North Bar Turns 15

Yesterday saw an impromptu visit to North Bar, Leeds, during their 15th Birthday Celebrations. I don't visit Leeds city centre as much as I'd like, living in suburbia in Bradford, for two of us to get to Leeds, it is £17.50 on public transport. Makes for an expensive night out. However, couldn't let the opportunity to try a huge array of fantastic beers, many of which would be hard to come across again. Despite sharing thirds with my lovely other half, I enjoyed myself a little too much. The day was like a beer festival on overdrive. Each of the beers a treat, even those that weren't for me, I was glad to try.

Had 14 of 16 beers (had tried Flying Dog Kujo before, and another appears to have passed me by). Tasting notes are somewhat lacking, and probably quite inaccurate. Needless to say, I got 14 ticks last night, for more details see North Bar's website.

94: S.C.C.A.N.S IIPA, The Kernel, 10.1%
Tropical fruit, as per many of Kernel's offerings. Incredibly bitter. A big treat to have this on draft.

95: Everything in Its Right Place, BrewDog, 6.5%

96: Beer Camp Solar Storm, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., 5.8%

97: North Pale Ale, Rooster's, 4%

98: Pilsner, Lindeboom, 5%

99: General Sherman, Thornbridge/North Bar, 8.3%

100: Wildeman Farmhouse IPA, Flying Dog Brewery, 7.5%

Similar to Saison Dupont, but more punchy and vibrant. Banana, refreshing, sparkling, delicious.

101: Little Jim (aged), Marble, 6.9%

My first beer from Marble, a lovely smooth, toffee, really tasty yummy beer.

102: Bourbon Barrel Bearded Lady, Magic Rock, 10.5%
Really really yum.

103: Milk Stout, Odell, abv unknown

104: Beer Geek Breakfast, Mikkeller, 7.5%

105: Kolsch, Gaffel, 4.8%

A couple still for me to mull over:

106: Oak Aged Sunturnbrew, Nøgne Ø, 11%

An incredibly dark beer. Too intense for me. To my taste, it reminded me of burnt rubber, which I think was the oak. Definitely a thinker!

107: Gueuze, Cantillon, 5%

The sourest beer I've ever had. I'm not a big fan of sour, be it in drinks or sweets. Interesting to experience, but not for me.

All in all, a success, and as ever a treat to visit North. Certainly a learning curve for a newbie! Happy Birthday North Bar! When you turn 20, I might have to spread the joy over 2 days... 

Pond Hopper:

For a few days I'd seen Pond Hopper being mentioned around twitter, and then I read Matt Curtis's blogpost about it, and mentions of Halcyon which got my tastebuds tingling. On a late Friday night visit to Beer Ritz I noticed it on the shelf... not expecting to be able to find it yet. It was the last bottle there, and it cost around £16 for 750mls. Lucky for me and Mr T, we had the super generous Mr T Snr. with us, who decided to treat us all.

87: Pond Hopper Double Extra Pale Ale, Thornbridge and Odell, 8.9%
As soon as the bottle was opened, you could smell the hops across the room. A slight wheat beery aroma, tropical fruit hops with a hint of banana, and it tasted the same. This was brewed with English malt, and American hops, between the English brewery, Thornbridge, and Odell, based in Colorado in the US (a collaboration across the pond, hence the name). There were complex flavours going on, but it wasn't as in your face as some of the heavily hopped beers I have tried, I think this was more sophisticated as it was packed with flavours but in a slightly muted, mellow and soft fashion. Not particularly bitter, and the flavours blended beautifully. A very very drinkable beer, and one that hid its strength very well.

But it was £16. We did our maths, and worked out this would be just over £7.00 for a 330ml bottle, to help us put it into perspective. We have spent a lot of money on beer before. We have spent more than £7.00 on a 330ml bottle. But when you can get incredibly tasty and varied beers for half this cost... is it worth it? Is it better? It is delicious. But so are many many beers that cost less. Maybe my palate is not developed enough to distinguish some unique qualities and flavours.

For me, it was worth it (well... technically I didn't pay...but I'm pretty sure Mr T Snr. agrees) because it was an opportunity to try something that is a one-off. Something that has a pedigree. An opportunity to experience what others were experiencing and join in with the hype. For many this won't be a good enough reason, but for me, this time, it is. I would buy a Pond Hopper II, if one was to be brewed, but this was my one and only taste of this beer. And it was a good one.