Trying to find my mojo

In my previous post about encouraging other people to take up writing about beer, or even to start their own blog, I mentioned that I was rarely lost for something to write about. Well, be careful what you wish for, as for the past few days, I’ve been stuck in just such a rut. I’ve got a few ideas formed now, as well as something more concrete, but after scrolling through some of the rambling jottings I knocked out on our return from last autumn’s Atlantic cruise, I realised there was sufficient material for a brief post.

After our departure from Madeira, Queen Victoria headed towards the Portuguese mainland and the sea port of Leixoes. The latter is the entry point for Porto, Portugal’s second largest city and the centre of the country’s renowned port wine trade. It was somewhere I’d wanted to visit for some time, not only because I’m partial to the occasional glass of Port, but because I’m interested in the way this legendary drink is produced, and the maturation process it goes through before reaching the customer’s glass. I’ve got some form in relation to this, because I started my career with a position in the wine trade, and the company I worked for were keen for their employees to expand their knowledge in this field.

I shall leave that particular story for another day but suffice to say I was excited to be visiting the centre, and indeed the home of what is probably Portugal’s most famous export. I'd booked a coach excursion for the pair of us into the centre of Porto, a drive of 30-40 minutes from the coastal port of Leixoes, where our cruise ship was berthed. The day before we were due to dock, I developed a really annoying summer cold which fellow cruisers identified as the infamous “Cunard Cough”. Such bugs are quite common onboard ship, and are probably spread around via the air-conditioning system, but over the course of the intervening sea day my symptoms worsened to the point that I agreed with Mrs PBT’s that I ought to abandon the excursion.

As my good lady wife pointed out, it wouldn't really have been fair for me to be coughing and spluttering over my fellow coach passengers, during the drive into Porto. I reluctantly agreed, and headed down to the Purser’s Office where, I fortunately managed to get cost of the excursion credited back to my account – less a small processing fee. I was really lucky and certainly used all my charm on the lady behind the shore excursions desk, as such trips aren't normally covered by the cruise line’s refunds policy.

The following morning, after a good night’s sleep, I typically felt much better, although I would definitely have been pushing my luck to try reversing my cancellation.  Despite missing out on the Port Houses of Porto, Eileen and I spent a quiet, but enjoyable day on board ship in Leixoes, where we were blessed with the proverbial wall to wall sunshine. The sea was calm seas and there was very little wind blowing. With most of Victoria’s passengers ashore, along with many of the crew, there was a nice quiet feel about the ship, with plenty of space to chill out and relax. I briefly ventured ashore, but only as far as the cruise terminal. There wasn't exactly a lot there, apart from a small souvenir shop, so I called in and bought a tin of sardines (well you’ve just got to, haven’t you?), plus a small ceramic Portuguese knick-knack for Mrs PBT’s.

I could see the beach, stretching out on the other side of the breakwater, and I found out, from one of the women at the shop that I could have got a bus there, into the port, and then to the beach. That would have been nice, if only just for a beer and an ice cream, but I had just gone back through security. I mentioned that to the shop staff, who just shrugged their shoulders in typical Mediterranean manner, and said “Don't worry go back, and then come through again, once you’ve been to the beach”. I didn’t, in the end, as it seemed poor compensation for having missed visiting one of Porto’s wine lodges. I'm rather fond of a glass or two, especially over the festive season and at the time of writing, I had a bottle left unopened, from the previous Christmas.

Our next port of call was the Spanish port city of Vigo, which is almost just around the corner from Leixoes, where the coastline changes from Portuguese, and back into Spanish territory. We’d been to Vigo on a previous cruise and it's a place where you literally walk straight off the ship and into the centre of town – or at least the dock area. Our previous visit took place on a Sunday, and with Spain being a staunch Catholic country, not many shops were open. This time it would be different, and the city would redeem itself as a good place to buy the odd present for the folks back home or, more importantly for us, a selection of Spanish cooking ingredients.

Now I’m going to end this part of the narrative, as I covered it earlier, and not long after we returned to the UK. For those with poor memories, or those who can’t be bothered to refer back, our ship was unable to dock at Vigo, thanks to a severe storm developing out in the Atlantic, and heading towards the Bay of Biscay. Rather than heading into the deepening depression, the captain took the decision to “run for home,” and we arrived safely back in Blighty after having missed the worst of whatever name the local Met Office had assigned to this annoying storm.

Back home, I reflected that there were quite a few places on the northern coast of Spain that probably aren’t affected by these Atlantic storms, as the exposed west coast. Bilbao is one such place, but I was thinking more of the Basque city of San Sebastian, located close to the border with France, and in that corner of the country where the coast heads off in a sharp, northerly direction. I might have referred to San Sebastian in the past, but 50 or so years ago, the previous Mrs PBT's and I spent the best part of a week in this attractive city, before heading south into the interior of Spain and ending up on the Costas – Alicante, to be precise. On that particular trip we travelled by train, after boarding a cross-channel ferry, as foot passengers, from Dover to Dunkirk. An early morning train took us to Paris, and after an overnight stop in the French capital, we took one of the fast Corail services southwards, towards the Spanish border.

For the train buffs amongst you, Corail pre-dated the super-fast TGV trains, and provided a fast, pleasant, clean and direct service between Paris and Bordeaux (and several other French cities). We found a cheap hotel in the city, which was a lot more industrial than we were expecting and, as in Paris, had to surrender our passports at reception, so they could be vetted by the local Gendarmerie.  I’m not sure when this practice ceased, but it was the same in Spain as well, although back then the country was ruled over by that nice man, General Franco!

From Bordeaux we took a slightly slower train crossing the border into Spain, at Irun where it was necessary to change trains, due to the different loading gauge of the Spanish railways. More train geekery coming up, as a change of country meant a change of trains, due to the fact that the Spanish railways operated on a wider gauge than the universal standard. I'm not sure if that still applies to Spanish rail system or whether the tracks have been converted to European standard gauge, but once onboard the local Spanish train, we continued our journey towards San Sebastian. My previous wife had spent for four months living and working in the city, as part of her Modern Languages degree course, so she knew the city well.

San Sebastian had a bright and airy feel to it, partly enhance by it situation overlooking the Bay of Biscay, but also by its fine architecture. I’m guessing the city emerged relatively unscathed from the Spanish Civil War. It did seem a little bit edgy back then, which was due to the activities the Basque separatist organisation ETA, who weren't averse to committing the odd atrocity. 

Their attacks were mainly aimed at government buildings, although there was the occasional bomb, timed to go off in a crowded market square. What was really nice about San Sebastian, was the cuisine, especially the seafood. If you’re a fan of fresh fish, lobster or crab, then this is the place for you, and the local wine wasn’t bad either. I can’t remember a thing about the beer, so if you do decide to visit the city, you will need to do your own research. The thing that was missing was the wall-to-wall sunshine I had been expecting, which of course brings us back to the situation that had preventing us from docking in Vigo, some 50 years later.

It’s time now to say goodbye to northern Spain, but if you’re not put off by strong westerly winds, and the odd bit of rain, then Vigo, La Coruna and San Sebastian are all well worth a visit.

 

 

 

 

Why not start your own blog? Boak & Bailey claim that you can, and I believe they are right!

Here’s an interesting challenge for you all, because veteran bloggers, Boak & Bailey have made it their mission to encourage people to write about beer – get them blogging for want of a better description! The pair claim, quite rightly in my opinion, that anyone can decide to write about beer. The couple say that posting on your own blog, that you own and manage, is the best approach, and very much an antidote to the problems of social media and platforms “run by arseholes” (their words, rather than mine, although I whole heartedly agree with the sentiments expressed.)

The duo advise starting your blog quietly, and then building up gradually, which is what I did, when I started my own site, back in November 2008. I’d been writing my own material for quite some time, prior to starting Paul Bailey’s Beer Blog – the rather unimaginative original title for Paul’s Beer & Travel Blog. I had also edited two local CAMRA branch publications, a task that involved, in both cases, writing most of the copy. 

For the record, those publications were “Draught Copy” – the Newsletter of Maidstone & Mid-Kent CAMRA, and “Inn View” the branch magazine of West Kent CAMRA. Both publications were successful, in their own right, although the Maidstone newsletter had been around for quite a few years, before I took over the reins. Inn View, started as a branch effort, but the mantle of chief copywriter soon fell to me. In both cases the services of a friendly and sympathetic printer, were essential, as was the army of volunteers responsible for delivering the publications to CAMRA – sympathetic pubs.

Blogging is obviously a lot easier, and involves little in the way of physical effort, as apart from the necessary research, nothing could be easier that sitting in front of your PC, in the comfort of your own home, bashing out a post or two. Spicing it up with a few, photos to illustrate the post, add further depth and interest to your blog, although to avoid falling foul of the UK’s strict copyright laws, make sure they’re your own snaps, rather than lifting one straight off the web.

Before going any further I want to make special mention of a former blogger, called Paul Garrard. Paul was the person responsible for getting me interested in blogging in the first place, via his excellent, but now sadly long defunct Real Ale Blog. Paul hosted this blog for a number of years, and it was in response to a request on the site for guest writers to contribute articles, that led to me becoming involved. As mentioned earlier, I had been writing articles on beer and pubs, for a number of years, with the aim of eventually getting them published, so it wasn’t a massive leap of faith to get one published, online.

Spurred on by Paul’s request, I emailed him, one of these articles, and a day or two later, was delighted to see it posted on the Real Ale Blog. I followed this original post with a couple of other articles, one of which was freshly written, and on a topical subject. I hadn't at the time, intended to start my own blog, but after looking into it, and discovering how easy it was to open a Google account, I took the plunge and set up a blog of my own. I chose Google’s Blogger as the platform to host my new creation, primarily because that was the one Paul Garrard was using. In addition, I wasn’t even aware of alternatives, such as Word Press.

Those initial posts were fairly basic, as it took me a while to discover how to upload photos, but the platform was easy to use, as well as being free, so I bashed out a few more posts, and the rest, they say, is history. With small steps to begin with, plus a few very welcome words of encouragement in the Comments Section, I was raring to go. One of the first commentators, was Paul Garrard, congratulating me for taking the plunge. Another was veteran blogger, Tandleman, a real character and one of the few writers from those early days, who is still posting today.

I only made eight posts in that first year (2008), although in defence, I didn’t start writing articles until November of that year. The following year saw 80 posts, followed by 90 in 2010.  I hit a rough patch in 2011, before bouncing back in 2013, when I passed the magic 100 posts, in a year. That figure has remained at around the 110 – 130 mark, with my highest total for a single year, hitting 150 in 2017.

Going back to those early days, for a moment, I’m not sure what happened to Paul Garrard. I’m assuming that he just lost interest. Online searches reveal very little about him, but despite is disappearance this was an individual who deserves credit for his early efforts, and boundless enthusiasm. I met up with Paul, in Maidstone, back in 2009, at the Rifle Volunteer, an unspoiled back street pub, owned by Goacher’s Brewery.

Despite his relatively young age, Matthew insisted on coming with me, after all meeting up with someone, I’d only chatted to online was fraught with all kinds of danger – or so he thought! Talk about a vivid imagination, even though he had my best interests at heart. Like Eileen and I, Paul Garrard had run his own beer shop for a while, although by the time we met, he had moved on to something else. I’m fairly certain that Paul’s shop was located in Norwich, although I never found the time to ask him.

Coming back to the “now”, blogging is much more than a numbers game though, and my prime aims remain to inform, and entertain those who call by and click on the blog.  I find it quite relaxing to write, and whilst there are the odd lean patches, it’s not often that I find myself “lost for words.” I’ve also met some really nice and interesting people, and have enjoyed shared experiences with them, days out – usually to classic pub towns, plus the occasional night away from home. As a “hobby”, if that’s what you wish to call it, then I can thoroughly recommend it, but blogging is far more than that, and in ways that are often difficult to describe. My blog is as much a part of me as I am of it, and long may it continue!

Footnote: Clicking on this link will take you to the very first post on Paul’s Beer Travels – or Paul Bailey’s Beer Blog as it was formerly known. Looking back, that initial article seems a little amateurish, which it almost certainly was, but everyone one has to start somewhere, and that represented my first tentative steps along the road to where I find myself today.

 

Jaipur goes from strength to strength

Since its founding in 2005 Thornbridge Brewery, who are located in the heart of the Peak District, have been dedicated to producing high-quality beer. Their best-known brand is Jaipur, a beer that was one of the first beers produced by the company, and one that requires little in the way of introduction to UK beer lovers. Available in cask, keg, bottle, and can formats, Jaipur is widely regarded as the country’s first craft IPA, and since its launch, it has earned more than 100 awards. More importantly, to real ale afficionados like me, the beer is widely regarded as one of the UK's top modern cask beers.

In addition to brewing Jaipur, Thornbridge produces a diverse selection of cask beers and houses the world’s last working Burton Union system. This traditional brewing equipment enhances their offerings, allowing the brewery to create distinctive, classic beers and collaborate with famous brewers worldwide. Recent figures show that Jaipur is now ranked as the ninth best-selling cask beer in Britain—a notable accomplishment for this flagship IPA. Its success highlights not only the strength of the Jaipur brand, but also the increasing popularity of contemporary, hop-forward beers across the country.

In 2025, Thornbridge had its most successful year ever, with over 3.5 million pints of Jaipur contributing to this success. The beer was chosen for Wetherspoon’s "Class Act" promotion, an event that features premium brands from around the UK and introduces Jaipur to new drinkers. In addition, Jaipur has been made available nationally by major pub and hospitality chains such as Mitchells & Butlers, Molson Coors, and Stonegate.

Support from the all-important Free Trade sector, remains crucial to the category’s continued success, especially given its ongoing dedication to high-quality cask beer. Thornbridge now distributes its products throughout the UK and exports to over 40 countries globally, having received more than 350 international awards. Looking forward, the brewery is positive about the future. With Jaipur leading the way and renewed interest in cask beer, Thornbridge aim to build on this success and continue promoting modern cask beers for years to come.

Final word from Simon Webster, the Co-Founder and CEO of Thornbridge Brewery. “After several challenging years within the industry, the brewery is pleased to announce a return to profitability, representing a pivotal milestone for long-term sustainability. This progress is the result of prudent management, a sustained commitment to quality and consistency, and renewed confidence in the future prospects of cask beer.”

After reading that, I have a real craving for a pint of Jaipur, preferably although not necessarily, essentially in cask form. The nearest outlet to Bailey Towers, where I am likely to find Jaipur, is my local Wetherspoons, although I have not seen the beer on sale recently, at either of their two local outlets - Humphrey Bean (Tonbridge) or Opera House (Tunbridge Wells). Tonbridge drinkers were spoiled last year, by the welcome appearance of a batch of Jaipur, brewed using Thornbridge’s then recently acquired, Burton Union set, mentioned above. A repeat of that experimental brew is eagerly awaited by West Kent drinkers, so how about it, Thornbridge?

 

Lewes - renewing my acquaintance with two classic pubs, and experiencing two unfamiliar ones

Right, we’ve covered the travel details, we’ve admired the pretty pictures as well, so now it’s time to take a look at the four Lewes pubs that I visited last Friday afternoon. Having worked in the town for a three-year period, I know the town quite well, and even though the time I spent there was over 30 years ago, I still retain much affection for the Sussex county town. During those three years, I visited a fair number of Lewes’s many pubs, but it’s important to remember that I was based in the town for business reasons, rather than ones of pleasure, and whilst there were no real restrictions against the occasional lunchtime pint, it wasn’t something that I indulged in that often.

There were two reasons for this, one of which was shortage of cash, whist the other was one of road safety. I wasn’t terribly well-off back in 1992. I’d recently become a father, and with Mrs PBT’s swapping the workplace for domesticity, we’d changed from a reasonably well-off, two wage-earning household, to one that was having to rely on just the one wage. Furthermore, my travel costs had increased significantly, changing from a short car journey of around 5 miles to a return, cross-country drive of just under 60 miles. Quite a difference, especially when it came to putting fuel in the tank, and an added expense I had to be aware of. This is where the road safety bit comes in, as that 30-mile journey to and from work each day, meant keeping my wits about me behind the wheel, so any lunchtimes drinking, if it occurred, had to be kept to a minimum.

Despite these restraints, I still manage the odd lunchtime pint, although most likely my regular walks into Lewes, served a different purpose, because two or three times a week, I would call in at the Harvey’s Shop, in Cliffe High Street, to fill up my 4-pint, carry-keg with draught beer. Cask, of course, and not always Best Bitter either, because the shop normally had a cask of whichever seasonal brew was on sale at the time, so XXXX Old Ale in winter, Porter for January-February time, Tom Paine in July, and Armada Ale most of the time, as an alternative to the Best. I was a regular customer at the shop, and always addressed properly as Mister Bailey, and never as Paul.

My walks into town took me along South Street, a quiet side street these days, following the construction of the Cuilfail Tunnel. Opened in 1980, the tunnel allows the busy A26 to bypass Lewes to the east of the town, thereby removing much of the through traffic that used to clog the narrow streets of the county town. Close to the northern end of the tunnel, is the Snowdrop Inn, a welcoming and friendly free house, nestling under the cliffs on the outskirts of Lewes.  Offering a range of beers from local Sussex breweries, the pub has quite a quirky feel to it, a feature I recall from the time when I worked in the town. Seeing as that was 30+ years ago, I decided to check out the Snowdrop, to see whether anything had changed at the pub.

My choice of the Snowdrop was in line with the plan that I hatched earlier, of avoiding some of Lewes’s better-known pubs, in favour of some that I was less familiar with. It was quiet as I walked along South Street, and when I eventually reached the pub, it did seem as though little had changed. There was a handful of people, scattered around the bar, plus a large, husky type dog, splayed out in front of the side entrance. I noticed Harvey’s Old on sale, but to begin with I opted for a coffee. My rather rushed train journey from Tonbridge (see previous article), had left little time for non-alcoholic refreshment, and I was missing my mid-morning caffeine fix, so a flat white, prior to the XXXX Old, was just the thing to set me up for the day.

Both drinks were good, and also very welcome, as I positioned myself at a table that gave me a good look at the proceedings. Several customers had ordered, and the food I saw being brought out, looked very good. I noticed on the pub website, that the pub has an additional, upstairs seating area, a facility I’d completely forgotten about. Eileen’s niece and her husband, who live in nearby Uckfield, have a fondness for the Snowdrop, so I must let them know about my visit.  That aside, it was good to renew my acquaintance with this welcoming, but slightly offbeat pub, so I’m pleased to have made the effort to call in.

Departing the Snowdrop and managing to get out of the door without stepping on the hound, I retraced my steps, back towards the Cliffe area of Lewes, for the next pub on my list. For many years, the Dorset was the nearest Harvey’s pub to the brewery, and whilst that distinction has now passed to the John Harvey Tavern, the former still gives the impression of its position in the local pecking order, reinforced by it being the home of the Cliffe Bonfire Society - the largest of the Lewes bonfire societies.   

The Dorset was refurbished in 2006, which is probably why the interior looked completely different, from what I remember. There are several drinking and dining areas, a large patio affording views back towards the brewery, plus six reasonably priced en-suite bedrooms. There are at least four Harvey’s ales on hand-pump, plus an extensive menu featuring traditional home-cooked dishes along with a seafood menu, using freshly caught fish from nearby Newhaven. 

There were two pleasant and helpful girls working behind the bar and looking after customers’ food requirements. With the time and place being just right, I ordered a bowl pf potato and leek soup, served with thick-cut, crusty bread. It was the perfect accompaniment to the excellent Old Ale. As with the previous pub there was a good mix of customers, that included an extended family in the room on the other side of the bar. The Dorset was definitely worth visiting, even though there was little that I recognised from three decades ago.

It was quite a hike up to pub No.3, and this was an establishment I wasn’t 100 percent sure about. Situated in Lewes High Street, at the top of School Hill, and a short distance from the town’s famous law courts, the "Rights of Man" takes its name from American revolutionary, Thomas Paine’s best known works. Paine lived in Lewes for a while, and to commemorate this fact, Harvey’s produce a strong pale ale in his honour, which is a available in cask form on and around the 4^th July.  

United States Independence Day, of course, so
the wrong time of year for cask Tom Paine to be available but made up for by some rather good Armada Ale. The latter is available all year round, but in my experience isn’t seen on the bar as often as it should be. I said that I wasn’t sure about the Rights of Man, and CAMRA’s local pub pages for Lewes, have since confirmed that the pub only opened under this name, in 2012.  

Conclusion, this was definitely my first visit to this bar, which extends back a fair way, as if it is making up for the rather narrow frontage. The style of décor at the pub is of cosy old-fashioned booths, etched glass and wood panelling, all adding to the rather upmarket feel of the place. The toilets are at the top of a rather steep staircase that isn’t that easy to navigate after a few beers. It is worth persevering in summer though, as there is an external roof terrace, that is almost hidden away. After that hike up from the River Ouse, it was another route march to the fourth and final pub of the day, and this time it wasn’t a Harvey’s pub. 

It was further to the Pelham Arms than I thought, although not quite as far as the Black Horse – a pub which back in the day, offered rather basic bed & breakfast accommodation. Eric and I discovered this on our South Downs Way hike, after traipsing along the banks of the River Ouse, in the pouring rain. I digress, although I must have walked past the Pelham on several past occasions, but never recognised the Pelham as a Hall & Woodhouse pub. 

It’s a large, white painted building, dating back to 1640, with plenty of original oak beams, an inglenook fireplace, plus a courtyard garden, and is full of age-old charm. The pub was the original home of the Abyss microbrewery which was housed in the pub's cellar but has now moved to larger premises elsewhere in the town. 

This leaves Badger Tanglefoot and Fursty Ferret, as the offerings for cask devotees, and I’m pleased to report that, after the bar manager pulled the line through for me, the Tanglefoot was in first class condition. As I said earlier, I must have walked passed the Pelham on a number of occasions, without noticing the owning brewery – I must be slipping, as I am normally aware of such things, so I’m assuming the pub is a fairly recent addition to the Badger stable. It’s certainly unusual to find an H&W pub this far east, and away from the brewery's Dorset home, but it’s well worth taking the trouble to visit.

The Pelham has a good reputation for its food, and even has its own smokery – get, you! It’s a bit of a hike up from the town centre, but there are regular buses, which include the No. 29 Brighton & Hove service, that operates between Brighton and Tunbridge Wells on a half-hourly basis (hourly on Sundays). There wasn’t time for me to linger though, so I made my way back along the High Street, before turning right into Station Road, and the train home. 

As reported in the previous post about Lewes, my homeward journey passed surprisingly smoothly, even if it did involve an additional change of train at Gatwick. It still took two hours which, when you consider that until 1969, there was a direct rail service between Tonbridge and Brighton (via Lewes), is proof that things have gone backwards in this country. Vested interests, corrupt politicians and a general lack of joined up thinking, have a lot to answer for, but that’s another story.  

 

 

 

 

The beer gods have been smiling, recently

Before I continue the narrative that I began a few days ago, about my recent trip to Lewes, I’d like to highlight a few unexpected beer moments. By that I mean those occasions when you weren't expecting anything special from the beer, and then, quite out of the blue, it surprises you, transforming an ordinary experience into an exceptional one, and rewarding you with something that restores your faith in the brewers art. Exceptional is probably too strong a word, but when you come across something good that you weren't expecting, then it’s well worth shouting it from the rooftops. There has been three such events recently, including the one I’m about to write about, so let’s get stuck in to that one, before moving onto the other two.

The first event occurred last Thursday, when I visited the Humphrey Bean, which is the Wetherspoons outlet in Tonbridge. My decision to stop there was primarily due to time constraints, that arose after spending too much time attending to matters at home. The morning had started badly, as Eileen wasn’t required at her part time Thursday morning job until 10 am, which is 30 minutes later than usual. Seeing as I act as her chauffeur, that half hour delay impacted my schedule as well. My chauffeuring duties continue later in the day, as I also have to collect the lady of the house, from her workplace, so as you can see, there’s not a lot of time, withing that morning-early afternoon window.

Undeterred, I headed down into Tonbridge on foot, in order to pick up some shopping. On the way, I gave some thought to where I could get a quick lunch. Greggs seemed the obvious choice, and with the Humphrey Bean, virtually next door, my liquid refreshment requirements could be met as well. 

It was Spoons before Greggs, and the Bean seemed surprisingly busy for a Thursday lunch time. I'm no expert on this, of course, but with the majority of the middle tables, and the ones directly in front of the bar, occupied, there wasn’t much in the way of spare space. Fortunately, there were two vacant, small tables on the raised area, immediately in front of the window, but before grabbing one, I took a quick wander along the bar, to see what was on offer. This was despite the efforts of an overzealous barman, who seemed determined to rush me.

It didn’t take me long to settle on TEA (Traditional English Ale) from Hog’s Back Brewery. This long-established independent brewer has been turning out top-notch beers from its Manor Farm
base, just outside the Surrey village of Tongham, since 1991. The brewery takes its name from the nearby Hogs Back, a ridge of hills that looks just like a hog lying down. In medieval times, the Hogs Back was a route used by pilgrims and traders between Farnham and Guildford but now it is less glamorously known as the A31! Hogs Back beers were a quite familiar sight in this part of West Kent a decade or so ago, but given the competition from more recent and more localised startups, it's been quite a while since I last saw any  of the Tongham brewed beers on sale.  

Without hesitation I ordered a pint and was pleasantly surprised by the advertised price of just £1.49! Wow, how can they make any money on that? Still, that’s Tim's problem not mine, and whilst the thought crossed my mind that they were selling the beer off cheap to get shot of it that didn't seem to be the case. Instead, I’m pleased to report that the TEA was on top form, and I awarded that pint a well-deserved 4.0 on Untappd. There was only time for one pint, and a further disappointment was in store, when I arrived at Greggs, just after half one. To my intense annoyance, I discovered that all the pasties had been sold, so I had to make do with a steak bake – a poor substitute for a pasty, if ever there was one.

Surprise No.2 came the following day, during my visit to Lewes – see previous post. I won’t spoil too much of the story, but I’d chosen a Harvey’s pub called the Dorset, at the top end of Cliffe High Street. As you will learn, once I get to writing up the article, I hadn’t been in this particular pub for some considerable time, which was a pity, as it certainly exceeded my expectations. I enjoyed a spot of lunch there, but even more enjoyable was the pint of Harvey’s XXXX Old Ale. 

 This rich, dark, seasonal ale was in first class condition, so much so that I enjoyed every last drop. I scored it at 4.5 on Untappd, but with hind sight, it was worthy of an even higher score, possibly even an exalted 5.0. I wasn’t the only one to have thought so highly of the Dorset and its beers because in the comments section of that particular post, West Midlands legend, Stafford Paul, recorded that in his opinion the Dorset, was the best of Harvey’s Lewes pubs.

The third, and final, top-class beer associated with last weekend, was a can of Ouse Booze, that I acquired from Harvey’s excellent shop, in Cliffe High Street - after I had returned all those empties. Ouse Booze was originally brewed to commemorate, if that's the right word, the devastating flood that hit the centre of Lewes, 15 years ago, on 12^th October 2000. When the waters of the river Ouse inundated the brewery, staff were in the middle of brewing. Several days later, after the floodwaters had receded, the brew was rescued, combined with several other partially completed gyles, and left to ferment, prior to being bottled and sold for charity.  To reflect what had happened, the beer was named Ouse Booze. 

Twenty-five years later, a replica of this brew was produced using the same traditional methods, with malt and hops sourced from the original growers. The resulting beer was a smooth, full-bodied brew, with a gentle sweetness and notable fruit and hop character. Brewed to an abv of 6.5%, this beer is a real standout, and its availability in cans was an added bonus. I really enjoyed the one I brought back with me from Lewes and was left wishing that I should have purchased a few more. 

So, there we have it, three stand-out beers, all of them different, and all of them representing the pinnacle of the brewer’s art. As for that devastating flood, the entire brewery yard at Harvey's has been enclosed by a substantial brick wall which, in theory, should keep the majority of flood water out, if the River Ouse should decide to rise by that amount again.