Ale Log

Mrs. Northerner is hosting a Girls Night In, pink-themed party in aid of Cancer Research UK tonight and I have been roped in volunteered to be cocktail maker and bartender for the evening. It’s a thankless task involving lots of ice, lots of sticky juice, lots of shaking, and lots of brightly-coloured pink alcohol. If I make it through the night with my best pink shirt and tie in tact, it’ll be a miracle.

I’m getting through the night by nursing four bottles of this golden bottled ale from Jennings Brewery in Cockermouth. Cumberland Ale is the perfect, well-grounded drink to sip on while mixing and serving such pink delights as Dragon Blossom, Pink Gin and Tonic, Pink Lady, Seabreeze, and tonight’s most popular, Pink Sin Martini. The ale is not pink, but is a dark gold and it has a nutty, full-bodied aroma. It’s not for quaffing, but I’d never tire of its taste.

But what’s this!? Mrs. Northerner’s sister has decided that cocktails are a bit “too spirity” and has asked if I have any beer! Well, although it breaks my heart, I have surrendered one whole bottle, a quarter of the night’s stash, to the cause.

There’s nothing else for it - make mine a Clear Skies Ahead.

A pale ale from the Little Creatures brewery in Australia, Mrs. Northerner picked us up a couple of bottles to enjoy before going out for tapas with CW and LK. It’s a dark orange colour and quite tasty. I swear I smelled Ribena as I took my first sip. It is quite a tasty beer, but Mrs. Northerner pointed out the overriding taste of iron. It feels a little bit like drinking rust. I’ll not go as far as Mrs. Northerner who thought that it reminded her of the taste of blood when you bite your tongue!

I like the name of this beer, and I like the label on the bottle (a classic cream and red, with simple lettering and a beer-tankard-holding cherub). As for the taste though, I’ll go as far as saying “it’s alright”.

TE and I have popped along to Coopers for the first pint in an after-work drinking session. It’s quiet in here, as usual. As with all Market Town Taverns pubs, it is a smart place with good, old, beer advertising pictures on the walls. With only us in here though, it feels a little bit like a deserted school classroom.

I’ve gone for a pint of Smoked Porter from Abbeydale brewery in Sheffield. It’s a dark, dark, smoky porter and perhaps the tastiest pint I’ve had in ages. I usually go for lighter ales, but I really should stop that policy - this tastes fantastic and is the perfect warming drink to sup here against the window as the damp car lights stream by outside.

It was a tense moment, waiting the start of the final round of the 2008 Formula One world championship. Lewis Hamilton starting from fourth, rain right around the corner. RB and I needed a drink to steady our nerves.

We opted for this simply-named Organic Premium Ale from the Co-Op. Brewed by the Freeminer Brewery in the Royal Forest of Dean.

It poured really well - a nice nutty colour. It was drinkable too, but to be completely honest, I was far more interested in the nail-biting race on the telly to remember much about the beer. At £1.69, it was good value though! Brewed using organic ingredients bought through fair-trade schemes, this is an ale that’s easy on the conscience too!

Mrs. Northerner and I have come into Leeds for a film, some food, and some drinks. We’ve popped into the Slug and Lettuce for a swift beer before the film starts. There’s no real ale on offer in here, so I’ve opted for a bottle of the unpronounceable Żywiec from Poland. I’ve never heard of it before and the man who served it to me couldn’t tell me anything about it, but I’m glad I went for it. It tastes quite sweet, but very ‘full’ - it’s a well rounded, strong lager that reminds me of the excellent Brooklyn lager.

Mrs. Northerner likes the taste, but finds it a bit too sweet.

MB, Mrs. Northerner and I spent most of yesterday mixing real ale and steam trains together while listening to a band playing accordion, drums, and a strange one stringed percussion instrument. I love beer festivals, and not only for the wide selection of available beers, but also because of the interesting range of characters you get there - they’re great for people watching. Host a beer festival in the carriages of a working heritage railway, and around the wheels of the static steam engine exhibits, and it’s perfect!.

The Festival was supremely well organised. There was a bar hosted by the Old Spot Brewery on Keighley station platform. One of the two working trains had a bar aboard, and there was a traditional beer festival setup in the engine shed at Oxenhope station.

Oxenhope Shed was rammed with people and every available space was used. The gigantic steel pistons of 6-ft high steam engine wheels were used as beer glass shelves. The rail carriages were full of people with drinks.

The price was very reasonable - £12 got you a Day Rover ticket for unlimited travel on the Railway (the line is 4.5 miles) and entrance to the festival in the Shed. Drinks were priced at £11 for 10 half-pint tokens, again reasonable.

A very enjoyable day was had by all.