Brew Dog to launch pub chain – sigh

Just one word: Cains. A brewer can no longer start a chain, the ship has sailed, the sea is made of glass.
Trendy beer will only ever have a niche Market which will fade. How will Brew Dog cope with the £2 dinner and half a Fosters crowd? How can they survive without the bottle of [...]

J W Lees – I take it back

On more than one occasion I’ve dissed J W Lees beer, but after a skinful of Brewer’s Dark ale this evening, I’m changing my mind.
Lovely bitter dark chocolate with a hint of Sunday roast gravy, it was the perfect partner for post Crimbo ham butties. Recommended.

Merry Christmas – and the winner is

The best of Christmas to all my readers and fellow bloggers. Like all true drunks, I love this time of year.
The winner of the pub of the year is The Masons Arms.
It was a close call between the Masons and the Guest House, certainly the beer is miles better at the Guestie, the choice [...]

The smell Blundell

After a survey of Formby’s pubs, Sefton Council has awarded Zero hygiene stars out of five to the huge Weld Blundell Arms eat and ale house in Ince Blundell.
The pub may now face prosecution and even closure.

Awful woman drives me into the arms of Toby

Meeting Aggers in the Railway, Ainsdale, was a mistake – but not for the reasons you’d suppose.
Holding court was a loud-mouthed, foul tongued woman – who may or may not have been staff – whose obnoxious Daily Mail style setting the world to rights got so awful we were forced to leave.
I dislike people [...]

End of the line for Hamish Howitt

Smoking rebel Hamish Howitt’s two Blackpool boozers have closed as he battles the spectre of bankruptcy.
Both Delboys and the Crazy Scot have been forced to shut amid crippling debts.
Hamish blames the smoking ban for his troubles, although his doomed attempt to overturn the ban by letting punters smoke in his pubs saw him hit with [...]

Whole lot of Shaking going on

The highly rated Conky play at The Shakespeare, at the bottom of Eastbank Street, tonight then there’s the Christmas Sunday Sessions featuring 10 bands tomorrow.
The all-day sessions are an eclectic mix of punk, ska and old-skool indie rock starting early afternoon (check venue). Entrance to all of these live events is absolutely free. [...]

Wheatsheaf closed

Sad to relate, The Wheatsheaf pub in Croston has closed.
It seems that good beer and good food weren’t enough for punters in these crazy times – although there are so many good pubs in the village, something had to give.
This was the pub that used to give diners a free loaf. I always [...]

Why cask’s cool

Friendless, I popped into the Guest House where there was a warm welcome and a cool pint of Bryson’s Union Flag.
At first I struggled with this Burton style bitter with its sulphur notes. But as I nursed it, sitting alone with memories of great days here, its complexity revealed itself, sparking inspiring thoughts and banishing [...]

Ireland cuts booze duty

It once fell to Ireland to save civilization and lead Europe out of the dark ages. Well, begor they’re doing it again!
Ireland’s Finance Minister Brian Lenihan has reduced duty on spirits by around €2.75 per bottle, 12 cents per pint of beer and 60 cents per bottle of wine.
He has warned that the duty will [...]