Well this past week has been interesting, with social activities, a new pub to visit and a wedding ( not mine)
Tuesday - New Beer.
When we visited the 2015 Great British Beer Festival at Olympia in London, the Supreme Champion had been announced the day before. It was called Cwtch, brewed by Tiny Rebel, from Newport, South Wales. None of us had heard of the brewery or the beer ; we weren't even sure how to pronounce Cwtch !. Needless to say, the beer had run out on the Thursday of our visit , and when they had added a new cask, the queue was horrendous. We collectively said "bollocks to that" and tried something else.
However, at our branch meeting last week in The Ship Isis , Sunderland it was on ! The first time I had seen the beer in 18 months. A great beer and a worthy winner. Mind you, the pub knows how to keep its beers !
Anyhow, the pub has several social activities on throughout the week and Tuesday was no exception. As well as our meeting in the snug, upstairs there was a video games night and a local Pagan Society "moot" ( see picture as proof). It seemed entirely appropriate that a pub that is reputedly haunted should have a Pagan meeting ( whatever that entails ) going on upstairs.
Thursday - Free Beer.
Having the urge for trip out on the bus and metro, headed for Jarrow and McConnell's Gin & Ale House ( as you do). I had not been there since the days of Jarrow Brewery and was immediately made to feel welcome. Although there was only 4 of us perched on bar stools like a scene from Cheers, it was good to see we were all drinking real ale. Arbier Brewery own the pub and they had their Jarrow Stout on ( and Swedish Blonde ). Absolutely spot on, in perfect condition.
Gave the staff some CAMRA magazines and soon I was chatting to the manager. He was happy to discuss the brewery and the beers. Suddenly he said, we do bottle beer now, do you want some ?. He gave me two bottles of their Renaissance Golden Ale as a pressie.
Note to self - go back again soon.
After McConnell's it was 2 Metro stops to Simonside and Florence's Bar and Grill. This had just reopened before Xmas and had two handpulls, Allendale Golden Plover and Camerons Strongarm. Again, beer spot on and friendly bar staff. There was a couple of guys in black ties round the corner in the comfortable bar, knocking back the Plover. Headed for the loo and looked right. There was all this leftover scran on. I had walked in on the end of a wake !.
Dilemma - do I help myself, as I was hungry,, or just leave. Thinking it a bit cheeky, went to loo then left, bloody starving. I still lie awake at night about passing up on a free feed.
Saturday Part 1 No Beer.
For most of Saturday we were at a family wedding in a local hotel. During the evening disco I got a text from a fellow CAMRA member , who was in the Florence Bar and Grill, based on a recommendation email I had sent out on Thursday night. The text read " No Real Ale on a Saturday night!"
Now I sometimes wonder about some pubs. No real ale means aficionados like me will be reluctant to go back , which means less beer could get drunk and they end up taking it off, because no bugger is drinking it. There is a pub about 10 minutes drive from me, the Copt Hill, has been visited by two of us separately in the past 3 weeks, each time 3 empty handpulls, Going back on March 25th for a pub crawl , so we shall see.
Saturday Part 2 - Crap Beer.
As the do was in a hotel, I guessed that the beer would be shite, and I was right, so volunteered to drive . At night, had half of Super Cold Guinness , then pint of tap water with lemon and ice ( free) then another half of Guinness. Guess which one had the better taste...correct , the water.
Whats that all about ? I can imagine someone from John Smiths, Guinness, Fosters ( delete where applicable) trying to sound enthusiastic when out for a few beers and drinking the own stuff. I can also imagine someone from Theakston or Maxim ( etc etc) drinking Old Peculier or Maximus and being equally enthusiastic, this time with justification.
Back on the proper stuff tonight, treating myself to my last bottle of Sam Adams.
Note to self number 2 - get some more Sam Adams !
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