retiredmartin

 

July was one of the great months, and not just because I didn’t have to taxi BRAPA to dull Cambridgeshire pubs (more of that to come when the new GBG pub hits the floor). Shame the weather’s been rubbish.

In July’s reports I finished off the Beer Guide sections (“Greater Manchester ain’t a county !” bellows Mudgie) for Herefordshire, Durham, Wiltshire, and the Isle of Man, with Gwent conquered majestically last weekend.

Fifty-three GBG (53) pubs in 14 counties; surely even BRAPA can’t beat that ?

Did I tell you about the Isle of Man ?  It was a pleasure to tour this beautiful island in the company of the two top tickers in the country, who also were game for anything (See: Quids Inn).

Other pubby highlights were of course the banked Bass in Stockton’s Sun, the return to Hereford’s Barrels and the crawl round Victorian Digbeth with top Pub Men.  The beer, company and pre-WC Semi euphoria in the White Swan made a wonderful evening.

Elsewhere, there were culinary marvels.  Parmo in Stockton, Salt & Pepper Chicken in Douglas (twice), and Pie & Peas at the marvellous Clifford Beer Fest.

And that’s ignoring the cob v barm v roll debate (it’s a cob).

New Pub of the Month – Unicorn, Chipping Sodbury.

The Little Bare deserved it, really, but the Unicorn was a bit more earthy than you’d expect for Little Sod, and the 6X swung it.  Possibly a classic.

Beer of the Month – not a classic month for beer quality; more 2.5 than 3.5, but uniformly good in Digbeth and Man.  But the drink of the month was this;

AUGUST PREVIEW

In August I’ll be aiming to finish off Gloucestershire, Lancashire and the Isle of Wight.  But who knows ?

And hopefully the new Beer Guide will be out before the end of the month, even for non-Londoners.