1st blog from Bristol

Here we go, 1^st review for the Back of the Ferry from the scepter’d isle.

A delayed and slow flight from Oz to Heathrow, then a slow but scenic coach ride to Bristol – the M4 was closed in both directions at Newbury due to a major car crash,  resulting in a drive around Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire to finally get home.

Weather over last day has seen heavy squalls of rain. Very windy and wet ……. watched the NRL final this morning – I guess a few guys will be in mourning, the wife is also not that pleased…  

1^st day and off to the renown Chew Valley lake with my younger brother. Fishing was hard … many hours out in the boat resulted in 3 trout to me and 1 to the bro. Nothing to big, the average around 2lb.

1^st beers consumed or rather ciders, mum had stocked the fridge, were Blackthorn. Compared to the Oz ciders, this is a much drier cider, very popular in the West Country and sponsors of Bristol City and Bath rugby club.

A visit to Tesco to buy a few more beers and I picked out the Bath Ales – Wild Hare organic pale ale, for the princely sum of £1.83.  This beer described itself as “a wonderful, wholesome, golden organic ale with a fresh citrus, hoppy aroma and a dry, bitter finish”. This sounds about right. Would not drink too many of these…..however would expect to review over the next month the Gem amber ale from the same stable,  normally on tap in many pubs.

Also tested were a couple of Carling lagers from the local co-op, a standard lager which advertises on the can as being 100% British Barley – very patriotic … a previous (possibly current?)  sponsor of the England football team. Will be a candidate for a review for another day along with the ciders.

Further blogs to follow… more fishing, more beer, pub reviews and anything else that might be mildly interesting.