A flying visit to London, the Big Smoke, my hometown

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.

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 ****.

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 20 microbreweries in London and most produce eye-wateringly good stuff.

The pubs and bars too are now first rate, beer enthusiasts need to visit these three at least once in their lives:

The Craft Beer Co – 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 Ratebeer.com has this as the 4^th best bar in the whole world... who could argue against that.

CASK Pub & Kitchen – 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!

Lastly, The Southampton Arms – '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...

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?

Great British Beer Festival

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^nd to 6^th 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.

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.

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?

Check out the official website http://gbbf.camra.org.uk/home 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...