The Dun Horse, Mannings Heath near Horsham 30th April 2011

Today is May Eve and we chose to kick off this year's dancing season with a meal followed by dancing and drinking at this excellent pub, as it is near where we practise.  Later on we had some tunes and songs and generally welcomed in the summer in morris fashion.

Sharp's Doom Bar Bitter (4.0%): Lovely mellow, well balanced bitter.
Harvey's Sussex Best Bitter (4.0%): Another excellent bitter, with slightly more hop tones.

I love this pub and wish it was my local. Lovely beer, lovely food, lovely staff, nice customers, great atmosphere. What more could you ask for? Cheaper beer I suppose.

The Jolly Tanners, Staplefield 28th April 2011

Came out to see Broadwood Morris Men's first stand of the season and discovered a beer festival.

In the bar:
Golden Valley Kenyon's Original Oatmeal Stout (4.7%): This was off and promptly returned to the bar, where it was easily exchanged for...
Kissingate Akira's Blonde (4.8%): This was the dregs of the barrel but having already changed it, I didn't feel I could do it again.
Harvey's Sussex Best Bitter (4.0%): A lovely pint. Pleased that finally something tasted as it should.

In the beer festival outside:
Elgood's Golden Newt (4.6%): Nutty and astringent decent pale ale.
Hogs Back Royal TEA (5.2%): Fruity and hoppy, a bit strong for the flavour.
Oakham Citra (4.2%): Glorious grapefruit hit. Extremely pale.
Rother Valley Wealden Bitter (3.7%): Stunning session bitter. I wish this were available everywhere.
Skinners Kate Loves Willy (4.2%): Pleasant bitter.
Thornbridge Wild Swan (3.5%): Disappointing weak beer from this usually excellent brewer.

They also had Dark Star Festival and Hop Head, Elgood's Black Dog, Grainstore Rutland Panther, Moorhouse's Black Cat and Woodforde's Wherry available, but since I've definitely tasted these before, I went for the others.

The Station Beefeater, Horsham 27th April 2011

Oh what a shame, I locked myself out of my house and the only place to wait was the local pub with real ale and ice cream sundaes available.

Once I'd finished my large chocolate sundae...

St Austell Tribute (4.2%): Smooth pale ale with honey tones. Served on the colder side of "normal" but still within range.

A pleasant pub with friendly staff, fairly quiet on a mid-week evening.

The Anchor Hotel, Horsham 23rd April 2011

This large venue was recently known as "Bar Vin" but has now reverted to its original name, "The Anchor Hotel".

Harvey's Sussex Best Bitter (4.0%): A super pint of bitter. Kept a bit cold for my normal liking but I was so hot this wasn't a problem.

Young's London Gold (4.5%): Cold, gold and sweet. Very refreshing drunk outside in the soaring heat.

They also had Bombardier available.

The Beer Essentials, Horsham 23rd April 2011

Black Dragon Morris dancing outside The Beer Essentials
© Barry Dewdney - used with permission

We were out in Horsham today morris dancing to celebrate St George's Day and we started outside the Beer Essentials in East Street.

The proprietor, Gareth, supports the morris and was good enough to supply us with some light refreshment to maintain our spirits.

Hammerpot This England (4.0%): Delicious, well balanced bitter, very drinkable.

He always stocks a variety of real ales available straight from the barrel as well as many bottled beers.

The Greyhound, Tinsley Green, Crawley 22nd April 2011

Here again for the World Championship Marbles that is played every Good Friday. This year there was a beer festival. In fact it's still on, it runs until Monday or until the beer runs out.

Cotleigh Buzzard (4.8%): A dryer, darker version of the Honey Buzzard. Tastes like an Old Ale.

Cotleigh Honey Buzzard (4.5%): Pleasant, strong bitter with a sweet aftertaste.

Cotleigh Golden Seahawk (4.2%): Smells like dark beer but is a beautiful orangey colour. Very bitter but very easy to drink.

Kissingate Storyteller (3.5%): Sweet, light and blonde. A lovely summer easy-drinking delight. The sort of beer people say appeals to women.

Kissingate Moon (4.8%): Tastes like a refreshing fruity soft drink, which at this strength is very dangerous.

Kissingate Warlock's Strong Ale (5.2%): Sweet, fruity, dark and strong. A decent pint.

Kissingate Black Cherry Mild (4.2%): Heavenly sweet dark mild. Can't pick out the cherry flavour though.

Adnams Broadside (4.7%): Delightful, strong and warming. A stunning drop of ale.

Fuller's London Pride (4.1%): Delicious rounded flavour with a lovely straw-hoppy taste. When it's good it's great, and this is.

Shepherd Neame Spitfire Ale (4.2%): Distinctively Shepherd Neame, this is too alcoholic for the flavour. Not one of my favourites.

Wells Bombardier (4.3%): A bit soft and woolly drunk straight after the London Pride. Still a decent pint.

There were three bottled beers (Shepherd Neame Tanglefoot, Marston's Pedigree and Wychwood Hobgoblin) and four draught ciders (Thatchers Cheddar Valley and the local JB's, plus two others), so for a first ever beer festival for this pub, it was a good range and I hope to attend many more. The beer seemed to sell well and the marbles crowd were pleased to have a variety of decent beers on tap.

The Holbrook Club, Horsham 15th April 2011

This is a members' club in Horsham but there are often opportunities to visit, should you wish. Tonight there was a murder mystery play on so I thought I'd investigate.

King Brighton Blonde (3.9%): Mellow golden ale with a smooth mouthfeel and pleasant hoppy aftertaste.

King Spring Ale (4.1%): Pleasant and refreshing although maybe a little bland.

King Horsham Best (3.8%): Delicious straw hoppiness to this classy bitter.

There was also some Hammerpot (Woodcote Bitter) but it ran out as I got to the bar.

The club has recently brought in a two-tier pricing structure (members and non-members) so if you're going to drink here a lot it might pay to join! It's nowhere near the ambience of a pub but the beer is usually good.