Birkonian @birkonian.bsky.social · 19hTook the train to Castleford. The Junction sounded o.k. Supposedly 6 beers from wooden barrels. There were 3, 1 of which was Stancil Secret Potion. A pale beer, which didn't really seem suitable for wood. Another on offer was an IPA. IPA from a wooden barrel?? Castleford makes Birkenhead look posh. 031
Birkonian @birkonian.bsky.social · 19hWorking at York races, staying near Castleford. There's a Wetherspoon over the road. The Varvar Session Golden Ale was decent. A Ukrainian brewer using Hook Norton's kit. 030
Birkonian @birkonian.bsky.social · 06/10/2026Harvey's Armada Ale in Denbigh Castle, Liverpool. Excellent. 2200
Birkonian @birkonian.bsky.social · 05/10/2026Drank my first Fuller's Vintage Ale 2026 last night. After pouring, I was surprised by the hop aroma with hops also present on the palate. Soon gave way to more typical maltiness, but without a strong flavour. Tasted a little thin. It didn’t stand out as one the best vintages, but time will tell. 1312
Birkonian @birkonian.bsky.social · 03/10/2026Some very nice pints of Brampton Brewery Terminus in Glassworks, Chesterford, before Tranmere's worst performance of the season so far. 4251
Birkonian @birkonian.bsky.social · 24/09/2026My route home from Italy was via Strasbourg and Paris. In Strasbourg I visited Le Grinchaux, Le Garde Fou & Le Grande Tigre. Le Grincheux was to my liking with a variety of French and Belgian draught beers, mostly served in glasses from Brasserie Rulles. Couldn’t resist draught Rosé de Gambrinus 1/ 1362
Birkonian @birkonian.bsky.social · 19/09/2026Decided to stay in one night as storms were forecast. Didn’t materialise, but we'd stocked up on alcohol, cheese, charcuterie and nibbles. I'd always wanted to try Baladin Nöel, but the bottle is too heavy to transport home. So why not drink it in September in Italy. 1/2 1280
Birkonian @birkonian.bsky.social · 15/09/2026A few of the recent beers I've drunk in Peschiera. Kom Op Miki is a Winter Saison/Triple brewed by Schigibier. Draught Baladin Nationale. One bar has a range of Baladin draught beers. Birra La Dama Red Bear is locally brewed. 080
Birkonian @birkonian.bsky.social · 10/09/2026Yesterday was first in Peschiera. A few suitable beers were taken. I also drank Ichnusa Non Filtrata on draught, which is very quaffable even if it is owned by one of the global baddies. 0120
Birkonian @birkonian.bsky.social · 08/09/2026Frothingham Best Bitter from Great Newsome Brewery in Hull, served by hanpump. Hull is not in Italy. 2230
Birkonian @birkonian.bsky.social · 08/09/2026Blak Eyes Stout is brewed by Birrificio Styles south of Ancona. Very good. 090
Birkonian @birkonian.bsky.social · 08/09/2026I'm now in Lambrate. Drinking Milanese Bitter from handpump. 2370
Birkonian @birkonian.bsky.social · 08/09/2026I'm in Bierfabrik, Milan and I'm drinking Marble Manchester Bitter. They also have a beer from Buxton Brewery. I will endevour to drink Italian beer later. 2250
Birkonian @birkonian.bsky.social · 07/09/2026Just the one beer in Platypus Brewing. Partly because I've been up since 4:30 a.m. and also because their beer menu consists of IPAs and weird things 🤨 This is L'Outrance IPA from Brasserie La Loupiote. 1300
Birkonian @birkonian.bsky.social · 07/09/2026Brasserie Georges for Steak Frites and their draught Biere Rousse 181
Birkonian @birkonian.bsky.social · 07/09/2026A few hours to kill in Paris. My train to Lyon goes from Gare de Lyon (obv), so Express de Lyon it is. Cheese and wonderful bread is €9. A bargain. 0150
Birkonian @birkonian.bsky.social · 28/08/2026Final trip to Cartmel of the summer. Unsworth's Yard Crusader Gold and Bowness Bay Raven Red spot on. 0190
Birkonian @birkonian.bsky.social · 26/08/2026I don't normally drink on Wednesday afternoons, but the draw of Brimstage Brewery Rhode Island Red in Rose and Crown was too great. 0190
Reposted by Birkonian🇨🇦Cre8ivCanuck🐸📎 @cre8ivcanuck.bsky.social · 22/08/2026Wish I could take credit for this gem of a meme. 😂 410433
Birkonian @birkonian.bsky.social · 19/08/2026Forbel Tripel is a new beer in Lidl. I believe it is brewed by De Brabandere. 8.4%, lemon, a little malt with a hint of spice. Not bad at all. A bargain at £1.49. 4302
Birkonian @birkonian.bsky.social · 16/08/2026Fuller's Vintage Ale 2009. Not great I'm afraid. Little carbonation, slight bitterness, otherwise muddy taste. There's an element of pot luck with aged beers. The Vintage Ale 2003 that I drank a few months ago was really good. 080
Birkonian @birkonian.bsky.social · 14/08/2026@bonsvoeux1.bsky.social The Trafalgar in south Wimbledon just made the ITV News as part of a feature on pub closures. 120
Birkonian @birkonian.bsky.social · 13/08/2026Fuller's Vintage Ale 2021. Slightly musty nose, some bitterness. Not a lot of malt, marmalade comes to mind. This isn't a typical Vintage Ale at 5 years, in my opinion. Perfectly drinkable, but other years are better. 1201
Birkonian @birkonian.bsky.social · 13/08/2026I also drank this Tripel Karmeliet last night. It was a gift, It isn't something I would choose. It was noticeably darker in colour and tasted much maltier than I remember. Quite bland and lacking the former sharpness. Dumbed down by the new global owners methinks. 3100
Birkonian @birkonian.bsky.social · 12/08/2026Sitting in our hot garden with a post-eclipse beer. It is a Schaarbeekse Kriek Boon from 2018. Massive cherry flavour but not sweet. 0161
Birkonian @birkonian.bsky.social · 12/08/2026@bonsvoeux1.bsky.social It is now 33⁰ on the Paradise Peninsula. 250
Birkonian @birkonian.bsky.social · 09/08/2026Beers so far today in Chester. Theakston Brst Biiter and Castle Rock Harvest Pale in Harkers. Allsopp's Best Bitter in Curious Gnome. Next pub is Sam Smith's Boot, so radio silence in there. 0250
Birkonian @birkonian.bsky.social · 31/07/2026Third GBG micropub of the evening is the Coop in Crosby. It hada conservatory, which makes it a decent size. Abbeydale Daily Bread is very good. 1110
Birkonian @birkonian.bsky.social · 31/07/2026The Old Tap micropub in Crosby is comfortable and busy. Pavement seating in the sunshine is popular. Black Lodge Baltic Best Bitter is always good 060
Birkonian @birkonian.bsky.social · 31/07/2026I'm in The Four Ashes, Waterloo. Not the one in Belgium, unfortunately, nor the London one. Willow Bank is an excellent Pale Ale from Warwickshire Brewing/52 Degrees. 0210
Birkonian @birkonian.bsky.social · 25/07/2026The new beer signs are up in the kitchen. Totally appropriate to drink a 2025 Stille Nacht methinks. 0130
Birkonian @birkonian.bsky.social · 23/07/2026@mariegardiner.bsky.social I wasn't sneering at car drivers other than those dismissive of keeping public transport cheap. I understand that rural public transport is dreadful, but there are too many in urban areas who could use buses and trains but won't. 0 110
Birkonian @birkonian.bsky.social · 22/07/2026The final pint of the trip had to be Unsworth's Yard's Last Wolf. Cartmel is a very small village, but cask beers are also available from Fell, Bowness Bay, Settle, Cumbrian Ales, Lakes and Dales, Theakston, Tim Taylor's and Robinson's. Oh, and Wainwright from Marston's. 1170
Birkonian @birkonian.bsky.social · 22/07/2026@bonsvoeux1.bsky.social I 've just realised that message didn't send. Ninkasi, 59 Rue Desiax. Next to Part Dieu Station. 110
Birkonian @birkonian.bsky.social · 22/07/2026@bonsvoeux1.bsky.social We were in Ninkasi a few years ago and there was a music pop quiz on. We fed some answers to American and English songs to the girls on the next table. They won. The prize was jugs of beer and they gave one to us. 020
Birkonian @birkonian.bsky.social · 22/07/2026@bonsvoeux1.bsky.social GaryNeville was in the Cavendish with his daughters last night. Quite possibly dining in L'Enclume. Did you notice that I proved that I do eat in restaurants 😁 110
Birkonian @birkonian.bsky.social · 22/07/2026Fantastic lunch in Rogan's, Cartmel. Michelin 1* restaurant. Amazing food with great service. 160
Birkonian @birkonian.bsky.social · 21/07/2026Another very warm day yesterday, working at Cartmel races. Plenty of fluid replacement afterwards, including this interesting Colbier/Fell collaboration. 050
Birkonian @birkonian.bsky.social · 19/07/2026A few pints of Lakes and Dale's Brewery Pale Ale last night. It is a new brewery in Penrith with brewers formerly of Bowness Bay. It was very good. 1240
Birkonian @birkonian.bsky.social · 17/07/2026Unsworth's Yard Last Wolf was much better. Furness CAMRA beer of the year. I can't argue with that. A tasty red/old ale. 0130
Birkonian @birkonian.bsky.social · 17/07/2026My second pint earlier today was Hawkshead Windermere Pale. It used to be a great beer. Not any longer. Darker in colour than in the past and malting. Mediocre. 250
Birkonian @birkonian.bsky.social · 17/07/2026Got back from an epic trip to Brugge on Wednesday evening, but no rest for the wicked. First pint of Crusader Gold in Unsworth's Yard, Cartmel. 0180
Birkonian @birkonian.bsky.social · 13/07/2026I'm 70 today 🙄. First up is a hose beer in De Garre. 261423
Birkonian @birkonian.bsky.social · 11/07/2026Watching the footy in Bernie's 😬. Drinking a 3Q Beer from Blankenberge 1190
Birkonian @birkonian.bsky.social · 11/07/2026A bottle of De Garre Barrel Aged, which is wonderful. 1160