Still drinking

Just need time to catch my breath and write something about all the wonderful new beer venues and breweries that are currently making the beer scene in the UK so exciting. The Craft Beer Co., Kernel, Magic Rock and the rumoured Cambridge Tap all deserve attention. Expect some bloggage soon.

Tapping the sauce

A flying visit to the newly opened Euston Tap on the way through London on Friday. Their Facebook page describes the bar as: ‘An intimate drinking and eating room set within the Grade II listed West Lodge fronting Euston Station.’ Intimate it certainly is. Entering through the double door you walk into a small (and I mean small) space, dominated by a ‘U’-shaped bar, flanked by two big beer fridges with a range of delights from U.S., German and Belgium breweries. The thirty-odd (I didn’t quite get around to counting) draft (sic) beers listed on blackboards above the bar are served U.S.-style from taps set in the rear wall of the bar area (similar to the arrangement at Beer Temple in Amsterdam). The mouth-watering delights of the likes of Thornbridge Bracia, Bernard Světlý Ležák 12° Unfiltered, Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron and Left Hand Imperial Stout await your pleasure. Shelves to rest your beer upon run along the left and right walls, together with a number of swivel-style bar stools. I sampled the Bernard Černé Pivo 13° and Světlý Ležák 12° Unfiltered and the Anchor Humming Ale, all of which were in fine condition. Prices, given the range of beers and the location of the bar, were reasonable. For example, a pint of the Left Hand Imperial Stout was £7. Other beers are cheaper. I didn’t check at the time, but it might be worth investigating if they serve thirds (all beers were priced as pints, with the exception of a handful of stronger brews). As for food, it seemed there were bar snacks only. After all, where would they put the kitchen?

In the corner, a spiral staircase ascends precipitously to a similarly-sized seating area on the top floor with low tables, chairs and sofas, and where you can also find the one (yes, one) toilet (not tested). Outside, fenced in by railings, is a small outdoor drinking area with a canopy and patio heaters. Standing on the pavement (expect to have to do a lot of that at busy times), I spotted one of the bar staff emerge into the garden, throw back a big concrete slab set into the ground and descend by ladder into the fluorescent-lit cellar—changing barrels is obviously going to be a bit of a pain in winter. Unsurprisingly, given that it was the opening night, the place was rammed, with drinkers spilling out onto the pavement by Euston Road. Despite the crowds, service was brisk and efficient and the bar staff seemed friendly. The clientele were mainly young, with a good mix of men and women— chin-stroking bohemian beer lovers, rather than ‘beards and bellies’ CAMRA stereotypes.

So, all-in-all, a classy little joint. The team at the Euston Tap have built upon the success of the wonderful Sheffield Tap and look set to take things to an entirely new level. This is the kind of bar that, on a recent trip to Amsterdam for the de Molen Borefts beerfest, I came to the conclusion that London desperately needed. Well, now it’s got it. Ladies and gentlemen, prepare to scoop.

Spot the odd one out

New beers sampled over three days at this year’s Great British Beer Festival:

*de Molen (Netherlands) – Fris & Frutig Morellen Lambiek
*Franklins (USA) – Sir-Hop-a-Lot
*Berkshire (USA) – Imperial Stout
*Descheutes (USA) – Bachelor ESB
*Lost Abbey (USA) – Older Viscosity 2009
*Ballast Point (USA) – Big Eye IPA
*Revelation Cat (Italy) – Single Dry Hop Lambic Pacific Gem
*Stillwater Artisanal Ales (USA) – Stateside Saison
*Captain Lawrence (USA) – Smoked Porter
*Starr Hill (USA) – Northern Lights
*Smuttynose (USA) – Robust Porter
*Revelation Cat (Italy) – West Coast IPA
*Southern Tier (USA) – Pale Ale
*Pioneer (USA) – Extra Foreign Stout
*Golden City (USA) – Evolution IPA
*Salem Beer Works (USA) – Beer Works Barrel-aged Habanero Black IPA
*Stone (USA) – This Beer Tastes Better On Tap
*Willamantic (USA) – Downtown Willi India Dark Ale
*Emelisse (Netherlands) – Russian Imperial Stout Bowmore Barrel
*White Dog (Italy) – Best Bitter
*Cambridge Brewing Company (USA) – Spring Training IPA
*Lost Abbey (USA) – Mongo
*Lowell Beer Works (USA) – West Coast Pale
*Bill’s Tavern & Brewhouse (USA) – 2×4 (Two-by-four) Stout
*Salem Beer Works (USA) – Beer Works Patriot Pilsner
*Gardner Ale House (USA) – Chair City Pale Ale
*Wormtown (USA) – F.U.I.P.A.
*White Dog (Italy) – Tall Dark Stranger
*Berkshire (USA) – Lost Sailor IPA
Saltaire – Triple Chocoholic
*Lagunitas (USA) – Maximus
*Bernard (Czech Republic) – Světlý Ležák 12° Unfiltered
*Mikkeller (Denmark) – Centennial Single Hop IPA
*Amnesia (USA) – Desolation IPA
*Gritty McDuff’s (USA) – 21 IPA
*Svevo (Italy) – Germana

Breaking the silence

A lot of beer has flowed under the bridge since I last posted, but it’s all about to kick off again. The season ticket has been bought, travel plans have been laid, the scooping list compiled. Yes, it’s time once again for the Great British Beer Festival. Who knows? I might even have some British beers this year, but I think the U.S. beer selection is more than enough to keep me occupied for the duration. See you on the other side. It’s going to be an epic…

Taken to CASK

Curious to check out a pub that’s been the subject of a lot of attention in the beer blogosphere in recent months, my friend N. and I  headed to Pimlico to have lunch at The CASK Pub & Kitchen in Pimlico. Situated rather incongruously at the foot of an unlovely 70s block of flats just off Vauxhall Bridge Road, the exterior of the Cask doesn’t offer much of a clue to what lies within. Even the interior, all stripped floorboards and plain painted walls, is anonymous, but functional, with an unfortunate tendency to amplify background noise which might prove a problem in the evenings.

However, as soon as you set eyes on the bar, the attraction of the CASK becomes clear. For one thing, the eight pumps, including three pumps dedicated to Thornbridge beers. When we visited these were Lord Marples, Brock and the utterly sublime Raven, plus five other real ales (Nethergate Barfly, Dark Star Hophead and Sussex Extra Stout, Earl Soham Brandeston Gold and another whose name escapes me). If that wasn’t enough, there’s Rothaus Pil and Hefeweizen and Andechser Spezial Hell, plus Brugse Zot Bruin and Blond and Mort Subite, on keg. There’s a good selection of German and Belgian bottles as well. The staff seemed very friendly and well-informed and the beers were all in tip-top condition. We tried a couple of dishes from the lunchtime menu. My aubergine, sun-dried tomato and mozzarella panini was fine and N.’s burger was obviously home-made with good quality meat. Both dishes came with very generous portions of french fries. I understand that there have been some complaints about the prices, but the cost seemed perfectly acceptable for central London.

There seems to be some rather regrettable commenting and kvetching going on at Beer in the Evening over the ratings for the CASK. Ignore the idiot trolls. No, this isn’t the best pub in the country, but it is very, very good and well-worth your time and money. Handy for both Victoria station and Tate Britain too. I’ll certainly be returning when I visit the Henry Moore exhibition at the Tate.

In the sky. With diamonds

As further proof of J.B.S. Haldane‘s dictum that ‘the Universe in not only queerer than we imagine, is queerer than we can imagine’, consider the possibility of diamond icebergs, sailing seas of liquid diamond on Uranus and Neptune.

Folie à deux

I was chatting to friends on Christmas Eve and mentioned that, after the long waking nightmare of the Bush regime, I was contemplating visiting the United States again. Then the Christmas Underwear Bomber (© Bruce Schneier) struck and it now looks as though flying and braving the goons of TSA and U.S. border control is going to become even more horrendously unpleasant than before. The two sides in the ill-starred ‘War on Terror’ lurching with each other in a ghastly waltz of mutual insanity.

Schneier notes: ‘I’ve started to call the bizarre new TSA rules “magical thinking”: if we somehow protect against the specific tactic of the previous terrorist, we make ourselves safe from the next terrorist.’

Just as well that Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab wasn’t carrying a Bum Bomb. If you think that clearing security at the airport is bad now…

Beer and camaraderie

Sometimes words fail you. Sometimes the connections you make through your love of beer yield something greater. Christmas Eve at the Bull in Horton Kirby was an almost perfect festive aperitif.  Since then life (and death) have intervened, but drinking and talking with Garrett and Lynne and the regulars this afternoon somehow made everything that little bit more bearable. Thanks to you all.

Coincidence or conspiracy?

The Grauniad‘s jobs pages are hacked a matter of days after they publish this hypothetical moral dilemma about whether it would be morally right to deface the website of a political party whose views you despised.

MoK the week

A sad and lonely trip out to the Medway towns, minus the company of my comrade in beer, A., in search of hot new hostelry action in the form of the Man of Kent Ale House in Rochester. Fortunately didn’t venture as far as Chatham, which has to be one of the vilest, most soul-destroying, places that I’ve ever had the misfortune to have visited. Rochester is, happily, more picturesque, although blighted by a pedestrian unfriendly road layout that makes a journey on foot from the railway station to the touristy High Street an exercise in taking your life in your hands.

Having survived, I stopped off at Baggins Book Bazaar, alledgedly the largest second-hand bookshop in England, and spent time browsing its vast, Escheresque interior before escaping with a mere two purchases, then wandered the heart of the town, taking a few photos of the castle, cathedral and environs, before heading off in search of beer.

The Man of Kent, although situated in an unlovely part of town that’s more building site than tourist attraction, is a cracker of a pub. A very attractive old tiled exterior and a reassuringly spit-and-sawdust interior with a mixture of sofas and trad pub seating. I was served by the young, friendly landlord, complete with ponytail and piercings, and was momentarily taken aback by being offered a choice of mug or straight for my beers (not a regular occurrence these days). An impressive six real ales were on when I arrived, and another couple were added during my visit:

Goacher’s – Gold Star
Goacher’s – Man O’ Fest
Hopdaemon – Golden Braid
Whitstable – Winkle Picker
Millis – Kentish Gold
Nelson – Nelson’s Blood
Ramsgate – Gadds No. 5
Ramsgate – Gadds Seasider

I tried the Gold Star, Winkle Picker, Kentish Gold and No. 5. Pick of the bunch was the Kentish Gold: ‘Mid-gold with thin white head. Slight orange and spice on nose. Instant ginger-ish spice rush on tongue with grassy hop and orange barley hints. Fading, slightly bitter orange, dry finish. Good, creamy/spritzy mouthfeel. Unusual and quite nice.’

There are also three Germans on keg: Paulaner Hefeweissbier, Küppers Kölsch and one other that I didn’t manage to note down, plus German and Belgian bottles in the ‘fridge (including the delightful Schneider Aventinus). Although I shuddered at the sight of Fruli on keg, other offerings like Meantime Octoberfest and Union and Brugse Zot more than made up for that aberration.

In short, definitely worth a return visit. All their beers are, in case you hadn’t guessed, from Kentish breweries (or breweries from Kent?), but a good selection and very well-kept. No food, other than crisps and beef jerky, so have lunch/dinner before you arrive. All in all, a good alternative if you fancy a palate-refeshing break from the real ale utopia of the Bull in Horton Kirby (crazy as that may sound).