Crawley with no Sentimentality

Crawley Town 1 v Sheffield United 1

Saturday 28 February 2015

Twitter @ball_sup

Spencer Out.

Quietly, in this Blog which no one reads, I’m politely asking Sheffield United to make sure that they take the full wishes of the Spencer Family into account in any tributes/legacy for Shred. Some of his friends and other fans are, somewhat understandably, letting their imagination run riot. We need to reign in and let the family grieve & speak on what they would like to happen.

As it happens, I have every confidence that SUFC will do the right thing.

I’m going to allow myself a full weekend drinking blog (rather than just “match day”).

Hammerton Brewery

Unit 8 & 9 Roman Way Industrial Estate, 149 Roman Way, London, N7 8XH

These people open their Brewery Door on the last weekend of every month. Reasonably easy to find in the becoming traditional industrial unit/railway arch. Naturally, food wagon outside. Rudimentary benches & tables. Nice and busy without being overpowering.

I’m on record as saying their Islington Unfiltered Steam Lager at 4.7% is the best of the newer craft brewery Lager/Pilsener styles I’ve had. To be honest, I was a touch disappointed today. Just didn’t seem to have the zest & zing and fruity sweetness that I recall from previous slurps.

However, the N7 Pale Ale at 5.2% was superb. Lovely fruity hoppy bitterness. Not overpowering or too intense. Just an everything upfront, like it from the first mouthful Pale.

Also drank - a Trial US/UK hopped Pale at 4%.

The range was completed by their N1 Pale (4.1%) and their Pentonville Oyster Stout at 4.2%.

A great place to visit. Very friendly. Nice range of beers, with a different one surprising me every time I try them. Recommended

Brewery Shades

85 High St, Crawley, West Sussex RH10 1BA

A nice, busy place. Modern, bright interior in an older building. Looked a nice range of cask. The barman was helpful. More in a “do you want to try it” than a “this is what it is” way. Nothing wrong with that. I went for First Chop Cha at 5%.

I really enjoyed it. Quite a powerful, intense hopped cask ale. You don’t find them often. More prevalent in keg beers.

I’d highly recommend this pub for matchday drinkers in Crawley. It happens to be across the street from The Jubilee Oak Wetherspoons. In there, I had Pilgrim, Surrey Pale Ale at 3.7%.

The Parcel Yard

King's Cross Station, London, N1 9AL

Actually in the station itself. Just past the foreign tourist madness of Platform 9 ¾. Let’s face this head on. The main issue with The Parcel Yard is it is hideously expensive. I knowingly went there in "you get what you pay for" mood. There is space. The beer range is good. The bar is well/over staffed. I like this place a LOT when I am in the right mood - but it won’t suit everyone.

I had By The Horns, Mick The Miller at 4%. Good beer. Amber, but not too much Malt. A pleasant little hop kick at the end.

The Queen’s Head

66 Acton Street, London, WC1X 9NB

This place, within shouting distance of Kings Cross/St Pancras has been on my radar for some time. Highly recommended by a second friend of mine called David Spencer (ie not Shred) - Shivers Down Spine…..

I’ll cut it some slack. But that wasn’t a particularly pleasurable visit. Overfull. Tables reserved for people arriving later. It’s a Pub ffs. A few Hooray Gethins apparently celebrating Wales win in Paris. Here fellas, if you’re gonna try & belt out Land Of My Fathers, get everyone to learn the words rather than reverting to the “der der der der” version. The Barman was a bit sniffy with me when I asked him to tell me about the beers on the kegs in front of me. It almost felt like he was slinging the tasting glasses across at me.

IMHO overfussy, look we're a real pub, interior.

I had Bristol Beer Factory, Independence on keg at 4.6%. Good high quality American style Pale.

I will visit again during a quieter period.

Standout Beer (of the weekend) was the Hammerton Brewery N7 Pale.

I'm gonna give a big thumbs up, you're my kind of people, LIKE to the Crawley Town fans who had a "CTFC Tinpot And Proud" banner behind the goal. Not much going on one each type of game. United were the better side for long periods. I thought Paul Coutts had a good game.

But, all told, that was a Beer & Shred day.

94/221

English Counties & Champions League T20

Warwickshire 165 All Out Lost to Durham (166-7) by 3 Wickets (with nearly 10 overs to spare)

Saturday 20 September 2014

Lord’s Cricket Ground - Royal London (50 Over) Cup Final

Twitter @ball_sup

To Lord’s, as a neutral, for the domestic 50 Over Final.  I thoroughly enjoyed the cricket.  Using my Middlesex Membership, I’m able to use the Lord’s Pavilion for the domestic final.  A low scoring affair - received wisdom has that because of the early morning start in late-September.  But, you know, both teams have to bat & other cliches.

As it happens, I’m going to use the game as a little Op Ed excuse to discuss English Counties & the Champions League T20.  The Champions League is up and running in India - Domestic (State, Province, Island, Franchise, Region, etc) T20 teams from India, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan, Sri Lanka & the West Indies all competing. Everywhere but England.  Scheduling is the main issue. At the time the Champions League T20 is going on, we’ve still got our Domestic one day cup & final round of 4 day First Class cricket to complete.

In the past, some Counties (including Yorkshire) have been able to go to the Champions League.  That was primarily when it was scheduled for October not September.  Maybe, the new ICC arrangements, with the “Big 3” of India, Australia & the ECB taking the lead, may lead to better scheduling to support the English Counties.

I prefer 4 & 5 Day First Class Cricket. But T20 has a role to play & crucially they use a bat & a ball.  It is plainly ridiculous that we have a Domestic T20 Blast competition & the winners can’t go to the only major international competition. Particularly given the amount of money involved & the hole in many County’s finances.

Here's how. Play 4 Day & T20 cricket much as now. Invitation to view Sunday starts & T20 Friday nights. But blitz that. Do not have the window break for 50 Over cricket we've seen in 2014. Get the Championship & T20 done & dusted by end August. Then have a September window for the 50 over stuff. But. Send 2 Counties to the Champions League T20. Play the 50 overs as a 16 County competition.  You're welcome. Never going to happen.

Six bottles today purchased from Highbury Vintners. I was concentrating on specific London breweries. There was a great London range. Quite a few others (Wild Beer Ilkley). And lots of internationals. The guy in the shop was very helpful. I'd recommend them.

Hammerton Time.

Islington Lager at 4.7%
N1 Pale at 3.4%
N7 Pale at 5.2%
Pentonville Oyster Stout at 5.3%

The N1 was a bit thin & the bitterness was harsh salad or dandelion leaves. Not unpleasant. But not my taste.

The N7 had a better malty backbone. I thought some tropical fruit on the nose. Good no nonsense pale.

The stout claims the previous Hammerton Brewers were the first to ever use Oysters. Wow. Did not know that. It was lovely. Nice head & deep flavour.

I also had Rocky Head Pale Ale at 6.5% and Imitera IPA at 7.2%. Both were nice. The IPA was very much to my taste. And I think the sweetly balanced abv kick of the Pale knocked out N1 & N7 from Hammerton. Although that's a little unfair as they're not really like for like.

But the standout beer of the day was the Hammerton Islington Lager. Unfiltered & you could taste it was. Crisp. Refreshing. Sweetness going on. Bursts in your mouth. Excellent.