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810: Peak Ales | Black Stag

  The brewery:  "In 2003 Robert and Debra Evans had a carefully prepared plan – sell the house, uproot their family, leave secure jobs and set up a microbrewery in the Peak District…..Chatsworth suggested he took a look at Cunnery Barn on the Chatsworth Estate, the barn buildings were in disrepair but the potential was obvious; the perfect location for a microbrewery had been discovered. Two years later and after many hurdles including planning, electricity, drainage, renovation, finance and resident barn owls, the first beer had been brewed and the owls had a purpose built nesting box – no other barn owls in Derbyshire have accommodation so grand!” The beer: "Delicious British Bramling Cross & Target Hops combined with seven different malts producing a roasted coffee and chocolate base, with a spicy blackcurrant and liquorice finish. If you like a moorish velvet stout then Black Stag is for you!" Another tasty Peak Ale, and quite possible my favourite so far - delic
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809: Bowland | Hen Harrier

  The brewery: "Bowland Brewery started life as a microbrewery on the edge of the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, making a selection of beers named after the scenery and wildlife of this picturesque corner of Lancashire.......As the reputation of Bowland Brewery cask and bottled beers spread, demand increased from further afield requiring a relocation to larger premises at Holmes Mill." The beer: "Our top flight ale! A stunningly refreshing beer filled with soft citrus and peach flavours. A delight on its own and a great companion for chicken and pork dishes." Nice drop this, I didn't find the citrus incursion too overpowering. One for warmer days. 4.5% A.B.V. October 2022 
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808: Peak Ales | IPA

The brewery: " "In 2003 Robert and Debra Evans had a carefully prepared plan – sell the house, uproot their family, leave secure jobs and set up a microbrewery in the Peak District…..Chatsworth suggested he took a look at Cunnery Barn on the Chatsworth Estate, the barn buildings were in disrepair but the potential was obvious; the perfect location for a microbrewery had been discovered. Two years later and after many hurdles including planning, electricity, drainage, renovation, finance and resident barn owls, the first beer had been brewed and the owls had a purpose built nesting box – no other barn owls in Derbyshire have accommodation so grand!” The beer: "....is a bold and hoppy IPA, similar in strength to the original beers exported to India with a modern citrus twist." Bold it certainly was, not my favourite style of beer but quite enjoyable on a warm day. October 2022.
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807: Shropshire | Three Tuns Best

The brewery: " In the heart of Shropshire, our 17th Century brewery holds tradition in the highest regard, which is why our legendary ales are made the traditional way, using only the finest ingredients to give each one its own unique Three Tuns Brewery flavour." The beer: "A most traditional brown ale, Best is richly hopped and smooth throughout. Crafted with all English hop varieties, enjoy a pleasing bitter-sweet finish from one of our signature ales. Authentically brewed, this distinctive velvety beer is one to remember." A nice enough drop this though having got used to stronger ales it didn't taste that rich. A good session beer though and one I'd like to try on hand pump. August 2022.
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806: West Midlands | Black Country Ales | Fireside Bitter

The brewery: "When we bought The Old Bull’s Head pub in 1999 it came with a boarded up brick building at the rear that was referred to by the estate agents as “a two storey outhouse”. Imagine our amazement after the purchase when we finally entered the building to find three magnificent wooden fermenting vessels and other brewing equipment going back years. We love running pubs but there had never been any plan to brew our own beer until this great find. It took a few years to set up and we have had a lot of mistakes to learn from too but in 2004 beer started flowing again from the Gornal brewery." The beer: "A full bodied, well rounded premium bitter, amber in colour, clean in taste. Fruit hop aroma leading to a pleasant, dry rewarding finish." My last beer before heading home and a good 'un to finish with. More of a winter drink as the name suggests than a hot summers evening but I enjoyed it very much all the same. August 2022.  
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805: Shropshire | Ludlow Brewing co. | Gold

The brewery: "Our story began in 2006 with a dream to rekindle the brewing industry in Ludlow, Shropshire. The medieval town had enjoyed a long tradition of brewing until the closure of the Ludlow and Craven Arms Brewery in the 1930s. Launching Ludlow Brewing Company in a disused maltings buildings in Corve Street, it was clear to founders Gary and Alison Walters by 2008 that the business had outgrown the premises. Gary and Alison were given a fantastic opportunity to move the brewery to a derelict Victorian railway shed (built in 1857), off Station Drive, which they sympathetically renovated." The beer: "Our flagship ale is a full-bodied soft and creamy golden pale ale. It packs wonderful flavours and aromas of citrus and tropical fruits – lemon, pineapple, papaya." The last night of my trip coincided with my birthday and my companion had arranged for a meal at the Roe Deer near Wordsley. Despite an impressive range of beers this was the only one I hadn't trie
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804: Shropshire | Three Tuns | Stout

The brewery: "In the heart of Shropshire, our 17th Century brewery holds tradition in the highest regard, which is why our legendary ales are made the traditional way, using only the finest ingredients to give each one its own unique Three Tuns Brewery flavour." The beer: "Our award-winning Stout is an old-fashioned dark stout; smooth and creamy to taste, with a bittering finish. Whole bodied with depth and texture in every sip, prepare for some seriously mouth-watering character to transport you back. Delicious, but then so have all the beers I've tried whilst in this neck of the woods. Procured along with a few others during a visit to the Halfpenny Green wine estate. August 2022.  
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