A pub is for life not just for Christmas
Hopper, in the Head of Steam in Sheffield. Didn't note who it was by though!
Good week for me, largely based on a long overdue return visit to Huddersfield.
North Riding - Mosaic.*
Stancill - Viceroy.
Empire - Moonraker's MILD.*
Kent - Pale.
Revolutions - The Colour of Spring.
Five Towns / Mill Valley - Joe The Lion.
Magic Rock - Ringmaster.*
Orkney - Northern Light.*
Lords - Chosen Man.
Timothy Taylor's - Dark MILD.
Sarah Hughes - Dark Ruby MILD.*
Oakham - The Experimentals.
Kirkstall / Verdant - Break Even.*
Wishbone - Base Ten.
Wilde Child - Mutiny Rising.*
Brewsmith - Nelson Sauvin.
Pomona Island - Stout.
Orkney - Raven.
As is usually the case in Huddersfield, the quality and choice of beers was excellent. However, the one that really stood out for me was the Break Even, a lovely juicy APA, sampled in The Grove.
'And where he supped the past lived still. And where he sipped the glass brimmed full' John Barleycorn, Carol Ann Duffy.
Soho , Stone and Stoke on Trent.
Fuller's -- London Pride
Magic Rock -- Saucery Session IPA * (can)
Brew Dog -- Lost Lager * (can)
Lymestone -- Foundation Stone
Titanic -- Forgotten Gold
Titanic -- Raspberry Wheat *
Titanic -- Iceberg *
Standout BOTW was Titanic Raspberry Wheat on excellent form in the Royal Exchange.The initial raspberry sweetness gives over to a balanced bitterness and then a beautiful dry finish which just demands another.Similar affect as Plum Porter ,which I always feel is a great winter drink,but the Raspberry Wheat is better suited to hot weather IMHO,has the 4.7% body to satisfy and is certainly my BOTY so far.Another big winner from Titanic.
Next week end month sessions which look quite crafty.
"Good people drink good beer" Hunter S Thompson
A visit to Glasgow and Perth gave this Scottish slant :-
Stewart Jack Back 3.7%
Fyne Ales Everyone Loves Mandarina 3.8%
Loch Lomond Southern Summit 4.0%
Brewdog Indie Pale (keg) 4.2%
Bellfield Lawless Village IPA 4.5%
Brewdog Instamatic IPA (keg) 4.5%
Knops California Common 4.6%
Brewdog Jet Black Heart (keg) 4.7%
Law Weekender Pils 5.0%
Electric Bear Whirly Bird 5.2%
Northern Monk Faith (keg) 5.4%
Brewdog Punk IPA (keg) 5.4%
Cromarty Rogue Wave 5.7%
Thornbridge Jaipur IPA 5.9%
Oakham Green Devil IPA 6.0%
Northern Monk Neapolitan (keg) 6.2%
Northern Monk Haze-Le-Nut (keg) 6.7%
Brewdog Death Of Spring (keg) 7.3%
The winner is the Oakham Green Devil as tried int the excellent State Bar (£3.70) and equally as good across the road in the Hengler's Circus JDW (£2.25). Of the keg options I would go for the Jet Black Heart which looked just like Guinness but tasted a whole lot better.
BOTW Oakham Green Devil
Kent:
Wantsum-Black Prince 3.9%abv:If all milds were as good as this, it wouldn't be a dying style.Delicious.
Kent-Pekko 4.5%abv:In the single hop pale ale series:initial herbal flowery hit,followed by berry fruit.
Ramsgate Brewery-Gadds No 5 4.4%abv:In the single hop pale ale series:initial herbal flowery hit,followed by berry fruit.
At the risk of repeating myself, my BOTW is Wantsum Black Prince.Pekko hops probably have little need of my support.
Limited scope for pub visiting in the coming week.
"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.