Earthquake

 Tonight I went out to the Burnt Pig Ale Ouse for possibly the last time before further restrictions arrive - because COVID 19 O future reader - and I made this trip not just because I love the place but also because, frankly, they had on Urban Chicken's latest effort: Earthquake - a coffee milk stout. Stout? Yes, stout. It became my favoured style of ale around 2017 and then sort of... well, apparently I am a beardy stout drinker now.

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Oh, you would? Lovely. The first thing that struck me on being served a whole pint (I usually have halves because I am that person in the pub) was the consistency of it. Good biscuit-coloured head in the dim light and a deep darkness reminiscent of a recently abandoned brown field site. Good musty coffee aroma delights the nose, a roasted sensation wafting across the gravel car-park only just starting to be overgrown by the flowering weeds. Good and rich, pregnant with the promise of a solid stout like the ground waiting for redevelopment. Maybe a flat for a professional or else some social housing, either way, something is coming. And the thickness was beguiling, deep and dark. An edge of Saxon warband atop the slightly brown darkness.

Onto the tongue and the reward is a thick viscous mixture, subtle dry coffee with a hint of something else besides. Good thick milk texture on the middle of the taste with a good running of the malt down the sides, big and full. Wallowing luxuriously as it turns over and over in coffee and lactose so that it feels like a breakfast ale in the late evening. A fitting and filling pint that would suit the labourer returning from a long shift just before they go home to the rest of the family. Full of the sort of exotic flavours that, though ahistorical, makes me automatically think of a pre-Norman world and then canals being used for industrial transport. The horse plodding slowly but doggedly along the tow path as the hedgerow and brambles slowly creep into it and onto the edge of the canal wharf. The longboat drifting laden with steel or textiles as the birds fly overhead from the meadows stretching into the middle distance. Copses of tangled oak and ash pepper the landscape, picking out hollows in the fields, like the coffee here.

It ends, though, it finishes. A warmth spreading down the gullet, a coffee dryness and then it is gone. It's good, really good. Deep and dark and perfect for a rainy evening where the weather has turned and the cold is seeping in through the water. Whipped clouds scud across a darkening sky as the sun sets in bruising of the light, street lamps burn, the room goes darker, the stout gets thicker and the fact that it is a pint of it really starts to hit. Not so strong that it will leave me with a headache but enough that it knocks the day on the head. Not so think that it feels like a meal or dessert but enough that it demands some chips and gravy on the walk home. A demand that I clearly gave into because it would be rude not to.

Overall? This is a brilliant stout. I am glad I got out to have it. If you get a chance, get out and have it. Lockdown is coming. This will set you up.

Urban Peaks (again)

It's not often, indeed this may be the first time, that I get the chance to try an ale a second time with a difference. Certainly not overnight. But, here I am with that opportunity.

It's a second bout with Urban Peaks but, this time, it has had a round with a nitro nozzle. Republica had it right and inform me as I write this that they are drop dead gorgeous. Oh, well, I was thinking of their other one: it's back and ready to go.

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Nitro definitely improves the body and removes the feeling that this is watery. For a start there is a strong biscuit head, the honey and almond hit the nose more heavily and instantly grab attention. There's a touch of mill-building in the sun about it. Dry brick grandeur making one squint in the light. The quiet brooding of something that has faced adversity and survived, changed but unbowed.

The cream previously noted, one of the lingering memories from last night's review, makes a bigger play on the opening of the taste and there is a definite hit of the honey there this time. Down the gunnels that honeyed sweetness continues, allowing the dry nuttiness of the almond and malt to make up the middle.

The chocolate remains subtle, warming more than the alcohol, drawing the honey and nuts together and hanging around in the aftertaste. It puts me in mind of a factory town humming with post industrial activity, but it's pre-gentrification so it's not affectation or ostentatious. It's honest and sincere. A kind of satisfied terrace with the extra brick moulding running through, made with care and pride. What a difference a nitro nozzle makes!

The whole thing hangs together more, not that it was bad last night, it wasn't. It was a bit like the terrace, but with the patches of pebbledash and stone facing where people have tried to improve on the original and hidden it instead. The pebbledash is gone here, the brickwork touched back up, the gardens open and the gates freshly painted. I liked what it was last night. But this is back in the big leagues.

I've said it before but Urban Pig (link) was a stout that belonged in the company of Desserts in a Can and Macchiato (link). It played in the premier league and could destroy all but the biggest rivals. This, nitro Urban Peaks, is a worthy stablemate to that triumph.

On a warm day, after shopping and regretting the pizza takeaway last night, the slippery honey is welcome. Not too heavy, nicely balanced at the 5.5% ABV this is back in its comfort zone. As am I. Two trips out to the Crafty One back to back? Truly I am spoiled!

Bucket and Spade

Despite a heatwave of epic proportions and oodles of time to myself, I haven't made it to the beach this summer beyond a small sandpit in the middle of some odd shopping centre. It is, therefore, quite fitting that I find myself with the last real day of the holidays sampling a rather holiday-centric ale brewed for charity from the rather nice folks at Urban Chicken and the Crafty One in Ilson by the name of Bucket and Spade.

I was rather pleased to net some of this, being away last weekend when it was being served for the first time in a local beer festival that I was sad to miss, and I felt I needed more of an occasion than "I fancy a beer" at lunchtime to justify having an ale at... uh... lunchtime. So I mowed the lawn. Productivity! Effort! Beer! And, yes, job was a good'un. Would you like to know more?

Chocolate Orange Porter

Back last Sunday when I was at the Crafty One I was in... shall we shay, rather late. As I was leaving Stuart, for twas he, passed on a bottle brewed by a customer and asked me to have a try and see what I thought. Obviously I drank it stra- no, I did a me and left it in the fridge, fully intending to drink it but still had not by Wednesday when I met the guy that actually brewed it. One Tony Start. Having met him I promised that I would have it on Thursday but... well, I was out on Wednesday and so... well, I didn't.

Now I finally get round to it! Hurrah!

So, I have some Chocolate Orange Porter, would you like to know how it tastes this fine Easter and my thoughts on drinking it? Would you like to know more?

The Crafty One

I don't think I've actually reviewed my local bottle shop, which is something of an oversight as it has become something of a fixture for me these days. I went when it was just starting up and assumed I would spend about a fiver a week. Of course I ended up at a tenner, but then he started getting in the good stuff and announcing it on Facebook and so I had to come along and, well, long story short: I remember what it was like to have a bit of spare cash of a month, nowadays I seem to spend it all on beer.

I refer, of course, to the establishment that is The Crafty One Bar and Bottle Shop what is rather amazing and always has some decent stuff in stock or on the craft board. This visit was had because it was announced over Faceparts that there was some Macchiato and Limoncello IPA on tap, so obviously I had to pop along. Would you like to know more?

Burnt Pig

It has become something of a habit that if I have to travel a long distance to the supermarket beyond the roundabout then I tend to drop by my local and get me a half of something nice and lovely. This habit has been rather hidden from this blog since I started it in September and I haven't been posting here that much, nevertheless, as I attempt to breathe life back into this husk of a place and get me writing again it seemed like a good point to start talking of my favourite local haunts.

I refer, this time, to the excellent Burnt Pig Ale 'Ouse that has been something of a feature on here for a while now. Today I want to talk about the board of offerings that they ad on this Saturday and the stout that I was lucky enough to snag with a game of shut the box again, not as good as the collaboration with Urban Chicken but still a decent catch.

Urban Pig

These days I don't get out to pubs very often because I am so busy (woe is me) and so it is something when I get out to try something brewed locally. Basically, when a tweet (yes, I know) crosses your way telling you that there's some chocolate stout brewed exclusively for your favourite ale house now being served you drop the baby duties, which I was involved in, and you get yourself out to sample the brew. Then, as if you needed further encouragement, you accidentally drop into the place again whilst out shopping.

I refer, of course, to the rather nicely named Urban Pig Chocolate Snout from Urban Chicken that was brewed specially for my local boozer. Would you like to know more?

Urban Gold

Having had the wonderful Pit Pony in a bottle (see here) and the equally good, but less delectable for me, Bantam with my father (see here) it was a no brainer that I would pick up the Urban Gold from Urban Chicken Ale when I saw it in my local bottle shop. Furthermore, it had to be had on the Bank Holiday because it screamed Bank Holiday ale!

If you were to go to ancient Rhodes and sail into the harbour you may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of a giant statue that is supposed to have stood astride the channel under which triremes sailed and plied their trade. This was the Colossus and it was supposed to have been something of a sight to behold, in much the same way I suspect that the Urban Gold stands astride my Bank Holiday ales (and I had a few) in a fashion that means I have to actually get on and review it above all others.

If you'll forgive the obvious self-referential flourish, this is an epic beer. Would you like to know more?

Epic Beer

A friend and I had been trying to get together for a bit of pub crawl in Ilson for some time. See, last year about this time he had taken me around Derby and I, like the capricious soul I am, have never got round to writing up the experience. However, I had promised him a tour of my gaffe and some of the pubs that are to be had. Since then we have had some new pubs open, including the bottle shop, and it was time. Thankfully, our wives were also in need of meeting up and thus organised us into a night on the pubs.

We set out into the warm summer's evening and found that my usual was shut, it being Wednesday, and so had to quickly take that into consideration. A recce earlier in the day had identified some decent ales on and so it was that we ventured into town in high spirits and with some gung-ho spirit! Would you like to know more?

Pit Pony

I have been meaning to get round to reviewing this for a long time. I heard, through the Book of Faces, that there were to be bottles of Pit Pony available and then waited with bated breath for them to be dropped. I've had this already, on draught, and thoroughly enjoyed it as it is a fine example of an oatmeal stout. You can find my thoughts about it by clicking these words. So it was, when it was in the local bottle shop, I rushed out with the exhortations of my long-suffering wife to get some in. I managed to bag two bottles, intending to share, as there was limited stock. Then life sort of intervened, I had intended to share it with a visitor but ended up trying something a little hoppier and murkier instead. Then I finally got round to having it and thus, tonight, can review the whole experience!

Look at it! The day had been windy and cool with occasional sunshine, we went out with some friends, but by the evening it was cooler and with rain threatening so there was no chance to have it out in the garden. Instead, I had it in the kitchen whilst cooking and then eating an omelette, because I know how much my eating habits feature. Would you like to join me on a journey through Urban Chicken Ale's Pit Pony oatmeal stout? You would? Wonderful!

LocAle Stout

On the countdown to Easter we are officially at Wednesday. Time for me to regale you with aborted efforts to join in last Friday with an effort online to sample local ales, that is, ales brewed in the local area. As it was, I was required to drive a bit so there was no drinking for me. However, I have been keeping an eye out for locally brewed stuff and this took me to the local Wetherspoons - The Observatory - and my favourite local being the Burnt Pig. In these places I did discover two locally brewed stouts and, well, you know me and stout lately. So here's a review of some of those!

In truth, this is all the local ale that I have had in local hostelries. Local ale for local people, there's nothing for you here, unless you're local. Also, Ilson, because. Would you like to know more?

Weekend Ales

Wait, what is this? I'm posting about ale not on a Sunday or Thursday, which is odd enough, but also the post is entitled weekend ales and I'm not drinking. What is going on? Well, actually, it's simple, I had some visitors up a few weekends back and we had some seriously nice ale that I am itching to review but I already had two ales that I wanted to review and so it fell by the wayside. Then I was busy for ages and now I get round to writing up my experiences of some quite nice ales that I had on a weekend. Problem solved.

Contained herein are reviews of three rather lovely stouts, because I really like stouts and I need to share how much with people who may be able to get hold of these stouts. They were all on tap rather than in bottles so I can't vouch for their availability but they're all worth seeking out. Would you like to know more?

Dark Arts

What better meal is there to have on a Sunday than leftovers? Specifically, the kind of leftovers that you can monkey around with and add different herbs and spices to in order to make something quite lip-smackingly good. And, of course, what better accompaniment in the depths of January when trying out new brewers than some stout from a can? There is no answer because there is nothing better. As a consequence I should like to introduce you to tonight's delectable offering, admittedly drunk around lunchtime, from Magic Rock Brewing Co. about whom I have heard nothing but good things.

I refer, of course, to their rather nice looking can of Dark Arts, a 'Surreal Stout' in their words, and in a frightfully clever black and silver can. It seems like the sort of thing to suit a mainly cold set of days and the treadmill of getting through coursework and mock marking whilst having rushed to complete reports.

Enough about the context, we want to be getting on to the ale itself. Would you like to know more?

Raising Purgatory

I take the title from my friend's comment on our activities this weekend on a Saturday in Ilson town. I think it most appropriate! Two blokes out for a beer or two with the hope of curry are hardly the sort of combination to cause trouble or raise the roof particularly. So it was that my friend from FE and I descended on the southern part of Ilkeston in the evening to sample ales and discuss matters of import - setting the world to rights - and nary a sporting anecdote to be seen.

There was very little in the way of planning, as one might expect, and a rumble of thunder (that caused a comic dash from me to unplug the EV before setting off) preceded a big fall of rain that pretty much obliterated chances of getting exterior shots of the pubs we visited whilst the joy of catching up pretty much obviated the collection of pictures from within. Luckily my beer bore settings were high so I managed to gain pictorial proof of the ales consumed.

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A Weekend of Ales

This week is the time I can make it official - we are getting another addition to the family in the form of a small human some time in April. Scan at the beginning of the week confirmed that it was not a Velociraptor (which is a shame if you ask me) and that it had the normal expected complement of limbs and features for a 12 week old foetus. Announcement of this garnered ales from my colleague and friend at work who shall remain nameless but awesome and thus I had some Yorkshire love in the form of light and frothy beer. Add in a swift trip to my favourite local (the Burnt Pig, you can find many references to them by clicking here) and you have the makings of a good weekend with much ale, why not? I even have an excuse.

As usual, there is still time to bail out, and much of this entry consists of re-reviews rather than new ales, so there's a dash of Midlands and the South thrown in for good measure. Would you like to know more?

Exploring

It has been a while since I went around pubbing and Willow had said that I ought to go to my local, so it seemed like as good a time as any. The observant will have noted, however, that my usual notation for just heading down the Burnt Pig Ale 'Ouse is missing: that is because I didn't stay put. A hot day, a warm night in the offing and the feeling that I wanted to be moving all contributed to me not sitting still. That and the fact that the Burnt Pig continues to attract large crowds of friendly people (and I am not very good at being alone in friendly crowds) - no criticism of the place, but it did mean that I got to see some parts of where I live that I have not seen before and have, well, a bit of an explore of an evening.

Also, there was the small matter of the lovely sunset-thing that I saw and think I even managed to capture on my new phone camera. There's a function that messes with the brightness that allows me to take some shots I would simply have been unable to capture in the past.

Now that I have thoroughly bored all five of my readers, would you like to know more about the important parts of my trip: the beers?

Downt'pub: Burnt Pig's First Birthday

Back about a year ago I said that I would have to make the Burnt Pig a proper local haunt and go there more often. It took me over six months to make good on that but I have now been going approximately every week for a while now (long enough to build up some posts that I haven't yet published). So it stood to reason that I would go and sample what was on offer on the Birthday Party some time around 4pm.

From Pubs Galore - it was wonderfully sunny and dry, also busy
when I went.

As to the rest of the posts, I shall be attempting to publish those over the coming week to get this place back up to date and operative again. We shall see. Would you like to know more?

Downt'pub: Light up the fire

Another chance to sample the delights that my locals have to offer. I'll be honest, I expected to stay in one place this evening but ended up traipsing around between two local offerings. I have to say that the welcome was excellent, as always, in the Burnt Pig and the staff were very indulgent of a half-cut hairy beast in the local JDW: The Observatory. Also, this was all at the encouragement of my wife and I can't really pass up an opportunity to go out and get some halves in on the suggestion of someone else, can I?

Come, fair web-traveller, join me on a journey twixt two public houses so to sample the ale-libations and delights that are contained therein. Would you like to know more?

Downt'pub: Fancy a Cwtch?

I came out to the pub recently because I noted that my local, The Burnt Pig, had some Cwtch in by Tiny Rebel and that alone was enough to make me rise from my table where I do my marking and take some spare change the long five minute walk to their door and throw it at the nearest person behind the bar in return for some sweet beer lovin'. Or, you know, I thought I'd pop down the pub for a swift half or so. It was a nice enough evening and balmy enough despite the lingering effects of the winter clinging on the breeze and this augured well.

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Downt'pub: I want it all

My local, in Ilkeston, is a nice place. Maybe you've heard me talk about it before? It's the Burnt Pig Ale 'Ouse, and has really gone from strength to strength since I went to the opening night. From having a buffet on for free over Christmas to opening a new room at the back to accommodate the punters and having a good selection of constantly shifting interesting ales this place is very much a place that I have enjoyed coming back to again and again. And I'm not even being paid for writing all this puff, it just is that nice a place. I can't claim to know any of the staff well enough to be recognised, I don't go often enough, but there is definitely a community feel to the place and so it was when I found myself with time of an evening that Willow suggested I go there for a swift half.

I don't need telling twice, despite what my wordiness might suggest!

So, care to walk with me to the local ale 'ouse and sample some of their wares? You would? Excellent, then let's adjourn there now, shall we?