Leg it round Butterly

No beer involved but a lovely walk around Butterly reservoir in the Wessenden Valley. This picture is taken with my new Blackberry Pearl - impressive stuff! The engineering work involved in constructing this series of 3 consecutive reservoirs must have been incredible.

Colne Valley Bitter in the Colne Valley

Todays Blog entry is the excellent Colne Valley Bitter, home brewed in the Colne Valley by myself.

It could do with a few more weeks conditioning in the bottle but needs must and on a hot sunny bank holiday Monday, it needs drinking.

I've had rave reviews of my home brew from other drinkers and while I may be biase, I reckon its better than anything on offer at the pub next door (and a nicer price tag than their £2.70 a pint!).

Just waiting for my next batch to condition, a Norfolk Bitter, Woodforde's Wherry.

The Bridge Inn, Penton

The outlaws local haunt with landlords Clint & Ann soon placing the pub on the market. No doubt Clint will be able to go Salmon fishing more often once he's moved on!

Pickled eggs, Pedigree & Strongbow pictured here. We also tried the guest ale, a Derwent Brewery pint called Mutineers - stunk of marmite and must admit i didnt enjoy it but then again, i dont like marmite!!

The pickled eggs were terrific though - Harry Ramsdens endorsed!! SpaceFlower has a jar of free range eggs from the neighbours chickens currently maturing in vinegar. It wont be long before we can crack them open and have them with the home brew.

Its getting rather like the Good Life at our house.

Bose

No Pub On The Horizon

Bank holiday weekend, the m6 was shit but the views are great. Pictured here is just next to the Malcolm memorial above Langholm. I was so hoping there would be a pub here but since we're now in Scotland, good pubs are a rare creature indeed. We managed to find a pub called The Grapes in Newcastleton. Their only worthy ales were to be found, dare i say, in the fridge. I managed to secure a couple of bottles of Wychcraft which were on the shelf next to the fridge. The barman looked at me like i was stupid when i asked for a non-chilled bottle....

Good Beer Travels Well

The last time we had Deuchers IPA was in a pub in Oban in the Scottish Highlands. Tonight it was found in the excellent Navigation on the edge of Saddleworth.

Also making a special appearance is a Moorhouses Pride of Pendle.

An excellent carpacchio of beef starter belies this pubs humble location.

Curry & stew for main course!

Mmmmm

Bose Sounddock

How Times Have Changed

Now when I was a lad, strictly of legal drinking age of course, on a Friday night while drinking your pint, you used to be able to get cockles and other assorted shellfish with your pint.

Now, Sunday lunchtime in Saddleworth we called into the Granby Arms for a quick pint. Met by the stunning Dob Cross Bitter, we also spotted cockles for sale. Wow! Just like old times we thought... With vinegar strong enough to make your ears bleed (not a bad thing) they were pretty good but such a shame they are now vacuum packed. Even the crisps have changed, onion bahji flavour?? Still better than cajun squirrel flavour I suppose.

Dog Friendly Cottages in The Scottish Borders

Saturday evening at the Steam Brewery

And it was packed. Tonights tipple was a very blonde ale called Lily Fogg.

Now my parents who joined us for a swift pint, tell me that Ms Fogg was 'the Halifax prostitute'. Nice to see Ms Fogg looked after the local community!

Ethical Marketing by Blue Ginger

The Bulls Head, Foolow

Four hand pulleds including black sheep, it just seems to be in every pub we go in.

Spaceflower has the local peak ales brew while Tony samples an Adnams pint.

8 miles to go on a 9.5 mile circular walk from Eyam. Bank holiday weekend, suppose it could be busier but not much.

biodegradable dog poo bags