SNOWBOUND IN WASHINGTON VILLAGE

It seems appropriate to share this tale. Last week I had a drink ( or drinks !) in Washington Village on 3 separate occasions ; The Steps, The Washington Arms and then then the Steps again !. This recent spell of cold weather reminded me of an event from the early 70s.

In those care free days we usually drank in the Village ; either the Arms, The Cross Keys or The Black Bush. One friday night we were having few in the Arms. My mate had a bright red Ford Capri the door of which opened with an actual key ( remember them !) 

Anyhow, it had started snowing before we go there and a blizzard soon set in, blanketing the Village Green and everything else in a deep covering of snow.

My mate had a had a few so someone else volunteered to get his car ( it was parked round the corner) and drive it round for him, He wasn't sure which car it was so I volunteered to help him identify it. Now remember we hadnt seen him arrive with his Capri, we were already getting well oiled in the Arms. 

Rounding the corner, we spotted a bright red Capri covered in snow and opened the door. With the help of the wipers we cleared the windows and put the heating on full blast . I got in the back and we put some music on the radio. This all took a while so the driver turned up , saw us and opened the passenger door. 

" What are you doing ?"

" Getting the car ready why ?"

" This isn't my car, that's mine back there !"

Sure enough, there was his  bright red Ford Capri about 20 yards behind. We hastily got out of the car locked it and ran back to the correct one. What must the owner of the wrong car have thought, seeing his windows all cleared and the car warming up !! And the same key opened both cars !!

Great night.

 

DELIVERING CAMRA MAGAZINES

Four times a year several of us in our CAMRA Branch distribute our quarterly CAMRA Magazine. This time I set off in the car to Houghton le Spring & Penshaw. Being a Friday I was expecting it to be busy --- it was Black Friday after all - a term that has passed me by. I understand this term, like craft beer, has been imported from the States.  Sigh

Anyhow, I delivered to 8 pubs that Friday and they were all dead !  One of them was a Wetherspoons and I witnessed the unusual occurrence of their being more staff behind the bar than customers waiting to be served ie a ratio of 2:0  ; its usually a 1 : 10 ratio. 

One of the pubs had just opened at 3 and the barmaid was getting the fire lit. So I had a chat about how quiet it was for a Friday and so it all came out. She said that a lot of their customers were old men ( er, excuse me !) who were all dying off and not being replaced by younger drinkers. Being a village local most living around there used their bus passes and headed into Sunderland ( guilty as charged) for the day. I can sense a trend here. I said I was thinking about writing an article about the pub for the next issue of the magazine  " Do you think it will do any good ?" came the fatalistic  reply.

In my opinion, no matter what CAMRA do to encourage real ale drinking in pubs, its going to be the larger city centre pubs that are going to benefit, at the expense of the small ones. 

Typing this on , drum roll, Cyber Monday I set off on the bus down to Chester Le St to give out so more magazine.1 pub and 1 club ; dead !, There was only the local Spoons that was ticking over. 

I pulled out a handful of angles and said " where do you want them?" 

"Put some over there and some over there, but not over there as the older men tear them up"

"What do you mean, tear them up ?" Envisaging some form of origami or model making club.

" Yes, they tear them into strips to roll their tobacco in!"

On the way home I thought about the hours spent putting the magazine together, the effort put in to distribution, and these old gadgies are setting fire to them !!

CAMRA ANGLE WINTER EDITION ( ISSUE NUMBER 50 !)

The Winter edition of CAMRA Angle , the quarterly magazine of the Sunderland and South Tyneside branch of CAMRA, has  just been published. Copies are being  distributed to real ale pubs throughout the area , and beyond. As usual , this is another full issue and well worth a read.  This is issue 50, so by way of a celebration, the covers of the previous 49 are displayed on the front and back covers of this new issue so you cant miss it !

There are articles from our roving reporters in the National Beer Museum in Burton, Malton and St Petersburg ( no, that's  not a misprint). There is a centre spread containing the updated South Shields Real Ale Pub Guide and a review of the Peacock in Sunderland. 

Our chairman muses over his favourite pubs just outside the
branch area and updates us on beer from the wood news. There is also a feature on pub cellar management.  

We have a review of the Sunderland Beer Festival and the new 2018 Good Beer Guide.


A regular section is a news update on pubs and  breweries in the branch as well as Locale pubs and those that offer discounts.

Issue 50 is rounded off by a  pub quiz. 

Enjoy the read !!

If you cant find a copy, follow this link to download your own,  and for more branch news. .http://sst.camra.org.uk/

 

And remember, accept no imitations.  

FALLING ASLEEP IN THE SUN AFTER A FEW BEERS

There was an article in the paper the other week  about "The sensible drinking movement." It mentioned the fact that it is becoming more and more fashionable for young people to moderate their alcohol intake.

Fair enough, but not in my day. There was a time when we were in the boozer nearly every night, and usually some afternoons,  enjoying ourselves. There was only 3 TV channels , no internet, mobile phones. There was 3pm pub closing which used to curtail our sessions somewhat !  We had a great time - then we all got married.

Anyhow, on the subject of having a few and having a great day out, in the early 70's 5 of us had a trip through to Durham. After a lunchtime session starting in the Colpitts and ending up in the Shakespeare, we were ejected from the latter after 3pm closing so we decided to carry on up the hill to Durham Cathedral. 

Someone had the bright idea to climb up the tower ( inside !)  It was  a warm day as we admired the view of the County Durham countryside and the jail. Now the roof of the tower was sloping so we all lay down in the sun. The drink took over and soon we were asleep. 

We awoke with a start and decided to head back down the stairs ; after all the pubs would reopen at 6pm. Reaching the bottom, the large wooden door leading into the cathedral was locked. We were incarcerated in the tower !!

Banging on the door, we were eventually rescued by the verger who said " you were up there a long time !" ; suspiciously sniffing our breath.

True Story - happy days. 

FASHION AT BEER FESTIVALS

When I was queuing to get into the Great British Beer Festival (GBBF)  in London last August my mate (not a CAMRA Member) remarked "you can tell who the CAMRA guys are - going bald, grey beards, paunches and beer related T Shirts"  Spot on.

On the subject of T shirts, the other week I was volunteer at the Sunderland Beer Festival and acquired another festival T shirt, well actually a Polo Shirt. That's 7 now. However they are not the first.

I got mortal drunk at the Munich Octoberfest in 2002 and came back with a T shirt, although don't recall buying it ! ( see top left of picture) . It now has holes in the armpits and so only wear it for scruffy jobs such as festival setup and take down.    

I am pleased that they are all XL and have therefore not increased much in size and they all fit ; although the light blue one ( 2013 ) has shrunk a bit and so reveals too much overhang when I raise my arms.

However the ultimate T shirt was one I wore, along with several others at GBBF in 2009. This T shirt was sold in Asda ; the group I was with were from all over the UK and so this took some coordinating, but everyone got into the spirit of the occasion. I'm the one with my fly open. 

I submitted it for a CAMRA photo competition soon after the festival  ; Came back the reply - "well its not what we are looking for!" 

No sense of humour !

SUNDERLAND BEER FESTIVAL

The Sunderland Beer & Cider Festival moved to a new venue this year; The Point in the centre of the city. This was an opportunity to expand the range of beers and ciders on offer as we have more space. This obviously made for more work, especially in the set up and clear down.

Set Up - Tuesday 10th October 2017

After spending a weekend in Glasgow with the family and the mandatory visit to a few pubs, I was fit and ready on Tuesday morning to be picked up by the hired van to collect the beer etc from Maxim Brewery. The evening before all the bar racking, handpulls etc had been dropped off so the bar could be constructed while the beer collections took place.

 Load one was a van full of casks, with the van sinking perceptively on its suspension as 2 heavy palettes of casks were loaded. For me it was an incident free journey to the city centre, but then again I wasn't driving.

The Point is the former ABC Cinema on the corner of Holmeside and Park Lane. Holmeside is a busy road , and Park Lane is pedestrianised, so the only place to do any drop offs was this alleyway behind the venue. This alley looked  like somewhere drunks would wander into to relive themselves after a night getting ratted.  

Whilst unloading and trying not to stand in anything suspect, I noticed this strange sight.One of our CAMRA members was on the opposite side of the road, smartphone in hand looking at the screen, heading away from the Point. Now the building is probably the largest in the area so I shouted across to him.. 

" I couldn't find it ". he replied

Pointing up I said " Its that large brick building you are in the shadow of"

"Oh"

The second trip to and from Maxim, to collect the cider , festival glasses and other bits and pieces was uneventful. Soon it was time for the 3rd and final collection, and involved another alley way, this time a lot more hygienic.

Some local breweries had delivered to the Mid Boldon Club. This has a cellar with access from the alleyway for deliveries down into the cellar. A golden rule of beer cellars is :-

Full and heavy casks in, light and empty casks out.Not - full and heavy casks in, full and heavy casks out !

It took three of us,  1 inside pushing a cask up a ladder, and 2 of us outside hauling on a rope with ageing, straining muscles. It was like taking part in a vertical tug of war. I had said just before we got there :-

" Is this going to knack my already knacked back ?"( although I didnt quite use those words).

Came back the unsympathetic reply - "yes". I haven't told Mrs Ken yet about this episode

The Festival, Thursday 12th - Saturday 14th.

I was working behind the bar,which was great, as you meet all sorts of characters; some you know, some you have met for the first time. All are always friendly, happy to be there. 

The beers and ciders in the festival programme were numbered (from 1 to 40) and named. The trick is to memorise where all 40 beers are on the bar, as some come up and say, can I have a no 1 please.  Now when I count its from left to right, but some were coming to where was at, between 31 and 40 and asking for a number 1 please. I usually say, "is that with rice or chips ?" Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

On the subject of rice and chips, the venue provided food. They sold foot long hot dogs with a twist ; the buns were half a foot ! Only in Sunderland 

Day 1 was a steady flow, Day 2 was manic and Day 3 was a bit slow to be honest. The city's fantastic football team were at home so about a dozen supporters were in, enjoying themselves before the inevitable gloom to come. Our last orders were at 1900 on the Saturday and a few came in within an hour of the deadline. " Come on guys, have a few more..the clocks ticking here !"

Take down - Sunday 15th.

Sunday morning was quite warm and it got hotter during the day as we toiled to remove the casks, dismantle the bar and get everything down to the infamous alleyway, which showed more signs of pollution. I was absolutely knackered as I headed off the car, aching back and feet. Muttering that I am getting to old for this.

But, did I enjoy myself; of course I did ; already looking forward to next year    

BEER IN MADIERA

THIS POST HAS BEEN DELAYED BY 48 HOURS DUE TO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS AT FUNCHAL AIRPORT, MADIERA.

Mrs Ken and I have just been on another weeks holiday in Madiera. Last year, on our last day we spotted a new "beer house" in Funchal, the island capital. Not having time, I vowed to return.

It is set in the harbour not far from the Christiano Ronaldo Museum - for which an entry fee is charged. The money he earns and he still wants more. Probably to pay for the ridiculous statue outside , and the ugly bust outside the airport named after him.

Enough of the rant - ed.

Anyhow the beer-house says it has an brewery. Looking at the menu  for this mainly food led place, they understate the beer and list it along with the islands main brewery, Coral. ( Which is code for yellow fizzy piss).

Ordering what turned out to a pint in a dimpled glass with a handle, I was looking round to see where  the beer was brewed.

" You looking for someone sir" said the waiter who brought our drinks. 

" Just wondering where the beer is brewed."

" Come, I show you the beer machine"

Inside was this gleaming stainless steel contraption, spotlessly clean with no smell of anything. It looked suspiciously unused but it was going to be  a waste of time asking him as the place was busy and the waiters were dashing around like blue arsed flies .  Anyhow he took a couple of pictures then dashed off to get our food.

 The beer was OK, no idea what strength it was, but it tasted suspiciously like the Coral, bland and slightly sweet. I will never know.

Not to worry,  cos the main beer I like is Superbock Abadia. Discovered this a couple of years ago and it's excellent. At 6%, it is a reddish brown and has a nice malty taste. Even the wife liked it, so 9 bottles ended up in the case coming home.

The hotel we were staying in have started selling Franziskaner Weissbier. At 5 euros for a tall glass, good value for a hotel.They also sell Coral Stout, which is brewed on the island. I couldn't help noticing I was the only one drinking the stout and the Weissbeer, mostly they were supping wine and the Coral bland lager.

Back to the delay.

Madiera is a very hilly island with few flat bits. The airport runway is built on stills, with the sea surrounding it on three sides. On the 4th side , next to the runway , is a cliff that rises inland. If the wind is blowing in the wrong direction this can cause strong crosswinds and turbulence, making it dangerous for plane landings. There are interesting videos online showing planes "having difficulty" 

On our departure day the runway was closed so we had to be bused to another hotel for an extra night. The same thing happened the next day !!. So got home 44 hours late. 

Ready for a few beers tonight at the Marine and the Spice Garden in Shields !!