Essex marshes ....... great expectations?

Location: The Layer Fox, Layer de la Haye
Totally brilliant pub.  Cask Marque. CAMRA. cash machine, local food deli, paypoint and recycling all here!!  This is how a pub should be.

Moodmusic: Great to see the sun again literally and metaphorically

Today's memories and soundbites:

"Are we there yet?"

"Will you take this woman ............."
"As the Buddah said, such good luck you didn't get what you want"
"The ancient Flitch town ........... what??!!  Must look that up on Google"

Drinks
Well its midday for a Colchester wedding. I wonder just how many different drinks as the driver I can have?  Obviously the recently discovered Becks Blue will play a part.  The inn that offered me a room last minute is lovely. A lucky find.  I shall be trying a beer or two in the morning instead. As somebody once said to me "Beer ... not just a breakfast drink"  this time it will be though, before a stroll across the well known Fingringhoe marshes (sorry they signpost 'wetlands' .... does that sound less boggy or muddy more attractive or something?) and on to Mersea Island.  Stayed tuned for the real ale update ...........

OK it ended up being

1. Colchester's, Red Diesel (4.2 %)
Reaction
Emotional: Mmmmmmm richly ruby rounded refresher
Critical: Not sure this is going to be one of my favourites but it was a nice rich thick and comforting pint. That sort of ruby warmth from something malty, but a great building bitterness through the pint.  I had it with a bowl of strawberries which were the perfect accompaniment.  I think this is what they call a session beer, i.e. good balance between malt and hops and easy to drink a number of pints of without getting too schloozled.

2. Blackfriars, Abbey (3.5%)
Reaction
Emotional: Ok .... going down easy
Critical: Easy to drink, a bit on the flavoured water side and a bit sweet, i.e. lacking hoppy depth, but nice colour, fine aroma and smooth head.  Pleasant, quick and easy.


Fingringhoe view

Whalebone Inn

Established 1734.  Whale bone from a whale stranded on the banks of the river behind the pub.  The grand old oak said to have grown from an acorn placed in the mouth of a pirate buried after hanging.

Rowhedge view

confetti composition

confetti imposition