Well it's Saturday again, and the chance to discuss another ale i've tried on what is a gloriously sunny spring day in the UK, yes they do happen from time to time!
The day started as a typical Saturday for me, a lie-in and a late breakfast/brunch before i set about the tasks for the day. Untypically though today involves a trip to a football game, to League 1 Charlton Athletic FC and their match with Burton Albion from Staffordshire in the Midlands. A friend of mine is a Charlton fan, and long time season ticket holder and had managed to get me a ticket.
We met up at our usual watering hole before the game, for a couple of pre-game drinks. Of the three on offer I plumped for a refreshing Sambrooks Brewery Pumphouse Pale (4.2% ABV)
An English style Pale Ale with a balanced sweetness and hop character, late hopped with Wakatua to give a pleasant floral, and light spice aroma. An updated version of the classic English Pale Ale.
Then on to the game itself, with a competent performance from Charlton running out victors with a 2-0 result, both goals coming in the first half. unfortunately, as with many football grounds in the UK, the potential for half-time refreshments leaves a lot to be desired with the main offerings being massed produced lager or a particularly average mass produced bitter, which in my humble opinion are to be avoided at all, and as in this case highly extortionate, costs.
So, after the game, as is usual, a short trip to one of what i consider the best micropubs in South East London, (if not the whole of the capital) The River Ale House.
An award wining micro-pub which opened in 2017 in a former lingerie and hosiery shop, winning both SPBW (The Society for The Preservation of Beers from the Wood) London Pub of the Year, and CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) SE London Branch Pub of the Year for 2019.
On arriving there were 5 ales to choose from , having just run out of one of my favourites Oakham Brewery's JHB. Disappointed but not downhearted I chose one I'd never tried before from Leicestershire based Leatherbritches Brewery called The Bounder (4.0% ABV)
"A pale golden ale with a subtle grapefruit and spice aroma, leading to a long crisp bitter finish" according to the tasting notes on Untappd. I found it to to be nicely hopped and citrusy (though not necessarily grapefruit citrus) and extremely refreshing, so as I usually do I had a second and was going for a third only to discover that they had run out of that too.
My #BeerSaturday did, however, contuinue with 3 more fabulous ales from:
- Milestone Brewery Maid Marian (4.3% ABV)
- Pig & Porter Brewery Red Spider Rye (4.8% ABV)
- Heritage Brewing Co Masterpiece (5.6%)
So, all in all, a good day out. A win for the home team, some great ales to celebrate the victory with in a marvelously convivial ale house. Cheers!