tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post2257980595199173158..comments2024-03-29T08:01:51.705+00:00Comments on The Pub Curmudgeon: Following in the footsteps of MorseCurmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02558747878308766840noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-23390459016021786182018-03-02T07:58:24.106+00:002018-03-02T07:58:24.106+00:00Just like craft beer, there's no formal defini...Just like craft beer, there's no formal definition. The term was originally coined in the 1990s by the "pale'n'hoppy" movement as a derogatory description - as "boring brown beer" - of the beers they were reacting against.<br /><br />It's been taken up in an ironic sense by people such as me who want to champion those beers. But it can refer both to normal "balanced" beers like Pedigree and London Pride, and to those of a more distinctly malty character such as Bombardier and Strongarm. <br /><br />There are plenty of contemporary brewers who have produced beers in that style, such as Stonehouse Station Bitter and Weetwood Eastgate Ale. Indeed I'd argue that many mainstream drinkers tend to prefer them to one-dimensional hop bombs.<br /><br />Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy plenty of heavily-hopped beers such as Hawkshead Lakeland Gold and Marble Manchester Bitter, although I do get a bit fed up of those that taste like alcoholic grapefruit juice.Curmudgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02558747878308766840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-9177069594958882372018-03-01T20:41:14.481+00:002018-03-01T20:41:14.481+00:00It's probably already well-covered, and if so ...It's probably already well-covered, and if so then I apologise. However, for us ordinary, casual pub goers (rather than CAMRA members) I'd like to hear a bit more about the consensus, as to what constitutes Boring Brown Bitter.<br /><br />As it stands, I'd guess at the likes of Fuller's Pride, Adnam's, Doom Bar, Marston's Pedigree perhaps, and suchlike. On the other hand, if you asked me, then I'd probably exclude Young's, Tetley's, Brain's, and so on, being more amber in colour, and possessing enough bite to offset any cloying aspects. HHAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-11275897799044630922018-03-01T12:59:35.508+00:002018-03-01T12:59:35.508+00:00"Teatime" Mudge? I take it that you mean..."Teatime" Mudge? I take it that you mean about six in the evening, and not three-thirty in the afternoon? Cookie might think that there's hope for you after all eh? ;-) HHAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-50403745222254045562018-03-01T02:16:35.971+00:002018-03-01T02:16:35.971+00:00Citra,
I think we're all agreed about the gene...Citra,<br />I think we're all agreed about the general very good condition of the cask beer on the day.<br />I commented elsewhere that "after noon it was good beer everywhere".The other Mudgie !noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-13444841499612981692018-02-28T20:30:10.907+00:002018-02-28T20:30:10.907+00:00"Both reports were a lot of fun to read. Good..."Both reports were a lot of fun to read. Good stuff."<br /><br />Agreed.<br /><br />Would've been better had we been there in person. :)<br /><br />CheersRusstovichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11493687426847380993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-74731839196577970942018-02-28T19:53:04.590+00:002018-02-28T19:53:04.590+00:00I have to say I was really impressed with the gene...I have to say I was really impressed with the general, very good condition of the cask beer on the day , even the pint of Camerons Strong arm in the Turf Tavern, a beer I would normally consider BBB, was very drinkable.Citranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-80601312418225374132018-02-28T19:39:44.204+00:002018-02-28T19:39:44.204+00:00On the BBB-heavy thing I suspect I was on the othe...On the BBB-heavy thing I suspect I was on the other side.Citranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-71813764983920259862018-02-28T15:17:45.673+00:002018-02-28T15:17:45.673+00:00I don't take her to the pub, sunbeam. She take...I don't take her to the pub, sunbeam. She takes me. HHAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-8166034497421893972018-02-28T09:53:54.140+00:002018-02-28T09:53:54.140+00:00If you want to take the missus to the pub and spen...If you want to take the missus to the pub and spend your time doing a crossword instead of having a conversation that's entirely up to you old sport.<br />By the way if you're stuck on Four Across - what does HH stand for - the answer is pompous arsehole.<br />Syd Differentialnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-56194152002929016592018-02-27T22:01:04.945+00:002018-02-27T22:01:04.945+00:00Halls, part of Ind Coope (Allied), were big in Oxf...Halls, part of Ind Coope (Allied), were big in Oxford until the late 1980's. As they disposed of pubs, we saw Youngs, Fullers, Marstons, Arkells and Wadworth gain or extend their holdings in Oxford. The other big local brewer in terms of pubs was Morrells, whilst Morland had a handful of tied houses and Brakspear has just one or two.Fred Smithnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-15425713892112358872018-02-27T19:48:18.363+00:002018-02-27T19:48:18.363+00:00It really is worthwhile. I generally find that wi...It really is worthwhile. I generally find that with splitting I can travel first class for the same price as steerage without splitting. Mind you that is usually Cross Country down to the southwest where fares are high and standards are low.dcbwhaleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02585310584555592882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-82984955446836237322018-02-27T19:03:46.254+00:002018-02-27T19:03:46.254+00:00My recollection of the beers at the time I worked ...My recollection of the beers at the time I worked there were Morrells, Brakspears, Morlands and occasionally Wadworth.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07921858416849788564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-73724590510462765722018-02-27T18:08:57.271+00:002018-02-27T18:08:57.271+00:00It's not really any more hassle than booking n...It's not really any more hassle than booking normal rail tickets online. Obviously you lose flexibility by booking any rail tickets in advance, but certainly worth it for a big saving. I wouldn't bother for a few quid, though.Curmudgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02558747878308766840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-52808899546148254772018-02-27T17:45:19.850+00:002018-02-27T17:45:19.850+00:00A good blog on some boozers I'd like to visit ...A good blog on some boozers I'd like to visit 👍 Martin shares your views and it's on my radar...not tried split train before...is it worth the hassleBritain Beermathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06096636784719969464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-91652999377787879892018-02-27T14:23:44.566+00:002018-02-27T14:23:44.566+00:00No, Syd, it's a shared relaxation with my bett...No, Syd, it's a shared relaxation with my better half, and with other like minds at some of our preferred pubs. However, if push came to shove, then yes, being alone is better than being with some types I have found (as did the fictional Inspector Morse.) I've never needed to feel safety in numbers for my points of view. You? HHAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-59326280401371217632018-02-27T13:53:24.584+00:002018-02-27T13:53:24.584+00:00Each to their own,naturally,but I can see from you...Each to their own,naturally,but I can see from your posts why you often find yourself alone in pubs doing a crossword.Syd Differentialnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-54957427693290163972018-02-27T10:08:50.423+00:002018-02-27T10:08:50.423+00:00You can download them for free, or there's alw...You can download them for free, or there's always the Times. I'd recommend the pastime. It has helped me to move away from a perhaps-too-literal understanding of language. It's also a perfect excuse to sit peacefully, to observe life around you in the pub, and to enjoy a pint or two of large-scale-produced, traditional cask ale, as one does. HHAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-5331339661545746022018-02-27T08:17:38.609+00:002018-02-27T08:17:38.609+00:00I've never really got my head around cryptic c...I've never really got my head around cryptic crosswords. And it would involve buying the Guardian, so that's not going to happen, is it?Curmudgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02558747878308766840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-5854192948319932962018-02-27T07:54:56.160+00:002018-02-27T07:54:56.160+00:00No, we're not personally acquainted Mudge. If ...No, we're not personally acquainted Mudge. If you really want to follow in Morse's footsteps though, then you'll need to hone your cryptic crossword solving skills, if you haven't already. I recommend the Guardian's Picaroon as a reliably knotty setter. (That should keep you out of trouble for an hour or so each day.) HHAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-73066538570191763982018-02-27T01:07:36.563+00:002018-02-27T01:07:36.563+00:00Both reports were a lot of fun to read. Good stuf...Both reports were a lot of fun to read. Good stuff. Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04039590363732278703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-143266000283168232018-02-26T21:12:09.029+00:002018-02-26T21:12:09.029+00:00Both of these pubs were pretty busy on a Saturday ...Both of these pubs were pretty busy on a Saturday teatime - indeed the whole city centre was busy at that time. A winter midweek may be different.Curmudgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02558747878308766840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-82846928831710626792018-02-26T21:05:53.710+00:002018-02-26T21:05:53.710+00:00About 5 years ago I was in Oxfordshire. Had noth...About 5 years ago I was in Oxfordshire. Had nothing particular to do before going back to London on the Sunday so went to Oxford itself. I used the park and ride as I had heard Oxford was unfriendly to cars: I think that that site is currently occupied by travellers.<br /><br />On the way in I saw the Lamb and Flag. I got off the bus and wandered back. It was lunchtime but apart from me there were only three other customers: a student having a roast lunch with her parents it seemed. I had a very decent pint of St Austell, only real ale on offer, but how does a pub survive on this level of trade?<br /><br />After a bit more outside sightseeing I went into the Ashmoleam Museum; it was winter and got dark early. It was free but I would have been prepared to pay say £2.50 for the one and a half hours I spent in there. Some museums and art galleries want to charge £7.50, often with a year’s free return. Too expensive, especially for a family: only good value if you live locally.<br /><br />After, I went into the Eagle & Child, about 5-6 pm. A few people but I don’t think that they were staying for the evening. Another perfectly acceptable pint of real ale: I don’t remember what only that I saw someone with a handle glass and asked for one too. No problem.<br /><br />These were nice pubs, good locations, decent beer even historical connections: but still few customers.<br /><br />Few visitors in the Ashmoleam Museum too, so charging would not raise much.<br />KJPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-21538134949001184152018-02-26T20:44:49.721+00:002018-02-26T20:44:49.721+00:00There was a fair bit of modern/crafty stuff on the...There was a fair bit of modern/crafty stuff on the handpumps in the St Aldate's Tavern and Lamb & Flag in particular.Curmudgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02558747878308766840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-66580983051082744522018-02-26T20:17:58.844+00:002018-02-26T20:17:58.844+00:00Interesting point about beer diversity; I was surp...Interesting point about beer diversity; I was surprised how similar the beer ranges in the pubs we visited (Pint Shop apart) was to what I'd have seen on trips to the Manor Ground 20-odd years ago. Not complaining, the 6X, Palmers, Tribute, Pedigree, Hooky and Sam Smiths all good. Only the XT and West Berks disappointed. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-12717425579009941482018-02-26T19:27:16.164+00:002018-02-26T19:27:16.164+00:00That post made me miss Oxford. The beer quality an...That post made me miss Oxford. The beer quality and diversity has definitely changed since I haunted it when I worked for the NHS. Oxfordshire's where it all began for me. I miss the intellectuals and the yokelsAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07921858416849788564noreply@blogger.com