Meeting Pub Blogging Royalty In Aston On Trent

Whilst I am about as reliable as all three of the main parties’ election manifestos in attending Beer & Pub Forum Proper Days Out, I do occasionally meet up with blogging royalty.

I spent an enjoyable afternoon with Martin in Coalville and Whitwick back in 2018 and I finally caught up with another of the blogging fraternity last week in a Derbyshire village.

Colston Crawford AKA The Beerhunter is slightly higher up the blogging league table as he actually writes a weekly column for the Derby Evening Telegraph so he is more Manchester City to my Accrington Stanley.

Although, as a big Brewers fan he could find plenty to talk about with The Wickingman who, like me is firmly entrenched in the Fleetwood Town region for blogging, but is Barcelona like with his consumption of and affection for Bass.

Anyway enough of these football analogies as readers such as Dick, Dave and Russ along with Duncan as Scotland have officially stopped playing, will be turning off in their droves.

A long overdue meeting with Colston was arranged and the venue was none other than his local and, rather handily, a pub I hadn’t blogged about.

494 – The Malt DE72 2AA is one of two boozers in the picturesque village of Aston on Trent in Derbyshire, which also houses a decent little cricket ground

Basically, as expected, the conversation flowed for the best part of two hours and he is a mine of information on Burton Albion, Derbyshire boozers, beer and kept me amused with many a good pub, football and cricket tale.

Throw into the mix the fact he was wearing a Strutts T-Shirt and it’s hard not to contend that he is a top bloke who knows his onions sport and beer wise.

The Wickingman will be pleased to know that The Malt has Bass on permanently but I may face a ban from the Bass Appreciation Supping Society (BASS) as I plumped for a top class DCUK from Dancing Duck.

The pub itself was absolutely rammed, which is great to see on a Friday night.  The room to the left had a private party on that was noisy and packed whilst the bigger room was set up for eating and drinking and had a great mix of ages as well as sky sports on (unobtrusively) in the background.

As a the great man himself said, it’s a local that is thriving under the stewardship of the gaffer, Laura, and as she is a local from the village there is wealth of goodwill for it to succeed.

Is it quite food based – yes.  Does it feel like a local – yes. Was it vibrant and buzzing – yes. Was the company top class – yes.  Was the beer kept well – yes.  Basically a top night in a top boozer with Derby’s premier beer columnist.