North East Suffolk branch

Mid-month meanders and other socials: Oct16-Dec16

Our meander in October took us to Oulton Broad on a cold and wet day. We met in Broadview, a glass fronted bar across the road from the Broad itself where we had a choice of two Adnams beers, Southwold Bitter and Ghost Ship and a guest beer, which was Scary Man from Longman. All beers were enjoyed. We braced ourselves for the walk to the Lady of the Lake and left the pub. Arriving at our destination a minute later, we found Adnams Bitter and Sharps Doom Bar available. Another very short walk later and we had reached the Waveney, a recently refurbished pub serving GK IPA and three Adnams beers, Bitter, Ghost Ship and Broadside. After a pint and a chat we walked to the Red Herring, which is mainly a restaurant so we arrived after lunch had finished. Their beer range varies and, on this occasion, we found Glog and Horny Goat Ale from Bragby Twt Lol on the bar. It was soon time to move on to the Flying Dutchman, a large pub opposite the railway station which was serving Doom Bar. We sat with a drink and listened to Riders on the Storm playing in the background - appropriate for the weather. Our final pub was the Quayside Bar & Restaurant situated by the Broad on the other side of Broadland Holiday Village. Being served was GK IPA, Adnams Bitter, Adnams Broadside and Green Jack Golden Best.

In November, 10 of us met at the Angel in Wangford, which is in the village just off the A12. It is now run as a free house and was serving Cliff Quay Bitter along with Wherry and Nelson's Revenge from Woodforde's, all of which were enjoyed. Because winter opening hours had just been introduced at one of the pubs on our planned meander, we decided to split into two smaller groups. My group walked along the lane and crossed the A12 to the other Wangford pub, the Plough, a spacious Adnams pub that lays back from the main road. Being served was Adnams Old as well as Bitter and Ghost Ship. All of us had the Old, which was much enjoyed. Our group then started on a three mile country walk to our final pub. The other group stayed on at the Angel for a while before catching the bus to Wrentham and the Horse & Groom, which was serving Adnams Bitter and Ghost Ship. We all met again at the Five Bells in Wrentham, a cosy pub that was welcome after our walk. Adnams beers again with Old, Bitter, Broadside and Ghost Ship.

Our December meander was a mini version that took 11 members to Kessingland meeting at Livingstone's, a large pub next to Africa Alive. The pub was serving GK IPA plus Adnams Bitter and Ghost Ship. There was then a fairly long walk down the hill towards the sea to the second and final pub, Sailor's Home. This normally serves four local beers on hand pump with up to another four beers on gravity. On this occasion there was St Peters Plum Porter, Green Jack Mahseer IPA, Wolf Whiskers from Wolf, Cliff Quay Jolabrug, Adnams Bitter, Old and Tally Ho and Humpty Dumpty Shaltai Baltai with Belhaven Smokestack Stout coming on when the Wolf ran out. All beers were tried and and very much enjoyed.

In October, our Saturday social found us in Pakefield. We met at the Jolly Sailors, a modern glass-fronted pub on the cliff path overlooking the sea, where we had a choice of Adnams Bitter & Ghost Ship, Wolf Lupus Lupus and Sharps Atlantic. After a short stroll down the road we arrived at the cosy Trowel & Hammer where Robinson's Trooper and Adnams Broadside were being served. Our route also took in the Carlton (GK IPA and Doom Bar), Tramways (Ghost Ship and Landlord) and finally, Oddfellows (Green Jack, Lacons and Woodforde's). There was also a gathering at the Stanford Arms in Lowestoft for their East Anglian Pub of the Year presentation.

November's socials were held at the Shadingfield Fox for their Guy Fawkes beer festival (8 beers on handpump and several others on gravity) and at the annual Beccles Beer Festival, a showcase for local beers (some rare and/or unique to the festival) and an event that raises funds for Beccles Lido Limited, a community run local charity.

In early December we attended Humpty Dumpty Brewery's annual open weekend, which featured many beers from their range. Some of us stayed later then planned resulting in a walk in the dark back to Reedham Station where my mobile phone's torch proved useful. We were also back at the Stanford Arms for a presentation to the pub on their achievement in reaching the last four of CAMRA's Pub of the Year competition. Lots of good beer to drink and the pub put on some hot food for those that attended. Our last event of 2016 was a Christmas social in Lowestoft that took in the Oak Tavern (four beers available) and the Triangle Tavern which was holding a beer festival alongside its regular Green Jack range.