Chalice In Wonderland

[chaliceinwndrland]

💙 I can't go back to yesterday because I was a different person then 💙 ••• 🏠• Partizan 🍺• Saison Iced Tea 📍• University of Greenwich ••• Oh Sunday, I wish I could go back to you and sit in the last of the sunshine. Seriously channeling some autumn vibes and Greenwich University is the perfect place to sit amongst the leaves and stare at the architecture (and the odd be-costumed celeb filming a period drama). 

The University and it's grounds have everything; a nice walk, kicking leaves and of course drinking beers; stunning architecture running alongside the river and with plenty of courtyards and nooks and crannies to explore; the stunning painted hall and chapel; and of course @meantimebrewing own micro brewery come bar.

The University is a World Heritage Site reckoned to be the "finest and most dramatically sited architectural and landscape ensemble in the British Isles" (thank you wikipedia). Seriously though, the site dates back to 1433 and it’s current form was created in 1692 when it was built as a Naval hospital. In 1873, the site was transformed into the Old Naval College and was a training college for, you guessed it, the navy. The Navy finally left the college in 1998 when it was claimed by Greenwich University as it’s own. The buildings are truly something to behold and are often the back drop to a hollywood blockbuster (The Golden Compass, Les Mis and Thor to name but three). 

The University is at it’s best in early September, as the students have not yet returned, it is out of the school hols, but it’s still warm enough to nip to the Meantime micro Brewery, purchase some of it’s delightful beverages and sit on the grass, idling away the day with good company and a picnic, or surrounded by roses in it’s beautiful courtyard. A must if you are in London and fancy the perfect day. 

••• And the beer....I'm such a fan of @partizanbrewing and their amazing flavour combinations. Apart from being from my beloved Bermondsey beer mile, the brewery is innovative and super cool, still doing the basics right to ensure every beer is balanced but full of taste. The Saison Iced Tea is no exception! Light and breezy, with lemons and herbs. It's straw colour epitomises the beer, dancing through harvested fields on a summers day. So whilst today the bad weather is creeping in, we are able to hark back to a sleepy summer Sunday with just one sip. ••• RATING: 💙💙💙💙+ ••• For more reviews check out the link in the bio or @chaliceinwonder.land • •

[chaliceinwndrland]

💙 Actually, the best gift you could have given her was a lifetime of beer (and adventures!!)... 💙 •••• 🏠 • Brewdog 🍺 • Prototype - Black Rye IPA 🍺 • Prototype - Tangerine Session IPA 🍺 • Prototype - Double IPA ••• So this week I've been sent supplies from the craft beer mothership Brewdog and with them some bloody exciting prototypes to try!! I've been waiting for an opportune time to spoil myself with these beauties and what better time than hump day to get me through the rest of the week! ••• So to start we have the Double IPA. With a touch of flower and no burnt or bitter hop taste, this goes down terrifyingly smooth at 8.5% ABV. With a citrus touch to the back end, this isn't your average DIPA and is one of the most easy drinking versions I have had. Rating: 💙💙💙💙

Next up was the Tangerine Session IPA and even from pouring I could smell tangerines, not clementines, not oranges, actual tangerines. The smell radiates from the beer, and with it's colour, gives the beer an all senses ethereal glow. Then the taste...again hit with a sack of tangerines. The beer embodies the entire orange with a zesty but fruity full taste. The hops peer in the front but the florals are in no way a dominant flavour, rounding the beer off rather than screaming at you that it's an IPA. My fave of the 3 and worthy of a 💙💙💙💙💙 rating.

Finally, I've finished up with the Black Rye IPA. A really interesting beer, light and airy contrasting it super dark colour. With a yummy coffee taste and smell and a slightly bitter, almost smokey finish, it's the beer to curl up in front of a fire with. Whilst a distinct lack of the heavy florals the only hint of hop is from the slight charred taste at the end of the mouthful. Another outstanding beer but just pipped at the post by the Tangerine Session. Rating: 💙💙💙💙+ ••• Hopefully we will be seeing all of these delicious new brews in our local Brewdog bars soon and I will be running down to try them again as soon as they are. Thanks again Brewdog for knowing what our tastebuds wanted before we even did 😻🍻

[chaliceinwndrland]

💙 Adventures in.....London Brewers Market 💙

📍• Greenwich Market What better way to celebrate Friyay than with a beer market! Especially when that market is in stumbling distance of my own front door 🙈🍻 Yesterday I trundled down to Greenwich Market, a place I have spent the last 10 years heading to when family are down or if I'm feeling particularly flush and fancy some street food. The market is an incredible place, with an old time atmosphere but full of beautiful trinkets and yummy chow. The market itself has been in the general vicinity since the 14th century with this particular incarnation having been in place, and running weekly markets, since 1700. If you are in the area it's a must visit and I can absolutely recommend popping into the surrounding pubs such as The Greenwich Union, The Gypsy Moth (which is usually rammed), the Admiral Hardy or the Trafalgar, for a lunch or evening pint! 

The brewers market has been set up by @fivepointsbrew, who have run a number of awesome events this summer, in conjunction with Greenwich Market’s Carnival inspired Street Food Festival. Hosting Hackney Brewery, @signaturebrew-blog, Anspach and Hobday and Bianca Road Brew Co, the market was alive with steel pans and good brews. 

I of course worked my way along the row of beer offerings, starting off with the amazing Sour Dry Hop and Summer Blonde from Anspach and Hobday. The Sour Dry Hop was bloody delicious, with a solid zesty taste that was not over powering; a brilliant starter to sup in the fading sunshine. I also tried the Summer Blonde which, with a slightly lower ABV was smooth, fruity and refreshing! 

I then moved onto the Signature White Keys, a white peach and raspberry Hefeweizen. I expected a massive tangy fruit hit given the title but was presently surprised by it's smooth taste with more of a hint of fruit than a full on salad 🍑. I also tasted the unfiltered Studio Vienna, which has to be up there with the best Vienna style lagers I've tasted. Fresh to death but well rounded and not overly fizzy, this went exceptionally well with the amazing @littleleaf Vegan Pizza, which I cannot recommend enough! 

I finished my evening with the @fivepointsbrew XPA, a light and tropical extra pale with a hoppy hit. Adapted from the colab with Field Day Festival, this delight was added to their core range...and thank the beer gods it was 👏🏼. The perfect end to an evening which felt almost like a festival, the market had a great vibe and offered the perfect selection of beers from a range of great local breweries. Another great event from Five Points and a great prep for Carnival this weekend. Rating: 💙💙💙💙💙 for a brilliant event!

[chaliceinwndrland]

“She generally gave herself very good advice”

🏠 Northern Monk 🍺 Bombay Dazzler (4.8%) 📍 Greenwich Union, Greenwich, London

Today I gave myself some very good advice and took myself off down the pub for a couple of beers. 

I’ve already spoken of my love for the Greenwich Union and this evening, with the lingering warmth of a semi-sunny day, it was the perfect back drop for my midish week pint. 

And whilst heading for a pint, I spied this exotic devil and knew there was going to be a little more spice to the day. 

Northern Monk are of course a stalwart in the craft beer game and have a bloody brill core range as well as seasonal and special project beers (I am currently scouring the land for the neopolitan ice cream pale 💙). They are also community driven and have a range of Local Projects with one off design colabs with local designers. Head to their website to check out the incredible arty cans as they are all pieces that should be put in a gallery. 

The Bombay Dazzler is of course a thing of beauty, with a striking London gent tiger designed by Drew Millward. It lured me past the other cans, enticing me in with it’s intricate details.

And the beer was as beautiful as the can! A light and refreshing wit with a gentle spice. I was skeptical of the ginger and cardamom coming through but there it was, lifting my Tuesday like a dream. 

All in all, a summery joy and the only thing i will now be drinking with my Friday night curry. 

Rating: 💙💙💙+

[chaliceinwndrland]

💙Adventures in….Hackney💙 

This weekend I’ve adventured to Hackney and to the closing party of London City Beer festival. A 10 day celebration featuring the very best of London beers with a number of events across London. I’ve dipped by toe in here and there with the initial festival over last weekend, visiting Siren’s tap takeover at Craft in Covent Garden, Brick Brewery’s Summer Session and then the closing party yesterday. I had anticipated coming home after a lovely Saturday with beer in the sun and updating you all, but things got a little out of hand with the wonders that had been produced and…well…here we are at 3:30pm the following day.

The day was put on by Five Points who opened up their backyard and tasting room, spoiling us silly with 18 different breweries separated into 3 areas. There were also 3 tastings from Bermondsey, Hackney and Tottenham brewers across the afternoon.

I went for the Bermondsey tasting session at 1pm, fully anticipating that waiting for the 3pm or 5pm tastings could be a mistake, but also because they included some of my fave local breweries, Partizan Brewing, Four Pure and Brew By Numbers. All 3 brought something different to the table and the tasting was set up like a three course meal, with Partizan kicking things off with a slightly tart and moreish Raspberry and Lemon Saison. This beer really hit the spot and was a perfect starter to the tasting; fresh, fruity but not too sweet, a great saison with a lemony uplift. We also got a great history lesson about both the brewery and the origins of the Saison.

For the main, came the hearty Four Pure Southern Latitude Session IPA, a delicious, hoppy IPA with, what I have learnt, a slightly creamy and oily feel as a result of the oats used. Four Pure’s session was the science lesson to Partizan’s history. Whilst sipping (gulping) away on the beer we were given insight into Four Pure’s brewing techniques and how they maintain their sustainability and quality in a fast paced, trend lead industry.

Finally we were treated to desert with Brew By Numbers Coffee Porter. Initially styled as a Math lesson with a description of their signature numbering system, we were then enthralled by the exciting ingredients and their origin stories, particularly that of the Ethiopian coffee beans contained in this particular batch. And on to the tasting, the coffee was strong with this one! It was interesting to hear that the fresher the batch the stronger the flavours and therefore the consumer lead reasons for BBN’s beers short shelf life. The coffee porter itself was everything you could want and more and the best coffee porter I have ever tasted. On the fuller body side of a porter and tasting just as much as coffee as beer it was creamy and perfectly balanced, the ultimate after dinner digestif.

So with 3 incredible beers and lessons in history, science and maths the tasting session was possibly one of the best i have been to and with that I trundled out, slightly tipsy, to the yard.

Aware of the impending disaster that could be drunk Chalice at the party, I headed straight for Capish?, an Italian wonder, and inhaled their poutine. It was a bloody delight, hearty but tasty and the stomach liner I needed for the next few hours.

I then did the circuit sampling beers from each area, totally spoilt with beers from Five Points, Hackney Brewery, Partizan, Kernel, Weird Beard, Pressure Drop, Gipsy Hill and Redchurch. It was a dream and the sociable and laid back yard area was the perfect sun trap to enjoy the beers. Whilst i consumed as many as I was able, there were definitely a number of options i’ll be hunting down in the next few weeks to try (or re try 😉). I have to say however that the Gipsy Hill Vimto Sour was something to behold and if you are a fan of lip puckering goodness this has to be top of the hit list. The Kernel damson sour also hit the spot as did the Strawberry Witbier from BBNs.

Utterly enamoured and with a slight slant in my step I headed home and today am left waiting for London Beer City to come back, bringing us all back together for the love of beer. Well done guys! It’s been a bloody brill week…not sure if i can wait a whole year though…..🍻

[chaliceinwndrland]

“It’s impossible said Alice, only if you think it is said the Hatter”

🏠 • Brewdog 🍺 • Punk IPA (5.6%) 📍 • Bar Elba, Waterloo, London

Flashing back to Friday and dreaming of Bar Elba and Brewdog’s Punk IPA. After a super long week, I sought out a rooftop wonderland to drink some of my favourite craft brew and soak up a little sunshine. 

There is really no need for me to review the Punk IPA. Everyone is aware of it’s delicious hoppy goodness and easy drinkability, it’s golden colour and fruity beginning and slightly bitter end. So therefore today will be an ode to Brewdog itself and that which the Punk IPA stands for - spreading the revolution and, as Brewdog so eloquently puts it, running at the fences of lost empires. 

Whilst Brewdog is of course a stalwart in the craft beer community and has now stormed the general market, with beers in every Tesco and Sainsburys’ as well as most local corner shops and any pub worth drinking in; it has been taken for granted as the pioneer and revolutionary that it is, always being around to provide beer drinkers with a better option to a Carling or Fosters.

Brewdog was certainly one of my first proper craft beers. I remember seeing it’s super cool, no nonsense but vibrant bottles and then drinking what was and still are some of the best beers in their respective beer types. I was immediately converted and signed up to the revolution.

We all know the origin story of Brewdog, started by James and Martin in Fraserburgh, North of Aberdeen, bonny Scotland in 2007. Creating milestone beers such as The End of History, Sink the Bismark and the Tactical Nuclear Penguin - 55%, 41% and 32% respectively - and Tokyo (the highest percentage beer in the UK at the time); going from hand bottling small batches to producing over 584,000HL of beer from 2007 to 2016; brewing beers on fishing boats, at the bottom of the ocean and projecting themselves naked on to the side of the houses of parliament (there will be a separate post for this event!). They have broken world records, produced their own tv shows and have 46 bars around the world. And this is the just the tip of iceberg, illustrating the true punks that Brewdog are. 

Having now conquered the States with their Ohio base and with their sights set on Australia (and no doubt world domination), Brewdog have stuck to their core values and are still making innovative, badass beer, enticing new beer lovers to the craft and doing so in a kickass way. Whilst one review could never do such an incredible pioneer justice - thank you Brewdog for dragging us by the hand and showing us the way, I hope from the picture you can see the real love I feel both towards the brand and in particular the Punk IPA. 

Also shouting out to Bar Elba who have just arrived in Waterloo and are kicking some serious rooftop butt! A great space, full of beautifully painted walls and quirky adornments. They have 2-4-1 on most drinks between 5 and 7 and if it’s starts to rain, their sister bar Tonight Josephine, is just downstairs. A great pop in after work or for a late weekend drink to catch the last of the summer rays, particularly if you happen to be delayed in these pesky Waterloo rail works. 

RATING: 💙💙💙💙💙 of course!

[chaliceinwndrland]

“I can’t explain myself I’m afraid, Sir, as I’m not myself you see”

🏠 • Gipsy Hill 🍺 • Beatnik (3.8%) 📍 • The Brookmill, St Johns, London 

Sunday is here again and I am of course in a beer garden lapping up those late afternoon summer rays with a beer in hand.  Whilst not immune to the Sunday blues, I certainly find this is the best way to keep them at bay. 

And keep them at bay I have done, with the light and breezy Beatnik from Gipsy Hill Brewing Co. One of the flagship beers of the Gipsy Hill core range which includes an Amber Ale, IPA and English Porter; they also have a number of series and experimental beers (including a beautiful Raspberry Sour colab with North Brewing Co and an other level milk stout!). 

The Beatnik however embodies the hipsters of old and imbued me with a sense of coolness simply by being present. The beer was a daydream in a bottle, refreshing but FULL of floral flavour; a shock from a sub 5% beer (although after a quick google, I understand this was the point...mission achieved guys!). A really delicious beer and a great light summer option to chase away your blues and tempt you into a life of hitchhiking, rolled jeans and pale ale drinking. 

As for The Brookmill, I previously reviewed this amazing little pub and it’s other level beer garden. It’s still a delight and is celebrating it’s first birthday on 2nd September, so head down for beer tastings and BBQ food! I will certainly be there for all the celebrations!

RATING: 💙💙💙+

[chaliceinwndrland]

“Wonder often, wonder always”

🏠 • Bear Claw Brewery 🍺 • The Fool (5%) 📍 • The Curfew, Berwick-Upon-Tweed, Northumberland 

No truer words have ever been said and here we like to wander as well as wonder.

And wander we do! As insta-wonderlanders may know my home away from home (and all time favourite place in the entire world) is the North East of England. Officially Newcastle is my base but I love all of the North East and Northumberland is no exception

The brewers in the North East and further up are incredibly exciting (it's not all Brown Ale you know) and Bear Claw is my newest love! Small but mighty, located on the south side of the estuary of the river Tweed just a bridge from Berwick. Often windy, cold but ruggedly beautiful.

However, as you can see  there can be sun and if there is sun you MUST head to The Curfew. Located in a cute nook, down a short alleyway and into a courtyard between mismatched houses, sits some barrels and chairs and at the back a small building with 4-5 taps and a fridge fully of goodies . It's well stocked with local delicacies from stouts to sours with a welcoming and friendly (I mean of course) vibe. The chap at the bar was knowledgable and happy to chat and I instantly fell in bonkers love with this place. Perfect summer drinking and worth the travel to Berwick alone.

And then I tried this Saison...and I started to check house prices in the area so I could stay forever!

Hand-wrapped, unfiltered, raw but beautiful. Slightly sour with floral and citrus edges. This Saison is up there (probably at the top given where it's from) with my favourite Saisons.

I also have to comment on the bottle and wrapping. Simple but really effective and makes you feel like every bottle is special and made just for you!

I think this is a speciality batch from Bear Claw and if that's the case PLEASE MAKE SOME MORE!! I can't recommend enough and I can't wait to try the rest of the range

RATING: 💙💙💙💙💙

[chaliceinwndrland]

“Curiouser and curiouser”

🏠 • Brick Brewery 🍺 • Rhubarb Sour (2.7%) 📍 • Water Into Beer, Brockley, London

Happy Sunday Wonderlanders! And a happy Sunday it has been. The Sun has finally come out and I have spent my day in my previously mentioned favourite way, beer in hand!

So those who have caught up with me on Instagram, have already seen my #justdrinkme review of one of my new haunts Water Into Beer and will know how in love I immediately fell. It’s a bottle shop and bar with an epic array of beers ranging from super Chocolate Stouts, to Summer Pales to some epic colabs (I’m working my way through keep your eyes peeled). The space is super airy and inviting with outside seating and beery games. To top it off the owners are other level and there is a regular cheeky pup and a very sassy, slightly famous, cheshire cat (shout out to Olly!) for those drunken cuddle attempts. Water Into Beer also has bits for all of your home brewing needs and a monthly home brew club if you are an avid brewer or a first time creator. All in all an absolute must visit if you are even remotely in the area. 

RHUBARB SOUR - this beer needs no witty introduction. It’s can is something to behold and the taste...lip puckering and actually tastes like rhubarb which was a welcome find!! Coming from the total champs at my closest brewery, Brick Brewery, a Peckham original located in the Railway Arches right next to Peckham Rye station. They’ve got a great range of beers from Dark Ales, IPA and Pilsners to limited additions like this little beauty. True creators!

So the  can is obviously great on the eye. Amazing work from Iris Loi who clearly ‘got’ the beer, as I have never seen a can that is the visual representation of exactly what is inside. Vivacious, slightly sweet but edgy, sour (which seems straight forward but something some sours miss the mark with) but light and a totally easy drink. Perfect for a summer evening or quite frankly any blooming evening! A strong beer in the sour stakes!

RATING: 💙💙💙💙

[chaliceinwndrland]

“No wonder you’re late...this watch is exactly two days slow”

🏠 • Magic Rock Brewing 🍺 • Inhaler Juicy Pale Ale (4.5%) 📍 • Giant Robot, Canary Wharf, London

Oh how I wish my watch was two days slow...then it would be Sunday again and I would be sat in a beer garden or at Giant Robot sipping another incredible Magic Rock Brewing creation. 

As those more seasoned wonderlanders will have clocked, I have already reviewed Giant Robot in an earlier post (post 3 in fact) and I would definitely recommend a rewind if you have missed it. The sparks notes version however is; great beer range, exciting venue with fairy lights and good food, a great place to impress. 

The beer of choice today is equally as exciting and impressive and worth a jaunt to Giant Robot alone (other stockists are available i’m sure!). The beer itself was complex with fruit galore but with a firm hop taste at the end. Very little bitterness and super drinkable. 

A powerful beer with six different types of hops and as I have since found out vegan too (!!) so virtuous as well. It’s like the John Snow of the beer world (topical right? 😉).  A seriously great beer and worth the travel time.

RATING: 🍺🍺🍺🍺

[chaliceinwndrland]

“Do you suppose she’s a Wallflower?”

🏠 • Pressure Drop

🍺 • Wallbanger (4.7%)

📍 • The Brookmill, St Johns, London 

Happy Sunday all! I hope you have had as epic a weekend as I have had. Checkout out instagram and/or twitter for all the adventures from this weekend and celebrating my very merry unbirthday (and a very special East London Brewery’s actual birthday) 💙.

But alas, it is Sunday and it was spent in the only way I know how, in the pub with a delicious brew. I can honestly think of no greater joy than sitting in a pub garden, the sun beating down, a beer in hand, day dreaming. 

I have mentioned my other 2 locals, the Greenwich Union (read HERE) and the Royal Albert (read HERE). The Brookmill is my third and final local pub and it is a refurbed beauty. The pub has always been there but has recently had a very through facelift and, whilst retaining it’s rustic charm, has become a solace for Summer Sunday afternoons. With a good selection of local beers (very local - think within a mile or so radius), fairy lights (you know how i love them!) and a beer garden to rival all beer gardens in the local area (large, two areas, sometimes with a bbq) The Brookmill is a solid option for everyone. It’s also super family friendly and a total sun trap. I could not recommend enough but please don’t all descend into my little wonderland all at once!

So no Sunday would be complete without a beer and this beer has completed my Sunday perfectly. It was so good I had two! Clearly no wallflower, this blindingly colourful Belgium Wit (complemented perfectly by the foliage in The Brookmill) is just as tasty as it is beautiful. It does exactly what it says on the tin, it’s refreshing, spicy, citrusy and light. THE perfect Sunday beer, epitomising Summer. A must try 💙.

RATING: 🍺🍺🍺🍺

[chaliceinwndrland]

“I can’t go back to yesterday as I was a different person then”

🏠 • Crate Brewery 🍺 • Passion Fruit and Hibiscus Sour 📍 • The Royal Albert, New Cross, London

When throwback Thursday meets thirsty Thursday something special happens....and that special thing is this little beauty. 

The Royal Albert has been my local for nearly ten years. My best friend lived above it and was a barmaid there throughout university, I have cried there, laughed there and drunk ALOT of beer there. From the outside it looks like a normal pub and set just back from the main road but inside...oh inside...hops hanging from the ceiling, fairy lights galore (you will soon find fairy lights are my kryptonite - in a good way) and a beer fridge with totally left field options and limited editions. The staff are clearly all beer lovers, always suggesting something new and I have never been recommended a beer here that i haven’t liked. It’s not clicky, it’s not fancy, it feels like home and there is nothing better than sinking into their squishy sofas with a pint of something scrummy. 

Which brings me on to the beer. As soon as i heard that it was a Passion Fruit and Hibiscus Sour I knew I would fall head over heals down the Crate rabbit hole. Being an East London local I was of course aware of the brewery and it’s reputation for great beer but had not anticipated such a brill flavour combination. It was perfectly tangy and FULL of flavour. Some sours fall short of the sour mark, ‘wussing’ out from the full sour taste. Not this guy! I have to admit i wasn’t 100% on what hibiscus tasted like but i can categorically say delicious! The passion fruit rang through as well just before the hit of the sour. 

It sang drink me, I obliged and the rest is....well in my fridge at home. 

BEER RATING:  🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺

[chaliceinwndrland]

👀 COMING SOON • reviews of these bad lads Redchurch & Brew By Numbers 💙 ••• Shout out to Salt House Bottles for the killer recommendations. In Brockley?? Need some craft beer?? Head to these champs 🍻

[chaliceinwndrland]

“If you don’t know where you’re going any road will take you there”

🏠 • Hausbrauerei Altstadthof 🍺 • Nurnberger Rotbier (5.2%) 📍 * Hausbrauerei Altstadthof, Nuremberg (Nürnberg), Germany

Evening brew fans. So here in Wonderland we are also big fans of food especially if provided with beer. I have also caught the travel bug and there is nothing better than being in a new country tasting the beers they have to offer. 

In May I took a trip to Germany on the understanding I was likely to find german Pils, a couple of wheat beers and the odd dunkle, particularly given their Reinheitsgebot (Bavarian Purity Law decreeing that all beers may only be made from water, barley and hops). 

Oh how happily wrong I was! Whilst remaining steadily sozzled throughout the trip the sheer array of different styles was INSANE. I sipped my way through Berliner Weisse, Hefeweizen, Helles, Doppelbocks and a multitude of unfiltered beers. It really was an awakening. 

This little beauty is a Rotbier (Red Ale) from a cute little brewery in Nuremberg. It had been a soggy evening and I had avoided the rain by pub crawling around the city (it’s a small, intimate city and so worth a visit for the stunning architecture and the great food and drink options). There were the usual brauhaus’ but after a cheeky google, this seemed to be a winner. The inside was more a craft beer pub than a brauhaus which was cozy and a welcome change. The bar was not overcrowded and I managed to find a seat up front. There were around 6 beers on pump and I of course sampled them all! The Rotbier was my fave. It was warm and had the consistency of a porter, deliciously malty with a light hoppy flavour. Es war gut! All beer comes in their own glasses which you can buy, and I of course had to take home the little one in the picture. 

As for the food...well...I went local and had a bavarian cheese, liver pate and brawn trio with the local bavarian ham and more bread than I could get through. It was really blooming great and a lovely end to my Bavarian tour before heading to Berlin. 

BEER RATING:  🍺🍺🍺+ but the overall experience was fantastisch! 

P.S. if you are in the area I would also recommend Kellerlokal Raubritter, a little restaurant in the cellar just off the street. It was super quirky, did GREAT beer (Klosterbier - the local beer made by monks since 1050 - I know!), great food and super reasonable. An absolute must if in Nuremberg. 

[chaliceinwndrland]

Keep calm and follow the white rabbit

🏠 • @fivepointsbrew

🍺 • Field Day Citrus Pale (4.2%)

📍 • Giant Robot, Canary Wharf, London

Second post and another beauty of a beer and venue. 

The venue is Giant Robot, a member of the Street Feast family and a bright and glowing warehouse style space on top of the new Cross Rail Place development. Head to the top floor, ‘wonder’ your way through a land of exotic shrubs and trees (chat to the flowers and caterpillars if you must) and about 5 mins in you’ll find Giant Robot. With it’s covered outdoor space overlooking the local area, seating inside and outside and more fairy lights than you can shake a stick at, it’s a glorious space and one to wow a date, friend or your mum. It has a wide range of beers, mainly from local breweries, as well as 4 pop up eating options (Yumplings is within Yum Buns). Great evening out, good selection of beers...only downside...slightly pricey (think £5 for a can). I would say worth it and not outside of the usual London prices one would expect, but certainly a payday option rather than an end of the month quick drink. 

So the most important part...the beer! A new beer from the brilliant brewers at Five Points in ‘colab’ with Field Day Festival. Great colour and delicious, with the perfect amount of floral and citrus taste. Colour’s great (very ‘gramable) as is the can, which features Five Points and Field Day’s own kitty companions (well done sirs [EDIT: actually, madame! The lovely https://twitter.com/iamkatelyons to be exact 😻] from a fellow cat lover). The beer is a good go to for those wanting to add some pep to their evening without straying too far from the path and also wanting to try something super local - both Five Points and Field Day are East London originals. 

All in all a strong summer option.

BEER RATING: 🍺 🍺 🍺 🍺 +

[chaliceinwndrland]

“Every adventure requires a first step”

🏠 • Lindemans Beer

🍺 • Kriek (3.5%)

📍 • The Greenwich Union, Greenwich, London

So here it is, my first post proper. 

I thought I would kick it off with my local (which happens to be my favourite pub in the whole world) and my favourite beer of all time. 

There is nothing better than a Friday evening or Sunday afternoon (or any time or day for that matter) spent in The Greenwich Union. The ‘atmos’ is fun and friendly, the staff are chatty and full of knowledge and the beer list is...well...extensive to say the least. They have breweries from all over the world (this was where I first heard of my beloved Rogue Brewery), a beer garden and are off the beaten path so is not full of the usual Greenwich tourists. Great for kids but never overrun and always a cheeky pup for petting once the drink sets in and you want something to cuddle. 

On to the beer...oh Kriek how i love thee, let me count the ways! As mentioned my favourite beer of all time. A beautiful Kriek, in no way sweet and sugary. Delightfully tangy, slightly sour but full of cherries. Refreshing and different. An all rounder and great starter for anyone wanting to dip their toe in the sours pond or stuck in the fruit beer/cider circle and wanting to get off. 

BEER RATING: 🍺 🍺 🍺 🍺 🍺 (5/5 I would have given it 6 if I could)

[chaliceinwndrland]

Would you like an adventure now, or shall we have a beer first? 

In September last year, I fell down the rabbit hole and ended up in the USA. I adventured (and quite literally drank) my way across 5 states and ended up trying some incredible brews and discovering a love of beer. I had always been a red wine kind of gal and conscious of the “bread of the alcohol world”, but the sheer variety I encountered soon shed my preconceptions of “it all tastes like larger” and opened my eyes to the wonderland of beer!

Since then I have been converted and have never looked back. 

So come with me! Lets adventure across the world and find the best beer, the best bars and the best brewers so we shall never again find ourselves in a pub with only Carling on tap.

You can also follow me on:

INSTAGRAM • TWITTER 

Also coming soon will be a map with all of the breweries and bars I have visited, so should you find yourself in a new city/town/country with no clue as to where to find a cracking beer, you can check out your nearest location with reviews and beer options. 

HAPPY DRINKING!