Mild in May 2013

Rutland Arms at Bottesford last night-good old-fashioned Tetley's Mild. I'd forgotten just what a good drop this is, but perhaps its change of brewer has made a difference.

 

Just two today, both pubs in the Belvoir Estate (see my avatar)..........beginning with Navigation Brewery Centaurus at the Manners Arms in the lovely village of Knipton. Rather nice , stopped for a long chat then drove a couple of miles to the Wheel Inn at Branston. stunning setting, brilliant tiny pub which has an immense "feel good" factor where the choice was Newby Wyke's Black Squall. Such a nice place that we spent rather a long time there before setting off homewards.

 

Back on the trail, this time in Bingham which is a town of around 9000 souls which has somehow found itself rated as the 8th best place to live in the UK.Whatever, it has 4 pubs serving cask mild.
Began with Thwaites Nutty Black at the White Lion, excellent. On to the Horse and Plough for a pint of Bateman's DM which thankfully is back on song after a problem last year when it was all watery and thin. Then to the Chesterfield Arms for some Magpie Dark Secrets.Very agreeable and then it was time to visit the Wetherspoons pub, the Buttercross. Began with the Rutland Panther, lovely beer and an old friend , massive flavours for such a modest strength. Next the Milestone Brewery's Ruby Mild, good enough but not up to the Panther IMO. I was very tempted by the way by the 14 ounce Angus steak with chips for £5.99 but as I had my meal organised at home passed it by. I didn't have the Milestone Sherwood as it was 5.9% and I had to get back home intact so settled for another Panther.I believe they had a fourth mild somewhere but never mind.

 

Thanks, Hanglow , will look out for it.
A memorable day today. Waited for the minibus outside the Horse & Plough, we were seen and the doors opened early just for us. We began the day with Rudgate Ruby Mild.
On to the Staunton Arms (at Staunton, where else?) for some Rutland Panther and some cheese, biscuits and chips which appeared from nowhere, courtesy of the management.Then to Granby , not big enough (pop 300) to be even a one horse town but with 2 great pubs both with cask mild. Boot and Shoe had Belvoir Dark Horse and the Marquis had the lovely Welland Valley Mild.A few miles down the road found us at the Anchor in Plungar for Castle Rock's Slow Worm, new to us but delicious. Stathern's turn next , like Granby a tiny village with two cracking pubs so the Red Lion first with Oscar Wilde from the Mighty Oak brewery.To the Plough for some more Belvoir Dark Horse (being a local brewery this mild is pretty common in these parts). Time to move on so it was the Rose & Crown at Hose where the mild was from the Cotswold Spring brewery-their Old Sodbury Mild.Magnificent stuff.On to Great Dalby where the Crown beckoned us with Oscar Wilde again. no problem with repetition as it's a lovely drop.Next was the Belvoir Brewery's Sample Cellar for their Dark Horse.Their policy is to pour your beer, allow you to drink a fair bit and then top you up! Plus more food courtesy of the owners.Last on the trip was the Plough at Cropwell Butler for some more Thwaite's Nutty Black.Plus a big plate of sandwiches to go at , thanks.
That was it except that some of the guys on being dropped off at the Horse & Plough disappeared back inside.
Just a handful of pubs still to visit , some of them really great places to drink in and to go to.

 

Just a quick impromptu nip out - a nice sunny day and I saw the MG on the drive and thought it was too good to miss! So a quick burst over to the Martin's Arms at Colston Bassett (better known for its Stilton) for some Elgood's Black Dog.One of my favourites and in great nick too.
Although a very expensive pub ( at £3.50 a pint) it's nevertheless one of my favourites, everything a country pub should be. Picked my visit to coincide with a Morgan Owners' Club run , had quite a nice chat with one or two members. Strangely they were almost all lady owners!

 

Out in the MG again though not MG weather.Three seasons in one day with Summer being the missing one.
Over to the Nags Head in Saltby for some more of the excellent Belvoir Brewery Dark Horse.Then to the most distant pub in our area, the Tollemache Arms in Buckminster for some superb Elgood's Black Dog.
That's 20 out of the 23 so far, hope I'll be able to get to the other three. Considering we only have 45 pubs of any description in our area to be able to get a cask mild in half of them is pretty good.And some other pubs have shown an interest but too late to get into the trail. Sales have surprised those who took part, some even running out for a while.
Managed during the month to sample over 20 different cask milds and it's good to say they were all in cracking nick and it will be difficult to pick a favourite.

 

Just a coincidence the cars being there but as for being a blur a couple of pints of Black Dog doesn't bring this about!
Though the price did make me blink a little.

 

From the St.Michael Brewery?

 

Is it bottled Nutty Black? Had that at a couple of pubs this month.

 

Went on a garden trail today , having used a pub car park felt it was only right to have a drink there.This time it was Caledonian's Mild Mayhem, 3.5% ABV, nice, unremarkable easy drinking.