a swift one - Pictish, Pictish and more Pictish !!

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This weekend, visitors to the Rat and Ratchet in Huddersfield have been treated to one of those occasions that only occurs once, (or twice) in a blue moon. Rubbing shoulders with the regular selection of Ossett beers we had the choice of 4 Pictish beers as well. We often see Pictish beers about in the town, after all they are only brewed over the hill in Rochdale but rarely do we get chance to contrast and compare several of their range at the same time.

On the bar when I called in, were their single hopped 'Centennial', 4.5% and full of spicy hop flavours, and very moreish. This was supported by 'Samhain Stout'; a very good example of the style and brewed as a Halloween special, get it while you can. Their regular 'Brewers Gold' was also there, another single hopped beer but weaker than Centennial and a good session bitter. However the star of the show, if that's not a contradiction in terms, was their 'Blue Moon'.


I was intending to sound really clever and explain why they brewed 'Blue Moon' and when it as brewed. I have checked various websites and I now more baffled than ever, so suffice it to say that it was originally brewed to celebrate the second full moon in a calendar month, according to the Pictish website, so I assume they know what they are talking about. They first brewed it in 2001 so it has been around a while, but nevertheless is still worth searching out. It is 6%, brewed in the style of an IPA but with a subtle ,spicy hoppiness that almost forces you back for another pint, and another,and......


Anyway, I managed to drag myself away from the Rat and went down the hill,(not downhill as you may be assuming after the previous paragraph!!) to the Star. What was sitting proudly at the end of the bar to taunt me ? You have guessed, more 'Blue Moon' . May be this is the new definition, the same beer on in two pubs less than a few hundred yards apart. Or would that be 'Twice In a Blue Moon' . I don't really care. It was just a chance to sample one of the best beers around in two of the best pubs around. What more can you ask !!
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