So, it’s been a few days since we came back from our last stint in the U.K. and it’s high time to summarize what we were up to. In short we met awesome people, ate a lot of English breakfasts and we’re very surprised over every placed we visited.
Starting our journey early in the morning of November 17 we reached Leeds, U.K., a bit after mid day traveling from Gothenburg, Sweden, via Copenhagen, Denmark, and Manchester, U.K,. We were in Leeds to do an event at Tall Boys Beer Market – bottle shop and beer café supreme. After a bite to eat and a short visit to the local craft beer pub we came to Tall Boys not really knowing what to expect. Obviously, we had talked to the guys prior but as for the Leeds beer scene knowing of, or receiving, Dugges, we had no idea. Turns out they knew of us! And, we love them for that. We met a lot of great people had a lot of nice chats. Just having the best time. And, we have to say, Tall Boys selling growlers of Dugges x Omnipollo Anagram Imperial Blueberry Cheesecake Stout makes them top notch in our book!
Early train ride to Buxton, via Manchester, the day after where we found ourselves staying at a hotel making The Overlook (from the movie Shining) seem like a quaint little B&B. Constantly worrying about a kid on a tricycle whispering ‘redrum’ and looking over our shoulders expecting Jack Nicholson with an axe screaming ‘Here’s Johnny!’. Checking in quickly we then moved on to Beer District where we held a social event/sample tasting thing. Again, nice turnout, talking to some local brewers and getting people to sample our beer. Good times! The evening was spent at the Buxton Tap House and what an awesome place it was. Buxton, this small, very English town, having a place like this is, on paper, set to fail. But, it worked. Big time! Beer selection like the geekiest (in a good way) you’ll ever see but groups of friends, families and other locals filling the place. Like the most modern, traditional pub you’ll ever see. Loved it! The guys from Buxton Brewery were awesome hosts as well. We’ll definitely come back.
Again an early train ride the day after. This time from Buxton back to Manchester.
Our main event with going to Manchester was brewing with Cloudwater Brew Co. Upon deciding on a collaboration we asked Paul Jones of Cloudwater if he knew of a good place where we could do an event of some sort. He replied that he was opening a place soon and that we should do it there. That place was The Pilcrow. A really hard to describe place. A community built pub, looking like a small, modern barn, sitting in a square otherwise surrounded by tall buildings. Awesome! Arriving at 1600h the manager, Becky, was – according to herself – a bit baffled at the amount of people there waiting for the beer to get put on. Something we’re, naturally, very happy and very humbled about. The placed was packed from 1600 until closing and we had a fantastic time. Not only talking to beer drinkers but also conducting an interview with beer podcast Beernomicon. Like with Buxton, The Pilcrow is a place we’ll come to again. If not as a brewery, then as costumers. It was that good.
The day after was a day off for us. Though having forgot to pay our tab at The Pilcrow the day before (and maybe eager to sneak one more sip of Dugges x Omnipollo Barrel Aged Anagram Imperial Blueberry Cheesecake Stout) we once again found ourselves at The Pilcrow. Then dinner. Then sleep. Well earned sleep.
Early morning on Monday November 22. Brew day with Cloudwater! Really do not know where to start here. So much happened that day. Brewing, beer tasting, a small interview by their intern from Japan, visiting Cloudwater’s barrel aging room – tasting stuff right out of the barrels, discussing hops, yeast, malts, water, tanks, fermentation, more fermentation a.s.o. lunch, dinner, home baked cake, coffee! Almost too many impressions. We had an superb time at Cloudwater and that entire team is just gold. Wish them all the best and we’re sure our collaboration – a sour IPA – will turn out kick-ass. As for hosting, Paul of Cloudwater’s got game. Felt very, very, very (very!) welcome and we hope to get to return the favor sometime soon.
Flying home the next day, we still did not know who Pavid 13eckhan is. We just found his name written on a bar toilet door in Manchester.
Until next time U.K., we’ll be back!