Hop, Clip, & Pump

Some beers behave exactly as expected, and then there are beers like Pica Porter , which seem to delight in unsettling those expectations from the very first glance. Discovered in a local micropub and already causing a quiet stir at the bar, this is a porter that refuses to conform. Labelled as dark, yet pouring brown. Promising weight, yet delivering something lighter. Carrying the stylistic name of porter, but laced with an unexpectedly assertive hop character. It is, in every sense, a contradiction worth exploring. First Encounter: A Porter That Doesn’t Quite Look the Part Visually, Pica Porter challenges the drinker immediately. Rather than the deep, opaque blackness one might expect, it presents as a chestnut brown, clearer, lighter, and subtly at odds with porter tradition. The body follows suit. It is thinner than many modern porters, lacking the heavy viscosity often associated with the style. Yet this is not a weakness; it feels intentional, part of a broader rethinkin...

Not only is Morecambe’s Cross Bay Brewery the town’s only brewery, but it also quietly asserts something more ambitious beneath that fact: a commitment to breadth. Over twenty beer styles emerge from its twenty-eight-barrel plant, suggesting a scale of creativity that extends far beyond the expectations of a coastal microbrewery. And yet, despite this range, Nightfall marks a first encounter. A first step into their catalogue. A first impression of brewing intent distilled into a single, understated bitter. First Impressions: A Session Bitter with Quiet Authority At the lower ABV end of the session spectrum, Nightfall presents itself not as a spectacle, but as balance. It is a well-judged, bitter, smooth, composed, and structurally assured. There is no need for exaggeration here; instead, the beer leans into restraint, allowing drinkability and subtle complexity to do the work. This is not a beer that demands attention. It earns it slowly. The Brewery: Coastal Identity and Lo...

Going Coco Loco Down in Erm Barrow Hill… the title alone doesn’t quite behave like a sensible beer review. It reads more like a fever dream, or the name of a pub crawl that got slightly out of hand somewhere between a railway museum and a late-night decision. And in a way, that is exactly where this beer belongs. Set against the industrial nostalgia of Barrow Hill Roundhouse during Rail Ale trade night, this is not a controlled tasting environment. This is exhaustion, cask ale, railway heritage, and the quiet, slightly chaotic pursuit of 'something dark and comforting' after a long shift at work. Into this setting steps  Coco Loco . From Grafton Brewing . The Setting: Rail Ale and Worn-In Glassware Barrow Hill Roundhouse is the kind of place that already feels halfway between history and theatre. Trains, steel, echoing architecture, and then, suddenly, casks of ale lined up like competing narratives. After a long shift, the intention is simple, find 'dark oblivion...

Continuing on with a love of infographics that even real ale cannot quite quench, we arrive at number 9 : The Chemistry of Whisky . It is a subject that sits beautifully at the intersection of science and sensory pleasure, where molecular structure meets memory, flavour, and fire. Whisky is, after all, not just a drink. It is a distilled conversation between grain, yeast, wood, and time. The Infographic Obsession: Making Sense of the Pour There is something deeply satisfying about breaking complex drinks down into visual systems. Infographics take what is traditionally romantic and opaque, distillation, ageing, and flavour development, and translate it into something almost architectural. Whisky, in particular, lends itself to this treatment. Beneath its amber surface lies an intricate network of chemical reactions, each contributing to aroma, mouthfeel, and character. What looks like a simple dram in a glass is actually the endpoint of a long and delicate transformation. Et...

As it proudly declares on the pump clip, Brewsmith Pale is 'assertively bitter and hoppy,' and it absolutely means it. This is not a gentle introduction to pale ale; it is a statement beer. At 4.2% ABV, it occupies the deceptively easy-drinking end of the spectrum; its sharp bitterness and uncompromising hop profile give it a presence that demands attention rather than passive sipping. It is a beer that challenges expectation: light in strength, but firm in attitude. First Impressions: Appearance, Aroma, and Edge Visually, Brewsmith Pale presents as a slightly grassy, yellow-gold ale, crystal clear, with a milky white head lightly flecked with air bubbles. It looks clean, precise, and purposefully unembellished. On the nose, however, it immediately expands outward. A strong floral aroma rises first, bright and perfumed, followed by a sharper green hop character that hints at bitterness to come. There is no attempt here to soften or obscure its identity; the beer announces ...

A 4.4% pale ale from Ashover Brewery , in Derbyshire,  Serlo’s Fork is far more than just a refreshing pint. It is a beer steeped in layered historical reference, linguistic curiosity, and the kind of rural English mythmaking that blurs the line between documented history and local legend. From Old Norse etymology to medieval landholding, from gallows lore to award-winning brewing craft, this ale carries with it a story as rich as its flavour. The Name: Serlo and the Weight of History At the heart of the beer’s identity lies the name Serlo , derived from Old Norse and Teutonic linguistic roots. The term is associated with meanings such as 'armour,' 'arms,' 'skill,' or 'device,' evoking images of protection, warfare, and craftsmanship. It is a word that feels almost inherently medieval, hard-edged, functional, and resonant with a world shaped by feudal obligation and territorial power. This is not accidental branding; it is a deliberate invocation of...

Perhaps you are a real ale enthusiast, or simply someone who appreciates the quiet beauty of England’s historic pubs. Either way, the story of pub closures across the country is one worth paying attention to, because it speaks not just to changing drinking habits, but to the slow erosion of a national institution. A Vanishing Institution According to the British Beer and Pub Association , more than 17,000 pubs have closed in England since 1980 . That figure is more than just a statistic, it represents the disappearance of community hubs, local landmarks, and centuries of tradition. In many villages today, the once-essential English pub no longer exists. Beer sales within pubs have declined significantly, and the social rituals that once defined these spaces are becoming less common. More Than a Place to Drink English pubs are not just buildings, they are cultural artefacts. Their history can be traced back through Saxon alehouses and even Roman taverns , evolving over centuries ...