Happy New Year!

A miserable end to 2022, with rain and gale force winds the harbinger for the new year in Britain? I can't say anything other than 2022 was a miserable year, with the biggest major war in Europe beginning in February, and millions of refugees and thousands of deaths the result. Not to forget, economically, the return of high worldwide inflation.  Millions are having to survive without food, clean running water, light and heating, and not just in the developing world, but in Europe, because of the paranoid or megalomaniac designs of an individual. We thought the world had changed following 1945, at least in Europe, but not so, it appears.

And, despite my hope a year ago that we may return to some sort of normality and the defeat of Covid-19 before another year would be out, there are still millions in Britain and beyond suffering from the disease, indeed, a friend was ill with it earlier this week. Not great times indeed...

But I trust that things will improve in 2023, and I wish to share my hope for peace and true goodwill to ale drinkers, and everyone worldwide, fingers crossed...

Cheers!

Merry Christmas!

I am presently drinking I'm Dreaming of a Brown Christmas brewed by my mate Rick way up in Scotland, which I received via Royal Mail a few days ago. Very dark red/brown, loadsa body at a healthy 8.0% and with chocolate, hints of liquorice and coffee, very nice indeed, cheers!

Seasons Greetings!

OK, I admit to mostly copying this from my other blog, but appropriate here too.

Things are certainly better than for the previous 2 Christmases, despite the dreaded COVID-19 still hanging around, vaccinations appear to have done the trick, fingers crossed! But please let us all have a good and happy season and enjoy ourselves as much as we can, remembering others too. 

I give thanks to all those who have helped us to survive these last two years, too many to mention individually, but including all the keyworkers, the drivers and carers, those working in the emergency services, the police, fire fighters, ambulance staff and paramedics, the NHS, doctors, nurses, other health professionals and ancillary staff, the brave crews and volunteers of the RNLI lifeboat service, and not forgetting the scientists who helped develop the vaccines to rid us of the cause of distress and illness caused by the pandemic... Respect!

Finally, I wish to share my best wishes with you, and peace and goodwill to all, whatever one's beliefs, let's continue to work together folks. 👌

And cheers!

Stacey Marie (facebook page) sends her regards too! 😉

A Seasonal Message...

A very pertinent seasonal message, and made me giggle a wee bit, with many thanks to Planet Beer, be careful and stay safe folks, cheers!

Bridge Inn, Topsham plus another Brewery going, going...

This blog was stimulated on reading the Winter 2022 issue of the CAMRA magazine BEER, which includes an article about statutory protection of pubs in England; the article mentions 2 pubs that I have visited regularly in the past, one of which is The Bridge Inn, Bridge Hill, Topsham EX3 0QQ. My first trip to The Bridge Inn was in 1985, when I visited in the old days of different opening hours in the countryside, with similar hours to Exeter (I was working for Exeter Health Authority), in the summer (Summer Opening), but closing earlier at night from the end of the summer holidays. Anyway, fewer evening hours when I went with my girlfriend of the time, and future ex-wife Julie, presumably she knew about the pub and encouraged me to go. 

Anyway, a bit of a first when I visited, something I'd never seen before, mostly because my earlier drinking had not been in free houses, a BEER MENU. How excited I was, written up on a board, I can't remember how many ales they sold, but somewhere between 8 and 10! Now it appears, from their facebook page, that they have 7 ales; recently including mild and dark ales from West Country brewers Teignworthy (website) and Pitchfork (website), plus more paler ales, eg from Powderkeg (website). The other lovely thing was, they go to the cellar to pour the ales straight from the cask into the glass and bring them back to the customer, and I've always been dead impressed with ales delivered by gravity ever since, cheers!

This 16th century pub has been in the ownership of the same family since 1897, and what a great job they've done to keep it such a homely place to visit. My first visit was in midweek, in the early Autumn, and it was very quiet, with only us 2 and a couple of farmers in the room. I seem to remember a roaring fire, although they appear to have a stove (above, photo from their facebook page, cheers!). Although we weren't listening to the other 2 customers in the room (we were in the 'getting to know' you phase of our relationship), we couldn't understand much of what they were saying, they were speaking that fast and with heavy Devonian country accents; I'd only been living in Devon for a couple of months, but now I'd really arrived... 😉

As you can see from the top photograph (many thanks to Building Design), the pub isn't that small, although it is very homely. When I was living in Exeter, they used to open up a much larger bar/room in the summer/when more customers were there, and they served ales from handpumps in that bar. My brother, Dan, came down and stayed with us once (more than once actually) when he was attending a friend's wedding in Topsham. We drove him to The Bridge Inn to meet up with other friends of his who were also attending the wedding, and he was dead impressed with the pub too. However, what I'm getting at is that it is a wonderful old pub selling excellent ales from West Country brewers, and I do need to make a return very soon!

Not so great news though, as the Cumbrian brewer Jennings (website, and cheers for image above), which was bought out by Marston's in 2005, has stopped brewing, despite their history going back to 1828, and from 1874 at the current site, just 2 miles away from their origin. Another larger brewery switching the brewing of its subsidiary's beers to another of its sites sadly (News & Star), presumably another accountant's decision. 😞

Cheers for now folks!

Sad News that Dark Star won't be brewed in Sussex...

Since Fullers took over Sussex brewery Dark Star, we saw early problems when Fullers tried to brew Hophead at their West London Griffin Brewery to maximise production. Subsequently, brewing of Dark Star's full range of ales was returned to Partridge Green in West Sussex (website). Then Japanese giant Asahi took over Fullers (blog), and a little under 4 years later, the sad news is that the brewery at Partridge Green is to be closed down, maybe we should have seen that coming, it shouldn't be a revelation...

Because the brewery at Partridge Green is operating "significantly below capacity" it is to be closed down (not increase output there) and the brewing of Dark Star's range of beers is be moved to another Asahi acquisition Meantime Brewery in South East London. A spokesperson for Asahi suggests that the Dark Star beers will remain 'exactly as they are today' being brewed to the same recipe, but we all know what happens when beers are brewed away from their origins and water supply, 'tis not promising. A good short history of Dark Star Brewing and details of this sad news was written by Jessica Mason at the drinks business, worth reading.

Not great news, but it's what happens when accountants take charge... 😢

New Brewery Taproom near Rye opens 29th October!

I've been looking forward to writing this blog, and today is the day when David's brewery taproom opens to the public (details further down), that is, the Rye Waterworks micropub (website), which has already been brewing its own ale as a 'cuckoo' brewery, will be opening its own microbrewery and taproom! But, of course, I had to visit the pub itself earlier this week, so I shall start off with a chat about that visit. If you know nothing about the Rye Waterworks (above), and the building's 300 years history, please read a blog I wrote soon after the pub opened 4 years ago, oh yes, and the address is Tower Street (corner with Rope Walk), Rye, East Sussex TN31 7AT.

You will notice I drank some cider (above), but I started off with 3 local pale ales, and I say local because all 10 beers, and more than that number of ciders, sold here are locally produced! I drank 2 session ales, the 3.7% Three Legs Pale #3 (website), brewed with Columbus and Cascade hops providing a citrus aroma and taste, and the 3.8% Romney Session IPA (website), brewed with Simcoe, Citra and Mosaic hops, surprisingly malty considering the hops used! My favourite ale of the day was the stronger gluten free 'vegan friendly' 4.6% Gun Project Babylon APA (website), brewed with a "combination of American Hops" to produce a clear pale ale, despite what the blurb says, zesty citrus aroma and taste, refreshing, and very good indeed!

To the cider, well I didn't drink any of the stronger ciders this time (up to 8.4% - blog), nope, I left the place relatively sober. 😉 But I did have a pint of the excellent cider in the photograph above, as you can see, pale and very clear, the mere 5.8% Earl's Reserve Still Cider, made from Russet apples grown on their own 100 acre farm in Matfield, near Tonbridge in Kent, where they've been growing apples since 1964, that is Charrington's (website). What can I say, crisp and refreshing and so easy to drink, now this is apple juice!

So, to the promise suggested in the headline, and a taproom for the Rye Waterworks Microbrewery opens today, just outside Rye at The Old Dairy, Rye Road, Playden, East Sussex TN31 7UL. The photographs above are shared from their facebook page, and are of the bar, you may have guessed 😏 and they shall be selling their own session bitter URYEnal, a pun on the pub's history, and which is very drinkable and was brewed at Romney Brewery, plus other drinks of course! They should be brewing at their own brewery within a couple of weeks, and...

They will be open from 2.00-7.00pm today (29th October) and 12.00-5.00pm tomorrow (Sunday).

Then, Fridays 3.00-7.00pm; Saturdays 2.00-7.00pm; Sundays 12.00-5.00pm.

My best wishes and good luck to David and Ulla and their colleagues, cheers!

'tis the Season for Green Hopped Ales!

If you aren't already aware, green hopped ales are brewed using fresh hops, ideally picked and added to the brew on the same day, and thus usually very seasonal, unless someone like the excellent Oakham Ales (website) pull off a masterful plan (blog)! But not this October, not for me anyway, however, I have had 3 green hopped ales so far, and all very good too...

I think Ilkley Brewery up in Yorkshire (website) narrowly was my favourite, but a miniscule difference between the 3 very good ales! This was their 4.3% Harley Quinn, with Harlequin hops added to the mash on the 23rd of September, the day after they were picked at Charles Faram of Malvern (website) who developed this hop, bred from Godiva hops, with the Charles Faram Hop Development Programme. They suggest peach, pineapple and passion fruit in the aroma and flavour, and I certainly noticed the peach and pineapple, my notes say "tropical fruit flavours" and a bit sweetish at first taste, but drying out with a nutty bitterness to finish. Oh yes, it is a pale ale, 'Green Hop Pale' noted on the pumpclip, and was very pleasant indeed!

I first became aware of green hopped ales because of the annual Kent Green Hop Beer Festival (website) that I keep promising myself I should attend! So why am I including a photograph, incidentally shared on the Angels & Demons facebook page, of a Hukins of Tenterden (website) hop field? Well, on that facebook page they state that they collected fresh Challenger hops on the 6th of September from Hukins to add to the brew mashed in that morning, so I'm guessing! To the ale... This was their 3.2%, so very much a session ale, Lillibet, and the photograph is of hop fields because I could find no photograph of a pumpclip anywhere! Lillibet is a dry pale golden ale with a hint of fruit to the taste, and I added a question mark in my notes as I couldn't state specifically the flavour, but with a particularly dry bitter finish, nice one!

The third green hopped ale was from the very local to me, Lakedown Brewing of Burwash in East Sussex (website), using freshly picked Bramling Cross hops from A Bushel of Hops (website), whose family have been growing hops 'for generations' in the High Weald of Sussex and Kent. Bramling Cross hops are described as possessing hints of lemon and a spicy blackcurrant main taste, and again I had trouble picking out the precise fruity aroma and taste; using freshly picked, not dried, hops provides a wholly different perspective! Kicking Donkey, a 4.8% 'Green Hop Pale' with hints of fruit and a dry bitter finish, was pretty good indeed, maybe this was my favourite of the three really? Shame I didn't try them all on the same day...

Oh well, research is a hard job, but someone has to do it, cheers! 😉

Pale Rider back at the Fat Cat very soon!

OK, I have been going on about this quite a bit lately, but no surprise really, I was in Sheffield last week, used to work at Kelham Island Brewery (website) when I was a postgrad student studying and living in Sheffield, have brewed, delivered and drunk Pale Rider, indeed I lived in Sheffield for 16 years and still return regularly! So it is a big thing to me, and for many others no doubt, that Pale Rider (5.2%) will be on sale again from next Wednesday the 19th of October 2022 at The Fat Cat, 23 Alma Street, Sheffield S3 8SA (KIB facebook), nice one, cheers! 🍺

Autumnal Sheffield Day 2

After a morning walk, and before heading off for lunch, I visited 2 pubs where I used to be sure I would meet someone I knew, staff and customers, the KitCat that is. First the Kelham Island Tavern, 62 Russell Street S3 8RW (website). Built in the 1830s, the Kit was a derelict building when Trevor and Lewis took it over, refurbished it, and reopened it in 2002, and it became the 'best real ale pub' in the country. Indeed, they won the National CAMRA Pub of the Year in 2008 and 2009, and have won many other awards before and since! Although now retired, I believe Trevor still owns the property, but now managed by others, and still winning awards.

I wasn't that surprised not to know any of the regulars present when I walked in, nor the barman, as it's been a few years since I lived in Sheffield.  Anyway, I was there for a pint, so had a great ale from the local Blue Bee Brewery (website), their Triple Hop (4.3%), brewed with Citra, Mosaic and Ekuanot hops. It was hoppy, with a citrus aroma and taste, pale golden, with a very dry and bitter finish, great stuff! Indeed, when I was here earlier this year (blog) I had their American 5 Hop Version 53 (4.3%), hard to go wrong with Blue Bee Brewery! 

Just around the corner, and the second pub was the Cat, or The Fat Cat (website), 23 Alma Street S3 8SA. The pub was an original in Sheffield when it was bought as the Alma in 1981 by Dave Wicket and his business partner Bruce to provide an alternative to the big brewers, providing an outlet for independent brewers. After separating their business interests, Dave continued with the pub and set up a microbrewery in a shed behind the pub in 1990, Kelham Island Brewery (see my blog from yesterday). I didn't see anyone I know there either, not staff or customer, though I believe Di still works there and looks after the cellar.

However, I did have a good chat with the barmaid, a very friendly young woman from Ukraine, good English, and probably happy to improve her spoken English and expand her vocabulary too. Anyway, no Kelham Island ales here yet, so I had a pint from a small Sheffield microbrewer, Grizzly Grains (facebook), their 4.0% Pacifica, a New Zealand Pale Ale, yes, using Pacifica hops (also called Pacifica Hallertau), did what it says, I imagine, but I wasn't too impressed, and was too busy chatting to make any notes, sorry! 😕

I did then eat at Mama's & Leonies again (see my last blog), with the same staff make-up and excellent warm chicken and bacon salad, before meeting up with a couple of great mates, Jeff Macdonut and Lindsay, at the newish Perch Brewhouse, 44 Garden Street SE1 4BJ (facebook). Plenty of blether, of course, and ale too, oh yes, and they have an impressive selection of Belgian beers in one of their fridges. But to their ales, and their brewery is called the Dead Parrot Brew Company, 2 of whose ales I had a pint of:

I had a pint of their very easy to drink Clement, a 3.9% session Blonde ale, brewed with Aurora and Simcoe hops, not bad at all. But their 4.8% Ashen was something else, pretty damn good! Unsurprisingly, with more body and flavour from the hops used, Aurora again, but with Centennial hops too, I must return for more of this when next in Sheffield.

The 3 of us then walked up to meet Will at The Bath Hotel (whatpub - couldn't find a website), 66-68 Victoria Street S3 7QL, my second visit in 2 days and another great welcome from Brian. Obviously more friendly discourse was shared, and more Thornbridge (website) Jaipur (5.9%) imbibed by me, Chinook, Centennial, Ahtanum, Simcoe, Columbus and Cascade. I'm rarely disappointed by this pale, dry, hoppy bitter, quality!

We parted ways with Jeff and Lindsay, and Will, who is more into traditional bitters, not so much pale hoppy bitters, then suggested we visit 2 more pubs to his liking, and 2 pubs that I did used to visit when I lived in Sheffield, notably to watch football on tv. Anyway, the first one was The Grapes, 80 Trippet Lane S1 4EN (website). I didn't make notes of my drinking at either of these 2 pubs, both well known for Guinness, so I obviously knocked back an easy drinking traditional bitter of some sort, cheers Will! 

The second pub Will and I visited was the nearby Dog & Partridge, 56 Trippet Lane S1 4EL (facebook), where we drank beer of some sort. 😉 Afterwards I returned to my temporary abode at The Crow Inn (see previous blog), where, coincidentally, Dave Szwejkowski, aka Dave Unpronounceable (guest blog), was drinking at the bar, small world, good night and cheers!

Incidentally, The Crow Inn is the Sheffield CAMRA Pub of the Month for October, and had been nominated by Dave Szwejkowski, great stuff, congratulations!

Autumnal Sheffield Day 1 PLUS Kelham Island Update

Whenever I visit Sheffield I visit Mama's and Leonies (website), 111/115 Norfolk Street, Sheffield S1 2JE (0114 272 0490), just down the road from the famous, for snooker fans particularly, Crucible Theatre, and around the corner from the Winter Gardens. Again, many familiar friendly faces working there (Kath & John, Tracey, and chefs Jason and James) and pleasant discourse shared of course. Foodwise? Had to have my favourite Warm Chicken & Bacon Salad and a half carafe of red wine of course. Always excellent, plenty of healthy stuff in there, and never fails to please me, well sated, many thanks! Then to...

My abode for 2 nights, The Crow Inn, 33 Scotland Street S3 7BS (website), within walking distance so not far away. The Crow Inn reopened over 3 years ago after quite a few years closure, and has 7 refurbished en suite bedrooms. It also sells quite a few interesting ales. As when I last was here (blog) I had a pint from Abbeydale Brewery (website), a beer originally brewed to be dispensed as a keg beer 6 years ago. I drank cask conditioned ale of course, their Heathen American Pale Ale (4.1%), a very drinkable ale of its style, and just £3.50 a pint.

I returned there at the end of the evening, as one would if one was staying there, like me, and sampled another ale for my nightcap, from the Newcastle brewery Almasty (website). This was their 3.9% Amarillo & Blanc (Amarillo and Hallertau Blanc hops) at £4.20 a pint, pale, fruity and cloudy, presumably for vegans. "Not bad" was how I noted it, but then, I'm not particularly fond of un-fined ales, though many people rave over them.

Anyway, after my early pint there I wandered up into the city centre to meet up with Brigitte, Ian and Noel at The Beehive, 240 West Street S1 4EU (facebook), which used to be a 'Firkin' pub in the late 1990s, then renowned for its excellent milds. stouts and porters. But here I drank ale from the Barnsley brewer Acorn (website), their 4.0% Blonde, which does what it says on the label, well balanced pale and refreshing, I liked it, after that pint we moved on to...

Heading towards Brammall Lane, we popped into The Washington, somewhere it's been a while since I've visited, and once co-owned by the Pulp drummer Nick Banks, 79 Fitzwilliam Street S1 4JP (website). I think I may have had a pint of Abbeydale Moonshine at £3.90 a pint, but don't hold me to that, maybe a guest ale, as I didn't take notes, silly me! 😁

Anyway, after the match, Ian and I walked back up to The Bath Hotel (whatpub - couldn't find a website), 66-68 Victoria Street S3 7QL, now back in the warm custodianship of the great man himself, Brian. Indeed, one of my favourite regular haunts when I lived in Sheffield, and I was greeted by the smiling face of Brian and warm handshakes galore, great that he's back! Obviously warm discourse was shared, live folk music listened to, and a couple of excellent pints drunk too. Maybe I shouldn't have, but I drank the quality ale that is Thornbridge (website) Jaipur (5.9%), packed with hops, ie Chinook, Centennial, Ahtanum, Simcoe, Columbus and Cascade. I wasn't disappointed, pale, dry, hoppy and strong, quality!

Oh yes, and Kelham Island Brewery (website), of which which I recently wrote about it's being saved from oblivion (blog), and I did promise an update when I had more information. Well, they got back in touch with me and explained that the brewery building wasn't included in the deal with the local consortium that is now Kelham Island Brewery, but they will be brewing their ales at Thornbridge Brewery, and, I believe, Pale Rider is already being/been brewed. So look out for it, you lucky Sheffield people you, cheers! 👌

Hastings Tap Takeover 2022 This Weekend!

This weekend, Friday 7th to Sunday 9th, is the 2022 Hastings Tap Takeover (website), which, in effect, means that there is a beer festival, but at 15 different venues in Hastings & St Leonards, East Sussex, with each venue having its 'taps' taken over by a different independent brewery!

I'll list the breweries below in alphabetical order, as the organisers have on their website, with the corresponding bar/pub, opening times will be different so check with the venue. Cheers!

Abyss (website) of Lewes will be at The Piper, 1 Norman Road TN37 6NH (facebook).

Arbor (website) of Bristol at The Tower, 251 London Road TN37 6NB (facebook).

Beak (website) of Lewes at Collected Fictions, Unit 1, 6-8 London Road TN37 6AE (Nicelocal).

Drop Project (website) of Mitcham at The Seadog, 32 Station Road TN34 1NJ (website).

Floc (website) of Canterbury at The Imperial, 119 Queens Road TN34 1RL (website).

Good Chemistry (website) of Bristol at The Jenny Lind, 69 High Street TN34 3EW (website).

Hand (website) of Worthing at The St Leonard, 16-18 London Road TN37 6AN (website).

Only With Love (website) of Uckfield at The Crown, 64-66 All Saints Street TN34 3BN (website).

Overtone (website) of Glasgow at Eel & Bear, 28 Waldegrave Street TN34 1SJ (website).

Pig & Porter (website) of Tunbridge Wells at the Albion, 33 George Street TN34 3EA (website).

Pohjala (website) of Estonia at The Jolly Fisherman, 3 E Beach Street TN34 3AR (website).

Revolutions (website) of Castleford at 1200 Postcards, 80 Queens Road TN34 1RL (facebook).

Sureshot (website) of Manchester at The Courtyard, White Rock TN34 1JA (website).

Track (website) of Manchester at Heist Market, 22-26 Norman Road TN37 6NH (website).

Verdant (website) of Penryn at The Marina Fountain, 26 Caves Road TN38 0BY (website).

Cheers!

 

Kelham Island Brewery Saved!

Further to my recent blog about the closure of Kelham Island Brewery, well good news for once, as the brewery and its ales have been saved by a Sheffield-based consortium, so Pale Rider will be available again, reasonably soon, I presume. I've sent off a few messages, and will be in Sheffield very soon so can ask around whilst there, any further information I discover as to where it will be brewed etc, I shall share as it becomes know, nice one, cheers!

They still hold their facebook page and website, and I'll cut & paste the message on the facebook page that explains the news (below), and this page written by Pete Brown is great too!

Kelham Island Brewery lives!

With huge excitement and a real sense of responsibility we're delighted to announce that a group of like-minded Sheffield individuals have joined together to ensure that the beers of Kelham Island Brewery will live on.

When we first heard the news about the closure in May we were as shocked and saddened as everyone that such a key part of Shefflield’s brewing heritage was to disappear. We couldn't imagine a time when we wouldn't be able to pop into the Fat Cat in Kelham Island for a pint of Pale Rider.

James O'Hara, venue owner and Tramlines co-founder and his team have joined up with Thornbridge Brewery to ensure that this fantastic heritage lives on. Thornbridge have a rich history and relationship with Kelham Island Brewery, the first ever beers brewed at Thornbridge Hall were in fact Kelham Island beers and Dave Wickett, the founder of Kelham Island Brewery and hugely influential figure in the history of brewing in the UK was a key mentor to Simon and Jim when their journey began. We're also delighted that Ed Wickett, son of Dave and owner of the Fat Cat has given us his blessing and the Fat Cat will have the first pour of the new batch of Pale Rider on October 19th.

Keep your eyes peeled for more news dropping soon, Pale Rider will be back in its rightful place on tap down in Kelham at the Fat Cat before you know it.

Pale Rider rides again!

Elizabeth II - I had to say something...

I've been thinking about what I want to say, and whether I should say anything or not... Of course it's not beer-related, but the satirical site, NewsThump, published a piece that says much, and probably the only non-humorous piece I've ever read of their's (copied and pasted below), but pointedly, it reminds us of the gap left in our lives, whether monarchist or republican...

I remembered that she was the only remaining head of state who had served in World War II, when she volunteered, then Princess Elizabeth, to join the Auxiliary Territorial Service as a mechanic and driver (above). I also remember that, before I was born, my Grandad had danced with Queen Elizabeth II when my Grandma used to work as a cleaner at Buckingham Palace, and they used to have Staff Christmas Parties. In addition, Thursday was my birthday and it was a sad ending to the day, so I shall never forget the day that Elizabeth died.

Indeed, she was a constant and will be missed, R.I.P. 😔

From NewsThump: 

Few things in life are constants; there in the background, always, your entire life, creating a sense of continuity.

Even if you don’t really pay attention, figures in public life give a sense of time and place. As established norms and realities fracture and change and become new and different, or are burned in war and rebuilt, a durable figure’s presence acts as a reassurance – a lodestone against which change can be measured and a reassurance that the future need not be uncertain as you fear.

And then one day they’re gone and it’s only then you see the gap in their place.

Without the constants, the changes seem so much bigger and the challenges all the greater. It’s a moment of mental dislocation, a moment when certainties become uncertain.

From those early photos of an uncertain but hopeful mechanic fixing up lorries to carry troops and weapons to punch Hitler in the face, to sharing a cuppa with Paddington, the Queen was there, her face on banknotes with a slightly quizzical smile as if surprised to actually be there.

And it was there for your entire life. It’s easy to lose sight of how valuable that stability is, not just to individuals but to a sense of identity.

Of course, people will make jokes. That’s what they do when they’re saddened and afraid. If they upset you, forgive them and move on.

Indeed...

Be Prepared for Cost of Beer to Rise AND...

We've likely all been thinking similar, and I didn't really want to mention it, but the price of beer is going to rise substantially soon, and even more pubs are going to go out of business sadly. The Cost of Living Crisis, which is becoming another crisis, no two ways about it, means spiralling costs are already putting pressure on brewers. This article (Peterborough Telegraph) was what stimulated this blog, as one of my favourite breweries, Oakham Ales, is calling for Government action to help ease the effects of inflation and swiftly soaring energy costs, which are driving up the cost to brewers "of raw materials, production and distribution" and no doubt soon to be followed by the need for higher wages for employees! 

For me, the local public house isn't just a place to go and drink, it's a social hub, often a social service for more vulnerable locals, and they also raise significant money for charities, for example my local, the Dolphin Inn in Hastings recently gave £1,379.50 to the RNLI Lifeboat Station from their collection box (Steve on Hastings). It isn't just the brewers that are looking at problems related to rising prices, and wages, but public houses too, energy costs particularly, as the cost of heating and lighting throughout opening times go metaphorically through the roof. And not to forget that the loss of pubs would mean the loss of places to buy real ales, worrying indeed!

Sussex Vintage Cider Update!

In my blog last Saturday I suggested that the Hunts (website) Sussex Vintage Cider (8.4%) was soon to run out at the Rye Waterworks, the last of this 5 years old vintage cider, well, I wasn't quite correct. I visited again yesterday and had another pint of this rich gorgeous cider (photograph above), but there was only a little over a pint left, and being the gent I am I didn't drink anymore, good for someone else to finish it off, cheers!

Any further news about Hunts ciders at the Waterworks and I'll report as appropriate.

Rye Waterworks, Just In Time!

I hadn't been to the Rye Waterworks micropub, Tower Street, Rye TN31 7AT, for a while after having visited quite frequently, but a combination of rail strikes and ultra hot weather made it difficult, so I returned yesterday, just in time? I'll go into that further down. 😉 Anyway, I caught the number 100 bus from Hastings, which I came to regret, I should have caught the train in both directions, notably cooler on my return. Also a rather smelly passenger (BO) on the bus transferred to the seat immediately behind me when the certainly less smelly passenger previously sitting there got off. I did make a sneaky move towards the front nearer to Rye.

But to nicer things, I walked the 5 minutes from the bus stop to the Rye Waterworks on the corner of Rope Walk and Tower Street, and was hailed by the landlord David just before I took the photograph above, hi! I had to wait a couple of minutes before taking the image as it was quite busy in the road, but soon entered the bar space. I was welcomed again by David, and by Morgan, who was working behind the bar. Soon after, Lotte turned up to work behind the bar too, and David's wife Ulla nipped in and out with various supplies during the afternoon. Indeed, the only family member who didn't appear was Eddie, who is soon going abroad and worked his last session behind the bar the night before, I believe, good luck and best wishes Eddie!

To the drinking (list of beers and ciders above), and starting with the beers, of which I drank 2, plus ate a rather tasty Scotch Egg and locally homemade chutney. I had 2 of the pale session ales, starting with Tonbridge Brewery's (website) Easy Street Pale (3.9%), brewed with 3 different Kent grown hops, Northdown, Ernest and Fuggles. I have had this in a can recently too, and was surprised how good it was, and it lived up to the promise. A pale golden bitter with a light spicy and floral aroma, full of flavour, including subtle citrus fruits, and a sharp bitter finish.

I then drank the more fruity (citrus) Scaramanga 'Extra Pale' (3.9%) from Gun Brewery (website), another pale golden bitter. Scaramanga, named after a James Bond villain, is brewed with English and U.S. hops, Goldings and the significant citrus flavour and aroma comes from the US Chinook hops in fair quantity, I imagine. Another decent session ale, but of the two, Easy Street Pale was more to my taste.

And something that amused me, and Long Man Brewery (website) brew ales that stimulate my amusement. Quite a few years ago, probably close to 10 years, I was served up a pint of their 'old ale' Old Man by Laura at the Dolphin Inn in Hastings, I had a great image of it too, sadly lost, but I labelled it "Laura serving an Old Man" which I found serving an Old Man to an old (er) man amusing. 😁 Well, another young woman at the Waterworks, Morgan, who is tall (close to 6 foot tall), was serving a Long Blonde, okay, I'm easily amused, but amused me, cheers Morgan! 

Now to the ciders, I started with the weaker (😉), only 6.9% Double Vision, they sell 2 versions at the same strength, one a "crisp dry" cider, I think they're both dry, but this is the more dry. Anyway, I have written about this before (blog) and it remains pale, complex, and dry, almost sour, I should try the other version too, just so I can compare; research is demanding!

Oh yes, and the story I alluded to above, "just in time!" Well, the slightly strong 8.4% Sussex Vintage (in the glass photographed above) is near the end, indeed, by the time I finish writing this blog it may already have run out. David has taken great delight in his buying the last bottles of the Sussex Vintage, 5 years old, so nowhere else to be found, and he was placing the last bottles into the cooler as I watched him yesterday. I cannot believe I haven't written about this before, because I've had quite a few pints of it now, though not in one session!

OK, Sussex Vintage, 8.4% as I said above, a deeper reddish colour, presumably something to do with the colour of the apple skins (?), is full flavoured, as you'd expect, with a dry bitter finish. It looks like I've had my last pint of it, but they also sell the Sussex Strong straight from a pin, I believe, also 8.4%, so I shall have to review that next time I visit the Rye Waterworks. It's a demanding job, as I say above, but someone has to do it...

I have added the image above of the Doom Bar pump clip on the flush handle in the gents loo as it amuses me, I've had plenty of amusement lately, as you'll be aware if you've got this far down the page. 😁 This is just one part of why the Waterworks is such a great pub to visit, it has a real history, sells excellent drinks and snacks, sourced locally, and is soon to open its own brewery. Most importantly, you feel welcome as soon as you walk through the door, with friendly bar staff, and customers happily chatting to each other. With thanks to everyone for making my visit another delight, cheers to David, Ulla, Morgan and Lotte, and already missing you Eddie!

If you'd like to read more about the Rye Waterworks, I first went there soon after it opened 4 years ago, this blog was the result and describes its history and how unique it is, cheers!

2 Cracking IPAs, cheers to the Beer Wench!

When I celebrated IPA Day a couple of weeks ago, I gave thanks to Ashley Routson, the creator of that celebratory day, and said I had ordered a copy of her book (blog). I'm halfway through reading her book now, and she says an IPA started her "obsession with hops" and I had a couple of excellent IPAs today, so I thought I should share the experience! The first being from Kent Brewery (website), another single hopped ale from them, their 4.5% Huell Melon.

Huell Melon is a German hop which came out 10 years ago and is descended from Cascade, "noted to be intensely fruity with flavours and aromas of honeydew melon and strawberry" (Hopslist), and it's pretty damn good, if you like pale dry bitter ales as I do. On drinking the ale, I expected more to the aroma, however, I didn't really notice that much fruit, and it was subtle to the taste too, but a pale golden ale with a very dry and bitter finish, I loved it!

The second is a stronger IPA from East Sussex Three Acre Brewery (website), and their 5.0% India Pale Ale, which they state is "packed full of New World hops" and the aroma and taste are testament to that claim! This is another pale golden ale, but this time with a big fruity aroma and tropical and citrus fruits to the taste, plenty of body with a dry bitter finish, quality, although I admit to the Kent ale having the slight edge for me personally, both excellent ales though!

Now, before anyone accuses me of sexism because of the title of this blog, Ms Ashley Routson, who hails from the U.S. of A., calls herself "The" Beer Wench, that is, her book is called The Beer Wench's Guide to Beer, subtitled An Unpretentious Guide to Craft Beer, Quarto Publishing Group, 2015. "Wench" a term I only heard before when I lived in the West Country. Although only halfway through her book so far, her taste in beers, and knowledge, and some of her language for that matter (despite being from the other side of The Pond), have convinced me that we'd likely be good friends if we met, only good friends though, unless I was 20-30 years younger! 😉

Anyway, I look forward to reading the rest of her book, cheers to Ashley!

The ales I drank above were imbibed at the Dolphin Inn, 11-12 Rock-a-Nore Road, Hastings, East Sussex TN34 3DW (website).

A Fair Amount of Beer News!

I originally decided to write this blog after receiving the latest "Autumn 2022" edition of CAMRA's quarterly magazine BEER, but was stimulated further on receiving an email from Nicholson's this weekend that advised me The Falcon at Clapham Junction in London (website) is closing down today (7th August 2022) for refurbishment. If you don't know the pub, it is on the corner at the Junction; official address 2 St Johns Hill SW11 1RU, very handy for Clapham Junction railway station, and on many bus routes. Anyway, it is closed until the 1st of September 2022, so if you want a drink nearby, you'll need to walk a little further up St Johns Hill to number 36 and visit Greene King pub The Junction (website) 😏 Now I'm really Up the Junction (YouTube).

Well, much of the rest of my news may be a wee bit old to you, but some of it I had missed, as was the news that John Bryan, Brewing Director at Oakham Ales, one of my favourite breweries, has retired after 27 years working at the brewery (Oakham Ales). John is pretty famous for being the first Brit to bring back Citra hops from the USA in 2009, and, as regular readers will be well aware, Oakham Citra (4.2%) is one of my favourite ales, which I have written about many times. Well, John's not disappearing completely, as he's remaining a partner in the business, and, in the short-term at least, will still be making annual hop sourcing visits to the USA, cheers John!

In BEER, I also noticed a report of a group called Drinkers for Ukraine (website) who are raising money for Red Cross humanitarian relief in Ukraine, which appears to overlap with Brew for Ukraine, which I mentioned in addition to Dave Unpronounceable's article about his visit to Ukraine earlier this year, and which I reproduced in this blog, and which I've written about since too. Indeed, breweries around the world are brewing beers with profits going towards humanitarian relief for Ukraine, eg Steel City Brewing, who have since brewed another ale called Russian Warship, Go F*ck Yourself (blog). The BEER article also mentioned another Yorkshire brewery, Bridgehouse (website), brewing for Brew for Ukraine a 4.5% blonde ale called White Crow, which was sold in the Strangers' Bar at Westminster earlier this year.

In BEER, they also reproduced an article by John O'Donnell called Ask the expert - what is a pint of beer? (CAMRA) Again, regular readers will be well aware that I have strong views on beer being the only thing in Britain that can be sold at less volume than is advertised, that is, we rarely get what we pay for, a FULL pint, and much beer is wasted (above image, tut tut) because brim measured glasses are usually the norm... And, well you can read the rest of my arguments at this blog, if you haven't before, indeed, Fiddles, Waste and Duty: Full Pint or Not?!?

Finally, I recently heard the sad news that Caledonian Brewery (website) is being closed down by Heineken as it is 'no longer economically viable.' Heineken took over the Edinburgh brewery in 2008, and beer has been brewed there since 1869. Once closed, it is planned that Caledonian beers will be brewed by Greene King at the Belhaven brewery in Dunbar (Edinburgh News).

Not all good news then, whatever, raise a glass to brewers, and cheers!