Blog Tracker
30-09-2023, 13:31
Visit the Paul Bailey's Beer Blog site (https://baileysbeerblog.blogspot.com/2023/09/getting-ready-for-off-with-brief-taste.html)
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In less than a days’ time, we will be into October, the 10thmonth of the year despite the chronological mismatch of its name and, as ever I have to askthe question where has the year gone? The fact that as we grow older the yearsseem to fly by quicker, is just one of the cruel tricks that nature plays onus, but as there's little, we can do about it, we just have to do our best tomake full use of the time that we are given. I thought I'd been doing quitewell actually in this respect, until mid-August, having enjoyed days out, insome of Britain’s leading beer cities, as well as visiting some cracking pubs,closer to home.
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I had another trip scheduled for mid-August, in the form ofa well-planned, trip around some of the Black Country’s classics pubs. Then,less than a week away from my Black Country tour, COVID came knocking at mydoor, for the third time! (How did that happen?). Worse was to come as I ended up passing the virus onto Mrs PBT’s. I'm still not sure whether she has forgiven me, as what made thesituation worse was her testing positive on our wedding anniversary!
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To be honest, I'm still not sure what the fuss is about, becausewe don’t normally make a huge fuss in the Bailey household,over such anniversaries,in fact there have been times when both of us have forgotten the whole thingaltogether. Unfortunately, it's a convenient point to hang something on, and notsomething to argue against logically. So, in the interests of peace, harmony, andmarital bliss, I've been keeping my head down. Annoyingly I've missed out on several CAMRA bus trips, a Pubof the Year presentation, plus one of the best beer festivals around. This justhappened to be the launch of this year’s Kent Green Hop Beers Fortnight, whichtook place, as usual, at the Canterbury Food & Drink Festival. The event was missingfor a couple of years, due to COVID (what else?), so I was really lookingforward to its return, the other week.
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The launch of Kent Green Hop Beer Fortnight is one of thevery few festivals I attend these days, and as the weather is normally set fairat this time of year, the surroundings of Canterbury 's Dane John Gardens, makethe perfect setting for enjoying a few of these “one off” ales, brewed withfreshly picked hops. When there’s a touch of late autumn sunshine, to warm thehappy faces of festival goers, it makes for a fantastic day out. Small wonderthen it has always been one of my favourite events of this time of year.
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Getting around the country by train, hasn’t beenparticularly easy this year, due to the preponderance of rail strikes, andwhilst the trade unions involved are required by law to give a minimum of twoweeks’ notice, before walking it out, it does make long-term planning thatlittle bit harder, especially when it comes to buying Advanced Saver tickets,for long distance journeys. I don't want to say too much, but with bothgovernment and unions dug in, and neither side prepared to compromise, it lookslike this problem will effect Proper Day’s Out, for some time to come.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidoWt8iMJqiQ68Qxx88LQ42YtvtvjpqdiJ2yzceQmPg_ chZH38ZNWDjPEbSJgtM-rU0cQqB3DQarhiePNj2vP5OCZAe577_Z2zN_ElWH781UkYt3CE kN0LEqaXxSOaXSciQsAk1bb92yHhGPBnd_SlrA5aEFdXcF3vXK Ao9oBA6w_06A4dEixUZbGLVT8/w400-h225/IMG_20220618_091459.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidoWt8iMJqiQ68Qxx88LQ42YtvtvjpqdiJ2yzceQmPg_ chZH38ZNWDjPEbSJgtM-rU0cQqB3DQarhiePNj2vP5OCZAe577_Z2zN_ElWH781UkYt3CE kN0LEqaXxSOaXSciQsAk1bb92yHhGPBnd_SlrA5aEFdXcF3vXK Ao9oBA6w_06A4dEixUZbGLVT8/s4000/IMG_20220618_091459.jpg)
Now where was I? Keeping a low profile, as for some strangeand illogical reason, my good lady wife has it in her head, that public housesare one of the prime places for contracting COVID. She’s quite happy for me togo to work, and mix with colleagues, many of whom could potentially be carryingthe plague, but somehow, it's pubs that are the problem. Talk about femalelogic when a total lack of logic would be more appropriate!I’ve largely gone along with her concerns during the run-upto our cruise, which departs from Southampton in a couple of days’ time, butyesterday I had a few errands to run down the town. One of which was a verynecessary visit to the podiatrist, to sort out a couple of ingrowing toenails, thatwere giving me grief. With plenty of circuits around the promenade deck inmind, the last thing I want is to be hobbling around in agony.
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After my treatment, I called in at Sainsbury’s for a fewlast-minute bits and pieces, but also to pick up some Euros, for trips ashore.Mission accomplished, it was time for a beer, and despite Mrs PBT’s misgivings,I headed for Fuggles Beer Café at the top end of the High Street. I was awarefrom their website, that they had a couple of genuine Oktoberfest beers on tap.By genuine, I mean beers that are actually served at the main event in Munich.The festival itself draws to a close early next week, but the team at Fuggleshad managed to obtain all six Oktoberfest beers.The offerings from Paulaner and Hacker-Pschorr, were theonly two left, so not wishing to miss out completely, I entered Fuggles andmade my way to the bar. The place was relatively quiet for a Thursday afternoon,with bar staff nearly outnumbering customers, but after studying the blackboardlists behind the bar, I was pleased to see the two aforementioned beers werestill available, along with a couple of homegrown Oktoberfest beers.
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Torn between Paulaner and Hacker-Pschorr, I opted for a halfpint of each, and given that both had an abv of around 6%, this was probably a smart move. Imade the barman chuckle though, by saying I knew one was supposed to drinkthese beers by the litre, but could I just have just a half of each. He grinnedand poured them for me, making sure I knew which one was which. That was easybecause colour played a role with the Paulaner, being the traditional gold colour onewould expect, whilst the Hacker-Pschorr version was much more of an amber colour.
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This is because it is brewed with the characteristics of atrue Märzenbeer. As I explained in a previous article, (https://baileysbeerblog.blogspot.com/2023/09/wiesn-tragerl-from-kalea-real-bargain.html) Märzen was the style of beerserved at Oktoberfest until the mid-1970s, when lighter, golden coloured beersbecame the norm. It was interesting trying both styles side by side, as the Paulanerversion was definitely sweeter than the Hacker-Pschorr brew, but the letter wasprobably better balanced.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKB6HN6R16-ebS4wOGcBhXK7ZYlMuzkzeMf-FxiMX5C4_HtIiLuVBuUHOj3H9dJX5lBJLRPFH2jDgofDdNlqxs l98l5a6LAbfDcTDZxTjuf48FrYKlqyd76Rz0ohNQwsTUEsBkp6 dO6amlyoSDZKBoxkZHdfV_q6Gpdzw3qKnGwf0oELxTqoNzimAW B84/w300-h400/20170926_123352.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKB6HN6R16-ebS4wOGcBhXK7ZYlMuzkzeMf-FxiMX5C4_HtIiLuVBuUHOj3H9dJX5lBJLRPFH2jDgofDdNlqxs l98l5a6LAbfDcTDZxTjuf48FrYKlqyd76Rz0ohNQwsTUEsBkp6 dO6amlyoSDZKBoxkZHdfV_q6Gpdzw3qKnGwf0oELxTqoNzimAW B84/s4128/20170926_123352.jpg)
I enjoyed them both, but wondered what it would be likechugging back a litre of each. Pretty good I imagine, especially when swept upin the fervour of what is promoted is the world's largest Folk Festival. Picturesitting, side by side, at a long table, with a group of people, swaying along,singing, whilst at the same time knocking back those massive 1 litre Maβ glassmugs of beer. And, as we have already discussed, it isn’t just any beer that’sserved up in the festival tents, it’s those strong, 6% Fest bier specials, thatI had a brief taste of in Fuggles. I’m sure that the contents of those impressiveglass mugs would slide down a treat.It’s back to reality this morning, and the final packing forour cruise. We’ve a taxi booked for the morning (ouch!), but with the car stillin at the dealers, and son Matthew not particularly confident about motorway,or long-distance driving, we’ve had to bite the bullet, and go by cab. Dependent on wi-ficonnections, or data, I shall try and post from some of the destinations we dockup, but if not, there will be an awful lot of catching up to do upon my return.
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In less than a days’ time, we will be into October, the 10thmonth of the year despite the chronological mismatch of its name and, as ever I have to askthe question where has the year gone? The fact that as we grow older the yearsseem to fly by quicker, is just one of the cruel tricks that nature plays onus, but as there's little, we can do about it, we just have to do our best tomake full use of the time that we are given. I thought I'd been doing quitewell actually in this respect, until mid-August, having enjoyed days out, insome of Britain’s leading beer cities, as well as visiting some cracking pubs,closer to home.
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I had another trip scheduled for mid-August, in the form ofa well-planned, trip around some of the Black Country’s classics pubs. Then,less than a week away from my Black Country tour, COVID came knocking at mydoor, for the third time! (How did that happen?). Worse was to come as I ended up passing the virus onto Mrs PBT’s. I'm still not sure whether she has forgiven me, as what made thesituation worse was her testing positive on our wedding anniversary!
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To be honest, I'm still not sure what the fuss is about, becausewe don’t normally make a huge fuss in the Bailey household,over such anniversaries,in fact there have been times when both of us have forgotten the whole thingaltogether. Unfortunately, it's a convenient point to hang something on, and notsomething to argue against logically. So, in the interests of peace, harmony, andmarital bliss, I've been keeping my head down. Annoyingly I've missed out on several CAMRA bus trips, a Pubof the Year presentation, plus one of the best beer festivals around. This justhappened to be the launch of this year’s Kent Green Hop Beers Fortnight, whichtook place, as usual, at the Canterbury Food & Drink Festival. The event was missingfor a couple of years, due to COVID (what else?), so I was really lookingforward to its return, the other week.
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The launch of Kent Green Hop Beer Fortnight is one of thevery few festivals I attend these days, and as the weather is normally set fairat this time of year, the surroundings of Canterbury 's Dane John Gardens, makethe perfect setting for enjoying a few of these “one off” ales, brewed withfreshly picked hops. When there’s a touch of late autumn sunshine, to warm thehappy faces of festival goers, it makes for a fantastic day out. Small wonderthen it has always been one of my favourite events of this time of year.
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Getting around the country by train, hasn’t beenparticularly easy this year, due to the preponderance of rail strikes, andwhilst the trade unions involved are required by law to give a minimum of twoweeks’ notice, before walking it out, it does make long-term planning thatlittle bit harder, especially when it comes to buying Advanced Saver tickets,for long distance journeys. I don't want to say too much, but with bothgovernment and unions dug in, and neither side prepared to compromise, it lookslike this problem will effect Proper Day’s Out, for some time to come.
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Now where was I? Keeping a low profile, as for some strangeand illogical reason, my good lady wife has it in her head, that public housesare one of the prime places for contracting COVID. She’s quite happy for me togo to work, and mix with colleagues, many of whom could potentially be carryingthe plague, but somehow, it's pubs that are the problem. Talk about femalelogic when a total lack of logic would be more appropriate!I’ve largely gone along with her concerns during the run-upto our cruise, which departs from Southampton in a couple of days’ time, butyesterday I had a few errands to run down the town. One of which was a verynecessary visit to the podiatrist, to sort out a couple of ingrowing toenails, thatwere giving me grief. With plenty of circuits around the promenade deck inmind, the last thing I want is to be hobbling around in agony.
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After my treatment, I called in at Sainsbury’s for a fewlast-minute bits and pieces, but also to pick up some Euros, for trips ashore.Mission accomplished, it was time for a beer, and despite Mrs PBT’s misgivings,I headed for Fuggles Beer Café at the top end of the High Street. I was awarefrom their website, that they had a couple of genuine Oktoberfest beers on tap.By genuine, I mean beers that are actually served at the main event in Munich.The festival itself draws to a close early next week, but the team at Fuggleshad managed to obtain all six Oktoberfest beers.The offerings from Paulaner and Hacker-Pschorr, were theonly two left, so not wishing to miss out completely, I entered Fuggles andmade my way to the bar. The place was relatively quiet for a Thursday afternoon,with bar staff nearly outnumbering customers, but after studying the blackboardlists behind the bar, I was pleased to see the two aforementioned beers werestill available, along with a couple of homegrown Oktoberfest beers.
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Torn between Paulaner and Hacker-Pschorr, I opted for a halfpint of each, and given that both had an abv of around 6%, this was probably a smart move. Imade the barman chuckle though, by saying I knew one was supposed to drinkthese beers by the litre, but could I just have just a half of each. He grinnedand poured them for me, making sure I knew which one was which. That was easybecause colour played a role with the Paulaner, being the traditional gold colour onewould expect, whilst the Hacker-Pschorr version was much more of an amber colour.
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This is because it is brewed with the characteristics of atrue Märzenbeer. As I explained in a previous article, (https://baileysbeerblog.blogspot.com/2023/09/wiesn-tragerl-from-kalea-real-bargain.html) Märzen was the style of beerserved at Oktoberfest until the mid-1970s, when lighter, golden coloured beersbecame the norm. It was interesting trying both styles side by side, as the Paulanerversion was definitely sweeter than the Hacker-Pschorr brew, but the letter wasprobably better balanced.
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I enjoyed them both, but wondered what it would be likechugging back a litre of each. Pretty good I imagine, especially when swept upin the fervour of what is promoted is the world's largest Folk Festival. Picturesitting, side by side, at a long table, with a group of people, swaying along,singing, whilst at the same time knocking back those massive 1 litre Maβ glassmugs of beer. And, as we have already discussed, it isn’t just any beer that’sserved up in the festival tents, it’s those strong, 6% Fest bier specials, thatI had a brief taste of in Fuggles. I’m sure that the contents of those impressiveglass mugs would slide down a treat.It’s back to reality this morning, and the final packing forour cruise. We’ve a taxi booked for the morning (ouch!), but with the car stillin at the dealers, and son Matthew not particularly confident about motorway,or long-distance driving, we’ve had to bite the bullet, and go by cab. Dependent on wi-ficonnections, or data, I shall try and post from some of the destinations we dockup, but if not, there will be an awful lot of catching up to do upon my return.
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