Dry Bar

So I've just read an article in the Guardian about a new bar that has just opened in Liverpool for recovering alchoholics but it has also become quite popular with the Muslim community which I think is really great. Anyway have a look at the article and see what you think.


http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/the-northerner/2011/nov/07/liverpool-alcohol-free-bar?INTCMP=SRCH

Number Twenty 2 and the House of Commons Ale

I decided to head back to Middlesbrough for a few days. Mum and Dad suggested I go to Darlington and they meet me there and do some charity shopping (I got a new vintage blue dress for £2.99 WIN!) and naturally a beer sampling lunch. We went to a an amazing 'pub' (more on that later) called Number Twenty 2, located on Conniscliffe Road.

 It was a bit of a surprise if I'm going to be honest to find such an amazing place I wasn't really ready for! It wasn't just because we were in Darlington. I knew we would be going to a real ale pub for lunch, it's a given with my family, only it wasn't a typical tiny old pub with low hanging beams and beer mats pinned to the wall. Not that I dislike those pubs, but that whats I was expecting.

This 'pub' is at the opposite end of the scale, with high ceilings and lovely massive windows to give the bar an airy feeling to contrast against the deep purpley pink decor. With traditional features mixed in with modern detailing it could keep you curious for hours!

When I say modern I don't mean in that horrible way that some people take an old pub and stick mirrors and shiny surfaces everywhere, but they used very subtle tweaks which just give it an amazing charm. I loved it!  

Dad and I had a bit of a dispute about the way we would describe  Number Twenty 2. I started to take notes describing it as a 'Really traditional pub" but with contemporary details around and about. Dad instantly disagreed and said it wasn't really a pub, but more of a drinking establishment since it served food and was more like a bar??? I said it had the traditional elements still left from the original pub but they had made it more up-to-date with the decor yadda yadda yadda hence describing it as a pub Argh! This went on for a while after Mum telling  us we were both right and we settled down. I'll let you know what he had to say on the matter after reading this post.


There were 12 pumps on when we were in there, Dad picked out Adnams Lighthouse by Soul Bray Brewery for me which was nice but I wasn't really feeling it. Not my sort of thing a bit too hoppy and with a strong malt flavours to it, So as Dads should always do, he swapped with me. He had Icon by Salopian Brewery which was a flowery ale, for very easy drinking, bit too flowery for me, I'm fussy I know. So as Mums should always do she swapped with me, HA!

She had Moonlight Ale which was an interesting one. We had all tried it it, Dad got the taste of "hundreds and thousands" while Mum got the flavour of pineapple chunks underneath the hoppy undertones. It was lovely but it was such a complex nostalgic ale which took both Mum and Dad back to flavours of their childhoods which was really interesting. I love ales that transport you somewhere totally different and make you think.

So there is was, we all had the appropriate ale at the end. Dad with a malty, hoppy ale. Mum with a flowery light ale and me with a 'thinker' ale, He knew what he ordered was right he just gave them to the wrong people! If I had to describe all our different tastes I think those 3 beers pinpoint us perfectly.

We then had some food from there small but perfectly formed menu of simple classics with a twist. So Mum had something called the 3 little piggies, which was a hot sandwich with sausage, bacon and black pudding with a onion relish, It was really tasty! Not too big so it wasn't too much with a salad on the side ( who were they trying to kid with salad???). Dad and I shared a ploughmans and I had ham on the side,with 2 local cheeses and one delicious goats cheese with a rosemary crust from Spain, grapes, apple, a bit of bread and chutney it just hit the spot.

We then got another round in, So after reading in the Darlington Drinker 181 about Number Twenty 2's own ale White Boar and how it has been chosen  to be sold in the House of Common's Strangers Bar I had to sample this beer! If you don't already know, because I didn't, there is a bar in the House of Commons, so when somebody is shown around the HoC they get taken for a drink in there.


Anway, I decided that I had to try this politically appreciated ale and it didn't disapoint. A citrusy stand out beer with it's own individual flavours which is really refreshing. When you first 'nose' the beer you get a butterscotch bouquet with overtones of meady honey. I really enjoyed this beer and if you can get your hands on a pint I could recommend you try it!

This is has been one of my favourite beer sessions with all the casks obviously in good condition and the warm and welcoming staff, relaxed atmosphere in the perfect surroundings I would take anybody there in an instant. I'm going to put it out there and go so far as to say this is my favourite ale pub so far!

Ben's Brewery Recomendations.

So I mentioned my house mate's sister came up the other weekend with her boyfriend both Natalie and Ben are big beer lovers (take note of the article of hers I posted in an October post). Ben works at a pub called the The Duke of Wellington in London. I forget what part (rubbish memory hence the little red notebook) but he sat down and was kind enough to tell me lots about ale from the pouring to drinking and everything in-between. So we got to talking about breweries and all the different one so he wrote me a (hugeee) list of a few breweries to keep an eye out for. Admittedly they are mainly daaawwn south but there are a few from around and about but I thought I was being a bit selfish so I would share the list with you. Let me know what you think or if you have any more that should be added to the list.  

Disclaimer. I going to try to transcribe his list as he has written with stars (I think they mean favorites) and underlines (I think these mean super favourites). Also I apologise for mistakes I could go onto blame his handwriting but it's probably me being a bit of an idiot!

Ben's Brewery Recommendations.


1. Darkstar - Sussex
     Beers- Hophead(Ben's favourite), Hylder Blonde, Saison, Winter/summer solstra etc

2. Harveys - Sussex

3. Hopdaemon - Kent

4. Ascot - Surrey
     Beers - Alligator, Single Hop's (varying hops), Anastasia's Exile Stout.

5. Brodies - Leyton, London

6, Crouchvale - Essex
     Beers - Amanillo, Brewers Gold

7. Marble - Manchester

8. *Harviestoun* - Bitter & Twisted

9. *Fyne Ales* - Scotland
      Beers - Avalanche etc.

10. Itchen Valley - Hampshire
      Beers - Pure Gold, Godfathers.

11. Langham - Sussex

12. Hepworth - Sussex

13. Bristol Beer Factory - Bristol

14 Arbar Ales - Whiltshire (I think)

15. Moor Brewery - Bristol

16. Woodfordes - Norfolk
      Beers- Whenry (v. good bitter)

17. Red Squirrel - Hertfordshire
      Beers - Redwood American IPA

18. Kelham Island - Yorkshire
      Beers - Pale Rider

19. Williams Brothers, Seven Giraffes - Scotland

20. St Austell - Tribute.

21. Purple Moose Brewery -  Porthmadog, Wales

22. *Kernel* - Bermondsey London (bottled)


23. Acom - Barnsley

24. Othey - Wales

25. Redemption - London
     Beers - Trinity, Fellowship Porter

So there is the huge list!

Off off the top of his head may I add. I managed to catch him the morning after because I suspect if I had asked him in the pub the list would have been shorter and harder to transcribe. Anyway keep an eye out but if you think there are anymore to add or amendments let me know!