Seven Cs of Rye...

It seems like I'm making a monthly trip to Rye nowadays, which is a good thing, and to the Rye Waterworks again, at Tower Street TN31 7AT, and which I've adopted as my 'local' in Rye. There was the usual pleasant company, including new faces as ever, and the friendly service of father & son team, David and Eddie.

Inside (above), and as I've explained before, the ever-changing furniture, posters and pictures, and curios, every trip is like entering a different pub, as everything not nailed down is for sale!

And the 8 real ales available listed to the left of the board (above), and a similar number of ciders to the right. Why have I named this the Seven Cs of Rye? Well, I was stuck for a pun, and can't be far off having seven hops used among the 8 ales on offer, with names beginning with C! Cannot be certain, because not all brewers tell you what hops they use, but certainly at least 4 of the following hops were used: Calypso, Cascade, Centennial, Chinook, Citra, Columbus and Comet, well I can dream...

Bar to the right

I mostly drank the Old Dairy Uber Brew, 3.8%, and lovely and hoppy (includes use of the hops Citra, Chinook, and Equinox), quite frankly, this is one of the best session pale golden bitters on the market, and very local too. I also had a pint of the 4.2% Old Dairy Simcoe IPA (let me down on the hops used obviously!). This was unfined, so suitable for vegans, and a hazy amber colour, a bit too sweet for me, plenty of caramel from the malt, with a slightly nutty finish, and surprisingly very dry in the finish. Yes, I also tried a pint of the Rother Valley Brew 3500, which I guess is their 3500th gyle, or brew, but it wasn't mentioned on their website when I looked just now. Presumably why it's a 3.5% ale, copper colour, slightly nutty, with a hint of roasted malt, indeed, a very decent traditional style bitter.

As you can see in the photograph above this one, situated at the far end of the bar, tee shirts are now on sale for £10 each, and the photograph immediately above is the one I took home with me, cheers David and Eddie!

I shall return...