THE HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN

We are having a new kitchen fitted so the house is turmoil. A large yellow canvas skip full of rubbish adorns the front lawn. So I was ready for a CAMRA meeting in the Dun Cow in Sunderland, featuring a presentation by Newcastle based Brinkburn Brewery..

The pub was rammed when I got there as Ross Noble was on in the Sunderland Empire next door. The room we were given was also rammed , making for a cramped evening. The group I was sitting with were mostly drinking Leeds Midnight Oil, a 4.8% dark mild.

The Brinkburn men turned up, thankfully with some samples. The presentation focused on the beers, in strength order, working from lowest first. Examples included Canny Sculler II, Byker Blonde and House of the Rising Sun.

House of the Rising Sun is on the right.

Glasses were produced and the tasting began. I think the intention was to start at the bottom and work up. Not so the Midnight Oil crowd who collectively pointed to the House of the Rising Sun, principally because it was a 7.2% chocolate raspberry porter. There was a line of us holding glasses up like a group of beggars -  alms for the poor. You could possibly say we were acting like Animals for the  House of the Rising Sun.

The rest of the beer was good as well, but paled into significance after the porter. Got home later that evening and Mrs Ken said " You know the skip on the front lawn ? Well they are coming to collect it at 7 o clock in the morning; you'll have to be up"

Groan................