John Clarke

It's been a good afternoon. @rossisdead.bsky.social gets all pretentious with beer in a basket while @stanfan.bsky.social looks on in amazement.

Happy to judge!

I have had that beer sparkled and it was delicious.

It was all hubris, Roger, and as I have just posted, nemesis inevitably follows. It was just a question of time.

All of this and the following thread basically. Hubris, and there was plenty of that, is inevitably followed at some point by nemesis. It was just a question of time.

Yes, I totally agree.

Time for another @millsbrewing.bsky.social catch up bottle share with @daveratkins.bsky.social at @petersgatetap.bsky.social . Dave has kindly bought a bonus bottle of Cantillon Sang Bleu, too.

That's why @pelliclemag.com is a byword for integrity - and an essential read.

I tried the new imperial stout on Saturday. Very good indeed.

It was the smoking ban that seemed to prompt his journey to the libertarian far-right. When he died he was a very different person to the one I and others knew in the past.

Cask Lees Moonraker at the Crown, Heaton Lane. Rich and very smooth.

It is!

Popped into @petersgatetap.bsky.social and found this beauty from @wishbonebrewery.bsky.social on cask. Smooth, rich and delicious.

Had a lovely afternoon at Chesterfield Beer Festival. Finishing with this from @thornbridge.bsky.social Imperial Stout. The union system seems to smooth out the start but keeps the hoppiness and bitterness in the finish. Result: dangerously drinkable.

Anything that features my old mate Dom will be good.

Ditto!

Just got my Eurostar booked for Brugs Bierfestival. One of my favourite festivals, this.

When I got an email from @redwillowbrewery.bsky.social about this, I immediately bought a few cans. It was a good move as it's delicious.

I have made the same point but it seems to be a lazy trope they like using.

Bit of a lazy trope though, don't you think?

As someone who runs a well-established homebrew competition, and can testify to the huge amount of skill in the home-brewing community, I'm not overly enamoured by the dismissive reference to 'garden shed homebrew'.

Must say, I thoroughly enjoyed my visit a year or so ago.

Just back from a trip to New Mills to check out the new (and very good) bottle shop Banging Bottles. Buzzing atmosphere in @runawaybrewery.bsky.social Tap, where the (cask, obviously) Robust Porter is on superb form.

I was seriously impressed.

Had this beauty from @grainstorebrewery.bsky.social in @yeoldevic.bsky.social tonight. Rich and smooth with toffee and dark fruit notes plus a touch of dryness in the finish made for a superb beer.

I'm definitely having a day out there this year.

How to unwax a bottle

The brewery was in Ancoats which is perhaps even more unlikely.

The lurker lurks.

Perhaps one for next December's tastings?