tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32758760475533314322024-02-21T10:25:29.264+00:00Ale-Affinity UKAle, beer & pub-related thoughts & findings of a UK alehead.Dubbelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035458276989843392noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-11440317891554742872009-09-13T16:31:00.002+01:002009-09-13T16:38:15.578+01:00West is Best in KentCongratulations 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 Dubbelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035458276989843392noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-33964984097007607282009-09-13T14:56:00.005+01:002009-09-20T23:20:01.981+01:00Oakham - A Glass Act
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more reminiscent of continental premium lager pots and surely won't do any harm in their ongoing attempts to shake off outdated negative ale imagery and nab market share away from the multinationals.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+01:00Perfect PictishJust 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-53503894700384094222009-02-22T13:00:00.005+00:002009-02-24T23:31:40.780+00:00Bull Brewery Showcase №4 - Dark Star<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Wingdings; panose-1:5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:2; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:0 268435456 0 0 -2147483648 0;} Dubbelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06035458276989843392noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-39777382096354636432009-01-28T14:53:00.011+00:002009-01-28T15:25:11.195+00:00Scotland Invades the CriterionThursday 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, Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-6873736695554873862009-01-23T11:43:00.003+00:002009-01-29T14:58:32.573+00:00Bull Brewery Showcase №3 - ThornbridgeIt'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-90794672853785306062008-12-23T13:14:00.015+00:002009-09-03T01:49:12.136+01:00Dog has its DayIn 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-83143070573201630552008-12-19T13:04:00.011+00:002008-12-19T17:08:12.537+00:00Thornbridge Take it Down SouthFollowing 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-1204143413926739032008-11-20T11:17:00.004+00:002008-11-28T22:08:18.414+00:00London Porter Cask StockistsIf, 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 Unknownnoreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-54849902641709876392008-11-18T10:45:00.006+00:002008-11-28T22:07:39.616+00:00Where My Dogs AtBrewDog 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 theUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-63399905945791009222008-11-16T14:54:00.008+00:002008-11-28T22:09:34.727+00:00Bull Brewery Showcase №2 - MarbleFollowing 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 Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-16660369029862679852008-11-09T17:30:00.016+00:002008-11-09T22:28:09.114+00:00Swan & Vaults Fest - UpdateFurther 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 Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-5462393192969404962008-11-04T21:58:00.003+00:002008-11-04T22:20:12.641+00:00Something to Tickle Your FancySometimes 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 pastaUnknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-51368208659956371492008-11-03T13:51:00.007+00:002008-11-03T14:41:58.916+00:00Swanning into the Vaults this December...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 SwanUnknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-79786954400112772442008-10-28T19:39:00.010+00:002008-11-28T22:10:22.067+00:00Buckling in Pursuit of OblivionEvery 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 Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-40715261756281639582008-10-27T19:07:00.009+00:002008-11-28T22:10:48.907+00:00Bull Brewery Showcase №1 - Kelham Island 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 Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-69071528679051923932008-10-21T20:49:00.012+01:002008-10-22T11:02:06.892+01:00Bladdered (again) @ the BullThis 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 Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-25559290375700013802008-10-13T21:26:00.009+01:002008-10-14T01:45:05.802+01:00Regina est MortuusThere 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 Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-29953113619001741842008-10-11T18:33:00.012+01:002008-10-11T19:03:57.009+01:00Bladdered @ the BrunswickAs 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 forayUnknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-78707154103867167682008-10-06T23:15:00.018+01:002008-10-07T21:05:43.875+01:00Strong as a BullSometimes 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 Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-8483954617757135482008-09-09T19:49:00.015+01:002008-09-09T20:54:30.949+01:00Croydon’s Main DragLike 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 Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-72739208069561723812008-09-09T10:42:00.013+01:002008-09-09T19:44:03.458+01:00Soggy Celebrations in PeterboroughFor 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 ofUnknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-18628072466850036092008-08-29T15:59:00.011+01:002008-09-09T19:42:11.566+01:00Decent ExposureEarlier 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 Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-64299177600416859242008-08-17T16:17:00.010+01:002008-08-18T22:08:51.597+01:00Bank Holiday FestivitiesAugust 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 Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3275876047553331432.post-5765464930225695552008-08-12T21:34:00.009+01:002008-10-27T22:53:02.253+00:00Cherry Bomb for GBG StalwartThe 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 Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4