Middle Aged Spread

This was acquired through a beer swap with someone online and I am beyond excited. It is Maunday Thursday on the Easter calendar and the Last Supper is about to be held. Treachery threatens but, then, one could argue that the actions of Judas were necessary because of what had to happen next. Not a brave man nor a bad man, but a man, simple and nothing more or less. The blackness of the day that is to follow and the chasm that was opened, albeit briefly, was something borne of no more and no less than the actions of mankind. Much like this beer review and swap, which is far more edifying and cheerful. Perhaps a little too cheerful for the Easter story. No matter, I am very excited to try Appleby Brewery's Middle Aged Spread of a stout.

Allusions to Easter aside, would you like to know more?

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?

Gamma Ray

It's been too long that I have had this in storage and my last review reminded me that I really needed to get on and have this. An American Pale Ale, a tag I ought to use more often, from the all-conquering Beavertown Brewery by the name of Gamma Ray. Alas, I was much too slow to get my hands on a can of the Tropigamma and I suspect that I have rather missed out there. Still, as for the New Year resolution to have more quality ales following that awesome 12 day stretch of Christmas ales, it looks I remain mostly on track some four months in. Good.

This is not a trip for the faint-hearted, would you like to know more?

Inhaler

Got this can in ages ago and really need to get round to it. The weather is slowly turning to the kind that allows me to sit in the garden but, you know, it's tea time and I'm not sure I can be bothered. Besides, I did plenty of that this last weekend! Anyway, I have some fish and chips for tea so I'm staying resolutely indoors for my next pale ale treat from Magic Rock Brewing Co. by the name of Inhaler. It promises me that this will be a juicy pale ale, so I am all up for that after the last two triumphs. Time to embrace the juice!

If there's juice, loose, aboot this hoose, would you like to know more?

Lupuloid IPA

I heard these were on in my local bottle shop and carefully planned my route going shopping to ensure that I would accidentally pass the shop with enough money to get some in. I've seen these things flash by on the beer feeds and felt left out as everyone said how good it was. Well, tonight I get to try it for myself and find out what I've been missing.

It's Lupuloid IPA from Beavertown Brewery and I am well-pleased to have it in my possession. Look at that can! I'm itching to get to the drinking and reviewing so would you like to join me by pressing the read more below frantically? Yes? Then do so!

Mountain Livin'

Sunny afternoon, threatening rain, lawn still without sight nor sound of a lawn mower, and I'm in the mood to sit at our garden bench thing and have me some ale. I picked up this Mountain Livin' back when my drinking partner was up for a weekend of ales (see here) and he insisted on buying me a bottle at my local bottle shop - having already sampled the delights of the Burnt Pig - and who was I to argue. I'm not usually a fan of pales but I saw that this was a Statesian brew and at 355ml and thought, why not. And why not indeed. Brewed by Crazy Mountain Brewing Co. up in Colorado (I think). So I sat near the cat-scarer and poured me a glass.

Some big pigeons dropped by to wish me well as I poured and there were wasps out and about near the rather beach-coloured fence panels. Would you like to know more?

Breakfast Stout

I am painfully aware that I haven't made it out into the garden this year. And today I was given opportunity to do just that. Equally, I am aware that today's ale is not one that is easily available. I am indebted to a friend on Twitter who asked to remain anonymous for today's stout, all that and they asked no payment - so I owe them, big time! Anyway, the subject of the review on this crisp sunny spring day is Breakfast Stout from Founder's who so impressed me back in the summer at Leeds International Beer Festival (see here).

My garden is some disarray, the lawn is unmown and the various beds are all a bit of a mess, in short it is a garden in need of TLC but that's no bad thing when there is a slight breeze, warm sunshine and a brightness that makes me narrow my eyes. Would you like to know more?