DS of Chelmsford

June (bonkers) and July (sensible) both saw published letters from DS of Chelmsford. But there is a lot more to the man than his ability to get letters published in What’s Brewing.

If you like reading about “craft beer….bizarre and unpalatable to all but the most deluded and culturally-alienated drinker”, “ridiculous hop levels, often accompanied by outrageous alcoholic potency”, and comparing aspirations of craft beers to the Pope, the Queen and Gay Pride marches then here is a stonking good read. Turn to page 12. Do you think they put an ad for a beer festival with live music next to his piece just out of devilry?

For the record, I too was at Craft Beer Rising. It was hipsterish, music was loud in places but some of the beer was astonishingly good. Lactic Armageddon from Sharp’s living up to it’s name admirably. Not cheap but a must on the beer calendar.

 

 

What’s Brewing, July 2014 – Agony Column

Whats Brewing July 2My helpful advice to the troubled writers to What’s Brewing. Now I have to admit, CAMRA have given me much less to play with this month and published some quite sensible letters…

So first of all, hats off to NG of Southport and DS of Chelmsford for the voice of reason.

Now, NW of Needingworth, this is an intriguing thought, beer pricing according to colour could be the way forward. The Irish might disagree of course. But anything that brings down the price of Brooklyn’s Sorachi Ace, witbier and numerous IPA’s can only be a good thing.

RJH of Southport, shout louder! We can’t hear you. Frankly, I’m too busy on my smartphone to pay you any attention anyway. Addressing the chemicals and hops issue, whatever next! Big manufacturers using synthetic ingredients shocker. Get yourself down one of the other 1000 or so small brewers in this country.

BH of Tewkesbury, omg, you have opened a can of worms now! It will surely not have escaped anyone’s notice that the Indian sub-continent is poorly represented at CAMRA events. India alone has 22 official languages. And having joined using your Welsh application form – how many publications are you able to read? (Don’t bother asking if the website has application form or content in Welsh).

Before we start laughing at the Welsh though, let’s note that the modern craft brewer Tiny Rebel picked up gold at the Champion Beer of Wales. Congratulations! All the Tiny Rebel beers I have tried have been excellent. You won’t see a brewer like that winning anything from CAMRA in England or UK wide.

What’s Brewing, June 2014 – Agony Column

Here I try to help some of the readers and contributors…

GT of Hounslow, £4.01 for a pint in a nice pub in a nice area. Is that really so much? I’m sure you could enjoy it for less in a local ‘Spoons but then poor managers make a pittance because they have to sell the beer so cheap. A moral dilemma I agree but until you are sure which plutocrat is benefiting from the £4.01, I suggest you pay up or quit moaning. Continue reading