Sunday 30 January 2011

Pint-sized Grappelli



Stephane Grappelli (1908-1997)
(Oil on canvas, Merryl Jaye)

When was the last time you walked into a pub and asked for a pint of Stephane Grappelli? Mmm, thought so. Well, thanks to those fine people at The Crown Brewery in Sheffield, I've been able to step up to the bar in my local and do just that. As you can see their jazz range has already included, among others, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington and Jimmy Smith. And what a nice drop Stephane Grappelli is too - a rather tasty blonde beer weighing in at 4.5 OG. Martin Robertson, new owner of The Sun Inn, Pickering, is passionate about beer. So much so that he felt the only way to guarantee a perfect pint of real ale to the highest quality (from the start of the barrel to the end) and still give value for money, was to buy his own pub. So that's what he did. It's a bit like me wanting to see Paul McCartney live but because I don't like going to the big sheds and soulless aircraft hangers he insists on playing in these days, booking him privately to perform in my back garden. In fact, Paul, if you're reading this, why not come and play in The Sun's back garden this summer (they're always looking for new turns between 4 and 7 on Sunday afternoons) and we can kill two birds with one stone?

5 comments:

  1. Nice to see a pub landlord with a real interest in beers and added to that provide a interesting dimension to real ale selections . I was interested to read about the Django Reinhardt DOUBLE porter! I do like a decent pint of porter and Django Reinhardt.
    Full marks to the Crown Brewery.

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  2. Until we moved here Jimmy I was virtually an exclusive Guinness drinker. Don't get me wrong, I've had my dalliances with Real Ale in the past, but the shift oop North has been a real head turner for me. I'm constantly speaking to Martin about what's in the cellar and watching the new arrivals blackboard in an almost trainspotter like way(!). And it's a lot cheaper then the black stuff.

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  3. If it's it not too far check the Riverhead Tap in Marsden - best pint I've ever had, and brewed on the premises..

    Swap you that for this Gatemouth Brown a fret-frying fiddler with tasty piano sidekick. He's a bit crafty on the guitar too

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  4. Just branching out into the World of Ale? You're a lucky man - so much to look forward to. If you're ever down in Brighton, don't miss a pint at the Evening Star near the station - lots of men in Aran crew-necks, and the finest, best-kept ales you could hope for.

    Or just pop a measure of Tia Maria into your Guinness. Nothing like ale, but delicious nonetheless.

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  5. And what a price the black stuff is these days!

    My local dabbles in the occasional barrel of real ale, but it is a bit out of the way here so the choice is limited.

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