FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round
Sunday 7 August 2022
Hold. The. Front. Page.
There is a danger, for one night only, of me becoming a Beer Blogger again. Before this game, we did The Cannonball Run. I was going to explain that I've done it twice before. And, since the first time I did it, Magic Rock Brewing (Huddersfield) has ceased to be an independent brewery. Being swallowed up by one of the large, corporate, evil empire, industrial brewers. In this case, Lion. The Australian outfit, who are in turn owned by Japanese brewing giants Kirin. So, amongst other monstrosities, responsible for Castlemaine XXXX and Toohey's.
Now, did "independent" Magic Rock beer really taste any different to "corporate" Magic Rock beer? Well, it wouldn't surprise you would it? Goose Island, Brooklyn Lager, Camden Pale, Meantime, Lagunitas. All, all blurred shadows of their former selves.
And, with corporate money, comes corporate problems. In September 2020, Amnesty International reported that ultimate owners Kirin had funded atrocities committed by Myanmar's military against the minority Rohingya population. Magic Rock (based in Huddersfield remember) had to put out a statement distancing themselves from (their owners) Kirin. Claiming (Magic Rock)...
"does not have any stake in or control over Kirin's operations in Myanmar"
Fuck Sake
Anyway. Hold. The. Front. Page. It has since been announced "minutes ago" that Kirin/Lion have SOLD Magic Rock. There is even one way of looking at it as - Magic Rock has been sold back into the independent sector. Personally, I'm not having that. The eye watering sums of money which will have been spunked can only mean it's still in the hands of #BigMoney. But, the sale to Odyssey Inns (shrug shoulders gesture) at least means that Magic Rock are no longer in the thralls of atrocity denying #BigBeer. What I can't confirm is exactly when the deal was signed. When I did the Cannonball Run was I effectively drinking independent beer, but brewed as corporate beer? I think we should be told.
Right. The Cannonball Run. Magic Rock have a core beer called Cannonball. It's a West Coast style India Pale Ale packing in at 7.4%. Columbus, Simcoe, Centennial & Amarillo Hops.
Occasionally, and it was basically annually before Covid, they brew variants. And they launch those variants in a smallish number of bars on the same day. And, you're supposed to buy all three of them at the same time/in the same session and pile into them/run through them.
Hence - Cannonball Run.
If you've read my Blog before you will realise I am an absolute MUG for owt like that. Can't get enough. Gimmick me up Brother.
This time around, the Sheffield venue was/is;
The Head Of Steam
103-107 Norfolk St, Sheffield City Centre, Sheffield S1 2JE
The delivery system included a branded tasting paddle & branded tasting glasses. Mug for it I tell you!!!
The three beers were;
Human Cannonball, West Coast Double IPA, on Keg at 9.2%
Load of abv burn. Nice & uncomplicated. Tongue tingling anaesthetic bitterness. The bitterness is not sharp, but very powerful. It's difficult to get any fruit, etc off the malt. Smells zingy and fresh. Citra, Chinook, Centennial, Simcoe & Columbus on the Hop line up.
Neo-Human Cannonball, New England Double IPA on Keg at 9.2%
Beautiful. Feels very soft, gentle even. Smells of tinned fruit salad. Maybe pineapple. Maybe lychees. Some of that comes through. But, has to give way quickly to the growing bitterness. A bit of Tizer fizzy pop going on. Same Hop sheet. But double dry hopped with Citra and Simcoe. Bittering hops eliminated. Whirlpool hops bunged over to dry hopping.
Super Human Cannonball, Imperial IPA on Keg at 10%
Amarillo, Centennial, Chinook & Columbus Hops. On first gulp, I thought - yeah, proper Imperial IPA. Later on, I was a bit unconvinced. I felt it needed either more booooming residual sugar or a grab you by the gizzard bitterness. Fell a little short for me.
(On previous Cannonball Runs, I have also had an 11% Triple IPA called Un-Human Cannonball)
On balance, I'd just give the 2022 vote to the Human. A straightforward banging, yellowish West Coaster. (Mimes smacking of lips).
Let's stick with beer. I understand Crosspool Ale Makers Society are no more. AnyWhichWay, their tins are no longer on sale in the Hallam clubhouse. However, Bradfield Brewery, Farmers Blonde (4%) was on the handpull sticks. And, it was in prime condition.
That was a good nil nil up at Sandygate. In front of 1128. That was the highest crowd at any FA Cup match over the weekend. Beating (by 6) the crowd at Macclesfield v Wythenshawe Town. The Sandygate crowd filled out by a sizeable and noisy Bury AFC contingent. No mither as far as I could see.
Interesting chatting to the odd Bury AFC fan. They could have a mad dispute coming between themselves, as one phoenix/legacy operation, and another phoenix/legacy operation who own Gigg Lane. Good luck with all that…
As a final aside. Alongside Magic Rock, Kirin/Lion have also sold Fourpure Brewing Co (Bermondsey) to Odyssey Inns, and hence back into the quasi-independent sector. So, that puts it back on the agenda for Millwall away. It is effectively "under" South Bermondsey station. Do try to keep up!!!
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