Got a Lot of Bottle!

A quick follow-on from my previous post; 'A Night Out in Gosforth', where any trip would not be complete without a call into the fabulous Coopers on nearby Brunton Park - an 8 till 8 Convenience Store with a difference, in that it has probably one of the best  selections of Bottled Real Ales anywhere in the North East. A brief glance at my six bottle, sixteen pound selection, gives a glimpse into the diverse range on offer, and highlights that you don’t have to pay a premium for this first class service. Go on give them a call . . . you won’t be disappointed!

Stewart Brewing Hollyrood 5% - World Beer Awards Best Blonde/Golden Ale 2010

Stringers Beer IPA 5.5% - from Ulverston, Cumbria’s 100% Renewably Powered Brewery

Cropton Brewery Old Goat 8.0% - a deceptively easy drinking Strong Bitter

Durham Brewery Benidictus 8.4% - a potent, traditional English Barley Wine

Watermill Inn W’ruff Night 5.0% - Golden, Hoppy Ale from Ings in the Lake District

Oops . . . for the life of me I can’t place the last brew; Double-Hopped and weighing in at around 9%, with a Green Label - and no, I didn’t drink them in one session, honest. Either way, I’m sure I’ll spot it again on my next visit and, hopefully you won’t beat me to it!

A Night Out in Gosforth!

As a youth, I always promised myself a night out in Gosforth, its compact layout and up-market image, well at least to a lad from Newcastle’s West End, made it an attractive proposition for a pint or two, and the possibility of meeting a few young ladies. Sadly, I never did quite get around to it and as events would transpire, it would be another 30 years before I’d realise my dream - having a few pints that is, my ladies days being long over! The occasion; The Gosforth Winter Beer Festival 2011, held at the Civic Hall by the Regent Centre, and as I write running for a further two nights, Friday and Saturday, 11/12 November from 12:00 to 24:00.

Much to my surprise, the journey from my neck of the woods right into the heart of Gosforth’s High Street proved to be a single bus ride, I’d obviously not properly researched the route in the past. Within 25 minutes from leaving my own front door I was entering The Gosforth Hotel, a traditional tile fronted pub - basic, but with a good reputation for their Cask Ale offerings, and the perfect start to my evening. A swift pint of Wylam Centennial 4.1%, one of a range of locally produced American style Pale Ales with a charge of 'Yankee Hops', its citrus palate balanced with a bitter sweet finish, albeit in my example ever so slightly musty. Still, that wasn’t going to spoil my night, and although the remaining offerings all from 'LocAle' micros; Double Maxim, Consett, Tyne Bank, Mordue and Hadrian & Border proved rather tempting, I bid farewell with Loyalty Card in hand and the prospect of a free pint, ensuring a return visit would be sooner, rather than later.

Following the route of the original Great North Road I headed on to the venue, and although busy with rush hour traffic, a mild and dry evening ensured a relaxed arrival, with the warm reflection of the street lights adding to my feeling of well being, and as events would prove, I certainly wasn’t to be disappointed. Formalities over; admission, half-pint glass and beer tickets etc., oh, and not forgetting a punt on the Charity Tombola, I settled into a corner of one of the carefully laid out tables to scrutinise the Beer List and make my selections for the evening. These smaller, to medium events, in well lit airy venues, with a good, long open bar make for an easy-going experience. The old adage that when it feels right etc., being very much true.

With over 40 beers to choose from, and not having had a change to check things out in advance, I thought that a start nearer to home would be a good option. Hence, my first choice was Hadrian & Border’s Newburn No.1 4.1%, this from a brewer much travelled around Tyneside, and I assume this Dark Golden Ale with hoppy finish, was in announcement of their latest move. It proved an excellent start and led me on to their near neighbour, The Big Lamp Brewery and a new beer to me, One Hop (Wonder) 4.0%. A beautiful Dark Amber brew with smooth palate and a hint of nuttiness on the finish - lets hope if I can make it to The Keelman at the weekend, which for those not in the know is their brewery 'tap', they’ve a pint with my name on. By now getting into my stride, I travelled metaphorically down stream and crossed banks to sample Jarrow’s Isis 5.0%, a strong Pale Golden Bitter with a tropical fruity finish. Really first class and a reminder that I must visit their newly opened Sunderland Pub of the same name . . . sooner, rather than later. And, to round out my first quartet, an established Geordie favourite; Mourdue’s Radgie Gadgie 4.8%, a Strong Bitter with lots of fruit and hops, and as I’ve previously found, as good in bottled form as it is on draught, which is not always an easy feat. So, four different local brewers offering a variation on the Pale Ale theme, all it would seem in rude health and demonstrating both, staying power, adaptation, innovation and above all consistency. As I said earlier, certainly nothing to disappoint and as it proved much to admire!    

As with all things in life it’s so easy to find ones self in a rut, and when it comes to beer I’m no different - it’s not very often I’ll venture onto the dark side, much preferring, albeit with infinite choice, my beloved Pale Ales. However, this was billed as a 'Winter Beer Festival' and darker beers are synonymous with the warmth and comfort they afford, so time for a change? I therefore plumped for Three Castles Firecracker 4.2%, the name alone certainly had a glow to it, and as tasting notes were not available I wasn’t sure what to expect, but what a choice . . . as dark as they come, offering a rich malty palate and good balanced bitter finish, with just a lingering hint of aniseed. Certainly no going back now; so it had to be Hexhamshire’s Blackhall English Stout 4.0%, another dark bitter beer with strong roasted malt flavours - perfect winter drinking. And it only got better, next up a Bohemian style Dark Lager, Allendale Winter Dunkel 4.6%, a rich dark Golden Brown brew with bags of flavour and a bitter-sweet finish. Now, I know my limits and as much a I was warming to my new found friends, I cast my eye around looking to one for the road, and Black Hole Hubble Bubble 5.5% didn’t present any toil or trouble, just a mouthful of rich flavours and a reflective end to a must enjoyable evening. In reality I hadn’t travelled very far, my beer choice in the main reflecting local allegiances, however the transition form the golden days of summer and into the darker winter nights was one I’ll savour for a while to come!

Embers Burning Brightly!

As I’ve touched on previously, getting a decent pint within walking distance has sadly been lacking of late. Alright, a trip down the hill and onto the edge of town will bring you to The Bodega, and you won’t find a more reliable Cask Ale haunt, but we’re talking a good 20-25 minutes with a fair wind behind, add to which on a 'Match Day' it can become quite a scrum - if that’s not a mixed metaphor!

Good News then that the Fox & Hounds has just undergone a refit . . . they’ve bound to have included a hand-pull or two. No, sadly not, just same old, same old. You’d think that a 'progressive' business, trading on an historic Tyneside name like 'John Barras' - their original Tyne Brewery forming the backbone at launch of Newcastle Breweries in the 1890's, would want to tap into one of the few growing sectors of the Pub Trade. Seemingly not; obviously the West End is a lost cause as far as Real Ale goes?

Enter The Denton; not the Duke of York, even though we’ve now marched all the way up the hill and down (the other side) again. Under their parent 'Ember Inns' banner they’re at least trying to offer a good selection of ales, and not just a token hand-pull - their 'Cask Marque' accreditation should also mean that the offering is presented in good order. Since early September, we’ve had everything from Moor Beer Company’s Revival 3.8%, through Lancaster Brewery’s Blonde 4.1% to Rooster’s Wild Mule 3.9%, and not forgetting RCH’s PG Steam 3.9% - a gold medal winner from the 2010 Great British Beer Festival. Yet, despite this, and bearing in mind that their regular Caledonian Deuchars IPA 3.8% is the cheapest pint on offer by a long way, getting a good one is very hit and miss!

As with all Cask Ales, regardless of how you keep your cellar, through-put is paramount, and it would seem that here in the West End, despite the Denton’s best efforts, the eponymous national keg alternatives are king. But, having thoroughly enjoyed my pint of Itchen Valley Godfathers 3.8% and a cracking Wadworth’s Swordfish 5.0% in the past, the prospect of a 'NovEmber' special Project Green 4.5% - a Compton brewed Pale Ale with Green Hops, drew me back one more time. However, the sight of Orkney’s Dark Island 4.6% still sitting there some 10 days since my last visit didn’t bode well . . . and the Project Green, sadly even the girl behind the bar agreed it was stale, flat and beyond it’s best. Not even the usually reliable Deuchars could lift my spirits - leaving at least half of the pint still in the glass, I headed home in despair.

Will I be back . . . of course? My couple of pints a few times a week won’t accumulate any one a fortune, and as much as I appreciate the option of a local drink, I can’t ensure the necessary volumes to achieve a reliable glass each and every time. But look, we’ve a Robinson’s produced Golden Ale up next; Build a Rocket Boys! 4.0% (created in collaboration of the acclaimed band 'Elbow' and named after their latest album). Lets not give in just yet; I for one will be doing my bit. Support your 'local' - we’ve lost so much over the years here in the West End. Together, we can make sure the 'Ember’s' can continue to burn brightly - its our only beacon!