All Things Beer!

Just that the King's Head is often overlooked so if you'd not been before (which clearly you have!) I just wanted to point it out.

The first (and last) time I was in the King's Head was about 4 years ago and didn't like it.  I remember it as being a bit grubby, but maybe it's got better since then.  Mind you, I didn't like the Head of Steam the first time I went there either... I liked it as a pub, but we had also had a meal in there and the service was terrible and the particular cow who was our waitress seemed to take issue with our Glasgow accents/phrasing and said we were 'aggressive'.  We ended up having to get management involved.     Been in there many time since then, though, and it's been great.

We are going to the Nottingham beer festival on Friday!  

We are going to the Troon beer fest tomorrow... enjoy!

The first (and last) time I was in the King's Head was about 4 years ago and didn't like it.  I remember it as being a bit grubby, but maybe it's got better since then.  

I can see people might get that impression, it's a pub I'd go in with friends, not with the wife. It's what I'd call a "spit and sawdust" type pub, but a great range of beers and much better kept than the HoS.

We'll be down again in January, so maybe I will give it a second chance then!

Just in from Troon Beer Festival... it was ok, not wonderful, but there were a few nice ones on.  I had halves of ...

Arran Brewery Dug 5.5%
Alchemy Cairnpapple 4.1%
Cromarty Happy Chappy 4.1%
Fyne Avalanche 4.5%
Highland Orkney Best 3.6%
Kelburn Jaguar 4.5%
Orkney Corncrake .1%
Strathaven Usquebae 7.0%
Downton Chimera IPA 6.8%
Hawkshead Windermere Pale 3.5%
Kelham Island Pale Rider 5.2%
Partners Tabatha 6.0%
Peerless Storr Lager 4.8%
Three Bs Honey Bee 3.7%

The Nottingham beer festical was good, great venue, huge marquee in the castle and plenty of food stalls.
My favourite beer was Lytham brewery's Witch Wood.

If any of you were thinking about trying real ale, but not sure where to start... the Wetherspoons Real Ale fest starts next week (Wed 24th).  Pop in and pick up the tasting notes booklet (or they might have a downloadable one on their website), and that will give you an idea of the styles and flavours that might suit you.  There are a couple of American real ales in the fest this year.

I'm looking forward to trying the Ijbock from my favourite Dutch brewery.

One of our local Wetherspoons put a couple of their festival beers on early, so last night we got the Ijbock from the Ij Brewery, which was quite nice, and the Titanic Golden Porter, which was beautiful!

If any of you were thinking about trying real ale, but not sure where to start... the Wetherspoons Real Ale fest starts next week (Wed 24th).  Pop in and pick up the tasting notes booklet (or they might have a downloadable one on their website), and that will give you an idea of the styles and flavours that might suit you.  There are a couple of American real ales in the fest this year.

Wetherspoons beer festival + Camra 50p tokens + I finish work on the 31st! Hmmmm!

I love it when a plan comes together!

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Welsh real ales (various types, who can remember them all  ) have been going down a treat with me this week! 

I've not had any luck with Welsh ales... have tried several, and hated them all, so now I kind of avoid them.  But glad to hear you're enjoying them, PB!

Went to Wetherspoons last night and had a really malty Canadian ale called Thirsty Beaver, and a really disgusting American heather ale.  Was eventually rescued by Kelburn Jaguar!

I had my first pumpkin beer last night!
We were in Lord of the Isles and there it was:  http://www.stewartbrewing.co.uk/beers/MiniKegs_PumpkinAle_200_0_2242_0.html?ageapprove=yes

It didn't taste like pumpkin, nor pumpkin pie spices, but it tasted fine and seemed like it would be a reasonable session ale.  It was definitely the lesser of all the evils in that pub!

Oooh I will have to look for that one to see if it compares to my beloved pumpkin beer. (Pumpkinhead or Wachusett Pumpkin are my favourites. It does vary!)

Glad it was a good session beer, Tracey. 

Luckily I'm off to the US in a few weeks for Thanksgiving and my sister has saved me some bottles (will all be off tap by the time I get there. booo).  So I will enjoy!

When I get back to the UK, I am really looking forward to the Christmas ales that pop up in the pubs.  Mmmm.  Real ale. 

Oh, i didn't mean I'd actually had a session on it... just the one pint.  I just meant that it seemed like it could be a decent session beer because it was easy to drink and not terribly strong at 4.3%.

Just had my 2nd ever pumpkin beer... Tempest Pumpkin Pa (6.8%). I felt it was a bit young; but might be nice in a day or 2. Tasted of pumpkin, thr fruit, not pumpkin pie spices.

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