tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30919840689900714302024-03-13T03:21:37.577-07:00Charlie McVeighCharlie McVeighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07967002032615534706noreply@blogger.comBlogger73125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3091984068990071430.post-76580798995647332512012-09-20T02:29:00.003-07:002021-05-07T07:00:25.176-07:00My Blog has Moved Loyal readers,<br />
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My blog is now <a href="https://www.charliemcveigh.uk/blog">here</a>.<br />
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Happy hopping,<br />
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CharlieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3091984068990071430.post-45050113435898647912012-04-29T09:11:00.001-07:002012-04-29T11:56:37.287-07:00Eats Hop Shoots & Leaves<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EtDcCf3-Tvg/T51oAcs3GQI/AAAAAAAAA40/kRI1TCJB6rk/s1600/2012-04-27+10.52.04.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EtDcCf3-Tvg/T51oAcs3GQI/AAAAAAAAA40/kRI1TCJB6rk/s400/2012-04-27+10.52.04.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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While it was raining in London yesterday Shaun (from Tower Bridge) and I headed down to sunny Kent with the London Brewers Alliance to pick hop shoots, an intensely seasonal ingredient which - while virtually unknown in the UK - is popular in Belgium and was a prized delicacy for the Romans before hop was even considered by brewers as a flavouring and preservative.<br />
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Hop is a perennial vine which dies back in the winter only to resprout in the spring, eventually in high summer reaching heights of 20+ feet on hop poles (see above) before producing the 'cones' or flowers which are used in brewing. Just now the plants are tiny and tender - and the fleshy tip makes - as it turns out - good eating - somewhere between English Asparagus, Purple Sprouting Broccoli and Samphire.<br />
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In a Draft House near you they will be available this weekend while stocks last so get on down. At Lordship Lane Richard Shucksmith will be serving Pan-Fried Smoked Haddock Fish Cake w/ A Duck Egg and Wilted Hop Shoots. I scoffed the one in the picture below and can assure you it is DELICIOUS.<br />
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<img border="0" src="http://c2181912.cdn.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/16812--c30a30c808a851088e9a027e75d3a76b.jpg" /> <br />
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On the day itself Fullers excelled themselves bringing a cooler full of Scallops, which emerged as an excellent accompaniment to wilted hop shoots.<br />
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<img border="0" src="http://c2181912.cdn.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/16812--8a626e1dbce487bcc4b4a99b5cf66b27.jpg" /><br />
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Nigel, the lovely Fuller's Director of Brewing, also artfully arranged a firkin of Bengal Lancer IPA as below. Sort of like the Madonna of the Rocks but a lot prettier.<br />
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<img border="0" src="http://c2181912.cdn.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/16812--7383f56bfc66f102ef800f1471b30ef5.jpg" /><br />
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Any road, will be nice to see you all down here for a bit of Eats, Shoots and Leaves action.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3091984068990071430.post-36184093757364059802012-01-23T00:23:00.000-08:002012-01-23T00:23:54.479-08:00Prospects for the UK Brewing Industry in 2012: "Consolidation Inevitable"<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">From <i>Inside Track </i>in<i> M&C Report</i> by John Harrington</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It's a strange paradox that while cask ale brewers have undergone a renaissance, the size of Britain's pub stock has been in freefall.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Campaign for Real Ale's Good Beer Guide from last September reported that 99 breweries opened over the past year, up from 78 over the previous 12-month period; 840 real ale brewers were listed in total. Meanwhile, despite slowing to 25 from 52 per week in the first half of 2009, the rapid closure rate left Britain with 50,811 pubs as of July 2011. That's a decline of c.1,000 in one year - in 2006 the figure stood at 58,200 (figures: CGA).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Does something have to give? There's been little in the way of brewer consolidation or partnership in recent years, last February's £20m acquisition of Cornish brewer Sharp's by Molson's Coors' aside. But some well-known brewing industry figures are now saying that consolidation in the sector is not only likely in 2012, but almost inevitable.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Arguably, the process started last month with Manchester brewer Hydes' announcement that it's to sell its freetrade business to local rival Daniel Thwaites, and scale down its brewing operations by closing the Moss Side site and moving to a new facility.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">David Grant, managing director of Lancashire brewer Moorhouse's, believes consolidation is on the cards this year. "We've got breweries opening quicker than we've got pubs opening. A lot of small brewers are opening because they see opportunities in the market and they only pay limited duty [due to Progressive Beer Duty, PBD].</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"The market is becoming awash with brewers now, which is great for consumers because they have a huge choice, but it's going to get to a stage where there are too many brewers for the demand in the market place."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As well as the decline in pub numbers, there's an increasing feeling that medium-sized brewers are becoming, to borrow a popular phrase, the squeezed middle. Too big to gain major advantages of the tax breaks offered under PBD - these are applied on a sliding scale, so microbrewers benefit the most - and too small to benefit from true economies of scale like their national counterparts, they're finding it increasingly difficult to grow profits, despite the steady growth in cask ale sales in recent years.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Take Hydes, which recently reported a 9% fall in pre-tax profits to £1.2m despite achieving a 2.2% rise in turnover (£23.8m) in the year to 3 April 2011.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"The larger brewers that are paying full duty are now suffering more than they ever have done because of competition with brewers that are paying half the duty," said Grant, who revealed that his duty bill has risen by £300k this year by virtue of increased sales last year. Short-term factors could also add to the pressure; Grant points out that barley costs have gone "through the roof" this past year due to a bad harvest, with prices up 30%-50%.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">James Arkell, chairman of Wiltshire brewer Arkell's, which saw profits decline for the fourth year running in its most recent results, is also acutely aware of the difficulties in translating sales to profits. "Making that extra money (or regaining our past profits) seems to elude us, however much effort we put in and it is harder now than ever before," he wrote in the company's most recent accounts.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Higher utility costs and taxation combined with lower gross margins have stripped away profits. New legislation continues to add cost to the business. Tax rises in the form of VAT, duty and National Insurance have all happened since January - the list is never ending!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It's little wonder, then, that last week the Independent Family Brewers of Britain pledged £240k towards the campaign to reduce VAT to 5% for pubs and restaurants on drink, food and accommodation.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But a more onerous burden is beer duty, which has risen by a mouth-watering 35% since March 2008 thanks to the duty escalator. To put the burden in context, Yorkshire-based Black Sheep - which is solely a brewer, with no pub estate - last year paid £7.5m in duty, or 41% of its entire annual turnover.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Even those brewers that are reporting rising profits emphasise the burden they are under. Charles Wells last week reported a 2.1% increase in pre-tax profit for the year to 1 October, but highlighted that its total tax bill was £70m - 38% of revenue.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Everyone in the industry, from drinks producers to pub operators and restaurant companies, has good reason to complain about rising costs, but perhaps brewers are experiencing it more than most; all the more likely, then, that consolidations could be imminent.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Stephen Gould, managing director of Leicestershire brewer Everards, is another trade figure predicting such an outcome. This could be via takeover or some kind of partnership, he suggests, mirroring the agreement between Charles Wells and Young's to combine their brewing operations back in 2006.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"If we look at any other industry that's effectively manufacturing where there's limited growth for what they manufacture, then I think inevitably they will get to saturation point in terms of the number of brewers. And in any industry when you get saturation point, you get some degree of consolidation. That usually comes through strategic alliances or outright acquisition."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Are there opportunities here, also, for well-funded and strong-performing pub and bar operators to add a brewery to their assets? As private equity eyes opportunities to invest in fast-growing multiples, it stands to reason that the number of desirable sites currently on the market will eventually dry up. Perhaps a move into brewery ownership could be the natural next stage.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Certainly, stranger things have happened. Who would have thought six months ago that a regional brewer/pub operator would buy a small coffee bar chain, as SA Brain managed with its takeover of Coffee#1 in October?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Gould certainly sees the logic in this. "I think vertical integration is still a very credible part of anybody's business plan. If one looks out of our sector at Morrisons, they would argue they have vertically integrated structure because they manufacture and retail. I could see pub operators of all sizes seeing brewing as the future of their business."</span><br />
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<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3091984068990071430.post-37045136703959772052011-11-15T07:25:00.000-08:002011-11-15T07:53:55.082-08:0030th November: No Bourbon, Four Scotches, Four Beers<div style="text-align: center;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></u></div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9x-6JuGt7WM/TsKH6LpyYCI/AAAAAAAAA4U/VICzlu44-pQ/s1600/Haggis%2B%2528Scottish%2Bspeciality%2529%252C%2Bmashed%2Bturnips%2Band%2Bwhisky-401451.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9x-6JuGt7WM/TsKH6LpyYCI/AAAAAAAAA4U/VICzlu44-pQ/s400/Haggis%2B%2528Scottish%2Bspeciality%2529%252C%2Bmashed%2Bturnips%2Band%2Bwhisky-401451.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5675247914070466594" /></a><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" >At least that's how, in his signature minimalist style, <a href="http://grooveshark.com/s/One+Bourbon+One+Scotch+One+Beer/1Q49CT?src=5">John Lee Hooker</a> might have described our St Andrew's Day Beer & Food Matching Spectacular at Draft House Tower Bridge with <i>Innis & Gunn</i> and <i>Bowmore Whisky</i> on 30th November.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >I doubt John Lee would have had much time for the haggis, or indeed any solids (other than a persistent, dangling Lucky Strike) but there's plenty for the rest of us to appreciate.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Bookings can be made by clicking <a href="http://bowmore.eventbrite.co.uk/">here</a>.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><i style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></i></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Innis & Gunn Oak Aged Beer</i></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" >Bowmore Whisky </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" >present</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" >A St Andrew's Night Beer, Whisky & Food Matching Spectacular</span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Welcome Drinks</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" >Innis & Gunn Original Draught 6.6%</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" >Bowmore Whisky Cocktails</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >*</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Scottish smoked Salmon Mousse</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" >Innis & Gunn Highland Cask 7.2%</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" >Bowmore 12 Year Old</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" > *</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Haggis infused w Innis & Gunn Rum Cask</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Served w neeps & tatties & curly kale</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" >Innis & Gunn Rum Cask 7.4%</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" >Bowmore 15 Year Old Darkest</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >*</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Treacle TartServed w Vanilla-Infused Clotted Cream</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" >Innis & Gunn Triple Matured 7.2%</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" >Bowmore 18 Year Old</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >*</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Artisan Cheeses</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" >Innis & Gunn Winter Beer 2011 </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span><span>B</span></span>owmore Tempest Small Batch Release III </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" > £25.00 per person</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span><div><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--mpdbiRjcv0/TsKIiWULJ4I/AAAAAAAAA4s/kA-yzKNMlHA/s1600/bowmorebottlings.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--mpdbiRjcv0/TsKIiWULJ4I/AAAAAAAAA4s/kA-yzKNMlHA/s320/bowmorebottlings.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5675248604127373186" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 263px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cE44a_OhHd4/TsKIiMjgh2I/AAAAAAAAA4g/i2u7BpTurGE/s1600/innis%2Band%2Bgunn.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cE44a_OhHd4/TsKIiMjgh2I/AAAAAAAAA4g/i2u7BpTurGE/s320/innis%2Band%2Bgunn.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5675248601507333986" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a></span></div><div><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div></div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3091984068990071430.post-30882488803095524122011-10-02T08:11:00.000-07:002011-10-03T00:48:20.550-07:00Oktoberfest: Jaw-Dropping Scale but with Awe-Inspiring Quality<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PBVT3DJOBSc/ToiCHEOl1qI/AAAAAAAAA1c/RwaK0OlGcto/s1600/2011-09-28%2B14.08.16.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PBVT3DJOBSc/ToiCHEOl1qI/AAAAAAAAA1c/RwaK0OlGcto/s400/2011-09-28%2B14.08.16.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658915989696665250" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Nothing prepared me for the sheer grandness of the whole thing. And I don’t just mean the Fest itself. Everything about beer in Bavaria is, well, big. You can forget about Texas.</span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>We started, as you do in these parts, with a breakfast beer. Well, breakfast Stein more like. That’s a massive, heavy, handled glass containing damn nearly two pints of beer. In my case, and to general macho mockery (even from the Brunhildegards), I chose a Dunkel Radler. That is a dark beer with lemonade – but pre-mixed in the brewery and sold on tap. It was delicious.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LOSETQAQj20/ToiA5ugQjfI/AAAAAAAAA08/RKHYowbOb4A/s1600/2011-09-28%2B11.51.38.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LOSETQAQj20/ToiA5ugQjfI/AAAAAAAAA08/RKHYowbOb4A/s400/2011-09-28%2B11.51.38.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658914661015260658" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 400px; " /></a></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span">But the size of the glass is nothing in comparison to the size of the pub where we drank it before heading for the Fest itself. The Munich Hofbrauhaus is 11,000 square metres in size – or 100,000 square feet in old money. That is almost twenty times bigger than Le Café Anglais.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_d3wGK9cvqk/ToiBS8Oby4I/AAAAAAAAA1M/CZH-NpNb-Pc/s1600/2011-09-28%2B12.37.42.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_d3wGK9cvqk/ToiBS8Oby4I/AAAAAAAAA1M/CZH-NpNb-Pc/s400/2011-09-28%2B12.37.42.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658915094195325826" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 400px; " /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QZRUsHOz0Hw/ToiBSl29K4I/AAAAAAAAA1E/m6sNDU3KFNY/s1600/2011-09-28%2B12.08.02.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QZRUsHOz0Hw/ToiBSl29K4I/AAAAAAAAA1E/m6sNDU3KFNY/s400/2011-09-28%2B12.08.02.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658915088191269762" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 400px; " /></a></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">It is also a sensationally light and beautiful vaulted building dating back to 1519 (though substantially rebuilt in 1879). Us assembled pub types estimated annual takings at somewhere not a million miles shy of £50 million. Over 7,000 customers a day spending £20, in other words. It also proves that a government <i>can</i> run a piss-up in a brewery. The Bavarian State has owned the place since the monarchy departed power.</span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>And the sheer joy of the menu. Eight mains, all pork or porcine. We didn’t eat but the kitchen (itself the size of Le Café Anglais with a wash-up area the size of Draft House Tower Bridge) was spotless and the food looked immaculately executed. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>The Munich Hofbrauhaus is a game-changer and must-visit for any human.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>An hour or so and a Dunkel Radler, a Weisse Helles, a Dunkelbier and a Dunkel Weiss later we headed off for the Oktoberfest.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QrA0-VcZL58/ToiCHc50O-I/AAAAAAAAA1k/PvMV2_MLElc/s1600/2011-09-28%2B14.15.17.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QrA0-VcZL58/ToiCHc50O-I/AAAAAAAAA1k/PvMV2_MLElc/s400/2011-09-28%2B14.15.17.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658915996320414690" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 240px; " /></a></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Once again I was overwhelmed. The festival ferris wheel you see from the entrance must be a mile away and looks like a toy. In between are tents, more funfair rides, food stands and thousands, nay hundreds of thousands, of happy drunks.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wm1H4GLExZA/ToiAjquc2TI/AAAAAAAAA00/CJGDhKejrfw/s1600/2011-09-28%2B14.12.31.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wm1H4GLExZA/ToiAjquc2TI/AAAAAAAAA00/CJGDhKejrfw/s400/2011-09-28%2B14.12.31.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658914282043922738" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 400px; " /></a></span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>We were fortunate enough to be in the Augustiner tent, one of the great family-owned breweries of Munich. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IVOS2nHZ0KY/ToiClR5wsuI/AAAAAAAAA1s/hanyURN42vw/s1600/2011-09-28%2B14.13.46.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IVOS2nHZ0KY/ToiClR5wsuI/AAAAAAAAA1s/hanyURN42vw/s400/2011-09-28%2B14.13.46.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658916508763468514" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 400px; " /></a></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Their Oktoberfest Beer (at 9 Euros per Stein) was effectively an oak-aged cask lager, poured from giant 200L wooden barrels. The pressure of the beer emerging from the barrel is such that each litre-Stein takes less than two seconds to pour (a lesson from the <i>middle ages</i> for the cooking lager brewers?). The beer is fresh and frothy and belies its 7% ABV. It is also one of the finest drinks I have ever had the good fortune to drink. No wonder festival beer is also known as <i>Wiesenbier</i>, or beer of the meadows. (Footage of a similar cask being tapped is at the bottom of this post from a sister Augustiner bar in town)</span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LRUEEriRvQs/ToiBwokiFKI/AAAAAAAAA1U/VSz5GGrJr7c/s1600/2011-09-28%2B16.22.55.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LRUEEriRvQs/ToiBwokiFKI/AAAAAAAAA1U/VSz5GGrJr7c/s400/2011-09-28%2B16.22.55.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658915604315378850" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 400px; " /></a></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span">And the tent itself held a mere 11,000 seated guests. Each table is bedecked in an array of German pork products, wafer-thin Kohlrabi, and huge platters of grilled chicken.</span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span>I confess to having found it all a tad over-whelming and after two hours and an Easter Island full of mysterious, once full but now empty Steins, we decamped for Munich Old Town and a small pub, <i>Augustiner am Platz</i>, also owned by Augustiner. Here the world was set to rights and – due to studiously avoiding any Schnapps – I found myself in bed at 22-hundred hours.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span">Here's a video of the barman tapping a 32L cask of Oktoberfestbier (the equivalent 200L casks were being tapped every few minutes or so at the Augustiner tent a few km away). Thanks to John McElhinney of Windmill Taverns for lending me the footage.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyK5MxiCnbyVk6teWtX42OKFXXFbGsjSjVisS7SC93v2W32TJn-5kV_trWbwHX6FRE1Vf0ibsk4bh8H9I-U' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span">The next day, back to England, full of inspiration - and beer.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><i><span class="Apple-style-span">Many thanks to Brian, Mark and Earl from Thwaite's for their generosity in accommodating me on this extraordinary trip. I love Nutty Black more than ever, chaps.</span></i></span></p>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3091984068990071430.post-23491490892652518162011-09-02T04:45:00.000-07:002011-09-02T05:06:54.061-07:00Burgered but Happy<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Izk4McfBNUI/TmDEpyuTvsI/AAAAAAAAAz0/Ev63u78aBxA/s1600/Servin%2Bem%2Bup.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Izk4McfBNUI/TmDEpyuTvsI/AAAAAAAAAz0/Ev63u78aBxA/s400/Servin%2Bem%2Bup.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647730154992287426" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br />It has been a summer of burgers. First there was the exhaustive 6-week preparation for Burger Monday with Daniel Young of www.youngandfoodish.com.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span><div> <div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HuHaf6EWY60/TmDE9U8pqQI/AAAAAAAAAz8/5vwNOououks/s1600/Charlie%2Band%2BDaniel.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HuHaf6EWY60/TmDE9U8pqQI/AAAAAAAAAz8/5vwNOououks/s400/Charlie%2Band%2BDaniel.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647730490596763906" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Charlie and Daniel</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >For those who don't know, Daniel's burger pop-ups have become legendary - he asks a well known chef to create a new burger in an unusual setting - usually a greasy spoon. They are limited events and tickets are like hen's teeth - for the Draft House Burger Monday all 80 tickets sold out in 15 minutes.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Because Daniel fell in love with the Tower Bridge Tasting Rooms at Draft House Tower Bridge, I persuaded him to break the format and do the event in-house. Then Simon Noumar and Patrick Taylor from the kitchen team there created not one but a three-course burger menu which we matched with cask ales from the Windsor & Eton Brewery. And those burgers (soon to go onto the menu at all Draft Houses) were:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >The Yolk (4oz patty with a trimmed fried egg, glazed hollandaise)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >The Smoke (4oz patty with house-cured bacon, house-smoked cheddar and harissa mayo)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >The Foie (slab of Foie Gras and cherry Lambic jelly)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-atp_H9DOvys/TmDFZIFpNkI/AAAAAAAAA0E/vGL7-rH_53I/s1600/BurgerMonday-DraftHouse-PWF-0979.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-atp_H9DOvys/TmDFZIFpNkI/AAAAAAAAA0E/vGL7-rH_53I/s400/BurgerMonday-DraftHouse-PWF-0979.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647730968181159490" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >The Smoke</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >In all, 240 burgers were served over two sittings in just under three hours - a pretty extraordinary achievement by the Draft House kitchen - and the burgers were sensational. I think the pictures speak for themselves.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OV7pDhLn3iM/TmDFviMr8oI/AAAAAAAAA0M/nXPw82YMz9w/s1600/BurgerMonday-DraftHouse-PWF-0362.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OV7pDhLn3iM/TmDFviMr8oI/AAAAAAAAA0M/nXPw82YMz9w/s400/BurgerMonday-DraftHouse-PWF-0362.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647731353147142786" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Simon glazing the Hollandaise on the Yolk Burger</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Now if this catches your fancy, or you missed out on tickets on the night, let us know (info@tastingrooms.co.uk) as we are recreating this Burger Feast at £14.75pp. As above, all the burgers will be going on the main menus at all three Draft Houses shortly, watch this space.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></div><div>
<br /></div></div></div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3091984068990071430.post-79007134997174612602011-07-20T05:59:00.000-07:002011-07-20T08:35:44.234-07:00Innis & Gunn Beer & Food Matching Banquet<span class="Apple-style-span" >Absolutely brilliant dinner at the Tower Bridge Tasting Rooms (at Draft House Tower bridge). Hosting was Dougal Clark, owner-brewer, and the Draft House's very own Simon Noumar was cooking upstairs. Yours truly was crashing around as usual, generating a fair amount of smoke and light.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Wasting no time, the menu was as follows:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >We kicked off with a palate-cleansing third of Innis & Gunn Original Draught (6.6%) followed by....</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Grilled Kent Asparagus, Scottish Cured Salmon</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Innis & Gunn Canada Day 2011 8.3%</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >*</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Venison Pie infused w Innis & Gunn Rum Cask</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >w/ Neeps, Tatties & Curly Cale</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Innis & Gunn Rum Cask 7.4%</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >*</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Adam’s Treacle Tart</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >w/ Vanilla-infused Clotted Cream</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Innis & Gunn Triple Matured 7.2%</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >*</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Selection of seasonal fruits</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Melville’s Strawberry Beer & Melville’s Raspberry Beer 4.1%</span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Dougal Clark was fascinating on the story behind Innis & Gunn and he shared several drinks with each table.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >All in all a good time was had by all.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Thanks to Dougal, Adam and all the guys from I&G.</span></div><div><br /></div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3091984068990071430.post-91352964886843762512011-07-15T08:37:00.000-07:002011-08-16T23:16:43.406-07:00Coffee: Should it be Freshly Ground?<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eqzvn1E1Eag/TktcwfDmF7I/AAAAAAAAAuc/PWdDBT4qi8o/s1600/monmouth-logo.gif" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 28px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eqzvn1E1Eag/TktcwfDmF7I/AAAAAAAAAuc/PWdDBT4qi8o/s400/monmouth-logo.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641704946251732914" /></a>
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><u>
<br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><u>
<br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><u>
<br /></u></span></div><span><span>Having recently been for coffee training at Monmouth, who supply the Draft House, I was impressed by the utterly anal thoroughness of their approach. An article of faith there is that coffee must be freshly-ground. Even a few hours renders it undrinkable. After tweeting that I was on my way there, I then received this from my old wine buddy Saverio Grazioli-Venier (yeah, crazy name...):
<br />
<br /></span></span><div><span><span><i><span class="Apple-style-span">Do not believe in the myth that freshly ground coffee is better. Not at all. Just like most wines it needs some time (roughly 10 days) to balance out the harsh green notes and mellow out the acidity. Again like wine, when it's too old (4 weeks plus in this case) it develops tertiary aromas - unlike wine these tertiary aromas are very unpleasant. Think burnt rubber. What is crucial is how it is packaged, where it is kept to rest after grounding (cool/dry place, no sunlight, limited exposure to oxygen), and that it be delivered to you at the right time (between 1-2 weeks after roasting for example).
<br />
<br />You are better off using a supplier that guarantees well stored "commercial coffee" than an artisan roaster that buys the best beans in the world but keeps them exposed to the elements after roasting. Early oxidisation is the result of the latter and is often the cause of bitterness in coffee. Illy for example, albeit boring I know, guarantees through it’s sophisticated packaging a product that is consistent and always at peak potential when opened. An artisan producer that understands storage is of course the best possible option but they are rare, particularly in the UK. I think Monmouth for example consistently under delivers given the excellent raw ingredients it starts out with. </span></i></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, 'Nimbus Sans L', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; "></span></div></div><div><span><span><i><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></i></span></span></div><div><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span">Who's right? Please help.</span></span></span></div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3091984068990071430.post-16022694221461294312011-05-26T02:39:00.000-07:002011-05-26T04:30:57.341-07:00Pubs, Deck Chairs & The Titanic<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><u><br /></u></span></div><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mX_xsZwfhGw/Td4iRsK4kLI/AAAAAAAAArk/Sz1dIpzDu-M/s1600/closedpub.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 230px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mX_xsZwfhGw/Td4iRsK4kLI/AAAAAAAAArk/Sz1dIpzDu-M/s320/closedpub.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610959873060147378" /></a><div><br /></div>Who are these people? <div><br /></div><div>"The Independent Pub Confederation" says that it is "great news" that communication of PubCo codes of practice to tenants has improved. Surely this is not unlike a murderer better explaining to his victim how he will kill them. (article <a href="http://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/news.ma/article/90684?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ma-rss-all-news+%28Rss+news+feed+for+Morning+Advertiser%29">here</a>)<div><br /></div><div>Any "confederation" bearing that name should be on a permanent war footing against the gross eviltude which is the tie. In a market where even untied pubs are failing to compete with supermarkets on price how a tied tenant can pay double for beer and expect to survive is ludicrous.</div><div><br /></div><div>I feel sick.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gKYOYv027WY/Td4ijuV5r0I/AAAAAAAAAr0/X3k_CD_vong/s1600/beer_768x336.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gKYOYv027WY/Td4ijuV5r0I/AAAAAAAAAr0/X3k_CD_vong/s400/beer_768x336.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610960182880874306" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 175px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3091984068990071430.post-24219880680217764752011-05-17T09:48:00.000-07:002011-05-24T08:10:53.881-07:00Launch of The Quality SE1 Pub Crawl<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gbfKfeQR8nU/TdVW5Lh9P8I/AAAAAAAAArc/LpQmfxDYX4Y/s1600/tooley.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LxCc4XaO-OI/TdUkRW31nRI/AAAAAAAAApI/_WAglBUVYVs/s1600/drinking%2Bcitra%2Bat%2BDS.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y6dP5dla4kU/TdNlVwVCQSI/AAAAAAAAAoo/pXag34cwCRY/s1600/brewwharf.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y6dP5dla4kU/TdNlVwVCQSI/AAAAAAAAAoo/pXag34cwCRY/s320/brewwharf.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607937385431187746" /></a></div><br />Well, with all really profound experiences it takes time to process the emotions, the highs and the lows, the triumphs and calamities. And the Quality SE1 Pub Crawl is no different.<div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Actually, what a load of old bollix. The Crawl was an <b>unadulterated success</b>, a good time was had by all, even though I am sure the over-riding emotion felt by participants the following morning must have been, <i>thank God it's only monthly.</i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>We also got the damned thing trending on Twitter which was no mean feat.</i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i></i>Who were the ringleaders? The people's representatives on the QSE1PC presidium were Brother Max of the Dean Swift, Brothers Charlie and Neil of the Draft House and Sister Jo of Platform. Controlling, capitalist-fascist Web 1.0 tendencies were resisted and a free-form, fluffy, Web 3.0 TwitterBook benign dictatorship was very much the order of the day. Well, someone's gotta take charge, don't they? At least we didn't end up with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napoleon_(Animal_Farm)">Napoleon the Pig</a>. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dL0hpnZ2W78/TdNl92mwrJI/AAAAAAAAAo4/7yu4lgaBq_A/s320/organisers.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607938074310913170" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y6dP5dla4kU/TdNlVwVCQSI/AAAAAAAAAoo/pXag34cwCRY/s1600/brewwharf.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y6dP5dla4kU/TdNlVwVCQSI/AAAAAAAAAoo/pXag34cwCRY/s1600/brewwharf.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Charlie and Max looking, it has to be said, a little less </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">benign </span><span class="Apple-style-span">and perhaps a tad too dictatorial.</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div>The route is <a href="http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=market+porter+stoney+street+se1&daddr=brew+wharf+se1+to:14a+Winchester+Walk,+City+of+London+SE1+9AG+(The+Rake)+to:56-58+Tooley+St,+City+of+London,+Greater+London+SE1+2SZ+(Platform)+to:206-208+Tower+Bridge+Road+SE1+2UP+to:dean+swift+se1&geocode=Fd_oEQMdlJv-_yGlYYt8pWp7fCmhRmucVwN2SDGNTppZ2TIxMw%3BFUzqEQMdA5r-_yHY4JY-14opMym_vA-YVwN2SDHyqRyS4T4ZAA%3BFV_sEQMdXZv-_yHmiGM_EpJ8eCnlnn2mVwN2SDE8BQU1wz44qA%3BFXjoEQMdSrP-_yGkQZqL0NgHMSk7vDWIUAN2SDHJeqdtfz-Iiw%3BFTvfEQMdUdP-_ymROrbcRQN2SDG1w0FASf0Y3A%3BFSvfEQMdadr-_yHcRpY3WDzHOCmVfaU-RgN2SDEKcO9ieNm83Q&hl=en&mra=pr&dirflg=w&sll=51.503063,-0.075172&sspn=0.001357,0.004128&ie=UTF8&ll=51.505911,-0.082827&spn=0.007867,0.01929&z=16">here</a>. We kicked off in The Market Porter (1) at 6pm with some free-form pint drinking. A personal commitment to 'just a half' in each stop immediately went by the wayside as two pints of frothing ale scarely touched the sides. Others were similarly ill-disciplined. But hey, it's web 3.0. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LxCc4XaO-OI/TdUkRW31nRI/AAAAAAAAApI/_WAglBUVYVs/s320/drinking%2Bcitra%2Bat%2BDS.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608428791575977234" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 242px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Sister Jo from Platform with yours truly</span></div><div><br /></div><div>Next was Brew Wharf (2), then to the Rake (3). Then the walks got longer, but by this stage feet were only occasionally in contact with the ground.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fjhwoNA9jW8/TdNmt4mTBnI/AAAAAAAAApA/EXxe_-AtjEI/s1600/rake.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fjhwoNA9jW8/TdNmt4mTBnI/AAAAAAAAApA/EXxe_-AtjEI/s320/rake.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607938899479561842" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div>Mid-way down Tooley Street we stopped into Platform (4), where Sister Jo had laid on some awesome food, thereby showing up the other hosts to such an extent that Brother Max was immediately on the blower rustling up some competing grub Dean Swift-side.</div><div><br /></div><div>My personal beers of the night? Dark Star Hop Head in the Rake and Sleemans IPA in Draft House Tower Bridge (5).</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0sLlnnmUglg/TdVWIxCZWOI/AAAAAAAAArU/85zp-bO57IA/s320/Neil.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608483619562150114" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Brother Neil, QSE1PC Ringleader</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ByV_XDeA8aY/TdUlANkslWI/AAAAAAAAApQ/23Ymvasg2Jw/s320/max%2Bat%2Bdhtb.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608429596533626210" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 238px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">I think the group's highlight must have been the cloudy Kernel Citra which Max snaffled up to serve at the Dean Swift (6). But - hey - it was mighty late by then.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Next time (June 15th, route to follow) we will have a few more bells and whistles to add on (good as my use of Jo's polkadot umbrella was, something tells me we need a proper flag. And T-Shirts). Well, given that noone's in charge that last idea might be a stretch but you never know...</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gbfKfeQR8nU/TdVW5Lh9P8I/AAAAAAAAArc/LpQmfxDYX4Y/s1600/tooley.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gbfKfeQR8nU/TdVW5Lh9P8I/AAAAAAAAArc/LpQmfxDYX4Y/s320/tooley.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608484451307569090" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px; " /></a><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3091984068990071430.post-17142304826228892462011-04-27T23:19:00.000-07:002011-04-27T23:20:34.446-07:00Sharp's Tasting. It's getting a little weird round here...This Saturday we are proud (if slightly trepidacious) to welcome Stuart Howe, brewing supremo at Sharp's (DoomBar etc).<br />
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Why trepidacious? Well just take a look at this sucker which arrived at Tower Bridge yesterday:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8GUmlcsShzg/TbkGk89EaUI/AAAAAAAADxE/e57sJT2qN4Q/s1600/TurboYeast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8GUmlcsShzg/TbkGk89EaUI/AAAAAAAADxE/e57sJT2qN4Q/s640/TurboYeast.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Also on offer Monsieur Rock, Atlantic IPA and much, much more.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We'll be sample-happy from 5 - 7pm this Saturday 30th April at Draft House Tower Bridge, 206-208 Tower Bridge Road SE1 2UP.</div>Charlie McVeighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07967002032615534706noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3091984068990071430.post-45980259470809330632011-04-13T10:27:00.000-07:002011-04-14T04:14:20.453-07:00Easter/Royal Wedding Beers at Draft House<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>God Save the Queen</i></span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>And the fascist... </i>[oh, it's so hard to get cynical at a moment like this]</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i></i>Our little contribution to the Patriotic Room 101 which is the Royal Wedding is to express our abiding love and respect for them upstairs <i>through beer</i>. Over the next couple of weeks we will be filling the cellars with good British beer. And I’m talking a veritable Best of the Greatest Hits. We are going to prove that this country makes the best bleedin’ beer in the world and heaven help anyone who stands in our way. Certainly no-one can pun like a British Brewer (Windsor Knot, anyone?).<br />
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Oh and there's a few Colonial types which have slipped in as well. If we're still allowed to use that word. We mean well, and their beer is awesome.<br />
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You’ll have to take pot-luck as to what’s on where – follow us on <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/drafthouseuk">Twitter</a> where the Draft House beer boys and girls promise to keep the feed humming.<br />
<br />
Anyway, there are moments when modesty must briefly be cast aside to reveal the true size of one's beerhood. Prompting the question: How much does this rock?<br />
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<b>Keg:</b><br />
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All to be on the whole two weeks<br />
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Camden wheat all three sites<br />
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Camden Helles <br />
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Sleemans IPA <br />
<br />
Zero Degrees Red Rye then fruit beer only at Tower Bridge<br />
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Harviestoun Schiehallion <br />
<br />
Grand Ridge Moonlite or Brewers Pils <br />
<br />
Chalky's Bark<br />
<br />
<b>Cask:</b><br />
<br />
<i>week 1 (Easter)</i><br />
<br />
Redemption Trinity/Hopspur/Urban Dusk<br />
<br />
Harviestoun Shenanigans<br />
<br />
Brodies Special 6 Hop<br />
<br />
Sambrooks celebration coming Thursday 21st to TB<br />
<br />
Windsor & Eton Windsor Knot and black ipa coming Tuesday 19th<br />
<br />
Darkstar hophead/hophead citra/ APA<br />
<br />
<i>week 2 (wedding)</i><br />
<br />
Sharps atlantic ipa/ golden gate coming Tues 26th for the big finale on Saturday 30th.</span></div>Charlie McVeighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07967002032615534706noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3091984068990071430.post-90118614966324011852011-04-13T10:03:00.000-07:002011-04-14T04:36:48.284-07:00Hurting. But Happy<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;"><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><i>Why Draft House is brave and the budget was stupid. Monumentally stupid. </i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;"><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;"><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">I don't know about you but I am confused. And it’s not just the breakfast beers. Today I learn that 143,000 more people have jobs than did last month (hooray). But the day before brought news that average spending power is down 2% (oh). All I know is I am feeling skint and I suspect many of you are too. This austerity lark is catching and judging from conversations with customers is driven by a genuine sense that we are growing poorer.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">This is a long way of saying that, despite the Chancellor putting up beer duty by 7.5% (yes, you read that correctly - and just after the VAT rise) we are holding prices where they are. And in some cases reducing them.</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">That’s really just so you know. And also perhaps to encourage you to buy more beer. In a healthy way.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F_qJGHbW5do/TaXXScPZY7I/AAAAAAAADwM/hggHXxw3oQI/s1600/DGE_8120l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F_qJGHbW5do/TaXXScPZY7I/AAAAAAAADwM/hggHXxw3oQI/s320/DGE_8120l.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div>Charlie McVeighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07967002032615534706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3091984068990071430.post-14717674415120135562011-03-01T03:08:00.000-08:002011-03-01T03:10:24.443-08:00Budvar Yeast - Real Lager - At Last<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Lx_vHbDjqXU/TWzT-KiWeuI/AAAAAAAADp0/fiSuYvD_RrY/s1600/bud-czech-label.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Lx_vHbDjqXU/TWzT-KiWeuI/AAAAAAAADp0/fiSuYvD_RrY/s1600/bud-czech-label.jpg" /></a></div>Budvar is a beer that us Brits have grown a tad blasé about in the face of the dreaded "World Lager" phenomenon.<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>We forget that this ancient brewery was purchased by the Czech government to preserve its unique brewing heritage (after Pilsner Urquell and Staropramen fell into foreign hands) and is thus impervious to market pressure to dumb down. </div><div><br />
</div><div>We forget that Budvar is lagered (cold-conditioned) for <i>ninety days</i> - and this in an age when many so-called premium lagers get less than three weeks. I was reminded of all this when the Czech firm launched its new unpasteurised, unfiltered “Budvar Yeast” at Draft House Tower Bridge. Despite the awful, modish name this is an ancient class act – effectively a traditional cask lager version of the famed Budvar Original, but with a shelf-life of just 28 days. </div><div><br />
</div><div>This Holy Grail of lagers has long been sold in a tiny number of specially certified bars in Czech Republic. And now just five pubs in London have been given the nod from Southern Bohemia (including three Draft Houses I’m pleased to report). Seek it out – but beware – we are told that supply is extremely limited. New stocks expected shortly, watch our twitter feed for more info.</div>Charlie McVeighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07967002032615534706noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3091984068990071430.post-29297349837904216822011-02-22T04:54:00.000-08:002011-03-01T03:11:28.346-08:00Ola Dubh 40 Special Reserve Ale<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NEjwtUkuqEQ/TWOwXu5MdnI/AAAAAAAADpI/UkkzbzdzJQY/s1600/ola+dubh+40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NEjwtUkuqEQ/TWOwXu5MdnI/AAAAAAAADpI/UkkzbzdzJQY/s400/ola+dubh+40.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This fortified, inky brew is an extreme example of the brewer's art. Created in Clackmannanshire, Scotland by Harviestoun it starts life as "Old Engine Oil", a lovely, dry 6% stout. </span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Seeking a richer and more complex drink, Harviestoun decant the stout into a Highland Park 40 Year Old Whisky barrell, where it is aged for a goodly long time. It emerges as Ola Dubh 40, an extraordinarily decadent, almost port-like beer which is a versatile enough to be a beguiling match for chocolate or cheese.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_8XMgBxBNf0/TWOx7C1YguI/AAAAAAAADpM/dX6Zq02M99k/s1600/Old-Engine-Oil-006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_8XMgBxBNf0/TWOx7C1YguI/AAAAAAAADpM/dX6Zq02M99k/s400/Old-Engine-Oil-006.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>Charlie McVeighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07967002032615534706noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3091984068990071430.post-91838516877605154342010-12-21T00:17:00.000-08:002010-12-21T00:22:14.499-08:00New Year's Eve T-Bone Fest at Draft House<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_i5fOh30_vW4/TRBiYAOqUoI/AAAAAAAADjA/Xn0yEcMpI9I/s1600/DGE_8129l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_i5fOh30_vW4/TRBiYAOqUoI/AAAAAAAADjA/Xn0yEcMpI9I/s320/DGE_8129l.jpg" width="216" /></a></div>Just wanted to let you know what’s happening with us for New Year’s Eve. Well, no surprises. Great food, great beer, great music. Oh, and we'll have plenty of our legendary 28-day aged 600g Angus T-Bones on hand. <a href="http://www.drafthouse.co.uk/">Visit the website</a> for how to contact us to book.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div>On the music point the usual ban on (cough) handbag house prevails, but we may up the funk level a few notches while maintaining a liberal sprinkling of Draft House classics (what would New Year’s Eve be without Jolene by Dolly Parton?). Dancing is not forbidden.<br />
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On the beer front, surely there could be no better moment to crack open one (several?) of our famous rare, large format bottles. Or, don’t forget, we absolutely condescend to a wide range of champagnes “to suit all budgets” as they say in the tour guides.<br />
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In all three Draft Houses chef will be laying on some awesome specials. So whether you’re just popping in for a pint or slipping into a 600g T-Bone we dearly hope to see you on the big night.<br />
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Also, we have one room free in the Battersea Party Rooms, complete with dancelfloor, DJ Booth and cocktail bar if any of you folk feel like throwing your own club event. See below for picture of the legendary Bridge Bar.<br />
<div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_i5fOh30_vW4/TRBiJ0OqyKI/AAAAAAAADi8/Bh8K5H1pMek/s1600/Untitled_Panorama1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_i5fOh30_vW4/TRBiJ0OqyKI/AAAAAAAADi8/Bh8K5H1pMek/s400/Untitled_Panorama1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, palatino; font-size: 13px;">Likewise at Tower Bridge, one of the Tasting Rooms is available with all the same opportunities for merriment (picture below). Cocktail bar, kicking sound system, glitter ball. And as always NOTHING is too much trouble for our events teams.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_i5fOh30_vW4/TRBiorWCpGI/AAAAAAAADjE/bs3L7XYo6OA/s1600/nightime_is_righttime.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_i5fOh30_vW4/TRBiorWCpGI/AAAAAAAADjE/bs3L7XYo6OA/s400/nightime_is_righttime.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, palatino; font-size: 13px;"><br />
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</div></div>Charlie McVeighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07967002032615534706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3091984068990071430.post-86302928871204181182010-10-14T04:02:00.000-07:002010-10-14T04:02:17.093-07:00If we don't act now, pubs will disappear<div><i>(from The Times today, by yours truly)</i></div><div><br />
</div>The pub is broken. The trajectory of its long-term decline got steeper yesterday and there is no help at hand. Punch Taverns announced that 1,300 of its 6,700-strong estate have “no future” and will be closed or sold. We are used to hearing that 50-odd pubs a week are disappearing, but if the closures are accelerating soon whole areas of the UK may lose access to draught beer and a community gathering place. <div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_i5fOh30_vW4/TLbjG_wIC2I/AAAAAAAADfQ/5JBOLhlMcGs/s1600/the-crown01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_i5fOh30_vW4/TLbjG_wIC2I/AAAAAAAADfQ/5JBOLhlMcGs/s320/the-crown01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
What has gone so horribly wrong? Why are our pubs, once the mainstay of the urban street corner and heart of every village, no longer viable? The death of some is inevitable. Noone is going to suggest that we suspend the drink-driving laws which have killed off any inn unfortunate enough to be situated on an A Road roundabout (‘one for the road, anyone?’). But what of the rest? Why is the pub dying?<br />
<br />
The pricing model is broken - supermarket booze is too cheap. The supermarkets routinely use beer as a “traffic driver”, selling it below cost price to draw in customers for their weekly shop. Asda was recently selling 20 tins of Stella Artois for £9 (hope your fridge is big enough). And a price war in 2007 saw own-branded beer for sale for as little as 22p a tin – David Cameron’s much-quoted “20 tins for a fiver”. Leaving aside the appalling social and health impact of unsupervised drinking at these prices, how can the hard-pressed pub-goer justify £2.50 or more per pint against this backdrop?<br />
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The regulatory environment is broken. The smoking ban has alienated many customers. Hard-pressed independent landlords (surely the future of the industry) are swamped by bureaucracy and box-ticking unmanageable for a small business without access to an HR department. Last week yet another set of new rules, passed by the last government, came into effect stipulating that all pubs must offer wine by the 125ml measure – by law. This means new menus and glassware for a measure that research shows nobody wants.<br />
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The pub ownership model is broken. Brimming with free market zeal the Tories forced the breweries to sell off their pubs in the 1980s. The dogma of the day said it was anti-competitive that pub tenants had to buy beer exclusively from their brewery owners. Fuelled by oceans of debt (Punch Taverns, for example, owes more than £3 billion, or £464,000 per pub) smart City types formed the ‘PubCos’ which acquired these estates. But the insanity is that the ‘tie’ which obliges the tenant to buy beer from its landlord, remained in place in the majority of instances. So now most pubs are not only paying large rents, but also have to buy their beer at grossly inflated prices from their landlord, prices which if charged by a supermarket would cause a customer to shop elsewhere.<br />
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Pubs themselves are broken. Challenges arising from supermarket pricing, regulation and punitive leases all have a cost. And that cost is a poor selection of the cheapest brands of beer, ‘ready’ meals, poorly trained staff and management, delayed refurbishment, increasingly desperate price promotions and so on. In other words, a disheartening experience for the customer creating a spiral of decline, leading sooner or later to yet another closure statistic.<br />
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Pub owners and staff up and down the country, if they have got this far, will be cursing me for the calumny I heaped upon the industry in the last paragraph. And of course there are many honourable exceptions. Prosperous metropolitan and suburban areas still support a thriving, well-run, increasingly food-led pub trade. Pubs are not closing in these areas. I know from bitter experience how difficult it is to buy licensed sites in Notting Hill, Mayfair or Islington.<br />
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But we are talking about pubs in non-thriving areas, i.e. much of the country outside the prosperous South East. What’s the recipe for revival? This is a crisis, and emergency measures must be taken.<br />
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Government has a big part to play, loath though I am to admit it. Nowhere is the bonfire of regulation more needed than in our trade. Tax on draught beer should be slashed and a minimum price for alcohol set – Tesco boss Sir Terry Leahy asked for this himself this year. Business rates must be reduced (ours were up by as much as 25% this year).<br />
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The hardest nut to crack will be reform of pub ownership. But crack it we must and brighter minds than mine must help. The high rents and tied leases set by PubCos must be stopped. Currently the PubCos cannot change lease terms because of loan covenants. With heavy debts and fewer customers it is in their interests to find a better way to do business. The government may have to step in too, they own the banks after all. The goal must be to make pub ownership and attendance affordable for everyone, everywhere in Britain.<br />
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Charlie McVeigh, licensee at three Draft Houses in SW11 and SE1<br />
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www.drafthouse.co.uk<br />
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</div>Charlie McVeighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07967002032615534706noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3091984068990071430.post-35834185407169832392010-10-12T01:37:00.000-07:002010-10-12T01:37:55.965-07:00The Slider Cometh?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_i5fOh30_vW4/TLQcG6sNR6I/AAAAAAAADfM/zNWSCY8t3QA/s1600/slider.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_i5fOh30_vW4/TLQcG6sNR6I/AAAAAAAADfM/zNWSCY8t3QA/s320/slider.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Draft House Northcote is outgrowing its kitchen. It's just too darned busy. But rather than turning you good people away on a weekend, we are looking at our most popular dish - The Draft House Burger, famed the length and breadth of Northcote Road to see if we can reduce the cooking time.<br />
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Mindful of other disastrous tamperings with a classic (New Coke anyone?) chef Sabrina Gidda and I are proceeding with care.<br />
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The inspiration for this blue sky burger research came from a conversation earlier this year at one of all-round NYC food expert Daniel Young's <a href="http://youngandfoodish.com/events/burgermonday/">Burger Monday</a> events. We were talking about the elements which give the humble burger its unique irresistibility. One of them, undoubtedly, is the char on the exterior of the patty. He posited that the ultimate burger is the double, with four sides of char.<br />
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Given that our chunky 9oz Draft House Burger takes 14 minutes to cook to medium thereby slowing service on a crazy Saturday, we wondered whether two might be better than one. See picture above.<br />
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The experimentation continues. Thoughts welcome, people.Charlie McVeighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07967002032615534706noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3091984068990071430.post-87979706152187207402010-10-11T23:27:00.000-07:002010-10-12T01:18:48.643-07:00Why only one Cask Ale at Tower Bridge?Well, we started with three and I wasn't happy with the quality. Nor were some of the punters. Among them was Hermano Primero ("The older and let's face it, cooler half of the Dos Hermanos blogging crew") who described his pint of Wandle at Tower Bridge as "flat as a pancake". This sparked some lively debate on-line with some coming vigorously to our defence. And certainly those - like myself - who think the Wandle at Northcote and Westrbidge is as close to transcendental as you are likely to get - were riled. But the bugger had a point. It was, well, flat.<br />
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</div><div>What does flat mean for a cask ale? At its best a good pint of live cask ale has a bright clarity and a raciness in the mouth which never, and I mean never equates to fizziness. It is a glorious, fecund foaminess. Imagine the primordial soup controlled by superhuman genius for your pleasure. It's that lively. </div><div><br />
</div><div>The trouble with this unholy, beautiful stuff is that unlike pasteurised keg beer it is alive and if any of a number of factors are not absolutely perfect than it is, well, shite. Or flat. And one of the key things required is <i>turnover</i>. And at Tower Bridge, with twenty-four choices (21 of them in keg) we just weren't getting the turnover on the cask pumps. So following Hermano-Wandle-Gate we dropped down to one which we are rotating cask-to-cask. As turnover increases (and boy is it ever) we will of course be adding to the roster. Watch this space.<br />
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</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_i5fOh30_vW4/TLP-j4kX3zI/AAAAAAAADfI/QcO2yCiFpsU/s1600/harviestoun-schiehallion.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_i5fOh30_vW4/TLP-j4kX3zI/AAAAAAAADfI/QcO2yCiFpsU/s1600/harviestoun-schiehallion.gif" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div>Currently on the hand pump is a cask lager - Schiehallion from Clackmannanshire. I indulged in a little quality control and can confirm that everything, and I mean everything, about it was just, well, <i>right</i>.<br />
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Next blogpost - re-engineering the Northcote Burger - the Slider cometh.</div><div><br />
</div><div>PHEW.</div>Charlie McVeighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07967002032615534706noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3091984068990071430.post-12415771123354118082010-09-19T14:19:00.000-07:002010-09-19T14:25:08.344-07:00Draft House Tower Bridge: First Images<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Photos by Anthony Parkinson</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_i5fOh30_vW4/TJZ7ualhQcI/AAAAAAAADd8/sHbALodL1DA/s1600/Untitled_Panorama2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_i5fOh30_vW4/TJZ7ualhQcI/AAAAAAAADd8/sHbALodL1DA/s400/Untitled_Panorama2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">View from Queen Elizabeth Street - <i>still</i> not finished but what a day...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_i5fOh30_vW4/TJZ7-N84PMI/AAAAAAAADeE/5mZ6vER3vME/s1600/tower+bridge+10945.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_i5fOh30_vW4/TJZ7-N84PMI/AAAAAAAADeE/5mZ6vER3vME/s400/tower+bridge+10945.jpg" width="355" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Those controversial green banquettes (better get used to 'em).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_i5fOh30_vW4/TJZ8Hg_Yu9I/AAAAAAAADeM/ejEvz-SGORU/s1600/tower+bridge+10959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_i5fOh30_vW4/TJZ8Hg_Yu9I/AAAAAAAADeM/ejEvz-SGORU/s640/tower+bridge+10959.jpg" width="498" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Bar</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Blair Macann's magnificent Steak Tartare</div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_i5fOh30_vW4/TJZ8auNXStI/AAAAAAAADec/FtYJX1507V4/s1600/tower+bridge+10986.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_i5fOh30_vW4/TJZ8auNXStI/AAAAAAAADec/FtYJX1507V4/s640/tower+bridge+10986.jpg" width="514" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Soused Herring and God Lager. Say no more.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_i5fOh30_vW4/TJZ8lUyg_dI/AAAAAAAADek/n2wE0-1fKjA/s1600/tower+bridge+11018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_i5fOh30_vW4/TJZ8lUyg_dI/AAAAAAAADek/n2wE0-1fKjA/s640/tower+bridge+11018.jpg" width="498" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Many's the long hour I have spent trying to photograph beer. It always ends up looking pants. Please take it from me. It's delicious, and looks good in real life. The teutonic fonts on the other hand, look - well - teutonic.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_i5fOh30_vW4/TJZ8lUyg_dI/AAAAAAAADek/n2wE0-1fKjA/s1600/tower+bridge+11018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_i5fOh30_vW4/TJZ8q0Su_5I/AAAAAAAADes/yNEHUBGKSPQ/s1600/tower+bridge+10971.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_i5fOh30_vW4/TJZ8q0Su_5I/AAAAAAAADes/yNEHUBGKSPQ/s640/tower+bridge+10971.jpg" width="552" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Dining Room. The Copper sign (half cut off on right) was the pub's sign many years ago, found in the attic.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_i5fOh30_vW4/TJZ8q0Su_5I/AAAAAAAADes/yNEHUBGKSPQ/s1600/tower+bridge+10971.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_i5fOh30_vW4/TJZ8zzs2_SI/AAAAAAAADe0/pu_gRA_PttU/s1600/tower+bridge+11013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_i5fOh30_vW4/TJZ8zzs2_SI/AAAAAAAADe0/pu_gRA_PttU/s640/tower+bridge+11013.jpg" width="532" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Entrance to Dining Room.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_i5fOh30_vW4/TJZ_BdsL_0I/AAAAAAAADe8/ot-NWRwt1g8/s1600/tower+bridge+11020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_i5fOh30_vW4/TJZ_BdsL_0I/AAAAAAAADe8/ot-NWRwt1g8/s640/tower+bridge+11020.jpg" width="474" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Chef Blair Macann</div>Charlie McVeighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07967002032615534706noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3091984068990071430.post-1107981290972551722010-07-16T09:54:00.000-07:002010-07-19T03:36:17.154-07:00A Day at Fuller Smith & Turner<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_i5fOh30_vW4/TECD3-xv-zI/AAAAAAAADCY/lAEajnkDH40/s1600/35039_1499604485286_1089384234_1439784_5878243_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_i5fOh30_vW4/TECD3-xv-zI/AAAAAAAADCY/lAEajnkDH40/s320/35039_1499604485286_1089384234_1439784_5878243_n.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>A merrie band of Draft House types made its way to Chiswick on Wednesday for Cask Marque exams and a tour of Fuller's Griffin Brewery. Among those who hadn't yet taken the test (an exhaustive examination of one's cask beer management knowledge) was yours truly. We learn if we passed or failed next week. If it's the latter in my case I promise to close all Draft Houses down the next day and adjourn to a darkened room with a revolver and bottle of whisky (I won't deserve a beer, clearly).<br />
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Not especially being a London Pride fan I have always had a somewhat jaundiced view of Fuller's and their dominance of the West London market. But having seen Young's flee its splendid Victorian brewery in Wandsworth Town Centre for an anodyne facility in Hertfordshire (following a merger with Charles Wells) I have been wanting for some time to re-evaluate my opinion. Indeed, there is much to like, perhaps even love about Fuller's.<br />
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Despite being extremely cramped for space between the Thames and the Great West Road those stubborn Fuller's types have stuck it out on their historic patch.<br />
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The brewery is <i>close</i>, even claustrophobic. Ancient, disused coal-fired coppers sit cheek-by-jowl with modern, computerised kit. Narrow corridors are lined with wooden barrels of the Master Brewer's latest vintage offering - currently the 2007 (below).<br />
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Our guide was a 41-year Fuller's veteran, John. He regaled us, somewhat wistfully, with tales of the golden era of "wet" brewing - in effect the period until 1984 when brewery staff were permitted to drink while they worked.<br />
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There were some notoriously thirsty types, some drinking 15-plus pints a day. But, as John informed us sagely, these chaps were engaged in heavy manual work so they didn't really feel the booze. Workers were paid partly in tokens which they exchanged for pints, often starting off with a foaming mug before the morning shift at 4am. I'm thinking the chaps in the front row below might have had a couple. We especially liked the watering can.<br />
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It's hard not to like a place which has not only been at the heart of the revival of cask beer, but which also engenders such a fierce loyalty and - yes - pride in its staff.<br />
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And now there are follow some silly pictures of Draft House managers who should have been paying attention to more stories about drunken brewery staff but instead chose to eff about.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here was the light canteen lunch which we were privileged to share with the Fullerites:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And finally, a richly deserved pint in the Mawson Arms next to the Griffin Brewery.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>From left to right Michael (Westbridge), David (Westbridge), Juan (Northcote), Neil (Tower Bridge), Charlie (Owner), Adam (Operations). Regrettably, these were not the only pints drunk on this occasion (ouch). But I did learn to like Chiswick Ale and tolerate Discovery. I bought a bottle of the 2007 Vintage Ale which will go to the top-scorer in the Cask Marque exam.<br />
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PS a special apology to our Australian colleagues, David and Michael, who had to tolerate Fosters jokes throughout the day. I would like to correct the impression, if it was given, that Fosters is anything but the finest beer in the world.<br />
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PPS Thanks so much to the fabulous Annabel Smith of Cask Marque who managed to make a potentially dry subject interesting and useful.<br />
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PPPS Huge gratitude for Juan Christian's surprisingly good pictures (considering they were produced by a camera phone). Thanks Juey!Charlie McVeighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07967002032615534706noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3091984068990071430.post-51645372294911879022010-07-04T22:33:00.000-07:002010-07-04T22:33:00.277-07:00Bruges: The Perfect Draft House Mini-Break?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_i5fOh30_vW4/TDFtUrQ4lMI/AAAAAAAADBI/YzTRFyT6AeI/s1600/IMG_3900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_i5fOh30_vW4/TDFtUrQ4lMI/AAAAAAAADBI/YzTRFyT6AeI/s320/IMG_3900.jpg" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_i5fOh30_vW4/TDFtcLDGA6I/AAAAAAAADBQ/FR6ti7_j-mM/s1600/IMG_3959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_i5fOh30_vW4/TDFtcLDGA6I/AAAAAAAADBQ/FR6ti7_j-mM/s320/IMG_3959.jpg" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_i5fOh30_vW4/TDFthEFOGWI/AAAAAAAADBY/zwMM0uAmXJ0/s1600/IMG_3958.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_i5fOh30_vW4/TDFthEFOGWI/AAAAAAAADBY/zwMM0uAmXJ0/s320/IMG_3958.jpg" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_i5fOh30_vW4/TDFtm3L9RpI/AAAAAAAADBg/dUWjSH0wD6o/s1600/IMG_3911.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_i5fOh30_vW4/TDFtm3L9RpI/AAAAAAAADBg/dUWjSH0wD6o/s320/IMG_3911.jpg" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_i5fOh30_vW4/TDFtst5mLoI/AAAAAAAADBo/4te63a0G2NU/s1600/IMG_3896.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_i5fOh30_vW4/TDFtst5mLoI/AAAAAAAADBo/4te63a0G2NU/s320/IMG_3896.jpg" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_i5fOh30_vW4/TDFtwAGXwMI/AAAAAAAADBw/zwPhTXXgu7U/s1600/IMG_3907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_i5fOh30_vW4/TDFtwAGXwMI/AAAAAAAADBw/zwPhTXXgu7U/s320/IMG_3907.jpg" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_i5fOh30_vW4/TDFt0ouPN1I/AAAAAAAADB4/lgs_m_peVt8/s1600/IMG_3902.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_i5fOh30_vW4/TDFt0ouPN1I/AAAAAAAADB4/lgs_m_peVt8/s320/IMG_3902.jpg" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_i5fOh30_vW4/TDFt_3i-E0I/AAAAAAAADCA/NzGAZo5hh9I/s1600/IMG_3955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_i5fOh30_vW4/TDFt_3i-E0I/AAAAAAAADCA/NzGAZo5hh9I/s320/IMG_3955.jpg" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_i5fOh30_vW4/TDFuI4UUH-I/AAAAAAAADCI/p0991RT_0-g/s1600/IMG_3961.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_i5fOh30_vW4/TDFuI4UUH-I/AAAAAAAADCI/p0991RT_0-g/s320/IMG_3961.jpg" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_i5fOh30_vW4/TDFuOhj45cI/AAAAAAAADCQ/Q3-f4ziLHP4/s1600/IMG_3985.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_i5fOh30_vW4/TDFuOhj45cI/AAAAAAAADCQ/Q3-f4ziLHP4/s320/IMG_3985.jpg" /></a></div>Charlie McVeighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07967002032615534706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3091984068990071430.post-78739325936551041992010-06-22T06:56:00.000-07:002010-06-22T10:21:45.487-07:00Budget: Some Thoughts on Saving the Pub<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_i5fOh30_vW4/TCDAgeXTPYI/AAAAAAAADBA/_jKOnAQZhLA/s1600/article-1065370-02DA832200000578-489_468x444.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="189" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_i5fOh30_vW4/TCDAgeXTPYI/AAAAAAAADBA/_jKOnAQZhLA/s200/article-1065370-02DA832200000578-489_468x444.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>While glad that, for once, alcohol is exempted from duty increases I am disappointed that Cameron, Osborne and Clegg didn't use this moment of economic crisis to bring about positive change for the licensed trade and therefore for the country as a whole.<br />
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Most seem agreed that the pub is in crisis.<br />
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One of the key reasons for this is extreme promotional discounting by supermarkets - often to below the cost at which landlords can buy beer. Why not, therefore reduce tax on draft beer and cider sold into the licensed trade?<br />
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And set a minimum price for alcohol while you're at it.<br />
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If we want to save the community pub, and I think most are agreed that we do, these are crucial first steps.<br />
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(you can expect a book on this subject from yours truly in due course, but don't start holding your breath quite yet)Charlie McVeighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07967002032615534706noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3091984068990071430.post-86666360945761773882010-06-19T06:42:00.000-07:002010-07-22T05:10:59.524-07:00North vs South Pouring Battle: THE SPARKLER VERDICTThe latest in our somewhat nerdy series of beer tasting events was less well attended than some. Clearly a couple of hours discussing different head consistencies is not everyone's bag. Still, Pete Brown (Beer Writer of the Year 2009) and Duncan Sambrook (Wandle brewer and all-round local hero) were there along with a small but focused crowd, all of whom were able to walk out unaided at the end.<br />
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</div><div>So what was it all about?</div><div><br />
</div><div>In essence, cask ale in the North of England is often pulled though a sparkler, a small showerhead-type object affixed to the end of the nozzle. This forces the beer through microscopic holes, agitating the carbon dioxide in the ale and thereby delivering a more full-bodied pint with a thick, creamy head. A bit like (forgive me) tinned Boddington's, though that effect is created by releasing nitrogen so is, in fact, an entirely different process. Draft Stouts use a similar device with a similar outcome, though the creaminess seems more profound and long-lasting on the black stuff.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_i5fOh30_vW4/TEg1P9nfX4I/AAAAAAAADDo/e1iWwpOoV_8/s1600/sparkler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_i5fOh30_vW4/TEg1P9nfX4I/AAAAAAAADDo/e1iWwpOoV_8/s200/sparkler.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>By contrast, in the South, the beer is poured straight out and - if well kept, pulled and served in a very clean glass - creates a foamy head which disappears after a few minutes. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Our goal on Wednesday, other than drinking a cellar-load of beer, was to play around with the sparkler a little and see what happened. Thus we selected an archetypal Southern brew (Sambrook's Wandle) and a quintessentially Geordie effort (Mordue's Workie Ticket) and sampled them both with and without the Sparkler.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Having discussed this at some length on Twitter (and - gasp! - in person) with Drapers Arms-owner Nick Gibson I was forewarned. But nothing prepared me for how dreadful Wandle would taste through the Sparkler. Duncan was appalled (see below). Pete refused to drink his. That's how bad it was. Wandle is a truly great beer which perfectly encapsulates the unique genius of traditional British brewing - namely to produce full-bodied, full-flavoured ale with a low alcohol content (in this case 3.7%). But put through a Sparkler it became sweet dishwater.</div><div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">By contrast, Northerners, it would appear, swing both ways. Mordue's Workie Ticket worked well with and without the sparkler. But again they tasted entirely different.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_i5fOh30_vW4/TBzFlDZPd2I/AAAAAAAADAo/ZckaIzhKGXU/s1600/IMG00739-20100616-1810.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_i5fOh30_vW4/TBzFlDZPd2I/AAAAAAAADAo/ZckaIzhKGXU/s320/IMG00739-20100616-1810.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There it is above, in all its creamy-headed glory. Still sweet but balanced by the extra-bitter hops included in the brew to balance the sweetening effect of the Sparkler. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Duncan Sambrook, a chemistry graduate, explained the sweetness. Apparently the agitation of the CO2 by the sparkler causes the bitterness molecules from the hops to attach themselves to the CO2 molecules. Thus most of the bittnerness is removed from the beer itself, and resides afterwards in the head. To prove this, Duncan encouraged us to take the teaspoon test. This involved spooning a small amount of the creamy head into one's gob - and sure enough it was astringently bitter. Fascinating.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div>Attendee James Diggle (above) enjoying a Workie Ticket without sparkler. This had a goodly amount of bitterness and kept its head well.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Having learned to drink cask ale in Edinburgh - my palate shaped on the forge of such great sparkler-led institutions as the <a href="http://www.qype.co.uk/place/228262-the-diggers-athletic-arms--Edinburgh">Athletics Arms</a>, the <a href="http://www.qype.co.uk/place/77385-The-Windsor-Buffet-Edinburgh">Windsor Buffet</a>, <a href="http://www.edinburghpubguide.co.uk/PubDetails/Mathers_Bar_95.html">Mathers</a>, and the legendary <a href="http://www.bestpubs.co.uk/layout0.asp?pub=105813">Blue Blazer</a>, I expected to like the sparkler more than I did. </div><div><br />
</div><div>In all honesty, I have been corrupted by weak Southern ways and I like my beer foamy and thin. Ho hum.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Thanks to Pete brown (of whom I neglected to get a picture) and especially to Duncan Sambrook for allowing us to roundly mock the Sparkler-Wandle (followed by much adulation of the straight-out version) and to all attendees. Watch this space for future chronic outbreaks of beer-geekiness.</div><div><br />
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</div></div>Charlie McVeighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07967002032615534706noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3091984068990071430.post-42621017679337929392010-06-18T02:56:00.000-07:002010-06-18T02:56:22.752-07:00New Site East-Side...Last week we exchanged on a new site - our third! - on the south side of Tower Bridge looking onto the mayor's office from the front and onto Shad Thames at the back. This is our first tentative step outside of SW11, the Draft House heartland, so we shall see if the Easterners like our blend of honest food and beers which aspire to greatness. We take possession of the site at the end of this month and, following a 6-week fit aim to open by end-August.<div><br />
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</div>Charlie McVeighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07967002032615534706noreply@blogger.com1