Stone Beer Fest Friday 14th July           

 

Up for it were:  Keithee, Stubbee, Craigee, Richee, Jay Cee, DCeen and MCeen, Mid-week Tone, Pedro and Yup.  Q A arrived around 920, after his Porsche had let him down.  Grant also let him down by going on the pull in Castle but we were happy with the pulling of a different kind – yes, real ale.  Also arriving late were Spike, Ali G and RGee who had missed the bus by 2 minutes, cus Ali was finishing his pies off for his tea.

 

There were no takers for the minutes.  Shame, a chance for someone to get their own back.  So, as usual, I reluctantly borrowed a spare pen from the bar and jotted a couple of notes down:

 

DCeen organised the ABC minibus which rolled up on time at the Westbury.  Arriving in Stone, the driver decided to take us through the park instead of dropping us at the door of the Swan.  The walk was obviously too much for Stubbee who walked straight into a bollard.

 

The token procedure was on again tonight which you could use both in the rear courtyard or at the main bar and this year only Scottish ales were available for the festival.  Incidentally, Mr Tahoohigh called at the Swan the following night but failed in his attempt to find the beer festival in the courtyard, and that was before he’d had a drink.

 

The list was extensive but excluded Matt’s Ibstock brick which he’d recently requested and made a *rick of himself.  The nibbledick (niblick), (hopeful thinking!!) proved too much of a temptation for JayCee following the disappointment that the sheepshagger was off.  After one small mouthful, as they say, it was time to try another.  DCeen and McCeen nabbed a corner on the decking and nibbled away at pork pies.

 

As we tried the ales we marked them out of 10.  The Harviestoun Natural Blonde 19 was awarded 8/10 by Craigee, followed by a 3 from Yup.  The ‘golds’ and the ‘blondes’ took a hammering and took the highest marks, the Galloway Gold, Harviestoun Natural Blonde and Ben Nevis being awarded the highest marks on the night.  JayCees nibbledick only got a one.

 

Spike making a guest appearance after a period of 6 months asked Stubbee if he’d had the dog yet.  We couldn’t find it on the list but then realised he was actually referring to a golden retriever he was in the process of buying for the kids; but not its brother  aaahhh.  Spike then engaged in a head to head with a wench who liked a bit of a head evidently.

 

The last and only bottle of ‘bitter and twisted’ was purchased by Yup for 2 tokens, sparking off a clamour for the remaining ones.  One or two disappeared into the bar and purchased from yet another fine array of ales, including Old Priory from Joules which Keithee tried on at least 2 occasions.  Richee bought a pint of vinegar from the front bar and Pedro, duly returned it for him for a decent pint. 

 

9.15ish and we sauntered up to try the relatively new Indian; The Ovilash, in Radford St. which had recently replaced the Mexican.  DC’s tantrums began as the waiters struggled to seat us downstairs and returned again as we waited for the starters.  Has anyone noticed the similarity with Nikki from Big Brother?

 

During the meal Ade raised interest in a titanic adventure.  ‘Squarrites - all at sea’ seemed a possibility for next year, and several took the bait.

 

The meal was in fact pretty average when it finally arrived and I don’t think we’ll be returning.  The minor delays also meant we were late for the bus back home which we missed by around 10 minutes or so.  He’d given up on us and went for his next pick up before returning for us around an hour later.

 

There wasn’t a lot to do except hang around outside Wetherspoons.  Managing to sneak into Granvilles, Yup and Spike were seen motioning ‘shaking your arse’ to the top tottee music.

 

 

Yupmeister

(Enjoy yer baltis)

 

 

PS There is no do planned for August.  The next Squarry do is to be wednesday 13th September - a 16-a-side crown green bowling match against Rob Belcher’s Stafford Sparklers, including real ale and followed by a curry in Stafford.

 

PPS October’s squarry night will be at either the Balti Kitchen or more likely the Raj in Macclesfield.  To be followed very early in December by the mystery which may include not one, not two, but possibly 3 pub visits prior to the Indian!!!  Or is that the first red herring?