July 2016

OK. This weekend has been a bit of a disaster. I think that the breakdown of my cell phone is what is described as one of those “First World Problems”, but whatever it is, for a moment of two, it felt like my right arm had been ripped off. 

Sad old git. 

Missing Hawkshead Northern Craft fest was a kick in the nuts, but the weekend started in a fabulous fashion. Thanks to Birmingham Beer Bash. 

(photo courtesy Jeff) 

The outrageously early start was compounded by a Keystone Cop style Plan B. You see, I missed my really early bus to Manchester, so a drive to Salford, park outside Gerry’s house then a cab to Shudehill was in order. In short, a right faff. 

But after a hot walk across Birmingham from New Street was rewarded. 

Hugely rewarded indeed. 

This was my first time. And, like most people know, for good or ill, you remember the first. 

 #EvilKegFilth only. And on a day like Friday, that was absolutely fine by me! 

(photo courtesy Jeff) 
This being the third iteration, David and the team seemed….. strangely relaxed. Which was a joy to see. As was the beer selection. 

There seemed to be a regionally organised layout (Southern breweries together, Midlands, North, non-UK) of the bars, with only Brew Dog having their own. 

The thing that struck me – other than the excellent beer quality – was just how totally relaxed that it all was. From the brewers behind the bars alongside volunteers, to the organisers, through to the customers. It was just so….. utterly blissed out. A joy. 

All of the beers I had were spot on flavour wise. Highlights being “I’m Spartacus” by Torrside, “Call of Korriban” by Twisted Barrel,  “Sloe Loris” by Sacre Brew,  a Black IPA by Elusive Brewing & an experimental Pale Ale from Purity called XPA (which was a hurried choice of name and is likely to be changed) 

If pushed, the “Call of Korriban” probably shaded it, a delicious BIPA, on the roasty side of the genre but still hugely hoppy. 

(photos courtesy Les) 

This was just a special day. One that it takes a lot of ingredients to create. Yes, the beer. But the people who serve it, brew it and passionately advocate it. The organisers, the customers, the simply stunning venue on that canalside location. And, most of all, the friends you meet and make there. 

I’m not going to name them. You know who you are/were. 

(photo courtesy Jeff) 
Did I mention that the sun has put his hat on? 

I’m hoping that it was the success that it deserves to be. Despite the fact that it was (cans/bottles aside) an #EvilKegFilth fest, it’s probably the best beer celebration I’ve been too (Festival doesn’t seem to do it justice). 

Congratulations to David, Chris and everybody else that worked their assets off to make this happen. 

Made that 19 hour day more than worth it. In the words of Arnold….. 

For a little (and all too brief)  cask fix, we grabbed a cab across town to The Craven Arms. 

To walk in and be confronted by beers from Revolutions, Weird Beard, Siren and “coming soon” clips from North Riding, I was in my element. 

I’ve got no photos, owing to my phone going belly up. But take my word for it, it’s worth the journey. If I could do that £4.50 return on Megabus again, I’d do it just for the pub! 

I could go on about the delayed bus home, but I *had to stop* at The Brink. I was thirsty after the long trek home. Squawk Pale Ale was stunning. Then the phone melted down. 

Bollocks. 

This was inspired by a piece by Mark Johnson. A young man more eloquent than I – with an exceptional line in entertaining  tourettic outbursts. Read that here.

Every week it would seem that there is a question / survey on Facebook or Twitter about the “etiquette” around beer blogging. And I have to confess, it’s a subject that puzzles me hugely.

Whilst hardly a “veteran” in this sphere – certainly compared with the likes of Boak & Bailey / Tandleman / Melissa Cole et al – I’ve been doing this long enough to have an opinion. However, I wasn’t always so confident.

When I started back in 2012, my MO was really simple. To highlight the good stuff. I got fed up with hearing about some of the crap people were complaining about drinking. My thing was to say “Here’s the good stuff”. I avoided outright and public negativity. But, worried that I was being a touch cowardly, I needed validation.

That came when I read a piece by Boak & Bailey. In that piece, they said something along the lines of that they didn’t openly negatively criticise a new brewery’s beers. They had a quiet word if there was an issue. To do other could do damage to a new business. (I may have got that slightly wrong with memory, but it was there or thereabouts.)

I felt – as I said – vindicated. I wasn’t a coward after all.

For me, there are too many keyboard warriors whacking utter shite onto apps like Untappd. An app I don’t use. I think I may have commented previously about having the same beer, in the same location, at the same time as another drinker who said that it was “shit” on Untappd. That drinker was wrong. It was sharp and delicious. The comment was lazy.  (A bit “off piste” – sorry.)

Back to the subject matter at hand!

One evening, the subject of “disclosure” came up. If you got the beer for free, do you disclose this? To which, my answer was YES. Always. If anybody is going to respect your opinions, honesty and openness is essential. I mean, initially, some of my disclosure was (possibly) subliminal. But now, the statement is upfront. “I got this from the brewer direct” or “I was given this by the brewer to try”

There. That isn’t too difficult now. Is it?

My attitude is simple. If I enjoy it enough – if it moves me enough to open up Evernote – I’ll review it. If I actively dislike a beer, for whatever reason, I speak to the brewer directly. Sometimes they don’t agree, but that opinion is honestly given. And, mostly accepted as such.

Simples.

Around the same time, I stumbled across a conversation in one of the many beery Facebook groups of which I’m a member. This one was a bit…. different. This was about the etiquette of asking breweries for beer. 

Eh? Come again? People actually DO this?

And when I saw one of the comments along the lines of “Well. If they don’t, they’re missing out on X number of views……”

PLEASE.

(“Disclosure ” – I do blag. But only for ISBF. And that’s to raise money for a good cause, so my conscience is salved!)

Don’t get me wrong here. I do get sent beer now and again. And the “rules” are the same if it’s a new Pico or a major Micro. If I like it, I’ll review it. If not, I’ll tell you personally. And that seems to work fine.

Like many bloggers that I know, pay for the VAST  majority of the beer I consume, this hobby can be damned expensive! But I like it this way.

I also get invited to Trade Sessions and the like. And I go – to some. Because, most of the time, I just can’t be arsed with the (mostly) expected trade off. And that includes some of the biggies.

No conflict of interest. No issues of conscience. No bullshit.

This shit is really simple. Innit?

I don’t get invited to much. I don’t exactly actively seek such things. I’ve turned one or two down for “integrity” reasons (I can’t lie – even a little) and I tend to avoid such things.

However, those that I have been invited to recently seem to have a common thread. That thread is John Clarke. A prince among beer men – and this time John, I’m not taking the piss.

John, you see, knows his onions. Fortunately, he also knows a thing or two about beer too. This was why he was asked to do a bit of a presentation by Marble Brewery, the occasion being the launch of 3 new strong beers.

To get an invite from Marble to attend this was a bit of a nice surprise. For me, Marble beers have reached such a consistently high level which has recently hit a peak with beers like Damage Plan & Your Betrayal. To accept was a no brainer.

Before John started, we were each presented with a sample of one of the Old Ales.

Now then. Most got the Verezzi (Oloroso Barrel aged), whereas, by complete fluke, I got the Valancourt. So whilst I could hear others moaning with pleasure whilst they tasted, I waited for a side by side comparison.

And MY was it worth the wait!

I went first for the Fino (Valancourt), then the Verezzi, then back to the Valancourt. Both were rich and deeply fruity, the Verezzi felt quite vinous, sustaining and warming. Arguably the richer and deeper of the two and just so bloody gorgeous.

My preference was for the Valancourt (Fino). This had the deep rich fruitiness, but felt lighter. In with that fruitiness was a slightly (almost) saline tang which (for me) lifted it slightly above the Verezzi. Both stunning. I’ll be buying some shortly!

John gave us a talk about the history of Old Ales and reminded us what a rare style it is making reference to one of the few true Old Ales remaining – Greene King XXXXX a double figure abv beer matured for 2 years – prior to blending with fresher beers to create their Suffolk Strong.

Old Ales gained their tart character due to the (frequently unintentional) introduction of Brettanomyces which attenuated the beer to a greater degree than then standard house yeasts. They were darker beers but at a much higher strength than the Milds that they were sometimes historically blended with.

The presentation was instructive and interesting – even with the distraction of such delicious beers – as I said, John knows his stuff. That said, he wears his knowledge lightly. I have a lot of respect for John (but don’t tell HIM).

And, thanks to John, I now know that the Russian Imperial Stout brewed by Wells & Youngs, was – in its original incarnation, brewed by Barclay Perkins!

Then came the Portent of Usher – the Imperial Russian Stout.

Big. Bitter chocolate and vine fruits. Just the start I want from an Impy. Mouth coating and unctuous, there was again a lightness of touch with this, a little something different. A slight tartness and – what seemed to me like – a touch of dandelion and burdock. This is another of those beers that I could drink all night, slowly, with good friends near a roaring fire.

In a place like the Marble Arch in fact…..

If I read aright, the bottles of these beers are available in Marble bars and pubs about now. And in select outlets next week.

And you need them.