Of time in the city

Monday saw a delayed trip to London come to light. After browsing various records shops and a mouth-watering venture into Selfridges wine, beer & spirits department we decided to hit the pubs.

First up was covent garden's Porterhouse where we supped their fine Plain Porter; filled with chocolaty-roast-coffee-malt delights. Next up we stumbled upon the Belgian beer cafe Lowlander, where we were lucky enough to experience the superb Flanders red ale, Duechesse De Bourgogne, on tap; accompanied by a fine meat and olive platter. Delicious!

After a swift tube ride towards the river we walked a short distance to borough market. The market was closed, however there were still two fantastic pubs to visit. The Market Porter provided us with sustenance in the forms of Harvey's Sussex Best Bitter & Meantime's Belgian style wheat beer.


The next pub was to be the daddy, no wait, GRANDADDY, of all. The Rake is the minimally styled beer bar with a jaw dropping array of bottle beers and a fine, but small selection on tap & cask. The beers we had included Dark Star's Imperial Stout on cask (they also had their American style pale ale.) After supping this Delicious and rich 10.5% beast we decided to sample some bottled beers. First up was Lefthand Brewery's Milk Stout, which was quite simply milk laden chocolaty madness. Brewdog's Hardcore IPA was next, weighing in at a hefty 9% and was hopped to the nines! Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale from Stone brewery was up next, and was quite possibly beer of the day - fruity & rich but with a high quaffability. Another lefthand brew was had (blackjack porter) keeping the standards high. The mega surprise came last when Sierra Nevada's fresh hop Harvest ale appeared on tap - and certainly was as fresh as a daisy; plenty of super juicy hops and a perfect balance!

Another trip to London will ensue shortly I'm sure!

The White Stuff! (Lots Of It!)

Now I am shocked at how long it is been since our last post, I am sat at home trapped inside by the freezing cold snow and ice, so I thought I would give the beer world an update. As you may have noticed its snowing in Britain, like really snowing hard (well for us), a few inches of snow has brought our country's transport infrastructure to its knees! last night, upon returning from a potentially hazardous trip to the cinema (with beer in toll), I cracked open a couple of darker beers to celebrate this bizarrely seasonal weather. Both beers are exclusive stocked by Tesco having won a pair of awards from the supermarkets food and drink awards, I don't want to sound like I am plugging Tesco its just their the only place to get these brews. first up was an imported Czech dark lager from the Bernard family brewery it was nice enough, good balance but considering the style I expected more from the darker malts and a bit more firm coffee bitterness from the hops, not terrible, but not Budvar dark. Then onto Midnight sun from the Scottish micro William's brothers, this was better a full bodied rich and warming porter ,with a subtle ginger spiciness and firm coffee like bitterness a really good winter warmer.

Now we realised a post hadn't been made for a while, and there has been some fine beer drunk recently, particularly in the form of a Xmas spend up at the beer shop A bottle of the sublime De Dolle Brouwers Stille Nacht among other delights, including De fonteinen oude gueuze form 2006, which was among the finest we have had form the style. We were planning on a trip to London yesterday but that didn't happen for obvious reasons. We are now going in two weeks, and excited to visit The rake, market porter and a return visit to one of my favourite pubs the seven Stars. heard it on the grape vine that the rake has just had Sierra Nevada's Celebration ale on tap and have lots of flying dog beer sin as well! I expect nothing but a brilliant pint form The Stars, hopefully one of Darkstar's seasonals. Can't wait!