Beer on the Back Step

 Well, because we're older now, more like "just inside the bi-fold doors" but you get the gist.

The BBB decided to go into work to get some bits done - I manned the fort for the various "first day back" deliveries of groceries, beer (x2) and wine.

By the time he was planning to come back, I'd checked to see if The Crown had a lovely new cask of something on - but it was Scaramanga, by Gun - perfectly nice but not something to travel for.

Instead we cracked some of the beers that had arrived earlier the in the day and sat and relaxed on the side of the house that's cooler in the afternoon.

Even though the day wasn't particularly busy or stressful, it's still a proper pause time and that's all to the good.  Even so, the back garden got watered and we marvelled at the fact we'd managed to keep plants alive in our absence.

Blimey Burning Sky's sour cherry and raspberry beer is awesome - and I'm really not a sour/gueze/farmhouse/bret fan... 

 

From the Source

 Home-beer buying has come a long way over the 40 years I've been doing it (oof, that's a long time...).

Quality has always been part of it since my first introduction to the stuff.  So there's never been John Smiths Smooth, or Ruddles County.

But availability was always a bit of thing since the right place to drink beer is a pub, and the right dispense-method is cask.  Now, obviously, that's no longer true - at least for me, but it has to be said cask is usually my chosen first beer, if there's a good one on hand.

We used to get weekend 4-pint fills from the Brown Jug in the Chessels (Bedminster) and a polypin at Christmas.

When they closed it might be a couple of bottles of Sam Smiths Old Brewery Bitter from the independent off license around the corner but there was rarely anything interesting in the local supermarket.

Then we started getting home-delivered groceries (driving to a supermarket has never really been a thing in my life) there were a few half-decent bottles (Waggledance, London Pride, 6X..) but even then beer for home consumption didn't really feature in a major way.

When we moved to the place 5 mins walk from Bath Ales' first pub (Hare on the Hill) - beer was mainly drunk in there with the odd 4-pint takeout and (yes) polypins at Christmas.

When the BBB arrived in my life beer availability had improved so grocery deliveries might contain a few bottles from a good brewery (not usually local, though) but Bristol Beer Factory arrived around the same time (along with Arbor and Moor).

No 4 pint takeouts then, but still the occasional polypin to take on holiday or whatever. Getting the beer from BBF was a bit of labour of Hercules since they were always really keen, and very pleased to see you but no matter what you'd ordered, or how much notice you'd given them - it wouldn't be ready and there was a confused scrabble (did you want it bright or with bottoms...I'll just fill one now for you...)

When we moved to Eastbourne we would get the occasional beer subscription box which were very much a mixed bag, to be honest.  Supermarket deliveries were better, with a wider range but it wasn't really the same. Then came the pandemic.

Looking online to buy beer was time-consuming and often didn't yield satisfactory results.

Thankfully there were enough off-the-shelf e-commerce platforms to ensure that even the least digitally confident brewery could get something going and by the end of the lockdowns we were buying beer directly from the brewery from almost all the Bristol breweries.

It's now standard for me to order a case or two of a mix of cans from any brewery I come across and beer is almost always in the fridge.  We travelled back from Bristol to Eastbourne yesterday (again slightly earlier to dodge the worst of the next heatwave) but before I left I'd ordered a couple of cases from Arbor (permanent fixture on the bar in the fridge) and one from Burning Sky - this latter because I want some more "Bubble" before it all goes.  I also included their delicious cherry/raspberry gueze/farmhouse beer because, again, it may not happen again and it would be a crime to miss it.

The best place to drink beer is still a pint of crisp, fresh cask in a good pub but really good beer from a can, bought from a brewery we know and trust gets a lot closer than it used to.

 

 

 

Right Time, Right Place

 Sometimes things align, don't they?

A really stressful (work) week meant on Thursday we needed to read over some dratted funding stuff in a conducive space and to reward ourselves with a game in the pub.  The BBB is really getting his head around Wingspan and wants to practice.

So we popped to Martha's.

BBB was concerned it would be as busy it was last week (super-hot Thursday) but he needn't have worried.  It was perfectly peopled.

I thought that their quite-strong IPA-type beer had a subtle sourness to it.  I thought it gave it a Belgian air.  The BBB half-agreed but wasn't so sure.  Both of us enjoyed it, I'd be quick to say.

When I took the glass back I remarked to the bar manager (we're still not sure of his name, even though we've known him for years) that I thought the beer was a little bit "bretty?".  

He frowned (thoughtfully) and poured a taste for him.  He agreed it was. We then had a tale of another brewery's accidental Bret beer which the BBB absolutely adores but will almost certainly never be made again.

It was one of those nice exchanges when you realise that, as professional as everyone is in the places we like to drink - there's always a back story, and it's nice to feel a part of the community of it all.

Friday was warm and the dreaded funding bid was finally submitted.  I needed somewhere quiet and reliable (on a Friday this can be quite tricky).  He asked whether Good Chemistry might be open - it was scheduled to be, so we strolled round via the cycle track with its ripe blackberries (seriously, already??).

It was VERY quiet when we went in but we were greeted by the barman with huge enthusiasm.  We chose a couple of beers and sat near the shutter-door.  Every single member of the brewery staff, as they passed by, could have chosen not to make eye contact...but every single one said hello and welcomed us.  It makes a huge difference to a quite venue - they weren't over the top, but just appreciatively friendly.  

We asked about Kokomo Weekend but were told they can't shift it enough via the tap so they tend to stick to lower ABV beers.  Still, the beers we had were lovely.  We had two pints and took the glasses back, the barman thanked us.

I've got something for you here, he said.  He then produced two cans of strong (out of date) beers from the old brewery's incarnation.  Another time when you feel part of this quirky community we sometimes live in.

Phew!

 The heatwave was forecast to come to an end over the weekend.

The BBB was monitoring things carefully up in Bristol, I was forming a puddle in Eastbourne and doing chores once the sun had gone down.

All in all, we decided that Saturday would represent the best day for me to travel to the shire.

It was still VERY warm in Eastbourne but the red alert was now confined to the south east and I was of course, travelling northwest.

The first morning update declared the flat finally habitable.

I checked trains and there were some cancellations but it looked manageable, especially if I wasn't too worried how long it took.

I left home at about 10.15 and ambled for a bus.  It was hot outside but fortunately the bus came quite quickly. Fighting my way through annoying tennis fans arriving at the station I strolled down the platform to the far end (terminus station so the far end is the front) and got on a 12-coach train about 15 mins before it was due to leave.

Aircon was ticking slowly so it was pretty pleasant. 

We left on time(ish) and the train filled rapidly so it was standing room only by Haywards Heath - still it was cool and pleasant and the fellow passengers were largely well-behaved.

When I got to Victoria, it was really crowded and I was once again reminded that midweek travel is a real luxury. Avoiding the crowds going towards the Victoria line, I decided to take the Circle line - this probed to be a sensible move.  The tube platform was stifling - like breathing the air venting from a tumble drier.

When the train eventually came I got on at the front and had to stand for a couple of stops but the design of the trains makes the inside a continuous space so people diffuse down the length of the train much more effectively.  The aircon was keeping it pleasant and I soon got a seat for the rest of the journey.  I was getting regular updates about trains from Paddington from the BBB (what did we do before the internet and the sheer volume of useful intelligence about trains to be found online).  There had been some cancellations and delays but I was told I may be able to get a train around 1.30pm.  I couldn't remember how long the Circle route from VIC to PAD takes so I did become a bit anxious - especially as it looked possible the 2pm to Bristol might be cancelled.

I popped up at Paddington with the 13.30 not yet announced for boarding and with just enough  time to pick up some lunch - unfortunately, nothing that was readily available on the main concourse looked remotely attractive so I didn't bother.  The BBB indicated that the train might go from platform 9 so I edged towards that side of the station and sure enough, the announcement came.

The previous train having been cancelled, the train was busy but not awful and then the journey was cool and relaxed (for me anyhow). By the time I arrived home at the flat there was a cold bottle of water and sandwich waiting for me.

The sun was starting to warm the flat up again so we went to the Barley Mow earlier than we normally would.

The first lovely pint of their 4% (or so) pale, seasonal special, was glorious and it felt, like all the world like no time had passed since our last pint there. The staff were telling us how hot it had been in the pub for the last few days and how they hadn't put on more guest cask because consumption was down. Made complete sense (we also know that their cellar can sometimes be challenged by superhot temperatures).

Obviously, most people were outside since it was much more pleasant than it has been so we were left in blissful peace in our favourite corner with the general bustle of people coming in, buying beer and going back outside again making sure the pub felt peopled but not awful.

The worst of the heatwave has now passed, the weather seems to be more normal for June.  I'm looking out at the sunshine from our 10th floor flat and enjoying, rather than dreading it. 

Outlier

 It's not often a canned or bottle beer totally nails it.

 Burning Sky Bubble does - well for me.

I know that not everyone likes their beer to be astringent, bitter, grapefruity, even. 

I do.  Not for every beer I drink, but a beer with that characteristic thrown into the mix is an absolute delight.

I've had to delay travel, and the BBB had to bring his forward so that we were able to check in on the Bristol flat and its orchid residents.  That means I'm still Eastbourne.

I haven't bothered with beer for the last couple of days but it's starting to cool a little now, so I've broken out the last can of Bubble - it's absolutely hitting the spot.

I'm travelling tomorrow, now - and when I get off the train, having had to deal with people who don't normally travel by train, I'll definitely need a pint...an honest to goodness cask pint, probably by BBF (straight glass, obvs).  

When I am old, I shall wear purple...

 I was working in the new office on Tuesday, temporarily "in charge" as our office manager is on leave.

I had to stay until 4pm when our work experience student was leaving for the day.

The BBB was working from home and we were just getting glimpses of the impending heatwave.

I assumed he wasn't keen to hack down to town, but he offered to come down and meet me.  Our office was pretty cool so working wasn't at all unpleasant.

By sheer luck I happened to see that Wolf was opening from 2pm for the week because The Tennis (Eastbourne Open) is on.  Wolf is on a direct walking route between the Devonshire Park, where the tennis is held and Eastbourne Railway station.  It takes 10 - 15 mins to walk that route.  You can't miss the place, you approach it and can see it from a good 50 yds away and to get to the station you have to walk right up the long side window which clearly shows it's a bar.

Tennis week - like the air show - is a mixed blessing for residents.  It gets really crowded and as a result, a lot of us tend to know timetable and largely avoid. 

So, before 5pm we arrived at Wolf slightly concerned it would be too busy and wholly prepared to do a bit of a sweaty walk to somewhere else or head closer to home.

When we walked in - there was one other person there.  And he's a regular.

The lady behind the bar was a little bit dejected but pleased to see us.  They'd got a special event license to put seating outside and everything...

We ordered drinks and sat down (inside, obvs), doing our best to make the place look well-used.

Crowds of people started to appear (presumably after a match had just finished) - not a single person even gave the place a second glance.

After a gap, another load came up - one older lady came in.  Asked for a pint of Nitro stout (Kernel was on offer), tried the outside, declared it too warm and took an inside seat near the door to make the most of the draught.  She clearly enjoyed her pint.  It warmed my heart to see not just a woman coming in on her own but an older woman (definitely older than me) who was probably brought up to know pubs as places women didn't really go on their own, and certainly not to drink pints of stout.  I was in awe.

This lady was the highpoint of visitors - a few people came from the tennis and stopped for one but I imagine the team who run the place would have been a bit disappointed.

For years, I've wondered about how much revenue our event visitors really bring to the party.  Yes they buy the tickets and they spend money on the seafront stalls - but those stalls are only bringing revenue to the "market" organisation who organise it and who pay a fee to the council. 
Clearly there are overnight visitors who use hotel rooms and eat out - some restaurants are noticeably busy for a couple of days.

But the day visitors just don't seem to translate to a proportionate usage of Town Centre/Seafront pubs, cafes, etc.  They mostly troop in and troop back out again.  It seems like we need to do something else to get our great little non-chain places recognised and better used.  

The Crown Nails it Again

 We were meeting family on Saturday and they suggested The Crown.  He likes cask ale - preferably nothing that scares the horses but he has come round to lighter, hoppier beer.

She likes moderately dry white wine and, despite being a very "locals" pub - the Crown has a decent wine offering. 

We happily agreed 

We'd been entertained by New Bristol Juno and Kent Brewery Prohibition on Tuesday and although Juno was still just about on, we preferred the new offering:  Track Sonoma.

We've had Sonoma countless times including:

- on cask at the Kings Head in Bristol where we were thoroughly impressed by its bunch despite the ABV (3.8%)

- On keg at Marthas (I think) and at Beerarama, where it made a good enough starter beer but was in no way memorable.

- In cans direct from the brewery where, again, it was fine and a nice opener but lacked real interest.

 So, whilst it was still the natural choice yesterday (Most pubs in Eastbourne can't offer a wide cask range) I didn't know whether it would be remarkable or not.

It was.

It was refreshing and cooling yet still a good punch of flavour. So this jury's in - it's a great fresh cask beer...but much less engaging with other dispense methods.

Also - thanks to Andy and the team in The Crown, they're knocking it out of the park for good cask beer in a way no where else in Eastbourne is managing.  Not a bad feat for a Heineken pub...