Nodders

Here's this evening's offering, Young's Golden Champion @ 5% ABV. It looks like lager, but it most certainly isn't! They refer to it as "Live Golden Beer".

Hmmmmm ..... that's a point, it's about time I got another kit in as my barrel's nearly empty! In the meantime, it's on with the "expensive" bottles ..... Fine traditional ale at 4.4%. Another Thwaites tonight, the Lancaster Bomber!

^^Heh-heh, you guys are making me jealous! Can't wait to get over there next year & try some of this stuff myself. Meanwhile, I've just opened tonights beverage. At 4.5% ABV, it tastes as good as it looks! A lovely colour. Another Ram Brewery ale, Young's Special.

I visited my local beer & wine merchant the other night & picked a few things up! More tomorrow!! Next, a Thwaite's Thoroughbred at 4.0% First up, Young's bitter at 3.7% Just to keep me going for a few weeks.

Continuing the European theme, I brought home a bevvy of Belgian beauties. I'm having the Blonde at the moment & Saving the Brune for later!

Going continental this evening.

Just thought I'd show you all what I found in Tesco's. I won't bore you with the details as you all should know these two!

Out of interest, I noticed the other night that Tesco now stock Sierra Nevada Pale Ale & Brooklyn Lager. Meanwhile, it's time for the third installment ..... Now I've had McEwan's Champion before, but I felt it needed to be revisited! Intense rich flavour, yet surprisingly easy to drink. A very strong dark traditional Scottish ale. Yes, that's right ... 7.3% ABV!

Next up we have an old favourite from the Highgate Brewery (near Mr Pete) Old Ember. A dark, warming beer made with 3 types of malt & 2 different hops & just a little honey! Had some of this from the barrel at last weeks beerfest so I just had to have another bottle (Last bottle was back last year!). Mmmmm ... heaven!! Lovely chocolatey taste with citrus fruit overtones. Nice from the bottle, nicer from the barrel!

Paid a visit to Tesco this evening & left with a few bottles of goodness! First up is a Young's Special London Ale. Weighing in at a mighty 6.4% ABV. it's a bit gorgeous! Malty richness countered by huge amounts of hops, wonderfully aromatic with a dry & fruity flavour. Yummy!! Another installment tomorrow night! Slluuurrrrppppp!!!!!!! Like meeting an old friend! The last from the Ram Brewery?

The last beer I drank was Wolf Ale from the Wolf brewery in Attleborough, Norfolk. Only 3.9% but rather nice! There were several others before it as I was at the Walsall Beer Festival with Mr Pete & I'm sure he will be posting a quick photo report some time soon!

Rush - Xanadu.

Well, I thought it was about time I posted again. Tonight I'm having a bottle of Rhymney Bitter (Approximately pronounced RUM-NEE) from the Rhymney Brewery which is not far from me. The tasting notes on the label say :- "A complicated beer using 4 types of Warminster malt, complimented with the rich flavour of Northdown hops and the slightly citrus First Gold variety." Tasty & well rounded, with a nice citrus "twang". 4.5% A.B.V.

^ Some excellent looking ales there, guys. Next year's looking good for a few of us getting over there so hopefully we can try a few for ourselves! I haven't had much in the way of alcohol just lately, but tonight I had a Director's Ale from Courage. I won't bother with any photos 'cos you've seen it before. As soon as I get something in that I haven't yet posted I'll put some pics up. Cheers!

Congratulations to all 3 of you. It gets harder from here on ..... I'm nearly off the hook now (my youngest is 16 next year!) Enjoy it while you can, kids can give you as much enjoyment (or in some cases, pain!) as any rollercoaster can. Be happy!

^ I think the problem over here is that most people just assume that all U.S. beers are like Budweiser & Coors, so the real ale peeps wouldn't even think of getting any American craft beer imported ..... which is a real shame. Maybe, as CamRA members (Campaign for Real Ale), Juggler, Mr Pete, Myself & anyone else who reads this could lobby for some imports at some of the beer festivals? Gotta be worth a try! (Afterthought) It may be a price issue. Any US imports over here tend to be quite pricey (usually the dollar price with a £ sign in front) How much does your average craft brew sell for & how much do you pay for UK imports?

Dude, I really NEED one of those turtles! I wonder if I can find one over here? I've been working on the Night Raid & the last of the S.O.S. through the week, but tonight I have a bottle of good old Newcastle Brown Ale. Mmmmm ......

The Devil Is A Loser (And He's My Bitch!) - Lordi.

Children of Decadence - Children of Bodom.

^ Cheers Jugg's ..... it WAS a great weekend (AGAIN!) Just to point out the Old Conkerwood was re-named "Night Raid" after we'd supped a few ('cos it's Sooooooo dark!) I'll be up-loading some of my pics to the Buzzard gallery sometime tomorrow, but for now here's me & a beer! First drink of the day!

Big Generator - Yes.

HA! Valentine's Day? I LOVE BEER!! So tonight I'm having another from the Wychwood stable. I've also just finished a half pint from my latest batch of homebrew. Last one before bed ... I have a long drive north tomorrow! I'm certainly not afraid of the dark! Old Conkerwood Black Ale. As brewed by me!

Right, I can't get the actual desk-top up here, but this is the picture I used. RAWK!

She Is My Sin - Nightwish.

You know, next time I get over there, you'll need to let me know where to buy these interesting looking ales! Meanwhile, I'll console myself with a large bottle of Wychwood Breweries Goliath. CHEERS! It certainly is mighty ale! That's over a pint in there (660ml) or 2 thirds of a litre!