Nov 19 2021
A Short Cut to Beer – Apologies to JRR Tolkien….
Sometimes, it’s nice not to organise something. To ride on someone’s coat tails. Just follow.
So, on Saturday, it was rather lovely for TLO and I to ride in the slipstream of Les (who isn’t called Les), Jock (who isn’t called Jock) and Steve (who, disappointingly for poetic continuity, is actually called Steve) 😁
The trip was going to take in my favourite brewery tap, everyone’s favourite beer man and one of my favourite pubs in the UK. And 4 hours of train. To Wokingham.
Where? I hear you ask! The closest town to Finchampstead. And…

Ahhhh…… Elusive. And “The Nicest Man in Beer ™” Mr Andrew Parker.
Now then, I’ve shovelled grain on a few occasions at this exceptional (and – topically – AWARD WINNING) brewery. But had never had a beer in the tap room. The joys of the Pandemic eh?
We made up for it.

You might as well not talk about the beer we drank. Other than Oregon Trail – natch.
Lots of breweries get reams of text spaffed on them in Fan Homage. Well, if you don’t think that Andy’s brewery isn’t up there, you don’t know beer. I’ll die on that hill. I’ve been ranting to anyone within Twitter reach about Oregon Trail. Simply the most delicious and drinkable West Coast IPA. And when people drink it, they get it.
And the same can be said for all of the Elusive beers I’ve had over the years. Other than T*t* Lyric quotes. That was a low point. (And he thought I wouldn’t notice….) Bless The Rains indeed……

Did I mention the complete power outage across the district? No?

Simply put, just magnificent beer. Even better service. Ruth is an absolute ⭐. The whole set up is small, but oh so perfectly formed. And they coped with that power outage amazingly well! You really ought to get here. We stayed till closing. And when Ruth and team were closing up, we nipped 50 yards across the road.
To Siren Tap.
Yes. You read right. Almost a triple jump away….

Again, superb beer. This taproom is a bit like a micropub built as an extension on to the old brewery. More delicious beer was drunk. Don’t ask for details, I was beyond recording & recall. But it’s a lovely spot, with plentiful greenery for the kids to have a play while you enjoy delicious brewery fresh beer.

Loads of space for seating indoors – should the elements conspire. We were lucky, twas a lovely day.
There may have been a couple of ill advised pints back in Wokingham. The Crispin – for one – was a lovely pub with a fine pint of cask and a lovely beer garden arrangement mere seconds from the hotel….

The next day, not quite bushy of tail, we headed into Reading for another double header that I was really looking forward to…

Now then. I’ve been to a few brewery taps. But this place grabbed me from the off the first time I went to Reading. One that will linger long in my memory if not Malcolm’s…. 🤣. To put it bluntly, Double Barreled is my favourite Brewtap. A quite magnificent space that was planned alongside the brewery build.

12 lines of direct draw. Cans in the “fridge, chilled direct from the cold store. All the details thought of, considered and done….

I’m a confirmed fan of DB beers. The Parka Pale was juicy and soft, full of flavour. The Ding Pilsner was crisp, light and refreshing. Both came with their own logoed glasses…..


I even enjoyed a Sorachi Pale (words that predictive text will NEVER connect on my sentences) and thought I would write that before one of the fellowship tried to “beer shame” me. A rare occurrence. Still believe that Sorachi belongs in Stouts though…. 😁
Luci & Mike have expanded operations considerably since my last visit and can be justifiably proud of what they have achieved.
I love this place. Grabbed some cans to reminisce with. Including the Punnet fruit sour which some of my co-travellers cooed over….

It’s not often that I spend five hours in a Brewtap, but was lovely seeing the Divine Mr Parker (even without “Supergran”) and ace talking with Luci & Mike. This is a brilliant space, just outside Reading centre.
Just go. And afterwards, follow our tracks…. To….

Nov 19 2021
Putting History in the Shadow of “Progress”
The Britons Protection. Those who know it, get it. For those who don’t, it is – as a pub – one of the most beautiful I’ve ever entered.
It’s that special.
I’ve been going in there, periodically, for over 35 years now. It’s a thing of absolute beauty.
One of the oldest pubs in the city center, it bore witness to The notorious Peterloo Massacre of 1819 and is said to have been “used as a refuge by folk escaping the attentions of recruiters for the Napoleonic War” hence the name.
“…. has stood proudly I on the corner of Gt Bridgewater Street and Lower Mosley Street since 1806….”
But, if developers get their another edifice of concrete and glass may be on its way, stealing the light.
If planning is approved for this…. Please click and read.
Quote “…. We have been working with our leading Manchester-based team to design a scheme which will complement the neighbouring buildings – including the much-loved Briton’s Protection ……” I nearly choked on my beer! And the next absolute zinger?
“… Throughout the design process we’ve been focussed on designing an ambitious yet complementary scheme…..” Now I don’t know about you, but “complementary”? DOES THAT LOOK COMPLEMENTARY??? IT’S A PUB SANDWICH!!!
Not only is it YET another “monstrous carbuncle” (©Charles Windsor) on the face of this beautiful and historic city (and mere yards from The Hacienda of my distant youth) it’s a desecration of this historic area.
Every time I come into the city, it seems that there is something new blocking out someone’s sunlight, as the city increasingly sells off and loses its history. I’m truly not against progress. I’m not a against the city growing, prospering.
But not at any price. Not when the truly beautiful architecture and history of this city is dwarfed like so many Liliputian huts, surrounded by titanic expanses of glass and concrete.
I have absolutely no personal concept as to how they shoehorn THAT thing onto that corner and leave the pub on place. I just can’t see it. But what I can currently see is this….
This truly is one of Manchester’s most beautiful pubs. I can’t write much more, I’m trying to calm down from #VISBF2 and didn’t expect to get so pissed off. Please, please, PLEASE check out the consultation, object, push this idea back to the little corner of capital and concrete Hell from which it must have emanated.
This isn’t about improving or enhancing Manchester. It’s about naked greed. Greed that could lead to the wiping out of another piece of true Mancunian beauty, history and culture.
We can’t let that happen.
Back soon. Honest. Jx
Be kind to one another.
By BeersManchester • Uncategorized • 0