A weekend double-header with Bookworm Bygrave sees us spending Saturday evening on the Stirchley Beer Mile in the company of Zoe and Mike, before Sunday takes us to the Three Counties Showground for the Malvern Autumn Show...
- The Stirchley Gorilla -
The Stirchley district of Birmingham has become a real hotspot for up-and-coming venues specialising in craft beer, street food and good times. There must be a dozen or more places we could sample strung out either side of the Pershore Road but we have a hitlist in mind, starting with The Den which I think used to be a card shop. Several Deya beers are being showcased here, including my pick of a New England pale ale called 'Magazine Cover'. We settle in under a 'Make Time For Pints' smoking frog poster and try to outdo each other over a game of Anomia, requiring quick recall of jazz musician names or palindromes - would the Stirchley gorilla approve?
- Glasshouse Beer Co. -
The Waterside Business Park alone is home to at least three drinking establishments, of which the Glasshouse Beer Co. taproom is definitely our top target. Looking out over the Worcester & Birmingham Canal, it has a few beer benches inside and the familiar sight of Crispmalt sacks piled up by the brewing equipment. From the extensive range, my liking for real ale results in a cracking pint of Aoraki as their main cask offering, tasting as fresh and clean as I could wish for; Zoe really likes the Anemones provided we pronounce it correctly (this is a crushable orange peach beer apparently) then Mike entertains us with Donald Trump impressions. We're also briefly joined by Hannah and Alex for a quick pint prior to a gig they're attending, hence chatting about university welcome weeks, Black Country Type photobooks and the philosophical stroking of beards.
- Trying Trillium -
A few units further along is the Brew Export Beer Cave specialising in American craft lines, the physical space being similar to Glasshouse. Trillium Brewing's 'Boat Under Train Under Car Under Plane' is a total mouthful in more ways than one but I rather like it for a fruity brew. We then amble over to Mary Vale Road and make Attic our second brewery tap of the evening but it is absolutely heaving with folks watching the England vs Spain football match; we just about squeeze in for a standing perch while accounting for beers such as Quarter and Clasp, hearing rather than seeing the goals flying in. Deadbeat looks very interesting as a dive bar concept but our collective craving for curry means we will finish off at the Kolkata restaurant where the usually spice-averse Bookworm Bygrave braves the Butter Chicken - I think Emily's tastebuds lived to tell the tale. We might only have scratched the surface of Stirchley this time around but that's all the more reason to go back - watch this space...
- The Wheatsheaf Vintage Pub -
Sunday's action takes us to the Three Counties Showground on the outskirts of Malvern where the Autumn Show has been in full swing all weekend. The remit is to celebrate the produce of Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire as well as being a primary showcase for the best in local agriculture and horticulture. The Bygravemobile is ushered into car park N8, positioning us handily by the North Gate entrance close to a vintage fairground. We've not long arrived when we spot the Wheatsheaf as a 1940's themed pub based in a repurposed portakabin. It aims to raise money for veterans charities - a most worthy cause - and serves up a cracking drop of Teme Valley's T'other amber ale. The period vibe is evoked through pre-decimal coins, a rotary dial telephone and an Edith Piaf soundtrack emanating from an old wireless set.
- Googly-eyed Vegetables -
The Harvest Pavilion awaits next for googly eyed pumpkins and long stringy carrots - these aren't even the giant specimens, just standard produce but are clearly grown with much love. The Floral Art section has lots of imaginative installations depicting Christmas dining tables, choral music stands, graffiti and other themes where you have to admire the creative thinking involved. Cards beside each exhibit indicate which ones are the main prizewinners, from Show Champions to Gold, Silver Gilt and Bronze medallists through to the lower placings.
- Snuffling among the Cider Apples -
Continuing by way of the Orchard & Hop Tent, this celebrates everything related to local apples, pears, quinces and beer ingredients. Several regional producers have their own stalls so I'm spoiled for choice in terms of whose wares I'm most keen to sample. Ultimately I opt for the Ross on Wye Autumn Cider, a 7.2% heavyweight half which gets supped whilst watching a scratting machine demo using the ‘Norman’ variety; the ripened cider apples are converted to a mash or pulp similar to porridge in order to better extract their juice for fermenting. This is a time honoured process which requires much skill for recognising when the apples are at their harvesting peak. A cheeky straw pig seems to be enjoying any leftover windfall specimens!
- A Pastry Pause -
Unsurprisingly busy irrespective of a sudden shower, the Food Hall presents a full range of gourmet goodies so there are pies, cakes and pastry products at every turn. I spot a craft beer flag and duly investigate for half of Copper Beech's Dog Days, the name of the beer sealing the deal in reference to Mabel and Hank - Emily seemed to appreciate the gesture. We keep out of the worsening rain by checking out the Giant Vegetable Championship Hall, some of the exhibits are ridiculous!! Massive marrows and ginormous pumpkins need to be seen to be believed, they must weigh a tonne (well several tonnes actually). The Craft Hall however is where Emily's heart really lies, finding greetings cards and coasters galore. One artist has a machine for dispensing prints at £1 a go - we initially get double badgers but exchange one for a frog design. A quick stroll back past the classic tractors seals the deal, and something tells me we might be back in spring for further Three Counties fun. Cheers!
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