Wetherspoons York

We have been to York for three days, although for a while it didn't look like we would make it. The day before we left, I pulled a muscle or trapped a nerve in my back and couldn't move, well not without a lot of pain anyway. The pain had eased on the afternoon of the day we were going, so we decided not to cancel the trip and see how it went.

After we got settled in, we walked into town and had a beer in the Kings Arms but I felt sick (probably caused by the constant dull pain in my back) and we left to walk back to the van.

A note on the Kings Arms, it is probably one of the friendliest pubs in the world and even though we only visit York four or five time per year, as we entered the pub the landlord greeted us with "hello strangers long time no see". The Beer is also very good and very cheap.

On the walk back, I got my second wind and we popped into the Postern Gate, A Wetherspoons pub. I did know that a beer festival was on there and had been looking forward to a few new beers in there during our stay. Well I was very disappointed with the selection, during the festival you can get three 1/3 samples for the price of one pint but they didn't have three beers worth sampling. They had two stouts, two ciders, two Scottish beers and two beers they always have on. Anyway I got it wrong and ordered a cider (Dot drank most of it), then got a Belhaven, St Andrews Ale, before leaving, unhappy and didn't return for the rest of the trip.

Belhaven, St Andrews Ale from Scotland

4.9% dark brown colour with a good head, very little aroma, the taste was tart, it was not at all good.

Oops, I missed one

I missed one of Saturday's new beers.

Shepherd Neame, Up and Under Ale from England
 

 I do not think it mentioned Shepherd Neame on the bottle but I am assured that's who brews it. 4.0% deep amber colour with a good head, the aroma and taste is all dark chocolate. My review is totally different from all the other reviews I have looked at, nobody else seemed to taste chocolate.

The title is not aimed Jonny Wilkinson, he is still the best in the world.

Saturday's new beers

The BBQ went very well, good food, good company and good beers, three of the beers were new as well.

Wold Top, Angler’s Reward from England
 

A nice golden summer beer, 4.0% gold colour with a thin head, citrus hop aroma and dry citrus hop taste.

Duyck, Biere Blonde de Tradition from France


6.0% gold colour with a thin head, the aroma and taste is a lot like Leffe Blonde, we had a Leffe next and the Leffe was slightly better though.

Tom Wood's, Harvest Bitter from England


4.3% hazy gold colour with a thin head, it smelt and tasted of coal tar it was not nice. As it was hazy there is a chance this bottle was off.

Feeling a lot better

Feeling better but didn't get out last night, Dot was at a work's leaving do.

Going to make the most of the "unseasonably" good weather with a BBQ tonight and I have plenty of new beers to sample. Some that I bought before our holiday and some bought on holiday in France. I am not actually doing the BBQ, we are going to friends, so we can just relax and have fun.

I have added about 200 new beers to my photo collection since February, this is costing me a small fortune (donations welcome).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ralph-dot/sets/72157625483577134/

The night before France

Still under the weather, I do not seem to be able to shake off this cold.

So in an attempt to catch up, here are the new beers Jonathan and I had the night before the trip to France (and there are so many from France to add), I am going to do the review as the last post, you will have to click he photo to see the review.

Orkney, Raven Ale, Scotland


Skinner's, Betty Stogs, England


Inveralmond, Ossian Ale, Scotland


Krombacher, Krombacher Dark, Gemany


Cairngorm, Blessed Thistle, Scotland


Dent, T’Owd Tup, England


Orkney, Northern Light, Scotland


Orkney, Dark Island, Scotland


Kaiserdom, Dark, Engand

The Second Fish Beer Festival

I could only manage one part night at the second Fish Beer Festival but I did get to sample quite a few new beers in the short time I was there. The reason for the short visit was the impending rip to France (France reviews to follow soon), such a shame.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Steve and Mandy (and anyone else involved in the organisation) for doing such a great job.

As it was a Friday night, we had Trev and Pat with us and we also met up with Paul, visiting from down south, Mick and Bren were there anyway, as usual. As I had a few new beers on the night, I am going to do the review slightly different, you will have to click he photo to see tte review.

The new beers I had that night were,

Derventio, Centurion, England


Woodford's, Admiral's Reserve, England


Hadrian, Gladiaor, England


Rudgate, Battle Axe, England


Three Castles, Saxon Archer, England


Allgates, Napoleon's Retreat, England


Spire, Sgt Pepper Stout, England


Bath, Barnstormer, England


Marston Moor, Cromwells Pale, England


Arundel, Castle, England

First Friday night back out

Well had my first Friday night out in the UK for three weeks and now I have a bad head. I only had five pints but now I feel rotten, was it the beer or am I coming down with a cold, I think it is the latter as I also have a sore throat and runny nose. Better fill up with medicine as we are supposed to be gong out tonight as well.