A few short posts now, as anything over 300 words gets exhausting in this heat. Please send your rain, Professor Pie-Tin. (NB: It came ten minutes after posting, in a deluge). Good question from Wickingman in the comments in the last post, asking which counties are most reliable for beer quality (at point of dispense,… Continue reading CAT ADOPTION DRAMA IN WOTTON-UNDER-EDGE
Month: July 2018
PLAYING THE GLOUCESTERSHIRE CASK ALE LOTTERY
Recently I’ve wondered if this summer might be the summer that kills cask as a mainstream drink. You’ll have seen how resentful I’ve been about cask in Scotland, and eleven pubs over two days around the Brecons this week brought two drinkable pints (both in a Spoons). In Beer Guide pubs. But then again, last… Continue reading PLAYING THE GLOUCESTERSHIRE CASK ALE LOTTERY
TEWKESBURY REIGNITES THE COB v BAP DEBATE
As Summer drags on, a PubMan’s thoughts turns to Gloucestershire, one of the counties I’ve never completed. Despite it being virtually on my doorstep (compared to Shetland, anyway). The A14/M6/M42/M5 takes you past some of our most picturesque roadworks, en route to a dismal collection of budget hotels and “aparthotels” (hovels) that I’ll spare you.… Continue reading TEWKESBURY REIGNITES THE COB v BAP DEBATE
THE MORNING AFTER THE NIGHT BEFORE
So England missed their big chance to be humiliated by France, what they call “Le blessing en disguis“. I was too tired to watch it with the Beer and Pub “lads”, and my BLOC room is windowless so I actually fell asleep in the second half. Just before the final whistle I rushed across to… Continue reading THE MORNING AFTER THE NIGHT BEFORE
RUIN(ED) IN A DAY – THE NEW ORDER IN BRUM
All good things must come to an end, and so it is that I say goodbye to my Aston Villa supporting followers after that last post. Bye Steve. Digbeth ended with a newbie recommended by Beer Mat, and an old classic. Don’t judge the Ruin by its plush outdoor seating. This was another favourite on… Continue reading RUIN(ED) IN A DAY – THE NEW ORDER IN BRUM
KEEP RIGHT ON TO THE END OF THE ROAD (WELL, DERITEND)
I’d best finish this Digbeth crawl report quickly now, lest my memory fails me completely and I start claiming we saw Pub Curmudgeon drinking craft or something else libellous. Good job I also have Peter Allen’s report to corroborate the detail. We left the Anchor on time, a rarity on these highly choreographed events.… Continue reading KEEP RIGHT ON TO THE END OF THE ROAD (WELL, DERITEND)
DIG THE NEW BREED (OF DIGBETH PUBS)
“In the (Birmingham) City there’s a thousand words (OK 342) I wanna say to you“. Yes, one for Beer Mat now as we finally enter some Digbeth pubs you’ll all have heard of, even if you’ve never been further out of Brum than the funny bull statue. It’s the Anchor ! It must be 17… Continue reading DIG THE NEW BREED (OF DIGBETH PUBS)
OPTING OUT OF THE CASK ALE LOTTERY
Packets of Bombay Mix are fine, bit some of our esteemed (i.e. old) pubgoers get a bit hungry between pubs, so we resolved to make the Big Bulls Head an”official” lunch stop. On the way we lost a Sheffield Hatter, but did find a Melox Marvel. While Mrs RM is quite taken with the shops… Continue reading OPTING OUT OF THE CASK ALE LOTTERY
FOOD FOR THOUGHT IN DIGBETH
Well done to Life After Football for identifying the Ansells sign from Digbeth’s Eagle & Tun. It is just possible he has local knowledge, though. We popped there, across the road from the Woodman, having admired the old Curzon railway building, because all ale men are also rail men, aren’t they ? (A: No) Now,… Continue reading FOOD FOR THOUGHT IN DIGBETH
DIGBETH ’18 – IT BEGINS
Three days off pruning hedges and feeding teenagers, then off to Brum on World Cup Semi-Final Day. I won’t tell you how many England won by, just in case you still haven’t watched it on I-Player. The journey took 2 hrs 20, compared to the 90 minute stroll to St Andrews before the A14 improvements… Continue reading DIGBETH ’18 – IT BEGINS