A pub is for life not just for Christmas
Steady as you go...
Saltaire South Island
Thornbridge Jaipur IPA (B)
Ascot Gold Cup
3 Piers Manxman
Silver Brewhouse Independence APA
Wantsum Dynamo
Gloucester Dockend Dark
Triple fff Pressed Rat And Warthog
Flowerpots Perridge Pale
Oakham OPA
The Oakham beer was always going to win this weeks prize after sailing past the 3 pint test with ease in The Waggon & Horses on Saturday, That was until I tried the Gloucester Dockend Dark a stunningly good after work Porter this evening in The Alfred. BOTW.
"Everybody's got to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer."
-W.C.Fields
Happening to be in Central London on Saturday, and guessing that the whole city would have gone to the beach, I thought I would tackle some of the Bermondsey Beer Mile (knowing that a number of the small taprooms have yet to reopen).
My hunch was right, and most of of the open places were pleasantly busy rather than crowded, and one of my stops was London Beer Factory's The Barrel Project.
With about 20 different brews on offer - split between regulars from the brewery, barrel-aged specials from here, a guest from Hamerton and a Hawkes cider from almost next door - there was a huge range of choice.
I ended up trying the Motueka Kaupeka 'dry-hopped mixed fermentation saison', an extraordinary drink for 4.5% that one could easily have mistaken for a heavily oaked 14% chardonnay, and at £6.40 for a schooner certainly not an everyday purchase.
However, very memorable.
The last time I did the "Beer Mile" The Barrel Project was closed for one reason or another and didn't exist on my first tour, somewhere I'm keen to try.
"Everybody's got to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer."
-W.C.Fields
Friday's crawl reintroduced me to Thornbridge. Five pints of their Crackendale in the Hope And Union were much appreciated in the 25 degrees.
A very quiet week pub-wise,
Brass Castle - Session mini IPA
Rat - White Rat
Nomadic - Draug
Beatnikz Republic - Bass Hero
BOTW Rat - White Rat
Variety still not what it was but a better week:
Oakham Bishops Farewell*
Abbeydale Deception*
Hop Back Summer Lightening*
Byatt's Phoenix Gold
Everards Tiger
Titanic Plum Porter*
BOTW Abbeydale Deception. Perfect for a warm afternoon and easily went through the three pint test improving with each pint.
"Beer is food." Morse, Colin Dexter
A very quiet week
Northern Monk -- Faith (c)
BrewDog -- Punk IPA (c)
Tring -- Fanny Ebbs Summer Ale *
Harviestoun -- The Ivy Craft Lager (b)
BOTW goes unsurprisingly to Tring Fanny Ebbs on very fine form in The Woodman,previously unreviewed and within walking distance of where I live.
I dont normally rave about low ABV brown beer ,but this was very flavoursome for 3.8% with hints of honey and heather and helped reliquification in this heatwave darn sarf.
Next week navigating due north up the Oxford and Coventry Canals to sample the delights of Cov and the jewel of the Anker Valley (AKA Tamworth)
"Good people drink good beer" Hunter S Thompson
Kent:still very low profile.
Cask: Gun-Project Babylon Pale Ale 4.6%abv. Bronze APA.Stone fruit.The dreadful heat detracted from this, even though it was served from a cooled tap room.
Can (at home, via the 'fridge) Three Legs-Session IPA 4.8%.Hit the spot on an infernally hot Sunday. My BOTW.
"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.