Beer of the Week (w/e 2nd May 2021)

[ROBCamra]

:cheers:

[Bucking Fastard]

Petersham,Bishops Stortford,Hertford and Euston.

Siren -- White Session IPA* (c)
Twickenham -- Grandstand Bitter
Greene King -- Old Speckled Hen
St Austell -- Tribute
Oakham -- Inferno *
Howling Hops -- Blankets *
Five Points -- XPA * (3PT)
Northern Monk/INSA -- Faith in Futures *(can)
BrewDog -- Elvis Juice * (can)

BOTW goes to Oakham Inferno in superb nick in The Black Horse (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/14545/).I'm not finding much in the way of high ABV real ale options in the pubs I'm visiting but enjoyed several modest strength session ales during the week.

Next week boating through Leicestershire with the hope of finding some Blue Monkey ale,preferably strong.

[Tris39]

ELB's Cowcatcher
ELB's Peacock

Both consumed at The Flaneur's Arms between Kentish Town and Dartmouth Park. Cowcatcher pipped the Peacock to the winning line due to its increased strength and bitterness over sweetness.

[sheffield hatter]

Six pub visits last week. The Fat Cat on Tuesday for a session on the excellent Kelham Island Best Bitter 3.8%.

Wednesday it was very cold but I sat on a high chair in the most sheltered part of the Sheffield Tap's "beer garden", which is still not really sheltered. Tapped Mojo 3.6% still drinking well.

Friday I walked up to the Blake Hotel, which was quite busy - this necessitated juggling people and tables, which turned out quite well. First I was sat next to a former collegue of mine when I worked as a volunteer at Citizens Advice, who I hadn't recognised in his thick winter coat and woolly hat, and a friend of his. When they went, I was asked if I wouldn't mind a couple of young women joining me - they turned out to be a married couple in their 40s, with their dog. Beer was Beartown Kahuna 4.5%, which was pale and tasted of perfume, so I switched to Kirkstall Dissolution IPA 5.0%, which was great. (I've had this before when in Leeds, but there's something about the cellar at the Blake, or something, because this was a vastly superior beer from what I can recall.)

Saturday I called into the Wellington for a couple of swift pints before the evening session of the snooker. Neepsend Waimea 5.5% - another one with New Zealand hops, but at least it didn't taste of perfume. Quite a decent beer.

Sunday early doors I went to the Beer Engine (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/43058/) where they had Marble Bitter 4.0%, which I had enjoyed at the similarly named Beer House (about a mile away) a couple of weeks ago. Very nice beer garden with roofs attached to the benches - just as well, when a heavy and very localised shower came over. Later I went to the Blake again, managed to negotiate my way out of my initial place in the smokers shelter and sat with a couple of regulars that I know by sight but had never really had a proper chat to before. The super Neepsend Zephyr West Coast IPA 6.5% was on, and I had a half of keg Schlenkerla Fastbier 5.5% as a chaser. Then another Zephyr and a four-pint carry-out when closing time found plenty still left in the barrel; I paid £10 (plus £1 for the container) to save some at least from being thrown away.

Beer of the Week: Neepsend Zephyr West Coast IPA 6.5% but the Kelham Island Best was also top notch and ran it close, and an honourable mention for Kirkstall Dissolution IPA 5.0%.

[rpadam]

Then another Zephyr and a four-pint carry-out when closing time found plenty still left in the barrel; I paid £10 (plus £1 for the container) to save some at least from being thrown away.
A noble effort, at great personal sacrifice, just to help the pub out!

[Mobyduck]

Can
Siren Bones Of A Sailor*
Siren Granola Coaster*
Siren Scattered Light*

Cask
Salopian Shropshire Gold
Wantsum Yellowtail
Disruption Battle Royale Citra Slam*
Ilkley Mary Jane
Three Castles Mango Mania*
North Riding Mosaic Pale
North Riding Sabro Stout*
Fell Ghyll
Bowman Swift One*
Exmoor Gold*
Flowerpots Perridge Pale

Keg
Disruption How To Dress For The Apocalypse*

Pick of the week goes to North Riding Sabro Stout, smooth and luxuriant, sampled in The Nags Head (https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/1691/).

[sheffield hatter]

A noble effort, at great personal sacrifice, just to help the pub out!

Everyone's got to do their bit!

[trainman]

...managed to negotiate my way out of my initial place in the smokers shelter...
Hahaha, what form did these negotiations take Will? Table jumping, pecking order, regulars rights, requests for oxygen..?

[Thuck Phat]

Just the one pub visited (on several occasions):

Cask:
Oakham Bishops Farewell

Cans:
Oakham Citra T90
Vibrant Forest Pupa
Vibrant Forest Stone Sap
Marble Barley Wine 2018
Northern Monk New World IPA
Marble Berimbolo

No real contest as BOTW goes to Oakham Bishops Farewell. Utterly sublime and I still can't quite believe how good cask is relative to anything else.