OLD PECULIER - BEER OF THE MONTH

Last weekend I was at the Glasgow Beer Festival *  Many beers were tried of course, but one which I was saving for last ran out just as I was walking to the bar. All the beers were in metal casks as you would expect, except one - Old Peculier,  in a wooden barrel.

I wasn't too disappointed as at the beginning of June on a pub crawl in Bedale ( North Yorkshire) ** the first pint ( sorry 2 pints) I had was Old Peculier at 11 in the morning. It was absolutely magnificent. I was getting strange looks as I savoured the taste, with appropriate noises, of this well known beer. It is sometimes said that OP doesn't travel and tastes  better the nearer the brewery it is. Well Bedale is only about 15 minutes from the brewery in Masham so I can understand that.

In 2012 I did a tour of the Theakstons brewery, some photos are shown. We were staying the night in the White

Old Peculier bubbling away

Bear Hotel, their brewery tap,  so the OP was naturally top of the menu. It was actually the White Bear Beer Festival and during the evening a howling gale developed. Their marquee with the festival bar in actually moved sideways throughout the evening. Mrs Ken can confirm this, it wasn't the beer this time.

I believe I am correct in saying that Old Peculier was the first real ale I drank, back  in the early seventies. We were staying in a youth hostel in Hawes, doing the Pennine Way, and after a long days hike, the natural thing to do was head for the local boozer. 

I think it was called The Fountain and I will always remember our reaction when drinking the OP for the first time. We were all used to drinking S&N, Vaux or Camerons keg beers so this was a revelation. The colour and the underlying taste of liquorice hit me straight away . Needless to say I cant remember the stagger back to the youth hostel. Happy days

Some years ago when I was old enough to know better we had a pub crawl in York. The last pint I remember drinking was Old Peculier in the Old Starre Inn ( I think). My next memory is waking up in bed the next morning. Apparently we had left the pub to find another, had burger and chips, got the train back to Durham, had another pint in Wetherspoons then got a taxi home.  I cant remember any of it. Apparently on the train I got up to go to the loo. The swaying motion of the train cancelled out my swaying so I ended up walking in a straight line. Well at least this is what Ive been told.

How can one beer have so many stories ?  One more then I'm done . Ive been going to the Great British Beer Festival every year for some time now. In the early days Theakstons had their own bar, and for about three years two of us made a point of starting with Old Peculier . When I turned up the last time they had a bar, I made the point of  wearing my Black Sheep T shirt to wind them up. It worked  and but after the expected abuse, they still served me. Most beers that day didnt taste as good after drinking OP first.

You don't often see Old Peculier near where I live.(the bottled is not as good in my opinion). Its rarity makes it all the more enjoyable.  

So , no hesitation, my beer of the month.

  

*Glasgow Beer Festival

** Bedale Pub Crawl

FIVE PUBS, A BEER FESTIVAL AND A BOTTLE SHOP

Well, I am now recovering from another boozy few days. The week before last it was Bury St Edmunds *, this time its Glasgow. Our daughter lives and works there now and as diaries did not allow a Fathers Day get together on the right day, we headed  north a week later. Really, it was just an excuse to return to the Glasgow Beer Festival. ( this was also the excuse in 2015 I recall).

Driving up on Friday to get away from all the referendum news, we stayed in a nice hotel on the banks of the Clyde opposite BBC Scotland. Then it was a walk into the city to meet up with aforesaid daughter in the Bon Accord, a great pub on the western edge of the city centre we had been in before . It was good to catch up, have a meal and enjoy three pints. Then it off to Sauchiehall Street to the State Bar.  Another great pub with old Rock videos blasting out on the TV. 

Clutha Bar

Back to the hotel to get ready for the big day. The beer festival was held in the Briggait, an arts centre type place near the river and the Clutha Bar ( the one that was hit by the helicopter). The other two went shopping as I  met up with an old work mate in the Clutha just before festival opening time. He had been to the festival the night before and  one of his suggestions was to try Whippet Flaming Dog, but more of that later.

The place was fairly busy when I entered at around 12.30, but I managed to find a seat at a table sharing with 4 others. After a couple of drinks one guy on my table saw I was drinking a stout and mentioned he was having the previously recommended Whippet Flaming Dog. Looking at the beer list notes , was intrigued to note it was an American stout with chilli. The drinker seemed remarkably keen to get rid of his drink ( which I should have taken as a warning)  as he was offering it around. I politely declined. 

However, always one to try something new, I eventually succumbed to the temptation and ordered a third of a pint and came back to the table     ( even though the CAMRA volunteer  who served me said " are you sure ?"). 

Suddenly the other 4 -  who remember I had never seen before in my life,  stopped what they were doing and all turned to watch me with great interest. I took a sip. Seemed OK. Tasted like stout ; what's the matter with everybody ?. Then it hit me. The heat from the chilli burned the back of my mouth then nearly took the top of my head off. This had the effect of detracting from another flavours that may have been in there.  I could still taste it after 2 more drinks. The drink is not featured on the Leeds based Whippet website  ; I can see why.

From one painful experience to another. In 2015  we were "entertained" for about 15 minutes by the Caledonian Brewery Bagpipe Band. I say entertained as I don't do bagpipes and could hear the same guys as last year warming up at the back of the venue again. Once they started , the table I was with were wincing as well.

After 3 "numbers " I sought solace in another stout , this time from Loch Lomond. The CAMRA volunteer who pulled my drink was grimacing as well and they had just finished playing when I got served. "Thank F*** for that" he said, " I only like bagpipes when I'm in Fort William and they are in Inverness"     Great line.    

Soon it was time to leave and meet up with the other 2 before heading out that evening for a curry. You would think after blasting my mouth with chilli stout a curry would be the last thing to have. 

But first a "slight" detour to what is often described as the best real ale pub in Glasgow, the Three Judges in Partick, west of the city . I already had an Underground day ticket so I seemed logical to use it. Great place, 8 handpulls, friendly atmosphere.  Recommended. Then found out after I left they offer CAMRA discount. Bugger missed out again- this always happens to me.

From the Three Judges a long road , Byers Road,  runs north past several other good pubs when I suddenly got a phone call to say,  - "meet at the Hippo Beers bottle shop near the Botanical Gardens for your belated Fathers Day pressie !"  When i got there , Mrs Ken recalls I was swaying a bit when I arrived but I quickly blamed it on the underground train ride. 

Picked out a few bottles ( see picture) then freshened up for our curry.

After the hot curry (just off Byers Road again) , then into the final pub to cool off , this time the Curlers Rest,  for one last beer of the day, as I was totally wrecked by now.

So great city, great pubs and some great beer and friendly people. This was our 2nd visit this year and will more than likely going back soon, and that will be another story.

PS - Nearly forgot - all the UK beers bar one were in metal casks. The exception ran out during the event, but read about it in the next blog, coming soon.

 

*  Last week - five pubs, three breweries & a bottle shop