I know https://twitter.com/thewickingman is in the process of writing up a Bass directory so I’m not about to steal his thunder but, having checked my blog records, I thought it might be an opportunity to display some pictures of Bass!
It has its critics and yes, it can be perceived as an old man drink and yes, it probably isn’t brewed like it used to be and yes, there are far hoppier and funkier drinks around nowadays but it still remains an absolute corker of a drink. And, as Mudgie quite rightly states in the comments section, it is part of our brewing heritage.
It is, of course, subject to good cellarmanship like all pints of cask ale, so standards can vary but, when it’s kept well, it is magnificent. A lot of the PUB (Pub Union of Bloggers) find this hard to resist which makes us either (a) very sad old men or (b) men of discerning taste.
Undoubtedly the best pint of Bass I have had since I started blogging was at The Anchor in Newhall which was not only absolute nectar but had the added bonus of being just £2.50. I’d go so far to say that if this gem was in the Solihull region then it would be an absolute nailed on cert for the GBG.
However, there have been boozers I’ve been into and not had Bass when it’s been available so I need to be in the mood and variety is, of course, the spice of life.
Anyway, in a shameless plug of some of my previous posts, and to celebrate the sun finally appearing for the first time in 2018, here are some pictures of Britain’s most revered pint of beer (after Carling of course) that I’ve had on my travels.
This is just an aperetif for the main course that will be provided by https://twitter.com/thewickingman in due course.
(The Swan Inn, Milton)
The John Thompson Inn (Ingleby) (Keg version but very tasty – a nod to modern day craft!)
https://lifeafterfootball839.wordpress.com/2017/09/04/get-your-kicks-on-the-a514
Ye Olde Dolphin Inne (Derby)
https://lifeafterfootball839.wordpress.com/2017/09/06/raining-dolphins-and-dogs-in-derby
The Chequers Inn (Ticknall)
https://lifeafterfootball839.wordpress.com/2017/09/09/checking-out-chequers-inn
The Crown (Heather)
https://lifeafterfootball839.wordpress.com/2017/09/21/motorbikin-in-heather
Ye Olde Talbot (Uttoxeter)
https://lifeafterfootball839.wordpress.com/2017/10/02/a-little-bit-of-fry-and-laurie
The Anchor (Newhall) (Number 1 for Bass in Derbyshire)
https://lifeafterfootball839.wordpress.com/2017/10/05/anchored-in-newhall
in fact, it’s so good here’s another one!
The Railway Inn (Hatton)
Noah’s Ark (Derby) (non-Bass glass alert #1)
https://lifeafterfootball839.wordpress.com/2017/10/27/99-red-balloons-in-noahs-ark
The Gate (Hugglescote)
https://lifeafterfootball839.wordpress.com/2017/11/29/a-big-hug-for-draught-bass
The Plough Inn (Ashby De La Zouch)
https://lifeafterfootball839.wordpress.com/2017/12/05/quiz-question-which-pub-sells-bass-in-ashby
Harpur’s (Melbourne)
https://lifeafterfootball839.wordpress.com/2017/12/18/good-news-from-melbourne
Halfway House (Donisthorpe)
https://lifeafterfootball839.wordpress.com/2017/12/20/in-englands-green-and-pleasant-land
The Shoulder Of Mutton (Barton Under Needwood)
https://lifeafterfootball839.wordpress.com/2017/12/31/roll-out-the-red-carpet-theres-bass-in-barton
The Fountain (Lichfield) (six of the best!)
https://lifeafterfootball839.wordpress.com/2018/01/20/ebeneezer-goode-in-lichfield
The Old Talbot (Hilton) (non Bass glass alert #2, but straight out of a jug #1)
https://lifeafterfootball839.wordpress.com/2018/02/19/back-on-the-bass-trail-in-hilton
The Bull’s Head (Wilson) (It was Bass, honestly!)
https://lifeafterfootball839.wordpress.com/2018/02/20/staying-on-the-bass-trail-part-2-in-wilson
The Spread Eagle (Etwall)
https://lifeafterfootball839.wordpress.com/2018/02/27/spreadeagled-in-etwall
The Station Inn (Derby) (straight out the jug!)
https://lifeafterfootball839.wordpress.com/2018/03/10/bass-from-the-jug-with-the-rag-n-bone-man
Life After Football 
“so I need to be in the mood and variety is, of course, the spice of life.”
Abso-bloody-lutely.
I’ve been an ale man for pretty much all my life. I was a Guinness man for the longest time (that faded around 2012, partly due to their being taken over by Diageo); my beer fridge currently holds 10 different types of ale, albeit some of those are a single 500ml can. But if someone offered me a Pilsner Urquell or Budvar of some such I certainly wouldn’t say no! I doubt I’ll ever be a “one beer” man again. 🙂
“(after Carling of course) ”
Which originated in Canada. 🙂
“The John Thompson Inn (Ingleby) (Keg version but very tasty – a nod to modern day craft!)”
I think that one was the first time I posted on your blog (A514). 🙂
“The Bull’s Head (Wilson) (It was Bass, honestly!)”
LOL!
Nice writeup Ian. That must have taken a bit of work to put it all together. I’m surprised Martin hasn’t replied yet! 🙂
As for Bass (which, I must shamelessly admit, I initially thought was pronounced with a short ‘a’ – blush), it holds a place of significance in Burton (and the surrounding area), if not the UK. The first UK trademark; one of the biggest sellers in India (it held 64% of the Bengal beer market in 1877-78 and was immortalized in verse and prose, according to Pete Brown in his book “Hops and Glory”); and one of the best known Burton brewers.
It has a history which cannot be denied. (again, according to Pete Brown, during the Victorian era the brewing industry was second only to cotton in terms of British GDP).
Take pride in the place (and the beer) that put ales on the map. 🙂
Cheers
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Cheers Russ I think that A514 post was your debuting the blog! Interesting that Guinness being owned by Diageo has meant you snubbing it as Richard is blanking everything under Marston’s umbrella in a similar move!
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“Interesting that Guinness being owned by Diageo has meant you snubbing it ”
Just to clarify. I went off Guinness before I knew Diageo had bought them out. I just found the draught cans to be slightly off. Kept buying them every few months but the taste to me had gone blah. It wasn’t till after that I found out Diageo now owned them. Not saying that didn’t have something to do with the change in the taste though. 😉
Cheers
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That’s a fair point pal….some people might suggest that once big corporations take over the brewing process then the taste changes….
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“some people might suggest that once big corporations take over the brewing process then the taste changes….”
To be fair, I still order the odd Guinness on tap at a pub or bar. I just find the cans for home use are a bit off. 🙂
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Very sensible man, go for the beer that suits. Though 6 pints in Lichfield look the best. Great photos.
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Six pints of Bass is arguably my greatest work of art! Modern art and all that?
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Def arty
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Oh, that Richard is a terrible tease.
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Ah, a multiple dose of Draught Bass porn 😛
As I mentioned on Twitter, last week I had a wander round Derby and had four consecutive pints of Bass in four different pubs. How many cities or towns are there where you can still do that? Perhaps surprisingly, the best was in the Wetherspoon’s, the Babington Arms, although the Olde Dolphin wasn’t far behind.
The things about Bass is that, not only is it a very enjoyable beer in its own right, but it’s a living symbol of our brewing heritage.
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We’re too quick to destroy our heritage and brewing heritage in Britain is something we should shout from the rooftops rather than let the health police make us feel as though it’s an issue…yes not sure if I could post that beer porn before the 9pm watershed 😉
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“yes not sure if I could post that beer porn before the 9pm watershed 😉”
LOL. Even I got that. 🙂
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