When you’re out for a beer do you mix things up or find one you like and remain with it? John Keeling, recovering from a recent knee operation, has his own views and his sticking to them.
Well since I spoke to you last, I have been into hospital for a new knee and I must admit the NHS was wonderful. I went to my doctor on the 12th of Jan and was operated on 31st March. I told them I was a brewer, so they marked me as top priority. I forgot to tell them I was retired.
The hospital told me I should not drink for a week before the operation and for two weeks after. So, imagine how pleased I was to get to the Bell and Crown in West London to meet Tim your esteemed editor for a pint of London Pride. The pub had also recently reopened after a refurb and was looking splendid. Those who don’t know the pub it is right on the Thames at Strand on the Green. We spent a nice couple of hours enjoying the beer.
Now I stayed on London Pride throughout the session, and this made me think. Whenever I find the beer to my liking I stick on that beer whilst I am in that pub. I do not change and try something different. I have maintained this approach and it has been true all my drinking life.
When I first started drinking way back in the 1970’s I fell in love with cask beer. Well, to be precise, cask bitter. Sometimes I would try cask mild but always returning to the bitter. That’s what all my friends did too. I have noticed other people of my age also have this habit. So, is it an age thing? Or a generational thing?
In fact, we took a positive delight in travelling around the country seeking the local bitters. If it was a good one you would find yourself drinking it all night. This was obviously a reaction to the big breweries trying to foist nationwide beers on us but also, we were interested in trying other bitters. Some we like (mainly) and others we didn’t (rarely). In fact, thinking back I think all the ones we disliked were probably in poor condition.
I have discussed this with some younger people. Well, most people I know are younger than me and they have said that as you get to middle age you do start to stay on the same beer for much longer periods. So, there we have it, a man in the pub makes an observation but has no conclusion.
When I first started drinking way back in the 1970’s I fell in love with cask beer. Well, to be precise, cask bitter. Sometimes I would try cask mild but always returning to the bitter. That’s what all my friends did too. I have noticed other people of my age also have this habit. So, is it an age thing? Or a generational thing?
Well, I am happy with my drinking habits and hope to be walking to the pub on a regular basis soon. Also just to quote Mark E Smith singing Blindness (Peel version) “I gotta metal leg”. I say Peel version because that is important to Fall fans and if you don’t understand that, yet you must be so young you have a different pint every time you go to the bar.
I should just mention how sad I was to hear about Alex Lawes of Whiplash brewery in Dublin. I only met him once when he was kind enough to give me and my wife Symone a tour of his brewery. I was impressed with him and his vision for making beer. He knew what he was doing but was also very receptive to any suggestions. I thought he had the makings of a top brewer. He will be missed.
