Flagship February

Timothy Taylor's Landlord

There is one beer. That's right, there is one beer and this is it.

Created back in 1952 and still brewed to the exacting demands of a real Craft Brewery. For many years it was a closely guarded secret, only available in the environs of Keighley and the Timothy Taylor's pub estate. The joke was that when asked why the beer wasn't exported the response was "but we do, we sell some in Lancashire".

They like to tell you that Landlord has won more prizes than any other beer in the UK and it's easy to understand why. A supremely balanced beer where the Golden Promise malt provides the backbone for Goldings, Fuggles and Styrian Goldings to shine through. 

I first encountered the beer as a student in the early 70's, first in a Bradford Free House and then in a few of the Taylor's pubs, and I was struck by the floral notes that distinguished it from the other local beers. At 4.2% it was regarded as a strong beer, most of what we were drinking was around 3.5%, and usually the beer drunk towards the end of a session.

I remember visiting the Knowle Spring Brewery in the mid 70's with the regulars from The Oakleigh, we were met by the legendary Allan Hey, who in a poll of Brewers in The Observer was crowned 'The Brewers Brewer'. He offered us the option of the 'in depth' tour or the 'quick' tour. We opted for the in depth only to be told there was no difference. Later, in the room set aside for drinking (I could hardly describe it as a hospitality suite) we proceeded to to drink all they put before us.

Change comes very slowly to Taylor's, in the 67 years that Landlord has been brewed there have been four head brewers. When Andrew Leeman became Head Brewer, succeeding Peter Eells, he'd already been at Taylor's for 28 years.

I can't imagine not being able to drink Landlord, sometimes I may go a couple of months between pints, but when the glass is raised to the lips, ah that aroma, that flavour, heaven in a glass.

Golden Pints?

       Fifty plus years of drinking beer and I'm still finding something new. And it was so good to see so many young bloggers out there suddenly discovering this new fangled Real Ale stuff, amazing how it had managed to pass them by. But, to be serious, it's been another of those glass half full or half empty years where everyone has found something to like and something to forget about. Like NEIPAs, is it me or do they all really taste identical, reminiscent of cheap childhood sweets that you knew weren't really that special at all? The first ones were nice and made you want more until you realised that there were plenty, more interesting, sweets out there. Needless to say I've given up on them, likewise Brut IPAs. To paraphrase Hughie Green 'can we have the next contestant please'.
     
       Contenders for best Beer Festival;
Manchester Beer & Cider Festival in January was all about how good a CAMRA Beer Festival can, and should, be run. A good mix of old and new and organisers who are probably the most prgressive in approach. Not bad for a couple of supposed dinosaurs.
Bruges Bier Festival, held in February and always great fun, where else can you watch a bunch of tickers cream themselves with excitement over being able to sample Westvleteren, which sadly they can't manage to pronounce.
Barcelona Beer Festival, a first for me in March in one of my favourite Cities. Very impressed with the set up and some excellent beers to be had.
Hop City @ Northern Monk also in March, good but with little variation from Hops, Hops or more Hops. I know it does what it says on the tin but it would have been nice to see some variation.
Sesh Fest @ Magic Rock in June, great weather, great vibe, great choice and variation.
GBBF in August, it's big, it has its critics but it's still a great festival.
Leeds International in September, on the back of a run of ever improving festivals this year it was boosted by the presence of The Maine Beer Box but let down by the weather. Still puts on a great show and it's a joy to work at.
I missed IndyMan, too close to a return from Thassos and I gave Dark City a miss as an afternoon of big dark beers is too exhausting.

And the winner is Sesh Fest, so glad it's coming back next year. Let's have a few more dark beers in there Rich!

     Contenders for Brewery of the year;
I'll just go straight to the winner, Nortada in Porto. I found the brewpub whilst looking for a different bar, sampled the beers on offer and each one was spot on. No throwing the larder contents in the brew kettle just the standard Water, Malt, Hops & Yeast. I hope more brewers take this radical approach next year.
As always I'm impressed with Hawkshead, Magic Rock, Fullers, Adnams, Wishbone, Roosters and a good host of others who rarely put a foot wrong.
If distribution can be sorted out we'll hopefully see more beer from Greece where brewers like Septem, Voreia & Santorini Brewing who are all putting out some great beers.

    Contenders for Beer of the Year;
Many good pints have been sampled, a sublime Fullers ESB in Mawsons Arms which just doesn't get any better. A beautifully crisp, fresh Magic Rock Ringmaster in The Kings Head in Huddersfield. Wishbone Abyss, dark and dangerous in the brewery on one of their open tap days. In the past ten days two beers have made me sit up and take notice, Lervig/Hoppin' Frog Barrel Aged Sippin into Darkness and To Øl Goliat, both big, big beers with depth and complexity that will have you savouring every last drop.
And the winner is To Øl Goliat.

    Contenders for Bar/Pub of the year.
I keep going back to the same places, North Bar, Tapped Leeds, Callans and when in London Royal Oak & Mawsons Arms. A small selection so it has to be North Bar.