Kmflett's Blog

Craft Beer in London, Easter 2016

Below is a slightly edited piece I wrote about craft beer five years ago, Easter 2016. This Easter Ive been inside drinking cans of beer, which are much more widely available and more diverse than 5 years ago.  That’s another story though.

For some years I used to travel (with my partner Megan) ‘Oop north at Easter to sample new and interesting beers that weren’t seen in London.

Such beers still exist but such is the lure of the Great Wen that most beers from the north turn up in the Capital sooner rather than later.

Easter was spent in London at various craft beer events and outlets.

On Thursday Megan and myself ventured Sarf to Clapham. The Craft 100 was again running at the Craft in Clapham.

These are always well organised events and this year was no exception. It was busy but there was no issue getting served and the decision (at last) to serve in thirds (as well as halves and pints) made a huge difference.  Interesting beers could be sampled in greater numbers and in my view a third of Even More Jesus (cask 11.4%) is considerably more enjoyable than a half.

The range as always was exceptional and at the end of the night I realised I hadn’t sampled one keg beer. So is it right that more interesting beers are now more often to be found on keg than cask? Hmmm.

Travelling back Norf we stopped at the Waterloo Tap (remember I’d been drinking only thirds, slowly). The latest Tap venue it contains no spiral staircases and a spacious toilet (albeit only one). It has from memory 20 keg taps and 6 cask.

Moving on to Friday and the late afternoon found us at the King William in Leyton for Brodies bunny basher. This has been an epic event but last year it was a bit of a disappointment. Brodies have had their ups and downs as a brewery but on this evidence they are on their way back.

Here it’s true that most of the more interesting beers were on keg (and limited by a total of 9 keg taps) but there were good well-made brews to sample.

We than wandered across to one of the Beard Friendly Pubs of the Year, the Cock Tavern E8, to try BBN DIPA and one of the latest of Beavertown’s trial IPAs (as well as Tiny Rebel/Brighton Bier new misspelt Cascadian Kolsch on cask).

Saturday afternoon found us, as it often does when in London, at Beavertown brewery.

While the recent birthday party seems to be passing into legend, the new beers continue to appear. The jury remains out on Bloody ‘Ell 2016. For me the best I’ve tried was on cask at the Craft 100, but whether keg or can is better and how they compare with 2015…

Anyway on offer were the latest trial IPAs (all at 5.7% this time). For me Cpt Hasta was the best of the bunch.

That day also saw the last print edition of The Independent and Will Hawkes last beer column made the point that the focus on craft was moving on from the interesting and unusual towards the consistent (as well).

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Beard Liberation Front

13^th April

Contact Keith Flett 07803 167266

Socially distanced Beard, Shorts & Sandals 2020 pre-season open

The Beard Liberation Front, the informal network of beard wearers, has said that the 2020 Beard, Shorts and Sandals pre-season is now open.

The campaigners say that the start was delayed until after warm weather at the weekend to avoid numbers going out to flaunt their new lockdown beards, shorts and sandals. Instead it is hoped to gradually introduce the 2020 season with a full start planned for early May.

The BLF says that it has amended guidelines for the 2020 pre-season and brought in a new framework to facilitate social distancing.

1] Shorts should ideally be three-quarter length-‘culottes’ for the  2020 season. The length of shorts is particularly important as climate change may mean that unprotected legs get sunburnt.

1a) Shorts of the length worn by Nigel Farage in a recent video are banned.

2] Footwear should be casual. There is a considerable range of sandal type footwear now available. Some leaves parts of the feet and toes open to public view, while some does not. The BLF is not prescriptive about the matter.

3] Socks should generally not be worn. However if the beard, shorts and sandals are to be displayed in busy urban areas it is likely to be prudent to wear closed rather than open casual footwear and ankle socks, not visible to others may be worn.

4] There is no prescription or definition on what type of beard may be worn, or how this may match with the shorts and sandals. This is left up to the individual.

5] If venturing out in the pre-season social distance should be kept at all times. On no account should there be any groups of beard, shorts and sandals wearers. Discussion of styles should be confined to social media.

BLF Organiser Keith Flett said, the Beard, Socks and Sandals season has been a major influence on summer fashions in recent times but just at the moment the key message is: no flaunting.

Easter Monday 1960: ‘the largest demonstration London has seen this century’ (BBC)

At Easter 1960(Monday 18^th April) CND held the third of its annual Spring marches. The first had gone to Aldermaston from London but subsequent ones including this one reversed the direction.

Easter was chosen in part because of religious symbolism and numbers of Church leaders were connected with CND at this point. The cause of nuclear disarmament (not to speak of departure from NATO which became CND policy in 1960 but was rarely a campaign focus) had by this stage become central to discussion in the Labour Party..

While historians myself included usually date the rise of large and very large demonstrations in London from 1968, the BBC’s statement is a reminder that by that time CND had already provided the template, much as Stop the War (of which CND was a part) did for really huge London protests on February 15^th 2003.

there was no doubt this was the largest demonstration London has seen this century. BBC report

http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/april/18/newsid_2909000/2909881.stm

Not the first day of the 2020 County Championship programme

Lords on not the first day of the 2020 Season, 12th April. Picture @Karl_McDermott

In a normal year, which this is not, I watch a fair bit of cricket both in the traditional and limited over formats. I tend to go to international games more than County fixtures.

Like my late father before I am a Middlesex supporter. Unlike some friends who have loyalty to Counties that retain a distinct identity I don’t feel much affinity with Middlesex as a County not least because it isn’t one now.

My identity is that of a Londoner (North) and within that to Borough and place (Haringey & Tottenham).

Still today being the first day of the County Championship I might have wandered along to Lords today to see Middlesex v Worcestershire. Very often its freezing sitting in the stands at Lords until June. Paradoxically today, when there was sadly no cricket, I suspect it would have been pleasant to watch the game before, obviously, nodding off after tea.

You don’t know what you’ve got until its gone and it has temporarily. Below is a piece on the meaning of the start of the season for a cricketer as opposed to a spectator

When a northerly wind blows in early April, I remember those pre-season practice matches, the coldness in the air exacerbated by the lack of nervous energy. The match’s real point is not the play itself but the unthinking camaraderie back in the dressing-room, finding refuge in the instant coffee and laughter. By the end of play, when the temperature has dropped to a few degrees, your face glows with rustic ruddy simplicity. But always, not far beneath the surface, the old questions: will this be my year, can I break through, sustain it, make the England team?

Ed Smith (now National Selector) Cricket & the Seasons. From the Nightwatchman

https://www.wisden.com/stories/archive/the-nightwatchman-features/ed-smith-cricket-the-seasons-the-nightwatchman-archive

Ambridge Socialist poll

12^th April

Who has been the biggest baddie in Ambridge?

Below is a list we have identified (with help from readers of the Ambridge Socialist) of the biggest baddies in Ambridge over the years.  We havent covered what might be called (more or less) loveable rogues such as Nelson Gabriel or Brian Aldridge. Nor have we looked at those who might not be ‘bad’ as such but are extremely annoying. We may look at both in the future.

Philip Moss– the current contender. Gangmaster

Rob Titchener– gaslighted Helen Archer. She was found not guilty of wounding him

Matt Crawford-fraudster. Alleged to be currently in Costa Rica

Cameron Fraser– attempted to rape Shula Archer amongst other things

Simon Pemberton– assaulted both Shula Archer & Debbie Aldridge

Clive Horrobin– violent criminal,believed to be currently in jail

Have Your Say: Who is the baddest of the lot?

The latest on Philip Moss

The Ambridge Socialist. Is Philip Moss more sinister than Rob Titchener?

Beard Liberation Front

PRESS RELEASE

12th April

Contact Keith Flett 07803 167266

EASTER MESSAGE TO THE HIRSUTE: AVOID CHOCOLATE-BEARD INTERFACE

The Beard Liberation Front, the informal network of beard wearers, has sent Easter greetings to its followers but urged them to beware any chocolate-beard interface on Easter Sunday.

The campaigners say that chocolate in the beard can lead to a sticky mess which can only be satisfactorily removed with collateral damage to beard hairs and follicles.

Particular caution is urged when eating Easter eggs with creme or soft centres.

BLF Organiser Keith Flett said, Easter is a traditionally a time of new growth and BLF supporters will now be getting in training for the traditional, socially isolated, May Day Beard Waggle. In the meantime we urge enjoyment with care for Easter eggs to avoid beard damage

The Ambridge Socialist

12^th April

Is Philip Moss more sinister than Rob Titchener?

Ambridge Socialist readers will be familiar with the malevolent character of Rob Titchener, the partner of Helen Archer who drove her to such distraction that she physically attacked him. Fortunately she was found not guilty of any motive beyond self-preservation.

Titchener, although a thoroughly nasty individual at best, had the ability to appear smooth and charming with at least some others.

Philip Moss has been around in Ambridge a while, in recent times moving in with and becoming the partner of Kirsty. His only obvious unpleasantness was to support the Borsetshire hunt. Otherwise he appeared a modest unassuming man.

Then his son Gavin appeared on the scene, who was anything but. It has now become clear that Moss is a gangmaster ’employing’ three labourers who does not pay but in effect keeps as slaves. That may not be the full extent of the operation.

At the moment no one in Ambridge appears to grasp how nasty Moss is. He could end up being worse than Titchener.

Grey Gables re-opens

Grey Gables has re-opened after the explosion and Tracey had the opportunity to dispense advice to Emma on relationships and opine on the fortunes of the Ambridge cricket team. Once COVID-19 reaches the village the team may have its best season for a while by virtue of not playing games it would otherwise have lost.

No platform for Nazis in virtual Ambridge

A Zoom meeting by the groupescule of Archers fans known as dumteedum has been hijacked by Nazis. No platform for Nazis even in virtual Ambridge

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-52243209?fbclid=IwAR2PcZGUcRHPwyVa_yuxTCv8mfCXIrXAKnOXWFHcDGCqzyd31CQ_11jzN38

The Ambridge Socialist official response is here:

https://kmflett.wordpress.com/2020/04/11/the-ambridge-socialist-nazi-attack-on-dumdeedum-podcast-condemned/

Solidarity with dumteedum. No Nazis in Ambridge

In Other News

Lynda is coming out of hospital

Easter preparations headed by Saint Shula are in full swing

The Ambridge Socialist Red Ambridge Quiz

This will be on-line shortly

The Ambridge Socialist

11^th April

Nazi attack on dumdeedum Archers podcast condemned.

The Ambridge Socialist has condemned an attack by Nazis on a Zoom meeting held by the Archers podcast dumdeedum.

The Zoom call hosted by black dumdeedum-er Roifield Brown was holding a chat with Mike Tucker (Terry Molloy) when it was interrupted by fascists posting swastikas and pornography.

Racist attacks are not unknown in Ambridge itself with lawyer Usha Gupta once facing harassment.

While the Archers is a source of endless fascination (and often horror) to the Daily Telegraph fascist activity around it has not previously been reported.

Ambridge Socialist Editor Keith Flett said, there can be no platform for Nazis in a virtual Ambridge anymore than there is in Ambridge itself. No doubt the fact that the presenter of the Zoom call was black got the fascists particularly agitated. We offer our solidary to dumdeedum.

https://dumteedum.com/

Bass Power, but at what strength?

It is National Bass Day on April 11 when, in other circumstances, I would have been raising a glass of what was once probably the best-known cask ale in the UK in an appropriate pub.

It has a chequered history in recent times and is currently brewed by Marstons at Burton although unfortunately not using their union system, which under previous owners, helped to give the beer such a distinctive character.

My interest however was specifically piqued by a post by those veteran beer writers Boak and Bailey about the time in the mid-1970s that the O.G. of Bass was raised from 1039 to 1044. Ostensibly this was to compete with other cask beers then new to market, probably Allied’s Burton Ale which had an O.G. of 1048.

I drank a fair bit of draught Bass in the second half of the 1970s, firstly, sparkled at the Sun Inn in Stockton and then at the Railway Tavern in Crouch End. It was a classic cask ale and preferably in North London to the then already rather dumbed down Charrington IPA.

I’m not sure how or quite when the increase in strength took place or, as particularly when it decreased from 1044 which from memory (often faulty of course) was the consistent strength of the keg version, Worthington E.

My memory again perhaps faulty is that the increase back to 1044 O.G. was at least in part due to pressure by CAMRA members who were dismayed at the earlier reduction to 1039.

I wonder if anyone has some actual documentation as opposed to memories on this?