tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17958374739528675072024-03-20T15:36:46.046+00:00Roberto Ross - Professional DrinkerRoberto Ross, Professional Drinkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05745997006722790614noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1795837473952867507.post-18426260585964505942013-06-22T12:18:00.000+01:002013-06-22T12:18:58.896+01:00A Peek Into Ontario Craft Beer
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEistW8ft7LmaYZFVnn2nIoYMquMEpkFgx0O53Sh6HQo1QO5iwkQpyBjMmpz0NKcOG5iBrNFy2zS1CP3KDT8TW0NbD8CjjMCrtkvzHfpwu0JdvUu5vQnY9uiaVzJMzXnt5CBXIt4Xop5wFI/s1600/800px-Flag_of_Ontario.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEistW8ft7LmaYZFVnn2nIoYMquMEpkFgx0O53Sh6HQo1QO5iwkQpyBjMmpz0NKcOG5iBrNFy2zS1CP3KDT8TW0NbD8CjjMCrtkvzHfpwu0JdvUu5vQnY9uiaVzJMzXnt5CBXIt4Xop5wFI/s200/800px-Flag_of_Ontario.png" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ontario's craft beer
industry is booming, a quick observation shows over 30 professional
craft brewers plying their trade in the province that accounts for
nearly 40% of all Canadians. Ontario is also home to Canada's largest
city, Toronto, and the champion of all pub-quiz capital city
questions, the nation's capital, Ottawa, admit it, you thought it was
Montreal, or Vancouver, or Toronto...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I've actually been to
Ontario twice, I happened to be skiing rather than hunting good beer
(sacrilege), but I was 14 years old (redemption) so I can be excused
for only trying to blag a few bottles of Labatts (sacrilege again). A
friend of mine, <a href="https://twitter.com/chutuk" target="_blank">Andy Hewitt</a>, Birmingham's resident Canadaphile and
hot wings extraordinaire, recently returned from a trip to Ontario
and luckily for me, brought back a selection of beers native to the
state.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">First up were three
beers from Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery who brew their beers right on
the waterfront in downtown Barrie.
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Flying Monkeys Stereo
Vision</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(Amber Ale, 5.5%)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This beer pours a hazy
marigold and has a light grassy hop and cereal aroma. Flavour is
quite fruity, hints of strawberry and orange peel but nothing
overpowering. There are light grassy hop accents in the finish, the
added wheat gives it a medium bodied creamy texture.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivnRbO7qaBaslGYkZBl1-G65PU-uhka4x57jkt3U2mOLHfnuzzX8QgQ2mx4CKqg9-H5YCIpEAhHC04fIVGYunpL7tLful7z5qrN7eQ3rqVPuMoGk9TgwhvrjPR_Va_rOss5VOKZUxbhSk/s1600/IMG_00000056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivnRbO7qaBaslGYkZBl1-G65PU-uhka4x57jkt3U2mOLHfnuzzX8QgQ2mx4CKqg9-H5YCIpEAhHC04fIVGYunpL7tLful7z5qrN7eQ3rqVPuMoGk9TgwhvrjPR_Va_rOss5VOKZUxbhSk/s320/IMG_00000056.jpg" width="180" /></a><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Flying Monkeys Hoptical
Illusion Almost Pale Ale</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(American Pale Ale, 5%)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Pours an amber colour
with an aroma of peaches and caramel malts. Flavour is of marmalade
and woody hops, though bitterness is restrained by its minimalist 18
IBUs. Its “almost” name rings true as this is like a hopped Amber
Ale rather than a traditional more heavily hopped APA.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Flying Monkeys Smash
Bomb Atomic IPA</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(India Pale Ale, 6%)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Smash Bomb Atomic pours
a deep amber and has a juicy tangerine and pine aroma. Tastes are
pine, sweet grapefruit and mango and this is followed by the 70 IBU
resinous bitter finish. A well balanced and drinkable IPA.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir3JM2LXraM1Qnz8vX2PXhskMBvnx4xih9DpHy-tpxr7RUucePdr_rjKNMn20IFW-6IfCeqbHOhhD1wYtdi8Ml0jYoFn5xo-GAxhR6E8I4D54IApQ9c5qpGau1OY9Arb4GCgzvLU2brSs/s1600/IMG_00000057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir3JM2LXraM1Qnz8vX2PXhskMBvnx4xih9DpHy-tpxr7RUucePdr_rjKNMn20IFW-6IfCeqbHOhhD1wYtdi8Ml0jYoFn5xo-GAxhR6E8I4D54IApQ9c5qpGau1OY9Arb4GCgzvLU2brSs/s320/IMG_00000057.jpg" width="179" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Next up were beers from
Double Trouble Brewing Co. who use the Wellington County Brewery in
Guelph and Great Lakes Brewing, Etobicoke, which was a township that
was amalgamated into the city of Toronto in 1998.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Double Trouble Hops and
Robbers IPA</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(India Pale Ale, 5.7%)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This beer pours a clear
amber gold and the aroma is floral and biscuity. Flavours are lemon,
faint grassy hops and toasted malt. Not the most assertive IPA by any
stretch of the imagination but works as a pleasant English-style
bitter.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Great Lakes Brewing
Devil’s Pale Ale 666</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(American Pale Ale,
6.6%)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn_yb_DCSseH_zX4AnxXnNkfqN_W7saZPtGcBegAzKsly_6iXRU3aHv2VEGRl0_MzsFeQmArx-ofcnaMVLAC5EGcYfb6LC-qWzjSKC9-fOv28wD8XAl18Gcq5LHWVsHOKxL-uHmZiqSvg/s1600/IMG_00000058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn_yb_DCSseH_zX4AnxXnNkfqN_W7saZPtGcBegAzKsly_6iXRU3aHv2VEGRl0_MzsFeQmArx-ofcnaMVLAC5EGcYfb6LC-qWzjSKC9-fOv28wD8XAl18Gcq5LHWVsHOKxL-uHmZiqSvg/s320/IMG_00000058.jpg" width="180" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Brewed for 66.6 minutes
with 666kg of a selection of 6 malts, 6.6kg of hops and weighing in
at 6.6% alcohol. Clearly a theme going on here... Devil's Pale Ale
poured a copper colour and has an aroma of nuts, fudge and citrus.
Flavour is of earthy hops, roasted barley, pear and a little vanilla.
Smooth and refreshing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The 6<sup>th</sup> beer
of the day came from Railway City Brewing Company which is situated
in the city of St. Thomas. This place is famous for crashing a steam
locomotive into a rather large elephant called Jumbo... and thus
leads us to the name of the next brew.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Railway City Dead
Elephant Ale</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(India Pale Ale, 6.8%)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">With an orange amber
colour this expired elephant has a lemon, leafy hop and caramel malt
aroma. Flavours are earthy and of herbal hops with a caramel
sweetness. Dry on the finish. Not quite a true IPA but a good
English-style strong bitter.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ21LKPocBqXQK_GglvXhEodc7BMjzNtbG91sIH0DLsZ-IM061nhR00LaBb98WmriN3dJQVOeczI07t5bQ7eBXdJXqQQJ9ZhRvYY8-pyhCgFuDA77b-9QYYijXHG-q0ucn7Eyunf2YpUw/s1600/IMG_00000059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ21LKPocBqXQK_GglvXhEodc7BMjzNtbG91sIH0DLsZ-IM061nhR00LaBb98WmriN3dJQVOeczI07t5bQ7eBXdJXqQQJ9ZhRvYY8-pyhCgFuDA77b-9QYYijXHG-q0ucn7Eyunf2YpUw/s320/IMG_00000059.jpg" width="180" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Our two final beers
come from Muskoka Brewery, which is based in <span style="font-weight: normal;">Bracebridge.
This town was built around a waterfall on the Muskoka River which
provided the early townsfolk with power for the settlement's first
factory.</span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Muskoka
Mad Tom IPA</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(India
Pale Ale, 6.4%)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This
beer pours golden and has a nose of pine, citrus and pepper. Taste
comprises of lemon and pine resins balanced with toffee, dry hops and
a touch of spice. Decent bitter finish but not overpowering. A
refreshing and “sessionable” IPA.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Muskoka
Twice As Mad Tom IPA</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(Double
IPA, 8.4%)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This
souped-up version of Mad Tom pours deep golden and has aromas of
mango, grapefruit and pine needles. Taste is an up front burst of
pine resin and ripe grapefruit followed by honey and biscuit notes,
its warming alcohol strength pulls it smoothly over the finish line.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="firstHeading"></a>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">That's it! A little look at eight
Ontarian beers. A big thank you to Andy who did an excellent job of
picking them out at the <a href="http://www.lcbo.com/entry.html" target="_blank">Liquor Control Board</a>, and using up his
luggage space! What of Ontario's offerings? Some well-made, tasty
beers all round. My favourite will have to be the Twice As Mad Tom
which is, for me, the boldest venture of the lot. A big juicy IPA
with enough hops to keep the </span><span lang="en"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">Humulus
lupulus </span></i></span><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">addict
in me interested.</span></span></span></span></div>
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Roberto Ross, Professional Drinkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05745997006722790614noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1795837473952867507.post-36046165741094329752013-01-26T16:23:00.000+00:002013-06-12T18:34:16.494+01:00Roberto’s 40 Epic Rules of Drinking<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXqg0zlJU9carbZsIFtLGpDQ5ScHycTSY-x6wKMvrP9D1SgIzMY_-4EkfwrAOPrChSgFzbvd5NXQLp5M1dWwBdyegDWGSiqR4Xc1E9cpVeLfQqbQeRilUYeIi0qDJngFRQUyzbIKW49BE/s1600/27917_10100567839419048_119039048_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXqg0zlJU9carbZsIFtLGpDQ5ScHycTSY-x6wKMvrP9D1SgIzMY_-4EkfwrAOPrChSgFzbvd5NXQLp5M1dWwBdyegDWGSiqR4Xc1E9cpVeLfQqbQeRilUYeIi0qDJngFRQUyzbIKW49BE/s320/27917_10100567839419048_119039048_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">1)
Drinking when you're not thirsty is one of the few things that
separates man from beasts.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">2) Just
think, if you drink enough now to get a hangover, you'll have plenty
of drinking time tomorrow on your day off!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">3) It is
morally reprehensible to be on a train for longer than an hour
without drinking.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">4)
People with hobbies aren’t drinking enough.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">5) If
you don’t drink, then all of your stories are frightfully dull and
end with: "and then I got home."</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">6) If
you offer to buy a woman a drink and she refuses, she does not like
you.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">7) If
you offer to buy a woman a drink and she accepts, she still might not
like you.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">8) If
she buys you a drink, she likes you.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">9) In
return however, you don’t have to remember her name, just remember
what she likes to drink…</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">10) Some
people will worry about their drinking, but look what it does for
their social skills!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">11) For
every drink you have, you're fighting terrorism.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">12)
Always finish your drinks! Think of all the sober people in the
world.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">13)
Apologising is fine, even to people you don’t remember meeting, for
things you don’t remember doing, in places you don’t remember
going.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">14) A
problem drinker is someone who doesn’t buy rounds.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">15) That
nagging feeling of missing something when leaving the house is owed
to forgetting to put your bottle opener in your pocket. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">16)
Drinking never affects anyone's job. Some people just need a drink to
get motivated for work in the first place.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">17)
Never turn down a free drink.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">18)
There’s nothing wrong with drinking alone.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">19) If
your bed looks very much like a park bench and your bedroom looks
very much like a park then “staying out last night” literally
meant it.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">20) The
glass isn’t half empty or half full. It just needs topping up.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">21) Most
people will sadly never experience just how pleasurable work can be
when you take your best friend Mr Drink along with you.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">22)
“Taking the edge off” usually means waking up in the garden.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">23) If
you think you might be slurring a little, then you are slurring a
lot. If you think you are slurring a lot, then you are not speaking
English.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">24) One
of the saddest sounds you'll ever hear is ice rattling round an empty
glass.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">25) At
least turning up to court will allow you to find out what happened.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">26) Gin
Rummy isn’t as fun as it sounds.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">27)
Always stick around for one more drink. That's when it all happens.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">28)
Always get up at the crack of ice.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">29)
Don’t take hot showers, the ice in your glass melts too quickly.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">30)
Being drunk is feeling sophisticated without being able to say it.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">31)
Anyone with three or more drinks in their hands has the right of way.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">32)
There's a jar in the best pubs, a huge jar containing funny oval
shapes in a murky fluid. Be brave, pickled eggs are a rite of
manhood.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">33)
You'll never waste a single penny on champagne, because champagne is
never a waste of money.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">34)
Never EVER trust anyone who doesn’t drink, and never trust anyone
who drinks but never gets drunk, they’re the ones with something to
hide.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">35) When
on a night out be careful who you talk to, I once woke up with a new
job.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">36)
Invent a kids’ TV program drinking game – the extra time you
spend with them will go down a treat.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">37)
Learning other languages is important, concentrate on useful phrases
such as: “Excuse me sir/madam which way to the nearest pub?” and
“Good morning… err… lovely, who are you again?” </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">38) Get
shag carpets fitted in your abode, it’s so much easier to hang on
to.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">39) </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Drinks made at home should only come in two sizes: formidable and
catastrophic.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">40) </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Sometimes too much just isn't enough.</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
Roberto Ross, Professional Drinkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05745997006722790614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1795837473952867507.post-78384022244287954792012-12-07T21:46:00.000+00:002012-12-07T21:46:58.085+00:00Roberto’s Beers of the Year 2012
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I was
planning on writing this blog post a month ago, I’ve had so many
glorious beers this year that I believed, wrongly, that nothing in
the final months would force its way into my top ten for 2012. How
delightful it is to be wrong sometimes as a further two made a late
dash into my favourites. My 2012 top ten consists of 8 beers that
were new to me this year and 2 I’d tried previously but still felt
they made the grade. So without further ado…</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>1)
Mikkeller Festival Special Edition 2012 – Stella 3 (20.1%)</b></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This
Über-Imperial Stout by the Danish nomads is incredibly drinkable for
something that’s punching at just over 20%. Its aroma is of rich
chocolate and coconut, and the taste is an intense combination of
raisins, molasses and hazelnuts with a woody and vanilla finish. Goes
down like velvet.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>2) 3
Fonteinen Armand’4 Oude Geuze Lente (6%)</b></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Having
had all four of Armand’s seasons-inspired guezes I chose “Spring”
as my favourite. Lente’s<b> </b>aroma is citrusy and tart but also
of dusty hops and that famous barnyard redolence. Flavour is of
wonderfully sour, crisp and sophisticated Brettanomyces and tart
fruit. Best Geuze I’ve ever had.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>3) The
Bruery Fruet (15.5%)</b></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Created
for the fourth anniversary of The Bruery, California, this is their
yearly anniversary ale recipe bourbon barrel aged. This beer has a
rich bourbon oak-like aroma with a hint of grapes. Flavour is heavily
barrel influenced, lots of bourbon, maple syrup and overripe dark
fruits. Creamy and thick bodied.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>4)
Struise Black Damnation V - Double Black (26%)</b></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Bourbon
barrel aged Black Albert (Cuvée Delphine) Imperial Stout, processed
the Eisbock way. This beer pours like engine oil, and is blacker than
the depths of the cosmos, looks dangerous. Aroma is of liquorice and
dark fruits. Tastes are a mosaic of espresso, chocolate, prunes,
liquorice and with a light hop dry finish. Sets fire to your taste
buds.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>5) The
Kernel / Brodies SCANNERS IPA (6.9%)</b></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Any
collaboration between Kernel and Brodies, two breweries I rate very,
very highly, is always going to get my attention. SCANNERS is a
cloudy, golden coloured beer, its aroma is floral with juniper and
light resinous pine. Flavours are… wonderful (dreams for a bit)
…um… everything is here: melon, pineapple, mango, tangerine, it’s
also herbal and extremely thirst quenching, a tropical paradise of an
IPA.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>6)
Hoppin Frog DORIS The Destroyer Double Imperial Stout (10.5%)</b></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">More hops
and more malt than the Ohio brewery’s much vaunted BORIS The
Crusher. Big roasted malt and coca aroma, huge flavours of dark
chocolate, molasses, tobacco and the hops provide a lovely ashy,
smoky, earthy bite. An elegant imperial.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>7)
Birra del Borgo My Antonia (7.5%)</b></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My
Antonia is a continually-hopped imperial pils in collaboration with
Dogfish Head. A hazy sunshine coloured beer with a tropical fruit
aroma, slightly floral and peppery. Flavours are of lime, grapefruit
and green pine, the Simcoe hop shines through. The malt provides the
right amount of balance and the experience is extremely clean and
refreshing. A great example of new wave Italian brewers.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>8)
Brodies Dalston Black IPA (7%)</b></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For a
long time I wasn’t impressed with Black IPAs, either I’d find
them an oddly hopped porter or simply a beer where malts strangled
brilliant hops. Then came Brodies and their Dalston, a game changer.
Its grassy and fruity aroma is followed by faint maltiness, flavours
are rich pine, grapefruit and plenty of resinous bitterness, then
come the soft smooth coffee and chocolate flavours. The roasted
malts, rather than smudge the greatness of the Galaxy hop flowers
used, provide a creamy luscious body to hold it all together,
exquisitely balanced.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>9)
Schneider Weisse Tap X Mein Nelson Sauvin (7.3%)</b></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A German
Weizen Bock brewed in 2011 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the
ABT cafés in Holland. The Nelson Sauvin hop, which is an interesting
choice for a wheat beer (but also happens to be my favourite hop of
all), brings distinctive light vinous, flowery notes to the wheaty
aroma. The gentle smoky wheat flavour is there and so is lots of
banana, finishing with flowery notes, lemon and grapes. Hefeweizen
turned up to 11.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>10)
Oakham Green Devil IPA (6%)</b></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">All that
Oakham citrusy goodness taken to another level by Lucifer himself,
this single hopped Citra beer is a classic. Lots of juicy grapefruit
and pine in the aroma, taste is of passion fruit, grapefruit,
gooseberries and pineapple, ends with lingering dry finish. The
greatest Citra showcase.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So there
we have it, my top ten beers from 2012, for a self-confessed hop
addict I’ve surprised myself by the number of Imperial Stouts I’ve
included, 3 in fact, followed by 2 IPAs, a Geuze, an Old Ale, an
Imperial Pils, a Black IPA and lastly a Weizen Bock, beers from the
UK, the US, Belgium, Denmark, Germany and Italy. Here’s to 2013 and
another 12 months of brilliant beer!
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Merry
Christmas.</span></div>
Roberto Ross, Professional Drinkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05745997006722790614noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1795837473952867507.post-67905783820241519082012-11-05T18:42:00.000+00:002012-11-05T18:42:35.648+00:00Successful launch for the Fownes Dwarfen Brewery
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgegpGc8r04RqFdKq05vhztuRKZ9v9tSVNVT9D9szso3000mwrlL9g9ooktkl2v7W2MBbgyHtLkzQ0095QkHHoX5zmOBie5yWkYq0Ttnc0vUHS0dwC4tWGRrr7G-aKmHJMNR2lsWDRVE2M/s1600/Logo.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgegpGc8r04RqFdKq05vhztuRKZ9v9tSVNVT9D9szso3000mwrlL9g9ooktkl2v7W2MBbgyHtLkzQ0095QkHHoX5zmOBie5yWkYq0Ttnc0vUHS0dwC4tWGRrr7G-aKmHJMNR2lsWDRVE2M/s200/Logo.gif" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">T<span style="font-weight: normal;">hursday
the 18</span><sup><span style="font-weight: normal;">th</span></sup><span style="font-weight: normal;">
of October saw the launch of the <a href="http://fownesbrewing.co.uk/">Fownes Dwarfen Brewery</a>. Based at The
<a href="http://home.btconnect.com/thejollycrispin/">Jolly Crispin</a>, a pub on the famous Gornal run, I looked forward to
sampling what enthusiastic brewers, and brothers, James and Tom
Fownes, had to offer. The genesis for their brewery began back in
2010 in the very same pub and two years down the line their half
barrel plant is pumping out elixir for the masses. Their plan is to
increase to a 2 barrel plant by the end of 2013.</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2GZJBBkqgsq0hpMn0-kxE3kbIGhXnv0KanTtWd3bZQRwXdYkAHhPk4MLcyZK1_ywk0vNnW0rUt8FEoJbcqx3t0OTtQSu7E2ybTw0tqRLh_PEbX3E7x_BeBDaAV0stHEh3Bz_6N3Sy4vo/s1600/IMG_1152-225x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2GZJBBkqgsq0hpMn0-kxE3kbIGhXnv0KanTtWd3bZQRwXdYkAHhPk4MLcyZK1_ywk0vNnW0rUt8FEoJbcqx3t0OTtQSu7E2ybTw0tqRLh_PEbX3E7x_BeBDaAV0stHEh3Bz_6N3Sy4vo/s320/IMG_1152-225x300.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
evening got off to a great start and was attended by members of local
CAMRA branches, pub regulars, other local brewers and the local
press. Before long the Crispin was heaving with drinkers enjoying the
liquid offerings supplemented by beer biscuits, a four tier cake in
the shape of a leather Tudor tankard and professional storytelle</span>r
<a href="http://www.storyjohn.co.uk/">John Edgar</a><span style="font-weight: normal;"> who performed tales
created for the beers by the brewers themselves. It's the latter part
that makes the Dwarfen Brewery particularly interesting. The brothers
both have a passion for fantasy gaming and immersive stories and have
combined this with their love of fine ales to develop a brand that
pulls together traditional fantasy stories with the great industrial
heritage of their Black Country setting to bring back the ancient
tradition of story telling in taverns.</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Beers</b></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So
far I've managed to sample the following from their stable:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4J1eLG0BMemNU27B9R0v_9GzsUwe1U44j0d37HZ8d5izPUJEcMoyh-PxzfMmyBVI-5AQ3z_4YVcx92icyhuq27ncbZPZxrawIWEE-aI6B5g6NCgdNghgKzI-mySjmF-EyFjtKwub6l2Y/s1600/Frost-Hammer-Pump-clip2-224x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgjPD1MzB1mTZBAGyNXnES_aRwUqKXbuMLlvi5ai2qn-rQxKnXjYU9KBbwaeMH9vTE1SuRVG-GGaFxMw3SVHPLm4NZkGmoT7cBuCwjcrTMC0liWh4D5hn-ivTF9959WvkOGfIZrqCke6w/s1600/KKSpclip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgjPD1MzB1mTZBAGyNXnES_aRwUqKXbuMLlvi5ai2qn-rQxKnXjYU9KBbwaeMH9vTE1SuRVG-GGaFxMw3SVHPLm4NZkGmoT7cBuCwjcrTMC0liWh4D5hn-ivTF9959WvkOGfIZrqCke6w/s320/KKSpclip.jpg" width="240" /></a> </span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguKj-tfjmnFOT33Ou6iHR2dsXcujRynZcbDS2vTuMpgRaRHdqXvTQWPGYMsuf_hf98-3_MxgSCzTPH_qqz61pc4DWCk_5w16Tb9IVCqTNYwZUucdmS1KAmewxzozPvB2Ppo6hnVT6l3Go/s1600/Gunhild-pump-clip-183x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguKj-tfjmnFOT33Ou6iHR2dsXcujRynZcbDS2vTuMpgRaRHdqXvTQWPGYMsuf_hf98-3_MxgSCzTPH_qqz61pc4DWCk_5w16Tb9IVCqTNYwZUucdmS1KAmewxzozPvB2Ppo6hnVT6l3Go/s320/Gunhild-pump-clip-183x300.jpg" width="192" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Crispin's
Ommer 4.1%, a house beer brewed specially for the Jolly Crispin. This
pale coloured beer uses malted wheat and Cascade hops to provide its
citrus, bitter flavour.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ITARD_sHsnoyMNIZpFWFAmaBrUyvluLWYz50o-bg5m41GGdCQq2wY2tDkxcBhe-0yPJho-GW4ePP74xhhgWhxu4vIuxTGPrmN5lU4DHbqmrlHOBGRDano9VR9XOxCf36q0G9DHnvSS0/s1600/Goat-Rider-Pump-Clip-final.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ITARD_sHsnoyMNIZpFWFAmaBrUyvluLWYz50o-bg5m41GGdCQq2wY2tDkxcBhe-0yPJho-GW4ePP74xhhgWhxu4vIuxTGPrmN5lU4DHbqmrlHOBGRDano9VR9XOxCf36q0G9DHnvSS0/s320/Goat-Rider-Pump-Clip-final.png" width="152" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4J1eLG0BMemNU27B9R0v_9GzsUwe1U44j0d37HZ8d5izPUJEcMoyh-PxzfMmyBVI-5AQ3z_4YVcx92icyhuq27ncbZPZxrawIWEE-aI6B5g6NCgdNghgKzI-mySjmF-EyFjtKwub6l2Y/s1600/Frost-Hammer-Pump-clip2-224x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4J1eLG0BMemNU27B9R0v_9GzsUwe1U44j0d37HZ8d5izPUJEcMoyh-PxzfMmyBVI-5AQ3z_4YVcx92icyhuq27ncbZPZxrawIWEE-aI6B5g6NCgdNghgKzI-mySjmF-EyFjtKwub6l2Y/s320/Frost-Hammer-Pump-clip2-224x300.jpg" width="233" /></a><br />Gunhild
4%, a honey ale made with pale and speciality malts with 20% of the
grist coming from Blossom Honey and hopped with Cluster and Saaz.
Flavours are of natural unsweetened honey with a creamy biscuit
background and a caramel finish.<br /><br />Goat
Rider 4.8% is an amber coloured ale with pumpkin pie spices and
smoked malt.<br /><br />Frost
Hammer 4.6% is a very bitter pale ale using Summit hops to provide a
citrus aroma.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />King
Korvak's Saga 5.4%. This beer has been my favourite Fownes so far. A
whole range of malts complimented with a light hopping of Fuggles
provides a smoky, dry flavoured porter. I'm a big fan of dry porters
and the richly roasted, smoked flavour really works well in this
moderately strong brew.
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Dudley Winter Ales
Fayre 2012 and into 2013</b></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidNwX0rEf74YikZWuylVcVaUPlwulIHfFytEY2roblTvYIqVDQsOnu1Wrsg7DtKsZm0UncAilL8ZOrGzZ7-TKTEbM8t95-EZS-wGY4D8ffX19fa1IXfqOrb70gT0-70FJJ4NHMSshEeJ8/s1600/IMG_1157-300x225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidNwX0rEf74YikZWuylVcVaUPlwulIHfFytEY2roblTvYIqVDQsOnu1Wrsg7DtKsZm0UncAilL8ZOrGzZ7-TKTEbM8t95-EZS-wGY4D8ffX19fa1IXfqOrb70gT0-70FJJ4NHMSshEeJ8/s320/IMG_1157-300x225.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
brewery plan to have their “Leviathan” 7% spiced winter warmer
ready for the popular Dudley Winter Ales Fayre which runs from the
22</span><sup><span style="font-weight: normal;">nd</span></sup><span style="font-weight: normal;">
to 24</span><sup><span style="font-weight: normal;">th</span></sup><span style="font-weight: normal;">
of November and then have it on sale at the Jolly Crispin throughout
the month of December so make a note in your diary! </span></span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2013
should also prove to be an exciting one with the brewery planning to
produce a “Best of British” range showcasing British hops in
conjunction with <a href="http://charlesfaram.co.uk/">Charles Faram</a> hop merchants and Ali Capper from the
British Hop Association.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Microbreweries
have proven to be a 21</span><sup><span style="font-weight: normal;">st</span></sup><span style="font-weight: normal;">
century British success story and I hope to see James and Tom go from
strength to strength. Cheers!</span></span></div>
Roberto Ross, Professional Drinkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05745997006722790614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1795837473952867507.post-49171976306776921492012-08-24T12:13:00.000+01:002012-08-24T12:13:48.200+01:00May 2012 Recap: Edinburgh<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9kdoXWvBYlin32he_VOr-9OaYxS9_8WYPeOGuUu-UkLcsiu-N1Z2PYKJBlNztehOaEjW9fsOPNLROkHaP-j0XzdL6Co7UJUnmXafprhKsweTaR17MNSvQrtTlo2Men5cnnbZuREGS90E/s1600/EdinBlog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9kdoXWvBYlin32he_VOr-9OaYxS9_8WYPeOGuUu-UkLcsiu-N1Z2PYKJBlNztehOaEjW9fsOPNLROkHaP-j0XzdL6Co7UJUnmXafprhKsweTaR17MNSvQrtTlo2Men5cnnbZuREGS90E/s200/EdinBlog.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
Having
still not caught up on my Spring and early Summer goings-on here's
another belated blog post for consumption.</div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<b>Two of Edinburgh's
finest</b></div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
Up
until May I'd never been to Scotland, a travesty when accounting for
50% of my heritage. My father you see, hails from the land that
brought you: Scotch, the Highland charge, man-skirts and of course
prehistoric monsters hanging about in lakes. And whilst most
write-ups about Scotland would include the first item listed, it
isn't going to make much of an appearance here. Neither are any of
the others. Sorry to disappoint. What I'd rather tell you about are
two fantastic pubs in Edinburgh, both very different entities. Even
though both are relatively new to the Edinburgh pub scene, their
differences compliment an already great city for drinking. One
old-school and traditional, the other modern and industrial chic.
Both first-rate beer establishments.</div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<b>The Bow Bar</b></div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Edinburgh
has some great pubs and any self-respecting boozer in the Scottish
capital will have countless single-malts shimmering from the shelves.
Bow Bar isn't any different, there's enough whisky to keep the
connoisseur happy, over 200 in fact. From eight air dispense pumps
flow real ales that were obviously picked by someone going out of
their way to provide the </span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">interesting</span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">
for the discerning. A pub so close to the touristy areas of the city
doesn't really need to do this and it's what makes Bow Bar stand out.
Their craft beer bottled range numbers around forty and is again
picked carefully to provide quality options. Their home-made pies
complete their offer of sustenance.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw2UVNHRyppfOB8W1Wu_-boUYfFAKiL9jX2l1F1zpIdAuHSTdJyJcUQA4KIHbW7t7rNA5xV30IQjfYZE1_zmHcsbQ-ldrJyvA-1VVNYs0FWcguRv48HhmTHQC_PEAvVTGPs6_uQXqbIWc/s1600/bowbar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw2UVNHRyppfOB8W1Wu_-boUYfFAKiL9jX2l1F1zpIdAuHSTdJyJcUQA4KIHbW7t7rNA5xV30IQjfYZE1_zmHcsbQ-ldrJyvA-1VVNYs0FWcguRv48HhmTHQC_PEAvVTGPs6_uQXqbIWc/s200/bowbar.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1795837473952867507" name="hotword2"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1795837473952867507" name="hotword1"></a>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">This Grassmarket based tavern is
also an atmospheric place, the décor captures that old world feel,
the memorabilia and ephemera on the walls remind us of an elegance
that's fading in our modern world. A good pub should aim to rescue us
from the banal, like all good pubs Bow Bar is the</span> antidote of
most of life's problems.</div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
Bow Bar can be found on
<span style="color: black;">West Bow, Edinburgh, EH1 2HH</span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<b>BrewDog Edinburgh</b></div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
Ah
BrewDog... those Scottish, headline grabbing, controversially
marketing, ever conquering brewers have been planting flags all over
the UK recently. And when BrewDog Birmingham opens shortly it will
bring their bar chain to eight, Martin and James have engineered a
meteoric rise from their humble 2007 beginnings. BrewDog Edinburgh
was their second venture following on from the brewery's hometown
opening of BrewDog Aberdeen.</div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">BrewDog
doesn't appeal to “everyman” and its Edinburgh outpost follows
this no nonsense approach. </span>“No Tennents. No Carling. No
Smirnoff. No Televisions.” is BrewDog canon. On draught are the
staples you'd expect (Punk, Hardcore etc.) and other rarer BrewDog
creations. These sit alongside highly regarded beers from around the
world, beers at the forefront of the BrewDog entitled “Craft Beer
Revolution”. The fridges are also awash with bottled offerings from
far and wide.</div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFoE3tXnFWvIlq_9GbjjD7Pi9ei-pPGWJtVpyV9iravR31vFbEuSxpek-Ouo59DCMg1s6fzOevUA_qGH838dle_QRer1inc2f4ebXAVyoJvdxANMahcUARzcdW8KR8-oH28OZQwHkjFc/s1600/P1050394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFoE3tXnFWvIlq_9GbjjD7Pi9ei-pPGWJtVpyV9iravR31vFbEuSxpek-Ouo59DCMg1s6fzOevUA_qGH838dle_QRer1inc2f4ebXAVyoJvdxANMahcUARzcdW8KR8-oH28OZQwHkjFc/s200/P1050394.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1795837473952867507" name="hotword"></a>BrewDog
Edinburgh is not an antiquated watering hole. There's exposed bricks
and steel girders, lots of steel and bricks in fact, and 1930s-style
filament light bulbs, there are also comfy leather sofas and board
games if such takes your fancy. And there's nothing wrong with
thrashing your drinking partners at Connect Four over a Tactical
Nuclear Penguin. This unconventional, avant-garde approach attracts a
much younger clientèle to the quality beer market and for that alone
BrewDog should be applauded.</div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
BrewDog Edinburgh can
be found at 143 Cowgate, EH1 1JS</div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
So if you're visiting
Edinburgh and get tired of single malts (heaven forbid) and the
regular tourist traps then those two venues are for you. Delightfully
different from each other, both equally magnificent.</div>
Roberto Ross, Professional Drinkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05745997006722790614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1795837473952867507.post-35043118627869116802012-07-11T00:03:00.001+01:002012-07-11T00:10:48.726+01:00April 2012 Recap: Birmingham Twissup & Stourbridge Beer Festival<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
Where have I been since
my last blog post on the 18<sup>th</sup> of April? Those promising
warming months of Spring followed by the traditional monsoon washout
called British Summertime have really flown by. Here is a recap of
April and two very different beer-based events:</div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<b>Birmingham's First
Twissup</b></div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
The 21<sup>st</sup> of
April saw the get together of a pleasant collective of beer bloggers
and enthusiasts for Birmingham's first ever Twissup (That's a jovial
gathering of Twitter based ladies and gentlemen for the purpose of
fermentable nourishment, for the civilized amongst us of course).
Twitter can be cited as being responsible for many things in today's
world, from organising Arabian revolutions to mocking celebrities
trying to hide behind anonymised injunctions, however, having a bunch
of random ePeople get together for a few drinks is, as far as I can
tell, its most important function to date.</div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://twitter.com/19irishdragon">@19irishdragon</a>,
<a href="http://twitter.com/carldurose">@CarlDurose</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/ckdsaddlers">@ckdsaddlers</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/dannybrown76">@dannybrown76</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/hindleyillos">@hindleyillos</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/MarbleTim">@MarbleTim</a>,
<a href="http://twitter.com/mrdavidj">@mrdavidj</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/OthertonAleman">@OthertonAleman</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/TheRealStewbert">@therealstewbert</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/robertorossuk">myself</a>. Ten imbibers
already illuminated by the benefits of quality beer gathered for
drinks at the Lamp Tavern, The Anchor and <a href="http://robertoross.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/post-office-vaults.html">Post Office Vaults</a>,
Birmingham. It was great to finally put faces to Twitter handles and
warming to see so many like-minded and friendly beer fans passionate
about the exciting, and growing, good beer movement in the region get
together and have a jolly good time. Anyone interested is more than
welcome to join us for the next one, there'll certainly be a lot more
to come from our regional beer pioneers I'm sure!</div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<b>Stourbridge Beer
Festival 2012</b></div>
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<br /></div>
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Next came the annual
Stourbridge Beer Festival. A festival close to my heart having been
the Chairman for <a href="http://www.stourbridgecamra.org.uk/">Stourbridge & Halesowen CAMRA</a> during the last
two events. I can't begin to explain how much work goes into
organising a beer festival, it really is a colossal undertaking.
Months of planning, a week and a half of hard labour and around 90
volunteers were needed at Stourbridge this year. Although when you're
a customer walking into the hall on opening day it all looks so
easy...</div>
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I took the opportunity
this year to try and bring in some new and interesting beers that
generally don't reach the West Midlands. The hope being that it would
expose both local drinkers to a few more quality breweries and the
breweries themselves to virgin consumers and publicans alike. I think
it's important, when given the chance, to always push the boundaries
at events like these.</div>
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So for Stourbridge this
year in came: <a href="http://www.beavertownbrewery.com/">Beavertown</a>, <a href="http://brodiesbeers.co.uk/">Brodie's</a>, <a href="http://www.buxtonbrewery.co.uk/">Buxton</a>, <a href="http://www.londonfieldsbrewery.co.uk/">London Fields</a>, <a href="http://www.magicrockbrewing.com/">Magic Rock</a>, <a href="http://www.redemptionbrewing.co.uk/">Redemption</a>, <a href="http://www.sambrooksbrewery.co.uk/">Sambrook's</a>, <a href="http://www.steelcitybrewing.co.uk/main_page.htm">Steel City</a>, <a href="http://www.twickenham-fine-ales.co.uk/">Twickenham Fine Ales</a> and
<a href="http://www.webrew.co.uk/">Windsor & Eaton</a>, all breweries rarely seen, if ever, around
Birmingham and the Black Country. These coupled with the best of our
local breeds: <a href="http://www.angelales.co.uk/">Angel Ales</a>, <a href="http://www.beergeekbrewery.com/">Beer Geek</a>, <a href="http://www.kinverbrewery.co.uk/">Kinver</a>, <a href="http://www.sadlersales.co.uk/">Sadler's</a> and <a href="http://www.sarahhughesbrewery.co.uk/">SarahHughes</a>, amongst others, provided suitable compliment to the occasion.
Over 2000 customers later and selling out at just the right time I'd
like to pay tribute to all the CAMRA volunteers involved and everyone
who attended, I hope to see you all again next year!</div>
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I'd started to feel
that some local CAMRA beer festivals had stagnated with their beer
choices, let's not play it safe, the brewing scene is as vibrant as
it's ever been, despite the <a href="http://robertoross.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/look-at-beer-duty-escalator-and-why-it.html">Government's</a> best attempts to counter it.
Lets use these fantastically popular events to showcase excellence,
both near and afar.</div>
Roberto Ross, Professional Drinkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05745997006722790614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1795837473952867507.post-46026282473142063082012-04-18T17:20:00.000+01:002012-04-18T17:20:10.057+01:00A look at the Beer Duty Escalator and why it needs to be scrapped<div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">Successive British governments have, over the past decades, had a terrible addiction, an addiction to completely and utterly exterminating all forms of British industry. They have, in the main, been very successful. A snapshot of today's nation will showcase formerly prosperous, world-renowned, proud towns and cities savaged by the Government-lead massacre of manufacturing. Whole communities stabbed in the back when their jobs were pulled from under them and exported around the world. The people who defend these actions will call it an evolution from dirty industry and a lack of working standards to the slightly less class-focused society of <span style="font-weight: normal;">tertiary progress. However, other civilised nations have shown you can have progress and workers rights while still having a meaningful engineering and manufacturing base. I'm looking at you Germany.</span></div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">Britain on the whole still classes itself as a developed and rich nation, but under the financial services haven, propped up by blank cheques from the central bank, lies a country shedding jobs, masses of youth unemployment, fractured places without a sense of community or identity and declining living standards. Pretty picture it ain’t!</div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">So what's all this got to do with a beer tax you might now be asking? Well there aren’t any more British car makers to break, no more industrial towns to force into wholesale unemployment without prospects and no more significant manufactures of machinery to extinguish, we have the second largest trade deficit in the world after all. The last viable, traditional but innovative, and successful industry left in Britain is the brewing industry and the Government has placed it firmly in their crosshairs. Like the famous fabled scorpion of frog stinging shame, they just can't help themselves.</div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">The <a href="http://www.beerandpub.com/">BBPA</a> say that there are currently 20,000 people employed in the UK brewing industry, and that each person in the brewing industry generates 18 jobs in pubs, 1 job in agriculture, 1 job in the supply chain and 1 job in retail. This means that the UK brewing sector provides employment for 420,000 people. Such a large employer of British workers, and a high percentile of them young people, surely can't be a bad thing in such times of economic hardship? The government believe the opposite. The last two ruling Government's of the UK have raised tax on beer nearly 50% in five years! Yes you read that correctly, nearly a 50% rise. Is there any industry that wouldn't be pushed to braking point after such outright thievery? </div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">Every sound minded person should be shocked to read that we pay more than TEN TIMES as much tax on beer as Germany and that Britons pay 40% of all the beer tax in the EU yet drink only 13% of the stuff. That's not the icing on the cake though, oh no, even the Treasury Department admit that each time beer tax has gone up, the revenue generated has gone down. It's actually costing money to be this extortionate! </div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">We must not let any more people get thrown on the unemployment scrapheap. We must not let more community pubs become unviable for their owners or unaffordable for their patrons thus forcing the wise imbiber into lonely seclusion at home, and the unwise onto the streets with cheap supermarket swill, unchecked, instead of in the cosy safety of a local, charming inn where their peers can set a moral and healthy example. It's not just jobs and the economy at stake here you see, it's the very fabric of British society at risk. Successful prosperous communities exist because of the traditional British pub, not the local supermarket or a heaving Jobcentre Plus. The line must be drawn here. No further.</div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">Sign <a href="http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/29664">this petition</a> for starters, it's important, tell your friends, get them to sign it too.</div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/29664</div>Roberto Ross, Professional Drinkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05745997006722790614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1795837473952867507.post-9952758594804148972012-03-28T00:01:00.002+01:002012-03-29T10:51:23.965+01:00Post Office Vaults<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">When I first heard that the dive formerly known as Bash Bar on New Street, Birmingham, was to reopen as a craft beer establishment I wondered if the people involved would be brave enough to make it a venue the city centre has been crying out for. A place that not only had great British real ales but also has the bottle, quite literally, to scour the world for foreign excellence too. Hindered by its semi-underground, windowless, petite interior, I can understand why the venue won't have enticed all but the most daring entrepreneurs. Step forward Nigel Barker and Mike Perkins...</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.postofficevaults.co.uk/index.php">Post Office Vaults</a>, as it's now rechristened, opened just before Christmas, its 8 real ale hand pumps are complimented by its large draught cider range and... wait for it... 250 different beers from around the globe. A number that has been increasing each and every week its been open to meet demand. A delightful selection of American, Belgian, German and others are ready to seduce you from the pages of the satisfyingly weighty beer menus available at the bar.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=1795837473952867507&postID=995275859480414897" name="hotword1"></a> There isn't much you can do with such a small space but what has been done has been done well. Post Office Vaults feels cosy, it feels welcoming, it's a smart place, unlike its garish predecessor. There's beer paraphernalia from around the world on the walls, a few towering jeroboams and other impressively sized bottles of great beers in a corner here and there and even a bar billiard table, though I have absolutely no idea how to play the thing. It's the beer selection doing all the talking here though, along with the, importantly, knowledgeable and friendly staff.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">So when you're next in the second city remember you can now sample everything from a Abbaye de Rocs to a Westmalle via a De Molen and a Nøgne. Sounds great doesn't it? The full list is here in all its glory: <a href="http://www.postofficevaults.co.uk/foreignbeer.php">http://www.postofficevaults.co.uk/foreignbeer.php</a></span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.postofficevaults.co.uk/index.php">Post Office Vaults</a> can be accessed either by its smaller entrance on New Street near the historic Victoria Square or its other more visible entrance round the corner on Pinfold Street.</span></div>Roberto Ross, Professional Drinkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05745997006722790614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1795837473952867507.post-65058590494251038942012-02-29T15:15:00.001+00:002012-02-29T15:15:45.207+00:00A flying visit to London, the Big Smoke, my hometown<div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">I popped down to the capital last weekend, I try to get back to the place of my origin as often as possible. I spent the first 18 years of my life growing up there and even now whilst residing in the Principality of Halesowen the past 9 years I still feel like a Londoner. A proper Londoner, mind, not a plastic cockney geezer, nor one of those delightfully brain-dead folks who may possibly use the phrase 'totes amaze'. Actually, take note, if I ever use that phrase in open conversation I’m allowed to be shot.</span></div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Last weekend's trip wasn't actually planned as a beer adventure, more a poker night with friends in Raynes Park but with as much beery-goodness as possible crammed in-between. It's the latter though that brings a wry smile to my face. You see, when I lived in London it was pretty much a beer desert, the truly great pubs were few and far between, big breweries existed but the microbrewery revolution seemed to have passed it by. You could get plenty of big cocktails with half a tree inside or a whole banana plonked in, and of course there were hundreds of poncey places too, but real beer? Rare as rocking horse ****.</span></div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">This has, remarkably, now all changed, London has an interesting situation, almost paradoxical, where the Big Smoke is both a real ale and craft beer novice and rip roaring pioneer at the same time. In recent years top class breweries and venues have exploded on to the scene. There are now more than <a href="http://www.londonbrewers.org/">20 microbreweries</a> in London and most produce eye-wateringly good stuff.</span></div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The pubs and bars too are now first rate, beer enthusiasts need to visit these three at least once in their lives:</span></div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://thecraftbeerco.com/">The Craft Beer Co</a> – With just short of 40 beers on tap, Craft has a formidable arsenal awaiting the discerning customer. A venue for the truly enlightened drinker, pretty much every beer style is catered for and if it isn't on draught they'll surely have a bottle of it behind the bar. The definitive <a href="http://ratebeer.com/">Ratebeer.com</a> has this as the 4<sup>th</sup> best bar in the whole world... who could argue against that.</span></div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_2066868031"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></a> </div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.caskpubandkitchen.com/">CASK Pub & Kitchen</a> – CASK, which opened in 2009, has 24 beers on tap and a colossal 500 bottled beers to choose from. Again choice is the all encompassing philosophy here. Imbibers have never been so spoilt!</span></div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lastly, <a href="http://www.thesouthamptonarms.co.uk/">The Southampton Arms</a> – 'Ale, Cider, Meat' reads the sign on the wall outside. A respectable 12 beers, 6 ciders and the best collection of pork pies I've ever tasted reside on the inside. This is a real rustic, traditional pub complete with piano player, roaring fireplace and cosy garden, charm and character abounds. A proper pub. The whole experience here was so good that after leaving to visit another venue I came back for my second visit of the day. How I wish I still lived up the road...</span></div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">So there we have it, London, a new London, not the old, mostly beerless London but a new action-packed, buzzing, youthful and revolutionary London. What took you so long?</span></div>Roberto Ross, Professional Drinkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05745997006722790614noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1795837473952867507.post-35534506431586638292012-02-02T16:59:00.006+00:002012-02-02T17:27:32.041+00:00Professor Cornelius Ampleforth's Bathtub Gin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikcCa7jOdEcxrjNp7nYOCS8hED8xFgBE-Dpk2gY7_5rWctTuZ0VTGBJRAoOQGAJ4rJvBvWa3-Mqx88YQY5hoz7wWASkOJRPKVx7KZj24Jlb2R1xPfg7EH72kueVblm1oi7i5FXf5dV0bI/s1600/bathtub_gin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikcCa7jOdEcxrjNp7nYOCS8hED8xFgBE-Dpk2gY7_5rWctTuZ0VTGBJRAoOQGAJ4rJvBvWa3-Mqx88YQY5hoz7wWASkOJRPKVx7KZj24Jlb2R1xPfg7EH72kueVblm1oi7i5FXf5dV0bI/s320/bathtub_gin.jpg" width="139" /></a></div><div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">I do love a good gin, the historically maligned social terror of the 18<sup>th</sup> century features in an early blog post of mine, (<a href="http://robertoross.blogspot.com/2011/09/gins-you-should-be-drinking.html">here</a>). However, when I'm in a particularly sophisticated mood, the ice cube clinking, radiant refreshment of a gin and tonic becomes my drink of choice. Sorry Hogarth...</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">I discovered a new concoction over Christmas, bought from my friends over at <a href="http://www.stirchleywines.co.uk/">Stirchley Wines</a>, the intriguingly named <span style="font-weight: normal;">Professor Cornelius Ampleforth's Bathtub Gin. Alas, I have no idea who Professor Cornelius Ampleforth is, but as he is bringing forth such efficacious substances then he is a top bloke in my mind.</span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">So, Bathtub Gin, the bottle design by the way is brilliant. It's covered in slightly crinkled brown paper, flax twine tightly bound round the neck, and a cork stopper covered in dipped wax which you have to peal off first to get to. This along with the hand-drawn printed artwork and very tiny, nearly impossible to read, text about its delights inside makes it a real standout.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">With only a relativity small number of botanicals present: Juniper, Coriander, Cinnamon, Cardamom, Orange Peel and Clove, this gin delivers a balanced and extremely drinkable delight. The drink itself bursts with juniper and citrus and has a viscous oily quality that I can only assume comes from it being created using its traditional cold-compounding method. It's bold, aromatic and extremely smooth, so much so that you'd get away with drinking it neat. I also rather expect it to be pretty useful in a dry martini too, though I've yet to mix it with any vermouth.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">So there you have it, the only cold compound gin on the market and definitely a welcome addition to the premium gin scene.</span></div>Roberto Ross, Professional Drinkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05745997006722790614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1795837473952867507.post-36169328377626176502012-01-17T22:12:00.000+00:002012-01-17T22:12:54.516+00:00Christmas Drinking 2011<div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">With the festive season all too quickly over and the weather in England being its usual bleak mid January self I thought it a good time to reminisce over the magnificent beers I'd stocked for Christmas day. Here they are in all their glory...</div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpzwH4voJ6aVSL694Mzb1vUJt0aTlWYUkTjIuuBIclcMaeKLEp7UFzKG0wtjbEJ1mb8Es0cQGF3fHwfHS46xyL2iNDI7XXW4Xcd2lAfSkwanNKu1Nw8ypf6epULgXzlEh9PDwbQAdmj4M/s1600/IMG-20120117-00025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpzwH4voJ6aVSL694Mzb1vUJt0aTlWYUkTjIuuBIclcMaeKLEp7UFzKG0wtjbEJ1mb8Es0cQGF3fHwfHS46xyL2iNDI7XXW4Xcd2lAfSkwanNKu1Nw8ypf6epULgXzlEh9PDwbQAdmj4M/s200/IMG-20120117-00025.jpg" width="98" /></a><br />
</div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><b>Silly Saison, 5.2%</b></div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">The brewery of Silly is situated south of Brussels on the way to Mons. 16 different beers are produced but it's their Saison that they're really known for. A nutty, caramel beer, spicy and fruity with a balancing citrus finish. Slightly darker than your average Saison. Silly name, serious beer.</div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgwSSZXszZ2LwbIPnShIHo7IDNjri9owkbc70NBDxCzouYl1EsRSXhpw6eJ-XT-_7_xdFmIh-_MrzmD8EVVcLZ8e39ab-XW0fm3VqGzhTkdhMRgY-O_riLB2IiQZAzIxhqv89nsmQTrgA/s1600/IMG-20120117-00017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgwSSZXszZ2LwbIPnShIHo7IDNjri9owkbc70NBDxCzouYl1EsRSXhpw6eJ-XT-_7_xdFmIh-_MrzmD8EVVcLZ8e39ab-XW0fm3VqGzhTkdhMRgY-O_riLB2IiQZAzIxhqv89nsmQTrgA/s200/IMG-20120117-00017.jpg" width="100" /></a><b>Marble Brewery Lagonda IPA 5%</b></div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">This beer from Manchester based Marble is; quadruple hoped, spicy, peppery, citrusy and includes a very dry finish. Uncomplicated, refreshing and thirst-quenching.</div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi79qKQP-qTXOqq0dGhSsc_CCfxtrj7zttcTkRSujJCIYTFFF4-P53ovwvDhul_-Hzy6mndcerX4idqdQ-eXuNnOX-WOREXt-2WdYimVmtUBpt6BQJ18UnfkNhwNAPL-ZJBd1S8fcqaCf4/s1600/IMG-20120117-00018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi79qKQP-qTXOqq0dGhSsc_CCfxtrj7zttcTkRSujJCIYTFFF4-P53ovwvDhul_-Hzy6mndcerX4idqdQ-eXuNnOX-WOREXt-2WdYimVmtUBpt6BQJ18UnfkNhwNAPL-ZJBd1S8fcqaCf4/s200/IMG-20120117-00018.jpg" width="100" /></a></div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><b>Hardknott Queboid 8%</b></div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">Hardknott was started in December 2005, it's based in Millom, Cumbria. Their Queboid is an orange amber colour, with lots of American fruity hoppyness in the aroma. Flavour is of citrus, lots of grass and pine and some sugary caramel malt. The addition of Belgian yeast gives an added interesting element to this strong and warming beer.</div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaMS020-TZEjCri-akaV1vNL9ln7Jwrjg3X3q8xABwcc8BR0lRovlagJohI9pQ7tAM6v8t2p3RZxAvZmdn2LfGhkTkeKKXQDBcPKJgT5Wk2P5rrlCjDqDA7WgO3PxMTozP9g1pEzxc_34/s1600/IMG-20120117-00024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaMS020-TZEjCri-akaV1vNL9ln7Jwrjg3X3q8xABwcc8BR0lRovlagJohI9pQ7tAM6v8t2p3RZxAvZmdn2LfGhkTkeKKXQDBcPKJgT5Wk2P5rrlCjDqDA7WgO3PxMTozP9g1pEzxc_34/s200/IMG-20120117-00024.jpg" width="107" /></a></div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><b>Dupont Avec les Bons Voeux 9.5% </b> </div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><a href="" name="firstHeading"></a> The Dupont Brewery is located in Leuze-en-Hainaut, Belgium. The current brewery, founded in 1950, is located on a working farm which itself has a rich brewing history dating back to 1759. Their 'Bons Voeux' meaning 'Best Wishes' is their holiday season saison. It's a wonderfully complex beer, spicy and herby with rosemary, sage and coriander notes that are completely captivating. Creamy hops along with Belgian yeast compliment this delicate golden coloured masterpiece with the potency of the alcohol blasting through at the finish.</div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3MfWBOD1jpIFTCV_KPjYTEmhwdHlXP46tVdo3NCU-LkalTnsDkV8d5haBHjdM-U-pRloV6sviZh8aB1rkVKG0CJGPJjwZWatIYGkzMBLPU1Ft8lkHntFeAsH5Ik1upL71wg1R9QL7xwM/s1600/IMG-20120117-00022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3MfWBOD1jpIFTCV_KPjYTEmhwdHlXP46tVdo3NCU-LkalTnsDkV8d5haBHjdM-U-pRloV6sviZh8aB1rkVKG0CJGPJjwZWatIYGkzMBLPU1Ft8lkHntFeAsH5Ik1upL71wg1R9QL7xwM/s200/IMG-20120117-00022.jpg" width="107" /></a></div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><b>Gouden Carolus Noël 10.5%</b></div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">The holiday period wouldn't be complete without the Christmas Carolus. This Belgian strong ale from Brouwerij Het Anker is a lovely deep brown. The nose mixes figs and plums with spices, cloves and nutmeg, the balance is perfect, the aroma intoxicating. The flavours burst out: plum, cinnamon, raisins, anise, dark berries and even a hint of lemon. Each one both intense and delicate. The yeast rounding it all out and keeping the alcohol in check. An excellently rich fireside sipper.</div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBMEJaIOIL8rIA5RHRpXx_zYSi1k0gSY0t_VcMr8dtTrySuy4i0PHCZZ0N8KdtQrSvLDS-RETM1ccU3PxEvJRppJ_BC9y-P7ET9dBab8imic1by5CGgB1i9WhGr61UIZheN9E_979H5bU/s1600/IMG-20120117-00027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBMEJaIOIL8rIA5RHRpXx_zYSi1k0gSY0t_VcMr8dtTrySuy4i0PHCZZ0N8KdtQrSvLDS-RETM1ccU3PxEvJRppJ_BC9y-P7ET9dBab8imic1by5CGgB1i9WhGr61UIZheN9E_979H5bU/s200/IMG-20120117-00027.jpg" width="93" /></a></div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><b>Schneider Aventinus Weizen-Eisbock 12%</b></div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><a href="" name="hotword11"></a><a href="" name="hotword21"></a> To compliment their already popular Schneider Aventinus (8.2%), Weissbierbrauerei G. Schneider & Sohn reintroduced their Aventinus Weizen-Eisbock. Prior to the 1940s the original Aventinus was transported all over Bavaria in containers that didn't have temperature control. This lead poor Aventinus to freeze along the way. Drinkers, unaware that freezing caused the concentration of the liquid by separating it from the water, were delightfully baffled by the unique (and stronger) beer that arrived. The brewmaster at Schneider decided to recreate this marvellous “mistake” and so the Aventinus Eisbock was reborn. The beer itself is sweet, malty, lots of raisin, dried fruit and port. Mistakes should always be like this.</div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7YouJmwZdJnE5MPzrcujlrYmn_GXwFKgpfyiaDGwZU_lxhymPE9NOZdNTe8irfqSr8kurY6eDVlWk47NdvtXKYdsCqG7RizTDsvKvjCtq_2ZRgtyKkGz0HA9_5vI0_Yz6uI6M6QqC6TY/s1600/IMG-20120117-00021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7YouJmwZdJnE5MPzrcujlrYmn_GXwFKgpfyiaDGwZU_lxhymPE9NOZdNTe8irfqSr8kurY6eDVlWk47NdvtXKYdsCqG7RizTDsvKvjCtq_2ZRgtyKkGz0HA9_5vI0_Yz6uI6M6QqC6TY/s200/IMG-20120117-00021.jpg" width="90" /></a></div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><b>Odell St. Lupulin Extra Pale Ale 6.5%</b></div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">I suppose this Summer ale was being drunk at the wrong time of the year, however, being a style of beer I adore it was a welcome contrast to some of the strong, dark monsters of early afternoon Christmas Day drinking. Odell Brewing Company, a converted 1915 grain elevator in Colorado opened in 1989, their Lupulin is everything you want in a pale ale. A pleasant new world hoppy beer with pine notes, very floral and fresh.</div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicwmhEHjOrs9qwX6KAK1H7JuJSqp17H9SJGIUISlrszKjwP23l1L1arUyGU4CMy-RMAidLnaCiEU6cUeatf_53pwwi6lEyplfTEwwM-43W7zGUi9j4KjLFDHWrr9PzSeUlsJHX6RbCvGg/s1600/IMG-20120117-00023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicwmhEHjOrs9qwX6KAK1H7JuJSqp17H9SJGIUISlrszKjwP23l1L1arUyGU4CMy-RMAidLnaCiEU6cUeatf_53pwwi6lEyplfTEwwM-43W7zGUi9j4KjLFDHWrr9PzSeUlsJHX6RbCvGg/s200/IMG-20120117-00023.jpg" width="115" /></a></div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><b>Schneider Weisse Tap X Mein Nelson Sauvin 7.3%</b></div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">A German weisse brewed in 2011 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the ABT cafés in Holland. The Nelson Sauvin hop, which is an interesting choice for a wheat beer, brings distinctive light vinous, flowery notes to a pleasantly bananary, lightly smoky brew.</div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcbWDdDW6mBK4ND00Q9-r8GS0Ukzc28knoN7rlkum8aPgsLByv1J7WSfCetq-zlDMEdVMiVqfV7DXbRHtqnmduZ9o-IxFM88Ca_OiRnGenk_ycaM3-nrmUJThOnkKhikzTFGKcVvEHWGE/s1600/IMG-20120117-00026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcbWDdDW6mBK4ND00Q9-r8GS0Ukzc28knoN7rlkum8aPgsLByv1J7WSfCetq-zlDMEdVMiVqfV7DXbRHtqnmduZ9o-IxFM88Ca_OiRnGenk_ycaM3-nrmUJThOnkKhikzTFGKcVvEHWGE/s200/IMG-20120117-00026.jpg" width="99" /></a></div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><b>Brewdog Hardcore IPA 9.2%</b></div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">Brewdog need no introduction, their media exploits will have reached all but the most hardened monastic hermit communities. Their Hardcore IPA is true to its name, it's a big bold beer, bitter and sweet, packed full of hops which are only tempered by the extreme alcohol content.</div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt_6FSyVUN5tb87t0NXsqDF25ccbEuJViFy6zSCZ8rZqc7uMnEfKH3JzZ7bMuVtPG8g5p8IkQQymNwgwIKEyzRmK3wTF6hqT1XuMoghAvdYVq9rhIY1uTPGUfFRc1p8E3iH_Tmyd1D9YM/s1600/IMG-20120117-00020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt_6FSyVUN5tb87t0NXsqDF25ccbEuJViFy6zSCZ8rZqc7uMnEfKH3JzZ7bMuVtPG8g5p8IkQQymNwgwIKEyzRmK3wTF6hqT1XuMoghAvdYVq9rhIY1uTPGUfFRc1p8E3iH_Tmyd1D9YM/s200/IMG-20120117-00020.jpg" width="86" /></a></div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><b>Left Hand Brewing Co Fade to Black Vol.2 7.8%</b></div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">This American brewery from Longmont, Colorado was founded in 1993 and has since grown to now produce approximately 35,000 barrels of beery goodness a year. Their Fade to Black Vol.2 is a smoked Baltic porter, a black and tan beer inspired by their collaboration with Nørrebro in Denmark. Flavour is of cocoa, smoke, roasted coffee and molasses.</div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrF_WTTs6IS1XviHV0xDnPXndHHTAMaT-ZmqsrRVor3uPF5K9ia1aOWwj_c086cHWZzjs1KcG6cxYxwm4-z3_-WHTFYhn57BQkGOCogQaibKWkH6Q7YrYJ_nHyxjinjFvYaeDmZvFwRts/s1600/IMG-20120117-00016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrF_WTTs6IS1XviHV0xDnPXndHHTAMaT-ZmqsrRVor3uPF5K9ia1aOWwj_c086cHWZzjs1KcG6cxYxwm4-z3_-WHTFYhn57BQkGOCogQaibKWkH6Q7YrYJ_nHyxjinjFvYaeDmZvFwRts/s200/IMG-20120117-00016.jpg" width="79" /></a></div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><b>The Kernel Export Stout London 1890 7.1%</b></div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">The Kernel brewery is tucked away under a railway arch shared with a cheese maker and a salami producer in Bermondsey, just south of the River Thames, London. This beer is based on a recipe from a London Brewery in 1890, it's almost an opaque black with a beige head. Roasted and gloriously rich, flavours are espresso, dark chocolate, leather and coal balanced with a dry, woody finish. A top English stout.</div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">So there you have it, a mighty list from my favourite day of the year, but if like Roy Wood and Wizzard you “Wish it could be Christmas everyday” a visit to the stockist <a href="http://www.stirchleywines.co.uk/">Stirchley Wines</a>, where these were procured, should let you create your own brilliant beer day for yourself.</div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">For readers too far from Stirchley you can also check out <a href="http://www.beersofeurope.co.uk/">Beers of Europe</a> and <a href="http://www.mybrewerytap.com/">myBrewerytap</a>.</div>Roberto Ross, Professional Drinkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05745997006722790614noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1795837473952867507.post-56447454401026762142012-01-13T18:04:00.007+00:002012-03-04T13:27:00.414+00:00Meet the... Publican: Alex Marchant<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid00i8ykc14ioyJ29UKDmphzSkYQ1vUQYuFTJk-Md-gJ0CVYF49O5H-18pGzv6Zwe3P4PEcH2IM2-hlDEi_U8hhdbZBPUbj_YFv1Sf0nh4adjODos0HH-V5UmmEE9N1TM9pDRQXtfQR44/s1600/foralesandtales.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid00i8ykc14ioyJ29UKDmphzSkYQ1vUQYuFTJk-Md-gJ0CVYF49O5H-18pGzv6Zwe3P4PEcH2IM2-hlDEi_U8hhdbZBPUbj_YFv1Sf0nh4adjODos0HH-V5UmmEE9N1TM9pDRQXtfQR44/s320/foralesandtales.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"> (Produced for Ales & Tales)<b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><ul style="color: blue; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Name, age, occupation? </b></span></li>
</ul><div style="color: blue; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Alex Marchant, 26, General Manager – <a href="http://www.sarahhughesbrewery.co.uk/beaconhotel.html">The Beacon Hotel. </a></span></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><ul style="color: blue; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><b>What was your first drink? </b></span></li>
</ul><div style="color: blue; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I remember my Dad letting me drink the foam of his beer when I was a kid, I couldn't understand how anyone could stand such a foul taste. He said I'd acquire it eventually. He was right. My first pint was Enville Gothic, I was quite underage.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><ul style="color: blue; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><b>What are your hobbies and interests? </b></span></li>
</ul><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Other than real ale? Craft beer. I often joke that beer and pubs are my only hobby but it's fairly accurate. I used to be rather pretentious when I was younger and say that I liked fine art, film, new wave fashion and avant-garde hip hop. Now I just like beer and pubs. </span></span></span></span> </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><ul style="color: blue; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><b>What is your favourite beer? </b></span></li>
</ul><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Hops. I really like bold flavours in beer, über strong hops or really deep malts. I admire brewers who are willing to take a chance and push boundaries with styles, strengths and flavours, even with aspects of the brewing process (Brew Dogs' Sunk Punk for example), I've been drinking a load of craft beers recently, Mikeller's 1000 IBU and Soba Ale; a collaborative beer between Rogue Brewery and Masaharu Morimoto have really stood out. British cask wise I believe that Kinver, Hardknott, Marble and Pictish can do no wrong. I've still got a place in my heart for Black Country bitters even though my tastes may have moved on, I still love Pardoe's Bumblehole. And there's no way I can answer a question about favourite beer without mentioning the Ruby. It's a staple in my diet. </span></span></span> </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><ul style="color: blue; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><b>What is your favourite</b></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><b> </b></span></li>
</ul><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;"><div style="color: blue; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>-Food?</b> </span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The restaurant in the Bulls Head, a Holden's pub down the road from the Beacon is my current favourite, really excellent traditional Thai food. I'd eat there every day if possible but it's not open on Sundays. </span></span></span></span> </div><div style="color: blue; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>-Drink that's not Real Ale? </b></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Tea. I drink bucket loads of it. </span> </div><div style="color: blue; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>-Music? </b></span> </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">All kinds of crazy stuff. </span> </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><ul style="color: blue; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><b>How did you get started in the trade? </b></span></li>
</ul><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">I started as bar staff at the pub when I was 18, it was a couple of weekends before our first and only beer festival. It was an amazing place to work. I stayed on at the pub while I was studying illustration at Wolverhampton University. About 4 or so years ago, when I was in my second year, I became an assistant manager and became really involved in the pub and the trade in general, then last June I took over as general manager. </span> </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><ul style="color: blue; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><b>What's the history of your pub? </b></span></li>
</ul><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">It was taken over by Sarah Hughes where she began brewing the Dark Ruby in the 20s, after many years of closure the pub still remained in the family. John Hughes, Sarah's grandson, restored the pub back to it's previous Victorian style and décor and in the 80s, after finding the recipe in a cigar tin, started brewing the Ruby again. </span></span></span></span> </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><ul style="color: blue; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><b>What are your aspirations for the business? </b></span></li>
</ul><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">To be the best in the country at least once. </span> </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><ul style="color: blue; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><b>What's the best and worst thing to happen in the industry in the last 5 years? </b></span></li>
</ul><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="color: blue; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>-Best </b></span> </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The influx of micro breweries; it's a sign that the demand for real ale is growing, it's an exciting time for our trade and the variety of different beer is as vast as it's ever been. This pleases me greatly. </span></span></span></span> </div><div style="color: blue; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>-Worst </b></span> </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Massive duty increases, ever rising fuel and energy prices, and the stranglehold of pubco's and national breweries. </span></span></span></span> </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><ul style="color: blue; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><b>How do you feel CAMRA could help you in your business? </b></span></li>
</ul><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">CAMRA have done an awful lot for us already, our customers are converted. We're now in a lucky position where with the help of CAMRA, customers and previous management and staff we have a good reputation built up. We now face the hard work of trying to maintain it. </span></span></span></span> </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><ul style="color: blue; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Which is your favourite pub? (Can be anywhere in the country as long as you don't own it) </b></span></li>
</ul><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I love loads. The Three Kings at Hanley Castle, the Euston Tap, the Craft Brewing Co. and the Greenwich Union in London, the Wagon and Horses in Halesowen, Three Fishes in Shrewsbury, The Baltic Fleet in Liverpool. Basically, all the pubs I can remember ever going in. </span></span></span></span> </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>Roberto Ross, Professional Drinkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05745997006722790614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1795837473952867507.post-64888759925919842242011-09-30T16:41:00.001+01:002011-09-30T16:43:00.271+01:00Gins you should be drinking<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b></b>Once again, there is a great interest in gin. However, it's a spirit that has come a long way from the medicinal origins of its inventor, the seventeenth century Dutch physician Franciscus Sylvius. </div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
Following the coronation of William of Orange, a Dutchman, to the British throne in 1689, gin flowed across the English Channel and flooded its shores. The population of England was generally adapted to quaffing copious quantities of relatively, in comparison, low alcohol beer, so the introduction of a cheap, strong drink proved a <span style="color: black;">catastrophe.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><i>Gin Lane </i></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-style: normal;">was one of two prints produced by English artist, William Hogarth in 1751. In contrast to its companion print, </span></span><span style="color: black;"><i>Beer Street</i></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-style: normal;">, which depicts its people as happy, healthy and thriving on ale, </span></span><span style="color: black;"><i>Gin Lane </i></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-style: normal;">shows starvation, madness, infanticide and decay. Several acts of Parliament (read: a nice little earner for the government) were passed to reduce the consumption of spirits, and given time, gin, after improvements in distilling technology, slowly gained the sophisticated and delectable reputation it has today.</span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;">The past few years have seen an explosion of new gin brands on the market so I thought it only right to lend my experienced drinking hand, no not the one with a glass in, the typing one, to a small list of some of the tastiest gins out there.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw_g8A0dNWw01QwXrfQGdwnRHV9jGhSeTniTMD7RAR6KS5CkN0SUi0a7FD0-xde89u6u9ujfVQKFdvl7A1BFDahxblQQuDHiSA0oRsTS-Ucu19iMY1fytSVYauccXzLB_axZcU27rFOrs/s1600/martin_miller_gin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOa27vdaainW_ztRL2Z-3Fohua1Q8gvZxRKc20RrMWk_vbw-KuXOeEoGiNc5onQWcai3o0NxOz-WzwxpqdHqfLO66xLIdjnjLa30gpTWoFJ_3HCqo5WsTe9aVOt0xGWFDMYLyo9o5MZgU/s1600/martin_miller_gin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOa27vdaainW_ztRL2Z-3Fohua1Q8gvZxRKc20RrMWk_vbw-KuXOeEoGiNc5onQWcai3o0NxOz-WzwxpqdHqfLO66xLIdjnjLa30gpTWoFJ_3HCqo5WsTe9aVOt0xGWFDMYLyo9o5MZgU/s320/martin_miller_gin.jpg" width="112" /></a><span style="color: black;"><b>Martin Miller’s Gin</b></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;">Martin Miller's Gin is made at the Langley Distillery in the Black Country. Its creator, Martin Miller, endeavouring to satisfy his own tastes, concocted a gin that, in his own words was: “Born of love, obsession and some degree of madness.” </span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">This gin's earthier botanicals are distilled separately from the citrus ingredients thus creating a freshness rarely achieved by other brands. Its alchemic, botanical union consists of juniper, coriander, angelica, orange peel, orris root, cassia bark, cinnamon bark, ground nutmeg, licorice and one other secret ingredient. All gins after distillation must be reduced with water to reach the correct strength, but this is where Martin Miller's Gin goes the extra mile, thousands of them to be exact. An adventurous 3000 mile round trip to Iceland, where its glacial water, filtered through lava rock millions of years old adds yet further freshness and a unbelievably silky texture. Also, for those really special occasions their </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">Westbourne Strength</span></i></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> is richer due to its higher alcohol content (45.2%).</span></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Miller's is the perfect balance of crisp, clean juniper and citric sweetness. Ultra smooth, effortlessly drinkable, enchantment in a glass. This is the gin for gin lovers. If you haven't already tried it, place it top of your list of important things to do before you die.</span></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiVTmVsjkr5YWVGsvUx_j_jQ2EAgSjp9OnbQM39ikIRLO8dvmpRJ9YsJOpKHQqBMOGSI1rg70PDjxuvPQkUKHuuOAwwoQjKLda3bwn9B-cD5q__ZPcS2vO55VbOjmkFrGamVLzitZHQdY/s1600/plymouth_gin1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiVTmVsjkr5YWVGsvUx_j_jQ2EAgSjp9OnbQM39ikIRLO8dvmpRJ9YsJOpKHQqBMOGSI1rg70PDjxuvPQkUKHuuOAwwoQjKLda3bwn9B-cD5q__ZPcS2vO55VbOjmkFrGamVLzitZHQdY/s320/plymouth_gin1.jpg" width="132" /></a></div><div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b>Plymouth</b></div><div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">As London Dry has become the dominant style of gin worldwide it's only right to mention the often over-looked but unique Plymouth.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Oddly, Plymouth Gin is both a brand and a style. Plymouth is the only gin to have a </span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">Protected Geographical Indication within the European Union,</span></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> meaning nobody can produce Plymouth style gin outside Plymouth. </span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Plymouth's flavour results from using greater amounts of root ingredients than its London Dry counterparts, which bring a more earthy, full bodied feel. The addition of cardamom and sweet orange give a softer, sweeter but spicy finish. Plymouth gets its water from Dartmoor which adds its own clean, fresh and distinctive flavour. When making Pink Gin, always use Plymouth with your Angostura Bitters, it complements far better then the drier gins.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Their </span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">Navy Strength</span></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> is bottled at 57% as this is the strength at which, if accidentally spilt on gunpowder on board a Royal Navy vessel, the gunpowder would still light! See, don't say drinking never taught you anything.</span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Edinburgh Gin</b> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdQ9YE20ZQHc4XCzXZ8GYx8l9wz5aoiy4yUmvX7yml3T9k5o8QI3sebAmxfIH7PmXS60C53Ev0Hs3Pllxgw_MP0AiUfuCDbBNECa65eEDuuUVTPGgXsDEdZCUD0C3Uy24mIoncnWmGsYI/s1600/EdinburghGin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdQ9YE20ZQHc4XCzXZ8GYx8l9wz5aoiy4yUmvX7yml3T9k5o8QI3sebAmxfIH7PmXS60C53Ev0Hs3Pllxgw_MP0AiUfuCDbBNECa65eEDuuUVTPGgXsDEdZCUD0C3Uy24mIoncnWmGsYI/s320/EdinburghGin.jpg" width="136" /></a></div><div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Edinburgh Gin launched in 2010 and harks back to the days when Edinburgh was a behemoth of distilling. In fact, in the late 1700s there were eight legal distilleries and an estimated 400 illegal illegal ones operating in Edinburgh. That's not bad going for a city with a population of around 60,000 at the time. In fact, it sounds like my sort of place.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Edinburgh Gin is batch distilled in a Scottish copper pot and the finest Scottish grain spirit is imparted with all the classic gin botanicals you'd expect. Also added to the mix is Scottish juniper, which is softer and less pungent than other varieties. Heather and milk thistle also make an appearance to give a truly Scottish feel.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">A clean, refreshing, premium (43%, none of that 37.5% rubbish) gin which is unique enough in its own way to offer a serious alternative to its southern counterparts.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b>Lastly...</b></div><div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">If you're going to go to the time and effort to procure these exceptional examples of botanical brilliance then don't go sloshing supermarket own-brand tonic over them. Use a premium brand with natural ingredients such as Fever Tree. Have enough lemons and limes, and always have plenty of ice cubes ready. Enjoy!</span></div>Roberto Ross, Professional Drinkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05745997006722790614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1795837473952867507.post-47935398381723950612011-08-26T13:29:00.002+01:002012-03-04T13:26:16.790+00:00Meet the... Publican: Emily Sadler<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvhfz-rNAFqiS5xkd01sSJXiX8FH-MgppKdrsnUZVu5_1EnfjIUp7LmlGceMchDZpQzyt5-doxZ3BeuTNWBo8UUGygTfi7YuQcYPMu5QOapeSCtE9Vq4QeODjAzl_TxILwYq32W7F0XpU/s1600/Emily%2526Roberto.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvhfz-rNAFqiS5xkd01sSJXiX8FH-MgppKdrsnUZVu5_1EnfjIUp7LmlGceMchDZpQzyt5-doxZ3BeuTNWBo8UUGygTfi7YuQcYPMu5QOapeSCtE9Vq4QeODjAzl_TxILwYq32W7F0XpU/s200/Emily%2526Roberto.JPG" width="200" /></a>(Produced for Ales & Tales) </div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">Name:</span> Emily Sadler<span style="background-color: white; color: blue;"> </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;">Age:</span> 26<span style="color: blue;"> </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">Occupation:</span> Manager of <a href="http://www.sadlersales.co.uk/index.php/pubswindsor">The Windsor Castle Inn</a></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><ul style="color: blue; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">What was your first drink?</span></div></li>
</ul><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Well the first drink worth talking about that I tried was Sadler’s Jack’s Pale Ale of course! The first batch my dad and brother brewed together in 2004. It was such an exciting experience to taste this real ale that was historically brewed 104 years previous by my great grand father in Oldbury where the original Sadler’s brewery had opened. From that first taste of real ale I was hooked and in fact JPA, as the ale is now called, is still my favourite! Perhaps it is the combination of its citrus, refreshingly zesty flavours plus a little good old-fashioned sentiment that makes this beer so great.</span></div><div></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><ul style="color: blue; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">What are your hobbies and interests?</span></div></li>
</ul><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Outside of work I enjoy going out for nice meals with friends and family, hunting for fabulous real ale pubs! I like to get out into the countryside when I can – I recently went camping with my boyfriend Gareth in Wales, that was fantastic. We went up the Black Mountains, which was breathtaking on a sunny day, we could see for miles! We also found some excellent real ale & cider pubs in Leominster & Hay on Wye. I also enjoy chilling out after a busy day at The Windsor by reading, listening to music; I even enjoy doing a spot of cooking too! I love going to concerts/festivals when I can but it’s sometimes difficult to find the time. I’m off to Worcester beer festival this week and obviously next week we’ve got the Black Country Beer Festival that I’m really looking forward to – fingers crossed for sunshine this year! :)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><ul style="color: blue; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">What is your favourite beer?</span></div></li>
</ul><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Ooh there is just so many to chose from… as I mentioned earlier JPA has got to be my all time favourite but also I am loving Sadler’s Hop Bomb at the moment so refreshing and packed full of flavour! It’s quite strong for me at 5% but I’m partial to a swift half after work.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"> </span> </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><ul style="color: blue; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">What is your favourite:</span></div></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span></div><div style="color: blue; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">-Food? </span> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Chinese, Dim Sum, Seafood, Sadler’s beer battered Fish & chips! Mmm!</span> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span></div><div style="color: blue; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">-Drink that's not Real Ale? </span> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">My dad has just started making home made ginger beer (Grandpa Sadler’s Ginger Beer) that we’re selling at The Windsor Castle at the moment– it tastes sooo good! It's so gingery it knocks your socks off! It has a delicious spiced flavour to it; really refreshing too, it’s definitely worth a taste!</span> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span></div><div style="color: blue; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">-Music? </span> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">I like all types, genres and eras of music – I do love the old classics! I like playing a mixture of folk, blues, jazz music at The Windsor – I love playing the new album by Hugh Laurie at the moment- he plays a mixture of piano and acoustic guitar covering a great mixture of blues classics, everyone really seems to enjoy it – it’s toe tappingly good!</span> </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><ul style="color: blue; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">How did you get started in the trade?</span></div></li>
</ul><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">I had always worked in pubs and restaurants part time and thoroughly enjoyed it so when we got permission to convert part of our premises in Lye into a Tap House beside the brewery I was thrilled! Once I had finished my degree in Birmingham I joined the family business, moved in to the pub and have ran The Windsor Castle ever since. I really enjoy working in the trade – it can be a lot of hard work at times but it's really rewarding especially when customers return time after time and enjoy and appreciate the great home made food, real ale and I’d like to think excellent service we provide. I love the buzz of a heavingly busy Saturday night!</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><ul style="color: blue; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">What's the history of your pub?</span></div></li>
</ul><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">The Windsor Castle Inn, Lye is historically named after the Sadler’s Tap House in Oldbury, which my Great Grandfather owned and first opened in 1900 beside The Windsor Castle Brewery. Although brewing ended here in 1927, my Grandfather John Caleb Nathaniel (known as Jack) was bought up in the brew house and passed on his passion and knowledge of brewing. Once we had re-started the brewery in 2004 we decided to not only sell to the trade but also through our own off license on site so that people could come and buy a few pints of Sadler’s ale to take home with them or take to one of the local curry houses. The ball started to roll from here and our thoughts of opening a Tap House began to grow. So in April 2006, after a lot of hard work converting and reinventing what was Sadler Print, the premises was transformed and The Windsor Castle Inn, Sadler’s Tap House was opened. We have just celebrated our 5</span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><sup>th</sup></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"> Birthday!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><ul style="color: blue; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">What are your aspirations for the business?</span></div></li>
</ul><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">We have just gained permission to convert the flat above The Windsor Castle into three letting rooms. Changing the Tap House into a B & B is really exciting – I want to develop the flat into three high-class bedrooms for our customers to stay and relax in in our lovely pub. Our “Brew a Beer Days” have taken off and we have a lot of people visiting us from all over the country it will be great to offer them a place to stay with a hearty Windsor Castle breakfast in the morning! I plan on opening the pub for breakfast to everyone not just our over night guests</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">I hope to continue our growth and popularity, continually improving our service and products. We aim to grow as a business and expand where possible; it would be fantastic to win awards, find a second pub and do it all over again!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><ul style="color: blue; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">What's the best and worst thing to happen in the industry in the last 5 years?</span></div></li>
</ul><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="color: blue; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">-Best </span> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">The appreciation for real ale and real food! The popularity of real ale has increased dramatically over the past few years and we are all very much more aware of the importance of knowing where are food comes from, that it is locally sourced, that the quality is high, and that it is home made! This increased awareness and appreciation has contributed to our success and popularity.</span> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span></div><div style="color: blue; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">-Worst</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">The increasingly high beer duty and VAT is the worst thing to happen to the industry. Prices are soaring making it difficult for customers and publicans alike & the number of pubs that have closed over the last 5 years!</span> </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><ul style="color: blue; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">How do you feel CAMRA could help you in your business?</span></div></li>
</ul><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">By providing your continued support, awarding our hard work and successes where possible, advertising our pub and brewery, advising other local CAMRA groups from around the Midlands and the Country to give us a try, supporting our beer festivals and events. Keep up the good work in raising awareness for the most fantastic drink that is real ale!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><ul style="color: blue; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">Which is your favourite pub? (Can be anywhere in the country as long as you don't own it)</span></div></li>
</ul><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.64cm; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.64cm; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">My favourite pub for location and quality of food is The Ferry Boat Inn, Helford. It is located in the most idyllic spot situated on the waterfront of Helford Passage near Falmouth in Cornwall. You can sit outside on a sunny day right on the sea front eating and drinking local produce. All their seafood comes from local fishermen and their oysters and shellfish come from the river the pub is situated on – Lovely! Obviously I can’t pop there any time I fancy so day to day I like all pubs that stock a great range of real ales, ciders and interesting local drinks and produce; pubs that make an effort to stand out, be a bit different and stock and look after real ale!</span></div>Roberto Ross, Professional Drinkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05745997006722790614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1795837473952867507.post-80322159993240809282011-08-15T17:05:00.001+01:002011-08-15T17:06:04.347+01:00Does CAMRA need a new logo?<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJnVr_SSZlfU56oJo0ibmQYwXnEwkWwYfXH0_LSAJJvEUDJCfBjzTk-7B_WQnGcnQJVM72hecCSLzzrfQgS3DaCElUqtkkqK-2zws2wp0daq1zfIC13_qJMPbe8jyu_ORrZsJrJUwmIlc/s1600/CAMRA_Logo_with_words.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJnVr_SSZlfU56oJo0ibmQYwXnEwkWwYfXH0_LSAJJvEUDJCfBjzTk-7B_WQnGcnQJVM72hecCSLzzrfQgS3DaCElUqtkkqK-2zws2wp0daq1zfIC13_qJMPbe8jyu_ORrZsJrJUwmIlc/s200/CAMRA_Logo_with_words.jpg" width="125" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Does CAMRA need a new logo?</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">Produced for BEER Issue 13 Autumn 2011 (p55).</span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">British Airways and The Post Office, what could possibly be the link between these two organisations? Well, the answer is they both belong to a vast legion of disastrous logo re-branding attempts.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">In 1996 British Airways with their expensively repainted aircraft tail-fins “representing a more international identity” very quickly fell to public backlash and a media contrasting their costly makeover with the “cost-saving” redundancies also announced at the time. Result? The Union Jacked planes were back in the skies, their new logo crashed and burned.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">Forwarding five years to 2001 The Post Office Group blundered their way into redesign. Gone was the iconic crown atop words of Royal Mail in gold and pillar box red, in came, well, that multi-coloured circle thingy and the name Consignia; billed (or should that be posted) as “modern, meaningful and entirely appropriate”. After a £1.1 billion loss the logo, like unnecessary junk mail, was quickly binned.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">These two British stalwarts learned a costly lesson here. Re-branding does not inspire trust, passion, or national pride, so does CAMRA need a new logo? The examples above shouldn't be ignored. If the brand isn't broken you better have a good reason for a new one. CAMRA has been an outstanding consumer success story. It's frightening to imagine what the alternative might have been. A quick look at the national site shows a very healthy 125,000 members and elsewhere CAMRA is noted as being the largest single-issue consumer group in the UK. Not doing to badly for itself I'd argue.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">We need to beware of too much praise however, this isn’t the time for a round of backslapping, such would dangerously distract from the continued threat to our love of all things real ale. Does CAMRA need to divert precious time and resources to a frivolous exercise such as a new logo? Or in fact should all attention be used to mount a counter-attack against the combined foes of successive Governments hell bent on plundering the industry with monstrous tax and duty rises and the insidious anti-alcohol “health” lobbies who lump all drinkers under the same hooded yobbish garment. I think we know the answer to that one, and it isn't playing about with a drawing.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thousands of us swell the ranks of CAMRA to rightfully promote their beloved drink, to fight an increasingly difficult rear-guard action against pub closures and to leave a legacy to a younger generation of which I myself at the tender age of 26 am included. New logos can be a success when done tastefully and intuitively but we should be fighting for quality real ale, not doodling your heritage into submission.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">Roberto Ross </span></div>Roberto Ross, Professional Drinkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05745997006722790614noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1795837473952867507.post-47056706228854085172011-07-30T15:43:00.002+01:002012-03-04T13:25:38.417+00:00Sadler's Ales and the new Hop Bomb<div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">On Monday the 25<sup>th</sup> of July I popped into the Windsor Castle tap house in Lye for a brief catch up with Chris Sadler, head brewer of <a href="http://www.sadlersales.co.uk/">Sadler's Ales</a>. A little chat that became a delightful five hours of brewery goodness...</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6V1AdJkrXWDpImxp3g9Ml6oSeAnUDoyFddhScwoLfg-LI8B2Tgo7bSPJlpptf5oeaDg7NcAtTUPDpEj8vAbYTHp6_C35l2QOWm0_lM_AABgbfvl-OZYblq8qV9gG6YyxELBin7aWH2xQ/s1600/logosmallersadlers.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6V1AdJkrXWDpImxp3g9Ml6oSeAnUDoyFddhScwoLfg-LI8B2Tgo7bSPJlpptf5oeaDg7NcAtTUPDpEj8vAbYTHp6_C35l2QOWm0_lM_AABgbfvl-OZYblq8qV9gG6YyxELBin7aWH2xQ/s200/logosmallersadlers.png" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: small;">Sadler's Ales was first opened in 1900 by Thomas Alexander Sadler, the brewery supplied twelve tied public houses, the most famous being the Windsor Castle Inn, Oldbury which adjoined the Brewery. After 27 years brewing ceased but Thomas Alexander's son, John Caleb Nathaniel (known as Jack) made sure the alchemical knowledge of brewing was passed on to his future generations. The operation was restarted by the Sadler Family during the winter of 2004, 77 years after Thomas Sadler brewed his last pint and a new Windsor Castle was opened, now situated in Lye.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFDKWOXqn52IP8m-eGWePZwJDrcDsFq4VWzILQYEy-y4FVKfTJRICsGozoozEHOq3yjWEIU_YdhuFdr_TZDi0tUIw72UtYJs8AGmp7ZeEPBx4VwFq-l7kTgj_7uDaaf3tNUkjMYQYvCR4/s1600/mudcity.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFDKWOXqn52IP8m-eGWePZwJDrcDsFq4VWzILQYEy-y4FVKfTJRICsGozoozEHOq3yjWEIU_YdhuFdr_TZDi0tUIw72UtYJs8AGmp7ZeEPBx4VwFq-l7kTgj_7uDaaf3tNUkjMYQYvCR4/s200/mudcity.png" width="145" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxoZbuIr_tjyR4tOE2VNo36GoW0pqy3b8gsQFrrSpad0GxEQpDWEwy91BGngAc4YG_99zWoXQGoyANsb-G3jLzqLr4eCkPiSr8T06y5n38Iou1aOW0kLfUc8_IgwdNDxZQKK7mRpuA8lQ/s1600/jpa.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxoZbuIr_tjyR4tOE2VNo36GoW0pqy3b8gsQFrrSpad0GxEQpDWEwy91BGngAc4YG_99zWoXQGoyANsb-G3jLzqLr4eCkPiSr8T06y5n38Iou1aOW0kLfUc8_IgwdNDxZQKK7mRpuA8lQ/s200/jpa.png" width="145" /></a></div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sadler's brews a host of permanent signature beers along with a selection of interesting monthly specials, my favourites of which being their JPA: a light, citrusy pale ale that packs a greater punch than its 3.8% suggests and the incredibly rich Mud City Stout: a powerhouse 6.6% creation made with raw coca, vanilla pods and balanced by its complex malty character.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBsFr5JXybU94CNfWXksFWm9LbBlJOcEccWrPZcmHAqRtYSc_5lt9RikMZY9uRxkzWz4yi4rrfoD7sSU9jC3VjVd_8tffHo7CBS57RpKtw_i_DVbZbL7pE3qO2oMljo0XIkHw6sE7wjjc/s1600/hopbomb.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBsFr5JXybU94CNfWXksFWm9LbBlJOcEccWrPZcmHAqRtYSc_5lt9RikMZY9uRxkzWz4yi4rrfoD7sSU9jC3VjVd_8tffHo7CBS57RpKtw_i_DVbZbL7pE3qO2oMljo0XIkHw6sE7wjjc/s200/hopbomb.png" width="145" /></a><span style="font-size: small;">Throughout the day Chris and I worked our way happily through the Windsor Castle's tasty and varied ale selection complimented by a look backstage at the brewery itself and welcome snack interludes. It's worth pointing out here that the Windsor Castle isn't just the Sadler's Ales tap house but also serves freshly prepared homemade food too. The menu, as well as other information, is available on their website which can be found via my links section.</span></div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Chris Sadler has recently created a new brew, the aptly named Hop Bomb, 5% and labelled as a powerful <span style="font-weight: normal;">Trans-Atlantic pale ale, it certainly lives up to its explosive title. This beer is literally detonating with expertly blended flavours both floral and hoppy. Grapefruit, melon and bitter pine wallop the taste buds in this delectable, uncompromising beer. If you see it on your travels, either in cask or bottle, you're definitely in for a treat.</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglW0GRnK74dG4cyX4Ey0mnIEX7gmr22echVt0Yhr8bVd-avzTvEKr6P9ruQ2mwRAQLy_DEEvo0PugNLOo4pt8EVyRQCY6NVlKHNwcE7JysUKM8xNr8so0lBduDkhpY7OWIOy2eTKv_I-g/s1600/IMG00291-20110726-1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglW0GRnK74dG4cyX4Ey0mnIEX7gmr22echVt0Yhr8bVd-avzTvEKr6P9ruQ2mwRAQLy_DEEvo0PugNLOo4pt8EVyRQCY6NVlKHNwcE7JysUKM8xNr8so0lBduDkhpY7OWIOy2eTKv_I-g/s640/IMG00291-20110726-1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></span></div>Roberto Ross, Professional Drinkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05745997006722790614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1795837473952867507.post-52900397210136683892011-07-22T16:41:00.001+01:002011-07-22T16:43:15.343+01:00Russia reclassifies beer<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=1795837473952867507&postID=5290039721013668389" name="hotword"></a>An important event unfolded yesterday; a giant of the drinking world - quite literally, again looked at taking steps into a totalitarian land of restriction and control. On the 21<sup>st</sup> of July 2011, Russia's President, Dmitry Medvedev, signed a bill that officially classified beer as alcoholic. Previously anything containing less than 10% alcohol in Russia has been considered foodstuff. Now hold on, stop sniggering at the back for a second, lets look deeper into this. With beer sales soaring in recent years over the popularity of spirits due to a healthier image the Russian Government plans to restrict its hours of sale, restrict its advertising and has already hit the brewing industry with a 200% tax hike.</div><div></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">Russia has of course been here previously, from tsarist coffer-cramming kabaks to Mikhail Gorbachev's attempts at partial prohibition in 1985. Serpentine s<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">chemes</span> concocted in the delusion that the problems that result from a society feeling the need to attempt to consume such large amounts of alcohol can be addressed by curbing the drink itself.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=1795837473952867507&postID=5290039721013668389" name="hotword1"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=1795837473952867507&postID=5290039721013668389" name="hotword2"></a> The powers that be would have you believe that the well documented problems in Russia can't of course be caused by whole populations griped in the <span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">crushing</span> clutches of poverty, or also, as PricewaterhouseCoopers put it “The worlds most fraudulent economy”. No, not even the boot from the oligarchic class that developed in Russia after the fall of the Soviet Union, so determined to carve up everything for themselves, can be blamed here, it is all the fault of humble beer.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=1795837473952867507&postID=5290039721013668389" name="hotword3"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=1795837473952867507&postID=5290039721013668389" name="hotword4"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=1795837473952867507&postID=5290039721013668389" name="hotword6"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=1795837473952867507&postID=5290039721013668389" name="hotword7"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=1795837473952867507&postID=5290039721013668389" name="hotword5"></a> Instead of a brewed or distilled beverage which-hunt, maybe Russia should commend alcohol in its <span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">benevolent ability to alleviate the pressures of various portions of society living in dystopia. The friendly welcome and warm atmosphere of a drink with comrades or even a quiet simmer down with a drink in the comfort of oneself may be one of the few pleasures left allowing people to rise the next day, go to work and keep the cogs of all our </span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">stuttering economies going.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">Typing this with a bottle of Baltika 6 Porter and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture firing out of the speakers, here's to you, drinking classes of Russia. Budem zdorovy!</span></span></div>Roberto Ross, Professional Drinkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05745997006722790614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1795837473952867507.post-57060827066244741182011-07-12T22:57:00.000+01:002011-07-12T22:57:03.388+01:00Great British Beer Festival<div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">My excitement is building substantially for this years CAMRA GBBF, otherwise known as the Great British Beer Festival. Held at Earls Court, London from the 2<sup>nd</sup> to 6<sup>th</sup> of August its become a regular feature on the calender for myself and my hardy drinking companions. Starting, predictably some might say, at the glorious Waggon and Horses, Halesowen for a breakfast bacon roll and an accompanying breakfast pint (a morning “brew” to set us up for the day) our coach takes us from the pub to the festival and back again, the usefulness of such a door to door arrangement should be plain to understand for anyone that plans to “indulge” at such an event.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdcE1V3WnfbCAgcNQoNUIBjqDf56eAZdT_wM4uYCK4uWzUo96OvKiiNrQT6OLYfxBerlNqaGhQyAuiIQydyMw7xEagG9z3thZ3h-J2UAtpDfdyQqHlg2WRJvu38XebVtGfbPp-Q-BxYOM/s1600/GBBF-Logo-2011-200px.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdcE1V3WnfbCAgcNQoNUIBjqDf56eAZdT_wM4uYCK4uWzUo96OvKiiNrQT6OLYfxBerlNqaGhQyAuiIQydyMw7xEagG9z3thZ3h-J2UAtpDfdyQqHlg2WRJvu38XebVtGfbPp-Q-BxYOM/s1600/GBBF-Logo-2011-200px.jpg" /></a></span></div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The premier UK beer festival has a delightful array of beers and ciders from all over the country, as you would expect, but I take special interest however, in the “Bières Sans Frontières”. You see the same problems faced by new British breweries also apply to new foreign craft enterprises trying to squeeze into a market already subjugated by the ersatz producers. Luckily at the GBBF you can explore some really exciting brews you wouldn't usually get the opportunity to try without your passport handy.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> </div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> </div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Straying from beer for one moment I feel the need to mention the food that is available at the GBBF; a world apart from the usual rubbish you'd expect at a similar event. On offer here it's more like a farmers market and definitely worth soaking up the tasty ales with. Good food and good beer, what more do you need?</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> </div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> </div><div class="western" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Check out the official website </span><span style="color: navy; font-size: small;"><span lang="zxx"><u><a href="http://gbbf.camra.org.uk/home">http://gbbf.camra.org.uk/home</a></u></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"> for more information and you can also book your tickets online too. Lastly, I'll be there Thursday so for those going earlier, don't drink all the good stuff before I get there...</span></div>Roberto Ross, Professional Drinkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05745997006722790614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1795837473952867507.post-70445954185955675982011-06-07T13:39:00.002+01:002012-03-04T13:24:47.648+00:00Angel Ale launch night a success<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Last night saw the launch of a signature ale from a new local brewery, <a href="http://www.angelales.co.uk/index.html">Angel Ales</a>. </span></div><div></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgLUUeJOhphnEY2Z3UJW_Ssry-f1WLCTw-B_wdGCs5YMwExGbVZhmd1zo8PQJdfYz6I8_VMOrUb-fFeJFKCnV1zzCUoa_9fSzM2n0Qa8xijuEkldCkuMxZJcpNvH7TW_ehVBRIDX-F78I/s1600/IMG00183-20110606-1613.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgLUUeJOhphnEY2Z3UJW_Ssry-f1WLCTw-B_wdGCs5YMwExGbVZhmd1zo8PQJdfYz6I8_VMOrUb-fFeJFKCnV1zzCUoa_9fSzM2n0Qa8xijuEkldCkuMxZJcpNvH7TW_ehVBRIDX-F78I/s400/IMG00183-20110606-1613.jpg" width="255" /></a><span style="font-size: small;">After fifteen trial brews were created to gauge feedback from seasoned imbibers, brewers Nick Pritchard and Andy Kirk decided their new ale was ready to be tasted by the parched masses.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=1795837473952867507&postID=7044595418595567598" name="hotword"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=1795837473952867507&postID=7044595418595567598" name="query_h1"></a> Angel Ale (4.1%) is an extremely pale and intensely hoppy creation. Crisp flavours of grapefruit and lime citrus dominate the pallet, furthermore the beer is also light enough to warrant successive pints. Definitely a beer to be <span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">sought-after</span> by hop lovers.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The launch night was held at that characterful real ale emporium, the Waggon & Horses, Halesowen and was lively as ever. Over 18 gallons of Angel Ale was quaffed in the first three and a half hours, which is a testament to the hard work put in by the brewers in creating something so palatable.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Angel Ales is brewed from a former chapel of rest on Furlong Lane in Halesowen.</span> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">www.angelales.co.uk </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"></div>Roberto Ross, Professional Drinkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05745997006722790614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1795837473952867507.post-91981500552164032122011-06-06T12:19:00.007+01:002012-03-04T13:24:06.038+00:00Meet the... Brewer, Jerry Hedges<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;">(Produced for Ales & Tales) <span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><b>Meet the... Brewer</b></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">Name:</span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"> Jerry Hedges</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">Age:</span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"> 59</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">Occupation:</span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"> Co-Owner of <a href="http://www.envilleales.com/">Enville Ales</a>.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><ul style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">What was your first drink?</span></div></li>
</ul><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Young’s Bitter was in my bottle as a baby. In 1972 I managed to complete the famous Young’s CXLVII (have a pint and collect the landlord’s signature in each of their 147 pubs) and visit the brewery in Wandsworth to collect a free Firkin, tie, Ram badge etc.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><ul style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">What are your hobbies and interests?</span></div></li>
</ul><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Family, Cask Ale, Stourbridge RFC, TVRs, Travel, Crystal Palace FC, Asian Cuisine</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><ul style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">What is your favourite:</span></div></li>
</ul><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1.25cm;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">-Food?</span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"> Cantonese Dim Sun</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1.25cm;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">-Drink that's not Real Ale?</span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"> Milk</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1.25cm;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">-Music?</span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"> Soul, Northern Soul, Motown and Blues</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><ul style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">How did you get started in the trade?</span></div></li>
</ul><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">It was a genuine ‘Victor Kiam’ moment. My partners and I liked Enville Ale so much we bought the brewery.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><ul style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">What's the history of your brewery?</span></div></li>
</ul><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Enville Brewery takes its name from and has a long association with the small village of Enville in South Staffordshire. <br />
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The original brewery in Enville village, based at The Stamford Arms Hotel, ceased production in 1919 due to loss of manpower in the war. On the Stamford Estate, now known as the Enville Estate, the men at that time received tokens as part of their wages which could be cashed at the brewery for the appropriate volume of beer.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">The Stamford Arms Hotel which stood behind the Cat Inn, had been built by the then Lord Stamford in 1856-7 in time for a fête and cricket festival in the grounds of Enville Hall which had attracted growing numbers of visitors in the previous few years after Lord Stamford had begun opening the gardens to the public. The hotel was eventually demolished after the Second World War in 1950.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">The new brewery, which was established by Mr H. Constantine-Cort in 1992 and began producing Enville Ale the following year, was established some one and a half miles from the original site and draws its brewing liquor from the same source, the original extraction warrant being granted in 1908 by The House of Lords. The new brewery was constructed on a derelict farm known locally as the hamlet of Cox Green.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">Enville Ale, which represents more than 50% of the output of over 80 barrels per week, is one of the highly specialised beers produced on the site, the original recipe dating back to approximately 1850 and originating from the proprietors' great-great-aunt who lived in Cumbria. It would have been traditionally described as Beekeepers Ale.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Complementing it‟s local delivery service, Enville works with cask ale distributors to ensure their award-winning ales reach real ale aficionados in perfect condition. We also supply two of the UK's leading Pubcos. </span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">With the need for extra brewing capacity and a much higher demand for Enville's products, the current owners who purchased the brewery in 2007 are investing heavily in efficient processing equipment and carefully controlled brewery expansion.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">The brewery uses the finest hops from Evesham in Worcestershire and East Kent and a variety of pure English malts to ensure consistency throughout the brewing process. Fermentation is temperature controlled and unhurried to ensure perfect conditioning and all ale is racked to order from conditioning tanks to guarantee maximum freshness and longevity. </span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">Now, in 2011, the company is aiming to serve its customers to the highest standard and make the name Enville synonymous with quality ale throughout the UK.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><ul style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">What are your aspirations for your business?</span></div></li>
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</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">To continue to supply a variety of fine quality cask ales. To introduce new products, expand production and distribution in a controlled manner, acquire our own pub and/or build a visitor centre, win awards and recognition for our commitment to the industry and remain solvent.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><ul style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">What is your favourite: </span> </div></li>
</ul><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1.25cm;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">-Beer you brew?</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1.25cm;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><b>Regular:</b></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"> Enville Ginger 4.6% ABV, </span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><b>Seasonal</b></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">: Enville Phoenix IPA 4.8% ABV</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1.25cm;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">-Beer you don't brew?</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1.25cm;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><b>Locally:</b></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"> Batham’s Bitter, </span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><b>Nationally:</b></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"> Young’s Bitter</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><ul style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">What's the best and worst thing to happen in the industry in the last 10 years?</span></div></li>
</ul><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1.25cm;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">-Best</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1.25cm;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Small brewery duty relief, the growing popularity of cask ale, wider adoption of auto-tilts in cellars</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1.25cm;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">-Worst</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1.25cm;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Pub closures, increases in duty and VAT, Supermarkets and Wetherspoons</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><ul style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">How do you feel CAMRA could help you in your business?</span></div></li>
</ul><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">By promoting our products at festivals, carrying advertising and editorial in their local magazines, suggesting ideas for new brews or events worthy of support and by awarding us with more prestigious awards.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><ul style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">Which is your favourite pub? (Can be anywhere in the country as long as you don't own it)</span></div></li>
</ul><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">I don’t have a favourite. I like any that stock Enville products, care about cask condition and look after their cellar.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Roberto Ross </span><br />
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</span></div>Roberto Ross, Professional Drinkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05745997006722790614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1795837473952867507.post-68983511279530775572011-05-11T11:57:00.006+01:002011-08-26T13:13:25.346+01:00Stourbridge Beer Festival Preview<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">(Produced for Ales & Tales) <br />
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The mornings are brighter, there are flowers adding vibrant bursts of colour, trees in full blossom and residents at long last ditching their heavy winter coats. We've even managed to recover from losing that extra hour in bed with the arrival of British Summer Time.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">This of course means two things: that by the time you are reading this spring is well and truly here and that the beer festival at the Stourbridge Town Hall is getting ready to tempt you with a multitude of real ale delights.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The 14th Stourbridge Beer Festival takes place a little later than usual, so make sure you make a note in your calendars for the 12</span></span><sup><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">th</span></span></sup><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> 13</span></span><sup><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">th</span></span></sup><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> and 14</span></span><sup><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">th</span></span></sup><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> of May. The festival, for those that haven't been before, is held yearly at the Stourbridge Town Hall, close to town centre bus stops and the Stourbridge Town rail station. A short walk along the high street will present you with the magnificent Victorian town hall and the less aesthetically pleasing 1980s built Crown Centre. Entrance is through the library.</span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">As ever there will be a delightful range of around 80 real ales from round the country and also around 20 real ciders and perries with their time-honoured fruitiness. This year's theme will be beers from Yorkshire, so along with plenty of your locally brewed favourites and a few festival specials, several gems from “God's Own County” will be making an appearance. Worry not however, as dourness and flat caps will of course be optional.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">Our logo for the commemorative festival glasses this year is celebrating the life of a former resident and British hero, Frank Foley. In his role as passport control officer he helped thousands of Jews escape terror in Nazi Germany. At the 1961 trial of former high ranking Nazi Adolf Eichmann, he was described as a “Scarlet Pimpernel” for the way he risked his own life to save Jews threatened with death by the Nazis. Despite having no diplomatic immunity and being liable to arrest at any time, Foley would bend the rules when stamping passports and issuing visas, to allow Jews to escape “legally” to Britain or Palestine, which was then controlled by the British. Sometimes he went further, going into internment camps to get Jews out, hiding them in his home, and helping them get forged passports. One Jewish aid worker estimated that he saved “tens of thousands” of people from the Holocaust.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">Entrance charge to the festival is reduced for all CAMRA members and those wishing to join up on the day will be rewarded with discounts and a host of other goodies. For more information visit our website www.stourbridgecamra.org.uk/beerfest/ where you'll be able to take a look at the beers on offer as well as how to get involved.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">We hope to see you at this year’s festival, whether you are a veteran attendee of many years or have never been before. Remember, Stourbridge Beer Festival for three days will be the biggest pub around!<br />
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Roberto Ross<br />
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</div>Roberto Ross, Professional Drinkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05745997006722790614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1795837473952867507.post-1643799550406997552011-04-13T16:03:00.008+01:002012-03-04T13:22:52.665+00:00Meet the... Publican, Bob Dummons<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">(Produced for Ales & Tales) <span style="font-size: large;"><b><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Meet the... Publican</b></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: blue; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">Name:<span style="color: black;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Bob Dummons</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: blue; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">Age: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">60</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: blue; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Occupation: </span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Owner of the <a href="http://waggonales.co.uk/">Waggon and Horses</a> in Halesowen</span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: blue; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><ul style="color: blue;"><li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">What was your first drink?</span></div></li>
</ul><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: black; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">When I was seven years of age my parents took my brother and myself to France, Belgium and Holland. It was then that I sampled beer and wine on this trip. I can't remember what they were now though.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: blue; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><ul style="color: blue;"><li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">What are your hobbies and interests?</span></div></li>
</ul><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: black; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">Listening to music and going to concerts. Walking when I get the chance, and believe it or not, drinking beer. I also enjoy a drop of wine and going out to dine.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: blue; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><ul style="color: blue;"><li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">What is your favourite beer?</span></div></li>
</ul><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: black; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">The one I have bought for me! No Seriously, trying to narrow down to one beer is impossible. Having said that; Nottingham EPA, Marstons Burton Bitter, Linfit Enochs Hammer, Fullers ESB and P2 Stout come quickly to mind to name but a few.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: blue; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><ul style="color: blue;"><li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">What is your favourite:</span></div></li>
</ul><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: blue; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">-Food? </span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Indian cuisine</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: blue; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">-Drink that's not Real Ale?<span style="color: black;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Proper Tea, crushed leaves, etc.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: blue; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">-Music? </span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">As Yehudi Menuhin said when asked what music he liked and how he could play so many different genres, he said “There are only three kinds of music, good, bad and indifferent.” I like good music.</span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: blue; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><ul style="color: blue;"><li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">How did you get started in the trade?</span></div></li>
</ul><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: black; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">By joining CAMRA as a branch member, chairman and later area organiser. Also being in overall charge for a time of the beer at the Great British Beer Festival, and working in various pubs in Southampton.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: blue; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><ul style="color: blue;"><li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">What's the history of your pub under your ownership.</span></div></li>
</ul><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: black; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">We bought the pub as a lot of folks will know in 1987. At the time there were 6 handpumps and we increased these to 8. There were no real ale wholesalers at the time so the beers had to be sourced ourselves. We gradually ended up supplying the Seven Valley Railway, The Somers Sports and Social Club and the Beacon Hotel. The 14 pumps you see now came after a beer festival we did, we could not stillage casks upstairs so the extras were put on the bar and never came off.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: blue; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><ul style="color: blue;"><li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">What are your aspirations for your business?</span></div></li>
</ul><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: black; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">We are starting to do hot food and eventually we will put accommodation upstairs when the banks (spit) come to their senses. But overall I want a friendly pub that sells good food not a restaurant that sells good beer!</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: blue; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><ul style="color: blue;"><li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">What's the best and worst thing to happen in the industry in the last 10 years?</span></div></li>
</ul><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: black; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">-Best?</span> </span><span style="font-size: small;">Not all-day opening, but flexible hours. Progressive duty for small brewers has also been a big boon to the industry.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: black; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;">-Worst?</span> </span><span style="font-size: small;">The lamentable rise of sub-standard alcopops. The lumping of all drinking cultures under one roof, so you have morons out of their face (and normally clothes) categorised with good steady (well sometimes steady) real ale drinkers in their local.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: blue; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><ul style="color: blue;"><li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">How do you feel CAMRA could help you in your business?</span></div></li>
</ul><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: black; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">Vote me National Pub of the Year! No really, I have been a member since 1974 and it's a campaign! So it's always what can I do for CAMRA.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: blue; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><ul style="color: blue;"><li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">Which is your favourite pub? (Can be anywhere in the country as long as you don't own it)</span></div></li>
</ul><div align="JUSTIFY" style="color: black; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">How would I know, I don't go anywhere else! Once again I cannot narrow it down to one. My list would include The Beacon Hotel in Sedgley, Coopers Tavern in Burton upon Trent and The Barton Arms, Newtown, Birmingham.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihAncMTJTC9QAHQmZ4cECX7BxcMGQNTpUhy0WcCsp-ib99tE95pxJLxqljiyzZv-Z9mXt3fwIbk3BjIG1nOL8Vc5nThVFqEKikLQP5XW7Am5qmD9avTP-Wac2Es_-mcFeOMggraTl2ad8/s1600/P1050080+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihAncMTJTC9QAHQmZ4cECX7BxcMGQNTpUhy0WcCsp-ib99tE95pxJLxqljiyzZv-Z9mXt3fwIbk3BjIG1nOL8Vc5nThVFqEKikLQP5XW7Am5qmD9avTP-Wac2Es_-mcFeOMggraTl2ad8/s640/P1050080+-+Copy.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;"><br />
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Roberto & Bob<br />
<a href="http://waggonales.co.uk/">Waggon & Horses</a><br />
21 Stourbridge Road<br />
Halesowen<br />
B63 3TU<br />
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Roberto Ross<br />
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</div>Roberto Ross, Professional Drinkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05745997006722790614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1795837473952867507.post-42332968309619770242011-04-02T14:17:00.002+01:002011-06-07T14:59:54.186+01:00Stourbridge Beer Festival<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipSLHpPkpF2Kl9tGnoJUiAz9pjFqkBvrFkhH5ksIKKmu2_Qrwi_XEe04xWI08eP6t7R94NnHJL6FJnf03FhV42A5zfeoWWfxaIwA6tWqAn1UqmIbiRTon02-i8x-pBCwHLIXe0hYgpBLY/s1600/StourbridgeBeerFestival.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipSLHpPkpF2Kl9tGnoJUiAz9pjFqkBvrFkhH5ksIKKmu2_Qrwi_XEe04xWI08eP6t7R94NnHJL6FJnf03FhV42A5zfeoWWfxaIwA6tWqAn1UqmIbiRTon02-i8x-pBCwHLIXe0hYgpBLY/s640/StourbridgeBeerFestival.jpg" width="452" /></a></div>Roberto Ross, Professional Drinkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05745997006722790614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1795837473952867507.post-60021254784685584582011-04-02T13:56:00.002+01:002012-02-06T12:04:01.013+00:00The Duke William<div align="CENTER" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Stourbridge & Halesowen CAMRA </b></span> </div><div align="CENTER" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: navy; font-size: small;"><span lang="zxx"><u><a href="http://www.stourbridgecamra.org.uk/" target="_blank">www.stourbridgecamra.org.uk</a></u></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span> </div><div align="CENTER" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div align="CENTER" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><u><b>Pub Of The Year 2011</b></u></i></span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>&</b></i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i><u><b> Cider Pub Of The Year 2011</b></u></i></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The </span><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>Stourbridge & Halesowen Branch of CAMRA</b></i></span><span style="font-size: small;"> would like to announce their “Pub of Year 2011” & “Cider Pub of the Year 2011” to </span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>The </b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>Duke William,</b></i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i> 25 Coventry Street, </i></span><span style="font-size: small;">Stourbridge, DY8 1EP.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">On Monday 21</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><sup><span style="font-style: normal;">st</span></sup></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"> of March the Stourbridge & Halesowen Campaign for Real Ale awarded The Duke William, Stourbridge, its most prestigious yearly awards after many months of judging. Branch Chairman, Roberto Ross, stated </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>“There are so many quality pubs in our branch so it has always been difficult to choose an overall winner. The work David Craddock has done to this distinctive Edwardian town centre pub is breathtaking, with its high ceilings, lovely brickwork and recently refurbished oak floors, the pub is a true gem to visit.</i></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=1795837473952867507&postID=6002125478468558458" name="hotword1"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=1795837473952867507&postID=6002125478468558458" name="hotword2"></a> “</span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The beer and cider quality is, of course, tremendous and the pub additionally serves a dazzling array of foreign bottled beers.</i></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">“</span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>With pubs nationwide closing their doors forever at a rate of one every three hours it's wonderful to see such dedication from staff and investment into an area that is already regarded as a real ale heaven.”</i></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">This outstanding new pub has very recently added a brewery to its set-up and in the next few weeks will be serving some of its very own craft ales.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><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/AVvXsEhkcxZ7rfiOzK4jhs2lFtzHEIuBDbFgfWEbAcBBL1MeY87LEYdGKHzkV9WKEHlMMeNGU0scEpcfX0gbX2DPi-QvfON8NFsUTlUKQ12thyphenhyphenEAVVIz0Yvfk3kDpKAliXxSN-9WwSGIq23QBQc/s1600/Duke+WIlliam3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkcxZ7rfiOzK4jhs2lFtzHEIuBDbFgfWEbAcBBL1MeY87LEYdGKHzkV9WKEHlMMeNGU0scEpcfX0gbX2DPi-QvfON8NFsUTlUKQ12thyphenhyphenEAVVIz0Yvfk3kDpKAliXxSN-9WwSGIq23QBQc/s400/Duke+WIlliam3.jpg" width="340" /></a></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
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David Craddock & Roberto Ross</div>Roberto Ross, Professional Drinkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05745997006722790614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1795837473952867507.post-67711842554443104002011-04-02T13:36:00.004+01:002012-03-04T13:20:51.413+00:00What's new at The Shovel Inn<div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>What's new at The Shovel Inn</b></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">What comes to peoples minds when they think of The Lye? The noted English stage and film actor who played King Arthur in the comedy/musical, <i>A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court</i> (1949), and the Pharaoh Seti I in Cecil B. DeMille's 1956 film <i>The Ten Commandments</i></span><span style="font-size: small; font-style: normal;">;</span><span style="font-size: small;"> Sir Cedric Hardwicke? Er no probably not. How about then the bountiful spread of Balti houses so appetisingly wafting their exotic aromas through the innocent nostrils of passers-by? Now that's more like it!</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Mexican Night</b></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=1795837473952867507&postID=6771184255444310400" name="hotword2"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=1795837473952867507&postID=6771184255444310400" name="hotword1"></a> Well from the 31<sup>st</sup> of March, The Shovel Inn, </span><span style="font-size: small;">Lye, will be conveying a different redolence to the scene. After a £30,000 investment in the pub which has included extending and improving the kitchen, adding to its already popular </span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Ultimate Balti Night</i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">,</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i> </i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">which takes place on a Wednesday, every Thursday will be </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Mexican Night. </i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">The pub will transform itself from cosy English boozer to </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;">vibrant</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"> Mexican saloon each week with innovative changes in decoration.</span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Real Ale Fridays</b></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">That's not the only thing changing at The Shovel Inn though, extending its opening hours on Friday so that it opens all day from noon till midnight is another boost for parched imbibers. Not to mention another wonderful deal where between noon and 5pm Friday CAMRA members get 10% off their drinks if they remember to bring their membership card. A welcome gesture in such times of austerity.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Help for Heroes</b></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Lastly and most poignantly is the beer festival The Shovel Inn is organising to take place on Friday 1st & Saturday 2nd April which is in aid of the charity </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Help for Heroes</i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">. Complimenting the twelve ales already situated on the bar will be a further six racked outside. A special beer is also being brewed to commemorate this event by Andrew </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-style: normal;">Brough</span></i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"> who is brewing at the Ironbridge brewery in Shropshire.</span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-style: normal;">Archives and photos and even an unseen </span></i><i>Pathé</i><i><span style="font-style: normal;"> film from WWII will also be for everyone’s viewing pleasure during the festival so those interested in history will have a fascinating time. Commemorative glasses will be available with all proceeds donated to charity and there will also be entertainment from local musicians.</span></i></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.theshovelinn.co.uk/"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i><span style="font-style: normal;">Shovel Inn</span></i></b></span></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">81 Pedmore Road, </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lye, Stourbridge, </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">DY9 7DZ</span><br />
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Roberto Ross<br />
(Produced for Ales & Tales) </div>Roberto Ross, Professional Drinkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05745997006722790614noreply@blogger.com0