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Bonus beer - Verduyn Black Envy, a 12% rye whisky barrel aged imperial stout. Beautifully smooth with an appealing fruitiness. Lovely.

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Probably my final beer at this year's Brugsbierfestival. Back to Verduyn and a Bourbon barrel aged triple (8%). A hugely enjoyable and accomplished beer.

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My penultimate beer. Back to Verzet with a Fillers ( which is a genever) barrel aged imperial porter (10%). It's just a little bit thin for what it is. Very enjoyable though.

Struise are sharing a bar with Vliegende Paard. This is their Masters of Darkness II, an imperial stout aged in bourbon and Speyside whisky casks (it's 12%). It's also very boozy.

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Dropped down to something more sessionable. Romantic Vibes (5%) by White Pony is either a saison or a blond. It's perfectly good but that's about it.

On we go. Next is Swarte Grind, a black IPA (8%) from Brouwerij Skollman. Nicely bitter.

Moving on at Brugsbierfestival, I had to have something from Vliegende Paard Brouwers. This is their quadrupel (10%), the beer that started it all for them. Still beautifully smooth and complex.

Next up is a Tokaj cask aged barley wine (10%) from Verduyn Bier. Red Frida is named after the brewer's Grandma who was a WW2 resistance fighter and died during COVID at 102.

Brugsbierfestival today's beer 4 - another white IPA. This is Jan Withops (6.5%) from Brauw.

Beer 3 is Master White IPA from Brouwerij de Meester. This is a style I do like, and this is a very good example.

Beer number two is an old favourite. Oud Bruin Raspberry from Brouwerij 't Verzet.

Brugsbierfestival day 2, beer 1 - Parrain Oude Gueuze. An excellent gueuze from this new-ish lambic blender.

Today's final beer at Brugsbierfestival - a festival aged quadrupel from local brewery Halve Maan. It's 12% and has some appealing winey notes.

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Some of our beer festival snackage....

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After a couple of good lambics, one beer I didn't like and two that were 'fine', this Double Citra IPA (8%) from Cambier is hitting the spot.

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John Clarke @beer4john.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

First beer at this year's Brugsbierfestival is a peach sour from DUST Blending. Excellent, as expected.

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Finishing the day on my favourite gueuze....

John Clarke @beer4john.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Good times at the Duvelorium in Brugge...

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John Clarke @beer4john.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

After a very long and very boozy afternoon at Torrside tapp, we return to @yeoldevic.bsky.social for Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby...

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John Clarke @beer4john.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

On the Macclesfield Party Beer Trail. Have paid a second visit to the superlative Castle for more @steelfishbrewco.bsky.social beer and the superb homemade pork pie.

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John Clarke @beer4john.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

This is currently one of the best things happening in UK beer (and lots more besides) - everyone should get behind it.

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John Clarke @beer4john.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

A rare recent release from Crossover Blendery is beer number seven, and, as expected, it's delicious. Cements Crossover's position as the UK's top producer of fruit beers.

John Clarke @beer4john.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Dave and I often have similar tastes in beer. But not this one. I rather like it but Dave very much doesn't...

John Clarke @beer4john.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

About to embark on another Mills and Crossover Blendery catch up with @daveratkins.bsky.social . We've let things accumulate a bit...

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John Clarke @beer4john.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

I planned to finish on a Dutch beer but seeing this on the bottle list I couldn't resist...

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John Clarke @beer4john.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

Couldn't visit Eindhoven without going to the Drinkers Pub...

John Clarke @beer4john.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

This innocuous glass contains a spectacularly good beer. It's Tootske by Gent's Dok Brewing and is a Fig Leaf Wild Ale of exceptional quality

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John Clarke @beer4john.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

First beer today is One More (5.3%), a North German Pilsner from Poland's Moon Lark. A perfect example of the style and if I have a better beer today I'll be doing well. I'll certainly be having one more...

John Clarke @beer4john.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

Back at Van Moll for Day 2....

John Clarke @beer4john.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

Nice spot for a beer festival...

John Clarke @beer4john.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

They also have one of my favourite gueuzes....

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John Clarke @beer4john.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

Cheese with apple & beer syrup for dipping matched with a Holy Goat West Coast IPA is working very well.

John Clarke @beer4john.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

After a long day's travel, a few beers in the Van Moll Bar in Eindhoven are going to hit the spot.

John Clarke @beer4john.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Dropped into @yeoldevic.bsky.social on my way back from our Pub of the Month. Ooh, look what's on...

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John Clarke @beer4john.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Perfect day for an al fresco breakfast....

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Reposted by John Clarke

Petersgate Tap @petersgatetap.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

We have a few tkts left for our Scottish ales tasting on Sunday June7. 6 rare and interesting beers plus our cheese selection, free beer raffle and @beer4john.bsky.social hosting. All for £30. What else are you going to do on a Sunday?

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This relic from the defunct Chorlton Brew Co is interesting. As @jamesksowerby.bsky.social put it "still sort of drinkable despite the off flavours".

Staying at Steelfish. This collab between @steelfishbrewco.bsky.social and @torrside.bsky.social was brewed just over a year ago. This is the last ever cask and it really is superb and has kept a huge amount of resiny hoppiness. Dangerously drinkable.

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Also at @steelfishbrewco.bsky.social are some @burtonbridgebrew.bsky.social beers on cask. The Sovereign Gold was a delight and this Draught Burton Ale is delicious.

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Starting off the Block Party at @steelfishbrewco.bsky.social where Manchester Union has a pop up bar and Vienna Lager on cask. It works very well.

Petersgate Tap @petersgatetap.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

Reposted by John Clarke

The date for our next tasting is June 7. 6 excellent Scottish beers, our cheeseboard, free raffle and @beer4john.bsky.social all for £30. Yes??

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John Clarke @beer4john.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

While researching in old copies of Opening Times for @totalcurtis.bsky.social, I came across a video review (in March 1995) where I was less then complimentary. I then wondered whether it had survived on YouTube and it has! It's a real relic: www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYrp...

youtube.com

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John Clarke @beer4john.bsky.social · 25/04/2026

Just opened this very old beer ( from 2013) - brewed to mark the arrival of the new head brewer, a certain Colin Stronge, now of @lostcausebrewingco.bsky.social of course. Still some condition and very tasty but at 7.4% and 2 years older, not aged so well as the Tsar.