Author: Phil Lengthorn

Old Peculier #decembeer

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Day 3 of #decembeer

It is only 3 days in and I'm already having a go at one of these 'blow your head off' beers. At 5.6% it is probably not best to have many of these on a school night. May I present….the legendary beer that is….Theakston's famous 'Old Peculier'……

Now as you should be aware by now, I never do anything half-hearted, so a quick visit to Theakston's website for a bit of extra information (that is sadly not on the bottle) revealed some big claims. It is described, amongst other things as: “the country's most well known and loved ales”; “beautiful brew”; and “superb”. Furthermore, an interesting use of the word “awesome” when it comes to describe the flavour:

“awesome full-bodied flavour with subtle cherry and rich fruit overtones”

Needless to say I had big expectations for tonight's #decembeer, and I wasn't disappointed. It actually tasted really quite smooth, wasn't expecting that (but don't forget I don't know what the hell I'm talking about). Didn't smell or taste as 'harsh' as the first couple of beers, no weird aftertaste, and despite the dark look of it, it doesn't taste particularly 'strong'. Peculiar? (See what I've done there!?)

Nice head going on...

I'm still struggling to taste any 'fruits', and I really am trying, just can't seem to taste anything but a beer taste!!!?

Not only do you get a rather good tasting beer, but also on the bottle is a ten-word novel, as part of the Harrogate Crime Writing Festival….

Dark House by Simon Kernick

Picked off one by one. Four…Three…Two…It's you!

 

Inferno #decembeer

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Day of 2 #decembeer

Oakham Ales bring us the rather dramatically named ‘Inferno‘…

The first of many ‘local’ beers on the #decembeer list. ‘Inferno’ is described as…

“This light, igniting ale flickers complex fruits across your tongue,

leaving a dry, fruity, bitter finish, smothering your thirst”

Again, I’m no expert and I’m having trouble tasting the ‘complex fruits’, unless they are so complex they just taste like beer. However, I can smell the floral citrussy aroma, it smells a little bit like washing-up liquid. It is not as smooth as yesterday’s Oxford Gold, and definitely leaves a dry, bitter taste in your mouth.

Looking forward to day 3 of #decembeer already!

Oxford Gold #decembeer

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Day 1 of #decembeer

The beer that has the pleasure of kicking off #decembeer is Brakspear’s Oxford Gold organic beer.

Apparently Oxford Gold is:

“A remarkably zesty brew, with fresh citrussy aromas and a firm fruity flavour”

Now I don’t claim to be a beer connoisseur, and to me it just tastes like beer. Maybe it has a ‘sharp clean’ taste and I definitely can’t taste any ‘fruity’ flavour – but then again, I really don’t know what I’m talking about.

Bring on tomorrow!

Frank Turner…..again!

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My love affair with the fantastic Frank Turner continues……and so a blog post was inevitable….

Last Sunday it was the turn of The Engine Shed in Lincoln to host another great Turner gig. It was another sold out gig which is now the norm for Frank Turner.

Support took the form of Jim Lockey and the Solemn Sun, and Tim Barry. Jim Lockey and the Solemn Sun are a band from Cheltenham, tipped to be big in the near future. Tim Barry an American singer/songwriter playing a rather depressing set that kicked off with a song about a fella who ended up serving time for shooting his sister's husband.

Frank Turner yet again showed why he is becoming so popular, an audience featuring young and old danced and sang the night away in an attempt to knock Wolverhampton off the dance-off top step. Frank played tunes from all four studio albums and a couple from the new album due in 2013. It was also great to see a favourite track of mine, 'Romantic Fatigue', seen played live.

The evening ended with the usual rendition of 'Photosynthesis', complete with a packed Engine Shed sitting down before jumping up and singing and dancing, in what has become a trademark finish to the night.

Overall another brilliant night, and thanks to Twitter I even shifted a spare ticket I had, at face value of course!

Next gig: Frank Hamilton at The Barfly in Camden on the 20th December.

 

Another one bites the dust…..

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Today sees the 30th piece of origami, one a day for the past month, and signifies the end of November's Challenge. It has been an interesting month and I've actually quite enjoyed, I've created birds, animals, boxes, shapes and flowers. They all sit proudly awaiting the final piece…

The plan was to finish the month with the most elaborate, most difficult, most impressive thing I could create, like the 78 stage origami spider….

But then I thought……balls to that….

……bring on #decembeer!

 

Saying goodbye to the mo….

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Thirty very long days and nights have finally come to an end and it is time to bid this ridiculous moustache a fond farewell……

I have only ever grown a moustache twice, both times supporting the fantastic movember initiative. But the time has come to rid the face of this rather creepy looking, hairy appendage. Despite the fact that it is itchy, annoying and troublesome I have formed a bond and become rather attached to my facial friend. But it is time to let go….

  • Calming music on
  • Trim back the long hairs
  • Lather up generously
  • Starting from the outside and working in
  • Washed down with warm water

Remember he will be back next year…