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24-01-2014, 21:40
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The approach to The Wills O' Nats, Meltham


Back in March when I was invited to join this blog the powers that be suggested I should visit some of the Huddersfield country pubs I encounter during my cricket rambles.
Looking back nine months I discovered I had not featured a single country pub apart from some distant ones in Bradfield.
Last Saturday I set about trying to rectify that with a walk from Meltham Cricket Club - sadly no play just a crow giving the pitch the key test - to Linthwaite.


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My first port of call was the Wills O' Nats pub on Blackmoorfoot Road for some beer and food. I come here once or a twice a year and know they have usually have three guests on plus regulars like Black Sheep.
On the bar last Saturday was Partners Blonde 3.9%, Ossett Galaxy and Brew Company Hop Ripper 4.3%.
I sampled halves of all three.


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The name derives from William son of Nathaniel


I hadn't drunk Ossett for a while until just before Christmas when I'd been quite impressed with their British hopped beer Jester.
So I was keen to try the Galaxy first - it also being one of my favourite wonder hops of last year, or was it 2012?
As Timbo described earlier on this site, the beer is the first in Ossett's World Cup of Hops 2014 beer range, which features hops from different nations all at 4%.
Galaxy has been getting some good reviews on here and elsewhere. One of our readers described it in the comments section as "a great beer - one of the most enjoyable Ossett's for a while. Can't wait for the next!"
My half had a nice aroma and a pleasing first taste, soon leading to bittering.
Next was the Hop Ripper, a more golden coloured ale from Sheffield outfit The Brew Company. This was probably the best of the three I tried and another with a bitter finish. And it reminded me that I haven't been to The Brew Company's freehouse The Harlequin lately or the Riverside where they have a permanent beer on.


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'The Ultimate Burger'


The first two beers didn't last too long so I went for Partners Blonde from Dewsbury with my food.
I thought the pale beer was OK but it seemed a little bit thin as they say in beer speak circles.
But in hindsight I thought I’d drunk the beers the wrong way round. I should have started with the Partners sessioner, then the Ossett and finally had the Hop Ripper.
However as a burger accompaniment the Dewsbury beer worked perfectly fine.
I think the excellent food, the fire, its prime walking location and the good service are the best selling points of the Nats, a regular winner of Huddersfield CAMRA's rural pub awards.
With a stone floor around the hops bedecked bar, you can trudge in with your hiking boots or damp dog and nobody gives you a sniffy glance.
As I’d come out without a map, I asked helpful bar staff the best route to my next destination, The Sair.
I was given easy to follow directions. And two people also recommended I seek out Linfit’s Enoch’s Hammer, which sounded like a heavy ABV barley wine.
I didn't find it but more of that next time...


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