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Hop shoots - they score!

Feeling peckish - JJ and Matt of Drafthouse“Go forth and act like locusts.” So said our commander, the bomber-jacketed Peter Haydon, as we began picking hop shoots in delightfully dry conditions on Friday.

Thus the first phase of Operation Hop Shoot Festival began: the picking of several dozen bags of hops to share among 18 London pubs and restaurants that evening. Peter, renowned beer and pub historian, owner of the Florence Brewery in Herne Hill, and brewer of the fascinating historically tinged A Head in a Hat beers, had once more gathered a motley crew of brewers, pubbers and other hop lovers for this year’s London Brewers Association Hop Shoot Festival.

Matt Clay, seen here with JJ, a fellow Drafthouse GM, was feeling particularly peckish.

Posted on 18 May 2013 in

A night of surprises


Galvin Beer-Cider dinner-hosts - Andrea, Jack, MitchTo think I almost passed up Galvin Café a Vin’s beer and cider food matching evening, hosted by head sommelier Andrea Briccarello and Mitch Adams of the Thatcher’s Arms in Colchester, for a humiliating evening of losing poker with friends, writes Tim Johns. My fortune in avoiding that Saturday night experience was underlined as soon as I entered the Spital Square-located restaurant and a glass of bubbles was thrust into my hand.

Despite its moniker, this fine fizz with a creamy mousse, bready nose and delicate white and lemony fruit was no northern French wine, but rather Aspall’s Cuvée Chevallier. There are many Champagne alternatives being touted nowadays – posh Prosecco, curious Cava – but this top Suffolk cider is easily their peer. Serving in a flute was a classy touch to boot and one I will adopt.

Posted on 08 May 2013 in

New meets old at Galvin's first Beer Week

Galvin Café a VinFor your chance to try some of the most innovative cooking in London alongside superbly crafted beers, head to Galvin Café a Vin from 15 to 20 April.

Chef Jack Boast’s characterful cooking has been teamed with beers from London’s oldest family brewer, Fuller’s, cult craft brewer, The Kernel, and one of the nation’s newest, the Wild Beer Co from Somerset for the Galvin brothers first Beer Week.

During the week, each day the plat du jour will be matched with a specially chosen beer, with the week culminating in a Beer & Cider Dinner on Saturday 20 April, hosted by beer and food matcher extraordinaire, Mitch Adams.

Posted on 04 Apr 2013 in

Cheers to Easter!

Easter EggsOur current seasonal selection has all you’ll want, from light and fragrant Nutbourne Bacchus, Gold-medal bubbles from Dorset's Furleigh Estate, through to England’s first off-dry sparkler from the pioneering Nyetimber. Choose between the impressive debut traditional method sparkling cider release from Jake’s Orchard at Hush Heath in Kent or the more weighty Henney’s Vintage 2011, the victor in our Cider vs Wine challenge.

From Adnams’ refreshingly moreish Sole Star, for those who want flavour without the units, to the utterly delectable and recently relaunched Courage Imperial Russian Stout, ideal with any chocolate that may be kicking around the house.

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Drinks of the Month

Posted on 30 Mar 2013 in

The French Connection


Pomerol by Neal MartinThis year’s André Simon Book Prize of the Year will be announced tonight at The Goring Hotel. On the Drinks shortlist you'll find the fantastic tome Wine Grapes by the three J’s – Jancis Robinson MW, Julia Harding MW and Dr José Vouillamoz – and Neal Martin’s Pomerol, plus a trio of other accomplished works.

Last year, those that know me will have seen me much immersed in the glories of Bordeaux, more specifically Pomerol, thanks to Neal and his first book on that magically small region on the Right Bank.

Following a chance conversation between Mr F and Neal on the way back from Portugal in 2011, Neal invited me to act as his managing editor, and so our journey began.

Posted on 14 Mar 2013 in

Cider beats wine to the top table

Sizing up the oppositionCider took on wine and won with resounding success at its first battle for the diners’ hearts at The Thatchers Arms on 2 February.

Despite an all-glittering wine cast provided by Harpers Best Sommelier of the Year Emily O’Hare and Adnams’ Dan Probert, the selection from eighth-generation cider maker, Henry Aspall and Beer Writer of the Year, Pete Brown took four of the five rounds.

Posted on 08 Feb 2013 in

Pete Brown scoops Beer Writer of the Year award

BGBW 2012 winnersIt’s been a good year for the proses, to paraphrase a certain Mr Costello, with several book authors taking the trophies at this year's British Guild of Beer Writers' Awards earlier this month.

Author of this season’s must-read, Shakespeare’s Local, Pete Brown, won the Beer Writer of the Year Award for his unique style of writing which chair of judges and last year’s Beer Writer of the Year, Ben McFarland, said was “exceptionally readable”, with its “whimsy and occasional anger”, it is “moving”, and at times “frankly hilarious”. Hear, hear.

Posted on 17 Dec 2012 in

UK's first Brewster of the Year

Sara Barton, Brewsters founderSara Barton, the first Brewster to win Brewer of the Year in the British Guild of Beer Writers’ annual awards earlier this month, will be joining Jamie & Jimmy’s Food Fight Club on 27 December.

Sara and a select group of brewers join the two Js for a Britain vs Belgium Battle of the Beers, where her American Pale Ale will no doubt come up against some stiff opposition.

Armed with her masters in brewing and distilling from Heriot-Watt University, Sara set up Brewsters in 1998 and has been creating distinctive beers not shy on flavour ever since.

Posted on 16 Dec 2012 in

Top 25 British drinks shops

Santa ClausWondering where to head for that drink gift or bottle for the Christmas table? Here's my Top 25 Best of British Drinks Shops for 2012. These places all offer more than just their own creations. Many offer foodstuffs too, and all offer an inviting welcome, where you can generally taste before you buy and get as much advice as you like. All are worth a detour.

You know me, I love a good selection. So it’s the mixed cases that I always favour. and when there’s a few foodie bits tucked in, that’s me hooked.

And don't forget, if there's somewhere else that you know of that should feature, let me know.

Posted on 16 Dec 2012 in

England wins its own track

Sommelier Wine Awards Critics ChoiceFollowing England’s successful debut performance in the 2012 Sommelier Wine Awards, English and Welsh wine have been given their own sparkling wine category, alongside Prosecco, Champagne and sparkling wines from other countries.

As deputy director of the competition, I must declare an interest in this. It was wonderful to see the English contingent come from nowhere to score a dozen medals – only three less than California.

Three of these medals were Gold, plus both a Critics Choice trophy for RidgeView’s  “textured” Knightsbridge Blanc de Noirs 2009 and a By the Glass gong for Furleigh Estate’s “complex” Classic Cuvée Brut.

Posted on 04 Dec 2012 in