ODE TO A HAGGIS

BURNS NIGHT IS HELD ON, OR AS NEAR AS POSSIBLE TO THE 25TH JANUARY THE BIRTH DATE OF ROBERT BURNS SCOTLAND'S NATIONAL POET.

AS YOU KNOW I RARELY BREW THE SAME BEER TWICE, BUT THIS IS A REPEAT ON MY HAGGIS ALE FROM LAST YEAR - A TRADITIONAL SCOTTISH STYLE BEER.  

FOR THOSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT HAGGIS, FOLLOW THE LINK BELOW:
www.worldburnsclub.com/begin/address_to_a_haggis.htm

FOR THOSE WHO JUST WANT TO TRY THE ALE, IT HAS GONE OUT TO THE FOLLOWING FINE ESTABLISHMENTS:

RED LION, COTHERSTONE
THE CROWN, MICKLETON
THE VANE ARMS, LONG NEWTON
THE OLD WELL, BARNARD CASTLE
THE CROWN INN, MANFIELD
THE SHIP INN, MIDDLESTONE VILLAGE
THE CROSS KEYS, GAINFORD
THE GRAND HOTEL, BISHOP AUCKLAND
THE GARDENERS REST, SHEFFIELD
ALDBROUGH ST JOHN VILLAGE HALL BURNS NIGHT 'DO'

ENJOY!

CROSS KEYS AT GAINFORD, CHARITY NIGHT SATURDAY THE 28TH JAN 2012

FROM 9PM ONWARDS THIS SATURDAY THERE IS A ROCK AND ROLL CHARITY EVENT BEING HELD AT THE CROSS KEYS IN GAINFORD

RAFFLES WITH GREAT PRIZES

AUCTION OF PROMISES, AND

LIVE BAND '4 PLAY'

THE EVENT IS TO RAISE MONEY FOR A CHARITY CALLED AMECA, LINK BELOW - TAKING A GROUP OF STUDENTS TO TANZANIA TO PROVIDE MEDICAL CARE AND IMPROVE THEIR HEALTHCARE ENVIRONMENT.

http://www.ameca.org.uk/

THE CROSS KEYS ALWAYS HAS TTL AND A MITHRIL ALES ON TAP

ENJOY!

BAD MOON RISING - KEEP TO THE PATH!

IN SAXON TIMES THE MONTH OF JANUARY WAS KNOWN AS WULF-MONATH (MEANING WOLF MONTH) AS  YOU WERE MORE LIKELY TO BE DEVOURED BY WOLVES IN THIS MONTH.

WHILST, THE WOLF TO OUR KNOWLEDGE IS NO LONGER AN INHABITANT OF ENGLAND  - THE BANKS, UTILITY COMPANIES, TAXMAN AND CUSTOMS AND EXCISE HAVE HAPPILY  TAKEN UP THE MANTLE OF THE WOLF. READY TO DO US ALL IN AS SOON AS CHRISTMAS IS OVER.

CONSOLE YOURSELF IN A PINT OF MITHRIL ALES AT THE FOLLOWING PUBS - BUT PERHAPS BEST NOT TO WALK HOME FROM THE PUB ON YOUR OWN?

THE WHITE SWAN, GILLING WEST

THE OLD WELL, BARNARD CASTLE

THE CROWN, MICKLETON

QUAKERHOUSE, DARLINGTON

COVERBRIDGE, EAST WITTON

NAGS HEAD, SEDGEFIELD

THE LORD NELSON, GAINFORD

THE GEORGE, PIERCEBRIDGE

THE CROSS KEYS, GAINFORD

THE GRAND HOTEL, BISHOP AUCKLAND

DARLINGTON SNOOKER CLUB

ENJOY!

    

JANUARY MINI BEER FESTIVAL - DARLINGTON SNOOKER CLUB

Thursday 12th January - Sunday 15th January

Peter Everett and the team welcome you to the January Mini Beer Festival at Darlington Snooker Club. Approximately 12 real ales along with cider will be available.


Festival Opening Times:

Thursday 12th January: 7pm - late

Friday 13th January: 11am - late

Saturday 14th January: 11am - late

Sunday 15th January: 11am - late

Food will also be available at the festival in the form of pie and peas. For further information contact Darlington Snooker Club on 01325 241388 or Peter Everett via email link on the CAMRA website

JACK FROST - LIKED IT SO MUCH I MADE IT TWICE

NORMALLY MY GUEST BEER IS BOTH A NEW RECIPE AND ALSO A NEW PUMP CLIP. HOWEVER, I REALLY LIKED THIS CLIP (AND THE BEER) AND DECIDED TO BREW AGAIN FOR 2012.

IN KEEPING WITH MITHRIL'S POOR ATTEMPTS AT  WEATHER FORECASTING, IT IS CURRENTLY WET AND WINDY IN ALDBROUGH ST JOHN (BUT NOT FROSTY). REGULAR READERS MAY RECALL THAT THE ALE 'HEATWAVE' I BREWED IN SUMMER SEEMED TO HAVE THE SAME EFFECT ON THE WEATHER. BREWER, YES - IAN MCCASKILL - NO

FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN THE ORIGINS OF JACK FROST

http://uk.ask.com/wiki/Jack_Frost

FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN THE ALE:

BLACK BULL, MELSONBY
THE OLD WELL, BARNARD CASTLE
LORD NELSON, GAINFORD
CROSS KEYS, GAINFORD
BLACK SWAN, STAINDROP
THE BRIDGE, WHORLTON OR MIDDLETON IN TEESDALE
THE CROWN, MICKLETON
THE SHIP INN, MIDDLESTONE VILLAGE
AND SOME LUCKY PEOPLE GOT TO DRINK IT FOR FREE AT SEVERAL LOCAL PRIVATE FUNCTIONS

ENJOY, IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY!

THEY CAN TAKE MY LAGER, BUT THEY WILL NEVER TAKE MY BEER!

WHEN GOING OUT ON NEW YEAR'S EVE  IT CAN BE A HAZARDOUS JOB,  BRAVING THE CROWDS AND GETTING TO THE BAR FOR AN ALE.

HANDY THEN THAT MY LOCAL, THE STANWICK INN HAD A FANCY DRESS THEME.

TAKING MY INSPIRATION FROM 'BRAVEHEART' I THOUGHT ARE YOU GOING TO MESS WITH A MAN IN A KILT, PACKING A POUNDSHOP DAGGER AND A CARDBOARD SHIELD (FROM AN AMAZON DELIVERY BOX)? ACTUALLY YOU PROBABLY ARE, IF THE EFFECT IT HAD ON MY DOG IS ANYTHING TO GO BY - AS SEEN IN THE PHOTO.

ANYWAY A GOOD NIGHT IN THE PUB - LOTS OF ALE, SOME WHISKY AND AN EXCELLENT CHILLI PUT ON BY NEIL AND HELEN AFTER MIDNIGHT. THE DISCO WAS SITLL GOING AT 4AM WHEN WE FINALLY LEFT!

HOPE EVERYONE ELSE HAD A GOOD NEW YEAR AND ALL THE BEST FOR 2012!