h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

3 pints of Bass in a family-owned local, Freehouse Pub, that has served Bass for almost 90 years continuously.

And it is looked after beautifully.

But I'll purchase my <ale from Waitrose, if that is permitted. I have stopped using Morrison's after I found ll their veg turned to mush in two days.

MMF

Starting this All Hallows Eve session on a milder note. About to open a wonderful blending of two English styles(see Hockley link).

http://www.hockleybeer.ca/hockleydark.html

Pours clear lighter cola brown with good carbonation & nice two finger head. Primarily malt/roasted malt in the aroma, hints of , just a bit of as well as a bit of citrus. Medium dark roast coffee & a bit of citrus taste with chocolate notes - creamy mouthfeel, lighter-side-of-medium bodied...drier finish..

Later as little hobgolns & assorted other wee beasties roam the streets, I'll be pouring a Wychwood Hobgoblin, .

Last one(or two) of the night, locally brewed 3 Bears Oatmeal . A fine example of what an oatmeall stout should be - wonderfully roasty & reasonably complex aroma, balanced / flavour.Smooth with a full-bodied mouthfeel. Another opinion?Watch this older video review.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8AEm4jBihg

I especially like the nostalgic three bear cubs photo they've chosen for the
regular-sized rerelease. See brewery link below.

http://www.alleykatbeer.com/special_brews.htm

I'm starting off with an Amber's Lunch Pail Ale, watching it carefully because they've given me a few cloudy, fruity bottles lately and I'm helping them make sure things are fixed.

Then I'll `probably go for this Howe Sound Pumpkineater Im`perial ~Pum`pkin Ale (1 litre/8%ABV) for Hallowe'en. http://www.howesound.com/Brewery/Beers/Beer_Pumpkineater.aspx


Then, if I'm still awake, I might continue the devilish theme and break into the six `pack of Maudite http://www.unibroue.com/fr/beers/maudite/product

And, I've also got one of Alley Kat's Big Bottles, the Cringer Cranberry Ginger Ale (650ml/5.8%) http://www.alleykatbeer.com/special_brews.htm


I think it will be a nice evening.

I see that video link is 'unavailable'.

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/711/66523/?ba=leaddog

I seem to remember quite liking the Three Bears. I may have to have another soon.

Oh & Unibroue options here are either La Fin du Monde

http://www.unibroue.com/en/beers/la_fin_du_monde/product

or the Trois Pistoles

http://www.unibroue.com/en/beers/trois_pistoles/product

This Howe Sound eater is interesting.

The ness is very subtle (unlike Alley Kat's Spice, which tastes like a pie stuffed into a beer bottle.

eater has a warm, earthy spiced winter ale aspect to it but also, I think, a bit of a barley wine character. None of the spices nor the are overstated at all. Very, very nice!

I'm not sure that I'll make it to the Maudite.

D*mned if you don't! Couldn't resist...maudite - the damnned.

I did.

Last night i had Quantum Robust Porter, which was a bit thin for my liking, but in the low 4s , Their pumpkin ale which was very nice, a single hop IPA that I found a touch too sour/sharp an barley wine they brew which again was a bit thin and a steam beer that seemed a little strange.

It was a meet the brewer evening and he was showing off some experimental beers. I think he should have mixed in one or two of his standard ones which are usually excellent.

A bottle of Marston's Owd Codger. Very nice actually.

Alley Kat Brewing Company (Edmonton, Canada)

Cringer Cranberry Ginger Ale

650ml/4.8%

It pours a nice big white head over a slightly cloudy pale amber body. The colour is actually not very inspiring.

The first aroma I detect with a good huff is juniper. I suppose it's the ginger. Then there's a bit of a cranberry poking through the evergreens. Definitely a woodsy aroma.

Despite the good head, it's a little flat in the mouth (quote of the day when taken out of context?). The flavour is almost as thin as the body. A hint of ginger but no actual bite. A faint hint of something fruity that must be the cranberries. Distant bits of malt.

It's sort of like a trappist, but mixed half and half with soda water -- flat soda water.

I'll be interested to see what Jaz'd has to say about it (I don't expect anyone else here will be trying this one.)

And this post is going to be moderated...

Couldn't exchange my normal for a decent so I'm on 'Stealing Artists'.

My Spewagent doesn't do 'ale>.

MMF



P.S. Normal service resumed later!!!

Drinking a Victory Ale from the Batemans brewery in Lincolnshire. This is one that is easily available as a bottled beer in the supermarkets but tonight I've got the cask version. Not something you see around Manchester but I'm in one of the local family brewer's tied houses and here it is.
A dark amber or copper colour with a good malt sweetness and body, there is the right amount of bitterness to make sure it is not too cloying. A very nice beer that was a suprise to see on the bar.

And the local family brewer who has seen the light and allows a select range of other brewers ale in some of their bars?
Hydes

Again, I've got nothing to add to this converstaion - your chances of finding a cask-conditioned ale in Cyprus is zilch. You may, if you are lucky, find a dusty bottle of Speckled Hen on a supermarket shelf. At a €5'er a pop, you need to be desperate.

I'm sure Pastey mentioned today that one-sixth of h2g2's traffic comes from mobile-enabled devices. It really is quite magical to read these reports 'straight from the pub'. Technology (and ) is a wonderful thing.

Technology and ale, yup, that's me

Elsewhere in the metrolops that is Manchester...

Hawkshead Windermere Pale Ale. This has in the last week won a major competition, the SIBA Northern regional competition supreme gold. This is an excellent beer. Very pale in colour with a firm bitterness underlined by the citrus fruit it brings to the tasted. I don't think it is a good match to the daube I've eaten while drinking it but you can't win them all.

Banks' Original. A true black country mild from Wolverhampton. Chestnut with almost a ruby tinge to the beer. A sweet biscuit taste from the malt and a light bitterness like the old fashioned brew that it is. Sometimes there is nothing wrong with doing things the way you always have done. This is one of those times.

I want beer On the plus side I now have a whole new list to find at the weekend Best ale I ever had was a friends home brew. In fairness he was a perfectionist..also did a great mead.