tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87120916463415542.post3737766797885235984..comments2024-02-23T08:43:07.382+00:00Comments on Wee Beefy's beer and pub blog: A young man's favourite beers part 2wee beefyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16922755344809968104noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87120916463415542.post-90657544860617707152012-04-22T21:53:40.287+01:002012-04-22T21:53:40.287+01:00Hadn't really thought about that, I assumed th...Hadn't really thought about that, I assumed they would have kept the brands going but maybe not, especially if the ABV's were too similar in Greedy King's already massive range.<br /><br />The best beer Ridleys brewed of course was Kelham Island Pale Rider...wee beefyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16922755344809968104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87120916463415542.post-1311002321974815922012-04-22T16:38:17.567+01:002012-04-22T16:38:17.567+01:00To give you an example of a Ridley's pub, the ...To give you an example of a Ridley's pub, the Ship in Chelmsford (their flagship pub) had lagers and Guiness in the best possible condition, but the Ridley's beers were undrinkable, and I found Ridley's beers similarly undrinkable in every other one of their pubs, which made me avoid their beers if I saw them as guest ales. <br /><br />Greedy King took them over for their pub estate and shut the brewery down ASAP. I think "Old Bob" is the only Ridley's beer still being produced.T_i_Bhttps://twitter.com/#!/T_i_Bnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87120916463415542.post-57268221173206136312012-04-22T16:21:02.987+01:002012-04-22T16:21:02.987+01:00Still seems open on their website as well, but suc...Still seems open on their website as well, but such a strong emphasis on B&B is discouraging. BITE mentions real ales a lot, but under new management now. Still three pubs to go at in Bradwell it appears...wee beefyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16922755344809968104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87120916463415542.post-61378624606693579292012-04-22T16:13:59.861+01:002012-04-22T16:13:59.861+01:00Yeah, Crouch Vale and Mighty Oak stand out, there&...Yeah, Crouch Vale and Mighty Oak stand out, there's two brew pubs in Brightlingsea and a smattering of other brewers to choose from I hear.<br /><br />I wonder if Ridley's were just rubbish at quality control in their pubs? Dave at Small Beer (as twas then) always kept his beers on stillage for a complimentary length of time, and trying them in the nearest pub to the brewery in 2001 ish they were excellent. Doesn't matter though now, they probably taste of Kimberley King....wee beefyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16922755344809968104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87120916463415542.post-30828029031846094082012-04-22T09:06:06.826+01:002012-04-22T09:06:06.826+01:00Well I lived in Chelmsford from 1998 and my experi...Well I lived in Chelmsford from 1998 and my experiences of Ridley's beers were not positive in the slightest. Happily Essex breweries are much better these days.T_i_Bhttps://twitter.com/#!/T_i_Bnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87120916463415542.post-11138049839769309882012-04-22T01:26:48.146+01:002012-04-22T01:26:48.146+01:00Well, me too, except I had only been drinking a fe...Well, me too, except I had only been drinking a few years and there was a noticable lack of "different" or inovative brews on the market in the early nineties.<br /><br />I had a taste of six of the Ridleys range at the Tap and Spile in Sheffield in 1994 and loved the Witchfinder Porter especially. In later years, Ridleys and neighbours Cobbold especially stagnated as micro brewers forged ahead and now its just Greedy King rebadge.wee beefyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16922755344809968104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87120916463415542.post-12552954829443050852012-04-21T22:07:01.009+01:002012-04-21T22:07:01.009+01:00Townes Pynot Porter is still going strong, althoug...Townes Pynot Porter is still going strong, although it's not a beer I come across as often as I'd like. <br /><br />Bit suprised to see a Ridley's beer on the list.T_i_Bhttps://twitter.com/#!/T_i_Bnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87120916463415542.post-63790287978166794292012-04-19T23:56:44.055+01:002012-04-19T23:56:44.055+01:00Actually, no, I think you may have a point. I hea...Actually, no, I think you may have a point. I heard a couple of times (albeit in last few years) about the S.O.M in Bradwell and couldn't figure out where it was. Must try and get out there for a peak...wee beefyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16922755344809968104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87120916463415542.post-68960821510815625372012-04-19T21:47:41.387+01:002012-04-19T21:47:41.387+01:00The Valley Lodge appears to have been renamed the ...The Valley Lodge appears to have been renamed the Shoulder of Mutton (perhaps that was its original name). It looks open on StreetView but obviously may have bitten the dust since then.Curmudgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02558747878308766840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87120916463415542.post-778046336768875192012-04-19T21:12:00.964+01:002012-04-19T21:12:00.964+01:00Well, I didn't linger on the Whim point becaus...Well, I didn't linger on the Whim point because although it was quite a new sort of taste to my palate, I wanted to highlight just how many of the beers I rated were far more malty and rounded in flavour than those which I'd enjoy today.<br /><br />I first tried Whim at the Valley Lodge in Bradwell (now also closed I think) and the landlord told me it was the most inconsistent beer he'd ever had, and that Whim held the record for the earliest and latest deliveries he'd received. No matter what version the beer was though, he insisted it always tasted brilliant. I concur.<br /><br />Mind you it was something of an enigma for a long time, even though I regularly drank in Derbyshire free houses it was rarely spotted. Its nearly always on at he Charles Cotton in Hartingrton and the Lathkil Hotel in over haddon if you are out that way.wee beefyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16922755344809968104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87120916463415542.post-73063294954548573212012-04-19T08:57:55.277+01:002012-04-19T08:57:55.277+01:00Surely Whim Hartington Best Better was/is a "...Surely Whim Hartington Best Better was/is a "really hoppy beer" and something of a revelation in its day. I mentioned it <a href="http://www.pubcurmudgeon.org.uk/misc/question.html" rel="nofollow">here</a>, which must have been written about 15 years ago. At the time it would certainly have been on my Top Ten list, although I don't see it so often nowadays.<br /><br />I actually made a foray out to Whim Farm with John Clarke in the early 90s to talk to Giles Litchfield about the brewery before it opened.Curmudgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02558747878308766840noreply@blogger.com