Blackberry and apple wine

Location: old and neglected orchards of North Wales

Mood music:  just spending my days mooching in the sun

Todays memories and soundbites
I spent the weekend out in the sunshine once again undertaking the final round of site surveys for the PTES.  This is a survey mapping traditional orchards as potential sites for the rare Noble Chafer beetle.  It's taken me some time to get round my quota, but the end is now in sight.  It has been quite sobering looking at neglected and disappearing orchards.  One can only hope that the increased interest in real cider does something to spur interest in maintaining and re-planting orchards.

Drinks
Anyway it became a brewing time.  Although the hedgerow fruit is very thin on the ground this year, mooching about I found a haul of blackberries large enough to put together a brew of something.  The orchard survey inspired blackberry and apple wine.  My freezer had last years apple crop saved as puree, so that did nicely for the apple part of the recipe.

Recipe
2lbs blackberries
8lbs apples
2.5lb sugar (makes dry wine)
1 gallon water
yeast and nutrient
pectolayse
vitamin B tablet

Wash apples and blackberries briefly.  Chop and then crush the apples roughly (rolling pin works well).  Put sugar in pan and add some of the water, bring to boil as clear syrup.  Pour this over the apple and blackberries in a brewing bucket.  Allow to cool, add rest of water.  When blood heat add other ingredients and allow to ferment on pulp for 5 days.  Strain into demijohn and add airlock.  Do not fill to shoulder but reserve some of the liquor to add once active fermentation process has toned down.

Blackberry fermenting view

Blackberry and apple wine must

A mindful(ness) approach to beer

Mindfulness is a simple method of meditation that is gaining mainstream medical recognition as a demonstrable method of reducing stress, anxiety, depression and building well being and positive approaches to life. Most of the mindfulness exercises are practices which teach compassionate observation of thoughts feelings and sensations in the moment. Being mindful can heighten awareness of sensation.

With that in mind, how about trying this exercise for really appreciating your next pint - the Chocolate mindfulness meditation - substitute 'chocolate' with 'ale' and the characteristics of ale (bottle/glass feel and colour, beer pour, aroma, colour, head, etc. etc.)

I wandered lonely as a Cloud, and sought out ale o'er Vales and Hills

Location: Lake District central

Moodmusic:

Yet a wish that I could modi-

'fy the words I needs must say!

'Wil you please go away?

'That is all I have to say ....

Mr Younghy-Bhonghy-Bo!

Edward Lear 

Today's memories and soundbites:

Tubular Fells - Wainright's 214

Well, after the study of the sublime in Snowdonia (see blog of 23.09.12), I thought I ought to go and follow the literary and artistic trail into the Lakes, this being a part of the country I know very little about.  I was last there more than 20 years ago, and I remember only rain and cold climbing Scafell Pike, and seeing lots of chunky Herdwick sheep who appeared more comfortable in their environment than me.  I certainly managed to find my own definition of the sublime whilst here .... coming up the Hardknott Pass on the Duddon Valley side 30% switchbacks on wet roads slewed with gravel on my Triumph Sprint.  Aaaaawwghhh ....... beautiful and awesome and very very scary!  I followed the path of Wordsworth and Ruskin.  Came across stories of witches. But it was perhaps the Romans who seemed to have left an indelible mark in this landscape.  Signs of them all over the place.  I found them at Hardknott fort, a lonely outpost built between AD120 and AD138, under Hadrian, a fortification between settlements on the coast such as Ravensglass through to the inland sites at Ambleside and Brougham.  The road was also Roman built infrastructure. There was another fort on my route round at Galva by Clappersgate Ambleside, and when  I climbed a hill behind Ambleside, High Pike at Scandale Fell (650m so not quite a Munro!!) I crossed the High Sweden bridge, which looked somehow Roman.  The Pike afforded a great view of lake Windemere.  Back in Kendal, I discovered as luck would have it there was a beer festival ..... and a whole choice of bands at various town venues ... brilliant.  The world of Westmorland 'craft' breweries was opened up to me.

Drinks ...... deep breath ..... and remember many were served as 1/3 not even 1/2 pints!!

Grasmere newly opened Daffodil Hotel bar

 1. Hawkshead. Windemere Pale Ale (3.5%)

Reactions

Emotional: Fresh and grassy..... About right for a grassy location

Critical:  Immediate hops and bitterness followed by hay and honey flavours and then back to a full bitter punch and clean zesty finish.

Sawyers Arms, Kendal

2. Hartleys. Cumbria  XB (4%)

Reactions

Emotional: Aaah much better.  Last time I tried this it tasted of paper pulp and cardboard.

Critical: Smooth and creamy head, smooth pint, slightly fruity and mildly bitter.  Refreshing after a day hill walking.

Kendal. CAMRA Westmorland Beer festival 

3. Ulverston. Flying Elephants (3.7%)

Reactions

Emotional: oh!

Critical: Yellow bitter.  Bitter sweet with some metallic zing. Some fruit. Not bad.

4. Foxfield. Something unknown

Reactions

Emotional: Produced not far from the prison at Millom - I might comment it ought to stay there?

Critical: Similar style to the Ulverston. Also light yellow bitter with a slight hay and grapefruit flavours which finishes with a bitter metallic flourish.

5, Thwaites. Wainwright (4.1%)

Reactions

Emotional: I remember this from a different time

Critical: Again a yellow bitter which is very soft and smooth. A bit of hazelnut and slight toasted cereal. Smooth bitter finish. I would have this again.

6. Stringers. No. 2 Stout (4%)

Reactions

Emotional: Yummy yummy yummy far too drinkable

Critical: lovely aroma.  Rich flavours, some chocolate, treacle and heavy malt but lifted by a light to mediumj body with just enough carbonation to carry it all off. 

7. Bank Top. Pavillion Pale Ale (4.5%)
Reactions
Emotional: well ......
Critical: A mix of fruity, metallic grapefruit.  Not really my favorite kind of beer.

8. Kendal Brewing Company. Grieslynicrs (???? didn't catch the name ....)

Reactions
Emotional: Burnt socks bitter
Critical: Hohum ... maybe its getting too late in the day.

Brewery Arts centre, Kendal.  VAT bar

And the band tonight making the floor vibrate and the walls quiver are the stomping Peatbog Fearies

9. Joseph Holt, Two Hoots (4.2%)

Reactions
Emotional: Mmmmmm nice
Critical:  Another yellow/blonde bitter.  This one tastes great light carbonation, creamy head and smooth drinking pint with buttery dough, and buttercotch flavours.  Clean mildly bitter finish.  Nice!!

Woolpack Inn, and Hardknott brewery

10. Heskett Newmarket. Harter Gold (4.5%)

Reactions
Emotional: Oooh very fresh and reviving after the hard travel over the pass. Just what the doctor ordered.
Critical: Fine flavour, a mild bitterness, slightly carbonated, probably more a lager in style rather than a bitter??

Lake views

The Britannia Inn, Elterwater

Rustic - beautiful rather than sublime

Windemere from High Pike Scandale Fell

My kind  of farm, Troutbeck

The luck of the Irish - great craic with a tasting selection

Location: home unwell

Moodmusic: Need soothing .......

Today's memories and soundbites
"I got really excited about the horse logging .... you should have seen the mud ... no I didn't have appropriate footwear ... I was so disappointed when we got there - through all that mud.  It was just a horse dragging a log!"

Isn't it great when you feel unwell that somebody calls you up and supplies a lovely warm meal and a clutch of beers they have brought back from a trip to Ireland to specially to share with you because they know you love ale so much!!  Blessed I am indeed.

Drinks

1. Hooker, Galway Hooker (4.3%)

Reactions

Emotional: woow ...that’s a suprise .... should have got two bottles!

Critical: Nice crisp light carbonated pale ale. Lovely tangy fruity hop's and malt. Excellent light bitter hop finish.

2. Porterhouse Brewery, hersbrucker (5.0%)

Reactions

Emotional:  This is a thoughtful beer ...

Critical: Definitely a pilsner, but so much more body and depth than any other pilsner I have had.  Great toasted cereal flavours, with a very distinct bitterness, crisp and dry finish. 

3. Carlow, O'Hara's Irish Stout (4.3%)

Reactions

Emotional: Should have got 6 bottles of this!

Critical: Peaty. Seaweed. Complex. Chocolate towards the end. Medium bodied sparkling fizz which makes it a little thin but that doesn't make it any less delicious. Really, really enjoyed this.

4. Porterhouse Brewery, Wrasslers XXXX (5%)

Reactions

Emotional: Excellent

Critical: This is also a great full stout.  The flavour is deep, malt and some treacle burnt caramel.  Medium body.  Very dry finish which leaves interesting flavours in the mouth.

Irish beer view

Is there real ale in Paris, and can the French make beer?

Location: Paris centrale

Moodmusic: padam, padam, padam

Today's memories and soundbites
Spent the last few days in Paris.  Started from St Pancras, with a lunch at the Grand.  Drank Asahi.  Food good, service doubtful, beer unremarkable.

St Pancras Grand seafood platter, very enjoyable

Arrived in France and wondered was there beer to be had?  This was something I had not explored before just taking French wine for granted as the only interesting national alcohol.  Noting what was available in the bars and restaurants we passed as we looked for a place to take our first evening meal, it seemed that the most readily available beers were macros, many of them being Belgian or brewed by Heineken.  However, there was discussion with restaurant owners and waiters which indicated that France too is seeing something of a 'craft beer' revival.  Data supports the view that as wine consumption per head decreases since the high of the 1970s beer consumption is increasing .... slowly (a few percentage points) .... not as fast as in Spain and Italy (close to 20% increase over the last 20 years) (see World Drink Trend data).  It might be argued that in the North and within the abbeys the tradition has never really died. So Breton continues to have a reputation for real ale, as does French Flanders. French Flanders is well known for Bieres de Garde or pale ales 'for keeping', traditionally overwintered as a farmhouse product, and usually bottle conditioned.  There are three well known styles common to France - blonde, ambree and brune. However, finding out something about the beer was easier than actually finding the stuff to drink it.  Micro-breweries, including monasteries make up about just 8-9% of the market.  I discovered a real ale bar in the Belleville area of Paris, the Fine Mousse, but despite trying hard I didn't manage to get there.  I settled instead for bottled beers, some in bars and others bought when I bumped into a real beer shop in the Montmarte/Abesses area.  There are other beer bottle stores in Paris Bieres Cultes has 3 shops all over the center of the city, La Cave a Bulles is situated close to the Pompidou Centre and has a knowledgeable owner as well as an extensive stock. 

The fresh beer shop!  Cite Germain Pilon 

STOP PRESS!!! Tax increase on beers but not on wine may act as a serious disincentive for French brewers
Beer lovers fear unequal treatment in France
Belgium may retaliate and increase tax on french wine

Drinks

Pelforth in granduer 

Musee d'Orsay, Restaurant in the previous Hotel d'Orsay

Fantastic decor, well worth a visit. Never seen so much sparkly stuff crammed into one room.  You can just imagine the travellers of yesteryear in their equally sparkly dresses swishing their way through this place.

1. Heineken (France), Pelforth Brune (6.5%)

Reactions

Emotional:  mmm I like this ... even if it is brewed by Heineken

Critical: Lovely dark brown colour, whisky malty mashy toffee flavours.  Medium bodied.  Carbonation stops this from being sickly sweet.

Le Zebre de Belleville

Russian circus cabaret a woman on a trapeze with magician and fortune telling - all fantastic fun along with a dinner and booze.  Intimate and enjoyable authentic atmosphere.

2. Heineken (France), Fischer Adelscott (5.8%)

Reactions

Emotional: jury is out

The Zebra cabaret dinner seating and stage

Critical: Kind of nice, a sort of toffee smoky whisky, but can't decide if its a clean and interesting, or faux and headache inducing.  This was the original 'Whisky beer' which was brewed in Alsace, but the company sold twice now sits with Heineken. Innes and Gunn are far more authentic!

3. Brasserie d'Orgemont, Valmy Biere Blanche (5%)

Reactions

Emotional: Aaahhhh yes very nice

Critical: Cloudy pale yellow colour with a healthy head.  Nice clean citrus, yeast and bubblegum flavours.

Hoegaarden with snails

4. Heineken, Fischer Desperados (5.9%)

Reactions

Emotional ..... you must be desperate to drink this!

Critical: **@@!!

Montmarte. Place du Tertre. La Boheme

Check the reviews for this place.  I won’t be going back.  Le Troubadour for pudding and coffee was delicious, calm and sunny - clientele all French which must surely be a good sign?

5. Hoegaarden White (4.9%)

Reactions

Emotional. Refreshing.  Goes well with the snails

Critical. You know what it's like.  It’s available everywhere.  Standard wiessbier.

Rue Lepic. Chez Julien

Simple easy convenient quick stop.

6. Grimbergen Blanche (6%)

Not too Grimbergen

Reactions

Emotional: Oooh looks like buttercup lemon sorbet and a nice glass.  I know its not French .... never mind

Critical: Blonde beer as expected, lemon slice seems to improve the drink over time. Not outstanding but pleasant enough. Gentle character. Soothing.

Hotel Nice. Rue Rivoli. 

Can thoroughly recommend this as a place to stay.  Market opposite.  Bar beside.  Madam is a very interesting character and the wallpaper is something else!

7. Gallia, Gallia 1890 (5.5%)

Reactions

Emotional: Bog standard

Nice wallpaper with Gallia

Critical: A lager rather than a real beer.  Tastes of  toasted cereals, rather like Weetabix. Medium bodied.  Now contract brewed in the Czech Republic.

The Louvre and Tuileries gardens

Brilliant!  My original 1896 hard copy of Baedekers Guide to Paris provides a lovely description of this part of Paris with its grand boulevards and the fantastic architecture of the Louvre.  However, the author bemoans this new building (much of which was finished 40-50 years earlier) and talks of it as being monotonous, with regret over the lovely medieval streets and passageways which were removed to make way for the new grand Parisian layout.  Same nostalgia for historic buildings then as today!  Remembering too, that up until the 1870s the Comunards were still removing buildings and reshaping Paris, e.g. clearing the old Tuileries Palace.

8. Biera Corsa, Pietra (6%)

Corsa in the sun at the Tuileries

Reactions

Emotional: Oh Gawd Yeah!  Very, very luscious

Critical: Drank from the bottle so no comment on colour and head.  The chestnut flour gives this a very interesting flavour and body.  Nutty, bready, malty, sweet dry finish.

Gare du Nord.

Oh dear time for home.  Good thing I have left the best till last.  At least the journey back home will be enjoyable!

9. Trappistes Rocheforte No 8 (9.2%)

Reactions

Emotional: Died and gone to heaven oh yeah

Critical: Fantastic! Beautifully complex flavours and that deep, deep, vinous flavour and warmth from a high alcohol beer. Dates, currants, toasted cereal, spices, ruby richness. Yummy.

10. St Sylvestre, La Gavroche (8.5%)

Reactions

Emotional: To savour .... long and strong

Critical: Thick head. Strong carbonation which keeps the beer light and fresh. Full bodied. Complex flavours.  Brioche, toffee apple, earthy notes and a champagne finish.  I want some more please.

11. Brasserie des Cimes, Yeti (8%)

Reactions

Emotional: Not bad

Critical: Sweetish, jammy, sultana, yeasty.  Thin to medium body.  Finishes like a lager. 

Paris views

Love on Pont Des Artes

Faded shock of new

Paris central pattern