"At that moment I would have given a kingdom, not for champagne or hock and soda, or hot coffee but for a glass of beer" Marquess Curzon of Kedlestone, Viceroy of India.
Definitely! I'm going back a long way when in the 1970a Ruddles provided a huge buffet in the Sun at Cottesmore and in the 1990s McMullens provided a sit down meal. Anyone remember Paines of St Neots? Their beer was usually crap even then let alone in today's climate. The two I miss the most are King & Barnes and Brakspear but I must mention Young's even though they did start trashing their pubs in the late 1970s (the Windmill on Clapham Common springs to mind). The one I most wanted to go to but didn't was Adnam's.
I rather enjoyed Paines-it reminded me of midland rivers-deep and mysterious. Mind you, the long journey from Norwich via Cambridge and the double decker buses probably added to the experience. The brewery visit that I most enjoyed was to the former Carlisle State brewery when it was briefly owned by T and R Theakston. I think the beer consumed was a Theakston's recipe, rather than a Carlisle State, but it was highly drinkeable in a northern manner, though I rather think it was on gravity dispense. At that time, even poor Theakston's knocked Scottish and Newcastle into a cocked hat.
"At that moment I would have given a kingdom, not for champagne or hock and soda, or hot coffee but for a glass of beer" Marquess Curzon of Kedlestone, Viceroy of India.
Only been on one brewery tour to Windsor and Eton brewery organised by my then local and the beer on cask was free.It was warm and terrible. Fled to the nearest pub serving their beer and got a couple of great condition pints.This was the first year they opened so might be better now.
Tell a lie.Iwas also at a brewery tour in a theme park in Florida.They gave us a blind tasting of their bottled brewery fresh beer and one that had been kept in a warm oven overnight.I picked the oven fresh beer. It was Anheuser Busch so I think I can be forgiven.
Last edited by london calling; 14-09-2016 at 21:10.