I’ve been up in that there London
place again, with my son and heir for company. Apart from looking at new mobile phones, followed by
a stroll across Hampstead Heath, I was
attempting to track down some Samuel Smith’s Yorkshire Stingo.
This legendary beer weighs in at 8.0% abv, and is only
brewed in limited quantities. Prior to release, it is matured in oak casks,
held in the brewery cellar, for an unspecified period of time.
It is normally available in bottled form only, but this
year, for the first time ever, Sam’s are
selling Yorkshire Stingo on cask. It’ll be served straight from an oak cask at
a limited number of their London
pubs from this week until Christmas.
So after arriving at the wonderfully restored, Victorian masterpiece
in Holborn, that is the Princess Louise, my excitement mounted when, after entering the pub, I noticed a pump,
advertising “Oak barrel-aged” Yorkshire Stingo.
My joy quickly turned to gloom though, when the barman informed
me stocks had run out. To make matters worse, he didn’t know when the pub would
be getting more in. Disappointed or what?? Word had obviously been passed around
on the beer bush telegraph. I’m not sure what happens now, as I’m unlikely to be visiting
the capital this side of Christmas.
On the plus side. The Old Brewery Bitter was on top form, and I scored it at 4.5 NBSS. The pub itself was a delight on the eyes, with its amazing tile-work and intricate etched glass panels. And, as you can see, I even managed to take a few photos, despite Sir Humphrey’s ban on mobile phones!
On the plus side. The Old Brewery Bitter was on top form, and I scored it at 4.5 NBSS. The pub itself was a delight on the eyes, with its amazing tile-work and intricate etched glass panels. And, as you can see, I even managed to take a few photos, despite Sir Humphrey’s ban on mobile phones!
4 comments:
Disappointing, but also oddly encouraging.
The original Higson's Brewery of Liverpool used to brew a bottled strong beer called Stingo. I've also seen beer mats with Stingo Gold, but I'm unsure whether this was a renaming or a variant.
According to one source, "Stingo is a strong beer that is often described as having a smoky flavour." It can also be used to describe "a strong, sharp alcoholic beverage or old beer."
Sound about right to me, even though I didn't get the chance to sample any last weekend.
The word "Spingo" has the same meaning, and beers brewed in the brewery of the Blue Anchor Inn, Helston, Cornwall, are known as Spingo.
I spent a rather drunken evening at the Blue Anchor, many years ago and would love a return visit, but this time with a more leisurely sampling of the beers.
Well, I suppose that "sprain: and "strain" have similar meanings too.
You'll have to be careful in those parts with "stain", "stunk" etc. though - could lead to all sorts of problems.
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