“Man, being reasonable, must get drunk; The best of life is but intoxication.” –Lord Byron
I’m an award-winning poet and fiction writer living in England where beer has been a passion and an art and a way of life for millennia. I’m also a member of the British Guild of Beer Writers.
Ale drinking is shrouded in lingo and machismo– but a good pint is really a simple matter, even if the taste is complex. Beer marks the seasons and triggers memories, it comforts and, in fine Baudelarian fashion, it keeps the burden of time from weighing on your shoulders and crushing you to the earth. So drink up! This round’s on me.
Here’s my profile on Aleuminati.
My other blog about ex-pat life in London can be found at Feral Strumpet Teatime.
Impy Malting 
cheGuapa,
fermentation is one of (–if not *the*) deepest, most complex, at once healthful & risky magic complicities of nature & human (–where as we know patriarchy assigns & pens ‘the Femenine’ Nature with Masculine Culture’s hedges)
–but I’d never made the connection that brewing would be an integral part of the householder’s tasks– more on this, if you could share any data or anecdotes, pls? Slainte!
I’m rather concerned that you have been subjected to on-line sexual harassment. As a male real ale drinker, my experience is that most real ale drinkers are not particularly misogynistic. Unfortunately, sexist morons do seem to like going on line. This is because they are inadequate social misfits, most of whom wouldn’t know what to do with a real woman if they met one, as opposed to a paper one on page 3.
I’ve only just found your blog, but I’m interested in your perspective. Don’t let the idiots put you off!
Hello Rednev– I completely agree with you about most real ale drinkers. I think whatever is happening is coming from a small but insistent group that is quite on the fringe– still unfun to be on the receiving end of it. I hope it’s on the wane. Thanks for stopping by this blog, and for your words of encouragement.
Allyson, could you drop me a line via craig.mcgill@dada.co.uk please? I have an invite to an event that will intrigue you – unless you’ve been ASBO’d (there’s a clue for you as to what the event is about).
Thanks,
Craig
Hey Allyson,
Greetings from Treadell’sl! I have lost your card with your email on it, and want to email you. Help?
My best wishes,
Christina
christina@treadwells-london.com
Hi there,
I noticed you were thinking about visiting Liverpool and maybe North Wales. There are some great pubs sandwiched in between, my favourite being The Ship in Hoylake (a village on the long road that links Liverpool to North Wales) and they serve some great beers, notably some from Brimstage Brewery…well worth checking out if you’re in the area!
Nice one,
Les
Thank you, Les– I just got back from the trip, and didn’t get to many of the places I wanted to try. There is so much to do and see– I will just have to return. It’s always nice to know about village pubs which can punctuate a journey.
Glad to find your beer bog ( via your knit blog). From one beer loving, hops growing, gal to another!
Nice to meet you! Thanks for stopping by!
Hello Impy
I came across you blog via the Belgian Beer Shrimper. My first comment is wow. My second is congratulations on cultivating such a lyrical style of writing. And the third is, you certainly know your beer.
Finally, if you were marooned on a desert island, what beer would be your luxury item?
Thanks, Andy! The desert island beer question is a tough one…it might be BrewDog Zephyr or maybe Old Rasputin? There are too many! What is yours?
Good choices. It is like being asked which is your favourite child. I would go for Saison Dupont as I am a simple man but I would ask that I could also choose a beer for the colder months. And that would be McChouffe.
Have you tried the Cask in Pimlico SW1? Heaven.
Hi Andy, These are all beers I have not yet tried! It is a bit like choosing a child, really. I haven’t tried the Cask– is it a newer place? I live in York now but get back to London every couple of months. I will have to check it out!
The Cask is fairly new but it is causing quite a stir. They have plenty of Thornbridge & Dark Star beers on tap and a massive selection of Belgium beers, way more than the Rake.
Don’t forget the York Beer Festival is on this week / weekend – starting 17th September at York Racecourse. Should be a big one…over 250 beers
Thanks, Richard! I was there judging. It’s a very exciting time to be a beer drinker in Yorkshire!