tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32758760475533314322011-12-27T06:11:37.285ZAle, beer & pub-related thoughts & findings of a UK alehead.Dubbelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035458276989843392noreply@blogger.comBlogger511100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-11440317891554742872009-09-13T16:31:00.002+01:002009-09-13T16:38:15.578+01:00

Congratulations to everyone involved at The Bull at Horton Kirby for deservedly winning the CAMRA Kent Pub of the Year 2009. The Bull pipped last year's title holder The Butcher's Arms at Herne to the accolade and will now face off against the London, Surrey & Sussex and East Anglia victors for the right to represent the South East in the national finals. Garrett Phipps and Lynne Prentice took

Dubbelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035458276989843392noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-33964984097007607282009-09-13T14:56:00.005+01:002009-09-20T23:20:01.981+01:00

Check out the suave new glassware that Oakham Ales have provided to members of their Oakademy of Excellence. The new tall, curvaceous branded bulbs are more reminiscent of continental premium lager pots and surely won't do any harm in their ongoing attempts to shake off outdated negative ale imagery and nab market share away from the multinationals. The Oakademy is a recently-established

Dubbelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035458276989843392noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-34388824435320890102009-09-03T13:35:00.008+01:002009-09-03T13:56:30.626+01:00

Just a quick note to say, yes, the rumours are true. Due to literally some enquiries into the whys and wherefores of Ale-Affinity's untimely demise, I've decided to tentatively prod the dormant site with my foot to see if there's any life left in it. I've spruced the place up a bit (do you like it?) and gone for a bit more of a grown-up feel, since none of us are getting any younger. However,

Dubbelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035458276989843392noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-53503894700384094222009-02-22T13:00:00.005Z2009-02-24T23:31:40.780Z

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Dubbelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035458276989843392noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-39777382096354636432009-01-28T14:53:00.011Z2009-01-28T15:25:11.195Z

Thursday 22nd – Sunday 25th January saw the Criterion, Leicester hosting a Burns Night beer festival, featuring a solid selection of ales from our tartan brothers across the border.Having previewed the selection a few days prior to the event, both the ‘Monster and I were keen to get over for this one; the line up included no less than six offerings from that most elusive of breweries, Clockwork,

young camra collectivnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-6873736695554873862009-01-23T11:43:00.003Z2009-01-29T14:58:32.573Z

It's been quiet on here for a while, again. My apologies to our long-suffering loyal readership. My reasonable excuse this time is that I moved into a new flat on New Year's Day and have been desperately trying to get Internet access sorted ever since. You'd have thought I was asking for a satellite link up to the Moon. Three weeks on and I'm still in web limbo. I've also been poorly this week,

Dubbelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035458276989843392noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-90794672853785306062008-12-23T13:14:00.015Z2009-09-03T01:49:12.136+01:00

In a quite astonishing U-turn, self-appointed industry watchdog The Portman Group have abandoned their 8-month crusade against BrewDog's witty labelling. Understandably, managing director and BBC Three star James Watt is pretty pleased with the outcome."It is a victory for common sense, the intelligence of the consumer, small independent producers and freedom of speech; it is a victory that

Dubbelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035458276989843392noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-83143070573201630552008-12-19T13:04:00.011Z2008-12-19T17:08:12.537Z

Following hot on the heels of December's hugely successful Meet the Brewer session with the boys from BrewDog, LoveBeer@Borough are pleased to welcome the legends from Thornbridge to the capital on Saturday 17th January.You can read up on LoveBeer co-owner Melissa Cole's recent brewing experience at Thornbridge Hall here on her excellent blog Taking the beard out of beer! Here's hoping that a

Dubbelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035458276989843392noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-1204143413926739032008-11-20T11:17:00.004Z2008-11-28T22:08:18.414Z

If, like me, you're very keen to wrap your lips around the "World's Finest Porter" this winter, you may wish to check out the list of 2008 cask stockists found on the Fuller's website.The list comprises 90 Fuller's houses located across the South of England - but you may need to get in quick. London Porter is officially the seasonal ale for November, soon to be replaced by the blackberry-tinged

young camra collectivnoreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-54849902641709876392008-11-18T10:45:00.006Z2008-11-28T22:07:39.616Z

BrewDog fans' ears will prick up with the news that The Rake, "London's smallest specialist beer bar" will be hosting a special cask week dedicated to the UK's finest boundary-busting brewery. The week will coincide with the Pigs Ear Beer Festival and will run from Monday 1st to Saturday 6th December inclusive. A comprehensive lineup of beers from the Scottish micro can be expected, including the

young camra collectivnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-63399905945791009222008-11-16T14:54:00.008Z2008-11-28T22:09:34.727Z

Following on swiftly from the impressive lineup of Kelham Island beers last month, those nice people at The Bull have put together an equally enviable range from everyone's favourite Mancunian brewer, Marble.After persuading them to hunt down a barrel each of Pint and Ginger (with the added bonus of JP Best) for their Handpicked Beer Festival back in early October, we are very pleased that they

young camra collectivnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-16660369029862679852008-11-09T17:30:00.016Z2008-11-09T22:28:09.114Z

Further to my recent post on the forthcoming joint effort between the Swan & Rushes and the Vaults, Leicester, I can now confirm a few more details for you all...The event will be taking place over the second weekend in December - presumably running Friday 12th - Sunday 14th, with around 60 english real ales to be offered between the two pubs.As expected, the Swan will also be stocking a

young camra collectivnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-5462393192969404962008-11-04T21:58:00.003Z2008-11-04T22:20:12.641Z

Sometimes you have to do a double take, and that was certainly the case at a recent quiz night at the Swan & Rushes, Leicester.The Thursday night Swan quiz is popular with regulars, locals and students alike – mentally challenging, with good natured rivalry between the regular teams ensuring a cracking atmosphere and the added bonus of hot food laid on for the players (usually spicy and pasta

young camra collectivnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-51368208659956371492008-11-03T13:51:00.007Z2008-11-03T14:41:58.916Z

Just thought I'd take a few minutes out of my hectic daily schedule to share this little nugget of information with you all... Following a prolonged session on the aged Hawes Buckler the other week, Leicester's two finest real ale landlords have decided to team up for what should prove to be a beer extravaganza of epic proportions - a festival staged simultaneously between the Vaults and the Swan

young camra collectivnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-79786954400112772442008-10-28T19:39:00.010Z2008-11-28T22:10:22.067Z

Every once in a while something comes along that really blows your mind – the birth of a child, that big win on the lottery, or, in my case, a beer of such potency, complexity and provenance that it sweeps away all preconceptions and expectations, leaving you glassy eyed and reeling from the sheer magnitude of the thing.Granted, it’s not something that happens very often; indeed, this is the

young camra collectivnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-40715261756281639582008-10-27T19:07:00.009Z2008-11-28T22:10:48.907Z

This Thursday 30th October marks the start of what should prove a very popular monthly brewery showcase at the Bull in Horton Kirby, Kent.Each month the pub aims to procure six highly sought-after and rare-to-the-area ales from one of Britain's best and most innovative microbreweries. The brewery's casks will be dispensed by gravity from a stillage and will be in addition to the pub's staple 5

young camra collectivnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-69071528679051923932008-10-21T20:49:00.012+01:002008-10-22T11:02:06.892+01:00

This October finally saw the arrival of the long-awaited Bull Handpicked ’08 beer festival. Dubbel, Jnr and I had excitedly been anticipating the event since landlord, Garrett, first approached us on a random regular Friday evening visit, enquiring as to where our real ale allegiances lay and which of this year’s brews had most impressed us. We rapidly reeled of a list of faves from notable

young camra collectivnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-25559290375700013802008-10-13T21:26:00.009+01:002008-10-14T01:45:05.802+01:00

There can be few things sadder than watching the steady decline and ultimate passing of a real ale pub, but alas I must now report the closure of the Queen Victoria in Leicester.What started out as a highly promising new venture began to disintegrate into a shambles, with beer range and quality deteriorating rapidly, increasingly unsavoury clientele beginning to frequent the place and general

young camra collectivnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-29953113619001741842008-10-11T18:33:00.012+01:002008-10-11T19:03:57.009+01:00

As many of you will doubtless be aware, last week (1st - 4th) saw the Brunswick Inn host its annual beer festival and, due to a change to our original plans, the Beer Monster and I had the pleasure of taking a trip over for the Friday session.Arriving at around 1pm, we found the pub already packed out with an eclectic mix of families, scoopers, students and lunchtime drinkers; after a quick foray

young camra collectivnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-78707154103867167682008-10-06T23:15:00.018+01:002008-10-07T21:05:43.875+01:00

Sometimes it's a closely-fought wrestling bout in your mind: do you divulge and promote your undisputed favourite tucked away treasure of a pub to the world? After all, an unpretentious, warm and friendly, classic village pub like this deserves to prosper and be a source of pleasure to as many worthy souls as possible.Or do you try your hardest to keep it a secret; your own personal, relatively

young camra collectivnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-8483954617757135482008-09-09T19:49:00.015+01:002008-09-09T20:54:30.949+01:00

Like any normal person, I wouldn’t ordinarily travel to Croydon by choice. As far as I’m concerned its stereotyped image of an ugly concrete ghetto with a stabbing waiting for you around every street corner is a fair one. The town centre on a Friday night is a microcosm for everything that is wrong with Britain today – both the environment and the scary youth who populate it.But I do like a good

young camra collectivnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-72739208069561723812008-09-09T10:42:00.013+01:002008-09-09T19:44:03.458+01:00

For the last few weeks both the Beer Monster and I had been eagerly anticipating the autumn beer festival at the delightful Coalheavers Arms, Peterborough (September 4th – 6th).Having discovered the pub early this year and attended their Easter festival a couple of weeks later, I already had a fair idea of what to expect – great beer in excellent condition, warm and friendly service, plus some of

young camra collectivnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-18628072466850036092008-08-29T15:59:00.011+01:002008-09-09T19:42:11.566+01:00

Earlier this week, London’s Metro newspaper reported on a new interactive, independent event called Beer Exposed, which will run from Thursday 25th through to Saturday 27th September at the Business Design Centre in Islington.The website promises that the event will “bring together beers and brewers from all over the world to create a unique experience designed to expose you and your friends to

young camra collectivnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-64299177600416859242008-08-17T16:17:00.010+01:002008-08-18T22:08:51.597+01:00

August Bank Holiday weekend is always a busy time for beer festivals; the extra day's midsummer trade is an irresistable excuse for landlords and ladies up and down the country to have a good old fashioned knees-up. In case you are yet to decide where you'll be spending the weekend drinking, here are a few events that have hit the YCC radar:If the GBBF is Britain's #1 beer festival (in terms of

young camra collectivnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-5765464930225695552008-08-12T21:34:00.009+01:002008-10-27T22:53:02.253Z

The front page of this month’s What’s Brewing glumly reports that the Cherry Tree Inn in Tintern, Gwent, South Wales has closed. It is especially heart-wrenching that this particular one of 57 community pubs throughout Britain currently closing month on month has ceased trading. The Cherry Tree is one of a select club of ten in Britain (and unique to Wales) to have made it into every edition of

young camra collectivnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-38875466208246226712008-08-09T17:17:00.027+01:002008-09-09T19:48:34.110+01:00

Tuesday was our first return to the Great British Beer Festival since its maiden year at Earls Court in 2006. We opted to attend the Peterborough bash as an alternative last year, primarily put off GBBF by the unpleasant overcrowding we were made to endure.We might well have shunned it again this year had we not been able to procure tickets* for the opening trade session. We recall bouncing

young camra collectivnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-24502319514659782882008-08-09T12:21:00.002+01:002008-08-09T12:53:15.353+01:00

First and foremost, apologies for the lack of action on the site over the past few weeks. It's been a busy time for all of us for various reasons and it's all too easy to allow the blogging to go by the wayside.We were given a well-deserved, stern ticking off by some of our contemporaries at the GBBF this week and have been prodded by other readers to get our act together. This in itself is

young camra collectivnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-59352861612512435252008-07-15T23:19:00.010+01:002008-07-16T00:32:11.600+01:00

The first ever CAMRA Greenwich Beer & Jazz Festival kicks off at noon on Wednesday in the impressive setting of the grounds of the Old Royal Naval College on the banks of the Thames.Running through until Sunday evening, a wide array of jazz musicians will perform alongside a pretty decent (if not scooptastic) lineup of ale.Inspired partly by maeib's recent voluntary antics and partly out of guilt

young camra collectivnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-57529525327914401682008-07-15T16:48:00.015+01:002008-07-16T00:45:14.829+01:00

So, InBev have bought out Anheuser-Busch eh? Well, well, well…This makes InBev (to be rechristened Anheuser-Busch InBev in the wake of the deal) one of the 5 largest consumer product companies in the world, with a global beer volume of 460 million hectolitres per annum – equivalent to a staggering 80,950,800,000 pints.Although the move was opposed by Anheuser-Busch CEO August Busch IV he was

young camra collectivnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-51618059836599501382008-07-13T22:43:00.005+01:002008-07-15T17:26:06.935+01:00

During a foray to Derby Beer Festival on Wednesday (seperate blog entry to follow) I had the opportunity of visiting the Brunswick Inn - a delightful pub and home to the micro brewery of the same name.One of the things that really stood out for me here was a special beer they had on offer; brewed by themselves, I've not come across it before and doubt that I will ever find it again, but it boasts

young camra collectivnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-62255743134422401262008-07-11T15:14:00.008+01:002008-07-13T22:08:34.778+01:00

Next weekend (Thursday 17th - Sunday 20th July) sees the second Blues & Booze festival at Leicester’s Queen Victoria pub, situated on Southampton Street just five minutes walk from the train station.The event will feature a fine line-up of local bands and an excellent selection of 30 Real Ales all sourced from microbreweries, with a strong Scottish showing including some of the tiny island

young camra collectivnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-48931036397699678302008-07-09T20:16:00.015+01:002008-07-09T20:31:58.195+01:00

As a rule, I avoid bad pubs. Sometimes I will even go as far as to miss a social event if I know that I will dislike the venue. A major determining factor for me is whether there will be anything that I will consider drinking.Social drinking in Britain has become an expensive pastime, exacerbated in the last six months by the rising cost of raw ingredients and by "Shy Teeter" Darling's

young camra collectivnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-67369829782134598662008-07-08T15:44:00.021+01:002008-07-09T20:38:04.343+01:00

Came across this little gem in L.a.S.T Orders (the Lichfield, Sutton & Tamworth branch publication), and thought it was worth sharing…“Much justified criticism has been directed at Chancellor Alistair Darling’s budget decision to raise beer tax, with a nominal 4p a pint turning out at 20p or so by the time everybody’s had their go. Here at Last Orders we prefer to let the last word go to Burton

young camra collectivnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-33205732490595536322008-07-03T17:11:00.037+01:002008-07-09T20:08:29.550+01:00

Last Friday, in a moment of what I can only assume was passing madness, I decided to make a long overdue journey along the length of the Narborough Road and Braunstone Gate, Leicester, to see whether any of the bars along the route are quietly selling real ale…The Narborough Road area is very much the social hub for students from the DeMonfort University, and has a prolific spread of trendy bars

young camra collectivnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-32598944563457234942008-06-30T13:35:00.014+01:002008-06-30T14:56:54.536+01:00

During the course of a survey mission up Leicester's Narborough Road last Friday (blog entry to follow in the next day or so) I happened to pop into Na Rogu, a Polish bar which has opened in the last year or so.Situated on the corner of Saxon Street and Narborough Road, this small and unassuming cafe-type bar caters primarily to Leicester's Polish population, offering a selection of beers you

young camra collectivnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-4264233192650009752008-06-30T13:07:00.043+01:002008-06-30T14:49:25.387+01:00

Deep in the heart of greenest Kent sits the idyllic village of West Peckham - about as far removed from its South London namesake as you could possibly imagine. With a population of around 350, the community is centered around the village green, home to West Peckham Cricket Club, on a tranquil no-through-road. Dotted around the green, you can see the village's history before your very eyes. St

young camra collectivnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-49259173587720293882008-06-29T15:56:00.022+01:002008-06-30T14:06:45.470+01:00

This weekend (Thursday 26th – Sunday 29th June) saw the Victoria Inn at Rugby host its Summer Beer Festival and, with Rugby being only a short hop from Leicester, I naturally decided to take a mosey over and check out the action.The pub is the brewery tap for Rugby microbrewery Atomic Ales, who brew behind the Alexandra Arms in a brew plant shared with Alexandra Ales. Although relative newcomers

young camra collectivnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-88041970709683239532008-06-25T17:29:00.018+01:002008-06-30T14:04:55.569+01:00

Upon being offered a thirteen quid return to Birmingham from Peterborough with the only condition being that the day was to be spent in various drinking establishments I developed a rather broad grin. You see I am not built as other women; and although the shiny plate glass windows of Selfridges hold much allure they cannot compete with a tour of those fine midlands pubs which I hold in my heart

young camra collectivnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-61134196996080611802008-06-25T14:31:00.019+01:002008-06-26T12:19:02.003+01:00

The 20th – 21st of this month saw The Vaults (Leicester) host another of its now infamous beer festivals, this time celebrating the impending wedding of well known Bedford Scooper Tony Burke.Licensee Paul Summers has long been known for his somewhat warped and twisted sense of humour, and seldom has this been more evident than in the naming of the fine range of specially commissioned, themed ales

young camra collectivnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-83299242305033256442008-06-25T01:57:00.011+01:002008-06-26T12:49:05.467+01:00

Further to my recent comments on the Western beer festival, a thread has been running in the Nottingham Drinker over the last couple of months which has caught my attention and raises some interesting points.As I mentioned in my earlier entry, the Western is a Steamin’ Billy pub, and the 'Billy range are brewed under contract by Tower brewery, having previously been brewed by Grainstore – and

young camra collectivnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-74697136428559764112008-06-24T22:13:00.016+01:002008-06-26T12:49:23.050+01:00

Perusing this months copy of that most worthy of CAMRA branch publications the Nottingham Drinker, I came across this little gem in the letters section...Sir,In response to your article ‘Conned Rudolph’ in the April / May issue of Nottingham Drinker. I’d like to give you a bit of background as to why we reduced the ABV of Rocking Rudolph from 5% to 4.5%.We completely agree with you – Rocking

young camra collectivnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-85057180187985289732008-06-18T21:15:00.025+01:002008-06-20T16:44:01.144+01:00

For any lover of Real Ale there can be few places in the country more attractive than the area around Stamford, Lincolnshire. Over the weekend I had the pleasure of visiting this beautiful, historic town and checking out several of its excellent ale houses; what follows is a far from complete survey – there are many more pubs I’ve yet to get to!Accompanied by the Beer Monster we kicked off with a

young camra collectivnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-9615946041527472122008-06-17T22:46:00.023+01:002008-06-20T16:45:00.812+01:00

As you will know from my previous entry, the 6th – 8th of this month saw the Western hosting what I believe to be its second beer festival. Naturally I took time out to pay a couple of visits and sample some of the ales on offer...A copy of the beer list I had received less than a week earlier indicated that the event would be kicking off on Thursday the 5th, with 22 beers listed and the promise

young camra collectivnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-27815626408455542932008-06-03T12:03:00.047+01:002008-06-20T16:49:49.871+01:00

I'd been looking forward to the Dark Star tour myself until recently, however a change in the date of the visit meant that I was sadly unable to attend thanks to the very inconvenient timing of my sister's wedding - seriously, some people just have no consideration!Finding myself thus encumbered with the role of Usher while my cohorts were merrily quaffing it off, I set to work planning some

young camra collectivnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-62009483849495590142008-06-02T22:12:00.027+01:002008-06-20T16:46:17.868+01:00

When Garrett Phipps - the ever-jovial landlord of the marvellous Bull* pub in Horton Kirby, Kent - mentioned that he was planning a coach trip to Sussex in order to tour the Dark Star Brewing Co., we simply had to be involved. Garrett is the only person I know to be more fanatical about Dark Star beers than we are. Over the last three years he has cemented a solid relationship with the brewery’s

young camra collectivnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-17840561582533064252008-06-02T19:30:00.016+01:002008-06-20T16:46:40.613+01:00

As the lucky ones were enjoying their Dark Star brewery tour, I was travelling to Spalding for my brother in law's birthday. For the past 7 years I have driven past an intriguing looking place - a Bateman’s affiliated pub named the Duke of York in the village of Gosberton Reisgate near Spalding, Lincolnshire - and wondered if it was any good. I was about to find out…The place had been given mixed

young camra collectivnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-83428620271684125722008-05-30T10:52:00.005+01:002008-05-30T11:16:38.031+01:00

The fortunate ones amongst us (Jnr, Jimbo and I) are rabidly salivating at the prospect of a tour of the Dark Star Brewery tomorrow. Incredibly, none of us have ever been on a proper brewery tour before and with Dark Star being one of our all-time favourites, a fun-filled boozy day is assured. Following the tour, we will be leaving our mark on the Stand Up Inn in nearby Lindfield. We will be sure

young camra collectivnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-47531761909816352642008-05-29T15:16:00.010+01:002008-05-29T16:32:46.239+01:00

I had to laugh when I saw this post on Beer Buzz today. It seems that, not content with outlawing any suggestion that alcohol is affiliated with good health, sexual prowess, wealth or success, it is now also forbidden to use any wit or humour in promoting booze.Federal US alcohol regulators, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, have ordered the Mount Shasta Brewing Co. in Weed,

young camra collectivnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-82419269721728274552008-05-29T14:27:00.018+01:002008-06-20T16:47:19.190+01:00

Following our mopping up fest session in the afternoon, on the Saturday night things were a little less frenetic – our time of departure was largely dictated by the rapid disappearance of the ales from the stillages, so we had more time and clearer heads with which to take in the evenings watering holes.We started off with the Fox & Crown on Appletongate, a Castle Rock tied house highly regarded

young camra collectivnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-7168492075744439372008-05-28T03:42:00.011+01:002008-06-20T16:47:39.988+01:00

As you’ll be aware from Dubbel Buffle, our recent two day jaunt to the Newark Beer Festival was marred somewhat by the condition of many of the beers on offer; fortunately however, we were ensconced in a town with a healthy selection of interesting pubs offering a varied selection of real ale for us to finish off with each night.In the course of two nights we managed to take in four of these

young camra collectivnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-79029423039213158352008-05-26T23:16:00.015+01:002008-06-20T16:48:01.858+01:00

Unlucky for some, and sadly so it proved to be for us at CAMRA's 13th Newark Beer Festival last weekend.We were long overdue a meet up at a big beer festival. Having settled on late May, we had narrowed our choice of festival venue down to three of the best: Cambridge, Northampton and Newark. We had never been to Newark before and having been most impressed by the preview on their website, opted

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