It would seem that amongst all the anticipation and excitement that I forgot to write this post. Next Thursday is my birthday, and so this weekend I’ll be using the second of my ten passes to do a bit of drinking. It’s going to be some weekend.
My first port of call, in just a few short hours from writing, will be the William IV in Leyton for the annual Brodie’s Bunny Basher festival. There’s a lot I want to try and get my hands on here. For starters, Elizabethan, the 22% stout which will be available in bottled form for the first time this year. It’s a beer I’ve had a few times before and it’s one that makes you savour and enjoy it, which amongst the rush is a good thing.
Then there’s the sours. I had Brodie’s Peach Sour at the Euston Tap last year, and introduced a few of my work colleagues to the Cherry Sour in The Old Coffee House to positive reaction. I’m hoping to try one or two of what’s on the list for this festival.
Also on the list are a number of single hop pales, a few barrel aged versions of beers like Romanov (their Russian Imperial Stout) and Big Mofo Stout (the collaboration with Mikkeller). There’s certainly enough to get a beer geek or ticker excited, and I believe the William IV will be full of both.
Which means that Brewdog Camden may be relatively quiet for the launch of the 2013 IPA is Dead series. The range, which launched in 2011, consists of four IPAs in each series, each brewed with the same base beer, but with different hops. This year, the hops are Dana, El Dorado, Waimea and Goldings, three of which are complete strangers to me. Depending on time, and the state of myself and my wallet, I might pop round to give them a try. Though it’s much more likely I’ll head for the train to sober up a bit, and return home to watch Doctor Who, most likely on iPlayer.
Sunday will see me headed to The Rockstone in Southampton, for their Easter Beer Festival. Amongst a rather good beer list is Sadler’s Mud City Stout and Dr Hardwicke’s. I’ll be drinking both of these straight, and combined to form what I dubbed last year a “Muddy Doctor”. I’ll also be eating steak, possibly something other than the Rump Jive and Wail. If you’re in or around Southampton this weekend, or at any point in the future, I recommend popping in.
Which I can also say for Monday’s point of call, The Platform Tavern’s Blues and Cider festival, which will also feature beers from the onsite Dancing Man Brewery, who are now on Twitter. Amongst those will be their Choc Chilli Stout, which was launched late last year, and featured in The Friday Pint #46 and #49. I’m also hoping that I’ll be able to get hold of a pint of Pole Axed, which is currently my favourite of the beers brewed by Dancing Man.
After all that, I have to go back to work. Just two days later however, and I turn 28. I think that’s an excuse for more beer isn’t it? (185)
