Since they re-arranged the departures section of Heathrow Terminal 1, I've always looked forward to bookending every visit to London with a pint of Adnams Bitter -- the best of the common London session ales in my estimation. I'll usually nip into the landside Wetherspoon beforehand, as there's often something I've never had. Thankfully, the airport was quiet last Friday evening so Wetherspoon (properly "The Sky Lark", to give it a name which speaks of a pleasantness it doesn't have) wasn't as awful as when it's jam-packed. One of the four handpumps was Moorhouse
Black Panther and I figured that was worth a swift half. Nah: boring. The opaque porter has a little bit of chocolate and a whisper of plums, but very little besides. I downed it and headed for the departure lounge and my Adnams.
Disaster! The Tin Goose had no Adnams, but there was a beer I didn't recognise:
Flowers IPA. Post-drinking research reveals this to be one of those cask beers that a foreign multinational (A-B InBev, in this case) now owns and has decided to keep on for some reason, with brewing contracted out to a brewer who knows how to do it (Badger, in this case). It's not half bad, believe it or not. Maybe it's the name, but I got a definite floral, lavender sort of vibe from it. Yes, it's a bit watery, but as a beer in a hurry it was great. Still would have preferred an Adnams, mind *sniff*.
And
that, finally, brought my latest excursion to London to an end. In the words of
Ronnie McGrew, whatta town.
Disaster! The Tin Goose had no Adnams, but there was a beer I didn't recognise: Flowers IPA. Post-drinking research reveals this to be one of those cask beers that a foreign multinational (A-B InBev, in this case) now owns and has decided to keep on for some reason, with brewing contracted out to a brewer who knows how to do it (Badger, in this case). It's not half bad, believe it or not. Maybe it's the name, but I got a definite floral, lavender sort of vibe from it. Yes, it's a bit watery, but as a beer in a hurry it was great. Still would have preferred an Adnams, mind *sniff*.
Flowers IPA - wow, it's been a while since I've seen that.
ReplyDeleteFlowers? With a logo like this? http://flic.kr/p/6VZdZk I think had that mid way along the Pennine Way!
ReplyDeleteSorry, a proper link might help you Flowers?
ReplyDeleteYeah, the picture of Bill was smaller, but that's the one.
ReplyDeleteI was in Stratford-on-Avon for work last year and a few people told me to look out for Flowers ale. Apparently they were the local family who owned the brewery, but also did a lot of charitable things like run the local theatre etc. Couldn't find it anywhere at that time unfortunately!
ReplyDeleteScothbheoir
Interesting. I must try it now it's brewed by Badger, as it must be much improved from when Whitbread had it. It used to be a staple of their North West pubs, but it's rare now. Strange, though. I cannot understand why they continue to brew it as any local following has long gone.
ReplyDeleteI had a pint of Flowers IPA about a month ago. It crops up in all kinds of odd places and it had never occurred to me that it might be because it was sold as part of a package deal with Stella or whatever. I don't know who I thought was brewing it! I had half an idea it was still being made in the 70s and distributed by TARDIS.
ReplyDeleteI remember having a very satisfying pint of it at a country pub in Dorset after slogging for hours up the coast.
There seem to be quite a few beers on the TARDIS dray, like the Ind Coope Burton Ale I found in Manchester.
ReplyDelete