Up the Kriek

 Sorry, that was an unnecessary pun.

My first try of a fruit beer was in the Brown Jug off license around the corner from my house in Bedminster.

We popped in on a Friday evening to get our usual 4-pint takeout (plastic) flagon of whatever beautiful cask Phil had on.  We were regulars so a catch up and a bit of beer-chat was usually involved.

"Try this", said Phil as he unwrapped a bottle from its blue paper wrapper.  It was a raspberry beer.

I tried it.

Bleargh!  I absolutely hated it - but I can't honestly remember precisely what made me hate it.

I seem to remember muttering something about "I like my beer to taste of beer..."

I didn't try a fruited beer again until 2010 when the BBB suggested we go to Brussels for the weekend.

À la Mort Subite is a bar which is widely known, and I guess something of a tourist trap.  Nevertheless, I totally adored the place.

We arrived and the place looked completely full.  We shuffled into the bar slightly nervously to see where we should sit.  We were brusquely waved over by a member of staff who pointed to a two-person table.  We sat close to the bar - I was facing the serving area.

There's a beer menu and we given a short time to peruse but a serving person arrived at the table very quickly so there's a bit of pressure not to hold up proceedings - this bar seems to thrive on efficiency.

Somehow or other, I ordered a draught Morte Subite Kriek - I could see the pump in the serving area in front of me.  I can't even remember why I chose it - probably the pressure.

I absolutely loved it.  To me it tasted strongly of cherry but with next to no sweetness to make it cloying.  I've never had the same reaction to a fruit beer since.  It's best we gloss over the kiwi flavoured Floris that came later in the trip.

At Cantillon, after your self-guided tour (or, at least it was then) with a paper pamphlet in the language of your choice where you are urged not to touch to the spider webs near the coolship, you get a few glass tasters of the various beers.  I must have had a kriek, but I found the gueze flavour rather overwhelmed the fruit character.

In À la Becasse  you bought your beer in a small jugs to share and a mixture was a legitimate choice - kriek forming a part of the mix - I remember really liking it.  

 So Brussels left me feeling a bit Goldilocks about kriek. 

The framboise I had in the Barley Mow has stuck with me, though.  So every now and again I've been dabbling to see if I can replicate that first Morte Subite Kriek.

Last week in Wolf on the Corner I had a 3.8% Lindemans Kriek which had lovely depth and body, with a fantastic cherry hit but was very, very sweet.

When I saw that our online grocer had Bacchus Kriek at a good price, I thought it was too good a chance to miss.  At something like 5.6% I expected it to have some heft, but it didn't really.  The cherry tasted like an artificial flavouring and I got a lingering unpleasant aftertaste resembling Aspartame (I don't believe anything artificial was actually in the beer, it just tasted that way) and I felt cheated like when San Pellegrino started putting artificial sweeteners in their grapefruit pop.

I do know we still have a can of Burning Sky Framboise et Cerise in the fridge and that was definitely the closest to my memory of the character of Morte Subite.

So my quest continues. 

It's not a full time quest.  To be honest it's more of a half-arsed vague notion...but quest sounds so much more noble... 

 

Saturday in the Crown

Part of the reason we felt our Eastbourne house would be suitable for us is that it's a 12 - 15minute walk from The Crown.

Other places we looked at didn't have pub-proximity and we rejected them, in part, because of that.

We already knew The Lamb (Harveys) which is about the same distance but we decided, the day we viewed the house on a miserable November and thought it would do (that's all we really wanted in a house at the time),  that we should at least check The Crown out to see what alternatives there were if we decided to move there.

It has to be said, it looked a little bit "locals pub" with smokers hanging around outside the door (they still do that a bit) and in the right hand room as you go in, the facilities felt a bit basic (the loos still are basic, though clean).

We can't remember what cask beers were on the bar but we remember we ordered Harveys and it was served on gravity from the "cellar" (cool room next to the bar).  This wowed us both, especially as it was super-fresh and cool, which is not always a given for Harveys in town.

There was quite a long delay until we actually bought the place (for...reasons)  but we revisited it only once we'd completed the purchase some 8 months later.  We went back to The Crown and were ecstatic to find that Dark Star Hophead was now a regular beer and was served on gravity (Harveys had been put on handpump).

We've been drinking there ever since - some 13 years.  Same landlord, we've seen his son and friends grow up from primary school kids to working behind the bar and the beer is still the best/most interesting cask offering anywhere in Eastbourne.

We've been back around 6 days and hadn't yet visited but had learned that they had Thornbridge Ravenna on. Once we'd completed a couple of strenuous garden tasks, we walked down.

Saying hi to a few regulars, catching up with the bar staff, watching sport on the TV - it's just as relaxed an experience as going to the Barley Mow.  Beer of the same high quality, though sadly not the same range.

We were home. 

 

Pub is a collaborative thing

 We were going to go to Unwins so that we could try a game they have (Arboretum).  Sadly, we arrived to find it closed.

 Because rain threatened, we went to the BM instead.  It was about 5pm when we arrived and, what appeared to be a bunch of teachers had taken up residence in the Best Corner.  No matter.

A slight misjudgement by the chap on the bar led to one of our pints very nearly hitting the deck, but for the reflexes of the BBB catching it (left-handed, he wanted to make clear) as it tipped off the bar.

It spilled about a quarter of the beer on the BBB's jumper and the floor. "Oh my god!  I'm so sorry" said the lad and, indeed, he did appear mortified.

I grabbed some roll wipe I could see on the bar to mop the BBB down and the lad returned with a full roll. He apologised another 12 or 13 times, and topped the beer up.  We assured him that no harm was done and that it could happen to anyone, etc, etc.

We genuinely felt it too.

We enjoyed our first pints and nattered about nothing much.

The group on the adjacent table were a bit noisy and the BBBs ears are playing up at the moment but he didn't let the noise bother him.

People came and went and the pub was still pretty busy at 6pm.

A slightly awkward looking couple came in and looked a bit horrified at the busyness of the place. They looked at the other half of the table we were sitting at...and tentatively started to ask if they could sit.  We waved them in.

After a while the teachers left and so the couple jumped ship to the corner.  He returned to reassure us it wasn't us that they were moving from - but rather the noisier other table.  We smiled, as you do.

When he went to get another drink he came over again - "is there an event or something?, it's really busy".  Turns out they'd just moved in locally and were sussing out the area.  I got the distinct feeling that he wasn't that comfortable and was, somehow, disappointed in the Barley Mow - it was the slightly non favourable comparison with the Old Fishmarket, I think.  He said that his wife really liked ESB so the BBB urged him to try the ESB-like beer on the bar.

We felt the need to go into bat to promote all the lovely local places, but when all's said and done, these folk will find places that suit their needs and, like as not, their needs won't be the same as ours.

I mused on the fact that the day we arrived for this trip I was totally a recipient of the BM's care and, for want of a better word, support.

Today, now I'm a little bit less stressed I hope what we did was gave a little bit back. 

 

Weakened

 The rain on Sunday continued to come and go.  We felt a bit sorry for the EBBT and wondered how it was going.

Temple Quay was generally very quiet.

I was writing a funding bid, we watched the text of BHAFC's match with Chelsea and didn't do much else, to be honest.

Around 4pm we mused about finding somewhere non-EBBT to grab a beer.  The forecast still indicated heavy showers so we didn't want to venture far.

In the end we decided we'd do a lap of the "block" - Glass Wharf, Avon Street, Oxford Street and maybe as far as the Barley Mow to see how busy things were.  It would allow us to stretch our legs a little, eavesdrop on proceedings and, at worst, return home.

There were a few people sitting in the middle of Oxford Street but it certainly didn't look rammed.  The under-arch areas for several of the places there were set up with tables and a few people were sitting outside there.  The pasty shop was open and seemed to be doing a bit of trade.  The area outside Marthas was very busy, but the bar looked manageable.  We ventured inside.

Seats appeared to be at a premium but the team at the bar greeted us warmly.  "Sorry, only pints and halves..." Laurie said, waving plastic glasses at us.  We had pints.

We managed to tuck ourselves into a table near the door and look at what was going on around.  There were groups of all types and ages, and a few lone drinkers.  There were conversations; there were young parents with younger kids; there were card games being played (including us).  What there wasn't much of is the dreaded "vertical drinking".  I mean, there were people standing in groups, and they were drinking but it was much the same as the people sitting and drinking.

Groups ebbed flowed: tables emptying and filling, Almost no one's voice raised above others, but the general sound level did increase.  There was exemplary use of tables and liminal spaces (can we just perch our drinks on the corner of your table, please?) and the atmosphere was inclusive and friendly.

The key for this event was that there were plenty of bar staff so there was seldom a queue at the bar.

We managed to grab a quick chat with Bryony when she was empty glass hunting.  It was a bit quieter than they'd hoped but they'd expected the August event to be quieter than May.  That makes sense - May is at the beginning of the "oooh the weather is improving" event season.  August bank holiday is right at the end and next week schools, colleges and Universities will be returning.  It's possible some people just needed a non-event weekend.

I do hope everyone who organised and ran it found it a success.  Judging by the number of people who were having to consult a map to find the next venue, at least some of the customers might have discovered somewhere they'll return to in quieter times:  let's hope so.

The beer?

Oh yeah, actually I had their core beers (felt slightly odd in pint measures) but the BBB did try the Good Chemistry/Martha colab lager brewed with NZ hops.  It went down very well indeed, depsite the hated (but totally understandable) plastic glasses.

We left quite pleased we'd gone but glad to get home to the quiet of our flat (dear lord, we're getting old).

Today is more funding bid writing, hopefully followed by a check-in with the chaps round at the BM.

Onwards! 

 

Yep

As predicted, we headed to the Kings Head yesterday.

It's a pleasant back-street 10 minute stroll.

When we arrived there were lots of people sitting outside.  At the bar, there was one person on a bar stool and the tramcar snug was empty.  

The folk who run it were behind the bar and we were greeted enthusiastically - me:  Oakham pale, BBB: Black Iris West Coast IPA.  

Both cask, both in perfect condition and both of us convinced we'd got the better deal.

We had the pick of the seats so chose the small table just by the tramcar entrance.  The downside is intermittent smell of disinfectant from the loos - the upside is easy exit and entrance for subsequent rounds.

A couple of people came and joined the tramcar and behaved impeccably.

Second beer was a DEYA 5.5% something or other.  As much as I like Steady Rollin' Man - this was leagues ahead: really fresh and sparky.  Himself agreed.

We chatted about nothing much, just enjoying a time not having responsibility for anything at all.

At one point I saw a great backlit "behind the bar" scene and felt moved to take a picture (only iPhone but the best camera is the one you have with you, after all).

After a while I recognised that some of the group that had joined the seats nearby were CAMRA old hands from my days as beer festival set up manager.  Suspect I've been long forgotten because I only ever went to festival meetings and the festival itself, and never attended any other socials.

One chap had a voice which reached above the prevailing conversational hum.  It was a local accent and although it was a bit distracting, it was kinda grounding.

Sierra Nevada beers were quite prevalent in the line up.  The BBB and I raised a bit of an eyebrow. We seemed to remember having it watching football in the pub in London and finding it very m'eh, suspecting the brewery had gone macro-brand.

Still, two of the beers they had were strong:  a 6.5% hazy pale and a 7.2% barley wine type. Ach, what the hell.  We decided to give a couple of halves a try.

Actually, we enjoyed them.  They were a good finisher.  Would I rush back to them?  No, but I wouldn't complain if they were what was available.

 I would definitely return to the Oakham and the Deya, though.  Much like Tom Unwin's tank hazy pale "Blossom" which we deliberately went to Unwins on Friday to have two pints of to follow the two pints we'd had the Friday before.

The great thing about the EBBT weekend is that all the beers in the Barley Mow will have changed (let's hope they have something left) so we're looking forward to Monday's visit... 

 

 

 

 

Rock and a Hard Place

So, after weeks of fine, warm <hot>, weather we have a bank holiday upon us so, obviously, rain is forecast.

For our pals who are organising and participating the East Bristol Brewery Trail, it has to be a fraught time. On the one hand they have to put a lot of effort (and, I guess, cost) into setting up the infrastructure for what amounts to a geographically extended beer festival. On the other they have to take the potential hit when their small indoor spaces (only Wiper and True can accommodate more than a few dozen people at a time) can't cope with the number of people attempting to attend the event.

We know that frisky weather in the May meant that lots of people took refuge in the Barley Mow (not on the official trail but...) so I'm pretty sure they'll see a bit of rush, too. I'd also be surprised if some of the other pubs in the general vicinity didn't get a bit of a weather bump.

Obviously, we'll be going nowhere near any of the EBBT venues on Saturday or Sunday and we've learned there's a multi-venue King Street music event today as well so we'll not be venturing over there either.

Bristol City are at home to Portsmouth this afternoon so that rules out "south of the river".

We won't want to venture far - so the Kings Head seems like a potential prospect.  We're never disappointed with the beer there but its size and layout can make it a bit difficult to relax in, sometimes. 

But, you know, we'll still be hoping that the event is viewed as a success by all the people with skin in the game.  My guess is that events like this help to provide some financial cushion to cover November and February Tuesdays.  Good luck, folks...we'll see you when it's all over.

 

 

On the Third Day...

 We got our first taste of Moor for the first time in a long time.

We popped round to Unwins and, in the absence of one of Tom's cask beers, we chose a guest keg:  Nor'hop.

It was...fine.

That is to say it was without any problematic flavours - maybe a tiny bit "bretty" to my taste - it was inoffensive.  

That's a pretty damning statement, really, and because there's so much really good beer in Bristol - both local and "imported" it means we'll be unlikely to repeat the experience just yet.

Whilst I'm glad Moor is being resurrected, I almost wish that they'd changed the name and not tried to brew the "same" beers.  I see their core range appears to be a solid offering (but the pictures of pump clips on their website is just weird..maybe AI-adjacent?) but is lacking (maybe just at the moment) the likes of Hoppiness and Old Freddy Walker which added character and interest to the lineup.

Interesting that they chosen to open the taproom all week but I'm not sure we'll rush there.

I'm sure there are plenty of people who'll enjoy the new incarnation and that's great - but for me, they've lost something of the "them" that we particularly liked.  I daresay we'll check in on the beers from time to time to see how things emerged but they're not going to join our "regular" list for now.

Meanwhile, our second pint in Unwins was a truly gorgeous hazy pale from the tank - called Blossom, this is something we'll definitely return to.