The Cardinal's Hat

Worcestershire 264-8 v
Yorkshire
close on Day 1

Sunday 12 April 2015

Twitter @ball_sup

Beer in the Ground

My first time at New Road, Worcester. I sat in the Graeme Hick Pavilion. Deep midwicket, Cow Corner. Eight rows high. Windows at the back, sliding doors lead into the lounge/bar.

Intriguing beer set up. Advertising hoardings around the ground suggest Old Speckled Hen are the Pouring Partners. That's Greene King in old money.

So, the bar has Greene King IPA, Old Speckled Hen & Ruddles Best all present on duty. Old Hoppy Hen. See what they've done there? Then Belhaven Golden Bay. Think.... Ah, aren't Belhaven part of the Greene King stable.

And finally. Mauldons Bronze Adder. But, even that isn't a full, true, untied Guest. It's actually a collaboration with Greene King. So, there you have it Greene King or nowt.

But, way of the world. And salute to Worcestershire. If you must have a Pouring Partner. And if it must be an industrial brewer. Then dig deep into their range to provide interesting beers for the punters.

The bar had that busy, clubby feel, which we don't get in the East Stand Long Room.

I settled on the Belhaven Golden Bay at 3.8%. Nice and refreshing, nothing outstanding. The sweetness was too syrup for my taste, but it was pleasant enough.

The Pub

The Cardinal's Hat, 31 Friar St, Worcester WR1 2NA. Old building in the historic quarter. Great time to visit, early Sunday evening, nice buzz but not too busy. A handful of handpulls. Few kegs. Multi room affair. Mixture of chairs, tables and high stools. Good first impression.

The Beer

Three Tuns, Cleric's Cure on cask at 5%. The pump clip has it as IPA. Absolutely excellent beer. Rich without being too intense. Sweetness in the background, just lingering around. Bitterness comes in early, but gently. It just feels in perfect balance. Lots going on, but gentle and not overpowering. I kept having to take a swig to check what I was tasting. Disappointed to get to the end. Hands down Outstanding Beer of the Day.

Ambleside, Best Bitter on cask at 4.1%. Pleasant, but not quite enough nutty, malty sweetness for my taste in a best bitter.

The Cricket

Chopping and changing. Good day's play. Yorkshire had them in trouble at 11-2. But a great recovery lead by Moeen Ali & Tom Fell kept Worcestershire in it. Even at 171-5, I felt Yorkshire might roll them over for 250. In the end, a couple of drops/half chances have cost Yorkshire. Will Rhodes shelled a tough un (Moeen), fielding in the Yorkshire Wall off Patterson. And Hodd dropped Fell. Other side of coin, two great slip catches from Leaning (high & travelling) and Bresnan (low at third).

I thought Sidebottom was off-the-money. A bit ponderous in his run up. Patterson was very economical at one point. Just the role he needs to cement. But, Brooks wasn't far behind and ended with 3 for 38.

118/264