September 2023. Southborough.
Just a pint in t’Wells at the Grove then a bus back to the in-laws.
We’d even managed to walk past the alluring entrance to the Imperial, the gorgeous but dull pub on th corner.
Well, nearly.
A chap holding a wine glass jumped out and waved at us to come in.
I recognised him immediately. This was “Seven Newky Browns In A Wine Glass” bloke, an ultra-rare pub type. Had he seen my post and taken umbrage ?
Not at all. He was SO persistent that Mrs RM gave in and joined him.
“Let me buy you a drink”.
I thought I’d better buy his next Newky Brown.
Mrs RM pursued our options,
and we decided that Newky Brown was indeed the best option. The barman went down to the cellar to get some more, and put one away for “Ernie” in the fridge.
Well, Ernie was delighted, and we talked for half an hour about the Middle East and family and Croydon. Oh, and his fifty-two (52) quid order for a Chinese takeaway from Meow’s. That’s for one, folks.
Mrs RM matched Ernie drink for drink, so he’ll probably think twice about inviting her in again,
We got back far too late, but at least remembered to pick up supper.
Currant buns and taramosalata is approved food matching, isn’t it ?
retiredmartin 
Not sure if it’s the lighting, but that beer is much much darker than the Newcastle Brown we see over in the US. Does your version actually have flavor?
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I’d definitely have described it as ruby red, though it’s not a beer (?) I drink often. Tasted OK, better in the wine glass obviously !
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Our version is a very light brown. Almost tan. Not a very good beer here. Nothing Wolverhampton would be proud of.
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Never really thought of it as a beer, more a unique product!
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Launched in 1927 after three years of research, being a blend of a strong dark beer and a lower-alcohol amber ale, which I think continued until early this century, probably contributed to its success.
It has been described as having a “red-to-brown hue” and apparently “tradition demands it is served in a half-pint schooner to be regularly topped up from the bottle”.
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Newcastle Brown Ale appeared to be the best selling beer in Stafford town centre this morning.
Hogarths – ‘High Viz’ getting two bottles and a half pint glass.
Vine – conventionally dressed getting one, £4.35, with a handled pint glass.
I don’t know what’s happening there this afternoon.
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Feel free to go back and report on an hourly basis, Paul. In the interests of research.
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Well, on a rainy morning I thought I would, for the first time in 31 years, use the number 10 bus service for town. Not being in the south-east it’s a rather infrequent service with the first departure, of two, for town being at 10.24am and the last, of two, back leaving town at 12.15pm. That gave me 102 minutes which was just right for a haircut, a key cut, Hogarths, the Vine and the recently refurbished Lamb where a very nice Holdens Golden Glow was only £3.
That might be me done for the day except that I might manage a curry “round the corner” when they open at 4.30pm.
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Ernie has recently passed away, i was told in the imperial. This is a lovely memory of him. Thank you.
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That’s really sad, but thanks for telling me. I’m glad that Mrs RM and I got to chat to Ernie, wonderful company.
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