Beer Compurgation

It’s June 2018 and Taylor Swift is due to play the City of Manchester Stadium. I have two tickets to the occasion and it is fairly safe to assume that a slightly underwhelmed partner is to accompany me with less enthusiasm than myself. Despite the presence of non-fans, Taylor didn’t indulge the mixed audience. There were no covers of Lady Antebellum songs or stage sharing with James Bay. It was almost as if the entire show was tailored towards Swifties, the assumption being that those with tickets had paid for such an experience. Because there isn’t an alternative to such a show. This was the one off opportunity. My partner didn’t say, “I don’t think I’ll get value for money seeing Taylor Swift at City’s stadium – why don’t we see a Bay City Rollers tribute act at the New Inn instead?” There is no equivalence. The New Wave of Tickers   There has been further movement within the beer industry in the last couple of years to keep taking influence in styles...

“Anyway, I hope you get this man. Hit me back, just to chat, truly yours, your biggest fan, this is Stan” The best thing about being an irregular pub regular is the relationship you build up with the staff that work in your favourite establishments. Hanging around the bar constantly has brought me friends, not just when they are behind the bar, but away from their work and mine. Some have moved on to ventures new. Some I am lucky enough to see under circumstances other than exchanging pints. But mostly it has brought me to new friends that I have found common ground with over a few pre-match beers . One such friend did his time working "hard" behind the bar whilst spending his free time learning from other breweries how to brew a bloody good beverage. Some led to the initial runs and collaborations under his initial gypsy brewery guise. Since then this has led to much bigger and internationally recognised brewing accolades. And to think I knew him when he ...