tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62152049696508727012024-03-13T21:29:42.133+00:00One More Won't Kill You - Beer BlogAnother one of those interesting beer blogs. This one's from Wirral, U.K. Home of Brimstage Brewery and Tranmere Rovers.Birkonianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02797631050700297107noreply@blogger.comBlogger187125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6215204969650872701.post-60683171790805958122015-03-04T20:39:00.001+00:002015-03-04T20:40:23.139+00:00Thomas Hardy's Ale RebornThis beauty arrived by post yesterday so I thought it was time to end my silence.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC0E926D-_orZEBpYSmImXeaD6LfCeTutvQc6fioPBmOSbrXTtsyzozSAiJrJTbG1DvFJ5l7ofjDotDenxFVC6Gw1RS0sBqFbTpSFpbrc-QgFnBf_KUqsaLyxzeH0AZApDu1_R7C9Lahk/s1600/IMG_1619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC0E926D-_orZEBpYSmImXeaD6LfCeTutvQc6fioPBmOSbrXTtsyzozSAiJrJTbG1DvFJ5l7ofjDotDenxFVC6Gw1RS0sBqFbTpSFpbrc-QgFnBf_KUqsaLyxzeH0AZApDu1_R7C9Lahk/s1600/IMG_1619.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The rights to the Thomas Hardy Ale name have now passed to a company in Italy called Interbrau. This preview edition should certainly whet the appetite of beer connoisseurs everwhere. They've gone back to the original pint and half pint bottles from 1968 for the design. The wax capsule is an attractive touch, although there appears to be a crown cork beneath it.<br />
<br />
The ale is brewed to the classic strength of 11.7%, who brews or will brew has not been revealed although we are assured that it will be in England. This re-incarnation may well be more successful than O'Hanlon's. The beer market has move on a lot in 10 years and there are plenty of beer geeks who won't mind paying top dollar for a beer that is a statement. "Look at me. Money's no object to show what superior taste I have." Others will buy just the one bottles and stare lovingly at it from time to time, never getting round to actually drinking it. Which is what happened first time round.Birkonianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02797631050700297107noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6215204969650872701.post-9679530086563272542014-03-25T18:20:00.003+00:002014-03-25T18:20:57.653+00:00The Pound Pub has arrived.A 'no frills' pub is to sell a pint of lager for only £1.50 per pint and £1 per half state newspaper reports today. The Pound Pub will open in Stockton-on-Tees with a second pub planned for Atherton just outside Manchester. Cue gnashing of teeth by the health lobby.<br />
<br />
I do have a bit of a problem with two half pint costing 50% more than a pint which could encourage excessive drinking. I presume that none of the beers on offer will be the latest 'must have' offering from our coolest craft breweries nor can I imagine that any brewery can provide cask beer to be sold so cheaply. So I'll pass thanks. Birkonianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02797631050700297107noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6215204969650872701.post-37373247197546516732014-03-17T20:56:00.002+00:002014-03-17T20:56:46.345+00:00The most influential brewery in the countryAccording to Radio 2 tonight the answer to that question is........................................... Marstons! This was the lead in to a rather vacuous piece concerning their new Revisionist range. Pretty obvious answer I'm sure you'll agree. <br />
<br />
The journalist who was spouting the publicity blub annoyed me by insisting in pronouncing the brewery as 'Marztons.'Birkonianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02797631050700297107noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6215204969650872701.post-81842438416932184442014-03-13T21:26:00.000+00:002014-03-13T21:26:05.219+00:00What the cool kids are drinkingThe Oxton Bar and Grill is unsurprisingly, in Oxton, which is one of the oldest districts of Birkenhead. A number of late Georgian and early Victorian mansions and cottages survive and there is a slightly upmarket, village feel which is untypical of this decaying town.<br />
<br />
The bar will be a new entrant to the GBG in 2015 but after a perfectly good pint from the local Peerless brewery I was attracted by a keg offering of the sort that is rare in Wirral - Flying Dog Doggie-style. Very good it was too, but it was after ordering that I noticed the chalk board. The heading stated 'What the cool kids are drinking', listing a wine, a spirit and the afore-mentioned Doggie-style.<br />
<br />
So it's official. Craft beer is for the young and cool. Like me.Birkonianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02797631050700297107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6215204969650872701.post-48170406766943267892014-02-28T20:06:00.000+00:002014-02-28T20:06:16.822+00:00Discount for CAMRA membersThe Font, round the corner from Manchester Oxford Road station gives a whopping 25% discount to CAMRA members. That reduced my pint of Magic Rock Ringmaster from an expensive £3.60 to a very reasonable £2.70. It presumably indicates that the margin on cask beer in this bar is pretty high.Birkonianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02797631050700297107noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6215204969650872701.post-23160836409761717192014-02-24T20:33:00.001+00:002014-02-24T20:33:36.086+00:00The Indy admits bias against alcohol.<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: black;">I wrote to The Independent to complain about its skewed reporting of alcohol matters. Below is an extract of the reply I received from Will Gore, Deputy Managing Editor:</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><strong>With
regard to our stance on alcohol, as with a range of issues we may take an
editorial line on a subject if we think it is the right one after proper
analysis (independence is not synonymous with impartiality). </strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: black;">In other words they admit that their reporting is not impartial. I hope that I'm not the only one to challenge them.</span></span>Birkonianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02797631050700297107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6215204969650872701.post-34699640356242046552014-02-23T10:27:00.003+00:002014-02-23T10:27:56.228+00:00Liverpool Beer Festival 2014I hope those who attended had a good time. The local CAMRA branch actually made tickets available via the internet this year. The problem is you'd have to be in the know to be aware of that. A kind soul informed me a few weeks after the closing date for applications. Maybe I'll manage to get a ticket next year. Or maybe not.Birkonianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02797631050700297107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6215204969650872701.post-67420672291712708702014-02-16T21:32:00.000+00:002014-02-21T21:15:47.374+00:00The Independent newsapers - No friend of alcohol<div style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri"; font-size: 12pt;">
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Indy on Sunday sent my blood pressure soaring with their leader comment today. I've noticed the bias of the Indy papers over recent times but today's unsubstantiated uttering moved me to reply:</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sir/Madam,</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I have noted with dismay for some time an anti-alcohol consumption slant to
the reporting by the Independent on Sunday and your sister daily newspaper. It
took your leader column today to rouse me in protest at your
pronouncements.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">You state ‘ Minimum pricing would certainly have a disproportionate effect
on poor people who are not problem drinkers. In our view, that is a price worth
paying for the wider social benefits of cutting alcohol consumption generally
and problem in particular.’</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Can you explain in more detail why cutting alcohol consumption of
responsible drinkers is a good thing, especially in regard to those on low
incomes who you admit will be hit the most? </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Yours,</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Steve Hannigan</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I urge you to complain also.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
<div>
</div>
</div>
Birkonianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02797631050700297107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6215204969650872701.post-74812432667271669922014-02-13T20:43:00.000+00:002014-02-13T20:43:07.302+00:00The first craft beer chain?Collecting my daughter from Lime Street station on Monday night I parked my car and used the side entrance. In doing so, I passed a pub that I'd forgotten about - The Head of Steam. Once packed to the gunnels it had just a couple of hardy souls watching Sky footy.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQGb-rqtNRiX0nWg17UJ9tx5mdqr7pOmypldQb3TfVB2KkGSdsK3M8qX0iZSISFq3ba_Bjck2jNbpcrARU6tFNeA2bx8HCTAyLyu7f6_XWaKz5AFV2Z3RU9hCqYExX7xaorr1P_5MDOQ/s1600/HOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQGb-rqtNRiX0nWg17UJ9tx5mdqr7pOmypldQb3TfVB2KkGSdsK3M8qX0iZSISFq3ba_Bjck2jNbpcrARU6tFNeA2bx8HCTAyLyu7f6_XWaKz5AFV2Z3RU9hCqYExX7xaorr1P_5MDOQ/s1600/HOS.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Huddersfield</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Was this part of the first chain of craft beer pubs? The Liverpool pub had five beers, each with a different range of beers. Beers from around the world were available and I remember buying the new, O'Hanlons produced Thomas Hardy's Ale from the Huddersfield outlet in 1984.<br />
<br />
The earliest memory of a pub that would now be classed as 'craft' was a rural one. The Mason's Arms, Cartmel Fell, hidden above Lake Windermere had a world beer list on each table. It stocked over 150 Belgian Beers in the mid 80's and was the first place that I drank beers from the excellent Dutch 't IJ brewery.<br />
Birkonianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02797631050700297107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6215204969650872701.post-39146616951684015932014-01-31T21:01:00.002+00:002014-02-05T20:03:51.294+00:00Coronation Street and Fullers London Pride<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2HNAXK-TG6Kc4NXfHyfIxFNeLHysZc9L4VqIJCN7iO3asP-myAv0sjYLofdh1Dtj0G2PbEweg_Iff9LZXfTgUmwjWoNbRuFoxJ2-CY8xjWi4jdkwQ3ggDg6ohDQ2948F1sxb71Xpk5uM/s1600/rovers+return.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2HNAXK-TG6Kc4NXfHyfIxFNeLHysZc9L4VqIJCN7iO3asP-myAv0sjYLofdh1Dtj0G2PbEweg_Iff9LZXfTgUmwjWoNbRuFoxJ2-CY8xjWi4jdkwQ3ggDg6ohDQ2948F1sxb71Xpk5uM/s1600/rovers+return.png" height="291" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Has anyone else noticed the keg pump that appears in centre frame in many scenes of Coronation Street's Rovers Return? Notwithstanding that it is keg is a dead ringer for a London Pride pump clip. the only photo I can find is not that clear but its the dispenser on the left. If you haven't spotted it before you will now I've highlighted it.Birkonianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02797631050700297107noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6215204969650872701.post-30507416596329869072014-01-28T18:29:00.001+00:002014-01-28T18:29:27.288+00:00Manchester Beer Festival 2014I thoroughly enjoyed my two day stay in Manchester apart from the Friday morning hangover. I found the Velodrome an excellent venue and it certainly attracted the crowds. There were punters from all over Britain and also further afield. I'm told that the festival closed five hours earlier than planned on Saturday due to lack of beer and that beer order of 20% less than last year when it was CAMRA's National Winter beer festival should probably have been 20% more. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHFZn9RAOslgxYUJeGb8MVP_3OEuyuLyxjvl2dn3mP6NIhbr3nGNhIyVHr2plWfWpquXMN4cYXfBTUDAPyCIJvp9KRWI696H4rvBzqxOsrnDSmQ7qexJ6ZcmVDoaHAssvG8aObBTVRSYY/s1600/Velodrome.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHFZn9RAOslgxYUJeGb8MVP_3OEuyuLyxjvl2dn3mP6NIhbr3nGNhIyVHr2plWfWpquXMN4cYXfBTUDAPyCIJvp9KRWI696H4rvBzqxOsrnDSmQ7qexJ6ZcmVDoaHAssvG8aObBTVRSYY/s1600/Velodrome.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
There was an extensive and excellent range of beers plus reasonably priced food. The Velodrome is easy to get to - three stops on the tram from Piccadilly or just two from New Islington for Great Ancoats Street and the Northern Quarter. I walked to the festival on Friday lunch time along the Ashton Canal towpath which took about half an hour. I'm aware of problems negotiating the numerous steps between the bars and seating/toilets/food for those with mobility problems. I believe that the organisers are considering siting some bars on the concourse next year for those who don't want to negotiate the tunnel too often.<br />
<br />
The cycling was quite a spectacle. To see the best cycling teams in the world going about their training at close quarters was enthralling. The speed they reach is truly amazing.<br />
<br />
Thanks to the local CAMRA branches for organising a very enjoyable festival.<br />
<br />
Birkonianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02797631050700297107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6215204969650872701.post-35734052657823115802014-01-21T21:29:00.003+00:002014-01-22T19:37:23.730+00:00At the Manchester Beer FestivalLooking forward to this one. Please say hello. Thursday I'll be wearing a black Cartmel Brewery tee shirt and <strike>a red 'Belgium'</strike> an 'O.B.E.R Crew' tee shirt on Friday. Can't imagine there will many others similarly attired. If in doubt I'm the young, slim one with the sculptured features; honest.Birkonianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02797631050700297107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6215204969650872701.post-57779160789269666132014-01-18T19:03:00.002+00:002014-01-18T19:03:39.229+00:00Brewdog LiverpoolMy spies tell me that the new Brewdog bar in Liverpool will be off Colquitt Street in the Ropewalks area. There are a lot of late license bars and clubs nearby. I'm not sure if this is the right part of town to open a 'craft' bar. In fact I'll be interested to see how the Scousers take to the concept. They're pretty open minded on most things but they do like to drink beer in ferocious quantities so I'm not sure how they'll react to Tactical Nuclear Penguin.Birkonianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02797631050700297107noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6215204969650872701.post-35629312655177484842014-01-13T22:21:00.002+00:002014-01-13T22:22:16.230+00:00Wirral Smith & Jones pubs closed<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV5-3TfUg3XI-uS7enW-Ls5y3h1e5MMTk6ddQOzVaBp4QpiGA9Rj140t2eDELvZnwN-VjxlqBld7y-KjthvcyX-UbWR44knRXT7OJa6ybafyrpMLenFLz-3H57244SuhmzDYFLPGIeSk4/s1600/chronicle.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV5-3TfUg3XI-uS7enW-Ls5y3h1e5MMTk6ddQOzVaBp4QpiGA9Rj140t2eDELvZnwN-VjxlqBld7y-KjthvcyX-UbWR44knRXT7OJa6ybafyrpMLenFLz-3H57244SuhmzDYFLPGIeSk4/s1600/chronicle.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Chronicle, Bebington</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Wirral lost two pubs this week. The Chronicle in Bebington and The Ravenscroft in Heswall (named after the real surname of DJ John Peel, who was born in Heswall) both closed suddenly. The pubs traded under the Smith & Jones name and were two of the remaining pubs belonging to the Bramwell Pub Company which entered Administration in October. A number of pubs had already been sold, many to rival Pubco Stonegate.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The closures came as a bit of a shock to punters as both pubs seemed to operating reasonably well in the clone Wetherspoon sector. I've heard tales of managers receiving phone calls telling them to stop serving and throw out the customers half way through a session plus the administrators sending in the bailiffs to remove anything of value and cutting through the TV lead instead of just pulling out the plug. Both sold cask ale in reasonable condition, from an uninspiring list.</div>
<br />Birkonianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02797631050700297107noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6215204969650872701.post-44968411893309430352014-01-11T21:57:00.002+00:002014-01-11T21:57:38.531+00:00Christmas beers - againWhy do so many pubs end up with cellar loads of Christmas beers that don't sell? It is the 11th January and my usual haunt after Tranmere's games still had three seasonal offerings on sale. The pub nearest to the ground only had one cask beer available and that too had some awful Christmas pun for a name. Personally, I'm even less likely to drink them now than I was a few weeks ago - see <a href="http://birkonian.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/christmas-beers.html">http://birkonian.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/christmas-beers.html</a>.<br />
<br />
As we get near to the middle of January Christmas seems long gone and festive beers on the bar are probably well past their best - if they had a best.Birkonianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02797631050700297107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6215204969650872701.post-60350255411915629892014-01-07T23:16:00.000+00:002014-01-07T23:16:27.022+00:00Dry January - The last straw?Giving up alcohol for January is the new fad. A bit like those 5:2 diets where you don't eat for two days so you feel better about eating crap the rest of the week. Cutting back booze after Christmas is nothing new; money is tight, the weight has crept and to be honest we're a bit bloated and slightly fed up of drinking. But a whole month?<br />
<br />
This year seems different. The 'health' lobby seem to be preaching in all the papers either through paid adverts or with the help of sympathetic editors. They encourage us to get sponsored and give up for charity. That way we're less likely to fall off the rails. The cynic in me thinks in future years they'll suggest that we make it January and February, or why not give up completely? <br />
<br />
Where does this dry month leave our pubs? We know that many are struggling and pubs are still closing down in great numbers. As I said January has always been a poor month for sales, but encouraging large numbers of us to forsake alcohol for a whole month may well be the end for our beleaguered publicans. Most of the new abstainers will cease visiting pubs completely to avoid temptation rather than shift to soft drinks. Pub overheads don't change in January. The bills still have to be paid and heating and lighting costs are at their highest. So, before you're taken in by the anti-alcohol lobby be aware that giving up drink for January could mean no pub to return to in February.Birkonianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02797631050700297107noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6215204969650872701.post-31637608677999302822013-12-31T11:02:00.000+00:002013-12-31T11:04:39.208+00:00Expensive 'craft' beerThere have been plenty of comments regarding the price of 'craft' beers and the perception that the mark up is excessive.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcOgxwp5j0nsZ5pXZh7zjg1XSRUZnDxefTDaXimQpfgskv0Lm_rBcm6udA43dc-endHn_9znPR6hITuKnKtOqAYa-zmnQt7ppoGdYxVhDKhf0v9a2AklimaBZ72MBBx3zOWhdk4gahG5k/s1600/DLS-Zinnebir-xmas-web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcOgxwp5j0nsZ5pXZh7zjg1XSRUZnDxefTDaXimQpfgskv0Lm_rBcm6udA43dc-endHn_9znPR6hITuKnKtOqAYa-zmnQt7ppoGdYxVhDKhf0v9a2AklimaBZ72MBBx3zOWhdk4gahG5k/s320/DLS-Zinnebir-xmas-web.jpg" width="307" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A seriously weird beer label<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I was in Port Street Beer House on Sunday and would have been tempted by the X-Mas Zinnebir from the excellent de la Senne brewery in Brussels. However, the blackboard was showing a price of £10/pint! I know it's imported but I've seen plenty of other foreign beers on draught at different location much cheaper than that. I think a lot of Londoners would baulk at that price never mind Mancunians. The beer is 6.5% so it is not rocket fuel. I'll be interested to compare the price of say the 10.5% Gouden Carolus Christmas at the Manchester Velodrome festival next month, granted there will be lower overheads.Birkonianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02797631050700297107noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6215204969650872701.post-50410715597626252362013-12-30T11:21:00.001+00:002013-12-30T16:59:34.821+00:00Why I don't like the Sheffield TapIn Sheffield for the footy yesterday. The Sheffield Tap was the obvious first stop as long as we hide our football shirts. Why is such discrimination allowed? They have no problem with Rugby shirts and allow children in but they view all football fans as sub-normal IQ psychopaths.<br />
<br />
That is a niggle but not my main grouse. The bar may have a superb choice of cask, bottled and 'craft' beers and has been extended to provide more seating but there were only two staff serving a bar that contained about 80 customers. I managed to get served - note that the barmaid wasn't making any attempt to notice who had been waiting the longest - another bugbear is when she said "who is next?" but when my friend went up to get the next round it was obvious that there were dozen punters were waiting to be served because one of barmaids had gone out to collect empties.<br />
<br />
The number serving in such a busy pub made Wetherpoons look over-staffed. So we gave up waiting and went to the Devonshire Cat where service was prompt and the cask beers excellent.<br />
<br />
I don't think that this was a one-off because I've struggled to be served previously in the Sheffield Tap, so come on, show some consideration for the customer and employ more staff.Birkonianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02797631050700297107noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6215204969650872701.post-60871836965558561302013-12-25T12:14:00.003+00:002013-12-25T19:53:38.728+00:00Inappropriate Beer GiftsThis is the time of year when the male of the species receives socks, after shave and deodorant. I've no problem with that. However, if you are recognised as liking the odd pint of beer there is a chance that you'll also receive an Inappropriate Beer Gift from a well meaning relative or friend. You force the false smile as you unwrap the Gift pack of 'World' lagers (nanufactured in South Wales and Northampton) or cans of Bombardier/Old Speckled Hen.<br />
<br />
Those of us who take pride in a modicum of beer knowledge will be fully stocked with more suitable beers and will wait for a suitable opportunity to jettison the unwanted gifts at a party or pass them on to the less discerning (i.e. non geeky) drinker.<br />
<br />
Today, I received a supposed example of the Unwanted Beer Gift, or so I thought. But upon opening I found a gift set of the Maredsous range of Belgian beers complete with beer glass (which I've wanted for years despite owning far too many glasses). I won't embarrass the givers of this excellent and unexpected gift by naming them here but Thank You and Merry Christmas!Birkonianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02797631050700297107noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6215204969650872701.post-41700629360821522332013-12-24T13:28:00.002+00:002013-12-24T13:28:20.646+00:00Beers for ChristmasI've chosen some suitable beers for tonight and Christmas Day. It's a mixture of Belgian Christmas beers, some of which have been aged. For instance Stille Nacht Reserva 2005 which clocks in at a whopping 12%.<br />
<br />
I've included the odd English special beer as well. A 75 cl Meantime IPA will offer a nice contrast to the heavier beers and I've also got a few Bateman's Vintage Ales which are good value from Aldi.<br />
<br />
I've got plenty of other 75cl bottles for later in the week as long as I've got someone to share them with. It's just greedy drinking a 13% Winterkoninske on your own.<br />
<br />
I always have a good of stock of special beers in for Christmas but presumably most people drink the same beers that they do the rest of the year; just more of them.Birkonianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02797631050700297107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6215204969650872701.post-10514449391470782542013-12-18T20:28:00.001+00:002013-12-18T20:28:30.438+00:00The end for Trappist beers?Sorry, it's another post about Belgium. I will start drinking and talking about British beer again soon. On Friday to be precise, before and after Tranmere Rovers' home match. I probably won't want to talk about the football.<br />
<br />
An article in the Indy highlights a problem that some of us were discussing in Belgium over the weekend. Put simply, the Trappist monasteries in Belgium are running out of monks. The Good Lord is claiming the older ones but not enough novice monks are replacing them. Achel, who only started brewing again about 10 years ago after a lengthy break are down to six monks, five of whom are over 70. Orval, who have been struggling to keep up with demand anyway have 12 monks, down from 35 a few decades back.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWTxOotKCwIOn1jIu-ovghIub1FhRdCK4WGniJIjGgcDfNTQSxu6IUqfj-3KKgckVOABT7Qlx8DeqS0h0iSUmV8uKTJOZxGHyULQ4qUb_K2_FT4_AO9oN-maz4X8b8w2zdFD4O_Nh1pCM/s1600/trappistkaart_2013_klein.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWTxOotKCwIOn1jIu-ovghIub1FhRdCK4WGniJIjGgcDfNTQSxu6IUqfj-3KKgckVOABT7Qlx8DeqS0h0iSUmV8uKTJOZxGHyULQ4qUb_K2_FT4_AO9oN-maz4X8b8w2zdFD4O_Nh1pCM/s320/trappistkaart_2013_klein.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
While all Trappist brewers employ secular workers to do most of the work, they must nominate at least one monk to supervise the brewing otherwise their beers will lose the Authorised Trappist Product denomination. At least there are new Abbeys starting to produce beer. Stift Engelszell in Austria (Gregorious), Maria Toevlucht (Zundert) and even St Joseph's Abbey from U.S.A have been granted the ATP logo. Inevitably, beer geeks are paying over the odds to purchase these 'desirable' beers.Birkonianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02797631050700297107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6215204969650872701.post-63374173283956784822013-12-17T22:38:00.000+00:002013-12-17T22:38:14.801+00:00Reality bites<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihIzIQ-iTyfK436ZLt4mZWrosm3RpkWJ0Hn7nTDfTTCDgxC9sPxh21hVckc-K4zmkK8zwtvjrmOl5PtTxuFMEV9vhJl_TRm940kTSrjL6Noi7fUp0xz-U0xhlGaX2JGOPULujM_nS6lQU/s1600/BbiSl-KIgAAH_F2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihIzIQ-iTyfK436ZLt4mZWrosm3RpkWJ0Hn7nTDfTTCDgxC9sPxh21hVckc-K4zmkK8zwtvjrmOl5PtTxuFMEV9vhJl_TRm940kTSrjL6Noi7fUp0xz-U0xhlGaX2JGOPULujM_nS6lQU/s320/BbiSl-KIgAAH_F2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
My five days in Belgium flew by. Two nights in the perfect Christmas city, Bruges, an evening with friends from far and wide in bustling Antwerp and then two days at the finest Xmas beer festival in the world set in the unlikely setting of Essen, an otherwise boring dormitory town on the Dutch border. I also put in two shifts behind the bar at the festival, slightly daunting where the pre-requisite is a knowledge of all the numbers in Dutch from one to one hundred and eighty - the number of different beers on sale.<br />
<br />
I drank a lot of superb beers and a few rubbish ones too. A few hundred came home in the boot of my car. That's Christmas over for another year in my book. At least I've booked my room in Essen for next year.Birkonianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02797631050700297107noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6215204969650872701.post-3576204612906804222013-12-10T18:53:00.001+00:002013-12-10T18:53:47.223+00:00Christmas Beers<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjzeYnvhnt9XlujO9AncyKCrbFEsL7XSgqMOObtZGwJ81OZRLiD9OWoj9tORX2XEvuofX_27-JOQi08od4hZVF-XNP8FyVxRUuiG-msunPqwCK7KAuzHzwMd9qaGjM17izpOgA9fLwLvE/s1600/untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjzeYnvhnt9XlujO9AncyKCrbFEsL7XSgqMOObtZGwJ81OZRLiD9OWoj9tORX2XEvuofX_27-JOQi08od4hZVF-XNP8FyVxRUuiG-msunPqwCK7KAuzHzwMd9qaGjM17izpOgA9fLwLvE/s1600/untitled.png" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I'll be setting off to Belgium in the early hours. I've got a couple of days in Bruges followed by the weekend at the Kerstbier festival in Essen (no, not the one in Germany). The festival is expected to have about 180 different Christmas beers on sale. Most of the bars in Belgium will be stocking one or more festive beer.<br />
<br />
Here in Britain we are pretty crap at producing beers for the deep midwinter. Some breweries think that it is sufficient to produce a sickly, malty beer in the 4 to 5% range and give it a jokey name. I know one pub that orders far too many casks of Christmas beers with the result that they are still on sale in mid-January when no one is slightly interested, the beer already turning to vinegar. Furthermore, it's strange that the so-called 'craft' breweries who are used to producing strong beers don't seem interested in this sector. Presumably, they deem Christmas beers as a bit naff.Birkonianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02797631050700297107noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6215204969650872701.post-7045942735743443932013-12-08T21:15:00.000+00:002013-12-08T21:15:03.030+00:00To Blog or Not To BlogThe trouble with blogging is that you have to blog regularly. Readers expect new content even if they don't think much of what is written. So even when I've been tempted to blog during the last few months at he back of mind I've thought "If I re-start can I continue?" The answer's been 'No' but I thought it was time to make an effort again.<br />
<br />
What sustains the beer blogging world is the discussion of 'craft beer'. What it is, what it isn't, where it is found, who likes or doesn't like it and if it even exists. What many bloggers fail to realise is that the vast majority of beer drinkers aren't aware of craft or if they are, don't have the chance to drink it/ignore it in their local pubs - I use the word 'pub' because bars are still mostly found in large cities.<br />
<br />
I was out in Liverpool on Friday for my firm's Christmas lunch followed by the obligatory piss up. Now Liverpool has been a little bit slow in grasping the craft mantle. Scousers aren't slow in responding to new trends but they mostly like to drink their beer in pints - low gravity and lots of them. Being a sociable animal I was resigned to being dragged wherever the group took me. I knew the beer would be crap but the company of numerous drunken women was one consolation.<br />
<br />
The meal was booked for 2:00 p.m. so there was time for a few drinks in a pub of my choice with a few like minded souls. The Lady of Mann was the choice. near to the restaurant and decent beer. I started with a pint of a hoppy beer from a new Welsh brewery who's name escapes me. Very nice too. I then decided I should try a half of a keg beer which is very much in the craft category. Magic Rock's High Wire was available and the pub enhanced its craft quotient by offering the choice of half pint or schooner. Another excellent beer.<br />
<br />
On to the Bar and Grill for food. A slightly upmarket venue where it's not unknown for Premier league footballers and other 'celebrities' to be spotted. No beer of note but the bosses had paid for the wine so no problem.<br />
<br />
After the food came the difficult bit. The Slaughterhouse is an iconic pub name in Liverpool, but despite it's resurrection as a comedy venue it no longer has any atmosphere and has no decent beer at all. I even sneaked over the road at one point to neck a half of Greene King IPA in the Cornmarket. Desperate measures. <br />
<br />
Next was All Bar One. Not my sort of pub, but surely there will be at least one handpump? Surveying the bar my hopes were dashed but there was consolation. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale amongst the keg fonts. £4.50 a pint is extortionate for Liverpool but beggars can't be choosers. An hour and a half later to time to move again. 'Matthew Street' is the call. The tacky, drunken touristy centre of Liverpool with it's homage to the Beatles and fake Irish bars. A glimmer of hope though. A few of the pubs/bars stock the odd cask beer. My hopes are dashed again when I realise that the Revolution Vodka Bar is our destination. I'd normally not be seen dead in there but on we must go. But perusing the beer menu I'm mildly surprised. Curious IPA, Duvel and Chimay Bleue are listed. Pretty average apart from Duvel but better than the poxy lagers on draught. Three hours in there and I've seen off the stock of Curious so finish with Duvel. Time to move on is the cry but it's the last train home for me. You can't walk across the Mersey and I don't fancy forking out a fortune for a taxi just to have more beer that I don't need.<br />
<br />
The moral? Slowly but surely the rise of craft beer is improving the choice of beer in venues you wouldn't expect to stock anything drinkable.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Birkonianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02797631050700297107noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6215204969650872701.post-34000187993674434792013-06-21T21:16:00.000+01:002013-06-21T21:16:00.884+01:00Threat to Trappist BrewerI read the following report on the Flanders News website:<br />
<br />
<em>The monks of the Notre-Dame Abbey of Saint-Remy are deeply concerned about the quality of their famous Trappist Beer Rochefort. The source providing the water for the making of the beer, is bound to dry up due to developments in a limestone quarry nearby. The abbey is situated 5 kilometres from Rochefort, in Namur province in the Ardennes.</em><br />
<div id="articlebody">
<div class="articlecontent">
<div class="paragraph">
<em>The Walloon group Lhoist has been exploiting the limestone quarry since 1956. However, Lhoist has plans to extend its activities further and to make the quarry some 60 metres deeper. This will cause the source that the monks are using to make their beer, to dry up completely, studies reveal.</em><br />
<em>Lhoist wants to go ahead with its plans, and suggests creating three new wells nearby, in order to pump this water to the original source. However, the monks are afraid that this will not be the same. "We only have guarantees about the quantity, not about the quality of the water", spokesman Christopher De Doncker told De Standaard. The monks are concerned that the taste of their beer will be affected.</em><br />
<em>As a compromise, Lhoist has offered to carry the extra cost of the new wells. However, the company still needs a permit to get the green light for deepening the quarry.</em><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfobE9v5bLS42MNEdD4zmR7a2IULbnSDZP5IA-njiIo1SRfAgrbl-HTKTZRX2IYrhio8FHETjCaZ3lY-2uYT3_NBRZ7ttZHGeBNjH0tupZhnr_8k_nlgoKx1Us98PiW5hjFTBqnWLsD4/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfobE9v5bLS42MNEdD4zmR7a2IULbnSDZP5IA-njiIo1SRfAgrbl-HTKTZRX2IYrhio8FHETjCaZ3lY-2uYT3_NBRZ7ttZHGeBNjH0tupZhnr_8k_nlgoKx1Us98PiW5hjFTBqnWLsD4/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></div>
It would be a great shame if the Rochefort beers were affected. Co-incidentally I drank a bottle of Rochefort 10 last night; a sumptuous end to an evening. Belgian beers have taken a back seat recently behind the juggernaut of heavily hopped beers, but I am a big fan and consider a Trappist or Abbey style beer to be the perfect accompaniment to cheese. Traditional gueuze is an acquired taste they say - well I acquired it many years ago and find it the most refreshing beer on those rare summery days.</div>
</div>
</div>
Birkonianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02797631050700297107noreply@blogger.com1