BREAKING NEWS - NEW REAL ALE OUTLET IN WASHINGTON

I am pleased to report that the Cross Keys in Washington Village   -  that would be the original Washington , has been refurbished, or as we say up here, done out , and now sells real ale. There are 2 handpulls featuring a house ale called Cross Keys Pale Ale, from Camerons Brewery, and a guest. A recent guest was the omnipresent Doom Bar 

I am also pleased to report it was served in a dimpled glass !

Cross Keys Pale Ale

Now the pub itself is nearly 200 years old, making it one of the oldest in the area. I have many happy memories of the place , as I used to frequent the pub in the 1970s sometimes as often as four times a week. In those days there was no real ale and so, not knowing any better, used to drink McEwans Best Scotch in copious quantities. Back then I used to work shifts in Sunderland and recall leaving work every third Friday evening  at 945pm and dashing to the pub before last orders. I usually asked for 2 pints at once, the first of which never touched the sides. 

The pub is now open plan and tastefully decorated, adorned with pictures showing scenes from Washington in days gone by. Back in the 70s there was a separate bar and lounge. The manager, George, ran the bar, and his wife, Molly, ran the lounge. There was usually a group of up to 10 of us and we  drank in the lounge. We caused a riot most sessions  with jokes and raucous behaviour. But we spent that much money Molly tolerated us. 

As we got older and had families we drifted off to other places ( and in one case another country) so our visits became few and far between. I am pleased to say I sat in the same seat today as I did 45 years ago. OK, it was a different seat and had new covers , but it was in the same place, so I'm happy with that.

AN INTERESTING DISCOVERY

Usually when you have a clear-out, it’s to find some long lost photographs or some other memorabilia  So imagine my surprise and delight when, during a recent tidy up and painting job in our daughter’s bedroom,  I found hidden away a  box of four Bosteels Brewery Pauwel Kwak beers, along with a strangely shaped glass in a wooden stand.  She must have bought it on a trip to Brussels when she was at uni, then sneaked it back secretly. The expiry date on the bottles however was Nov 2012!

As she's now in Glasgow after a telephone discussion it was agreed I would be the guinea pig and try two of the bottles then give her the rest next time we met. 

I poured the first bottle into a normal glass, and, with toilet roll at the ready, had a sip. There was no adverse reaction as this 8% Amber beer with a fruity taste went down a treat.  Having braved the first bottle it was time to be adventurous and drink the second bottle out of the special glass. But let's not get ahead of myself. First, the reason for the glass shape and stand.

Historical Interlude 

Once upon a time in the 18^th century there was an innkeeper called Pauwel Kwak (it means Fat Paul), whose establishment was on a busy road in what is now Belgium. Now along this road travelled mail coaches that stopped at the inn, called De Hoow.  For security reasons the drivers couldn’t leave their coaches so Fat Paul had made beer glasses with a bulb shaped bottom and long neck to fit onto the driver’s coach. This gave them a well-earned beer break without having to leave their coach. 

 ( I’ve just realised typing this, presumably they couldn’t leave the coach for a loo break either!)

The beer was eventually discontinued but revived in the 1980s by the Bosteels Brewery,  which is less than an hour north west of Brussels. They also introduced the traditional glass and a wooden holder, or shoe, to support it.

 

So time for a drink then. Pouring the beer slowly into the long neck revealed quite a lively head.  At first it felt strange holding a piece of wood instead of a glass. It became interesting the further down the head went; the glass emitted a strange glooping noise, not unlike some hot mud springs bubbling up. 

 

Well, so far I have survived two out of date beers - no emergency toilet roll needed. The other two bottles are in Glasgow along with the glass. If they are not drank soon, I’m straight up there.

Historical information based on Pauwel Kwak entry in CAMRA book , 300 Beers To Try Before You Die

CONCERNING THE SMELL AND TASTE OF CHOCOLATE - AN APPRECIATION OF SPECIALITY BEERS

Having just consumed and enjoyed  a bottle of Saltaire Triple Chocoholic my thoughts meandered to some of the specialty beers out there. I always like to try these when I can, but I have drinking mates who decry these types of ales.

“Beer should be just beer, no putting in coffee, fruit, seeds or bats droppings!  Harumph!”

I disagree. As a regular beer festival goer, I frequently notice that it’s nearly always the speciality beers that go first. So what type am I talking about? Well, here are some examples which I have enjoyed.

Fraoch Heather Ale

Wells Banana Bread Beer

Batemans Mocha

Titanic Plum Porter.

Darkstar Espresso

The list goes on.

.

Usually someone will know I’m drinking one of these,  as my eyes tend to glaze over after the first sniff and then comes “Oh, that’s gorgeous” after the first sip.This performance is invariably met with a shake of the head from some fellow drinkers.

I DON’T CARE GUYS. 

These beers usually sell out quick so drinkers must enjoy them.

I’m heading for the Great British Beer Festival again this August so rest assured I will be seeking more like these – except perhaps the bat droppings.