festival, which I will review next time. We have also had a few beers from the supermarkets, and enjoyed another afternoon out in Hull, as well as a couple of hours in Doncaster. We have also had a few bottles from the local supermarkets to boot. So, there you are, so much to get down on the blog, before the mind wanders, or other pursuits get in the way.<br />
<br />
<h4>
The Meal</h4>
We were invited out for "a bit of tea..." at our friends' house, which we duly accepted. We have been taking it in turns to cook and host for a few years now, even though it may take 6 months or more for us all to be able to fit it in! Anyway, as this is a beer blog, I shall not go into the culinary delights which Mein Host, Steve, carefully, and excellently prepared us, but suffice to say, we were not disappointed. We then blind sampled the beers Steve had got in for us (his tastings obviously weren't as blind as ours!) After our samplings, the beers were revealed, and the notes discussed. Beers and notes were as follows.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyilh0PCJFjeb6j8QY5RqzcsrpDHABE0d8Muu-qPjR317zb50YnMcIsdOVhBKb7w75xtTHBvBONMfxxAWBfaTJQPT48LZxBgd4YkQPSbTqQgySJv3zmdxTSA9I-yhnxlaxYu_TbrsyVBA/s1600/20160227_004848.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyilh0PCJFjeb6j8QY5RqzcsrpDHABE0d8Muu-qPjR317zb50YnMcIsdOVhBKb7w75xtTHBvBONMfxxAWBfaTJQPT48LZxBgd4YkQPSbTqQgySJv3zmdxTSA9I-yhnxlaxYu_TbrsyVBA/s200/20160227_004848.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<b>1/ Anchor Brewing Co Liberty Ale. 5.9%</b><br />
This is a quite floral American Pale Ale. The beer has a hint of haziness in the glass. The initial taste is of malt, but not overly sweet. A grass and pine after taste ensues, then a dry citrus dryness controls the palate in the long finish. A very pleasing beer.<br />
<br />
<b>2/ Anchor Brewing Co Anchor Steam Beer 4.8%</b><br />
With a malty aroma and sweetness in the initial caramel taste, this is a reasonable beer. The flavour is balanced, with a slight oiliness and then a dry finish. Overall, this is a solid beer, not too shabby at all, but nothing exceptional.<br />
<br />
<b>3/ Axholme Brewing Co Cleethorpes Pale Ale 4.4%</b><br />
There is a slight haze to this beer, which is brewed using local sea buckthorn berries. The palate is hit by a nice citrus taste, with a resinous mouth feel. A slight tropical fruitiness is detected, and the finish is sharp, zesty, long and dry. A very good Pale Ale.<br />
<br />
<b>4/ Axholme Brewing Co Clearwater Pale Ale. 4.3%</b><br />
Another slightly hazy glass of beer, which doesn't detract from the taste. This is another zesty beer, with a slight breadiness to the taste. There are slight fruit flavours within, which eventually come out in the finish. Very well balanced bitterness in the finish.<br />
<br />
<b>5/ Les Brasseurs de Gayant La Blonde de Ch'Nord 7%</b><br />
A Biere de Garde, which is well carbonated. The aroma is very floral, with hints of grass, and damp cardboard? . The taste is slightly metallic, with a toffee apple sweetness balancing the grassiness and zest, which leads into bitter, long and lingering finish. We really enjoyed this one.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmN9YsUjbPlK4hOnAGX97VqPJOTWlJR0Rt7z1wx_rXEZ-UVycKZRLyRUJL-tDaC-zMb5wOK5xUa01rmxOZy4Thp6ZMkS2xL59MNCsHj_ZrmLpelhHLoOsbIDuN2CmSsTgjXXLaYdj623Q/s1600/20160227_005022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmN9YsUjbPlK4hOnAGX97VqPJOTWlJR0Rt7z1wx_rXEZ-UVycKZRLyRUJL-tDaC-zMb5wOK5xUa01rmxOZy4Thp6ZMkS2xL59MNCsHj_ZrmLpelhHLoOsbIDuN2CmSsTgjXXLaYdj623Q/s200/20160227_005022.jpg" width="112" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>6/ Great Newsome Brewery Jem's Stout 4.3%</b><br />
We found this a decent Stout, with a slight richness to it, but not too heavy. Raisin and dark fruits are in the aroma, with a lovely plum bitter-sweetness coming to the fore, followed by liquorice and hints of coffee. It is a touch thin in the mouth, but still pleasing.<br />
<br />
<b>7/ Cooper's Pale Ale. 4.5%</b><br />
Australia offered us this brew to cogitate over. On the blind tasting, this one came across more lager, or Pilsner, in character. it is reasonably hoppy, with a good bitterness and bright, crisp taste. It is quite high in carbonation, with a pronounced maltiness in the long finish. On a hot day in the beer garden, or at a barbecue, this would be a good choice, but I found it rather bland, although a little bland.<br />
<br />
<b>8/ Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. 5.6%</b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1oMT8BE2HQY55WO_rtdH_yQT4YfdVsj86A_jjzjaMhDd8nrkNRk8fTbnNTxgQFi-asyfkTDO2YctOEspP6mbIW6blVQUB8PKoFX7E_FIMsR8Lt96nCxhtL-YRLiodxLQJrX1cxMp7AsI/s1600/20160227_004953.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1oMT8BE2HQY55WO_rtdH_yQT4YfdVsj86A_jjzjaMhDd8nrkNRk8fTbnNTxgQFi-asyfkTDO2YctOEspP6mbIW6blVQUB8PKoFX7E_FIMsR8Lt96nCxhtL-YRLiodxLQJrX1cxMp7AsI/s200/20160227_004953.jpg" width="112" /></a>Initially there is a grassy aroma to greet you, then the tasting of this brew picks up citrus hints, including a touch of grapefruit. There is a good bitterness, with slight spice tones. Caramel is also lurking in there, with the finish best described as long and dry. This is a well loved beer, and I must admit that it is well brewed and, although not one of my all time best beers, a very good bottled Pale Ale.<br />
<br />
We also sampled <b>Golden Ghecko, </b>and<b> Amber Adder,</b> from Lidl's <b>Hatherwood</b> range, along with <b>Blanche de Namur</b> and <b> Rheinbacher Weissbier,</b> all of which have been reviewed in full on this blog, so I shall not repeat my findings, as they were exactly as my previous findings, but after this the beers got a bit muddled. Mein Host, Steve, became a bit, shall we say, confused with the5 offerings, and eventually admitted "I'm pishhed, hic, Wery pinsed, Rie nead to gun to bid, hic goornart" Which translated to " Oh, dear. I appear to be over the limit. Please, let me take to my bed, as slumber is necessary." Dee, Steve's partner put it thus. "Pissed up old fart!" Oh, well.<br />
<br />
<h4>
The JDW's Beer Festival.</h4>
<div>
Over the 17 days of this March festival T'other 'arf and I managed a few tasting sessions at our 3 local outlets. On receiving the menu,though, I noticed that, unlike previous Wetherspoon's festivals, there were quite a few beers we had already sampled. Never mind, The list contained 50 beers, and I will try and point out those original brews which, not only I, but T'other 'Arf enjoyed.<br />
<br />
<b>1/ Acorn Barnsley Bitter 3.8%</b><br />
A good solid Bitter, recently reviewed.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>2/ Long Man Session IPA 3.8%</b><br />
Golden coloured, light , bright and refreshing, with citrus notes very prominent throughout.<br />
<br />
<b>3/ Pheasantry Best Bitter 3.8%</b><br />
This award winning Ale is malty, with nice fruit, and citrus hints.Bitterness is well balanced and the dry finish is quite long.<br />
<br />
<b>4/ Elgood's Lazy Dog. 3.9%</b><br />
I like Elgood's beers, and tasted quite a few in the past, unfortunately, this brew with <i>"subtle, tropical, hoppy notes" </i>was a little disappointing. Its flavours were not prominent enough and it seemed to just fizzle out, going nowhere on the palate. It wasn't a bad beer, just a bit boring.<br />
<br />
<b>5/ Devil's Backbone Bravo Four Point. 4%</b><br />
Brewed at Caledonian Brewery, this Golden Ale was very fresh tasting, with hints of grass and a light floral note at the outset. It had an zesty fruit backbone and a tangy tropical fruit hint to the balanced bitter finish.<br />
<br />
<b>6/ Everards Yakima 4%</b><br />
A Ruby coloured Bitter, which opens with citrus flavours, before becoming a bit sweeter in the mouth. I thought the mouth feel a touch soapy, whilst the finish was average really. Crisp but not punchy. Overall, another rather bland beer.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>7/ Marston's (Whychwood) El Dorado 4%</b><br />
Rather sweet for my taste, but not too bad. There is a reasonable fruitiness to be found and the finish was rather refreshing.<br />
<br />
<b>8/ Timothy Taylor's Boltmaker 4%</b><br />
What can you say about this often reviewed beer? Well, it tasted like Boltmaker always does. Malty, with a balanced hoppy flavour, and a lovely, satisfying finish.<br />
<br />
<b>9/ Brains Phonics 4.1%</b><br />
Did not sample<br />
<br />
<b>10/ Caledonian Vienna Red. 4.1%</b><br />
Did not sample.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>11/ Inveralmond Amber Ale 4.1%</b><br />
Did not sample.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglIXBLSLk6IXBy8DXZvgh_i1sODrUCDT5KvV1tON4lqNGE00dHP1GoMq8iQQcMx477sljKFItwAXhU0k3qMk_cRrssasy_804LryUYujvzTYC4cxhIO6sPRUbSXrU0IlKb-IiLnKFCYL8/s1600/20160321_180713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglIXBLSLk6IXBy8DXZvgh_i1sODrUCDT5KvV1tON4lqNGE00dHP1GoMq8iQQcMx477sljKFItwAXhU0k3qMk_cRrssasy_804LryUYujvzTYC4cxhIO6sPRUbSXrU0IlKb-IiLnKFCYL8/s200/20160321_180713.jpg" width="112" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Festival Thirds of <br />
Numbers 11,4 & 16</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>11/ Lancaster Admiral Archer. 4.2%</b><br />
A Golden beer which after an initial hoppy infused aroma, leads the drinker to a balanced and dry finish. Nothing outstanding, just another dry, bitter ale.<br />
<br />
<b>13/ Sambrook's Red Ale. 4.2%.</b><br />
An American style Red Ale, which has a good balanced tropical fruit in the main, which is accompanied by a refreshing, crisp finish.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>14/ Williams Black 4.2%</b><br />
Did not sample,but previously found the bottled version very good.<br />
<br />
<b>15/ Wood's Redwood. 4.2%</b><br />
Another slightly fruity, but increasingly dry beer. This IPA is good, but, as so many brews in this line-up, nothing special.<br />
<br />
<b>16/ Adnams Explorer. 4.3%</b><br />
I first tried this beer in Southwold a few years back, and really enjoyed the fresh, citrus and hoppy flavours within it. I have also had the bottled version, which is not quite as good as the cask version. Tasting the cask version again, I found it very flavoursome, with the lovely grapefruit and other citrus tones dancing on the palate. It was nice to re-acquaint myself with this brew.<br />
<br />
<b>17/ Hydes Bruges. 4.3%</b><br />
On first tasting this beer, I found it quite bland, with a hint of toffee and slight spice, then, surprisingly, biscuit and caramel seem to appear, lifting this beer greatly.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>18/ Marston's Irish Peated Ale. 4.3%</b><br />
I just did not like this beer at all. It had a soapy mouth feel and taste, and was increasingly medicinal on the palate, leaving an almost resinous in the mouth. Nah! Not my cup of tea.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>19/ Salopian Darwin's Origin. 4.3%</b><br />
This was a well balanced and excellently crafted Bitter, with has a nice fruitiness, and a solid malt vein. The delicate fruit hints run through to a nice hoppy finish, which is reasonably long, dry with an underlying bitter-sweet and floral character. <br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>20/ Wolf Spring Ale 4.3%</b><br />
A nice Golden Ale with Blackcurrant detectable towards the end. The maltiness is also evident throughout, which combines well in the slightly sweet finish with the fruit strains.<br />
<br />
<b>21/ Bateman's Dark Lord. 4.4%</b><br />
A beer sampled and reviewed previously which is always enjoyed, and this sampling was as good as ever.<br />
<br />
<b>22/ Orkney Norseman. 4.4%</b><br />
Did not sample.<br />
<br />
<b>23/ Rudgate Ruby Mild. 4.4%</b><br />
Another often reviewed beer which was excellent, with a lovely nutty flavour, balanced well with a rounded maltiness.<br />
<br />
<b>24/ Thunder Road Pacific. 4.4%</b><br />
Did not sample.<br />
<br />
<b>25/ Bath Cubic 4.5%</b><br />
Did not sample.<br />
<br />
<b>26/ Black Sheep Bighorn 4.5%</b><br />
Did not sample.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>27/ Celt Experience The Afanc 4.5%.</b><br />
I was pleased I finally saw this one on sale, albeit after the Festival, as I had seen a few rave reviews about the Premium Bitter. Was I disappointed? Certainly not. This is a well rounded, full bodied beer, which has good caramel and dark fruit flavours, with a hint of spice. The finish is dry, zesty and very moreish. Well worth the wait, and the extra pennies I paid (post festival prices) for the privilege.<br />
<br />
<b>28/ Mordue Wheat. 4.5%</b><br />
There has been quite an increase in Wheat beers (or Weizens, Witbiers and their Continental variations) of late, and I am really beginning to enjoy this style. This particular brew had a touch of pine and floral notes in the opening gambit, which wafted through on the spicy malt body. The finish had a hint of peach, and was nice and dry, with good bitterness. All in all not a bad beer.<br />
<br />
<b>29 O'Hara's JDW Irish Red. 4.5%</b><br />
Brewed at Everards Brewery by Conor Donoghue,this Best Bitter we found to be very sweet. There were hints of coffee, and caramel, a slight hoppy bitterness, and caramel and a caramel maltiness. I didn't go a bundle on it. Too sweet for my palate, but, to be fair, I had sampled a few dry and zesty beers beforehand.<br />
<br />
<b>30/ Oakham St Bibiana 4.5%</b><br />
Did not sample.<br />
<br />
<b>31/ Wadworth 6X Gold. 4.5%</b><br />
6X used to be one of my favourite beers back in the day, so the introduction of the Gold was to be interesting. The initial taste is of citrus, with a hint of malt. The zesty bitterness is nice and the citrus zest runs all the way to the lingering bitter finish. A good thirst quencher, and a worthy partner to the original brew.<br />
<br />
<b>32/ Nottingham Trentsman. 4.7%</b><br />
Did not sample.<br />
<br />
<b>33/ Daleside Spring Rye 4.8%</b><br />
A very light, refreshing beer, with just a hint of herbs at the outset. The sweet caramel malt is there in the main, before the well balanced crisp fruitiness takes over in the dry and fairly long finish.<br />
<br />
<b>34/ Hanlons Port Stout 4.8%</b><br />
I have reviewed this one previously, and, as then, found this Dark Stout, quite nice, with coffee and a hint of chocolate there for all to discover, but the port flavouring doesn't seem to appear at all. A good Ale, but it lacks the Port billing.<br />
<br />
<b>35/ Otter Fusion. 4.8%</b><br />
A woody aroma precedes this nice fruit and pine flavoured Bitter. There is a slight spicy hint, before a dry, medium length finish<br />
<br />
<b>36/ Saltaire Triple Chocoholic. 4.8%</b><br />
There is no mistaking the flavours in this stout. If you havn't guessed by now, it is chocolate, chocolate and chocolate! It is well balanced with hops though, and, strangely enough, a nice bitterness to temper the sweetness. We both liked this beer, but one was enough.<br />
<br />
<b>37/ Shepherd Neame Hog Island APA. 4.8%</b><br />
Did not sample.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>38/ Wharfedale Crimson Rambler.4.8%</b><br />
Did not sample.<br />
<br />
<b>39/ Titanic Plum Porter. 4.9%</b><br />
Another previously sampled, and reviewed, beer. This is a lovely rich, well-rounded Porter that wends its way through to a satisfying plum flavoured finish.<br />
<br />
<b>40/ Banks & Taylor's Little Sheff. 5%</b><br />
The flavours in this blonde Premium Bitter are quite complex, with berries, lemons and spice aroma vying with hints of herbs and citrus fruits, but all combine perfectly to deliver a wonderfully tasting beer.<br />
<br />
<b>41/ Greene King Benjamin's 5%</b><br />
Did not sample.<br />
<br />
<b>42/ Hawkshead Vienna Lager 5%</b><br />
It amazes me that more cask lagers are not available regularly at the bar. This one, for example, has a light malt body which is balanced well with the bittering hops. The finish is sufficiently long, crisp and refreshing.<br />
<br />
<b>43/ Hook Norton Crafty Fox. 5%.</b><br />
Summer fruits and citrus provide the main body of this Ale, before a satisfying, and very dry, finish takes over. I did find that the dryness off the finish did overwhelm the delicate fruitiness of this Premium Bitter a touch, but it is still a very good brew.<br />
<br />
<b>44/ Vale Punk Is Dead. 5%.</b><br />
Did not sample.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>45/ Mauldons White Adder. 5.3%</b><br />
A Strong Ale which is very fruity in character and carries a full hoppy punch to boot. Th finish is increasingly dry and satisfying with a nice bitter bite to it.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>46/ Brouwerij 'T Ij Amsterdam Blonde. 5.5%</b><br />
The Dutch brewer set up shop at Banks's to produce his wares for this festival.The beer had a nice fruit and hops balance, built on a good malt backbone. The finish was fruity, fresh and lingering. A really good beer.<br />
<br />
<b>47/ Hilden Mill Street. 5.5%</b><br />
We found this IPA to be quite sweet at first, before a nice bitterness takes control. Citrus and hints of grass are evident in this Northern Ireland brew. The finish is quite dry and long.<br />
<br />
<b>48/ Dark Star Revelation. 5.7%</b><br />
A good beer I sampled and reviewed in my last post (Sheffield).<br />
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Italiano Bibock.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>49/ Birrificio Italiano Bibock. 6.2%</b><br />
I'm not sure what I expected from this Italian Strong Ale, brewed at the Wadworth Brewery, but the berry, biscuit and nut strains within blend marvellously the bitter-sweetness of the main spine of this brew. The complex finish is a lingering kaleidescope of flavours which compliment each other so expertly. Probably my beer of the Festival.<br />
<br />
<b>50/ Robinson's Trooper 666. 6.6%</b><br />
A big malt flavour combines reasonably well with the zesty citrus tang in the lingering finish. Is it better than the original Trooper ? No, I don't think so. It is still an OK Strong Ale, but no world beater though.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
And that just about sums the JD Wetherspoon International Real Ale Festival. I thought it a reasonable selection of beers, even though T'other 'arf and I had sampled a few of them previously. There were a few which had featured at previous festivals, and others which are available as brewery staples, but overall there were enough original brews to make it interesting.<br />
Anyway, I am now preparing for a couple of days away, so I will leave it there. As always, I assume a beer or three may be partaken, and maybe a tale to be told, so until the next time Cheers, and Keep it "Real"<br />
<br /></div>
Steve Fosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725444056654111446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129469376598056437.post-42727103106446052262016-03-21T21:48:00.000+00:002016-03-21T21:48:06.184+00:00Lubricating the Wheels of Steel. The Sheffield crawl.<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Sheffield, the Steel
City. A city which is Home to 2 former Premier League football teams,
Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United, and the oldest football
club in the World, in Sheffield F.C. It. is the venue for The World
Snooker Championships, the birthplace of a couple of unrelated
musical Rockers (or Cockers), Joe and Jarvis, as well as the location for the
eight largest retailing emporium in the UK, Meadowhall Shopping
Centre. With a few days off work, it was decreed that T'other 'arf,
and I, would pay the city a visit. Retail therapy was in the air, and
I fancied a bevy or two, so why not? We arrived on a cold, but
pleasant, Monday lunchtime towards the end of February, and soon made
our way off the station, to be confronted with The Water Cascade, a bold
and impressive statement of art in Sheaf Square. The roads around
here are busy and bustling, but we were soon making our way away from the hustle and bustle to our
first port of call, and the latest review was under way. I will now
indulge you with our opinions of the pubs and beer of Sheffield.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<h3 style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Monday.</h3>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><u><i>The Sheffield Tap.
Sheaf Street</i></u></b></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUlhnlCjLenc7J7ypJJ8x8QGIvIJ_uJOiRWQ-RAML068kxegxXdMwZpPGdJwofkcU79_WCnTg49S3HmVYYBVgJ8yTnwm0c0s5uGNxiUQfiLl7BY-C0SqRi-w0_VO8JVc8HcCdRuggBGww/s1600/20160223_173220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUlhnlCjLenc7J7ypJJ8x8QGIvIJ_uJOiRWQ-RAML068kxegxXdMwZpPGdJwofkcU79_WCnTg49S3HmVYYBVgJ8yTnwm0c0s5uGNxiUQfiLl7BY-C0SqRi-w0_VO8JVc8HcCdRuggBGww/s200/20160223_173220.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Sheffield Tap.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
This former railway
refreshment room is accessible from both the station platform, and
the street. It is a multi roomed bar, which has been very tastefully
decorated in the style of its Edwardian heyday. High ceilings, and
plenty of wood panelling, alongside huge mirrors and tiles keep the
curious historians happy, but the display of bar taps is also an eye
opener. 11 traditional hand-pulls, and 12 “continental” swing
taps dispense cask and craft keg beers, being just a facade to a
collection of, so I was told, over 200 bottled beers. A lazy beer
lover could drop anchor here, and spend the rest of their stay in
this fine bar, but we would only be having a swift one before moving
on. I chose one of the <b>Thornbridge Brewery</b> ales, <b>“Sequoia”</b>, an
Amber Ale of 4.5%, which was light, fruity and had a lovely nut taste
to it. It isn't packed with flavours, but that is the point, I guess.
It is as smooth as velvet in the mouth, the finish is medium, but
satisfying and, above all, it is just oh, so easy to drink. If it was
a gentleman's attire I would describe it thus. It isn't top hat and
tails, or denims and trainers, more dressing gown and slippers. Nice.
My Half-Pint taster chose a<b> Chantry “18 Eight”</b>, a 4.6% Bitter.
This was another good beer, with sweet malt at the fore, and a good
dry bitterness in the long finish. A good pub with great beer.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><i><u><br />
</u></i></b></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><i><u>The Rutland Arms. Brown
Street.</u></i></b></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The “Slutty Rutty”
is a pub I have been in before, many years ago, and it isn't what you
would call glamorous. Traditional? Yes, but definitely not a posh
wine bar styled boozer. There are 8 cask ales on, as well as some
craft beers. The décor is a touch dated, but, I suppose, fitting
with the surroundings. The bar staff are very friendly, and soon we
were choosing our ales. Jane chose the <b>“Hilltop Best Bitter” </b>from
<b>The Blue Bee Brewery</b>, which, unfortunately, didn't clear at all in
the glass, and was changed for a half of<b> Jennings' “Sneck Lifter”</b>.
I have always found this 5.1% Old Ale full of complex flavours, with
caramel, fruit, toffee and hints of liquorice all combining well,
with a slight spiced back taste, and T'other 'arf endorsed this. My
beer, from<b> Dark Star,</b> was the 5.7% American Pale Ale,<b> “Revelation”</b>.
I found it packed with peach, tropical fruits and a whisper of
nuttiness. The sweetness of the malts come through well, and then the
bitterness takes over and leads the drinker to an increasingly dry
finish. Marvellous stuff. A pleasing APA/IPA.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><u><b>Henry's Cafe Bar.
Cambridge Street</b></u></i></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3SPX3Y6O7OImZmNg9eSQLpNN6nAJ89w8Souc3cgtAdQ_cAgzKvnEYqH7UdOnyhguFcUg6mKZ8uBhhEpVugHi2xJQB0rfys_PNdNG_aZBst5IZClbEBfgPGyG0y9QzoqRbjtp6eKx-6kQ/s1600/20160222_141546.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3SPX3Y6O7OImZmNg9eSQLpNN6nAJ89w8Souc3cgtAdQ_cAgzKvnEYqH7UdOnyhguFcUg6mKZ8uBhhEpVugHi2xJQB0rfys_PNdNG_aZBst5IZClbEBfgPGyG0y9QzoqRbjtp6eKx-6kQ/s200/20160222_141546.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A good selection in Henry's</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
After a bit of window
shopping, our next port of call was to be <b><i>The Brewhouse</i></b>, but this
venue wasn't open until the evening, so, the <b>Brewhouse'</b>s adjoining,
handily placed sister bar was our location for the next drink.
Henry's is smart, modern and a comfortable bar to drop into, whether
you are having a coffee and a bite to eat, or one of the real ales
which adorn the counter. The selection of beers is quite good, eight
on tap, I think, and I chose the locally produced<b> Sheffield Brewery
Co “Winter Double Porter”</b> to accompany T'other 'arf's glass of
<b>Draught Bass.</b> The<b> Bass</b>, at 4.4%, was as good as I can remember this
old favourite tasting, with a rich malty vein prominent throughout.
My <b>“Winter Double Porter</b>” also imparted a good malt taste, with
lovely burnt caramel giving way to a mix of chocolate, liquorice and
strains of coffee. I didn't remember to get the ABV, but with a
porter as enjoyable as this, who cares!</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><i><u>The Tap and Tankard.
Cambridge Street.</u></i></b></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNCTgPBlIKPaIPxTYbOjINM8H3ZAc2ZyvMDm8B4a3ZXAw-UBniLAb_N4d3rdhfbx-kupEjaC1hxAd4EGK8KPKQu7Ny3C0gKHWpx9zYWwt5udaWNL-szlENE-WCT5FT893iSLdxy3kvVFQ/s1600/20160222_144832.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNCTgPBlIKPaIPxTYbOjINM8H3ZAc2ZyvMDm8B4a3ZXAw-UBniLAb_N4d3rdhfbx-kupEjaC1hxAd4EGK8KPKQu7Ny3C0gKHWpx9zYWwt5udaWNL-szlENE-WCT5FT893iSLdxy3kvVFQ/s200/20160222_144832.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pork Pies and a Beer. Tap and Tankard.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Just a little way down
the road from <b><i>Henry'</i>s</b> is the Kelham Island Brewery owned <b><i>Tap and
Tankard,</i></b> a traditional boozer, with a reasonable selection of both
the “house” beers and guests ales. Also on sale at the bar are
the “famous” Kelham Island” Pork Pies. The beers we chose in
here were 5% <b>“Bitter That”,</b> an Extra Special Bitter from<b> The Brew
Foundation,</b> and a pint of<b> Kelham Island “Bete Noire”.</b> The half
pint of ESB was light, fruity but had good maltiness to it. It was
easy drinking for its strength, and was enjoyed on this cold
afternoon, as much as it would have been in a beer garden in the
summertime. A beer for all seasons. The “<b>Bete Noire</b>”, a 5.5%
Hirisk Stout is smooth dark and fruity, with bitter dark chocolate in
the main, and a wonderful bitter-sweetness to finish. A very good ale
to savour, especially when accompanied with a pork pie.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<u><i><b>J.D.Wetherspoon's The
Steel Foundry, Meadowhall Shopping Centre.</b></i></u></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
After a bit of window
shopping, I was dragged, like a naughty schoolchild, to this
man-crèche, otherwise known as <b><i>The Steel Foundry</i></b>, based in the
shopping centre. This “Wethers” is a little lacking in
character, but, to be fair, the retail environment does nothing for
it. The range is typical of the company, and all the favourites,
including food deals, are available. The beers I chose to have in here
were <b>White Horse “Wayland Smithy”</b>, a 4.4% Ruby coloured Bitter,
and a <b>Brewsters “Cock-a-Doodle-Doo</b>”. The “<b>Wayland Smithy</b>”
imparted a good maltiness, with slight fruit and caramel sweetness
coming through before an almost grassy and bitter finish.
<b>“Cock-a-Doodle-Doo</b>” a 4.3% Bitter has a touch of dark fruits in
the initial taste, balanced with a biscuit maltiness. The dry bitter
finish is adequate, but no more. I thought both these were OK, but
nothing special.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><b><u>The Old Queen's Head.
Ponds Hill.</u></b></i></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The exterior to this
Alehouse is steeped in history, and, it is said to occupy the oldest
dwelling in the City, add to that the tales of hauntings and Ghost
tours by arrangement, this <b>Thwaites</b>' pub is certainly interesting.
Inside, the décor is tasteful, but also quite modern, but the old
beams and timber work are still apparent. After the “retail” gig,
and freshening up back at the hotel, we decided we would have our
evening meal in here, to start our night off. The food is reasonably
priced, and the beer selection is quite good too. After ordering our
food, we chose our drinks, with Jane deciding on refreshing, light
and citrus backed 4.1% <b>“Wainwright's</b>” Golden Ale, and I, the 4.7%
“<b>Symphonic</b>”, both by <b>Thwaite's</b>. <b>Symphonic</b> is a rich, full blooded
Stout, which is packed with fruit flavours, noticeably plum, with
hints of chocolate and coffee. There is a slight spicy tang in the
fruity but dry finish. A really enjoyable beer. My second drink was
<b>“Nutty Black</b>” from the same brewery which is a 3.3% Mild. The
taste is roasted nuts, with a bitter-sweet character to it. This is a
good mild, which was, sadly, overwhelmed by the flavours of my
original Ale. The beer, the food, the general friendliness found in
here make it a place to return to.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><i><u>The Brewhouse.
Wellington Street.</u></i></b></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJqWyd52k_TXu0T42nslByk3jLC6PRdZNrjGu1v_89n37wC0WJeIRYXihZDsqGcWze8QtYGqjk0woDpBw7yEx-UgZdyJ0pkwpQgVgzFWCZicPjW_APLi9lmGtSZlPumN05rG9hgpbSJGo/s1600/20160222_213245.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJqWyd52k_TXu0T42nslByk3jLC6PRdZNrjGu1v_89n37wC0WJeIRYXihZDsqGcWze8QtYGqjk0woDpBw7yEx-UgZdyJ0pkwpQgVgzFWCZicPjW_APLi9lmGtSZlPumN05rG9hgpbSJGo/s200/20160222_213245.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The periodic table of Ale and Beer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Bright, light and
modern is the best way to describe this bar. It feels comfortable,
but with a brash attitude, with that “bubble-gum” American Diner
atmosphere to it. Saying that it isn't “in your face”, but
certainly not a pipe and flat cap local. The bar has its own brewery,
and features up to ten different cask ales, usually from local
sources, along with a wall of craft keg taps. The <b>Stella Artois
</b>glasses forming chandeliers above the bar is a nice touch, as is the
periodic table of beers on the wall. Add to that the extremely
friendly bar staff, who also man, or woman, the pumps next door in
<b>Henry's</b>, and it makes a nice place to drop into. Our drinks in here
were<b> Sheffield Brewing Company “PhilanthropicAle”</b> and <b>“Hill Top
Best Bitter</b>” from<b> Blue Bee Brewery</b>. The “<b>PhilanthropicAle”</b> is a
Chinook IPA of 4.7%, and is quite a spicy ale, with a good, but
subtle, citrus edge, which is refreshing on the palate and, although
light, is very full flavoured. Jane's 4% “<b>Hill Top Best Bitter”</b>
was quite malty, with hints of fruit, and a biscuity aftertaste. A
good solid no-nonsense traditional bitter.
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><i><u>The Three Tuns. Silver
Street.</u></i></b></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
To view this pub from
the outside, at night, after a long day, and wearing beer goggles,
set my mind back to those old photographs of New York, and the Flat
Iron Building on 5<sup>th</sup> Avenue, although our building is not
so tall, boasting a mere 3 storeys, and not the twenty that its
Manhatten cousin has. No matter, size isn't everything, and the beer
and boozer in which it is served is what it is all about on this
blog! The décor in this triangular shaped pub is tasteful, with a
Victorian feel to it. Mahogany is well evident throughout, and the
shape gives it a nautical feel, especially towards the “pointy”
end. Again, the beer selection is good, with a good local
representation. I chose an “<b>Argentinian Cascade Pale Ale”</b>, a 4%
brew from the<b> North Riding Brewery</b>, whilst T'other 'arf went for the<b>
Kelham Island “Easy Rider”</b>, the classic 4.3% golden coloured Pale
Ale. <b>“Argentinian Cascade Pale</b>” is a dry, fruity and solid
tasting beer, with a strong bitter finish, whilst the “<b>Easy Rider</b>”
is a big punchy brew, with a fruity backbone, a nice balanced
bitter-sweetness and a finish that is long and quite bitter. A nice
way to finish our first evening in Sheffield.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<h3 style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Tuesday</h3>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><i><u>The Old House.
Devonshire Street.</u></i></b></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
With a bit more “retail
therapy” proposed to get under way, I was shoo-ed off to find my
own entertainment. With my list in hand, I set of to find The Old
House. This is a very friendly cafe bar, near the University campus
and the Devonshire Quarter's shopping area. Inside, one will find an
airy layout, with old records on the wall and bare floors. Not only
are there a good range of cask ales on in here, they are also backed
up with a eclectic selection of World Craft bottled beers, not to
mention the 100+ gins! There are, in fact, monthly Gin Schools, where
you can make your own gin, by adding whatever botanicals you want. My
beer in here was “<b>Sheaf Blonde</b>” a<b> True North Brewing Co</b>, This 4%
beer is light, zesty, with a good hoppy taste. The bitterness is well
balanced and the finish is quite dry. A refreshing beer to start
today's session with.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><i><u></u></i></b><br /><b><i><u>
</u></i></b></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><i><u>The Devonshire Cat.
Wellington Street</u></i></b></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Just around the corner
you will find this modern, friendly boozer. It has around 12 hand
pumps and <b>Abbeydale</b> brews are well evident. Next to the bar is a
little shop, which sells bottled beers, presumedly as off sales. I
chose a pint of <b>“Dev Cat Stout</b>” in here, from<b> The Blue Bee
brewery</b>. This is a 4.8% Stout with smooth malty bitter-sweet flavours
throughout. I thought it just a bit thin, but still an outstanding
brew. I liked the ambience of this place, which was just getting busy
with lunchtime clientele as I was leaving to meet back up with the
diligent shopper.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><i><u>The Fat Cat. Alma
Street, Kelham Island.</u></i></b></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3a9h6byfxOQuZJg6kBeRkJkQVCAkecRlFs8lUxB_IPlOvUuH63bmPXuvB28ZVhToCH_SNbx0DKCf0CK7rwPPOBc1Y8LaWAJydKrlw4QBtcoY-krPcL2FTved7AJGcxDMeUPPcrt8vNDA/s1600/20160223_132538.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3a9h6byfxOQuZJg6kBeRkJkQVCAkecRlFs8lUxB_IPlOvUuH63bmPXuvB28ZVhToCH_SNbx0DKCf0CK7rwPPOBc1Y8LaWAJydKrlw4QBtcoY-krPcL2FTved7AJGcxDMeUPPcrt8vNDA/s200/20160223_132538.jpg" width="112" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Fat Cat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Now re-united, T'other
'arf and I made our way across the busy A61, to Kelham Island, and
<b><i>The Fat Cat.</i></b> This pub has won many accolades, both locally and
nationally, and is as traditional as it comes. The interior is small,
but the welcome huge and warm. There are 6 ever changing guest beers
alongside a couple of<b> Kelham Island</b> brews, <b>Timothy Taylor's</b> and a
cask cider, or two. The pork pies are also evident. Many original
features adorn the bar, with brewing and steel making memorabilia
also on show. Our beers in here were both from the <b>Kelham Island</b>
range (when in Rome.......and with the beer plant only 20 something
yards away!). I went for the excellent “<b>Pale Rider</b>” which is
wonderfully fruity, with a hint of peach evident, and has a lovely
bitterness to it. There is a resinous feel on the palate before the
long satisfying finish. This is a very moreish 5.2% Golden Ale. Jane
chose the “<b>Best Bitter”,</b> and, again, this was a very good beer.
3.8%, and well balanced, with sweet caramel and nutty strains, this
is a very easy drinking bitter.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><i><u><br />
</u></i></b></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><i><u>The Kelham Island
Tavern. Russel Street.</u></i></b></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Another traditional
boozer with original features, and up to 13 real ales on. This is a
place to rest awhile with one of the excellent beers that are on
offer. The range always includes a mild and stout, as well as a
gluten-free beer, and many fruit beers, wheat beers and continental
drinks. Jane opted for the <b>“Barnsley Bitter”</b>, while I chose
“<b>Gorlovka Imperial Stout”</b>, both from the <b>Acorn Brewery</b>. My stout
was full bodied, with a nice richness. Liquorice and roast malt
flavours are abundant, with fruit and slight chocolate hints. The
finish to this 6% beer is smooth, slightly bitter-sweet and long. The
Bitter was also well received, with its hints of toffee and fruit
well balanced all the way to the good bitter finish.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><i><u>Shakespeare's.
Gibraltar Street.</u></i></b></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Just back over the A61
you will find this pub. It has up to 9 real ales on tap, alongside
Continental lagers and a good range of over 50 bottled beers.
Upstairs is The Bards Bar, which features live music, whilst folk
music is also featured in the downstairs rooms, one of which has a
1950's Juke Box, free to use. My half-pinter went for another
<b>“Barnsley Bitter”</b> in here, this time from the <b>Stancil Brewery</b>. It
was nice and malty, with a smooth and almost silky mouth feel.
Another well balanced beer at 3.8%. “<b>Abandon All Hop</b>”, a
collaboration brew from<b> Raw Brewing</b> and <b>Steel City Brewing</b> was my
tipple. No hops in beer? Well, although tasting a touch sweet, almost
like cola, it worked. There was some bitterness there, from other
herb infusions, and a touch of orange peel, but it is a nice floral,
fruiy tasting ale. Interesting, if nothing else.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><i><u><br />
</u></i></b></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><i><u>BrewDog. Devonshire
Street.</u></i></b></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiso4mnwwDr04V2N_2u-8pfRNerm7OkCcCQMjTZlhiwiNMjtOsBwZreLVaaGwCsq97GqeS6yM63YTGVzqbhQ8fnFcZLwpyct1BzxjtxEyNGtAJSUyGq-1mQYTPReT6F0YW-xGHveJH0WAM/s1600/20160223_162245.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiso4mnwwDr04V2N_2u-8pfRNerm7OkCcCQMjTZlhiwiNMjtOsBwZreLVaaGwCsq97GqeS6yM63YTGVzqbhQ8fnFcZLwpyct1BzxjtxEyNGtAJSUyGq-1mQYTPReT6F0YW-xGHveJH0WAM/s200/20160223_162245.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BrewDog Sheffield</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
How do you describe a
<b>BrewDog</b> pub? Well, it was just like a <b>BrewDog</b> pub! They are what they
are. Why alter a tried and tested formula. The staff are very
friendly, and informative of their wares, which makes the experience
enjoyable. “<b>This Is Lager</b>” at 4.7%, and <b>“Jet Black Heart”</b>,
also 4.7%, were our choices. Both were good beers, which is expected,
with the lager full of malt to begin with, then the bitterness takes
control, before ending the jouney with a spiciness. Not bad at all,
for a lager. My beer was a Milk Stout, with a complexity to it.
Coffee, chocolate and oatmeal are first to appear, before a mouthfull
of fruitiness, and vanilla make an appearance. The finish is long,
and very worthwhile. When Craft beers are as good as this, it
certainly makes this marketplace one to dabble in.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
With our stay now
coming to an end, we wandered back to the station, stopping back off
at <b><i>The Sheffield Tap</i></b>. What a good break we had had in the City of
Sheffield. You may have to wander a little further between good pubs,
but it is worth it. Being just a short train ride away, we will
definitely be back. We have a few more inns and taverns to experience
yet. We discussed this as we sipped our final beers. Now both on
halves, we savoured <b>The Kernel Stout,</b> a strong viscous brew of a high
8% ABV. The roast flavour is full on but a subtle fruitiness and a
dry finish follow and<b> Brass Castle “Pale Stout”,</b> which we thought
was not so nice. This 6.4% strong ale is copper coloured and far too
sweet for my taste. It has a rather sickly mouth feel, but others may
love this strange style. The alcoholic strength is very evident, with
strains of sherry in the finish. With room for one more, <b>Thornbridge
“Black Harry” </b>was sampled ultimately, with this Mild of 3.9%,
full of roast coffee flavours, and a lovely fruitiness in the body.
It was the perfect pint to end a great couple of days.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
14 different pubs, and
28 different brews sampled in our combined total of 24 pints
(including those halves). Not a bad return, if my maths are correct.</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Cheers, and keep it
“Real”</div>
Steve Fosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725444056654111446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129469376598056437.post-16173169384596762802016-01-13T21:11:00.000+00:002016-01-13T21:11:11.505+00:00A "Lidl" light refreshment. Budget Beers or Bodged Brews?<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">With the Festive season now, quickly, ebbing in to the
background, now nothing more than a pile of wrapping paper, bottles and cans
for the recycling bins to secure until bin day, not to mention those
pine needles, tinsel strands and bits of broken bauble stuffing up
the vacuum cleaner, I thought it would be a good idea to review the
bottled beers I have sampled over the holiday period from one of the UK's fastest growing
food retailers. I have always had a lot of time for the so called
“budget” supermarkets, not just the “new kids on the block”,
but also those longer established names which are now linchpins of
Britain's retail market, but my thoughts on the cheaper range home
brand beers have, sometimes, not been so enthusiastic. Usually of
inferior strength and taste, until late, these products have not been
for the discerning drinker. Fortunately, things have slowly improved,
and, since the arrival of both <b>Lidl,</b> and <b>Aldi</b>, on the High
Street, the competition has become very interesting. In June 2015,
<b>Lidl</b> announced that they would be increasing their Regional Craft
beer range across the UK, and adding to the “<b>Hatherwood</b>”
range of beers. Over their time trading in my neck of the woods, I
have been quite a regular shopper in<b> Lidl,</b> drawn by the value for
money, and have quaffed quite a few of their seasonal beery
offerings, usually from the <b>Shepherd Neame</b> range. Most are
quite enjoyable, and all sensibly priced.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUxU0pMWYRhGPX4fQR8h8o7NmJl8s6P7kBC9ZZqMbzU6-QerOtGk-3CESHp5tN0DpdNQUvY8mymHRL1pSFQcG_rK2QArrZaLRVHiv0XR5CgjL-5maTmVGI7k1djXOfdC_zllfqDggq7_M/s1600/20160104_115655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUxU0pMWYRhGPX4fQR8h8o7NmJl8s6P7kBC9ZZqMbzU6-QerOtGk-3CESHp5tN0DpdNQUvY8mymHRL1pSFQcG_rK2QArrZaLRVHiv0XR5CgjL-5maTmVGI7k1djXOfdC_zllfqDggq7_M/s200/20160104_115655.jpg" width="112" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The full selection of <br />Hatherwood Craft Beers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
With the introduction of
the new <b>Hatherwood</b> beers, I decided to stock up with a few.
The range, now numbered 1-6, with a lager and Winter Warmer on top,
includes most styles of beer popular at the moment, with varying
strengths, and priced at 90p, £1-25 and £1-49, to reflect the
difference in ABV. The bottle labels are all similar in design, with
a slightly rural craft look to them. Simplistic, but not
uninformative. No glitter, just the basics of ingredients, ABV, Head
Brewer and the necessary product information. To say this doesn't
mean they become lost on the shelf, amongst all those glossy pictures
of skulls, buxom wenches or fat friars with flagons in hand, which
bedeck so many cans and bottles in many beer aisles, no, quite the
opposite. They sit there, quietly, waiting to be assessed, or, maybe,
discovered. My voyage of discovery had now begun, I will now give my impressions on this selection of
beers.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>No 1. Golden Goose</b>. <b>Golden Ale</b>. 3.8% </span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Just 90p secures a 500ml bottle of this beer, which is
brewed for <b>Hatherwood</b> by Jeff Drew, Head Brewer for <b>Wychwood.</b>
The taste is quite rounded, with hints of fruit and caramel, and the
finish is reasonably dry, with a nice bitterness.Pleasant and unassuming, I found. It is more than
adequate as a session beer. </span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>No 2. The Green Gecko</b>.<b> IPA</b> 5%</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Simon Yates, from <b>Banks'</b> is named as Head Brewer
for this punchy IPA. It is, initially, quite bitter, with big citrus
notes. These lead the way a refreshing, zesty taste on the palate,
with grapefruit and a hint of pine resin also evident. The finish
isn't long, but very satisfying, with a dryness and bitterness that
make it very moreish.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>No 3 The Amber Adder</b>. <b>Amber Ale</b> 4.3%</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I found this one quite similar to <b>The Green Gecko,</b>
but the sweetness of the malt comes through stronger at the beginning, before
the zesty bitterness takes control. There are floral hints in the
finish, which is quite dry, spicy, bitter and reasonably long. I
would say this would be a great session beer, especially for the
coming warmer months. The Head Brewer on this beer was
<b>Marston's/Banks</b> Tom Spencer.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>No 4 The Ruby Rooster.</b> <b>Bitter</b> 3.8%</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">This is quite a solid tasting beer. Malt and caramel
abound in the opening taste, which leads to a slight nuttiness
towards the end. The finish is reasonably dry, and pleasantly
bitter-sweet. Overall, although not a classic beer that is full of
complexity, this is a good value for money bitter. At 90p a bottle,
you would certainly struggle to find a brew as reliable as this
elsewhere, unless on a special offer. It is another from the <b>Wychwood</b>
(Jeff Drew) stable.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>No 5 Purple Panther Porter</b>. 5%</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV0HL-RZI_aZJCkroJ1qYV1sX2D3Ai3oHzD75PfDWn-4KpcB5hetp3b3QrD_4aJqA7oexOUtt7hz9gjKcQf9vp-8k9pblNtabAH4N0RQOXeJ2FkDjnPJ7_O1hwixBJqPvgfQ3Iu1LDJs8/s1600/20151226_134803.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV0HL-RZI_aZJCkroJ1qYV1sX2D3Ai3oHzD75PfDWn-4KpcB5hetp3b3QrD_4aJqA7oexOUtt7hz9gjKcQf9vp-8k9pblNtabAH4N0RQOXeJ2FkDjnPJ7_O1hwixBJqPvgfQ3Iu1LDJs8/s200/20151226_134803.jpg" width="112" /></a><span style="font-size: small;">The <b>Jennings</b> Brewery's Head Brewer, Jeremy
Pettman adds his name to the label of this dark beer. There are
lovely burnt malt flavours in the opening gambit of this Porter, with
a hint of dark chocolate and coffee. Plum and dark fruits lurk in the
background, and the finish is quite long, with a nice dryness on the
palate, following a reasonable bitter-sweetness. It isn't a thick,
resinous Porter, in fact, I found it a touch thin, but that is not to
say it isn't a good beer of this style. A very pleasing and
satisfying brew.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>No 6 Ginger Grizzly Alcoholic Ginger Beer.</b> 4%</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I have never really gone for these “fad” drinks.
Fruit of every type seem to be the in thing in the Cider brewing
sector at the moment. (What's wrong with just using apples ?!!), and
all those pop flavoured drinks seem to be everywhere. So, seeing this
on the shelf did intrigue me. Should I try it or not? Well, I did,
and I'm glad I did. The pour is quite lively, with the heady aroma of
ginger and spice not shy of introducing itself. it is slightly cloudy
in the glass, with the head disappearing almost instantly. The
initial taste is quite sweet, but not overly so, but this is soon
surpassed with that wonderful fiery heat from the ginger, with citrus
notes also coming through. WOW! If you like Old Jamaican Ginger Beer,
you will love this. The heat lasts on the palate quite a while. A
great change from the norm. This is also from the <b>Marstons</b>
Brewery, being created by Jake Johnson.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Gnarly Fox New Wave Lager</b>.4.5%</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I am not a big lager fan. Well, British styled and
brewed lagers, more accurately. On opening this bottle, I wasn't
expecting much. There was the usual grassy aroma, an effervescence as
it slid out into the glass, and then to the taste. Hmm, a bit more
sweet maltiness than I expected, but with a reasonable bitterness.
Biscuit and Caramel are evident, with the hopped finish being not too
heavy, and overall, a well balanced beer. I found it very
“continental”, in fact. I certainly wouldn't refuse another, even
if it isn't my favourite style</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>The Winter Warmer Spiced Dark Beer.</b> 5.5%</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">This <b>Hatherwood</b> beer is brewed in conjunction with Kevin
Love of <b>Hogs Back Brewery.</b> This is quite sweet at the outset,
but the lovely warming mulled spices,(cinnamon, nutmeg and a hint of
star anise were detected,) soon kick in, with some dark chocolate also
lurking. There is also a fruitiness in the taste. The sweetness
extends all the way through to the finish, which is quite long, and
pleasant. This Porter-style beer is certainly not a session ale, as
the 330 ml bottle testifies, and is rather complex, but sipped by the
fire, on a cold Winter's eve, it comes into it's own. Where's my
slippers? </span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Well, that's my review of the <b>Hatherwood Craft Beer
Range</b> from <b>Lidl</b>. Alright, they are brewed by major
breweries, (under the <b>Marstons</b> canopy for the main, and also
<b>Hog's Back)</b> There is no <b>Hatherwood Brewery</b>, nestled
down a country lane and distributing its wares by horse and cart, or
steam engine, and, to be fair, the company doesn't try to mislead you
of this, but one thing is a certainty, I can honestly say, I was not
disappointed in any of the brews. There are better, stronger and more
expensive beers out there, but as far as quality beers at very
affordable prices go, you may have to look long and hard. You dont
have to pick 4 bottles to get them at a certain discounted price,
which is handy if you just fancy a bottle or two at a time. Don't
forget, alongside these beers, you will also find a great range of
regional beers and ciders too, and those monthly specials. Don't just
take my word for it, give them a go yourselves.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Cheers and keep it “Real”</b></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<br />
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
Steve Fosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725444056654111446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129469376598056437.post-34372132522089613872015-12-26T20:10:00.000+00:002015-12-26T20:10:02.225+00:00Hull of a Day Out, and Other Jottings.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNv8JMElSFXhDPrQAop3t7X4TnbyH3qHPyRwkozzT2XnlN9ii_q6bhYhS2gdLWRUJnMDtdrP_DWW4Ygwz7cU0LtOLNnS_zz73Hh8ZEc8shyphenhyphen_RRqQzznHRUtpmqNWZMmDVteV9E-gsjMXw/s1600/20151206_145754.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNv8JMElSFXhDPrQAop3t7X4TnbyH3qHPyRwkozzT2XnlN9ii_q6bhYhS2gdLWRUJnMDtdrP_DWW4Ygwz7cU0LtOLNnS_zz73Hh8ZEc8shyphenhyphen_RRqQzznHRUtpmqNWZMmDVteV9E-gsjMXw/s200/20151206_145754.jpg" width="112" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The People Bar.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As I sit here writing this, Christmas, with all its baubles and glittery bits adorning many a previously blank facade, is now upon us.We have had a very gradual build up to the Season of Goodwill, and with bloated stomachs and a promise not to over indulge next time, still prominent in the memory, it is time to take stock of our recent outings, of which, I will share with you now . T'other 'Arf and I managed a nice little afternoon in Cleethorpes on the first Sunday of the month, managing to "tick" a couple of new bars to us during our excursion. We jumped on the bus from Grimsby, and on arriving in the resort, spared no time at all in visiting the recently opened beer emporium, <i style="font-weight: bold;">Message in a Bottle. </i>This shop, selling, obviously, bottles of beer, is situated in Cambridge Street, and carries an excellent range of brews, from Local, National and International brewers. The range is quite good, and service is very knowledgeable and friendly. Our next port of call was just a stones throw down the same street, the newly opened <i style="font-weight: bold;">People Bar and Kitchen</i>, a small establishment with a nice "feel" to it. The range of Ales is not massive, but adequate, The decor is very simplistic, with good usage of re-cycled pallets intertwined into the bar area. <b>Bateman's "Prohibition Lager" </b>and <b>Meantime "London Pale Ale"</b> being our choices. The<b> "Prohibition Lager"</b>, a keg beer of 4%, I found to be quite rounded, with a fruity flavour, which is light and combines well with the hopped finish. A good craft beer. The bottled <b>Meantime </b>brew, at 4.3%, was very dry, with grassy strains mixing with fruit, and leading to a big citrus punch. Also on the bar was <b>Shipyard Brewing Co "American Pale Ale"</b>, which was my original order, but there was a problem putting another barrel on, which left the poor staff covered in beer, as they attempted to get it back on. I was offered the half glass already poured, free and gratis, which I accepted, and found it very nice, to be honest. There is a big grapefruit taste to this APA, and a really refreshing bitter and dry finish. There was a good selection of bottled beers also available. It is very tight in here, and more than a dozen people in here would definitely make the place packed, but we did enjoy our visit, and will be back. Our next pub was Dexter's Alehouse. The Christmas beers were much in evidence, and we went for the "old" favourite, <b>Thwaite's "Yule Love It"</b>, and a half of <b>Tetley's "Christmas Cracker".</b> The pint, at 4%, was just a good Bitter, with a nice malty body, and bitter finish, with a reasonable hoppiness. The only "seasonable" flavouring I could detect was a hint of orange, or maybe tangerine, and a slight spiciness in the finish. The<b> Tetley's</b> was OK, but nothing more than that. There were hints of berries, and a slight nutty taste in the initial mouthful of this rather thin 4.3% Bitter, with a slight spicy finish, but it failed to get anymore interesting than that. We then proceeded to <b style="font-style: italic;">The Nottingham House, </b>where we sampled four more beers. My first drink was <b>Exmoor Dark</b>, a 4.2% Bitter, with a nice nutty taste nestling among the dark, sweet caramel and a hint of biscuit in the finish. Jane chose the 4.3% <b>Timothy Taylor "Landlord"</b>, with its nice fresh taste and fruity bitter-sweetness, which always makes it a Pale Ale to be reckoned with. We followed these up with a half each of <b>Sadler's "Sherlock Bones"</b>, a 4.3% Golden Ale with a light malty taste and wonderful, if short lived, floral hints, along with <b>Weetwood "Southern Cross"</b>, a 3.6% New World Pale Ale. This beer was light, zesty, with lemon to the fore, and had hints of pine. Although we felt very settled here, we decided to have a mooch about, before heading back home. This is how we ended up in The Riverside Bar. This is a pleasant place, but is more of an eatery/cocktail bar than a pub. With a selection of keg beers, the usual suspects, on the bar, we decided on a couple of bottles. Our picks were <b>Budweiser "Budvar</b>",5% the original "Bud", from the Czech Republic, with a good malt and hop marriage, and <b>Blue Moon Brewing Co "Belgian White".</b> This 5.4% Belgian White Beer is quite floral and fruity, with lemon and orange peel hints.<b> </b>Both were unsurprising, really. Next boozer on the list was <i style="font-weight: bold;">The Swashbuckle, </i>a real down to earth pub, just a short walk from the railway station. This can be a very lively place, and is host to quite a few characters, at times. It has live music on at times, mostly sing-a-long and crooners. On its day, this can be a real interesting place to "drop anchor". The beer in here was <b>Sharp's "Doom Bar", </b>and was OK, but not outstanding. The people watching, though, was excellent. This is a place you either love or hate, but on some occasions, those emotions, inexplicably, get reversed. Our last place was the previously reviewed bar, <b style="font-style: italic;">The Bobbin. </b>With it being a Sunday, we were, again, treated to live music, which certainly seems to have a positive effect on numbers. I sank another bottle of the 5.6% <b>Anchor Brewing Co "Porter",</b> which I am definitely getting a taste for. T'other 'Arf had a <b>Stowford Press Cide</b>r. Aah, what a nice way to end a lazy Sunday Afternoon. Before jumping back on the bus, we also managed a bag of chips each. What more could you ask for?<br />
<br />
<br />
Monday saw the "Team 1" works night out. It was decreed that we would meet in the village of Laceby, just outside Grimsby, at the <b><i>1815 Restaurant</i></b>, formerly known as <b><i>The Waterloo</i></b> (Those with an interest in history will know what year The Battle of Waterloo was fought, the rest of you can just guess!). A good meal was partaken of, and a lovely evening had by all. There was <b>Doom Bar</b> on the pump, but, unfortunately, this was off, and much more welcome on last night's chippy meal. I struggled on with the <b>Worthington's Creamflow</b> until the end. What a hero. We had a good turnout, with Maggie and Mark, Tara and Jess, Tracey, Jim, Mike, and T'other 'Arf and I enjoying the Christmas Menu. No karaoke, no wine stained shirts, and no dirty dancing injuries. Success.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH-QRtFQdkrnirf3SU9w3SlvMMMUogxvRWf05LT0U1RKqmGp_3f119Yz-uodF9jZD7VSBq6OEgA9GTcRKF4BiKqMWz_KNVENQvEPrpvAbH_ewYnvL9DQoAVDUdBvMEaGQkw51Dt-RGQ7I/s1600/20151208_134051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH-QRtFQdkrnirf3SU9w3SlvMMMUogxvRWf05LT0U1RKqmGp_3f119Yz-uodF9jZD7VSBq6OEgA9GTcRKF4BiKqMWz_KNVENQvEPrpvAbH_ewYnvL9DQoAVDUdBvMEaGQkw51Dt-RGQ7I/s200/20151208_134051.jpg" width="112" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lion and Key, Hull.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The following day, we decided we would have a bit of a change, and headed for Kingston-upon-Hull, the City of Culture for 2017. Hull is a place which doesn't hide from its down to earth roots. It is rugged in places, and has a working class feel to it. It also has an easy going, friendly, Northern atmosphere to it, which is especially reflected in the Old Town area. On tracing my Family Tree, I found branches of my tree extended into, and grew this area of the City, with a call from the trawlers seemingly too strong to ignore. This, I assume, lead, eventually, to my Ancestors crossing The Humber to ply their trade in Grimsby. Anyway, I will now get back to the review. After a wander around the shops, we headed for the Old Town, deciding to eat, and have a few beers. Our first pub, which was also where we had agreed to eat, was <i style="font-weight: bold;">The Lion and Key, </i>on the corner of High Street and Scale Lane. With our Fish and Chip meal, which was well worth the price, and would have sustained a deep sea fisherman for half a voyage up to Icelandic waters, We decided on a pint of <b>Titan "Stout"</b>, and a half of <b>Wentworth "Ruby Robin"</b> for our liquid accompaniment to the meal, but the choice was much more than just these two. There are at least 8 or 9 hand-pumps on the bar, with Real Ciders also being dispensed. The decor is very "past times" with old advertising signs and bottles, from brewers long forgotten, adorning this old style tavern. This is a great place to rest, after all that window shopping. The<b> Titan</b> brew, 4.8%, was dark, with roast oats and caramel in the rounded taste. The finish was long, with a nice dryness on the palate.<b> "Ruby Robin",</b> 4%, was a robust and pleasing Bitter, which had a reasonable fruitiness, balancing the crisp, but satisfyingly bitter malt finish. We both needed a bit of a walk after our lunch, so we decided to waddle down to <i style="font-weight: bold;">The Minerva, </i>about a 10 minute walk away, close to The Deep. With fine views over The Humber, this Inn is in a lovely location, although only the brave would sit out and enjoy watching the working boats passing by, on the river. The inside is quite modern, but reminders of yesteryear shine out from the many old pictures, which hang on the walls. Although not as extensive as the previous pub, the beer selection is still quite good, and varied. Our choices here were <b>Five Towns "Nowt"</b>, a 6.7% Stout, which was packed with full bodied roasted malt flavours and a great Liquorice taste. A good beer served excellently, whilst Jane decided on a<b> Tetley's "Bitter"</b>. This pub also plays host to the smallest pub room in Britain. After our drinks, we strolled back to the Old Town and into<b><i> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJUEcvIrsG8JuWZ8AWHYpU-e-KpriCRXNF8Ta1KB58fuNfBIVDfiOMfE_UZn5p3qYEmOsEEzgj5mbaIhx22zuu0VsmDDoZwneHKLYP3rULy_ElPKMyp5cFxe49y7cCt4YtukXb85Q3Io/s1600/20151208_153325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJUEcvIrsG8JuWZ8AWHYpU-e-KpriCRXNF8Ta1KB58fuNfBIVDfiOMfE_UZn5p3qYEmOsEEzgj5mbaIhx22zuu0VsmDDoZwneHKLYP3rULy_ElPKMyp5cFxe49y7cCt4YtukXb85Q3Io/s200/20151208_153325.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wm Hawkes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The Wm Hawkes</i></b>, a pub opened in an old gunsmiths, in Scale Lane. The decor is very much of the Dickension period, with gas lamps and candles lighting the darkness of the back room. The bar is adorned with 10 Hand pulls, serving a varied selection of real ales and ciders. There is a large choice of spirits too, but, if lager is your tipple, forget it. They do not stock any.A brave choice, some might say, but the correct one, in my opinion. <b>Wentworth "Winter Warmer",</b> and <b>Milestones "Comet"</b> were our chosen drinks in here, with the <b>"Winter Warmer" </b>weighing in at 4%, imparting a dark malt and fruit mix, with a bitter-sweet finish. I thought it was a bit thin, really, but not bad tasting. <b>"Comet"</b>, a Christmas regular, was quite light, with hints of fruit, with biscuit also present in this 4.2% ale. It isn't a classic, but OK all the same. Next stop was straight across the road, and into<b><i> The Manchester Tavern</i></b>, a cheap, friendly, if rather ordinary Marston's outlet. We decided on a half each of <b>Banks's "Sunbeam"</b> and <b>Marston's "Pedigree"</b>. Both drinks were delivered perfectly. I have reviewed both of these beers before, so I shall not repeat myself. Our last port of call, before our bus trip home, was <i><b>Walters.</b></i> a pub which has scored a few accolades over the last few years, This sister pub to <i><b>The Lion and Key,</b></i> and <b><i>Wm Hawkes,</i></b> has a more modern look, although retro album covers are the wall decorations. The beers are mostly local, and the bar boasts Hull's largest selection of Real Ales. As time was short, I only managed a pint in here, but it was a good one.<b>BAD "Chocolate Invasion"</b>, a 5.5% Porter is a nice chocolate infused beer, with just a trace of mint in the background. The dark malt really shines through, and the subtlety of the background flavours do not obscure that, only compliment it. Drinking finished, and shopping, in the main, avoided, we hopped on the bus home. Any visit to Hull must include, where possible, a trip around The Old Town. Besides the four pubs I have mentioned, there are quite a few others dotted around, equally as good, like <i><b>The Old Black Boy,</b></i> and <b><i>Ye Olde White Hart, </i></b>each with its own character, and all steeped with the maritime history of this area.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMbWxM2DOfxdUsqRsZTWwBv0w0YiI08b7X03zdy-2pVroO-XT7SUhFLePoZ5DgKrZbygRr94lajcokLUAvQgp24N0DS8d9rAM1Y70Q2yxOXdsIOZIn6Ko7bfT5xxtGQjG9d8N8ZY-jTeo/s1600/20151208_163739.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMbWxM2DOfxdUsqRsZTWwBv0w0YiI08b7X03zdy-2pVroO-XT7SUhFLePoZ5DgKrZbygRr94lajcokLUAvQgp24N0DS8d9rAM1Y70Q2yxOXdsIOZIn6Ko7bfT5xxtGQjG9d8N8ZY-jTeo/s200/20151208_163739.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Retro in Walters.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Since then, we have had a couple of little trips into town, tasting a few of those Christmas brews, but these can wait until next time, when I will try to get down my thoughts about these seasonal ales.Until then, seasons greetings, Cheers and keep it "Real".<br />
<br />Steve Fosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725444056654111446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129469376598056437.post-12980930172390399012015-12-13T11:54:00.001+00:002015-12-13T11:54:53.078+00:00Dark Skies May Cloud My Day...<div class="MsoNormal">
I seem to have been reasonably busy in the partaking of
those Ales of late. I am certainly making up for lost time. Towards the back
end of November, as my rest days from work fell right, I managed a trip, or two
into town. This was to , later, include a day in Cleethorpes, and a mini tour of Hull’s Old Town
added to the afore mentioned, as we entered the Christmas period of December.
More of the Cleethorpes and Hull trip next time, but firstly, let me bring the November
tastings up to date.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOOk5ssUfo6bfO5XaJjt0I_BaN5iAWWNuTM0MtU-LpXSEN50bKT2_UGnuz48N1q3aQfIE58URRmgQlh5Mfc1IgO8YhYLXKakjYVe2Y3dqPqhudl7yMOfqheke04BzsSZ77hzAimdq8Huk/s1600/beer_375594.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOOk5ssUfo6bfO5XaJjt0I_BaN5iAWWNuTM0MtU-LpXSEN50bKT2_UGnuz48N1q3aQfIE58URRmgQlh5Mfc1IgO8YhYLXKakjYVe2Y3dqPqhudl7yMOfqheke04BzsSZ77hzAimdq8Huk/s200/beer_375594.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inbetween Stout & Mild for<br />this Brown Ale</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
November’s late offerings were, usually, in JDW’s two
Grimsby establishments, <b><i>The Yarborough Hotel </i></b>and <b><i>The
Ice Barque</i></b>, but not exclusively, and combined a bit of shopping, (I
needed some bits and bobs for my Xmas Cake and Puddings, or that was my excuse)
a curry evening, JDW's Monday Mayhem and a touch of Black Friday shopping, but not in
those bloody sales! We also had the rarity of a Saturday Night out together,
which was very pleasant indeed. The beers have been, somewhat, interesting,
with the Christmas Ales making, in my opinion, an early bow alongside the
variations of the expected Autumnal beery delights. One non-Christmas beer of note, which was
greatly enjoyed, was a beer from the <b>Sudwerk
Brewery</b>, from Switzerland, in conjunction with <b>Everards</b>. The beer in question was <b>“Inbetween</b>”, a 4.8% Brown Ale, which was very much like a Mild, or
possibly a Stout, with a wonderful almost black colouring, with burnt caramel and malty nut taste prominent. The finish was bitter-sweet and dry, and very satisfying. Another very satisfying beer I experienced was <b>Caledonian “Winter
Brau”, </b>which imparted a lovely spiced flavour, cinnamon and nutmeg
especially, leading to a combination of fruit and lovely dark malts, not dissimilar
to a Christmas pudding. This one definitely complimented my curry in JDW’s on the night in question. We
have also sampled, during the penultimate month of the year, <b>Milestone’s “Magna Carta”</b>, a Blonde Ale
of 5%, which had a good Tropical fruit taste, and was well hopped<b>, “Comet”,</b> from the same brewery, a
fruity and pleasant Bitter of 4.2%, which has a good dry finish, <b>O Hanlon “Goodwill”</b>, a 5% beer with
orange hints combining well with the subtle spicy taste, <b>and Three Kings,</b> from <b>Coach
House. </b>This brew weighed in at 6%, and was very heavy in the fruit flavours,
with vanilla strains also finding the way to the palate. There was a big bitter
and dry finish, but it just did not seem to balance too well, leaving you glad
to finish it. It was OK, but that is as far as it went. In between these beers,
T’other ‘Arf has been very pleased on the re-appearance of the JDW’s “<b>Mulled
Cider”</b>, served piping hot, and with a nice mixed spice flavour throughout. I
don’t mind a little taste of it, but find it a touch sweet. What was Jane’s opinion?
“Ooh, so nice, it’s really lovely”.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The madness of Black Friday by-passed me just a touch, but
with my half-pinter working in retail, I did hear how hectic it was. Not
wanting to miss out totally, I decided to nip out for a couple of bargain
beers, or, rather, beers at the usual price which I pretended were cheaper. I
started in<i style="font-weight: bold;"> The Curious Cat</i>, and selected the bottled version of <b>“Old Engine Oil”,<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTRnvrxZHDMePaK_4jidvUfax3qqTA6E-8hgOt_zR-9qA6pxt_lpYInz3bTT_z8y6BWsBX0nZqpoNfQ-iCxsOu9IoowMlEdEPdW1NCCHVO9Ycog3yo4lD9fYQdP7S3xGVDHcWcwwukc7c/s1600/2015-11-27+18.28.39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTRnvrxZHDMePaK_4jidvUfax3qqTA6E-8hgOt_zR-9qA6pxt_lpYInz3bTT_z8y6BWsBX0nZqpoNfQ-iCxsOu9IoowMlEdEPdW1NCCHVO9Ycog3yo4lD9fYQdP7S3xGVDHcWcwwukc7c/s200/2015-11-27+18.28.39.jpg" width="112" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poor picture, Good beer!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</b> which <b>Harvistoun</b> put out at 6%. This is dark,
rich and very smooth, with a fabulous bitter-sweetness stretching from first
taste to the last. Leaving here, I popped into <b><i>The Yarborough</i></b>, where I
had a pint of <b>Bath Ales “Festivity</b>”,
and “<b>Nutcracker”, Everards</b> winter
offering. I found the 5% <b>“Festivity”</b>
a wonderful bitter-sweet Porter, which had chocolate, liquorice and vanilla
combining well with a dark fruit flavour. There were hints of spice, but it
was, for all that, not too complex. The <b>“Nutcracker”,
</b>also at 5%, was far fruitier, very malty, with a caramel vein running
through it, culminating with a well-balanced, and greatly appreciated,
bitter-sweetness.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The last hoorah of the month was our Saturday Night out.
After dropping the youngest pair of our Grand-children off, I started off in <b><i>The
Hope and Anchor, </i></b>whilst I waited for T’other ‘Arf to arrive. After
waiting 2 or 3 minutes for the bar maid to finish her texting, I duly ordered a
Tom Woods “Bomber County”, which was poured, as is usual, three quarters up the
glass, at which point, money was exchanged, and the beer left to settle, as the
texting resumed. A further period of time passed, until a polite cough was
issued by my good self and a glare and tut received in return. The message was
finished and my service re-commenced. This charade restarted on the arrival of T’other
‘Arf, and her eventual serving experience. This is not good for a pub’s
business with only 6 other punters leant against the bar, surely? The beer was
OK, but not outstanding, and we soon re-located into <b><i>The Barge.</i></b> Surprisingly,
the beer in here was not up to its usual top quality. I have always though that
the best pint of <b>Wells “Bombardier</b>”
in the area is served in here, but on this occasion, it just lacked the
brightness and crispness I have come to expect of this bar’s wares. Now, don’t
get me wrong, it was still a good pint, but it just was not as good as I have
tasted before, especially in here. We left here and made our way, a short
distance, to <b><i>Old Lloyds.</i></b> This is not a regular boozer for us, but a change
is as good as a rest, as some say. This is a place where rock music is the
staple, and the natural habitat of older Rockers, and the Goth fraternity. On
entering, we espied <b>Doom Bar</b> on the
single pump, unfortunately, it wasn’t available, although the brilliantly
helpful bar staff did try to source me a pint of it, but just pulled a much
clearer liquid through the pipes instead. Next time, maybe, next time…Not
deterred, I went for <b>“Caffreys”</b>
instead, whilst <b>“Strongbow”</b> was
taken by Jane. We stayed in here for an extra pint, and half, mainly enjoying
the music, and feasting our eyes on the clientele of this establishment. It is
nice to be in such an amiable pub, and we hope that they sort the Real Ale
problem out soon. We visited <b><i>The Curious Cat</i></b> next, where I had
the previously reviewed<b> Meantime “Chocolate
Porter”</b> to begin with, followed by another <b>“Old
Engine Oil”.</b> Jane decided on an expertly made <b>“Moscow Mule”</b>. It was
interesting to see all the various cocktails being concocted in here, with
smoke, vapours liquids of various colours and strengths shaken, stirred and
gyrated. Alchemy at it’s very best. We finished our night out in The Yarborough
Hotel, where, in a flat and quite boring atmosphere, our final drinks, a pint
and a half of <b>Caledonian “Winter Brau”</b>,
were taking in a subdued silence, as a depressing "mumble, mumble" enveloped us, before we escaped to the excitement of the
local Kebab House. That was that, a couple of weeks of easing ourselves from autumn
to the winter period. December was now beckoning, and we were not to turn away,
merely embracing it as well as we might. December already had a few pencil strokes jotted in my mind's diary, which I would turn into bolder strokes soon.<o:p></o:p><br />
Until the next time, </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Cheers and Keep it “Real”<o:p></o:p></div>
Steve Fosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725444056654111446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129469376598056437.post-86248490865917290852015-12-05T10:51:00.000+00:002015-12-05T10:51:58.479+00:00Home for the Festival.<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjStzFNIF5_xT337P4chfoX85SVLmkRDObZPsO7PgoJ42cILStvbOEqhQrh-61aHRKAuMLZ43Ck0e5z1z7ilC518ZPpzc6-Qo6NLPGXaSMl85sEVCQ5GNMn2a5asfFQ3TYgPZWrN7yRUwg/s1600/6052794-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjStzFNIF5_xT337P4chfoX85SVLmkRDObZPsO7PgoJ42cILStvbOEqhQrh-61aHRKAuMLZ43Ck0e5z1z7ilC518ZPpzc6-Qo6NLPGXaSMl85sEVCQ5GNMn2a5asfFQ3TYgPZWrN7yRUwg/s200/6052794-large.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A great bar near Lincoln Station.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After the recent Nottingham trip, my previous post, it was
back to all that North East Lincolnshire
could offer. With the days definitely shortened, the sunshine hours giving way
to persistent, depressing and, certainly, not in the least, glamorous wind, rain
and general gloom. Oh, joy! The Journey back from Nottinghamshire to Lincolnshire,
on the very punctual 15-29 train, necessitated a 50 minute stop at Lincoln.
Previous knowledge of the County’s capital City meant that we knew, with the
time being tight, the best place to refresh our thirsty selves, and still be in
time to finish our trip home. Our hostelry of choice would be <b><i>The
Treaty of Commerce, </i></b>on the High Street, about 250 metres from the station. I have popped into this <b>Bateman’s
</b>run pub quite a few times over the years, and found it very friendly, and
offers a reasonable range of the brewery’s ales, and, usually a couple of guest
beers. This time was no exception, and I decided to fore go the <b>XB, XXXB, </b>and other brews on tap, to
try a pint of “<b>Impy Dark”, </b>from the <b>Brampton Brewery. </b>This 4.3% Mild was
jam packed with wonderful chocolate and coffee flavours, and the bitterness in
the finish is well balanced with a hint of sweetness. If in this neck of the
woods and, like us, have a little while to waste between trains, this is a
great place to drop into.<br />
<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLgDZYNpGrt_Lyfi0aQA7eqTYjvBkDA_U9z8fuE-pgI5ate2HruRYpsd__1-NJOS8WFs8TiVgV7rgdF_WnuEs-5rjMuXGLpS4KOCFoxHIlt-yWnfeX4JIwLbcuy2I-fYuqNJtZGxDezTk/s1600/20151114_171344.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLgDZYNpGrt_Lyfi0aQA7eqTYjvBkDA_U9z8fuE-pgI5ate2HruRYpsd__1-NJOS8WFs8TiVgV7rgdF_WnuEs-5rjMuXGLpS4KOCFoxHIlt-yWnfeX4JIwLbcuy2I-fYuqNJtZGxDezTk/s200/20151114_171344.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Upstairs at The Matrix Bar<br />Festival Time.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The rest of the journey back was, well, uneventful. On
disembarking, we nipped into the adjacent <i><b>Yarborough
Hotel</b>, </i>where we had a pint and a half of <b>Goff’s “Lancer”. </b>This was a Golden Ale of 3.8% which was reasonably
malty, but with a nice fruitiness in the after taste. The finish was dry and
not bad at all. We had (or rather, I) an
idea of shooting home, dropping of our bag, a quick spruce up and back out to
The Grimsby CAMRA Beer Festival, but with the rain now teeming down,accompanied by a stiff, cold Northerly blast, we decided to curtail our evening there and then. A busy day “grand-parenting” followed on Saturday, so by teatime we were ready for a drink or two. With this in mind, and in bloody awful weather, of the same type as yesterday, but more ferocious, we put our heads down and staggered to and
<b><i>The
Matrix, </i></b>a student venue next door to JDW’s,<i><b>Yarborough Hotel</b> </i> in Grimsby for the local
CAMRA branch’s 2<sup>nd</sup> Annual Beer Festival. We arrived windswept, soggy
but not beaten, at the bar situated upstairs, and were met by quite a
reasonable selection of 22 of the 24 brews previously advertised, along with 4 Real Ciders. By the end of the evening's events, we had managed to “complete the
card” between us, so to speak, mostly in ½ pints. The list and my notes are as follows.<br />
<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Axholme Brewing Company "Cleethorpes Light</b> " 4.4%</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fruity, light and full of hoppiness. Buckthorns from the sea at Cleethorpes are used to add a nice tang. Very nice indeed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Bellhaven "80 Schilling"</b> 3.9%</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Rich, smooth ruby coloured beer, with a nice caramel sweetness backing the bitter, dry finish.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Bateman's "Salem Porter"</b> 4.7%</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
An old favourite which is full of fruit and nut flavours, and hints of biscuit. Liquorie, spice and nuts also combine to make this an excellent beer.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Double Top "Wonderland"</b> 4.4%</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Another Ruby Ale, well hopped</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Fulstow Brewery "Hewitt's Strong Ale"</b> 7.5%</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A beer brewed for the first time in over half a century. This was a dark, robust beer, and had a lovely dryness in the finish. I hope it is on offer again soon. I can't wait until I reach 102 for my next taste of it !</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Fulstow Brewery "Soulby Sons & Winch Ltd Pale Ale </b>5%<br />
A nice crisp Pale Ale with coffee hints<br />
<br />
<b>Great Newsome "Sleck Dust</b>" 3.8%<br />
Very floral, increasingly dry, and good bitterness in the finish. Great session ale<br />
<br />
Harvistoun "Bitter and Twisted" 3.8%<br />
Another old favourite, which is rounded, with malty sweetness and hints of fruit in the main taste which leads to a complex and zesty in the finish.<br />
<br />
<b>Horncastle Ales "Wicked Blonde" </b>3.9%<br />
A very fruity session ale which imparts lovely citrus flavours in the finish<br />
<br />
<b>Imperial Brewery "Black IPA</b>" 5%<br />
I like these black IPA's, and this one was very nice indeed. Dark, hoppy and bitter-sweet to begin, and plenty of dry citrus in the refreshing and long finish.<br />
<br />
<b>Intrepid Brewery "Trade Mark IPA"</b> 4.5% </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A lot of flavours, honey, citrus and hints of tropical fruit, and a long hoppy finish make this a big punchy beer.<br />
<br />
<b>Lincoln Brewing Company "Friendly Rottweiller"</b> 4.5%<br />
Another crisp, dry session beer, with subtleties in the hopped finish.<br />
<br />
<b>Lincoln Brewing Company "Great Tom" </b>3.7%<br />
A good dark ale, mild like, with hints of chocolate, and coffee, Fruit and a balanced bitter-sweetness lead to a long enjoyable finish.<br />
<br />
<b>Mr Grundy "Big Willie"</b> 4.3%<br />
A very crisp, dry Golden Ale, with good bitterness at the end.<br />
<br />
<b>Rowett Brewery "Six Hour Lunch"</b> 4.2%<br />
An unfiltered, unfined Bitter from a local (North Thoresby) nano-brewery. A very nice beer, with subtle fruit and hops throughout, and a crisp finish. I will look out for more beers from this brewer.<br />
<br />
<b>Rowett Brewery "Rowetts Stock Ale</b>" 7.5%<br />
A big warming mouth-feel greets the drinker of this brew. Aged in Whiskey barrels and double fermented using historic yeast strains, this is a true classic ale. Tasting notes suggested dried fruit, burnt sugar, leather and tobacco. Sound like a used sofa ! The taste, though, was absolutely wonderful.<br />
<br />
<b>Sheffield Brewing Company "Crucible Best"</b> 3.8%<br />
A mish-mash of flavours make this beer interesting. Sweet fruit and harsh bitterness, with citrus and caramel all come together to balance perfectly. Not bad at all.<br />
<br />
<b>Sheffield Brewing Company "Five Rivers"</b> 3.8%<br />
Another easy drinking beer from this brewer. This one was a lot more floral and hoppy in the finish. Light, refreshing and pale in looks. Hints of grass also evident.<br />
<br />
<b>Wentworth "Firecracker"</b> 3.8%<br />
A Session Bitter with the taste of cinder toffee in the finish. OK, but a touch ordinary.<br />
<br />
<b>Wentworth "Vanilla Stout"</b> 4.5%<br />
The vanilla, alongside the well balanced coffee hints combine excellently and lead to a lovely bitter finish in this wonderful Stout.<br />
<br />
<b>Willy's "Festival Special"</b> 3.9%<br />
An American inspired bitter, which was quite reasonable. Big in hop flavours, but still a little subtle. Nice bitter-sweetness.<br />
<br />
<b>8 Sail Brewery "Chocolate Stout</b>" 4.6%<br />
A good solid stout, with nice flavours. The chocolate bitterness is still quite smooth, and keeps on coming right through the long satisfying finish.<br />
<br />
Overall, not a bad festival. Not the biggest, or best I have visited, but a really good showcase for Real Ale for this area.The beer range was quite good and varied. The venue chosen was OK, but not really ideal, and I understand the financial reasons to it being held at this venue, but as the downstairs started to fill with students, and grunge music volumes increased, it did drown out the folk based entertainment, which was going on in our dark loft area, more than a touch. Hopefully, next years bash will, again , fall on my days off, and I hope this local Festival goes on for many years to come.<br />
Oh, one last thing. Thanks to my Name card win, I did manage to procure a bottle of Grants Whiskey. Happy Days.<br />
Cheers and keep it "Real"</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Steve Fosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725444056654111446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129469376598056437.post-43940129896783811242015-11-19T16:51:00.000+00:002015-11-19T16:51:22.099+00:00The Nottingham Crawl. Narrowboats, a Crow and a Trip to Jerusalem<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">A few years ago, I was a quite regular visitor to the
East Midlands, and Nottingham in particular. I found it a vibrant,
but laid back, City, which was always a drinker's Paradise. Now,
after the sands of time have thinned out in the top of the glass a
little, would my next visit here, around 12 years since my last, be
as interesting, enjoyable and beer filled as my last expeditions ? We
will soon find out. We boarded our train from Grimsby Town station,
shortly before 11-20 , and soon we were away. One change ahead at
Lincoln, before, eventually, being disgorged, from the comfort of
our East Midlands Train service, into the bustling atmosphere of
Nottingham. The first thing I noticed was the building work going on,
seemingly, all around the station area. The next was The Bentinck
Hotel, a place I had rested my head before, with its, then, dubious
reputation, I was once told, is no longer a pub. No, it is now a
Starbuck's ! Not that that was too much of a problem, we were to
spend a couple of nights in The Travelodge, Nottingham Central, on
Maid Marian Way.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Wednesday Afternoon.</b></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The time was now 13-30, and we couldn't check in until
15-00 so Canal Street, just a stone's throw from the station,
beckoned.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><u><b>The Fellows, Morton & Clayton</b></u></i><i><b>,
</b></i>Canal Street.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Situated in the old FMC Company's former offices in
Canal Street. It is building steeped in history from when canals were
the transport highways, and carried the lifeblood, of the country.
There was a good choice real ales on the bar, and we eventually
settled on a pint of <b>Wellbeck Abbey “Portland Black”,</b> a
4.5% Black Beer ( according to the pump clip, somewhere between a
Mild and Stout) and a half of a Blonde Ale, which Jane chose . I
thought the <b>“Portland Black” </b>a very nice Ale, with malt
and chocolate coming to the fore. It was thinner than a good stout,
but more than ample as a mild. The Blonde Ale was rather bitter and
grapefruit driven, which wasn't quite to T'other 'Arf's taste. This
is a nice, busy place, within 2 minutes of the station. Our next
stop, though, was to be right next door.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><u><b>The
Canalhouse.</b></u></i>
Canal Street.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">This
<b>Castle
Rock</b>
house is a pure gem of a boozer. It offers a wide range of real ales,
and ciders, <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih70QVJY1uaMDS9-m30uzjzKQXrKaU5_Tk2qmxIF4W6qQBOVBL4m4cLEm2C_KZIQ-RJU598p4AwKOQixkPi3wrpKZzUaU-VytkEeGq__6UnYvYMf1IROot4aVwc229H5bWeMJV5_dNrXQ/s1600/20151113_152129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih70QVJY1uaMDS9-m30uzjzKQXrKaU5_Tk2qmxIF4W6qQBOVBL4m4cLEm2C_KZIQ-RJU598p4AwKOQixkPi3wrpKZzUaU-VytkEeGq__6UnYvYMf1IROot4aVwc229H5bWeMJV5_dNrXQ/s200/20151113_152129.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You won't find these parked in<br />
many local pubs !</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
along with a range of over 240 bottled and keg craft
ales. It also has two narrow boats moored in the pub ! The bar staff
are really excellent too, and will chat about the beers, just to
ensure you get something that suits your taste. My first drink in
here was <b>Castle
Rock “Black Gold”</b>
, a wonderful Mild of 3.5%. It is a well balanced beer, with a
bitter-sweet finish. There is a nice hint of vanilla and dark fruits
in the background. I followed this with a <b>Cheddar
Ales “Potholer”, </b>a
Golden Ale of 4.3%, which, after an initial maltiness, was light,
fruity and zesty. Jane went for an<b>
Orchard Pig “Explorer” Cider</b>,
which she enjoyed immensely. This is a must visit hostelry, a place
to drink good beer and unwind.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><u><b>The
Cask Room (at Via Fossa)</b></u></i>
Canal Street.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Unfortunately,
I think we didn't see the best of this place. The front bar, <i><b>The
Cask Room</b></i>,
was closed, so we had to use the back bar. This room, though, looks
out onto a patio area, which stretches all the way down to the canal.
The beer in here, I'm afraid, was not so good. It was brought from
the front bar, I had a “<b>Gangly
Ghoul” , </b>a
4.2% Bitter from <b>Greene
King, </b>which
was rather flat, lifeless and not a good pint at all, neither was the
<b>“IPA”
</b>from
the same brewery, which looked slightly cloudy. Maybe it was just an
off day. After this drink, we headed to our “base camp” for the
next couple of days.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Wednesday Evening. </b></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">After relaxing for a couple of hours in the Travelodge,
we were ready to stretch our legs, once more, sample a few beer, and
catch a bite to eat.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><u><b>Oaks
Restaurant</b></u></i>.
Bromley Place.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">This
popular restaurant is easily overlooked by the drinker, but worth a
visit. With plenty of natural materials adorning the place,
interesting furniture, it is hard not to be tactile with the décor.
There is a good selection of Craft bottles, and, although it wasn't
pointed out to us when we entered, we noticed two “regulars”
enjoying cask ales from a couple of partly hidden hand-pull pumps at
the bar. Hey-ho ! The beers we had in here were<b>
Einstok “Toasted Porter”, </b>and
<b>“Dead
Pony Pale Ale”. </b>Both
these bottles were enjoyable, with the Pale full of fruitiness, with
lime, citrus fruit and pine evident in the fore, which leads this
3.8% beer to a long very dry and bitter finish, whereas the 6% Porter
was full on, with a smokiness coming through the sweet malt, before
the hoppy bitterness excites the taste buds.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><u><b>The
Roundhouse.</b></u></i>
Royal Standard Way</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMYY0w9LtGxBqsryjRnpb-Imdg1Oa8u6T7AcD7ig8V2heC8miEuMExP5_rguTL0QW_0SlujxtDMwwwIoStrEEfH_Rm5zXjWgxIL349rdxLUUrrH4eBIgALRYkhCJvv8NRS2kFiIit5quo/s1600/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMYY0w9LtGxBqsryjRnpb-Imdg1Oa8u6T7AcD7ig8V2heC8miEuMExP5_rguTL0QW_0SlujxtDMwwwIoStrEEfH_Rm5zXjWgxIL349rdxLUUrrH4eBIgALRYkhCJvv8NRS2kFiIit5quo/s200/download.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Roundhouse</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;">Situated
just over the Maid Marion Way, this building, the former Jubilee wing
of the old Nottingham General Hospital, has been sympathetically
restored, and is a delightful bar which oozes history. The range of
real ales was quite good, six in all, and we chose 2 from the <b>Dancing
Duck Brewery, </b>in
Derby. My beer was the wonderful “<b>Dark
Drake</b>”,
an Oatmeal Stout of 4.5%, which was filled with liquorice, caramel
and hints of coffee in the finish, whilst Jane opted for the “house”
beer, the 4% Bitter, <b>“Roundheart”.
</b>This
was a good malty bitter, and has hints of chocolate and fruit lurking
in the background. </span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><u><b>The
Crafty Crow.</b></u></i>
Friar Lane</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">10
hand pumps, serving guest ales, as well as those from <b>The
Magpie Brewery,</b>
who own it, and a large selection of Craft Keg, and bottles are all
on offer. The selection process could take as long as the drinking,
if it wasn't for the excellent staff, who listen to your likes, and
dis-likes, and advise you on the best drink for you, with a taster or
two along the way. We eventually went for <b>“
A Tempting Murder”</b>,
a 5.6% Porter with pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg and hints of vanilla
prominent, but with a back taste of a complexity which allows it to
remain interesting throughout, and the 4.2% <b>“Best
Bitter”</b>,
a well balanced beer with a nutty fruitiness, and a hint of caramel.
both from the <b>Magpie
Brewery.</b>
We also sampled a half of <b>“Lacerated
Sky”</b>
a 9% IPA from <b>Black
Iris, </b>which
was, as advised, like having a pudding in a glass !</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><u><b>Fothergill's.</b></u></i>
Castle Road</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">As
food was now firmly on our minds, we popped into this small, but
friendly eatery, which also has a selection of cask, and craft ales.
We were immediately advised that a table would not be available for
40 minutes, but the staff worked some magic, and within 15 minutes,
we were seated. Our food soon arrived, and it was delicious. The
beers we chose were a pint of <b>Freedom
“Indian Pale Lager”</b>,
a 5.5% beer combining the two styles of IPA and a Lager, which was
fruity,zesty and very refreshing, and a half of <b>Springhead
“Roaring Meg”</b>,
the much reviewed flagship beer from this brewer, which was as good
as we have tasted (and reviewed) anywhere.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><u><b>The
Castle.</b></u></i>
Castle Road</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Last stop of the evening was this bar, the adjoining pub
to Fothergill's. Pub, kitchen, movie room, cask and craft ales. One
wonders how they fit it all in ! I had a pint of <b>Shipstone's “
Bitter”, </b>3.8%, which I found solid and unpretentious. There was
a touch of grassiness in the aroma, but caramel and malt in the main
body leads to a reasonable bitterness in the finish and makes this
beer a good session drink. My partner in crime decided on a soft
drink for this final round.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">After these, we sloped back to the hotel, just a 3
minute waddle away, and prepared for the morrow. For some, it would
include shopping, for others, or me, at least, pubs and beers.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Thursday Afternoon.</b></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I tried it, I valiantly attempted to enjoy it, but M&S,
Debenham's, and the rest, just don't fill me with the same pleasure
as it does T'other 'Arf. On this bombshell, I parted company with
Jane, just for a wee while, and set off exploring, just after 11-30.
The first pub I was looking for didn't open until 12-00, so I
wandered the short way up to the other end of Canal Street, to start
my quest.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><u><b>The
Newshouse .</b></u></i>
Canal Street.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFSouHS9E2r77TP6Uk_uSr1rz74xurjBjTkXZxTk_ED4cb-bRQQI2IekgwV8Ay3Dnm3lxcQgpiaFaAcTRU0GUsElJs4kT1TGW5_RIHDCq200mIAkoIZ4MpFcMop5o5X3c4sPkpByYNOTY/s1600/20151112_122654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFSouHS9E2r77TP6Uk_uSr1rz74xurjBjTkXZxTk_ED4cb-bRQQI2IekgwV8Ay3Dnm3lxcQgpiaFaAcTRU0GUsElJs4kT1TGW5_RIHDCq200mIAkoIZ4MpFcMop5o5X3c4sPkpByYNOTY/s200/20151112_122654.jpg" width="112" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A bit of Voodoo.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;">A
traditional pub, just a short walk from both the station, and
Broadmarsh Centre, this boozer offers a good range of cask and craft
beers. It is the brewery tap for <b>Totally
Brewed Brewery, </b>as
well as carrying Guest Beers and, of course, beers from <b>Castle
Rock</b>,
the pub's owners. The décor is very much 1960's and 70's themed,
with wooden floors and neon evident, even a bar billiards table,
which gives it a comfortable feel. My beer in here was <b>“Papa
Jangles Voodoo Stout”</b>,
a 4.5% Stout, from <b>Totally
Brewed,</b>
which was dark, chocolatey and had a coffee back taste, with dark
fruits also evident. The finish was nice and bitter, but with just a
hint of sweet fruit.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><u><b>The Cross Keys</b></u></i><b>.</b> Byard Lane</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Between the Victoria and Broadmarsh centres, and a
stone's throw from the Lace Market is this popular pub. This
free-house has a good range of <b>The Navigation Brewery</b> beers,
as well as a couple of Guest ales. I chose <b>Navigation “Apus”</b>
in here, a 5.5% American style IPA, which was packed with tropical
fruit flavours, slight spice, floral notes and big hoppy bitterness
in the finish. This is a full on beer, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I
enjoyed it that much that, after meeting up with T'other 'Arf, we
popped back for another in here, that shopping must be hard work ! I
stayed on the “<b>Apus”</b>, but Jane settled on an <b>Ossett
“Big Red”</b>, a Ruby coloured beer of 4%, which has a lovely, if
subtle, chocolate malt taste, reasonable bitterness, and a good touch
of citrus in the finish. </span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><u><b>Bunker's Hill</b></u></i><i><u>.</u></i><u>
</u>Hockley</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Anyone visiting The National Ice Arena must pop in to
here. It is packed with local ice hockey memorabilia, and good beers,
both craft and cask. It is a touch away from the City centre, but
worth the trip. I had another of those <b>Totally Brewed</b> Ales in
here, namely <b>“Oatally Brewed”</b>, a 4% Golden Ale, with a
nice sweetness at the start, which cedes to a long bitter finish.
Great beer to quench the thirst.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><u><b>BrewDog</b></u></i><i><u>.</u></i> Broad
Street.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">This was the first BrewDog pub that I have been in, but
I have heard so much about them and, although sparsely decorated, and
rather industrial in ambience, I quite liked the feel and atmosphere.
The selection of keg, and bottled craft, is vast, and the bartender,
a pleasant young man, was enthusiastic and well educated in the wares
before us. I sampled a “collaboration” beer, <b>BrewDog/Black
Iris “Perfect Storm”</b>, a light, very dry and hoppy ale of
4.9%, but opted for 2/3<sup>rd</sup> “<b>Libertine Black Ale”</b>,
at 7.2%. This is a big punchy beer, with roast flavours prominent,
initially, but soon followed by the bittering hops. A beer to savour,
not gulp.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><u><b>Kean's Head</b></u></i><u><b>,</b></u><b> </b>St
Mary's Gate.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQENO0Oah_llwplYOxIAAjOT3Qp330vGvnW7pFFJdHKQ6LAfXsgZDGkCSQBFgE2apo6vVNu8stxPpwA608SqETmKEhjaRiL6IpF6pbXOuolrSAqssVjBruBXoxiPRwlI9vG-kyZpLj3Kc/s1600/20151112_155027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQENO0Oah_llwplYOxIAAjOT3Qp330vGvnW7pFFJdHKQ6LAfXsgZDGkCSQBFgE2apo6vVNu8stxPpwA608SqETmKEhjaRiL6IpF6pbXOuolrSAqssVjBruBXoxiPRwlI9vG-kyZpLj3Kc/s200/20151112_155027.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Head of Operations.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;">Another <b>Castle Rock </b>establishment, with guest on
tap. As with all their estate, a good selection is available. It has
a bar at one end of the fair sized room, and plenty of brewing
memorabilia on the walls.<b> Ilkley “Fireside Porter”</b>, a 4.2%
beer, with a hint of spice,dark fruits and liquorice, was my choice,
and very nice too. I liked this pub, but would have preferred a few
more customers to make an atmosphere. There again, it was now
16-30 pm, on a dark Thursday.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i><u><b>Pitcher & Piano</b></u></i>, High Pavement.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I met back up with Jane in this absolutely stunning
former church. With stained glass windows, and many ecclesiastical
bits and bobs in situ, you can certainly reflect the error(s) of your
ways in here ! The beers of choice were a pint of <b>“BG Sips”</b>,
from the<b> Blue Monkey Brewery</b>, a 4% pale ale, with a sharp
berry fruitiness and nice long lingering bitter finish, and a half
of <b>Jennings “Bitter”,</b> the typically full malty beer of
3.8%. </span>
</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i><u><b>The Salutation.</b></u></i> Maid Marian Way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Our last port of call, out of curiosity, was this
tavern, next door to our hotel. I would best describe it as dark,
friendly, slightly Gothic and a place for younger drinkers, but real
ale was on, and the pint and a half of “Hobgoblin” we had was as
good as I have tasted anywhere. Enough said, not a bad boozer, just a
little niche, I suppose.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Thursday Evening.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">After my excesses of reviewing during the afternoon, and
all that heavy shopping done by T'other 'Arf, it was not surprising
that our exploits to follow would be a tad more subdued than normal. </span>
</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i><u><b>Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem</b></u></i>.
Brewhouse Yard.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBtBffXOipww_QR9yZ5KTUiQhMnc0LjervRUh9YB1lOvFeb2NZY5O7h08s-hHmNcF6nRwdydDgKxum2DD-Dc-rQ-G3-343YN5cMG0QZaYhb54qxMdCfvBBvoicmSkcZ21B1oVi9CjMA_0/s1600/20151112_194026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBtBffXOipww_QR9yZ5KTUiQhMnc0LjervRUh9YB1lOvFeb2NZY5O7h08s-hHmNcF6nRwdydDgKxum2DD-Dc-rQ-G3-343YN5cMG0QZaYhb54qxMdCfvBBvoicmSkcZ21B1oVi9CjMA_0/s200/20151112_194026.jpg" width="112" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying the Trip.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;">Is this quirky, and quaint, tavern, reputedly the oldest
in England, a museum, souvenir shop, tourists trap, or traditional
boozer ? Well, to be fair, all four. With caves, magic pregnancy
chair, horn and hoop game, 7 great cask ales and merchandise, not to
mention the local characters which frequent, and entertain the
visitors. The Lord, and The Legend of the Ring are in most nights, I
believe, so do try the old game of Hooking the Horn, it only took me
10 minutes to swing it on. The beers in here were quite good too, I
had <b>Greene King “Fireside Ale”</b>, a big malty brew of 4.5%,
which has plenty of dry citrus notes, very refreshing. Jane had one
of her favourite ales, <b>“Abbot Ale”. </b>An interesting place
to spend some time.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i><u><b>The Malt Cross.</b></u></i> St James Street</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Wandering back across Maid Marian Way, we headed for a
former Variety Theatre, run by a Christian charity, and the home of
an art gallery, caves, live music, oh, and the base for the Street
Pastors. What a place. It has been tastefully restored, with many
original features, and serves a good half dozen real ales. My pint
<b>“Charles Henry Strange IPA”</b> a 5.5 Ale from <b>The
Navigation Brewery</b>,( which was <b>“Apus”</b> re-named, but
still as enjoyable) with my Half Pinter choosing the 3.9% <b>Brewster's
“Malt Cross Music Hall</b>” a light, hoppy session beer with good
bitterness throughout. Another interesting pub in this Great City.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i><u><b>The Approach</b></u></i>. Friar Lane.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Just a stagger away from our previous establishment is
this <b>Navigation Brewery</b> run Alehouse. It is modern, clean and
reasonably light, and there is a good selection of the brewery's
beers on, along with a couple of guests. The truth was, though, as it
was empty, apart from another 3 or 4 punters, it had no heart, and
this made it feel, somewhat, sterile. I think this is a place to be
on a weekend, filled with people, creating an atmosphere. The beer we
chose was a <b>Navigation </b>brew, <b>“New Dawn Pale Ale”</b> a
3.9% beer which was crisp, full of citrus and displayed a very dry
finish.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i><u><b>The Bell Inn.</b></u></i> Angel Row.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">This pub was very busy, and we had had plenty to drink
by this time. It is, also, the oldest pub in Nottingham., but not the
country (not sure how that works with Ye Olde Trip). My memories of
the beer in here are sketchy, I can remember ordering 2 halves, and
paying a shellfish vendor a fiver for some cockles, for charity, but
besides this, everything had become vague. I do know it was really
busy, I will have to visit again, sometime</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">It was now time to eat, and we decided on an Indian.
Wandering back towards the hotel, we made up our minds, with a bit of
help from a passer-by, that <i><b>Chutney</b></i>, right next door to
our Travelodge, was the place to be. Our starter, shared dips and
chippattis, were very tasty, and the Tikka Masala and Jalfrazi Rogan,
spot on, but the Peshwari Nan, oh, it was to die for. We kept cool
with <b>Kingfisher. </b>Sorry about the tablecloth, chaps,those dips
just dripped.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Friday.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Well, time to check out, do our last little bits, and
head home. After a JDW breakfast in the Joseph Else (without beer, I
do have limits), which overlooks the Market Place, and a visit to a
couple of shops, we went our separate ways for an hour.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i><u><b>The Barrel Drop</b></u></i><i><u>.</u></i>
Hurts Yard</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Well hidden down an alleyway, Nottingham City Centre's
only micro-pub is well worth discovering. The service is excellent,
and I could have stood there chatting about beers all day. Although
not a big pub, it has 3 distinct areas. If you visit the city, make
sure you pop in. I had a great pint of <b>Bedlam “Porter”</b>, a
smooth, dark chocolate flavoured beer, which caressed the palate on
the way down. The finish of this 4.5% beer was wonderfully
bitter-sweet. Great bar, great beer. </span>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i><u><b>The Company Inn</b></u></i><i><u>.</u></i>
Castle Wharf</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX0TYhu0X4IC-nB9hTtJphMG020sm2zFZXtUOMCCuSY6izd2Miuddl4RfP9fyXNGw6JJZZdyPChIE4edPlzQiWE5gFg84T5VYRNjcJsYps8myI3qinYoT_feYUsVkikLQoffdOr2ZtJFQ/s1600/20151113_134711.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX0TYhu0X4IC-nB9hTtJphMG020sm2zFZXtUOMCCuSY6izd2Miuddl4RfP9fyXNGw6JJZZdyPChIE4edPlzQiWE5gFg84T5VYRNjcJsYps8myI3qinYoT_feYUsVkikLQoffdOr2ZtJFQ/s200/20151113_134711.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unmissable canal side building.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;">A very busy JDW Lloyd's No1 bar near the canal. It
shares part of the former British Waterways building, and, although
unmistakably a “Spoons”, it is quite well appointed. We went for
the <b>Navigation “Wise Guy”</b> in here, a malty brew of 4%,
which has, after initial sweet berry hints, cinder toffee and citrus
drive it forward. The finish is slightly sweet, but increasingly dry.
A very good Bitter.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i><u><b>The Navigation Inn.</b></u></i> Wilford Street.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Just a stones throw from the Canal Street/Castle Wharf
area, but still overlooking the canal and towpath, is The Navigation.
A traditional pub, which has a “locals” feel about it, but is
extremely welcoming of visitors. There are 12 hand pumps on the bar,
all dispensing different beers. Music is on a times, and food is also
available. Our beers in here were “Pigs Might Fly”, Jenning's
3.9% Bitter, which had a good malt and toffee taste, and a satisfying
bitter finish. Jane really enjoyed this one. I went for a pint of
Marston's “Pedigree”, 4.5%. It tasted as Pedigree always does, to
be fair, slight sweetness, hint of citrus and a tickle of spice in
the finish. A reliable pint.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i><u><b>The Canalhouse (Re-visited)</b></u></i> Canal
Street.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">With an hour left before the train left for home, we
decided to pop back into the first pub we had visited, just over 48
hours previous. It was a bit busier in here today, but the staff
still as attentive and friendly. T'other 'Arf went for a steaming mug
of <b>Mulled Wine,</b> but I chose <b>“Midnight Owl”</b>, a
lovely complex and warming Black IPA of 5.5%, from the<b> Castle Rock
Brewery,</b> which was a pure delight to experience. I followed this
with a pint of<b> Dark Star “Partridge” </b>Best Bitter. This 4%
Ale has a nice sweetness, a touch of plum, I would suggest, and leads
to an uncomplicated bitter finish. Not spectacular, but satisfying.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">And that was the trip to Nottingham. <i><b>22 different
pubs</b></i> visited (not including Chutney & Joseph Else) <b>37
different beers</b> sampled and in excess of <b>33 pints</b> imbibed
between us. There are many, many more Real Ale pubbs in, and around,
the City. We may have only scratched the surface on our excursion. I
could now honestly answer the questions I started out with. No, It
wasn't the same place I visited years ago, it had grown up a bit,
matured a lot and, from being absolutely fantastic, it had, in my
eyes just got even better. We are hoping to return sometime in the
New Year, spend a little time in the pubs we really loved, and visit
some of those pubs we had listed, but not sadly missed out on.. Thank
You Nottingham, we can't wait until the next time.</span></div>
<br />
<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Cheers and keep it “Real”</span></div>
Steve Fosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06725444056654111446noreply@blogger.com0