After last years excitement, Mrs RM was always accompanying me on my trip to Manchester Beer Fest 17 so I didn’t lose any precious CAMRA magazines on the tram this time round. That at least she achieved. We had a sensible start, at least. A Flat White and Eggs Avocado at Leaf on Portland St… Continue reading SURVIVING MANCHESTER BEER FEST 17
SAVED BY PI(E) IN ALTY
A year ago I was staying in Altrincham, an ideal base for the Manchester Beer Fest (good and bad of that to follow). This year, I’ve gone upmarket and given Mrs RM the fast Wi-Fi she deserves in Stockport, an ideal base for trekking back to Alty. Since last year, the refurbished railway station has… Continue reading SAVED BY PI(E) IN ALTY
DODGING CRAFT IN KNUTSFORD
Two nights in Heaton Chapel, and a choice between the Manchester Beer Fest or a trundling train trip to Knutsford in the company of posh school children. We knew we’d made the right choice when young “Monkman” announced that a “Slag” was someone who liked slagging someone off. That’s the education you get for your… Continue reading DODGING CRAFT IN KNUTSFORD
JOHN SMITHS LIVES IN ACKWORTH
I realise most folk reading this are drinking 10.75% Brown DIPAs in soulless halls in Manchester or Cambridge at the moment. I’ve just had a pint of John Smiths in front of a roaring fire, listening to old Yorkshiremen talking guff. I win. We thought we’d found yet another publican doing their own version of… Continue reading JOHN SMITHS LIVES IN ACKWORTH
PUB TOILETS – THE DECORATION EDITION
PARENTAL ADVISORY – CONTAINS “ART” I seem to be taking a lot more photos of pub toilets recently. What you can read into that, I wouldn’t like to say. Perhaps it’s just than loos are often one of the architectural and artistic highlights of a pub visit. As part of my irregular spring cleans of… Continue reading PUB TOILETS – THE DECORATION EDITION
PLOUGHMAN’S & GORKY’S IN THE NORFOLK BROADS
Apparently there are no words that rhyme with “Ibiza“, so I can’t use the Life on Mars line in this post, which is a shame. If I’m wrong on that I can expect Tom to correct me by tea-time. Tom may also leap to the defence of the Broads, though I doubt it. Along… Continue reading PLOUGHMAN’S & GORKY’S IN THE NORFOLK BROADS
FAMILY BREWERS AT A PROPER BEER FEST
Mrs RM and I will be setting off for Manchester on Friday, with a To Do list that includes Bundobust, the Stretford Sip Club and the Manchester Beer Fest. No doubt Mrs RM will spend a third of the trip looking in estate agents and wool shops. Or for courgettes. On a slightly smaller scale… Continue reading FAMILY BREWERS AT A PROPER BEER FEST
FARGO – COVENTRY’S CRAFT ENCLAVE
There’s a lot of lonely little isolated Beer Guide ticks to do now, including a host with the sort of unpredictable opening hours visitors just love (i.e. micros and brewery taps). They’re all part of the joys of being a GBG completist. Back in November we nearly finished the West Midlands in Coventry, but the… Continue reading FARGO – COVENTRY’S CRAFT ENCLAVE
EVERARDS IN THE LAND OF HAPPINESS STAN
A second interesting post by Pub Curmudgeon today, with some reflections on the qualities of “Ordinary Bitters“. I take the view that almost any of the established Boring Bitters, Brown or otherwise, can veer toward greatness when expertly kept and served. I’ve never had a great pint of Everards though. Or a bad one. The Original… Continue reading EVERARDS IN THE LAND OF HAPPINESS STAN
GBG SELECTION & READING ESTATE PUBS
I recommend you start the day with Pub Curmudgeon’s new post on beer quality. It’s a great summary of a complex issue, and a reminder of how easy it is for cask to lose ground on the bar, even when served competently. Mrs RM has converted to the higher strength KeyKeg and keg craft on our… Continue reading GBG SELECTION & READING ESTATE PUBS
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