Mar 1 2010

Brains Black Welsh Stout – Guinness beware in the Welsh valleys

Today St David’s Day Brains the Cardiff based brewery launched a new beer at their wonderful Crawshay Arms pub, which is in the grounds of the Brewery, the best pub in Cardiff has it does not have a till!

What is different about it from the other Brains keg ales, well It’s a Stout, and they have called it Black.

They see it as a direct competitor to Guinness but at a cheaper price point but with a slightly familiar Brains taste aimed at their regulars.

I…

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Mar 1 2010

Anyone tried the Marks & Spencer Real Ale – Case of 20

M & S have got a good selection of British bottled ales.

  • 4 Cornish IPA A pale gold, refreshingly full flavoured, beer with citrus aromas and a light malt finish with a hint of resinous pine.
  • 4 Norfolk Bitter Malty, with a fruity character and a dry finish.
  • 4 Scottish Cairngorm Ale Smooth, malty, full bodied thistle ale.
  • 4 Sussex Golden Ale Delivers a refreshing flavour and a traditional Sussex ‘hoppy nose’.
  • 4 Yorkshire Bitter Smooth, with a subtle hint of citrus

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Feb 27 2010

The Worst Pint of Beer in Cardiff is at …

We went to the Wales V France Games Last night.

Wales V France 6 nations 26th Feb

Had a couple of pints before the game

At the Goat Major great pint of Hydes Berry Good Ale

Goat Major - Hydes Berry Good Ale & Brains Dark

AT the Central Bar (a spoons pub) Rhymney Export but at 2.95 a pint

2010-02-26 16.45.14

But the worse pint of the night was at the stadium £3.50 a pint of Brains Bitter in a plastic glass, Iam sure they had pored it before from their super fast poring system and left it for a while, it was cold…

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Feb 17 2010

A London Trip – Fullers & Sams Smiths – Soho Pubs

I had a nice day in London on Tuesday meeting some people about something to do with shed week, can’t say anymore ;)

I did have a few hours to spare so here are my random shots from various pubs around London (Soho mainly)

I went to the Duke of Argyll & John Snow both Sam Smiths houses – nice extra stout, The John Snow had a great Glass half door..

Also went to the Wonderfull De Hems Dutch Cafe Bar Soho and…

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Feb 15 2010

Goat major Beer festival – Cardiff – Red Hop Lover, DangleBeer & Bread of Heaven

The wonderful Oasis in Cardiff that is the Goat Major is having a mini beer festival this week, you would not know it as nothing on the Brains website I had a tip off from ArfurD

Beers on today include Brewseters Red Hop Lover, DangleBeery & Brains own Bread of Heaven.

Red Hot Lover

Beer List

Later in the Week (or when the have gone ) they have the Lovely Brew Dog Trashy Blonde

Bread of Heaven

If you are in Cardiff this week it’s worth popping over the Goat (which is near…

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Feb 9 2010

How come I have not seen one of these before – Beer Bag

Maybe as I don’t shop at Waitrose, but what a great idea, sorry the video on the wonk, could not be bothered to rotate it, but it adds to the msytic

A bag that holds bottles in separate pockets..

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Feb 2 2010

A climb up Kilimanjaro & Brains beer a good mix? In this case yes

On of my colleagues is taking part in the Kilimanjaro climb for cancer (you can sponsor her here).

But another good thing to come of this is a new beer has been brewed by Cardiff Brewer Brains

‘Up and Over’ ale has been specially created for the Brains SA Captains Climb. The 500ml bottle is being sold exclusively in all Welsh Tesco Extras and Superstores, and is available as part of Brains’ 3 for £4 offer. 15p from each bottle sold will be donated to the challenge.…

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Jan 17 2010

Beers of the Week – unique beers from a Scottish dog and south west hare about time

Not blogged about the beers I have drunk for a while, one good reason for this – I have cut down – well in the week and during the day anyway.

So these beers are either with meals or while running my shed empire and used as a typing aid.

UNION 4.9% ABV

UNION 4.9% ABV

This was a lovely European style lager from the great London brewery Meantime – UNION 4.9% ABV, great label as well.


Dec 24 2009

Beer Swap – a trumpiant in beer swapping

What a great Idea Beer Swap is.

I was lucky enough to get some great beers from the Bucks Area in my swap, but I lost the contact details for the person who sent them… so let me know!

Array

The glad tidings was my favourite out of the lot from Vale Brewing company, it was quite bitter but had nice fruity aroma and nice and sweet, closely followed by the Grumpling Old Ale… the barley wine was a nice sipping one and my misses liked that…

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Dec 20 2009

The 13 beers of christmas including De Koninck, Zeitgeist , Rodenbach Vintage

Took delivery of Christmas beers from the lovely Beer Merchants

2009-12-19 12.50.59

Barbar, Blond Speciality Ale, 8.0%, 33cl, Bottle (2 of)
Brugs Wit, Witbier, 4.8%, 33cl, Bottle (2 of)
De Koninck, Amber Speciale Belge, 5.0%, 25cl, Bottle
De Koninck Blond, Blond Speciality, 6.0%, 33cl, Bottle
Lindemans Pecheresse, Peach Lambiek Fruit beer, 2.5%, 25cl, Bottle
Palm, Extra Amber Speciale Belge, 5.4%, 33cl, Bottle
Meantime Union, Vienna Style Amber Lager, 4.9%, 33cl Bottle
Meantime Coffee & Porter…

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