Mark Johnson @marknjohnson.bsky.social · 09/09/2026Due to traffic issues, I'm stuck in the pub (which isn't that frequent for me atm) and have ended up writing down some angry beer thoughts. I keep threatening it, but I may finally be out of retirement soon. If I can remember my blogger or substack password. Cracking pint of Millstone Citra 080
Mark Johnson @marknjohnson.bsky.social · 26/08/2026Sunrise on the morn of my first 7 day break of 2026 070
Mark Johnson @marknjohnson.bsky.social · 18/08/2026Mark is a Poindexter Bought for the branding. Stayed - very briefly- for a gorgeous beer hammered in around 7 minutes. 0130
Mark Johnson @marknjohnson.bsky.social · 12/08/2026 Here's a story of my first visit to the reopened Spinner’s Rest in Ancoats - that is mostly to do with a completely different pub www.instagram.com/p/Db7wDEMjQR... 020
Mark Johnson @marknjohnson.bsky.social · 31/07/2026Bluesky signs me out about once a month, and then expects me to remember my password. So I disappear for a bit until I give up and reset it. Twitter never did this... Here's how I'm starting Friday to celebrate going through that pain 3170
Mark Johnson @marknjohnson.bsky.social · 15/07/2026The smoke is blocking out the sun. All the comments of "oooh it's a bit smelly near me" are not grasping what we have been living with for 5 days, and will be for some time 350
Mark Johnson @marknjohnson.bsky.social · 01/07/2026Trying that flavoured lager trend, that I have been avoiding, for the first time. I'm not a hater. During sports it is good company 230
Mark Johnson @marknjohnson.bsky.social · 07/06/2026A pint of Cask Sonoma and a third of keg Bigfoot (2025) 2015 is back in fashion 🍆 080
Mark Johnson @marknjohnson.bsky.social · 07/06/2026It has been a long time. Floor slope visible in pint head 1110
Mark Johnson @marknjohnson.bsky.social · 30/05/2026Four years since he came home to stay forever, Wilbur spent the day at his favourite brewery, being fussed and eating incredible okonomiyaki 190
Mark Johnson @marknjohnson.bsky.social · 25/04/2026I've gone through possibly my longest period (sans Holidays or Dry Jans) without going to the local. And I come in tonight to a killer line-up including flipping Oregon Trail. I'm not saying it's just for me, but... 190
Mark Johnson @marknjohnson.bsky.social · 25/04/2026Dreadful end to the season (home games.) Don't normally get a beer for the journey home but an Hour & 10 minute replacement bus journey had me looking in the fridges. There I came across this ice cold perfect summer beverage. Yes please. #replacementbusservicebeer 240
Mark Johnson @marknjohnson.bsky.social · 22/04/2026I was really looking forward to some post-work garden chill beers, but the wind is still very bitter here. Plan B 090
Mark Johnson @marknjohnson.bsky.social · 22/03/2026This isn't awful either. Just thin. The intended taste is lingering in the background, at a time when we hadn't had 7000 barrel aged stouts. Yes those are caught spider carcasses up the side of the bottle. A whole design team couldn't have made these bottles look this spooky 190
Mark Johnson @marknjohnson.bsky.social · 22/03/2026Well the Brett has taken over this. There is no Muscat sweetness and it is all gooseberry. But it does very much taste like a bretted gooseberry Belgian pale, so I guess it has held up well. Very flat though but drinkable 180
Mark Johnson @marknjohnson.bsky.social · 22/03/2026Although I'm scared to put my hand in the box to be honest. Those bottles are not alone 2120
Mark Johnson @marknjohnson.bsky.social · 22/03/2026Found these forgotten Beavertown & To Øl relics in my shed today. Think I'll crack them open. I haven't had anything aged for too long since the days that we had a segment for it on the Pod. I think, judging by the discolouration in the labels, these may have spent some time in direct sunlight so.. 4161
Mark Johnson @marknjohnson.bsky.social · 15/03/2026They are getting all the heat at the moment for feeling like the new town centre Vape Shop, but we have just spent a very enjoyable couple of hours in one of those Manchester Irish bars. Football, Irish dancing, live music, and Murphy's... I'm struggling to describe anything else required. 061
Mark Johnson @marknjohnson.bsky.social · 10/03/2026New staff on in the pub. Apparently I need to have a gentle word with them about my preferred glass shape but, more importantly, my feelings about a particular beer brand. 020
Mark Johnson @marknjohnson.bsky.social · 16/02/2026Not used here much because it has been wonky about me uploading pictures. And, if I were to give the other place credit, that wasn't an issue there. I'll trial one from the weekend to see if it is worth it... 3100
Mark Johnson @marknjohnson.bsky.social · 03/02/2026£5 for a pint of Millstone in the Tameside area. FIVE whole pounds. I think this was the moment that, even I, said "... that actually is a lot of money for a pint." 260
Mark Johnson @marknjohnson.bsky.social · 03/02/2026Pagan Arms, Newquay www.instagram.com/p/DUTaY6CjYz... 080
Mark Johnson @marknjohnson.bsky.social · 27/01/2026Thoughts on the Barley Mow on the social app www.instagram.com/p/DUBVKq9DVw... 160
Mark Johnson @marknjohnson.bsky.social · 21/01/2026Hanley Town wasn't enough to get me blogging again, but was enough to get me writing something down. Gentle reminder that it's alright on Insta. Something different, rather than the forced attempt to recapture what we lost (which is what here feels like.) www.instagram.com/p/DTx-RfFjWZ... 180
Mark Johnson @marknjohnson.bsky.social · 13/01/2026Was originally posting "first pint since Saturday," and then realised that it is only Tuesday. It must have been a long work week already Red Willow, Weightless in fine form 0380
Mark Johnson @marknjohnson.bsky.social · 06/01/2026Back to work today, but yesterday was magical so I have that to hold on to. Oh, and Happy New Year! I have no resolutions other than being a bit happier to be alive. And maybe going to one or two beer events again. 3141
Mark Johnson @marknjohnson.bsky.social · 29/12/2025Finishing my listen to this episode with a beer that the guys kindly gifted me for my appearance 4 years ago, that was still knocking about. Wondered if I'd get a mention this year - it took 29 minutes. Horrified that Christmas Tree Farm isn't considered a modern classic. Such a great listen 040
Mark Johnson @marknjohnson.bsky.social · 23/12/2025Two hours of work left. Then it's a pub crawl for the rest of the day. All the presents have arrived. And I have the Raggy Dolls theme tune stuck in my head. Merry Christmas all! Look who's in the reject bin! It's the... 270
Mark Johnson @marknjohnson.bsky.social · 19/12/2025Pastry Barley Wine. On cask. "Make sense of that. Where on earth are we now?" 140
Mark Johnson @marknjohnson.bsky.social · 18/12/2025It has been a while since a packaged beer has made me smile this much. In fact I've had very few this calendar year to compare. But most of this was gone before I thought that I should take a picture. I imagine this would have been everywhere back in the Tw*****r days. Very very good. 2212
Mark Johnson @marknjohnson.bsky.social · 28/11/2025Three pubs in Devon so far, and every beer has looked like this. Slops all over my hands and every table. I have no idea how this preferable to any human. 360
Mark Johnson @marknjohnson.bsky.social · 15/11/2025Speaking of beer nostalgia, currently drinking T/Bridge's version of Masham Ale; a beer that I think I only had previously on the Theakston Brewery Tour circa 2006. Anyway, this version is smashing. 110
Mark Johnson @marknjohnson.bsky.social · 24/10/2025Rare night in to myself, so I'm taking it back to my favourite times in beer 190
Mark Johnson @marknjohnson.bsky.social · 12/10/2025First try of the Lees' version of Boddingtons. Tasted like a Lees' beer at first... and I really wasn't sure. But then the first disappeared quickly and I was on a second. It's alright. I last had the original whenever anybody else did, so I've no comparison to make 180
Mark Johnson @marknjohnson.bsky.social · 29/09/2025Unforeseen circumstances have led to Unforeseen Monday pints. Starting off with cask Kernel Pale, and then I've these two to move onto next. What a time to be in Stalybridge 0100
Mark Johnson @marknjohnson.bsky.social · 26/09/2025Been a long time, but thrilled to see @wishbonebrewery.bsky.social back in Staly. One of my faves. 1110
Mark Johnson @marknjohnson.bsky.social · 22/09/2025I don't think that the Aldi Oktoberfest beer box is bringing in the same level of engagement 380
Mark Johnson @marknjohnson.bsky.social · 18/09/2025Pubs are about more. Like customer's that bring in rosemary from their garden for people, to help use it up. 1302
Mark Johnson @marknjohnson.bsky.social · 16/09/2025I've been using a very discarded and shabby looking beer shed much more this week to cope with some sad news, and all my familiar favourites are back too. Sonoma. 050