Surprises

 On Thursday last week, I learned that new bar - Wolf on the Corner - had Harvey's "Star of Eastbourne" on cask.  Barely containing a squeeeee of excitement, I informed the BBB.

 We already had to be in town and close by the venue because of work on Friday so it seemed that stars all aligned.

Our meeting in our (hopefully) new office concluded before Wolf opened but we needed to sit down and pull together things we'd learned, measured, etc, etc. So we popped down to "The Frontier" first.  They had Kernel Table Beer and at 3% was perfect for the time of day.

It's a really useful place and another where it'll be really convenient for our new workplace (along with Wolf, Ninkaci and Gun) but we haven't yet found the ideal time for us there - it always seems to be a little bit light on people.  Definitely can't argue with the beer range which has clearly increased a little.  There were probably 3 or 4 draught beers that we'd have happily tried - and that was without even looking at the fridge of cans.

Anyhow - we finished our work (and our beer)  and strolled around the corner to Wolf. We could have started with something not too strong - but the only cask beer was Star of Eastbourne so it really seemed rude not to.  Being able to choose 2/3rds as a measure of even cask beer is such a treat!  

Given it's my favourite Harveys beer and that it's usually only available in October (which we'd missed), it was especially lovely and we fully relaxed, picked up a game of Regicide and just enjoyed the ambiance.

The staff in the place are the epitome of good hospitality: it seems effortless, and you feel immediately at home in the place. Another thing they've got right (more or less) is the seating the seats are pretty comfy and the mishmash of different tables, add a degree of charm and warmth.

After a while it got a bit busier and a small group asked to share the table. They arranged themselves in a way that meant I had to move one person to get to the bar (Downlands delicious Impy Stout) but they were jolly about it.

Once they left, a slightly larger group were hovering clearly wanting to sit somewhere but not wanting to muscle in.  We offered the remainder of the table.  It was 5 or 6 people of around our age and we then spent the rest of our evening chatting with fellow beer-enthusiasts before taking our leave.  It was one of those times when chatting with strangers was a welcome thing - not something that needed to be worked at.  Very nice it was, too.

Saturday was a family do in a local hotel.  The weather was awful and the seafront location only served to emphasise it.  We popped to the bar to get a quick "pre" drink and, to be honest, I wasn't expecting much of Eastbourne hotel beer.  However, we decided simultaneously that a shared bottle of Adnams Ghost Ship might fit the bill.  It did!  Both of us were quite surprised how well it went down.  

The Belgian Bar

This little cold snap has really bitten hard.

Our little shop where we help people get and stay safely online, and encourage kids into a bit of digital creativity (sorry for the shameless plug) only has single-glazed windows - it's tricky to heat effectively.  I was on duty all day until our young workshop attendees left the building at 5.30pm.

I thought I'd prepared for the expected chill with many layers of clothing but as I left the building after dark it almost took my breath away.  The BBB and I had already planned to go to the Belgian Bar but then I remembered I needed to pick up some groceries from the local shop around the corner.  Himself headed onto the bar to get the beers in whilst I popped in and picked up some Turkish bread and black peppercorns.

The temporary respite from the cold, only served to make me feel colder as I left the shop.  I don't think I've ever walked quite so fast to the bar.

Opening the door and coming in to the bar was like being enveloped in a heated duvet.  It was glorious.

He'd already ordered two pints and was sitting down waiting.

The beer was just what I needed to stave off the chill (I know the physiology, and how much that statement is not literally true, but you know I mean).  The ABV of the Belgian Bar beers wanders around a bit but is always upwards of 5%, it seems.  

We left at around 7.30pm and the temperature had dropped further - I cursed my lack of a hat. 

I'd have been warmer if we'd gone straight home but I wouldn't have missed that feeling of just warming up with a beer in my head for the world. 

 

 

 

Strong Cask Beers

 We popped into Beerarama on Friday, after work, to take advantage of their weekend cask beer.

We normally start with weaker/lighter cask beers and maybe progress to stronger/darker.

For example, in the Barley Mow - I'll normally start with their sub-4% light beer, BBB typically starts around 4.2%.  The BM's cask offering usually allows for a gentle ramp up. 

We were arriving at Beerarama from different directions and I got there first.  The cask offering was Kernel Brown Ale at 5.2% (or something). I toyed with the idea of something lighter first, but I find going from keg to cask a bit disconcerting so I ordered two two-thirds (a pint felt a bit weighty).

I remarked that I don't normally start at 5.2% and we shared a bit of a joke.  Then I mentioned that Ringwood 49er would once have been a favourite but always felt strong.  Jamie wasn't aware of Ringwood - but then again, he's pretty young.  The customers either side of me were more contemporary of me and we all had a bit of a sighing reminiscence of Ringwood (presumably now gobbled or disappeared by an UberBrand): both 49-er and old Thumper.

Anyway - to the Kernel: the way the beer poured, and the amount of condition in it, I could easily have been fooled (but for the temperature) that it was keg.  The head was small but tight and almost viscous.

 It punched above its weight even for over 5% and, despite it not normally being a beer I might choose, it was absolutely lovely.  The BBB approved of my choice, too.

So much so that he went back for another whilst I switched up to a Beak 6% hipster-beer.  

I was uncharacteristically squiffy by the time it came to leave.  

I think I'm seeing fewer strong cask beers on even cask-first bars - but maybe I'm just not going to the right places. 

Harvey's Old

I was working in a chilly basement all day yesterday, getting laptops ready to be donated to people on low incomes who don't have them, can't afford to buy them and are finding themselves digitally excluded without them.

By the time I came to leave, I was cold and tired and was quite prepared to come home - then the BBB suggested "Crown" or "Lamb" as a compromise between him coming all the way into town and me coming all the way home.

We hadn't been to The Lamb, a Harvey's tied house since the dawn of time, for several months - it's not really a summer pub.  So for a damp November afternoon/evening it was quite appealing.

I arrived first, settled into a seat by a radiator (sadly no wood burner running at the time), disappointed not to see Bonfire Boy on the bar (apparently more available in a day or so) but got two pints of Armada from a cask choice of "Best" (of course); Armada, Sisters and XX Mild.  BBB arrived very shortly after. 

 A couple of months' absence from Harveys beers (we only ever have them in a Harveys pub and usually only in Eastbourne - maybe with an extension to the John Harvey pub/tap in its hometown) had made the palate grow fonder.

First pint barely touched the sides: Harveys works particularly well in a 12th Century building.  Also the bar manager on duty is the absolute cream of the crop in bar staff.

The BBB and I caught up on our respective days and, unaccountably, both reminisced about narrowboat holidays we'd had in previous lives.

For a second pint I asked for Old.  I'm a fairly recent convert to this beer (maybe a couple of years ago) although I never want too much of it.  The first sip was absolutely stunning.

It punches well above its ABV.

I've tried Long Man brewery "Old Man" but it's never felt as rich or hefty. Whereas I like to drink Moor's Old Freddy Walker late in the day the Harveys Old I drank yesterday evening was a perfect 6pm beer.

 

 

 

 

Newness

 Now we're back in Eastbourne, we'd already reacquainted ourselves with the Crown to meet up with friend and colleague, W.  Oakham Green Wave (or something) wasn't in the first flush but was lovely.

Friday and Saturday we were scheduled to be in work, in town. 

So, on Friday we opted for a new place that's opened - Wolf on the Corner.  It's effectively a micropub but it's more a bar, really - with good beer.  It's a joint venture between one tiny local brewery and a local cider producer.

It'll be very close to our new place of work (always assuming that goes ahead, as planned) from early next year. 

It opens at 4pm and we arrived about 30mins later.  It was already pretty busy.

They had a cask beer on - it was by BRZN but at 3.4%, the BBB wanted something a bit stronger.  So I had the BRZN and he had Joosy by unbarred.

One of the owners was serving and he immediately asked if I wanted my beer in a straight or handled glass (always extra points for that).  It was then I noticed that one of the other bar staff was the brilliant G from the, sadly closed, Bottle Grove.  It was so lovely to see him again - one of the very best bar folk, ever!

BBB had found a table to sit at - possibly the last one at the time.  More people came in.

We recognised a few folk from the local "beer" scene - but not everyone.  The demographic seemed subtly different.

The bar had a fairly generous number of beers on offer - but it was sticking with an Oktoberfest vibe and so there were kellerbeers, wit beers and lagers very heavily represented.  I'm guessing (hoping, really) that this was just a seasonal thing - although I very nearly tried one of the stronger ones.  I don't hate any of those styles, when done well, it's just that it'll never be my first choice (I say "never" but more accurately it's probably "just now").

Anyhow, the atmosphere was good - though there's a huge expanse of shop glass which I think might make it a bit subject to temperature challenges...but that's for another time.

I enjoyed my first beer so much - I had a second.  He chose something from the Oktober range - it was nice - a little Kwak-like possibly.

We were very happy that 2/3rds are available.

Third round was Joosy for me and a med-dry cider (seemed fitting) for him.  

We've identified it as a good place to take sisters, in future, potentially and that's always a nice thing. 

We'll definitely be back but next time we'll time the walk from bar to bus stop a little better, I think. 

 

 

Taking the Glasses Back

I know that, for the most part, the days are gone when you take your glass back to the bar and the staff refill it with "same again".  I assume it's mostly a hygiene thing - if you're filling a glass and the spout goes inside the glass then there's definitely an issue with whatever is left in that glass.

Personally I like a new glass simply because the beer pours and looks nicer in a clean one.  Even more reason if it's a different beer (caveat:  we don't do this at home but we might 'rinse' the glass with a small quantity of the new beer - obviously drinking the dregs)

OK, so we're not asking for refills but I still insist on taking empty glasses back to the bar - when fetching fresh drinks, and if at all feasible, when we leave.

I don't know when it started but it's become almost an obsession.

I've never worked in a bar - but I spent several years, as a teenager,  in a weekend job being a chambermaid and occasionally waiting at table - christ, people treat hospitality staff appallingly.

When we went to lunch with brother and sister-in-law we had a discussion about it.  As we all went to leave, I picked up the glasses to return to the bar and my brother followed suit but my sister-in-law expressed surprise. This also happens when I go out with the other directors of our organisation.  I suspect that people feel slightly shamed if I clear the table so they join in.  I'm sorry if it makes people feel like that -  but it won't stop me doing it.

I watched, in the Barley Mow, yesterday evening, two blokes take up two tables with their glasses, elbows, food and stuff - seemingly indifferent to people looking for a place to sit.  Yes, I'm afraid I did judge them.

I don't honestly know what my real motivation is for doing this.  I know how much I hate arriving at a pub where the only seats are next to a table covered in glasses - who wants to sit with other people's dirty glasses around?  So part of it is helping to make an environment pleasant for other people.

But it's more than just that - I've always found it quite difficult to be "waited on", by anyone.  There is a story of me behaving very awkwardly in a five-star hotel that we were staying in for a wedding.  We were shown to our room by a - actually I have no idea what that job role is called - called Simon.  He went to take my bag for me and I said "no, that's OK..." but he sweetly and gently insisted.  Walking up the stairs, with him behind carrying the luggage still made me feel supremely uncomfortable.

Bar work is skilled - especially if you're also looking after beer, as well as serving it.  Returning glasses to the bar is not skilled and, OK, it might be considered part of the job, but don't we all appreciate it when someone shows us a bit of help?  I dunno, it might be an irritating trait - and I'm sorry to all bar staff if it is - but I think I'm beyond changing now.

To all bar staff everywhere - I know it's coming into "holy crap this pub is full of people who have no idea how to be in a pub" season of goodwill etc - good luck all!  

 

Independence

Each time we come to Bristol we try to catch up with (a manageable number of) friends and family.  Inevitably this tends to happen in a pub (or similar).

As all of us get older, we're all more tolerant of each others' need for "not too much peopling", finding mutually convenient places, accommodating eating/drinking times and habits, etc.  That means it's not terribly difficult to find somewhere but it does need a bit of research and assent.

This time, we were meeting with brother and sister-in-law.  They live on the far eastern side of the city - and we live in the centre.  They have bus passes, we're happy and used to travelling on public transport.  So this time, I suggested Bath as a venue - there was a new(ish) bus service that served them and we can be in Bath in about 15 minutes. 

The BBB has an irrational (but good-natured) dislike of Bath because about 35 years ago and in a different life he visited and declared it "closed" (the long story is that between shops closing and pubs opening there wasn't anywhere to go). It's been a struggle to get him to see it as a viable pub destination - with the notable exception of the "Royal Oak" in Oldfield Park.  This means I can't confidently suggest anywhere which might be specific to our various wants. 

My brother has not made the transition to "hipster" beer - likes golden/pale but fairly traditional cask beer - obviously that doesn't provide a complete overlap with my love of pale, hoppy (even hipster) beer. 

 My research for matching beer spec beer and decent food pubs really only turned up The Raven as a pretty sure-fire thing but as I was about to suggest it they suggested the "Bath Brew House".  I'd heard of it, and thought we'd been there a few years ago. Sounded like a decent deal.

When we got inside we realised we hadn't actually been there at all (not sure what pub I'm thinking of, then).  Anyhow - as a brew pub it was obviously majoring on their own beers, with a decent offering of about 5 cask and 6 keg beers.

Our companions had had the bitter and a golden ale, we went for their American Pale - all were in the 4 - 4.5% bracket.  Pretty good price, too, for Bath (I'm told).

We settled into catching up and eventually decided that we really needed to order some lunch.  It was then I noticed that the literature on the table indicated that this was a Youngs-owned place.  I was quite surprised a little while back when Boak and Bailey identified that the King Street Brewhouse which we go to infrequently, but not unhappily, was a Youngs place.

When I paid a bit more attention to the building and the decor I realised that it was very similar to the King Street place.  It all made sense.

We're very keen, on the whole, on small independent breweries and venues.  There are only so many places we can go and drink so we like, wherever possible, to use our beer-buying power to support them.

Now, as far as I can tell, Youngs is still independent but it's far from small and the last time I tried their beers, I wasn't at all inclined to try them again. So this micro-sub-brand thing is a bit of a dilemma for me.

The beer served from the brewery was good, the staff we dealt with were professional and friendly, doing a really good job.  The food was OK and the space was pleasant and not too noisy (apparently it gets so later in the day) - but I still feel a bit cheated at the "Youngsness" being slightly sotto voce.  It makes the homespun-looking chalk graphics of the brewing process reek of artifice and trying to trick us into thinking it's a small organisation. 

I actually liked it a bit better than the King Street venue - that might be down to where it is in Bath or something else. 

 BBB and I wouldn't rush back on our own, but it would make an acceptable compromise venue, for sure.

As an aside, we decided to try somewhere else, closer to my Brother's homebound bus stop for one last one.  "Trinity" was the nearest place - neither of us had any knowledge of the place.  It was somewhat different.  Very much a locals pub, one probably owned by Heineken.  London Pride on cask and the usual Camden/Beavertown offerings on keg.  We decided on a quick one anyway as they didn't have long to wait and there are 4 trains an hour back to Bristol.

Yeah, well - the staff member serving was great, but that was the high point of the pub...at least it got us out of the rain.  Neck Oil is really insipid now, isn't it? (even in lovely, funky half pint glasses).