Pope in Orbit

Surrey 366-7
v Yorkshire
close on Day 1

County Championship Division One

Played at The Oval

Friday 11 May 2018

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Orbit Beers Taproom is in Walworth. That is eminently walkable from The Oval at close. They've got a somewhat German thing going on. An Altbier, a Kolsch and get this, a Rauch, but that's a smoked Pils. Very welcoming.

I had that Rauch Pils on keg at 5%. It was great. Not quite what I'd expected. There was smoke. But, it was very subdued. There deffo to enhance the flavour, rather than take over. All in sync with some upfront sugar sweetness.

But. The IVO, Pale Ale on keg at 4.5% was outstanding. Right up there. A Belter. Fresh. Hop bitterness all over it, but not harsh. Orange side of citrus. Bitterness still coming at you. Outstanding I tell you.

Look at the score. Surrey's day. By dint of simple maths. Yorkshire had a good morning. Whittling them to 69-4 inside 23 overs. Wicket apiece for Bresnan, Brooks, Shaw & Patterson. Elgar & Pope put on 68, Clarke & Pope 129. And then, rubbing it in, Pope & McKerr with an unbeaten stand of 75. At one stage, Clarke was whacking boundaries for fun. Imperious, stand, deliver. Foot movement, none. Bat speed, lots. A Papist Double Ton is not out of the question.

659/1361