Craft pub in Islington

Tuesday 20th November

The latest pub in the Craft Beer Co chain on White Lion Street in Islington.

A proper pub in my opinion. Very good refurbishment with lots of seats. Plus the usual mix of eclectic beers on handpump and tap. Once again I feel photos describe the pub much better than my words can.

The new mirror behind the bar sums things up very well

 

The Cock Tavern in Hackney

Tuesday 13th November

My first visit to this recent addition to the London brewing scene. The home of the Howling Hops brewery,

Located on Mare Street, just around the corner from Hackney Central station or a 5 minute walk from Hackney Downs station.

On my visit there were 4 Howling Hop beers with 4 guest ales from other London brewerys on handpump.

A spacious one bar pub with the brewery located in cellar beneath.

The 4 Howling Hop beers were all sampled and all were very good. My friend MTMM scored and rated the Light English 15/20 and the other 3 at 16/20, very good scores.

• Mild
• Light English
• Ruby
• Victorian Stout

Pictures of the inside of the pub are below:

I also had a quick brewery visit whilst there:

Lots of hops ready to be added

Nottingham BF 2012

Worked at Nottingham Beer Festival as a Bar Manager 10th - 13th October.

On the tuesday afternoon and evening and wednesday lunchtime I visited some pubs in Nottingham.

Some photos below:

Roundhouse

Organ Grinder, lots of lovely Blue Monkey beers

Malt Cross

Its an old music hall

And so to the Beer Festival.
 

The only photo i took this year - see last years blog entry for more about this festival

The festival was open to the public for 41 hours and I managed to drink 111 different beers (all in thirds mind), and they are listed below.

BLUE MONKEY ~ MAGIC 4.5%
BLUE MONKEY ~ CENTENNIAL 4.9%
ALCHEMIST ~ YLEM 4.5%
ANARCHY ~ BLONDE STAR 4.1%
AXHOLME ~ BEST BEETER 4.0%
AXHOLME ~ BEST BITTER 3.8%
BARKSTON ~ 3B 4.0%
BARLEY BOTTOM ~ CLOGG DANCER 4.0%
BARLEY BOTTOM ~ COBBYDALE BITTER 3.8%
BIG RIVER ~ BIG RED 3.9%
BLUE COW ~ BEST BITTER 3.8%
BOWNESS BAY ~ SWAN BLONDE 4.0%
BUMPMILL ~ GLORY DAZE 4.5%
BUMPMILL ~ HEART OF GOLD 4.2%
BUMPMILL ~ MONSTER MASH 5.1%
COLLINGHAM ~ JOURNEYMAN 3.9%
CWRW CADER ~ CADER GOLD 3.8%
CWRW CADER ~ IDRIS BITTER 4.1%
DONCASTER ~ SAND HOUSE 3.8%
ENNERDALE ~ BLACK SAIL 3.9%
FELLOWS ~ CRAFTY FELLOW 4.0%
FERNANDES ~ CHINOOK 4.0%
FIVE TOWNS ~ INDIAN SUMMER ALE 3.8%
FOWNES ~ FROST HAMMER : DWARFEN PALE ALE 4.6%

FULL MASH – WARLORD 4.4%
GEEVES ~ CLEAR CUT 4.4%
GOLDEN DUCK ~ L.F.B. 4.3%
GOLDEN DUCK ~ REVEREND GREEN 5.5%
GOLDEN DUCK ~ WRISTY FITZY 4.6%
GRAFTERS ~ LOVELY JUBBLIES 4.2%
GREENODD ~ BLONDE 4.0%
GREENODD ~ KILN BITTER 3.8%
HART FAMILY BREWERS ~ No.1 4.1%
HARTSHORNS ~ FLOSS THE BOSS 4.6%
HARTSHORNS ~ HIGHGATE 4.3%
MAGPIE ~ ZIGGER ZAGGER 3.8%
ISFIELD ~ STRAW BLOND 4.1%
JOLLY SAILOR ~ BULLS EYE BITTER 3.8%
KENDAL ~ TENTERHOOKS 3.7%
LUDLOW ~ STAIRWAY 5.0%
MALLINSONS ~ THE FIVE HUNDRED 3.9%
MALLINSONS ~ TOPAZ 4.3%
MARLPOOL ~ BLIND BORIS 3.5%
MEDIEVAL ~ CRUSADER 4.4%
MIDDLE EARTH – CELEBRATION 4.5%

MUIRHOUSE ~ BUZZARD BITTER 4.0%
NAKED BREWER ~ ORACLE 4.0%
NAKED BREWER ~ REVENGE 4.5%
NEW INN ~ GOLDEN BOB 4.0%
NINE STANDARDS ~ ORIGINAL 3.7%
NORTH RIDING ~ HILDA'S FLYCATCHER 4.2%
NORTH RIDING ~ MAN IN TIGHTS 4.0%
NORTH RIDING ~ PEDRO'S EXTRA SHORTS 4.6%
NORTHERN FC ~ McCRACKEN ALE 4.0%
ORDNANCE CITY ~ MARK 2 4.0%
PHEASANTRY ~ BB - BEST BITTER 3.8%
PHEASANTRY ~ PA - PALE ALE 4.0%
RAMSBOTTOM ~ BUMBLE'S 4.0%
RAMSBOTTOM ~ SEVILLIAN 3.8%
REALITY ~ PERCEPTION 3.8%
REALITY ~ RED OCTOBER 4.3%
REDSCAR ~ JAZZ 3.8%
REDSCAR ~ POISON 4.0%
WIRKSWORTH: ROBIN HOOD ~ OUTLAW 4.4%
SCARBOROUGH ~ CASCADE 4.1%
SHOTTLE FARM ~ GOLD 4.3%
SHOTTLE FARM ~ SHOTTLE COCK 3.6%
SIX TREES ~ BITTER MEMORIES 4.3%
SIX TREES ~ HIGH NOON 3.2%
SIX TREES ~ JARDEELING 4.3%
SONNET 43 ~ AMERICAN PALE ALE 5.4%
SPORTSMAN ~ SUPPORTER 4.3%
STAMPS ~ STREWTH 3.8%
STOCKLINCH ~ RAMBLER'S GOLD 3.8%
TAVY ALES ~ TAVY BEST BITTER 4.3%
TEMPTATION ~ CASCADIAN DARK ALE 5.0%
THREE KINGS ~ RING OF FIRE 4.5%
TOM SMITH'S ~ TOM'S TIPPLE 3.5%
TOWLES ~ COPPER LEAF 4.2%
TOWLES ~ OLD SMILER 4.1%
TWO BOB’S ~ HORNY UNICORN 4.2%
UNSWORTH'S YARD ~ CARTMEL 4.5%
URBAN BREWHOUSE ~ MUFFIN TOP 4.0%
V.I.P. ~ THE VILLAGE COPPER 4.2%
WALLS ~ KATZENJAMMER 4.2%
WELLCROSS ~ I.P.A. 6.0%
WELLCROSS ~ PORTER 5.0%
WELLINGTON ~ BEAU DOURO 4.3%
WELLINGTON ~ HOOKY 4.1%
WENTWELL ~ BARREL ORGAN BLUES 4.5%
WENTWELL ~ DERBY PALE ALE 3.9%
WINDY ~ TORNADO 3.9%
YORKSHIRE HEART ~ TRADITIONAL MILD 3.5%
YORKSHIRE DALES ~ GREAT DUMMUCKS 4.2%
HAYWOOD BAD RAM ~ DR SAMUEL JOHNSON 4.5%
NOTTINGHAM ~ JAMES FELLOWS' LEGACY 3.8%
NORTH STAR ~ POLARIS 5.0%
NORTH STAR ~ SENTINEL 3.8%
ATTWOODS ~ FARMERS DARK 3.7%
BEER GEEK ~ WHITE GEEK 4.5%
BROUGH'S ~ BLONDE 4.6%
CAP HOUSE ~ BLONDE & BEYOND 4.0%
CRADDOCKS ~ SAXON GOLD 4.0%
DANCING MAN ~ TROUBADOR 4.1%
DOUBLE TOP ~ GOLDEN ARROW 3.9%
FOX INN ~ FOXY LADY 4.3%
HOGSWOOD ~ NORTH SHORE I.P.A. 3.8%
HOP & STAGGER ~ WANDER 3.6%
OATES ~ YORKSHIRE'S OLYMPIC GOLD 3.7%
ROCK & ROLL BREWHOUSE ~ INTERHEDGEROW OVERDRIVE 3.8%
MARLPOOL ~ LEN'S LEGACY 4.2%

13th Egham Beer Festival - info

My local has its latest beer festival starting next week. 15th - 18th November.

See also this link

The provisional beer list is shown below, note that not all beers will be on sale at once and the list may change!

ADVENTURE BREWERY, Leatherhead, Surrey  (2012)

North 4.8 (Amber)

South 5.0 (Bitter)

West 5.8 (Porter)

East 6.6 (IPA)

 

ASCOT ALES, Camberley, Surrey (2007)

Aureole 3.3 (Bitter)

Single Hop (Bullion – OCT) 4.6 (IPA)

Single Hop (Magnum – NOV) 4.6 (IPA)

Last of the Blue Devils (Walnut) 8.0 (Speciality)

 

AYLESBURY BREWHOUSE COMPANY, Bucks (2011)

Boggling Fertle 3.8 (Mild)

Bob The Elder 4.4 (Bitter with Elderflower)

Duck End IPA 5.0 (IPA)

 

BEDLAM BREWERY, Albourne, West Sussex (2012)

Best Bitter 4.0% (Best Bitter)

Golden Ale 4.2% (Golden Ale)

 

BINGHAMS, Ruscombe, Berks (2010)

TBC

 

BRIGHTSIDE, Bury, Lancs (2010)

The Beast 3.8 (Bitter)

Solstice 4.1 (Pale Ale)

Darkside 4.6 (Stout)

Underworld 4.6 (Porter)

 

BRIGHTWATER BREWERY, Claygate, Surrey (2012)

TBC – Festival Special (collaboratively brewed at Nene Valley Brewery)

 

CANTERBURY BREWERS, Canterbury, Kent (2011)

Engenious Stout 4.1% (Stout)

2012 4.2% (Pale Ale)

Galactic Belgian 6.5% (IPA)

 

CAVEMAN BREWERY (cuckoo), Birling, Kent (2012)

Chinook 4.1% (Pale Ale)

 

CLARENCE & FREDERICKS, Croydon, Surrey (2012)

Golden Ale 3.8 (Golden)

Best Bitter 4.1 (Best Bitter)

Smoked Red 5.1 (Red Ale)

 

CRONX BREWERY, New Addington, Surrey (2012)

Fallout 4.6% (Autumn ale)

Fallout Hazlenut 4.6% (Autumn ale)

Fallout Spiced Pumpkin 4.6% (Autumn ale)

Honey Entire 5.0% (Honey Porter)

 

DOWNLANDS BREWERY, Small Dole, West Sussex (2012)

Green Hops 2012 4.4 (Best Bitter)

Camp & Spicy Dyke 5.0 (Speciality)

Three Rings 5.2 (Strong Pale Ale)

 

DOWNTON BREWERY, Downton, Wiltshire (2003)

Gooseberry Wheat 4.4 (Speciality)

Roman Imperial Stout 8.5 (Imperial Stout) 

 

HAVANT BREWERY, Cowplain, Hants (2009)

Harvested 5.1 (Red Ale) made with green hops

 

KENT BREWERY, Birling, Kent (2011)

Dragon’s Breath 4.7 (IPA)

Porter 5.5 (Porter)

Green Giant IPA 6.0 (IPA)

 

LITTLE BEER CORP, Guildford, Surrey (2012)

Little Norseman 7.0% (Coffee Stout) – only cask in existance!

 

LONDON BREWERS ALLIANCE, London

Collaborative Stout 6.8% (Stout) – one of only 2 casks to appear outside of London. Brewed at The Kernel

 

MALT THE BREWERY, Great Missendon, Bucks (2012)

Dark 3.9%

Best Bitter 4.4%

IPA 5.0%

 

OLD DAIRY, Rolvenden, Kent (2009)

Golden Flyer 4.3% (Golden Ale)

 

ROCKIN’ ROBIN, Maidstone, Kent (2011)

Mildly Rockin’ 3.7% (Mild)

Hoppin’ Robin 3.7% (Bitter)

Reliant Robin 4.2% (Best Bitter)

 

SARAH HUGHES, Sedgley, West Midlands (1921 & 1987)

Sedgley Surprise 5.0% (Bitter)

Dark Ruby Mild 6.0% (Strong Mild)

Snowflake 8.0% (Winter Ale)

 

SHED ALES, Pewsey, Wiltshire (2012)

GJE 4.1% (Best Bitter) 

  

SUNNY REPUBLIC, Winterborne Kingston, Dorset (2012)

- Dolphin Amber (4.2)

- St Wite’s Ale (Trappiste) (5.0)

 

THURSTON’S BREWERY, Horsell, Surrey (2012)

Stedmans 4.1% (Bitter)

 

WAYLAND’S SIXPENNY, Sixpenny Handley, Dorset (2007)

Triskaidekaphobia 4.0% (Golden Ale)

Man in the Wall 4.2% (Best Bitter)

 

WINDSOR & ETON, Windsor, Berks (2010)

Canberra 4.0% (Red Ale)

 

XT BREWING, Long Crendon, Bucks (2011)

Beta 5.7% (Dark ale)

Gamma 4.4% Best Bitter)

Swedish Smoked Nine 5.5% (Smoked dark ale)

Ales and Tails - Twickenham

7th November 2012

A visit to a new craft beer bar in Twickenham called Ales & Tails which officially opened last week.

Photos below. Couldn't get a decent outside shot as it was dark.

6 handpumps

This was one of the beers I had there