December 2023. Coalville.
Yes, you’re still in Coalville, apparently.
Bit of a change in tone now, as I take you from the Rock Bar with DIY keg wall to Calvary (not Cavalry, that’s a Jona Lewie hit).
Ah, Calvary.”There is a green hill far away, without a city wall” in the words of Cecil Frances Alexander, who would no doubt have welcomed the signpost outside the rock bar with estimated cycling time. Not that ladies like Cecil were allowed to cycle in 1848.
This Calvary on a green hill, at the entrance to Mount Saint Bernard Abbey, is closer to Shepshed than Jerusalem. I stumbled upon it completely by accident, and was rather moved to do so.
On a drizzly Sunday morning, it takes a few minutes to climb the rocky steps to the top,
where locals have added local tributes to the deceased, much like a Northern place of pilgramage.
This little piece of the National Forest between Leicester and Burton really is a gem.
But what does it have to do with pubs, you ask.
Well, funny you should say that. In my final Leicestershire tick that lunchtime I bought Mrs RM a bottle of Tynt Meadow.
You might have heard of it, it’s the bottle conditioned trappist ale* produced at the brewery marked on the map just below Whitwick.
Brewed by those monks of Mount Bernard, and it’s absolutely gorgeous.
* Mr Protz’s blog; https://protzonbeer.co.uk/news/2018/06/27/monks-restore-historic-brewing-tradition
retiredmartin 
Toby Calvarys are best
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But more seriously, Trappist Ale? Whoever told you about that?
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Roger Protz wrote about it https://protzonbeer.co.uk/news/2018/06/27/monks-restore-historic-brewing-tradition
but I had no idea where it was till I read the monks beer blog.
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Etu,
Yes, I read it as Carvery.
I went for one at 1pm last Sunday but was overlooked for two customers behind me so said “never mind”, walked out and had two bags of scratchings, the last Bass from the cask and a Boltmaker in the Railway Inn, then Banks’s Mild in the Princess Royal.
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Less spiritually, I came across a statue (self-portrait) of Antony Gormley, on top of a mountain in Japan, last week. More spiritually, the area also has a number of Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines.
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Shinty is a game played in the Highlands and although rather different from its Irish relative teams from each sport often meet in matches.
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Where is the ‘oss ? Its tynt meadow . I’ll get me coat
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The old ones are the best, Pauline.
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Indeed they are, and Will, if it comes to Full Disclosure then neither am I KWIM?
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I’ve drunk and enjoyed bottles of Tynt Meadow a few times round here. The monks visited Robbies in Stockport for some tips before they started brewing it.
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Must’ve been tricky for the Shut-Your-Trappists to ask their questions, Matthew. Did they use semaphore?
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“Shut-Your-Trappists” was the original inspiration for the song that kept “Vienna” off Number 1, wasn’t it ?
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And deservedly so
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I may have a bottle of that Tynt Meadow lurking somewhere at home. If not, then I’ve already drank it!
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I’m sure I’ve seen those bottles while out and about, presumably in the sort of micropubs that also have a selection of takeaway beers.
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