tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92000931529229561452024-03-22T03:21:24.338+00:00Tom's BeerA blog about the life of a brewertommy nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02617146708819976133noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9200093152922956145.post-25229334172978173952009-09-25T09:13:00.007+00:002009-10-02T08:32:12.414+00:00Autumn BeerThis time of year beer goes all malty. Brewers see the nights drawing in and think ‘let’s brew something brown, sweet and lacking a prominent hop flavour’ I’m different however.<br /><br />After a conversation with a <a href="http://fivetide5.wordpress.com/">friend a prolific home brewer </a>(who is also a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">hophead</span>), we decided to have a “brew-off” to see who could produce the most interesting seasonal ale. My friend and I are amused at the autumn ale style of beer particularly their names. <span style="color:#663333;">Mahogany something</span>, <span style="color:#663333;">Ploughman’s, Chestnut whatever, Brown whatsit, Conkers Bonkers</span>; you know. So the aim was to make a seasonal ale that is dark brown with a autumnal name, but with a twist!<br /><br />I brewed my attempt earlier on in the week. It is a simple recipe of pale, crystal and chocolate malts with the twist being it is hopped with buckets full of Chinook. I have never brewed with Chinook before but have tasted plenty of beers that use it and a couple that use the hop as a single variety. I severely enjoy this hops’ grapefruit aroma and its intense <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">bittering</span> qualities (not sure anyone can 'severely enjoy' something but <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">that's</span> not the point; they are nice hops although a bit <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">expensive</span> ). I’m not sure how it will work in a beer this dark but I am happy with it so far. It has nearly come to the end of its primary fermentation and looks like mud (not that attractive), the smell it emitting is something else: citrus, spice, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">elderflowers</span> and a hint of sweetness, lovely! I don’t think everyone’s going to like it, but I have a hunch it will sell well as a tonic to the hop-shy malt-bombs that dominate the hand pumps this time of year.tommy nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02617146708819976133noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9200093152922956145.post-90882935510181887912009-07-10T14:24:00.001+00:002009-07-10T19:17:41.812+00:00Hops, Barley, Weeds and the Weather<div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlbtQCMUuEj1E_POI-rlTmCr6_YgAX736RP4RdNby9I0ehor657i84sD4s_QI5QV5xWv573uoEczlZJqYNAudA2JRdqvAhFxwLU6LnlBtkrIfFTm74AZcGDczYusSvUYEvmsz4wvXd7tgr/s1600-h/me+009.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356911865322908530" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlbtQCMUuEj1E_POI-rlTmCr6_YgAX736RP4RdNby9I0ehor657i84sD4s_QI5QV5xWv573uoEczlZJqYNAudA2JRdqvAhFxwLU6LnlBtkrIfFTm74AZcGDczYusSvUYEvmsz4wvXd7tgr/s200/me+009.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div>I spent most of yesterday setting up part of a makeshift trellis for our 200 Hop plants. We have only just planted them so we are not expecting anything this year. At the moment we are just trying to get some mulch down and keeping them well watered. The trellis we have built is small, only 7feet high. We hope this will only affect our harvest slightly, and that this will be out weighed by the <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkD5kUAIkyNp2vbG-H1G-AkEFBXBtvlJn69JYH_iHwhNY1Xey7fnaymiTdlVs5QiwTdtwPrkzp2CY-baJVZm_Cr9A9jNHk5zbL2-W6PDT3-ZbSG51lbgvaNKlYA2yS0FH8N0XaTgj_cBap/s1600-h/me+006.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356912224361602834" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkD5kUAIkyNp2vbG-H1G-AkEFBXBtvlJn69JYH_iHwhNY1Xey7fnaymiTdlVs5QiwTdtwPrkzp2CY-baJVZm_Cr9A9jNHk5zbL2-W6PDT3-ZbSG51lbgvaNKlYA2yS0FH8N0XaTgj_cBap/s200/me+006.jpg" border="0" /></a>money saved doing lots of the work ourselves, including picking.<br /><br />Yesterday also gave me the opportunity to investigate how are barley is getting on. Weeds are a bit of a problem but the grain looks healthy. Hopefully we will be able to malt it once it’s been harvested. However if we have to much rain around harvest it will not be suitable for malting and it will all go to feed some cows. For now though those hops could do with some water. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSdHtRzeaOtCF65bOQB2izzibCzGDhd-fPKs8a8OaVuOBXwVcTMnJnmdemT8FpqNStHsay8RKKF-tWL4Zvy0ZAw32Due6MuRRjDU9C_GTREs8PfCsJdBgLvYkn49p5Qgn25fZnlhHoJ76J/s1600-h/me+005.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356912733969774802" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSdHtRzeaOtCF65bOQB2izzibCzGDhd-fPKs8a8OaVuOBXwVcTMnJnmdemT8FpqNStHsay8RKKF-tWL4Zvy0ZAw32Due6MuRRjDU9C_GTREs8PfCsJdBgLvYkn49p5Qgn25fZnlhHoJ76J/s200/me+005.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I’m of on holiday to Dorset tomorrow (in a tent) so I, unlike those cone producing vines would like unbroken sunshine.</div></div></div>tommy nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02617146708819976133noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9200093152922956145.post-58423479777148345662009-07-06T12:17:00.002+00:002009-07-06T12:25:37.021+00:00Hops and CurryThis weekend was spent at the in-laws (well, not yet). Having looked at some of my very old posts, it would seem that I spend most of my time in Hampshire. This is not true, what is true though is that when I’m down there I try and visit some of the very nice pubs in the surrounding towns and villages.<br /><br />As always I had to make a return to <a href="http://www.triplefff.com/Brewery/index.htm">Triple fffs’ </a>Railway Arms in Alton. I have talked about this place before and I still feel the same about this place; it’s fantastic, if not a little cramped. The only real draw back it this pub id getting served. The staff are quick and efficient but the always occupied bar stools get in the way. In a pub where you know the locals and might have to squeeze past them, have a chat and maybe even buy one another a drink on the way to the bar is nice and adds to the experience. However in a less well known pub having to barge past, or stand in the middle of a bunch of regulars who are having a conversation can be awkward. Still this is a great pub and if you happen to be in Alton (why?) give it a visit. The champion beer of Britain, Alton Pride was in good form as was the Pressed Rat and Warthog. There new beer Apache Peacock went down well, it’s a fruity blond beer with a good earthy base and a slightly citrus tang. A good mix of English and American Hops me thinks.<br /><br />While in Alton I popped in to Waterstones and bought <a href="http://petebrown.blogspot.com/">Pete Browns </a>new book Hops and Glory. I’m only 70 pages in at the moment, but its a great read so far, packed with facts and building up to his [Pete Brown] adventure across the seas to deliver a pin of IPA from its birth place Burton-on-Trent to India. All this reading made me hungry (and thirsty). When we arrived back in Suffolk I ordered a curry to accompany the <a href="http://www.gooseisland.com/pages/india_pale_ale/18.php">Goose Island IPA</a> I has bought at the <a href="http://www.hogsback.co.uk/breweryshop.htm">Hogs Back Brewery shop </a>earlier in the day. A great combination inspired by the book. With the weekends eating and drinking now over its back to some good old hard graft to burn all those calories.tommy nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02617146708819976133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9200093152922956145.post-74354413269829671392009-07-01T16:58:00.004+00:002009-07-01T17:03:21.037+00:00It's all in the planning<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIRpv6BBjhntZ1pmOhN5db3zKkAoPE9LetdL7euF8-njDY1NcMH9k0M8xZEYYuW6lK8RO7fJFvVaLAQahcxDhgH9vkmz8aMkyXSi_Bfhvl99mgM1uyN9Vqkzw3XU2HkSFFtj-V8mD3-wU3/s1600-h/MGB.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353537462368323218" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIRpv6BBjhntZ1pmOhN5db3zKkAoPE9LetdL7euF8-njDY1NcMH9k0M8xZEYYuW6lK8RO7fJFvVaLAQahcxDhgH9vkmz8aMkyXSi_Bfhvl99mgM1uyN9Vqkzw3XU2HkSFFtj-V8mD3-wU3/s200/MGB.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>This morning the whole family were at Babergh District Council offices at a planning committee meeting.<br /><br />When we first wanted to build a micro brewery we went though the proper channels. The site, at the time, was an old stable block that had been all but blown down in the 87 storm. The stable was rebuilt using bits of ply and corrugated iron; it didn’t look good. So we planed to build using what there was left of the original structure and then add to it. Local planners saw this as a change of use and extension rather than a new build, so we applied for planning permission and it was granted.<br /><br />During the building progress we made some minor alterations, these included solar panels, velux windows and moving the staircase outside. When, however, we applied to make these minor amendments the planning offices realised that we should have applied for a new build rather than a change of use. We where informed we must reapply.<br /><br />On the whole the village is in full support in what we are trying to do. Our main aim is of cause to keep the pub open as well as selling a good selection of local ales and local home cooked food. But there is one or two who feel a busy pub will affect their house price, so will go to great lengths to cause problems for us.<br /><br />This morning that minority didn’t even bother turning up at the committee meeting. After a few hours watching local politics in action (rather slow action) a decision was to be made. In the end the planning offices recommended planning permission was granted and all council members agreed. Yippee! This whole sager had been going on for to long; we were building when Jeff/Stonch <a href="http://stonch.blogspot.com/2007/08/i-need-to-shower-urgently.html">visited</a> for <a href="http://stonch.blogspot.com/2007/08/eddyfest-2007.html">Eddyfest </a>2 years ago. At last we can stop worrying about a few nimbys and start brewing some more beer! </div>tommy nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02617146708819976133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9200093152922956145.post-9789478664422507402009-06-30T12:22:00.005+00:002009-07-10T13:05:38.421+00:002.9%<div>Today I’m brewing our weakest beer; Mawkin Mild at 2.9% ABV. Everything seems to be happening slowly today. Having casked up a load of beer to make space in a fermenter for today’s brew, I realised that yesterday I must have taken more heat out of the store than I’d thought. This means lighting our wood boiler to bring to store up those few more degrees I need to mash at 66°C sparge at about 78°C and then final heat to 80°C+ before the boil.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOggMDIQmYh5FOauYxTAvwQ6Q_iyY9xwOvMtdJ5YS_JS_z2NstNbstzx-qGxpu4U4bqaDfHpfEhZJroQEpPVA5H1Qj_GjC2VoHcR7rGb_LEiePEXbWjm_rY0dzsj_Qpez4gNllUpRjTTsy/s1600-h/me+004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356816858608207490" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOggMDIQmYh5FOauYxTAvwQ6Q_iyY9xwOvMtdJ5YS_JS_z2NstNbstzx-qGxpu4U4bqaDfHpfEhZJroQEpPVA5H1Qj_GjC2VoHcR7rGb_LEiePEXbWjm_rY0dzsj_Qpez4gNllUpRjTTsy/s200/me+004.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />As for the beer, well it’s black (almost) and modestly hopped with a Fuggles and Goldings. The malt gives this beer its flavour. I think its 11 different types I all, lots of dark malts give it a good roasted flavour, while I use malted oats to impart some body. I had no idea what this would turn out like first time I brewed it, but it was good (well, I liked it, so it was good).<br /><br />Mild is not an easy sell to the free trade but we sell it all the time in our pub and a few outlets take the occasional cask and of cause it fly’s out at CAMRA beer festivals. Some people bemoan CAMRA and their beer festivals but without them small breweries would less adventurous in the styles of beer brewed. Unless a brewery is into bottling in a big way it will struggle to sell beers that aren’t brown or gold between 3.5-4.5%, beer festivals give these beers an outlet. For that I forgive the socks, sandals beards and farts!</div>tommy nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02617146708819976133noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9200093152922956145.post-14896484800828776732009-06-29T12:58:00.003+00:002009-06-30T13:23:33.519+00:00Hot!It’s hot today, very hot! I’m doing my least favourite job, cleaning casks. It involves spraying a lot of hot water about. Wearing wellies and cycling to work was a bad idea, I’m sweating like a bastard.<br /><br />On the plus side the solar panels are collecting those rays; these are connected to a heat store which is used to heat the water used for cleaning and the liquor used for brewing. At the moment the 3000L store is at about 80°C, sure that will come in useful. We have an interesting setup here involving solar panels, a wood boiler, heat exchangers and pipes running though that heat store to heat the liquor to various temperatures during the brewing process. One day I’ll explain it all on here, but for today back to spraying smelly dregs with solar heated water.tommy nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02617146708819976133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9200093152922956145.post-66379937857896509092009-06-26T11:01:00.000+00:002009-06-26T11:02:06.493+00:00What to expectHopefully lots of interesting stuff will be happening over the coming months; otherwise this blog will become a bit dull. I hope to be able to update regularly on goings on in Mill Green Brewery and the White Horse. I will also be sharing my opinions on various debates in the beer world and maybe talk about some nice pubs I visit and great beers I try (and maybe some not so good). On top of this we I will be looking at some new projects that I’m involved in.<br /><br />Over the past few months the family and I have been working on growing our own ingredients for the brewing process. We have a 14 acre field and have planted some barley that we hope to malt, either ourselves or by getting someone else to do it. We have also, in a corner of the field, planted 200 hop plants (25 of 8 varieties). Although the harvest this year will probably be non-existent we hope, in the long run, this will save us money as well as being a great selling point for the beer. I hope through this blog I will also be able to chart the progress of my family’s first tentative steps into farming.tommy nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02617146708819976133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9200093152922956145.post-26605616652424178792009-06-25T12:59:00.001+00:002009-06-25T12:59:28.069+00:00Long time no postHaving given up trying to do a blog two years ago I’m back. A lot has happened over those 24 months.<br />At the time of posting my last entry on this blog I was working part time as a teaching assistant. At the eng of July that year my contract finished and almost the same day the landlord at our pub (The White Horse Edwardstone) and his girl friend decided they would leave….. overnight.<br />Me and Becky where the only candidates willing and ready to take over, so we did. Being a publican was hard work and required us to work long and always unsociable hours. In October, after a few false starts, we found a nice young couple to run the pub more permanently and I was allowed to go and play in our newly build brewery next-door.<br />The brewery is now fully up and operational and our beers are getting better and more consistent (even award winning in one case).<br />In this blog you can follow what I’m doing and brewing on a daily basis (with terrible spelling and punctuation guaranteed).tommy nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02617146708819976133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9200093152922956145.post-84963643369599386162007-07-18T16:51:00.000+00:002007-07-18T16:53:20.727+00:00Web Site UpThe Edwardstone White Horse now has its own site, check it out <a href="http://www.edwardstonewhitehorse.co.uk/">www.edwardstonewhitehorse.co.uk</a> . Not quite finished, needs a few more details added. If you have ever been to the pub and have any personal reasons why the pub is so great then tell me.tommy nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02617146708819976133noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9200093152922956145.post-10075692493664282612007-06-27T16:15:00.000+00:002007-06-27T16:56:08.476+00:00Pub With No Name Beer Festival<div><div><div>This weekend was not one for camping and bike rides, but in the name of beer drinking it had to be done.<br />Having never been to the pub with no name before let alone their beer festival, it was a bit of a punt.<br />Saturday aft<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGWznDQcf4NmoynyKr6AhIMvoNVyvetBwlIiKTAmuf81cecy1xLbi5Os00mzfEtAvzbD0YtlcsmSO4SxuXm0O4XJrC-6oBRl82guAq_5y5vMXNf0zAO607NCXE2Qt6v66q8kWUDvo2MUqe/s1600-h/n552785716_678121_2125[1].jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080787714435193538" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGWznDQcf4NmoynyKr6AhIMvoNVyvetBwlIiKTAmuf81cecy1xLbi5Os00mzfEtAvzbD0YtlcsmSO4SxuXm0O4XJrC-6oBRl82guAq_5y5vMXNf0zAO607NCXE2Qt6v66q8kWUDvo2MUqe/s200/n552785716_678121_2125%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a>ernoon started at the girlfriend’s house and it seemed the weather might just hold out for our 4 mile cycle up to Hampshire’s highest pub. Just as we’d packed the tent and the rest of our cobber, the clouds loomed at the havens opened. Never the less we braved the damp conditions. After climbing a couple of hundred feet on bikes in the rain it seemed like we’d travelled 40 miles.<br />Once we were there it was 4 o’clock and the place was already buzzing. We pitched our tent and headed for that other tent full of Ale!<br />First on the menu was Fever Pitch from the Yates brewery in northern Cumbria. It is advertised as a “real lager”, but in fact it is an ale that is light and hopped using varieties more widely used in lagers. This is probably the best beer I had all night. Although it was light and drinkable, it also had a bitterness and flowery aroma that fitted together well. My thirst and desperation for a pint may have blurred my rating of this beer.<br />Later I tried Doris’ 90th a beer I tried when I visited the Hesket Newmaket Brewery in Cumbria earlier in the year. It is a lovely warming ale, slightly sweet and creamy. There seemed to be a large number of beers from the North West possibly due to the pub owner also having holiday cottages in the Lake District.<br />My next blog will be about the Hesket Newmarket Brewery which is community owned. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080788019377871570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 281px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 215px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="197" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy2VFs9VQkj5X5XRFFcFnjF9HFa9mW6u3S2XKayNkxe4nI2-QMCRZN0qKEOBRt92F507uewUeQKZovbaTzf2sg1Pzzh0UL_zPXzmesg9GgLaUt8ezRNMhYtpeBIVxEhU6UUhuWghKGYt2S/s200/n552785716_678117_1151%5B1%5D.jpg" width="248" border="0" /><br />Back in Hampshire, the festival was getting more busy and the queue for beer getting ever longer. By about 9.45 we heard that they had stopped selling beer tokens. This could only mean one thing. THEY ARE RUNNING OUT OF BEER! I joint the queue and spent my last few pink slips. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizIEnU8nhR_WYlpTR9NtQTK4jIRR_TGbCiqQ2Lzs31UhYj0GWY2GS3nxevmoQKH4FGzjY7mMccq_aA1CljSw0LBPlbUdc1MXPzY7FJ4zBqzR5N5ffu6p9MJ1D3p4Uqc4CI0SguRr3trg-1/s1600-h/n552785716_678139_6721[1].jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080788332910484194" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizIEnU8nhR_WYlpTR9NtQTK4jIRR_TGbCiqQ2Lzs31UhYj0GWY2GS3nxevmoQKH4FGzjY7mMccq_aA1CljSw0LBPlbUdc1MXPzY7FJ4zBqzR5N5ffu6p9MJ1D3p4Uqc4CI0SguRr3trg-1/s200/n552785716_678139_6721%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />By 10.15 the beer had gone and the party. Everyone abandoned the queues and headed towards the music. The mixed crowd seemed to enjoy the oldie and modern rock covers.<br />Even taking in to consideration the appalling weather (which continued the next day), a good time was had by all. Who needs Glastonbury when you’ve got the pub <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7VeDVugG9Bsj-UqKyUq81axiSyuhF7PKh8wF3avVdVy0xPP5dGyYHpR3UFBH7hRzk4mfpbn06LYY-vmLbUn7ChvI7kr-SGImbPBEzQuJFDxa0E8M2MNd4iQ3y1fOEaAFfq7dlfUYrP_N9/s1600-h/n552785716_678138_6477[1].jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080788693687737074" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7VeDVugG9Bsj-UqKyUq81axiSyuhF7PKh8wF3avVdVy0xPP5dGyYHpR3UFBH7hRzk4mfpbn06LYY-vmLbUn7ChvI7kr-SGImbPBEzQuJFDxa0E8M2MNd4iQ3y1fOEaAFfq7dlfUYrP_N9/s200/n552785716_678138_6477%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a>with no name (and no beer).</div></div></div>tommy nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02617146708819976133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9200093152922956145.post-77974112575854080482007-06-14T14:34:00.000+00:002007-06-15T22:50:05.995+00:00The Dove Spring Beer Festival<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3HH54GSg5EF7F-q-majKNLlpM-DQlkn8UmKgkxI59jQ1-2zoxItgfXBn_81i_lRYEhaMWj1ucZdO0Y2qDSfXrYxSYdIROc0ZUHjUWTbSU-op26HnuWc5GV__iJjeh4IzanUK6dyneac2_/s1600-h/860[1].jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075934151853417202" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3HH54GSg5EF7F-q-majKNLlpM-DQlkn8UmKgkxI59jQ1-2zoxItgfXBn_81i_lRYEhaMWj1ucZdO0Y2qDSfXrYxSYdIROc0ZUHjUWTbSU-op26HnuWc5GV__iJjeh4IzanUK6dyneac2_/s320/860%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>I have recently had a bit of a break from blog writing, this doesn’t mean that I have not enjoyed any beer.<br />At the end of May, I visited the Dove Street Inn, Ipswich for their spring beer festival. The Dove is one of my favourite pubs not only because there is normally 20 cask beers available. The pub full of character and all the staff seem very friendly.<br />This is one of those pubs you don’t want to leave.<br />The festival saw 70 beers offered. One or two of my favourites such as Dark Stars’ Hophead and Moorehouse Mild were in top condition and slipped down nicely. Caledonians’ Top Banana was one beer I had not tried before. I thought this banana flavoured tipple would be revolting. In fact it was drinkable and mildly pleasant. By no means is it a complex or really interesting drink but it was drinkable and smooth. My girlfriend was a big fan and this may be one for the ladies.<br />We soaked up the beer with a tasty burger from the outside BBQ which filled the marquee with a delicious smells. Lovely! </div>tommy nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02617146708819976133noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9200093152922956145.post-25732515695695327602007-05-10T18:39:00.001+00:002007-05-10T18:39:39.312+00:00Dark Ale DaysLast weekend saw the 10th ‘Dark Ale Days’ festival take place at the White Horse. 21 very different and wonderful dark ales were available (list below but swap Umbel Magna with Mauldon’s Micawbers). I think I sampled them all.<br /> For the first time all the beers sold out. It was about 4 o’clock on the Monday when the last drip went; I was a bit upset but happy at the same time!<br />The festival best seller was Dark Stars – Over the Moon. This beer smells like a fruit salad is a pint glass and tastes just as good. Sweet, slightly chewy with a citrus hop bite; lovely! The cask of Over the Moon was emptied just before Triple fff – Pressed Rat, Hesket Newmarket – Cockup Porter and Elgood – Black Dog. These are four great examples of how a beer can be low in ABV but still be full of flavour<br />It was a good weekend even when drafted in to operate the BBQ.<br />Now I need to get a list together for the summer beer fest. Any suggestions?tommy nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02617146708819976133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9200093152922956145.post-81413600023644467432007-04-26T20:02:00.000+00:002007-04-26T21:39:18.137+00:00Dark Beer Festival – Provisional Beer ListJust got the beer list for the Mayday weekend dark beer festival at my family’s pub.<br /><br />Batemans- Dark Mild 3%<br /><br />Bartrams- Mauld 3.5%<br /><br />Bartrams- McClearys Milk Stout 4.3%<br /><br />Bartrams- Comrade Bill Bartrams Egalitarian Anti Imperialist Soviet Stout 6.9%<br /><br />Bear Town- Polar Eclipse 4.8%<br /><br />Buffys- Mild 4.2%<br /><br />Dark Star- Over the Moon 3.8%<br /><br />Elgoods- Black Dog 3.6%<br /><br />Hesket Newmarket- Great Cockup Porter 3.0%<br /><br />Iceni- Men of Norfolk 6.2%<br /><br />Mauldons- Black Adder 5.3%<br /><br />Mighty Oak- Oscar Wilde 3.7%<br /><br />Milton- Nero 5.0%<br /><br />Nethergate- Old Growler 5.0%<br /><br />Nethergate- Umbel Magna 5.0%<br /><br />Pitfield- Shorditch Stout 4.0%<br /><br />Pitfield- 1850 London Porter 5.0%<br /><br />R.C.H- Old Slug Porter 4.5%<br /><br />Teignworthy- Marthas Mild 5.3%<br /><br />Titanic- Last Port’o Call 4.9%<br /><br />Triple FFF- Pressed Rat and Warthog 3.8%<br /><br />Not bad list, a bit higher in alcohol than in past years but still some lo ones. Looking forward to Over the Moon and Pressed Rat, two of my favourite Milds. I Have never had any of the bartrams beers. There are a few classics as well. Good List? What do you think?tommy nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02617146708819976133noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9200093152922956145.post-24556279890272562922007-04-24T13:32:00.000+00:002007-04-24T20:22:21.788+00:00The Black Boy, WinchesterAfter visiting such good pubs in Alton (The Railway Arms) and Selborne (The Selborne Arms) I thought the pubs of Hampshire couldn’t get much better. The misses and I decided to have a day out in Winchester. After a look round museums and the sights I looked in the GBG to find a suitable place to have lunch. The Black Boy sounded an interesting place from the description and it was not far from the town centre so we headed off. From the outside it looks rather bland and almost looked as if it was closed.<br />As soon as we walked though the door we could see that it was going to be a nice little pub, but nothing could prepare us for the rest of this amazing pub.<br />At the bar were a number of ales including Hop Back Summer Lightening. This was my first choice. I think my pint might have been from the bottom of the cask as it was not quite right. We also noticed that there was no food being served for some reason.<br />Under normal circumstances I might have been a bit annoyed but this pub had so much intrigue I soon forgot about my slightly iffy pint. The pub has been extended quite a bit but still looks good from the outside. The inside has been filled with an amazing variety of stuffed animals, plastic meat, old keys and a huge amount of other items. We sat down and just looked around in amazement. It is better than any museum and so packed with interesting things I have forgotten lots of them (wish I had my camera).<br />The back room was my favourite. Its décor is based on a country style kitchen complete with Aga. Everything makes it feel like a kitchen, apart that is from the stuffed donkey wearing a straw hat!<br />To find out more about this pub visit their site at <a href="http://www.theblackboypub.com/">http://www.theblackboypub.com/</a> or even better visit the pub its self.tommy nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02617146708819976133noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9200093152922956145.post-77199919223627375642007-04-19T14:36:00.000+00:002007-04-19T18:47:42.866+00:00The Selborne ArmsAfter a highly enjoyable night in the Railway Arms, Sunday<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4g9Mqg3ggLDvtyCu3zk6B4sL6BpSHYGS3TKbx5kDDV9Fg8iYfO2AxOQvP6aLak8ERloegaBFL3Zrmj81bY13nXO-TKtAwpsRNu4h-wCV55S4DZroR5WF2FzQjBEH6OjNzAdmWEftkMTdC/s1600-h/coat-arms[1].gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055149905525997074" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4g9Mqg3ggLDvtyCu3zk6B4sL6BpSHYGS3TKbx5kDDV9Fg8iYfO2AxOQvP6aLak8ERloegaBFL3Zrmj81bY13nXO-TKtAwpsRNu4h-wCV55S4DZroR5WF2FzQjBEH6OjNzAdmWEftkMTdC/s200/coat-arms%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /></a> morning soon came. So we (me and the misses) decided to go for a walk around the lovely countryside of Newton Valence and Selborne. Selborne Common was made famous by naturalist Gilbert White, who wrote the Natural History Of Selborne in 1789. Gilbert White as well as being one of the fist naturalists was also a vicar and part-time brewer. Tripple fff brew a beer based on his original recipe, but due to capacity and strength of the beer, is only brewed very occasionally. The beer is ‘6% ABV, smokey ale, golden in colour with a moderate hoppy bite’; sounds nice!<br />Luckily one of the two pubs in Selborne is a nice little boozer. This is the kind of pub that could be easily ponced up for the tourists. It hasn’t though, it has been extended but the interior has been largely unspoilt. There is a focus on food, but this equally hasn’t spoilt its character too <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinLSCIO4yr4iUSrZtw0L292VqLYc4NRXMhc-TzfMyUDvxAg4U2ZMoKDl7MJK9Fu4lZZtEF19mFFW34b5mbv4sy2dHmlbRwQ9LAgcAs0Rf-RMuST9Or-sivy_X0sbgZ19m-O80MHd4A4z7z/s1600-h/HOP2[1].gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055150343612661298" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinLSCIO4yr4iUSrZtw0L292VqLYc4NRXMhc-TzfMyUDvxAg4U2ZMoKDl7MJK9Fu4lZZtEF19mFFW34b5mbv4sy2dHmlbRwQ9LAgcAs0Rf-RMuST9Or-sivy_X0sbgZ19m-O80MHd4A4z7z/s200/HOP2%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /></a>much.<br />With six hand pumps I was impressed with the quantity, but what about the quality? There were no dark beers so that’s a minus. But the ‘Bitters’ available, were on the whole, good, the best being the Hogs Back Brewery’s Hop Garden Gold (4.6%). It is a beer so full of flavour, sweet beyond belief; almost syrupy, balanced with an enormous hop tang.<br /><div><div>We washed down the beer with a healthy sized ploughman’s and enjoyed the afternoon sun in the generous beer garden. A pleasant and relaxing day.</div></div>tommy nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02617146708819976133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9200093152922956145.post-11341473748263162332007-04-18T19:13:00.000+00:002007-04-19T18:43:18.548+00:00The Railway Arms, AltonI thought, while visiting my girlfriend and having a mini holiday in Hampshire, I would investigate some of the counties top pubs. Saturday night saw us visit the Railway Arms in Alton. I was looking forward to this one because it is owned by the Triple fff brewery, who make some great beers. The pub is cosy and was quite busy with customers of all ages. It is one of those places that instantly makes you feel at home. Plenty of brick-a-brack and hops hanging around the bar. Beers <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUu3HhO0QYKeDjtkfgmV_Yl27u-dwSxanRTthdfNK7VvaOu1uWunq3f6mwHn7wDcXK5WwK6Tld_fqibimcYmU_QFog_zEyZm0ynQStzi_iknyB_yCAX7a7xiQwInbAs5Z_fjc4dMwJ-aCj/s1600-h/triplefff[1].jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054852329902551138" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUu3HhO0QYKeDjtkfgmV_Yl27u-dwSxanRTthdfNK7VvaOu1uWunq3f6mwHn7wDcXK5WwK6Tld_fqibimcYmU_QFog_zEyZm0ynQStzi_iknyB_yCAX7a7xiQwInbAs5Z_fjc4dMwJ-aCj/s200/triplefff%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a>available were Alton Pride, Moondance, Stairway and Pressed Rat and Warthog. The latter being my favourite. Being a fan of Mild I will always try it if it is being served, Pressed Rat is one of the best. Full of maltyness offset with sweetness with a slight hop aroma, it is certainly a proper mild. This is the kind of beer that non-real ale drinkers should be weaned on. I think some Milds are more drinkable than ‘golden ales’ that aim to replicate the appearance of lager and attract younger drinkers.<br />I tried the other beers available and all were highly enjoyable. Camra prize winner Moondance is full of flavour and bursting with hops, in both aroma and bitterness. It is really drinkable and has a great citrus bite.<br />Later on in the evening I spoke to Mike, (Triple fff's bottling man) he’d had a few. He told me how they have just upgraded to a 14 barrel plant and their is not much bottling to be done at the mo. He was waiting for the real ale train to arrive. The Real Ale Train is a steam train that travels down the Watercress Line from Alton to Alresford and serves beer from across the south of England.<br />As the train arrived back in Alton a few local trianspotters (including Mike) rushed outside. This was followed by a massive serge of people heading towards the pub. The busy but not noisy Railway Arms soon became very crowded. It was a great atmosphere and everybody enjoyed the superb beer.tommy nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02617146708819976133noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9200093152922956145.post-5879806130823096072007-04-07T06:49:00.000+00:002007-04-07T07:01:22.216+00:00Back SoonIt’s been a busy week and the next is going to be just as packed. I have just returned from Hampshire visiting my girlfriend Becky. We frequented 3 great pubs during the week. Reviews of these will be posted as soon as I get back from my next trip, to the Lake District. My dad and I are walking the Cumbria Way over the next week. I’m sure our thirsts will be quenched with some quality brews and a trip around the Hesket Newmarket should be a good insight to an award-winning brewery. Check back on the 16th.tommy nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02617146708819976133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9200093152922956145.post-19246468354241998992007-03-30T19:59:00.000+00:002007-03-31T07:29:11.841+00:00Greene King – Real Ale Royalty or Reign of TerrorBorn in Bury-St-Edmunds (or BSE if you must), one might expect me to be proud of Greene King's historic brewery which dominates the town. With its small winding streets, abbey gardens punctuated with ruins and a recently renovated cathedral, Bury-St-Edmunds is a some what picturesque place to visit. People of Suffolk are understandably proud of this interesting town but should they be equally proud of its famous brewery?<br /><br />Greene King has recently been heavily criticized for its takeover and subsequent closure of Hardys and Hansons brewery in Nottingham and its removal of Harveys Bitter from the Lewes Arms after its takeover of the East Sussex brewer. The local residence in Lewes has boycotted the pub in protest and I sympathise with them completely. It seems to go against all common sense to sell a beer brewed hundreds of miles away when a far more superior product, in my opinion, can be sourced just down the road (literally).<br /><br />Greene King beers are brewed for people who enjoy ale but not for real beer enthusiasts. Of GKs main brands I find GK IPA bland and very uninspiring, Abbot is an OK to good premium bitter and Speckled Hen is not the same since its ABV lowering. Some of their other beers are better: XX Mild is highly enjoyable and Suffolk Strong is a wonderful example of its style. But they do not brew these or any of its quality purchased brews on a large scale. I don’t believe interesting beers are GKs mandate. Porters, Stouts, Milds and Old Ales are not what GK are about. GK IPA is the flagship beer and it is ok for regular ale drinkers, but not for me.<br /><br />As a Suffolk boy I am proud of the county’s many micros breweries and the regional brewery, Adnams. Choice can be found, even in GKs homeland. Real Ale focused free houses in Suffolk have local breweries suc<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvilrfsV19I1X3fFXCdVeqghtbtR6W7Vr0h-fp42l9OSLuaxw1elLxuhsDCkBAg9G7KJlcxgk3v4or-g4DPq8oNWEbBt6HaPPSSsFHjPeYLtGZxMmDlYy_Hg-ZZY1BhbLHFjCkJxt-fgkp/s1600-h/100_0332.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047811992313910066" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvilrfsV19I1X3fFXCdVeqghtbtR6W7Vr0h-fp42l9OSLuaxw1elLxuhsDCkBAg9G7KJlcxgk3v4or-g4DPq8oNWEbBt6HaPPSSsFHjPeYLtGZxMmDlYy_Hg-ZZY1BhbLHFjCkJxt-fgkp/s200/100_0332.jpg" border="0" /></a>h as Green Jack, Victoria, St Peters, Batrams and Cox & Holbrook to choose from. Just over the border in Essex; Nethergates and Pitfield breweries can be found and Norfolk is overflowing with micros. Add Crouch Vale, Woodfordes and Elgoods to that list and choice seems impressive.<br /><br />Even down the White Horse the best selling beer is GK IPA. I don’t know why when Adnams Bitter and a Mild are always available. I guess people stick with what they know and what is advertised to them (hence the popularity of bland keg lager).<br /><br />GK sell Real Ale in a rather bland form. If enough people demand a choice of challenging and varying styles of beer then micro/craft brewing revolution will stay alive. Choice is there, but it might not be at your local if your local is a GK pub, this is the shame. I say search out a quality brew in a quality establishment, it’s worth the effort. Even in BSE Old Cannon Streets brewpub makes class beer an option. GK is not that big!tommy nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02617146708819976133noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9200093152922956145.post-30102485167323799432007-03-28T18:36:00.000+00:002007-03-28T19:55:50.001+00:00Short Introduction<div><br /><div>Welcome to Tom’s Beer Blog! I love beer. Luckily for me my father owns a pub (The White Horse, Edwardstone, Suffolk). There are also plans for a micro brewery to be built next to the pub. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN4sFXvBSmDNhRLfCN1HjXUA97Oa3uis5kNXd8yHivxqrWOq8ygtNEm9GLaOCet-onYxoA6AFCQ3j6LpX1HVIsNPlfJOWpCUG8hqtATGzcOzOyNn74uoxziFvj-2ystQs9EzUphew8SkJC/s1600-h/1391309760_l[1].jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047066038098973474" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 177px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 128px" height="134" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN4sFXvBSmDNhRLfCN1HjXUA97Oa3uis5kNXd8yHivxqrWOq8ygtNEm9GLaOCet-onYxoA6AFCQ3j6LpX1HVIsNPlfJOWpCUG8hqtATGzcOzOyNn74uoxziFvj-2ystQs9EzUphew8SkJC/s200/1391309760_l%5B1%5D.jpg" width="186" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I already make Cider (Castling Heath Cottage Organic) with my family on a small scale (500 gallons a year) and now wish to become knowledgeable in the process of brewing beer, as to help in the brewery. This is going to be difficult enough, but the plan is also to make it a Carbon neutral brewery and to make it as environmentally streamlined as possible. The pub became the first in the UK <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjElaxbuSMx8PKSiNI-DOPBUFxsjaIHcnplpjNtwx0jFhrTqIbVQfe3EdKAWAaBwwz92R2P8wjMy4JiVge54wiKDkL2szSpGEMCxrTMmT5PLG4Ui4yZTKmHcjJ3nfwzjHOe56TR-rwaalF8/s1600-h/100_0428.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047058023689999090" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 196px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 114px" height="179" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjElaxbuSMx8PKSiNI-DOPBUFxsjaIHcnplpjNtwx0jFhrTqIbVQfe3EdKAWAaBwwz92R2P8wjMy4JiVge54wiKDkL2szSpGEMCxrTMmT5PLG4Ui4yZTKmHcjJ3nfwzjHOe56TR-rwaalF8/s320/100_0428.jpg" width="262" border="0" /></a>with its own wind turbine when it was officially switched on by Tim Yeo MP a few weeks ago.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDoiCrzcUsm7k5h6TZJ6zAcTpAPvoVoN18q8S6jAN5YQP9FSjkiNvBVASCl2938rUVQF8TYzBBxy_dnogk6ilSYLpM3rWHx4MGI0kT7-URNv5g4HH64gE-sfMzQH_wO-QZuCexzsUq-0RK/s1600-h/100_0219.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047060072389399314" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" height="188" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDoiCrzcUsm7k5h6TZJ6zAcTpAPvoVoN18q8S6jAN5YQP9FSjkiNvBVASCl2938rUVQF8TYzBBxy_dnogk6ilSYLpM3rWHx4MGI0kT7-URNv5g4HH64gE-sfMzQH_wO-QZuCexzsUq-0RK/s200/100_0219.jpg" width="135" border="0" /></a><br />This blog will chart my journey from beer lover too competent brewer (hopefully). It will also contain articles about pubs and festivals I have visited as well as beer and cider reviews.<br /><br />I hope my blog will be of interest to any one who is interested in Real Ale, brewing, pubs or environmental issues.</div></div>tommy nhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02617146708819976133noreply@blogger.com0