Some Scott's stuff. Stewart, Broughton, Duechars and the like.

Location: Borderland

Moodmusic: ............ no inspiration at all this time

Today's memories and soundbites
Like a rubber band I boing from one end of the UK to the other with diametrically opposed locations …. looking around Scotland again now in and out of this killfudoch and the next, and finding out more fascinating facts and figures about towns and villages one might describe as driech in current times, but were something other in their own epoch’s.  The church at Shotts (Kirk O’Shotts) was an imposing and beautiful building visible from the M8, but Salsburgh that it served, is home to a pub with no windows, and a feeling of lost and lonely. Penicuik is interesting.  It was developed as a planned village by Sir James Clerk 3rd Baronet of the Penicuik estate, it has a history of paper making from 1704, it's own Shotts town (Shotts from Anglo Saxon sceots meaning steep slopes), and a churchyard full of interesting headstones. There are two places serving real ale.  I went for the Craigbieldy House which is starting to experiment with real ale and is slowly testing out different choices to see what sells.

In the churchyard at Penicuik.  Carpe Diem ... tempus fugit
 From Frieda's blog 

1. Caledonian, Deuchars IPA (3.8%)

Reactions

Emotional: No bad .... not really good.... but not really bad

Critical:  This is a nice draft ale, non-controversial. Plain honest bitter. Hops, fruity hops, a bit of apple?? Easy to quaff through ..... Do we care it is brewed by Heineken?  

2. Stewart, Hollyrood (5%)

Reactions

Emotional: Mmmmmmm .... liking this one

Critical: Worlds Best Beer winner for a pale ale.  This is very fruity and full of citrus, with some hints of grapefruit in the aftertaste.  Sharp bitterness which rounds off the medium to full bodied flavours.

3. Stewart, Edinburgh Gold (4.8%)

Reactions

Emotional: OMG!!!!!

Critical: This is really, really nice.  So full of flavour.  It reminds me of Brewdog ales.  It takes the depth of Hollyrood ale one step further along, and turns it up to absolutely full bodied.

4. Broughton, Black Douglas (5.2%)

Reactions

Emotional: Not bad

Critical:  A dark ruby ale rather than any thing else.  It has a good head and a medium bodied flavour. Quite toasted, a little bit of smokiness. Medium soft carbonation. Malt and toffee.

Jurassic coast, a place called Beer and a sea of ale!

Location: back to woods and vales in the coastal SW

Moodmusic: Every love story is a ghost story .........

Today's memories and soundbites
Pouring rain, freezing fog, floods, storms, a broken down car, norovirus, woods full of squeltsh and H&S hazards ......... but it's still beautiful, the woods still loverly, and for a special bonus the sea was bright pink!!!  Then what do you know, I end up just near a place called Beer, famous for lace making and smuggling brandy. Beer is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word "Bearu" which means grove or small wooded area, indicating the bay and village were once surrounded by woodland.  Shame ... a brewing history would have been something to write about.  However, whilst the Jurassic coast has become famous and earned it's World Heritage status for the amazing rock formations, hanging valleys and fossils [click here for more info] as well as the Undercliff and the French Lieutenant's woman, it is also true that there are a very large number of micro-breweries in this part of the world, 30 in the South Devon area, including Branscombe Vale, O'Hanlons, Otter, Isca, and the Mighty Hop ..... look at my haul from the local Grocer's shop all local or from next door counties .... (incidentally Trumps is worth a visit with it's original Victorian interiors)!   Word is, the quality of the water round here makes great beer, being as it is filtered as it seeps through the local sandstone, and the smugglers and sailors and naval folk based along the were coast all thirsty customers.

Drinks - Part 1!!!

1. Mighty Hop, Festival Special (3.9%)

Reactions

Emotional: Ok

Critical: Very carbonated so  a lively character to the drink.  Some sweetness.  Finishes bitter.  Peasantly plain.

2. Corinium Ales, Corinium I Gold (4.2%)

Reactions

Emotional: Tangy baby

Critical: Very tangy indeed.  Fruity complexity. Refreshing bitterness.  Very quaffable.

3. Corinium Ales, Corinium II Centurion (4.7%)

Reactions

Emotional: Thumbs up.

Critical: Toasted cereal, warming, smooth. 

4. Corinium Ales, Corinium III Ale Caesar (5%)

Reactions

Emotional: Woooow ...

Critical: Nice colour.  Immediate and strong flavour of grapefruit which lasts in the mouth in a gentle and rounded way.  Refreshing bitter ending and pleasing bitter aftertastes. Oh look ..... there's nothing left!

5. Otter, Bright (4.3%)

Reactions

Emotional: Wow! What a gorgeous colour.

Critical: Beautiful bright yellow colour.  Gentle aroma of grassy meadow.  Medium bodied.  Flavours of heather honey and lager malt, and spring water, hints of bubblegum.  Very satisfying.

6. Yeovil, Stout Hearted (4.3%)

Reactions

Emotional:

Critical: Mild textures and flavours, although somehow perhaps more Porter than Stout in overall character.  Rounded, small malt, vague taste of milky chocolate at the finish.  Pretty refined.

7. Arkell's, Kingsdown Special Ale (4,8%)

Reactions

Emotional: This has given me the giggles for some reason! 

Critical: Apple fruitiness, medium bodied, sweet rather than bitter. Could be headache material.

8. St Austell, Trelawney (3.8%)
Reactions
Emotional: Quite like that!  But what are Galaxy hops?
Critical: This is probably a singing session beer.  Very top notes, very floral and sweet summer fruit in both aroma and following taste. Peach?  Melon?  Ends with tangy hops.  It has much more flavour than you think is possible for 3.8%

9. St Austell, Smugglers Vintage Ale (6%)
Reactions
Emotional: Mmmmmmmmmmm
Critical: Rich, loverly whisky and barley wine flavours, thick plum and raison, toffee and spice.  Very nice.  Having this again.

East Devon view

pink seas

sells beer and been here since 1813

Adding more Christmas Ales to the list

Adding more ..............  http://beesbeer.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/christmas-cheer-bah-humbug-x-moose.html

Christmas cheer? Bah Humbug, X-Moose, Rosie Nosey, Christmas Whiskers, Christmas Ale and all

Location: Floodswept and snowswept areas of the uplands

Moodmusic: Trying hard to ignore the commercialism of the season

Today's memories and soundbites
Of course it's impossible to ignore the seasonal sentiments, and I wouldn't want to portray myself as a complete Ebenezer Scrooge, but I find it harder every year to find the good in all the commercial hubbub. So what better a reaction than concentrating on the beers of the season.  Like the micro-brewery revival, the brewing of seasonal ales and of Christmas ales seems to be an expanding area.  Winter warmer strong ales and barley wines have been a long tradition in Britain, some recipes going back a few hundred years, seasonal beers which are higher in alcohol (typically 6-10%), sweeter, and more strongly flavoured with perhaps more dark and black barleys, have been a means to manage the cold, wet short days of winter and revel in the various winter festivals. Indeed the Nordic Viking tradition of strong winter ale for Thor's festival, a beer called Julol, is said to have become British Yule Ale .... or now .... Christmas beer.  There were also wassail beers ... ale-based drinks flavoured with honey and spices used as a toast to good health and good fortune for the new year, often celebrated on Twelfth night in Medieval times.  So "Christmas ales" are perhaps a newer way of recognising these traditions and marketing winter warmers for todays consumer.  They often see the addition of seasonal flavourings such as cinnamon, cloves, orange, ginger or nutmeg, and some Christmas ales are less gourmet-to-savour sipping winter warmers, but are intended as session beers, so they may not exceed 4-5% in strength relying on those flavours for seasonal interest instead.  I tried a selection of locally available .......

Drinks

1. Purple Moose, Merry X-Moose (5%)
Reactions
Emotional: Toooo easy ......
Critical: Ruby style winter warmer. This is a dangerous beer as it is sooooo easy to quaff and at 5% is likely to be a session beer that gets you into trouble. Medium bodied with very light bitter flavour, typical mildness of North Wales ales.

2. Wychwood, Bah Humbug (5.0%)
Reactions
Emotional: Huurumph ..... not sure
Critical: Not really too sure about this one.  It says on the bottle it is flavoured with cinnamon, but it tastes a little more clovey and soapy to me .....

3. Batemans, Rosie Nosey (4.7%)
Reactions
Emotional: OK .... it's a bitter
Critical: I liked this although I have to say that it tasted very much like a standard winter bitter.  Not sure it reminded me of Christmas, it's not very exciting or plum pudding or anything.  A good medium bodied medium flavoured medium bitter beer.

4. Shepherd & Neame, Christmas Ale (7%)
Reactions
Emotional: Ok .... that's a bit better
Critical: The depth of this ale probably comes from the high alcohol content.  Dark amber colour, slightly fruit nose, some fudgy treacle and a hint of vanilla, with orange pekoe tea?  Finishes a clean hoppy bitterness.

5. Marstons, Owd Rodger (7.6%)
Reactions
Emotional: Aaaww ...Wonderful!!
Critical: Delicious, thick, fruity, raisons and plums, warm and winter wonderful. More Christmassy than plum pudding! Wonderful.

6. Shepherd & Neame, Tins'ale (3.8%)
Reactions
Emotional: bog standard bitter
Critical: Nothing too exciting, although if you enjoy light bitters this one you’ll like.  Slightly metallic and hints of ginger (?) and lemon zest.  Light hoppiness and a little malty caramel.

7. Wye Valley, Christmas Whiskers (4.5%)
Reactions
Emotional: Nice session bitter
Critical: Nice rounded medium bodied bitter with some fresh doughy hoppiness followed with a mellow light fruitiness.  Less Christmas flavours but more Christmas merriment.

8. Branscombe Vale, Yo Ho Ho (6%)
Reactions
Emotional: OOOooo that tastes dangerous .... strong and quaffable
Critical: A strong English ale, small amounts of spice, with a deep caramel flavour and a tiny hint of raisins.  Have a feeling this would provide a headache is not treated with care.

9. Cotleigh, Red Nose Reinbeer (4.5%)
Reactions
Emotional: simply quaffable
Critical: Straight forward winter bitter.  Dark and malty, slight vinous depth, figs and a little bit of smokiness.  Could be a Christmas session beer.


Perfect Christmas view??

My Christmas message!

Somebody loves me?

Thank you to Go to Ale who nominated my blog for a Liebster Award?  I have been asked to answer 11 questions and then ask my own nominees with less than 200 followers another 11 questions.  Here goes then.  The 11 questions I was asked, with my answers, are:

1. What brewery makes your favourite beer?
The best beer I ever had was a porter served at the White eagle in Rhosneigr, Wales, but I don't remember who brewed it or what it was called, so best I mention Dorest brewers Hall and Woodhouse whose beers I really rate when tasting a well kept cask ale of theirs in a local pub.

2.  Star Wars or Star Trek?
Ohhh Star Wars by a long shot

3.  Black pens or blue pens? 
Pencils actually and then black pens

4.  Are you a homebrewer? 
Yes I love it and always looking to source free ingredients from field and hedgerow 

5.   How will you cook your turkey on Thanksgiving? 
We don't have Thanksgiving over here, so not something I can answer!

6.  What game have you always wanted to play on the Price Is Right? 
??? Is that on TV??

7.  Do you like sushi? 
Adore it and love to prepare it too

8.  What is your favorite meal to have with your favorite beer?  
Steak (blue) and chips with any strong flavoured ale, probably a porter or stout like Porterhouse Wrasslers XXXX Stout from Ireland

9.  If you could go back in time and visit one person for a day, who would you visit? 
Wow that's hard to answer, it's a toss-up between Albrecht Durer (1471-1528), or Rosa Parks (1913-2005), or Ernest Shackleton (1874-1922)

10.  Say you have a friend who has never had a beer. What beer would you recommend to a new beer drinker?

Something tasty and not too controversial, probably Sierra Nevada Pale Ale easy to drink and very, very delicious

11.  Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck?

Aaaaaghhh .... can't we have dogs instead of mice and ducks?  I'd rather vote for Pluto if I may.

For my own nominees please answer the following and then ask your own 11 questions of your own nominees via a direct message of FB link, remember that new nominees need to have less than 200 followers.

Cheers!

1. Which is your favourite brewery and why?
2. What beer would you recommend for a wedding?
3. IPA or Stout?
4. What is the collective noun for a group of beer drinkers?

5. Do you agree? 

6. Crystal, Challenger or Cascade?

7. Great Wall of China or Hanging Gardens of Babylon?

8. How many beers are in a keg, and is this knowledge important?

9. Why barley or Marmite?

10. When will you stop drinking beer?

11.  Do you believe "There is no Santa"?


http://thesecretdrinker.wordpress.com/

Sunny frosty woodland weekend in the West country

Location: Westward Ho!

Moodmusic: It's real autumn again ..... sun and cold in equal measure

Today's memories and soundbites
Happy weekend looking after a spinney, in the sunshine and frost, hand felling spruce trees and making log piles with my Silky handsaw .... all you need to be a lumberjill, and a great way to work up an honest thirst!  Counted 26 different bird species whilst I worked including a surprising red kite. Cinema trip for a 007 Daniel Craig moment .... brilliant.  Could not have wished for a better trip!

Drinks

As you can see a lovely west country selection on offer in the wood!

1. Arkell's 3B (4%)
Reactions
Emotional: The landlord told me this was a man's beer!! Haha!
Critical:  Apparently originates from a recipe first brewed in 1910.  The flavours are well balanced, good hop and malt, but a bit unexpectedly sweet ... sort of hazelnut caramel sweet .... not quite the combination for me.

2. Wooden Hand Brewery, Cornish Mutiny (4.8%)
Reactions
Emotional: VERY nice .... I really like this .. it has lovely chocolate notes mmmmm
Critical: A rich colour and smooth velvety head, a great deal of body coming with a sort of rum and raisin nose and fruit cake flavours which then break into chocolate fudge cake finish.  I thought it was great.

3. Dartmoor Brewery, Legend (4.4%) 
Reactions
Emotional: Ok ....
Critical: My first thought was ooohh tastes of the local water.  This has a strong water flavour and softness, which I know sounds weird but that's what I think, with some doughy bready yeasty flavours and a crisp finish.  Light and easy to drink.

4. RCH Brewery,  Pitchfork Rebellious Bitter (4.3%)
Reactions
Emotional: Oh ... surprising complexity of flavour
Critical: Bottle conditioned, so opened with care after a bit of a rough ride into the woods! Very well worth pondering this beer.  Winner of many beer awards.  Very hoppy, but no bitter edge, a bit more floral, and a slight hint of fruit, a little zesty.  Earthy ending.

5. Clearwater Brewery, Devon Darter (4.5%)
Reactions
Emotional: Ok ... bog standard maybe?
Critical: Can't quite get the measure of this one.  Great ruby amber colour. Not too strong on flavour. Again I think it tastes like the local water. More malt than hops.  It's the aftertaste which is so interesting ... it lasts as a nutty hoppiness for ages afterwards. Thought I would cross-check with other reviewers ... Elvis Appleford thought this was "refreshing" "sessionable" and "sticky in the throat"!


6. Cotleigh, Buzzard dark ale (4.8%)
Reactions
Emotional: Tastes like a kind of porter ...
Critical: First flavour is chocolate, second is treacle and third is light fruity hops ... that's an interesting combination. Smoky biscuit ending.


The rest found their way home to be enjoyed later ........ watch this space!

Coming threat to US/Global craft beers?

Read this from Mother Jones and wonder .......

http://www.motherjones.com/tom-philpott/2012/11/coming-threat-your-craft-brew

Aberystwyth, a different kind of rain and Pen-Lon Ewes Frolic

Location:  Aberystwyth Pier

Moodmusic: The world keeps turning, and life goes on and on, in it's own season

Today's soundbites and memories
Amazing patterns, great sounds and a very special kind of rain! Starlings doing their stuff, takes me right back to my childhood watching the same thing on winters evenings around Templemeads Station.  Weird to think these little, once plentiful birds, are red-listed as 'threatened'.

Drinks

1. Pen-Lon Ewes Frolic (5.2%)
Reactions
Emotional:  Aaaahhhh brilliant after a long and taxing day
Critical: light and easy to drink.  Not overly flavoured, gold, clean and a bit underpowered on the hoppy side.  A bit gassy too. Screams quality though.

and at little earlier at  Plas Y Brenin

2. Bragdy Nant, PYB Bootliquor (3.8%)
Reactions
Emotional: OK, not bad
Critical: Bready, straw'ish, toasted caramel, sweetish malt and some sort of woodiness. Interesting beer.  Not bad at all.  Not too sweet.

3. Bragdy Nant, PYB Dark Winter (5%)
Reactions
Emotional: Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh
Critical: This was served sooooooooooo cold it was hard to catch all the flavours, but I warrant that there is some chocolate in the background.  The draught is smooth and velvety without being too heavy.  Very nice dark beer. Not really a porter or a mild though.

Birmingham and Bristol, with bottles of Brewdog, Batemans and 312

Location: Birmingham, Bristol and bottles at Bees place

Moodmusic:  Cities have kind surprises when you know where to walk

Today's memories and soundbites
Tooooooo much city travel and in a car!  Birmingham city center is always frantic of course, but there is a lot of quiet history to take in too.  Victoria Square was redeveloped as a result of the Birmingham Victorian Society protesting against the proposed demolition of the General Post Office building in the late 1970's.  This led to an extended campaign to save and redevelop this part of the city.  The whole area, once a busy traffic junction around the massive neo-classical Town Hall modeled on the Temple of Castor in the Forum Rome, and the Council Buildings built in the form of a Venetian palace from 1874 (after all Birmingham has more canals than Venice!), was redeveloped through the end of the 1980's and reopened by Diana Princess of Wales as a pedestrian heart to the city in 1994. The square is now the point from which all distances are measured within and to the metropolis.  The General Post Office is still there with a modern extension, and a namesake bar The Post Office Vaults .... check them!

After Birmingham, Bristol, and after that bottles in bed!  Time to sleep and bring the journeys to an end.

Drinks

BrewDog, Punk IPA (5.6%)
Reactions
Emotional:
Critical: It's taken me ages to get round to drinking this, goodness only knows why!  It is a great ale, no wonder BrewDog have met with such success.  Grown up flavours, lots of complicated bitterness.  Strong on hops, with some spicy resin and a little bit of cloves in the background.  Tatstes bitter, dry and sharp with a finish that leaves an interesting biscuit flavour and a desire for more!

Goose Island, 312 Urban Wheat Beer (4.2%)
Reactions
Emotional: Very nice - damn surprising!
Critical:  Complexity of flavours which are unexpected.  This is a far less sweet proposition than Hoegaarden or other wiess beers.  This tastes more like a beer than not, and has some complicated bitterness weaving through the drink, with a deeper malt behind the spicy citrus.  Carbonation creates small bubbles which produce a velvety texture. Brewed in Chicago and bottle conditioned.  it tastes

Bateman's, Victory Ale (6%)
Reactions
Emotional: Mmmmmm ..... easy drinking
Critical: This is a great red-amber colour.  Nice medium body not too thick for this kind of strength.  Tastes like a session ale.  Has deep caramel, hint of orange, cereal, hoppy depth.

Wells and Young, Kirin Ichiban, Premium Press (5%)
Reaction
Emotional: Foreign - and worth a go???
Critical: Brewed as a franchise in Britain.  Tastes like a good quality euro-larger.  Not too bad overall.  Clean finish.

Birmingham view

Hope!

"Floozie in the Jacuzzi", aka "The River"

Victoria Square shapes

Aaaah ..... beer ..... and exciting ones in bottles to take away and everything.  Pinfold Street.

Town Hall Birmingham, ridiculously impressive

Taxonomy of beer

This is fun? The myriad types of beer and how they link together. Click for the link to Pop Chart Lab.

Snow on All Hallows and Ale on the Eve

Location: Brecon Beacons misty mountains hop

Moodmusic: "Question number nine, what is the name for a female spirit in Irish mythology, usually seen as an omen of death, and no, before you answer, it’s not the wife!"

Today's memories and soundbites
Well All Hallows eve was a strange day, started as it ended, with me sending a text to the wrong person at 06.30 in the morning and another text to a different wrong person at 23:00.  We only hope it doesn't matter and I'll be forgiven.  But in between times there was some lovely beer in the most unexpected location, and a most unexpected win of the pub quiz for a cash and beer prize.  Talybont on Usk right beside the Monmouth and Brecon canal, goodness, why on earth did this settlement appear here?   The Usk valley it seems was an important farming area during the Medieval period, and a bridge over the river Cearfarnell.  The same valley during Tudor and Stuart times became an important route to the western Welsh ports at one end and a route to the North and through to Holyhead at the other.  The bridge was an important crossing point, until Telford's A5 became the main route on the other side of the river. The arrival of the canal in 1804 was to transport limestone, coal and iron cleaved from the surrounding hills, and Talybont was an important loading point.  All Hallows Day driving through the Welsh mountains was particularly beautiful, strong gold and auburns of autumn and snow in the mountains, driving through snow over the high passes. Wonderful.

Location: The Star Inn

Drinks
1. Brecon Brewery, Busters Broomstick Brew (4.3%)
Reactions
Emotional: Blood red ale ... yumyum!
Critical: Depth of flavour, some good bitterness, lovely medium body, clean finish.  Good session beer.

2. Abbeydale Brewery, Moonshine (4.3%)
Reactions
Emotional: Amazing colour, look at that, stunning
Critical: Fruity and extremely moorish .... this is just far to enjoyable and easy to drink, some lemon and grapefruit, and there might even be a hinto of bubblegum, but it is not sweet or cloying, medium bodies and clean ending

3. Dark Star brewery, Revelation (5.7%)
Reactions
Emotional: Oh ..... surprising
Critical: Also a pale ale, but this is less fruit and exciting and far more full on hops and bitterness.  It does not taste as strong as it is, so could be dangerous.

4. W H Buckleys, Best Bitter
Reactions
Emotional: OK that will do
Critical: Nice traditional bitter, medium bodies, great balance between hops and malt, vague chocolate and vanilla flavours hidden at the back, toasted cereal coming through on finish.

5. Wadworths XB (4.3%)
Reactions
Emotional: Also good enough!
Critical: This tastes like a standard bitter should taste, strong hop flavours and a hearty bitter thickness, some carbonation to lift the ending.

Talybont view

Star Inn

The TWIZY ecofriendly transport by Renault. The village has a car pool scheme.

Canal bridge - looks very Dutch?

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