The Britannia, Euston Station 20th October 2007

With some time to make my train connection I thought I’d have a quick half in the pub on Euston station.

I was so shocked by the service I received, I didn’t even write down what beer I got. I asked for a half, and although I could clearly see empty and apparently clean half glasses behind the bar, I was served in an unlined pint glass. When I asked why my drink wasn’t in a half glass I was told that there was none available.

I then said that I was happy to drink what I’d been given but I thought it might be illegal to sell beer in this fashion. The bar man, whose English wasn’t great, looked at me with horror, thought I was causing trouble, and ran to get the manager. She appeared and told him that he should have served the drink in a half glass, waived one at him, and ignored me. The beer was close to undrinkable anyway so I didn’t see what difference it made. I didn’t drink it.

The Britons Protection, Manchester 20th October 2007

Unprepossessing although not unpleasant on the outside, this pub is just stunning on the inside. This picture shows the front bar; the corridors have lovely tiling (if that’s your thing) but I’m not good enough at photography to show you those. This stunning interior is worth a visit even if you’re not into beer.

Coach House Farriers Best Bitter (3.9%): Very bitter yet creamy beer with a dense foamy head.
Howard Town Wren’s Nest (4.2%): A huge amount of elderflower and grapefruit in this immensely fruity flowery hoppy golden beer.

And if the décor and the good beer’s not enough, I counted 207 different types of whiskey behind the bar, although the bar man said they have 232. Maybe I lost count.

Although I spent 12 hours travelling for 5 hours in Manchester, I can’t help feeling that it was all worthwhile.

The Rain Bar, Manchester 20th October 2007

Had to travel all the way to Manchester for a CAMRA meeting which was held in this large pub.

Lees GB Mild (3.5%): Complex nutty mild. Very drinkable.
Lees Bitter (4.0%): Very caramelly and smooth creamy bitter. Not quite what my southern tastebuds are used to!
Lees Ruddy Glow (4.5%): Delicious red mellow beer.

I didn’t get to try the Lees Moonraker, the other beer available, which was probably just as well at 7.5% with a long journey ahead of me.

Manchester was a long was to go for the afternoon so I was taken to sample some beer at another pub in town by others from the meeting who were stunned when I admitted I’d never been to Manchester before.

The Malt Shovel, Horsham 11th October 2007

This is great time of year to be a real ale drinker in Horsham. First there’s the Horsham Beer Festival, then there’s the Horsham Old beer festival at Welton’s brewery (see various previous posts), then you turn up at the Malt Shovel and starting tomorrow there’s a five week long beer drinking extravaganza, with shirts and glasses on offer if you drink enough different beers. Lovely.

Today I tasted:
Brakspear Bitter (3.4%): Revolting, so I took it back to the bar where I was told there had been a problem with some of the glasses. It was willingly exchanged for more of the same beer in a different glass, and then it was the lovely crisp session bitter I expected.
Harvey’s Sussex Best Bitter: (4.0%): A decent pint of this distinctive and hoppy beer.
Hepworth's Iron Horse (4.8%): Tasty strong bitter with a thick hoppy flavour from this Horsham brewer.

As usual I was here for the traditional music session. I even managed to get the musicians to pose for a picture this time!

Welton's Brewery "Old Friday Beer Festival" 5th October 2007

Managed to get myself invited to this free event where brewer Ray Welton opens his doors (and barrels) for some beer drinking. I did too much chatting at the start and missed out on a couple of bitters than ran out early on, but still managed to get a taste of three different beers.

The event was in aid of Ray’s daughter Shirley’s forthcoming conservation trip to New Zealand and it is likely that about £400 was raised for this during the evening. Last year’s event (see Oct 06 entry) raised over £400 for a muscular dystrophy charity.

Welton’s Horsham Old Ale (4.5%): Rather better than I remember last year, this is dark and deceptively strong.
Welton’s Bodiam Gold (4.2%): Starts mellow and very bitter but soon sweetens in the mouth.
Welton’s Old Remedy (4.8%): A very sweet and strong, with a similar background taste to the Gold.

A great evening of drinking and chat, some with acquaintances from last weekend’s Horsham Beer Festival (see 29th - 30th September entry) which was topped off with the requisite Morris dancing and revelry.

Free beer at a brewery and it’s all for a good cause. What more could you want?

Beer blog anniversary 1st October 2007

Today marks the first anniversary of this beer blog. If anyone would like to comment on any aspect of the blog, please add a comment to this entry and let me know if there are pubs you would like to see added, beer reviews you disagree with or anything else (constructive please!) you’d like to say, even just a “hello” from wherever you are.