Beer Guide to the 1970s (part twenty-four)

It's been a while since the last post in this series. Not that I'd abandonned it. Just caught up in lots of travel. I've also had to work out how consult physical books without buggering my broken wrist.

Three breweries, as usual. Only one of which is still around. The other two were quite ephemeral, being founded in the 1970s and closing in the early 1980s. I was surprised at just how brief their life was. Though this wasn't atypical of the first cohort of new breweries. Without the cushion of tied houses, survival was difficult for these new brewers. It's no coincidence that some of those which managed to hang around longer did assemble a small tied estate,

Palmer
Bridport,
Dorset.

Founded:    1794
Closed:            still open
Tied houses:    65

Palmer was a small brewery in the Southwest of England.  Their tied estate was concentrated in Bridport and surrounding area, stretching over into Devon. Like many breweries in the region, they brewed no Mild. Instead, they made a “Boy’s Bitter”: a low-gravity Pale Ale, that was somewhat akin to a Pale Mild. They weren’t greatly loved by CAMRA as most of their pubs served beer on top pressure. Not outright keg, but cask served using CO2.

beer	style	format	OG	description
BB	Pale Ale	draught	1030.4	well balanced with a malty flavour
IPA	IPA	draught	1039.5	stronger version of BB
Shilthorn	Lager	keg	1041.4
Light Pale Ale	Pale Ale	bottled
IPA	IPA	bottled		stronger than Light Pale Ale
Tally Ho	Strong Ale	bottled
Nut Brown Ale	Brown Ale	bottled		medium sweet
Extra Stout	Stout	bottled		medium sweet

Penrhos
Kington,
Herefordshire.

Founded:    1977
Closed:            1983
Tied houses:    0

One of the first of the new wave of breweries, Penrhos was part-owned by Terry Jones of Monty Python. Their beer was a regular at the Great British Beer Festival and was more reliable than most that of most new breweries. Notable for helping revive Porter in England. Sadly, they weren’t around for long.

beer	style	format	OG	description
Jones's First Brew	Pale Ale	draught	1050	malty, lightly hops
Penrhos Bitter	Pale Ale	draught	1040	bitter

Pollard
Stockport,
Greater Manchester.

Founded:    1975
Closed:            1982
Tied houses:    0

Another early new brewery, Pollard’s decision to brew in Greater Manchester might not have been the greatest. Given the area it was already home to many small, independent breweries and a very competitive market. Their beer was pretty good and in the Northwestern style.

beer	style	format	OG	description
John Barleycorn	Pale Ale	draught	1036	malty

 

Judging and talking

I rise at 7 AM. Feeling rather knacked. Again. Despite going to bed at a sensible hour.

A different breakfast this morning. As there’s no scrambled egg. Instead, they have couscous. What the fuck is that about? It just isn’t the same. They have a similar colour, but that’s about all they have in common. Still fruit for pudding, mind.

A  breakfast of couscous, cheese, juice and coffee.

I’m judging with Rudolfo Rebelo. And Tara. Though she’s off giving a lecture initially.

We start with non-alcoholic beers. Oh no.

“I judged alcohol-free beers ten years ago. They were all terrible. They all tasted like unfermented wort.” I remark before we get started.

The technology seems to have really improved. None of the beers has that horrible worty flavour. To be honest, though, most taste pretty much like water. But at least they don’t taste horrible. Quite a nice ginger beer gets gold.

“It reminds me of the ginger beer my Mum used to make.” I comment.

American-style fruited sour next. I was dreading this flight almost as much as the alcohol-free one. Unnecessarily, as it turns out. There are some really good beers and no really terrible ones. Which was quite a surprise.

American fruited sours samples.

We’re starting to rattle through the flights. Quite painlessly, too. Until now.

It’s the turn of American Light Lager. In a mini BOS. They certainly live up to their name. They’re all very light. Not the most fun to judge. But at least none of them taste nasty.

Time for lunch. A buffet, obviously. I have salad and meat again. I’ll leave all the carbs to the Brazilians. And they’re eager to oblige, piling up mountains of rice.

A buffet lunch with chicken, salad and rice.

In the garden between the judging room and the lunch room, a small beer festival has set up. Not that I’m indulging in any of them now. I need to keep my palate fresh. 

Courtyard beer festival

It’s another mini BOS: Munich Helles. Ah, these beers again. Tara has turned up to join in. I prefer three judges to two. More opinions are always better.

English IPA. One of my favourite styles. Only joking.

“It’s a style made up by Americans, based on what they thought an English IPA should be like. Not beers actually brewed in England.”

There are a couple of decent beers. And some weird ones. It could have been worse.   English style beers are often, for some reason, very poor in competitions.

My palate is starting to go. I eat a banana to try to clean it up a bit. With partial success.

At least it’s a subtle style next. American Imperial Stout. If my palate wasn’t already blown, it is now. Fortunately, most of the examples are pretty good

Schwarzbier next. They’re going to taste like water after the last flight.

I’ve only had time to take a single sip when I’m called away to give my talk.

When I get to the lecture room, Charles has about 10 minutes of his. It’s about beer in Asia and is fascinating/ I never realised small-scale brewing was illegal in Thailand.

I’m speaking about Berliner Weisse. One of the reasons I chose it is that it’s not too long. No risk of overrunning. Which I don’t.

The audience for my talk.

Things go reasonably well. But I’m exhausted by the end.

As I’m walking back to the judging room through the beer festival, one of the brewers rushes up to me and offers me a beer.

“I have to collect my stuff first. I’ll be back in a couple of minutes.” I’m not going to  turn down free beer.

They’ve finished judging the Schwarzbier. And are on the next flight. I contemplate rejoining Rudolfo and Tara in judging. Then realise it’s a bad idea. I’m knackered and my palate is shot.

Beer festival by night

I return to the beer festival. And take up the brewer’s beer offer. In the form of a Session IPA. It’s quite nice.

“Do you like moonshine?”

“Yes.”

What a silly question. I like all spirits. Other than that vile Chinese stuff. That’s undrinkable.

“I had a Saison that was too phenolic, so I distilled it.”

“Good thinking.”

It’s still quite rough. But warming. Which I like. I need some fire in my belly.  Moonshine will do quite nicely.

Beer and moonshine.

I go and sit on a bench by myself. As I’m feeling knacked. And just need to rest a little. A couple of people come over to check that I’m OK.

“I’m fine. Just a bit tired.”

After a bit of a rest, I mingle with some other judges. Before eating at 7:30 PM. Guess what it is – another fucking buffet. I make sure to eat lots of salad.

Bottle  share in  the hotel.

After a few more beers, we head back to our hotel. For the bottle share. Mostly of my bottles. Cooper’s Stout, Adnams Charter Ale and Lindemans Faro. All are at least 30 years old.

We start with the last. Which, being a Lambic, is still in pretty good condition. Very sweet, but that’s just the style.

The Adnams next. It’s oxidised. But in a good way. It’s all dried fruit and sherry. Drinkable, but very different to when it went the bottle.

The Cooper’s is also oxidised. Though the roast makes it less dramatic.

Herlinda has a fresh bottle of Pliny the Elder. Which is very different to my beers. Very good, though.

After a glass of nice port, it’s time for me to turn in. While most of the others continue drinking.

By the time I’ve polished the last of my hotel cachaca, it’s pushing midnight. Time for bed. Even though I can lie in tomorrow.