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Rare Ales “Autumn” Season
In September a social gathering at the Mall in Clifton sampled M&B Mild 3.2% brewed at Highgate Brewery in Walsall. Later the group led by Phil Luxton moved on to the Lansdown, where they had Severn Session, Box Steam COG, and Barnstormer, they then walked down to the White Lion on the centre for a Wickwar Station Porter. Also, later in the month the Portcullis in Clifton staged a well supported weekend of Rare Ales when licensees Ned and Natz kindly provided platters of complimentary food on the Thursday BADRAG evening! Six of their seven real ale handpumps were devoted to Rare Ales Styles, including Rudgate Ruby Mild 4.4% (CAMRA Beer of Britain 2009); Arbor 4 Minute Mild 2.7% a custom brew at only 1.50 a pint !!!!! The duty being born by the Portcullis and Arbor Ales Brewery – and a very tasty mild it was; Burton Bridge Porter 4.5%; Cotleigh Nutcracker Mild 3.4%; Arbor Jolly Jack Tar 8.0% a serious full strength IPA with eight or nine different hops in it; Saltaire Rye Smile 3.8% an interesting and enjoyable alternative to an Old Ale that had been planned but was impossible to source that early in the Autumn and the lovely Severn Vale Seven Sins Stout 5.2% - SIBA Gold winner in 2007).
Early in October Colin Postlethwaite led a Bedminster Rare Ales Trail starting in the Tobacco Factory enjoying Bristol Beer Factory - Bristol Stout a 4% Oatmeal Stout, then the Hen & Chicken where Arbor Ales Oyster Stout 4.6% was enjoyed and on to the Robert Fitzharding were we enjoyed Orkney Dark Island 4.6%, Rudgate Ruby Mild 4.4%, and Theakston's Old Peculier 5.6% (very popular at the Robert Fitz) - Cairngorm Black Gold 4.4% had been on but ran out before we arrived! Later in October Dave Jane led a Kingsdown Rare Ales Trail starting at the Hillgrove Porter Stores where Arbor Ales Oyster Stout 4.6% and Old Knobbley 4.5% went down very well; then the Green Man where again Arbor Ales Oyster Stout 4.6% was enjoyed as well as Level Headed 4.7% ABV A traditional old English ale made with chocolate malt. It has a fantastic dark ruby colour making it rich and full of flavour, for more information see www.thenorthcurrybrewerycouk.com. And Finally on to the Young & Co Highbury Vaults where Bradd Francis who has been licensee for many years, but was unable to dispense BADRAG style ales until recently. Bradd told Laurie Gibney, “Dark Ales are now flying out of the casks” – other licensees and brewers please note! Bristol Beer Factory Exhibition 5.2% and Severn Vale Seven Sins Stout 5.2% were sailing out of the casks down the throats of BADRAGGERS and others that evening.
In November a mini tour was led by Ed Lobbett in search of Autumn rare ales close to Bristol City Centre, visiting The Cornubia, Seven Stars and the Bank Tavern, at the latter Otley 08 Barley Wine went down well.
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