Category: Blog

What makes a tap room a tap room? According to the dictionary (this is starting to sound like a GCSE essay), it is quite simply 'a room in a tavern, etc., in which liquors are kept on tap' or 'a room or establishment where alcohol is served over a counter'. For me, I always classed… Continue reading London Tap Rooms: Camden Town Brewery

On Wednesday night we popped over to Tottenham Hale, where Beavertown were hosting a #LondonMash event. London is just one of the stops on Brooklyn Brewery's tour across 8 American and European cities and consists of a series of events including talks, parties, tap takeovers and dinners. This particular event, however, was a discussion on… Continue reading #LondonMash State of Craft Beer

I don't think I ever wrote about my trip up to Burton-upon-Trent back in February, did I? The National Brewery Centre were holding their biennial International Festival of Beer so we thought we'd pop up for the weekend and try some of the 200 odd cask ales on offer, not to mention some of the rare… Continue reading Burton Bridge Brewery: Burton Porter

It's no secret that I'm a big fan of Pilsner Urquell. After all, I did travel nearly 800 miles just to drink it out of a barrel! It has such a unique taste; clean, crisp, refreshing and so very versatile (and I get bananas: CONTROVERSIAL). Plus, fresh out the tank it's flipping awesome! So it's… Continue reading Pilsner Urquell Tank Beer at Duck and Rice, Soho

I was in Clapham the other day. I can't remember why now. Oh wait, yes I can! I was going to Bodeans for something wonderfully meaty and saucy and sticky in a way that can only be found at Bodeans. But this isn't about ribs (although it might be in a few minutes), this is… Continue reading Oddbins No. 3 and No.4 White and Black IPA

A million years ago (or the end of Feb), Anspach and Hobday launched a tap takeover at The Three Johns. Now, I'm a big fan of Anspach and Hobday: beautifully illustrated labels, great flavours, experimental brews and I see them as a 'likeable' brand, you know what I mean? Not too loud, not pretentious, just....likeable. I'm… Continue reading Anspach & Hobday Tap Takeover at The Three Johns

The second jaunt of London Beer Week was to Sharp's (not so) Secret Bar, in Ely's Yard. I was excited about this for two main reasons:1. I was going to taste their High Five IPA, official beer of LBW.2. We were about to go inside a crate for a 'taste experience' and how many times… Continue reading London Beer Week: Beer and Food Pairing with Sharps Brewery

Is it really London Beer Week again? It seems like only yesterday I was listening to the Sugababes with Pete Brown and eating smarties (oh, and drinking beer too, obviously).This time of year is pretty hectic for IRL Charlie and so last night was the first event I'd actually managed to get to. Still, quality over quantity. The… Continue reading London Beer Week: German Beer Tasting with Bierhaus

It's no secret that I love a bit of Cromarty beer. Since first trying them on a visit to the Black Isle, I've been desperate to find it down South and, finally, I've started seeing them all over the place. Thank goodness, Happy Chappy whenever I fancy! Anyway, enough gushing. At Christmas I was lucky enough… Continue reading Cromarty Brewery: Husky Brown Winter Ale

It's getting towards the evening and I'm sitting outside a trusty favourite (all green tiles and hanging baskets) knocking back a saison. No, I don't care what time of year it is, I will always have time for a saison. My companion leans forward:"The problem with good beer becoming fashionable is that anyone can drink… Continue reading The Beer-lite

The Black Isle is a beautiful place. Surrounded by water on three sides, it is in fact a peninsula rather than an island. Covered in rolling fields and wild woodlands, you can stand on one of its many beaches on a sunny day (yes, it is sunny occasionally) and watch the dolphins or look up… Continue reading Return to Black Isle Brewery

Charlie is a simple being. She likes cats, she likes big earrings, she likes beer and she likes metal. Sometimes she likes talking about herself in the 3rd person, but let's put a stop to that.Yes! I love a little metal when the mood strikes (and Barry Gibb during ANY mood) and one of my… Continue reading A Few of my Favourite Things: Crobar