The Black Horse, Amberley 29th May 2011

Another lovely pub in Amberley, this was huge and had an enclosed beer garden which was very pleasant on a summer's day.

Harvey’s Sussex Best Bitter (4.0%): A decent brew, hard to beat.

Hop Back Summer Lightning (5.0%): Pleasant strong beer.

While a sandwich here sets you back almost £6, when it appears it's a large plate of food. The chips were the best I've ever tasted.

The Sportsman, Amberley 29th May 2011

Today it was Black Dragon Morris from Horsham who were out dancing.


Langham Flor Ale (3.8%): Delicious hoppy bronze beer with floral flavour.
Hammerpot Shooting Star (3.8%): Lovely warming malty ale. Tastes a bit darker than it looks.
Langham Hip Hop (4.0%): Sweet hoppy drinkable beer.
Harvey's Sussex Best Bitter (4.0%): A particularly good pint of this great beer.

Four lovely beers at this charming country pub with views of the Downs.  At lunchtime on Sunday they were serving plates and plates of good smelling food. And the dancers were given some free beer.

The White Horse, Maplehurst 25th May 2011

This time I was out to watch Chanctonbury Morris Men at one of my favourite pubs.

Andwell King John (4.2%): An excellent malty beer with a very bitter hop taste. The first time I've tried a beer from this relatively new brewer.
Arundel Sting in the Tail (4.7%): Tastes good if you can get away from the unpleasant smell.
Welton's Pridenjoy (2.8%): Top marks to this stunning light bitter which stands up in flavour to beers twice its strength.
Harvey's Sussex Best Bitter (4.0%): A lovely pint.

Another good night out.

The Six Bells, Newdigate 19th May 2011

Another Broadwood Morris evening.

Badger Googly (3.5%): A Hall and Woodhouse beer by another name (apparently it sells better) but still not great in my opinion. I couldn't finish my half pint.
Badger First Gold (4.0%): Slightly more drinkable ale.

A lovely evening at a lovely and surprisingly spacious country pub.

The Lamb Inn, Lambs Green near Rusper 12th May 2011

Once again we followed the Broadwood Morris Men to a pub in the Sussex countryside. Well actually on this occasion we got there early as we had a small celebration of my son's first birthday (where did that year go?).

Dark Star Hop Head (3.8%): Lovely drinkable sweet beer with a huge hop taste. My first three pints in a long time!
Hogs Back Spring Ale (4.0%): Pleasant and light but quite bitter.

Lovely food, beer and staff at this off-the-beaten-track pub. Oh and we had a great music session as well. Perfect.

The Stout House, Horsham 7th May 2011

As there was lots of morris dancing in the Carfax there was lots of drinking at the Stout House.

Welton's Broadwood (4.0%): Tasty malty decent bitter. A good local brew.
Welton's Magog (4.2%): Pleasant light coloured beer although I'm sure it used to taste more like wheat beer. Featuring me on the pump clip, oh the fame!

Come on Ray we want Black Dragon beer for Horsham's newest morris side! Talking of Ray Welton, you may be able to see him in the picture talking to Sam, a long-standing member of Broadwood Morris.  Both checking the beer quality no doubt!

The Beer Essentials, Horsham 7th May 2011

Brighton Morris perform outside The Beer Essentials

© Barry Dewdney - used with permission

Possibly my favourite shop in Horsham, morris dancers were given free beer on Horsham Day of Dance today, arranged by Broadwood Morris Men.

Arundel Sussex Gold (4.2%): Well brewed amber nectar. Lovely.
Dark Star Victorian Ruby Mild (6.0%): Heavenly sweet strong dark mild, a beer to rival Sarah Hughes' best efforts at last! I really hope this is a regular beer as I could get very used to it.

Thank you Graham for organising such an enjoyable day for so many people, and thank you to the absent Gareth for the beer.

The Plough, Rusper 1st May 2011

Celebrated May Day with the Broadwood Morris Men who danced in Rusper church, then had a drink at the Plough, then danced outside the village shop. They went on to The Star, also in Rusper, and then further afield but I had other commitments so I couldn't follow them any longer.

Harvey's Sussex Best Bitter (4.0%): A good but not excellent pint of this super beer.

They also had Sharp's Doom Bar Bitter but I didn't get to try it.  These two beers seem to be everywhere at the moment but I'm not complaining because they're hard to beat.  Even though I understand Sharp's has been taken over by Coors. Ho hum.