December 2024. Cambridge.
Rather too stressed last Sunday evening with parental worries to enjoy a proper celebration, but at least Mum was settled, and at least I had the family together as we left the Blue Moon after a crafty half. And there’s nowhere I’d rather be, not even Hillingdon, than in a pub with my lads and Mrs RM.
But it was only 8:45.
“Let’s walk through Mill Road cemetery to the Blue” I say.
A perfect end. The cemetery backs on to Ditchburn Place, where I was actually popped out (technical term) 60 years ago, and the college where I studied Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs (Crispy beef at the top).
And there’s a step leading in to the garden* of our favourite Cambridge pub. The lads might even see Jethro, who they know well from growing up in the games room of the Carlton 20 years ago.
“Don’t be daft, Retired Martin, we’re not walking through a graveyard in pitch black“. Bo-ring.
Don’t believe old folk who tell you youngsters don’t go to pubs anymore. It’s 9pm on Sunday and the Blue is completely full (and serving food).
And has those beers young folk drink, like a potent if slightly scuzzy Adnams Tally-Ho (note lack of ABV on clip),
and Bitburger.
Matt and Emma were astonished by the Belgians in the fridge.
And if we hadn’t got a drive to Tunbridge Wells at 8am the next morning things might have gone awry.
Sometimes, sometimes, sense prevails.
*The access from garden to graves seemed to have been blocked off. Boo.
retiredmartin 
“Extra Strong” is an ABV isn’t it? Tells me what I need to know about it.
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All you need is “low”, “best” and “Mrs RM strength” really.
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Martin,
I would have loved a pint of that Adnams Tally Ho, not having drunk it for decades. Now I know that my easterly trip this year was sixteen weeks too early but am quite sure that an “I’m just off to Adnamsland for the Tally Ho and’ll be back in a few days” early on Christmas Eve wouldn’t have gone down well with my wife and daughter !!!’
I’ve enjoyed the Palmers Tally Ho! more recently, a few hours on it in Bridport’s Ropemakers Arms ten years ago and then as a most unexpected guest beer in Birmingham’s best pub. a couple of years later.
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Sadly a half, though I would have got a pint the next day if we’d walked a bit faster back to the train !
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Paul and Martin, I’m fairly certain that I’ve never come across cask Adnams Tally Ho before, although I wish I had!!
Great old-school pump-clip, and whilst there’s no indication of abv, you get the impression that it’s going to be something good!
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Oh, there’s nothing like a pint of sherry-strength beer at Christmas, Paul, is there?
I think that the last barley wine that I drank came in a little bottle, from Worthington, maybe. Gold Label it might have been called…
I’m just back from a few days in Adnamsland, but didn’t come across Tally-Ho. In fact the community-owned pub nearest avoided Adnams punkt in favour of Beers You’ve (I’ve) Never Hear Of.
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Yes indeed Etu, I’ve quite recently found Dark Star (Gales) Prize Old Ale in Belgravia, Bathams XXX in Brierley Hill and – biggest surprise – Robinsons Old Tom in Stafford, so good that I returned another two days.
Holdens Old might then see me through to the longer days.
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It’s weird despite living in Adnamsland for all my life and having drunk a fair share of TallyHo, Id never noticed the lack of abv on the pumpclip before.
It’s been on fine form this year too, quite lively as well for a change. I believe it uses a different yeast strain to Adnams normal one and they were still using cork stoppers on the casks recently, to let it breathe and avoid redecorating the cellars.
Sadly it seems stocks have gone the same way as Guinness, for a beer thats nearly £8 a pint it was going very quickly,and disappeared just before Christmas except in some Adnams pubs.
At least they’ve bottled some again this year so you can order it online if you can’t visit the stores or pubs in Suffolk
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I’m sure it was a regular sight this time of years, but that may have been just in the Castle in Cambridge back then.
Untappd says Tally-Ho is 7.2% and I’d have guessed 7%.
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Absolutely, it’s just normally it’s been ever present in my local pubs from November onwards through Christmas to New Years, I’ve literally one year sat in the pub garden drinking it watching a November 5th fireworks display in the near by park, and drank it same pub New years eve, not the same cask though ;). This year it’s been on and gone within few days it’s been really popular.
Which is good, but also means if you don’t catch it when it’s on you do miss out.
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I’m sure Stafford Paul feels the same about Sam Smiths Stingo !
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Yes, worth a trip to London for, but when it’s gone it’s gone.
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Like Guinness.
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