The Challenge - how many different beers could I sample within the designated holiday period? This began rather slowly, but gathered pace with a few welcome surprises...
Day 1
Just enough time for a Sassy Red at Wton Airport.
Usual lack of choice at AK Airport but found Sapporo on tap at the Noodle Bar which went down well with a laksa.
Day 2
Enjoyed a very cheap big size bottle of Tsingtao from a takeaway stall on Silvermine Beach, Lantau Island followed by Tiger from the tap round the bay at the China Bear with our evening meal.
Day 3
Shopped out in Hong Kong, so relief provided by Vietnam's Sabeco Saigon Export, 4.8%, chosen from the rather expensive 'world selection' hotel beer list on return to Lantau.
Day 4
As expected still just Steiny Pure on the plane - preferred the Chardy.
Day 5
Already waiting on arrival in Worthing at the mother-in-law's are bottles of Wychwood Blonde, 'thrice-hopped', 3 infusions of Styrian Goldings at 4.5%. She is a star.
Day 6
Day trip to Brighton, meeting up with CAMRA member 'Big Jack' at the Evening Star. Seven handpumps and all the Dark Star Brewery beers.
Went straight for the Dark Star APA which was awesome at 4.7%, but then made mistake of dropping down to Whitstable Brewing Pale Ale at 4.1% which was a dissapointingly soapey & bland bitter.
Forgot they don't serve food, so it was a no-brainer to pop round the corner to the splendid Lord Nelson, a Harvey's pub, who serve great food via phoning orders to the authentic Italian restaurant next door.
The Harvey's Best was spot-on and the seasonal Southdown Harvest - an all malt, single-hopped Fuggles at 5%, also tasting good. The girls departed in the hire car, so Jack I returned to the Star for Dark Star Octoberfest with German malt & hops and finished up with a very nice Dark Star Extra Stout. Managed to get a train back to Worthing, but then again, the pub is only 50m from station.
Day 7
Visited my old friend Ralph in Reigate who has unfortunately has had 2 strokes in the last 5 years. Despite this, he was gagging for a beer and welcomed the opportunity to be ferried out to a countryside inn by car.
He chose the Three Horseashoes near Leigh with 8 handpumps, 4 of which were 'guest' beers. Kicked off with Westerham 1965 Special Bitter at 4.8%, ordered the smoked trout on mash and washed that down with a Bowmans Quiver Bitter from Hampshire Brewery whilst also having a natter to the relatively new landlord. Restraint of returning hire car by 3.30pm restricted further sampling.
Picked up at Gatwick airport by old shooting friend Paul and enjoyed supper, plus bonus of Hepworths Pullman Bitter, an underrated brew, from the bottle at his lovely home in South Nutfield. Got dropped at Gatwick for train to Worthing.
Day 8
Time to checkout how my old football team are performing in Div 4 of Mid Sussex League, so headed off to Plumpton, with Elaine driving the in-law's Astra.
Took in a farmers market at Steyning on way over, where tried samples of new local brewery - Arun Valley - Velocity Bitter and the highly-regarded Merry Andrew Strong Ale, while chatting to owners.
Bought 500ml bottles of each plus the other two in the range (see later) which cost £7.25, plus a huge game pie.
The lads were just setting off for away fixture v Crowborough 3, so cadged a ride over there and unexpectedly found the club bar open & selling Deuchars IPA from bottle (Greene King IPA handpump no worky).
After a sticky start, they powered to an impressive 5-1 win. On return to Plumpton Pavilion celebrated win and beer number 20 with a few Shepherd Neame Master Brew Bitters from bottle, whilst debated format for remainder of evening. Talked into watching Man U v Sunderland at the Cock Inn (no lewed comments please) at Wivelsfield, so the girls unsuprisingly departed. Very lively, but crisp, White Brewery Brighton Rocks Bitter on handpump, so that fitted the bill. Before things got really messy, got cab to Haywards Heath, ate whole of game pie and got train to Worthing without being sick.
Day 9
Invited to brother-in-law's in Winchester for Sunday lunch, so abrupt change of plan from proposed watching of Chelsea v Liverpool in Elephant & Castle, Lewes.
The offer of either English, Irish or German beer got me excited, but I chose English and got John Smiths Extra Smooth from a can. Much campaigning work required here!
Returned 'home' to settle in to watch Match of the Day with an Arun Valley Ropetackle, an unfiltered light summer ale tasting of old damp sacks and an Arun Valley Black William Stout at 5%, tasting of black william. We won't talk about the match.
Days 10 & 11
A couple of dry ones!
Day 12
Travelled up to the smoke on an excellent value Group Saver train ticket from Worthing. Soon began suffering Kiwi withdrawal symptoms for a pie, so lunched at Porters in Covent Garden, where the Lamb & Apricot Pie was washed down with a bottle of St Peters Golden Ale, 4.7%, one of the more appealing of the recent proliferation of golden ales.
Afternoon respite from shopping via nostalgic visit to the Argyll Arms off Oxford Circus, where on entering, one of the bar staff proceeded to be arrested for credit card fraud and was marched out by plain clothes bill. Fine array of 10 real ales on the chalkboard, but plumped for an old favourite in form of Timothy Taylor Landlord, 4.2%, which looked and tasted as good as ever.
Arrived at Fuller's Star Tavern in Belgravia earlier than planned due to inclement weather and proceeded to be chatted up by a couple of well-to-do gay chaps called James and Alan from Richmond. This despite wearing Phoenix cap, not pink cowboy hat.
Started off sensibly with the Chiswick Bitter, 3.6%, then James insisted on buying me a pint of the new Blonde Ale which was rather bland, unlike his necktie. Ex-workmates Karl, Robin and John arrived to rescue me and supply pints of the seasonal, malty Red Fox, London Pride and the awesome ESB, the latter interestingly served from a branded full pint goblet, which sadly did not manage to fall automatically into my rucksack.
Reverted to autopilot for walk to Victoria Station to find an inconsiderate person had thrown themselves in front of a train at Streatham, so eventually arrived back in Worthing at 1.45am at the end of a long day, but with ESB bringing up beer number 31.
Day 13
Tucked into the leafy Surrey North Downs is the Plough Inn & Leith Hill Brewery, situated in the small hamlet of Coldharbour. An idyllic spot for weekend walkers and mountain bikers, but on an early autumnal Thursday evening the place was deserted.
Irish landlady Anna proceeded to inform us about a series of tales of woe, which unfortunately only served to emphasise a sense of eventuality of the pub's future closure. Two days previous, part of the roof collapsed, flooding the upstairs and rendering the central heating kaput. Added to this, the latest chef walked out after just one week on the job. On enquiring why the beer range had reduced from 3 to 2, she replied that her son, the brewer, had been taken seriously ill, but was now in recovery.
The girls huddled around a hastily lit log fire, while Anna cooked our tea and I served myself pints of their Crooked Furrow Special Bitter, 4.1% and the brilliantly named Tallywhacker Strong Ale, 4.8%. Both beers lacked natural carbonation, possessed very little hop character and the 'homecooked' food was of average quality but charged at London prices.
Based on this visit, I was mildly surprised that the pub is a current CAMRA Good Beer Guide entry, although it did also serve Shepherd Neame Spitfire and an 8% Biddenden Cider on handpump.
Day 14
Collected hire car from Brighton and met up with die hard Liverpool fan, 'Scouse Mouse' Paul at the Elephant & Castle, Lewes for a swift lunchtime pint of Itchen Valley Godfathers Bitter, brewed with 4 hop varieties at 3.8% - a good session beer.
Early evening session at the 13th Worthing Beer Festival, which this year showcased 23 beers from Yorkshire, hence the White Rose souvenir PINT glass. Not having time to travel this far north, an excellent opportunity to to try a few new ones from this region, kicking off with Elland Catch the Rainbow *** 4.1%, Abbeydale Brimstone ** 3.9%, Rudgate Viking ** 3.8% & Thorne BB ** 3.8%.
Stayed sensible with Green Jack Canary *** 3.8%, then moved up to 3 very interesting and satisfying brews in the form of Salamander Golden Salamander *** 4.5%, Isle of Purbeck Harry's Harvest *** 5.0% & Saltaire Blackberry Cascade *** 4.8%, bringing up beer 42 on day 14. Definitely saved the best until last, where my initial skepticism was washed away by a fine, unique, cascade hopped ale with just the correct hint of blackberries.
Day 15
By offering to purchase the beers for the In-Law's Diamond Wedding Party this ensured that a selection of Tesco's finest were available for the day's festivities. A merry time was had by all and the brews were enjoyed both both young and old. My tipples throughout the afternoon were Morrissey Fox Blonde, 4.2% (from comedian cum brewer Neil Morrissey), Arundel Sussex Gold 4.2% (most local), RCH PG Steam Bitter 4.0% (tombola prize at beer festival) & Adnam's Gunhill (new brew from old favourite) 4.0%
Day 16
Departed Worthing for Banbury via a stop at an old favourite, the Fox & Hounds at a rather damp Christmas Common, close to the Chiltern Hills escarpment. Pleased to see the Brakspear's Bitter, 3.4%, was being produced by local brewers Wychwood and good it was too. Brother Bob called over in the evening with Boddingtons' Bitter carryouts, a rather inauspicious way to bring up beer 48.
Day 17
A 'dry' day spent walking around the family farm and taking a leisurely drive around the surrounding, sleepy, south Warwickshire countryside.
Day 18
An evening with brother Bob at one of our favourite old haunts, the Plough at Warmington, which was disturbingly quiet throughout the evening. Stunned that Hook Norton was no longer on draught and the evening began to resemble a type of serious CD ROM read error with a pint of Greene King IPA being followed by one of Draught Bass, with the process being constantly repeated, until the taxi arrived.
Day 19
A day spent in the nearby market town of Banbury. While the girls were shopping yet again, managed to grab a pint of Hook Norton Best at the superb Reindeer Inn, in the now pedestrianised Parsons Street. Had lunch at the canalside Museum Cafe, where I spotted a newly delivered pack of North Cotswold Smoked Maple Porter, a 6% local bottle conditioned ale using smoked malt & maple syrup and matured in Glenlivet Whiskey barrels. Despite a unique flavour the beer sadly lacked any natural carbonation whatsoever. After an enjoyable visit to the huge annual Autumn amusement fair we had a family supper at the new Toby Inn carvery on the edge of town, where sadly, the Old Hooky was off. The only real ale was Greene King IPA so remained frustratingly stuck on beer 52 until tomorrow's visit to Hook Norton Brewery.
Day 20
Mum required some much needed lunchtime relief after attending her cardio-vascular clinic at Banbury Hospital, so treated her to lunch at the Pear Tree, Hook Norton. A Good Beer Guide regular and the brewery tap, it serves the full Hooky range and great homecooked food. Started with a Hooky Dark – great to see this flavoursome mild still in production. Tough call for the second choice, being the driver, so plumped for the seasonal Copper Ale, 4.7% - lovely biscuity malt character with a distinctive hoppy finish. Paid homage to the brewery, but only had time for a MAN’S shopping trip at the excellent Visitors Centre, rather than staying on for the full scheduled evening tour.
Cousin David visited in the evening, so cracked open a tinnie of Carling Lager, possibly the most bland drink of all time.
Day 21
Day trip to Cheltenham Races scuppered by Mum’s strictly un-moveable midday hairdo appointment in Banbury, so checked out some old primary school friends in the village. Lots of coffee but no ale.
Day 22
Brother Bob’s wedding day kicked off with a civil ceremony at Bodicote Registry Office near Banbury. The reception was held at Cherwell Edge Golf Club on the other side of town, where, joy-of-joys, Greene King IPA, Fullers London Pride and Ringwood Bitter were all available on handpump. Carvery lunch for the families then a disco in the evening for additional friends and relatives, was enjoyed by one and all, the highlight being best man and groom doing full fancy dress turns as Madonna and Tina Turner respectively. Stayed on the very drinkable Ringwood Bitter all day for beer number 56 and felt remarkably hangover free for journey home.
Day 23
Time to say farewells and head for Heathrow for the evening flight straight through to NZ. Arrived in good time despite a car breaking down in the fast lane on the M40, so Mum bought me a goodbye pint of Theakston’s Bitter at the Weatherspoons Sky Dive Bar, but it was sadly thin and bland. Through passport control and still with hours to while away, checked out the Tin Goose Bar where the Adnam’s Bitter was surprisingly enjoyable, with good balance and flavour.
Day 24
Arrived in Welly minus a suitcase, but given a complimentary food & drink voucher for the inconvenience suffered. As bag was confirmed as being on next flight from Auckland, decided to wait for it and spend the voucher on a Black Mac at the airport. On arrival home, found an extra pet rabbit in the garden & lit up the PC to find 243 unread emails. Checked the beer cellar and found a bottle of a rather luscious Sierra Nevada Porter to provide some sustenance and bring up beer number 60.
Cheers & beers!