Our Night in Nottingham

We went out for Chinese food one night in Derby, and out for Indian food the next, along with a few of my favorite pubs in town.  However, my favorite local spot is not in Derby, it is Nottingham.  So I took Jenn and my friend from work Ross over to Robin’s city to some of my favorite places.  And since we had all been to the touristy Trip to Jerusalem (cool atmosphere, average beer selection), we instead headed to a Castle Rock pub that offered other great beers on cask and in the bottle, the Canalhouse (http://www.thecanalhouse.co.uk/).

The Canalhouse is aptly named, located on the Nottingham Canal, and not only had a canal boat in the center of the pub, but had a wonderful outdoor area.  We decided to sit outside since it was a beautiful evening (battling smokers and pigeons, but we were victorious), and I picked up the drink order.  I tried a “craft” beer by Castle Rock, their Ikaheka IPA served chilled on draft, a 5.2% ABV well hopped IPA that tasted like an American microbrew while Jenn had a Welsh cider, a 6.5% ABV Fiery Fox from Gwent Y Ddraig (to the bartender’s chagrin, she liked Strongbow better) that had quite a tang to it.  I tried the Venison burger with cheddar cheese, while Jenn fell in love with another British staple, Peri-peri chicken (actually Portuguese, but available all over England).  The atmosphere, waterside dining and beer selection makes this one of my favorites.

We went to find another pub (what else), so we headed to the center of town.  I don’t know my way around Nottingham as well as Derby, so twice before I’ve gotten lost.  Make this my third time.  I have to remember to get oriented by landmarks, and there is none better than St. Peter’s Church to help you with which way is North.  To add to my embarrassment, I was trying to find the Kean’s Head (another Castle Rock pub recommended by CAMRA) which is on St. Mary’s Gate.  When I asked directions from a local, I was told it was by St. Mary the Virgin church (duh).  Oh well, I tried an Ossett Treacle Stout (deep, rich and malty) while Jenn tried a Stowford Press cider (she still likes Strongbow best).  A nice stop since we were tired after being lost, but I had one more favorite place to go, my favorite brewery from last year and certainly one to consider this year, Brew Dog (http://www.brewdog.com/).

Brew Dog has tackled the conventions of the UK beer scene by not focusing on milds or bitters, or providing cask ale (sacrilege!), but producing full flavored high octane brews that stand out worldwide.  I love the place, and always try a couple of drafts and getting some beers to go (all the back to the States to age in my basement).  On this trip I was ecstatic to find out that they just released Abstrakt AB:14, and they had the beer on draft!  The Abstrakt series (http://www.abstrakt.com/) is a set of extreme beers that are released periodically, each with a different recipe.  Abstrakt AB:14 is an oak aged imperial weizenbock that weighed in at 10.2% ABV.  Each of the Brew Dog pubs receives a single keg to celebrate the beers release, but this was the first one I’ve ever been able to try on draft.  It was delicious!  I picked up a bottle of AB:14 and AB:13 (an 11.3% ABV cherry imperial stout that has been aged in Sherry barrels) to go, and was happy to talk beer with the bartender and with Ross and Jenn.  By the way, I went back the following to week to try what they had changed on draft (I particularly liked their Berlinner Weisse called Blitz! Apricot) as well of bottles of their collaboration brews (Dog Wired with 8 Wired of NZ and Black Tokyo Horizon with Mikkeller and Nogne O of Norway).  Great finds from a great brewery.

We wandered back to the car (I had my directions straightened out by now), stopping by the Malt Cross along the way. I wanted to show Jenn this pub/restaurant/music venue since I’ve always imagined her singing there when I’ve visited.  We had a wonderful evening, and I got to show Jenn some of my favorite places on the other end of Brian Clough Way. – 6327/14407

 
“A quart of ale is a dish for a king.” - William Shakespeare