Expensive beer but a lovelly view

Before i go any further I'm gonna apologise to anyone who has been checking in on this blog for it's lack of activity of late, to be honest i haven't actually done that much or tried many new beers, i promise i will try harder in future.
Now on to my latest news, on Tuesday i had the pleasure of enjoying a day off with some beautiful weather so i decided to venture down to Babbacombe Beach and visit the Cary Arms, (my first visit to this pub since it was bought and refurbished by Peter and Lana De Savory.
As i entered the bar i spotted 4 or 5 hand pumps sadly only one ale was available, so i had to settle for an Otter Ale, but was then shocked when the barman asked me for £3.40, (no that's not a misprint) however with the nearest bar about 250 feet above me via a steep, winding hill i paid up without complaint, and proceeded to the terrace to take a seat. The compensation for paying that much for a beer is the relaxing sound of waves gently lapping at the beach just a few feet below and the beautiful view across Babbacombe bay and out towards Exmouth (that's if there's no mist like on my visit) that is only interrupted by the occasional car struggling to make it up the hill.
My overall thought is that although the price is a little over the top the view, peace and tranquility is worth it, a bit of advise though walk down but then walk across the bridge that links Babbacombe Beach to the neighbouring Oddicombe Beach and ride the cliff railway up.

Finally a little reminder to anyone visiting Torbay next week the Occombe Farm Beer Festival is on 4th and 5th June, SEE Y'ALL THERE!!!!!

Occombe Farm Beer Festival

Well folks here's some great news for all beer news in the South West area Occombe Farm Beer Festival is almost upon us. This year it's the 4th and 5th June and features over 60 real ales from across Devon, Cornwall and Somerset, as well as live music and deliicious food.

Tickets are £4.50 each day or £7.00 for both days and runs from 4.30 till 11.00 Friday 4th and 11.00 am till 11.00 pm Saturday 5th.

So grab ya glass and ya taste buds and i'll see ya there.

For further details goto the Occombe Farm website

Turkers Maltings beer festival

Yes peeps its that time of year again, that wonderful time of sunny days but more importantly BEER FESTIVALS, as mentioned in my previous posting JDWetherspoons have been runing a festival over the past couple of weeks. This weekend the attention turns towards Newton Abbott for the annual Tuckers Maltings beer festival with a line-up of around 300 ales. This is one of the most prestigious festivals on the SW calender. Sadly due to work commitments i am unable to join in, but hope anybody who is going has a great time.
Another festival coming up is the Occombe Farm beer festival not sure about the exact dates yet but is usually the first week in June, i'll post more details as soon as i can.

Beer Festival

Come, gather all ye lovers of real ale, for i bring ye glad tidings. JDWhetherspoons are holding another beer festival, listed as the "WORLD'S LARGEST INTERNATIONAL REAL ALE FESTIVAL", ales appearing include ales from Belgium, Hawii, South Africa and Czech Republic to name a few. This festival started on Wednesday 7th April and runs until Sunday 25th April.

Having seen the listing for beers due to appear over the festival it looks to be a rather impressive line-up, from Daleside Spring Frenzy at 3.4%, right up to Budelse Capucijn from the Netherlands at 6.0%, and incudes a few brewed especially for this festival. I will try and give some notes and my opinion on some of these ales as i try them.

Starting with Springhead's Spring Chicken 4.5% ABV, This ale was presented to me after being poured direct from the barrel, a beautiful golded yellow colour with a lovelly deep fruity aroma, scrumptious wildflower honey taste with a hint of cinnamon and a refreshing well-balanced bitterness. Alltogether a delightful ale, from the Springhead Brewery.

OWD RODGER

WOW!!! What a beer.

Tonight i had planned to go out for a drink after finishing work, but didn't get out as early as i thought i would and by the time i did get out i couldn't be bothered to walk into town for an hour or two, so i returned to my room where i had one bottle of beer left.

My last bottle was a Marston's Owd Rodger, when i bought this one i didn't look too closely at the label and so didn't spot the bit that said ABV 7.6%, so on spotting this tonight my first thought was not another foul tasting extra strong beer but was pleasantly surprised by this old style country ale. Brewed to a recipe believed to be over 500 years old it has an explosion of rich fruit flavours with a bitter sweet finish.

 A very palitable winter ale, my only complaint...... i only had the one bottle.

Another night in South Zeal

Yes followers once again i'm visiting my brother in South Zeal this time i'm here to see my nephews school play, having helped him out with his lines. Of course no visit to my brothers would be complete without popping into the Kings Arms, i'm now being considered more of a local than my brother.

Two out of four of the ales on offer last night i have had many times before (Skinners Ginger Tosser and Otter Best) the other two were new Legend and Davenports Irish Whiskey Ale, whilst i wasn't overly keen on the Irish Whiskey Ale (not much taste of irish whiskey) the legend went down very well as did the Tosser and Otter. This may have contributed to my falling asleep before posting my previous post, and the slight foggy feel in my head this morning. Well it's now nearly lunchtime and i fancy a nice bacon sandwich so it's a walk to the village shop to get some bacon.

NEW PUB IN TOWN

Firstly a big apology to anyone who has been trying to follow my blog for the lack of postings over the past two or three weeks, sadly work and other commitments have taken priority. However I've not abstained from the delights of the alcoholic substance over the past couple of weeks including joining the ranks of englishmen who become irish for one night a year, yes i joined the St. Patricks celebrations and consumed a few pints of the black gold known as guiness followed by a night cap of a large Paddy's whiskey.
Then yesterday i ventured into town for a few beers with a couple of friends, upon meeting the first friend we noted that a new bar had opened, well the bar previously known as Woody's which closed about 6 months ago had re-opened now known as the Apple and Parrot. First impressions upon entering were refreshing, whilst not fully finished (some work was still going on regarding the kitchen) the bar was clean, tidy and well presented. This bar is owned by the same owners that own another bar round the corner wellknown for its loud music and high bar prices, so i was pleasantly surprised to find that they not only sold three different ales but prices were not too exuberant, a pint of Bombadier cost £2.60, the most expensive was Courage Directors at £2.80, as well that they were serving Bays Gold. If you're more of a cider fan then they accomodate you as well with three different still ciders (including Thatchers Diesel, the only pub in Torquay serving this particular brew) along with Thatchers Gold and Pear cider and strongbow.
Food wise their plans for the future is to serve a varied menu but for now they serve only a cheese or meat platter, however there is the third option of having the two combined, all come available as a single portion or larger share size. Feeling a bit peckish i decided to opt for the single combined and was presented a few minutes later with a feast fit for a king. The barman warned me that the portion he had given me maybe on the large size but even if he had given me half of everything i would still have struggled, so my friend and i tucked into Devon Brie, red leicester and a smoked cheese, duck and orange pate,a generous slice of chicken and mushroom pie, slices of fresh-cut bloomer, with real-ale chutney as well as  cider chutney. The barman also informed us that they are going to try and sorce all their produce from local sorces. If the quality of what we had continues they should do very well and i wish them all the best, it makes a change to hear of a pub opening than the usual news of another one closing. My overall opinion can be summed up with a quote from Arnold, "I'LL BE BACK".
This posting is a day older than the posting date because i actually typed it up last night but dozed off before posting it, (more to do with the early start i had yesterday than the few beers i had last night, lol)