I’ve decided to call any company’s snap decision to quit social media as “stropping off”, a term that simultaneously combines the banal act of logging off from social media with being loud about your reasons for doing it in an entirely tiresome way. Wetherspoon’s Tim has decided it’s their prerogative to be the first in […]
What was the first beer you drank?
It’s a simple question, unless you’re being asked it point blank on live radio. There should be a simple answer – some small glint laying there in the past that points towards the moment you decide, “this is mine.” Well, sometimes you don’t want to share that moment. Maybe it’s private. But then maybe you […]
Craft Beer in Burnley: Moorhouse’s Rebrand
“Brewed in the shadows of Pendle Hill” says the crisp new strapline, branded indelibly into Moorhouse’s well-worn hide. For years, the Burnley brewery has enjoyed steady business with a loyal and local customer base who would never dream of straying from their beloved Premier. Now, with margins squeezing every last drop of profit from wet […]
Craft Brewing and Snooping at Moorhouse’s
I’m an enthusiastic student if the subject interests me. If you’ve caught my attention, you can be assured that I’ll do my best to make you proud – I’m the human equivalent of a golden retriever. I’m hoping this came off as endearing when I spent the morning with the team at Moorhouse’s in Burnley […]
Katie Makes Beer (Apparently)
I’ve been given the opportunity to work with a proper brewing team to use a pro kit to make any beer I want, and my initial response was to start freaking out slightly because WHAT DO I CHOOSE? (Fun side-quest: if you’re not sure what imposter syndrome is, look it up here and tell me […]
The Session #133 Hometown Glories – The John O’ Gaunt, Lancaster
The John O’Gaunt is a pub I measure all others against. Modestly squatted between high-street shops and the Sally Army on Market Street, Lancaster, its pot-bellied, stained glass window gives only a glimpse at what lies within. On most Friday, Saturday and Sundays, you’ll find a band tuning up in the bay window at the […]
Thoughts on beer accessibility
“Peroni is aspirational. Cloudwater is something beamed down from another planet.” These words by the Pub Curmudgeon stuck in my brain after reading his piece on working class drinkers, not least because I am one. It made me think about the angle at which I approached beer from, and why I’m finding myself more and […]
Moorhouse’s and “embracing the craft beer revolution”
Burnley-based Moorhouse’s Brewery has undergone some grand changes in recent months. Back in April 2017, they appointed new Managing Director Lee Williams, a distinct strike out into fresh new waters. Williams had previous success bringing rival brewery Thwaites into craft beer contention with popular hop-forward 13 Guns and the big success of Wainwright, which I […]
Pub Culture Songs: The Copper Top
Music is hugely important to me and so I thought this new series of blog posts could reflect that passion from a pub culture point of view. The thing is, most legendary songs are written in pubs. On the back of beermats, on torn up cigarette packets, noted in a phone, or just half-thought of […]
You’re answering the wrong questions about craft beer
If you follow me on Twitter, you might already know that I successfully completed my first bar shift in more than 7 years recently. No mean feat, considering my customer service and mental arithmetic skills have been made slow and lazy by desks. I’d been tentatively excited about it. Working behind a bar is something […]