'And where he supped the past lived still. And where he sipped the glass brimmed full' John Barleycorn, Carol Ann Duffy.
Kent:
Canterbury Ales-US Pale 4.7%abv.Zesty citrus pale ale.Nettley hops.
McCann's-Hukins Pale 4.1%abv.Tired,berry fruit.
Goacher's -Fine Light Ale 3.7%abv.Impeccable Tovil goodness, taken at Bell & Jorrocks, my regular Christmas Eve noontide haunt.
However my BOTW is a bottle of Dark Star's iteration of Gales Prize Old Ale 9%abv,taken on Christmas Eve in company of our son and son in law.We were all bowled over by this iconic Stock Old Ale's depth of fruitcake perfection.
"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.
Hampshire/Surrey
Cask
Siren Yu Lu
Siren Recurring Dream*
Roosters Yankee*
Animal Hop Kitty*
Animal Seahorse
Black Iris Madagascan Porter
Little Critters Christmas Quackers
Marble Pint
Electric Bear Trendy Is Obsolete
Wantsum Kazbek
Disruption Shadow Of Darkness*
Keg
Siren Cold Blooded Christmas*
New Bristol/Elusive Pastel De Nata Stout*
Marble Precipice Trail*
Boon Geuze Boon 2 Year Old Aged
Double Barrelled Diamonds In The Water*
Guinness
In second place is Siren Cold Blooded Christmas edged out by their neighbour, Elusive in collaboration with New Bristol Brewery , Pastel De Nata Stout inspired by a Portuguese tart and featuring Tonka beans and spicy vanilla custard flavours at 7% was rich, delicious and moreish. Taken in my most visited pub of the week (and near future) The Borough Beer House.
Last edited by Mobyduck; 27-12-2023 at 23:46.
"Everybody's got to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer."
-W.C.Fields
Limited choice this week so a bottle takes the honours: BOTW Titanic Plum Porter Grand Reserve pairing beautifully with Christmas pudding and rum sauce on the big day.
"Beer is food." Morse, Colin Dexter
Watford,Hoxton,Hackney Wick,Gospel Oak and Croydon.
Mad Squirrel -- London Porter
Meantime -- Anytime IPA (keg)
Five Points -- Derailed Porter * (sampled in two pubs)
Cloudwater -- Fuzzy *
Howling Hops -- IPA *
Howling Hops -- Sour Puss *
Tacoma -- American Pale Ale *
Squark -- Hoatzin IPA *
Forest Road -- Ride*
Verdant -- Light Bulb (keg)
By the Horns -- Hopadelic
By the Horns -- Diamond Geezer * (3PT)
Some surprisingly good quality in the week before Xmas with BOTW going to Squark Hoatzin IPA,dangerously drinkable 6% taken in an old favourite,The Southampton Arms.
Next week two doses of footie and a pub selection meeting,a good way to round off the drinking year.
"Good people drink good beer" Hunter S Thompson
A limited week, the best selection served by a sub-standard 'spoons due to nothing else being open on Christmas Eve:
Timothy Taylor - Landlord **½
Twickenham - Naked Ladies **½
BOTW goes to Twickenham - Winter Warmer **¾ at The White Swan (JD Wetherspoon).