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thanks les,
apparently there's a 100% chance of rain on friday in durham so could well see you! trying to persuade my mate that it's a good call could be tricky though, he reckons there'll be enough pubs in durham to keep us occupied. anyway if i do get up there i'll be sure to say hello.
derek

"dereko1969":2s0tp58d wrote: thanks les,
apparently there's a 100% chance of rain on friday in durham so could well see you! trying to persuade my mate that it's a good call could be tricky though, he reckons there'll be enough pubs in durham to keep us occupied. anyway if i do get up there i'll be sure to say hello.
derek[/quote:2s0tp58d]
Derek,

It looks like northern England got a LOT of rain. Are you flooded out? The weather in Scotland has gone from bad to worse and I think we are now getting the rain England was getting yesterday. I guess this has completely ruined the cricket which is a shame for your trip. <!-- s:cry: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_cry.gif" alt="" title="Crying or Very sad" /><!-- s:cry: -->

My Old Smokey "smoked Guinness" was drank dry yesterday at the beer festival. It wasn't to everyone's taste but there were a lot of compliments paid to it which is always nice. <!-- s:) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!-- s:) -->

About to leave for Edinburgh and last day of the festival. I expect I'll be drinking more home brew than commercial stuff... <!-- s:wink: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_wink.gif" alt="" title="Wink" /><!-- s:wink: -->

Cheers, Les

&amp;quot;Les_Howarth&amp;quot;:31pds81l wrote: About to leave for Edinburgh and last day of the festival. I expect I'll be drinking more home brew than commercial stuff... <!-- s:wink: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_wink.gif" alt="" title="Wink" /><!-- s:wink: -->[/quote:31pds81l]
I was right, most of the commercial stuff had run out today so I spent most of the afternoon quietly supping a fellow SCB member's fine brew... <!-- s:wink: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_wink.gif" alt="" title="Wink" /><!-- s:wink: --> ...before going for an excellent Mexican meal with the wifey at a new (to us) restaurant. Why is it that you discover great places just before you are about to leave? <!-- s:roll: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_rolleyes.gif" alt="" title="Rolling Eyes" /><!-- s:roll: -->

got totally soaked in durham on thursday and friday, couldn't persuade my mate to head up to edinburgh. managed to get in quite a few pubs. was a bit disappointed with a lot of the beers though, had london pride and abbot ale in the hog's head (a wetherspoons) and i have to say i much prefer the bottled versions, same could be said for the caledonian 80' that i had in shakespeares. had a very nice durham brewery benedictus a barley wine that didn't taste as strong as it's 8.4% would suggest, actually the durham brewery beers were the best i had 'white bishop' a nice pale ale for one. the best thing about the trip were the pubs themselves were amazing remnants - the colpitts, the victoria inn in particular were architectural gems.

&amp;quot;dereko1969&amp;quot;:pl059pix wrote: got totally soaked in durham on thursday and friday, couldn't persuade my mate to head up to edinburgh. [/quote:pl059pix]
Sorry that you got wet, but I guessed that you'd been outvoted.

&amp;quot;dereko1969&amp;quot;:pl059pix wrote: managed to get in quite a few pubs. was a bit disappointed with a lot of the beers though, had london pride and abbot ale in the hog's head (a wetherspoons) and i have to say i much prefer the bottled versions, same could be said for the caledonian 80' that i had in shakespeares. [/quote:pl059pix]
I can understand that. Abbott Ale is a shadow of its former self (it was the beer that got me into real ale in the first place) and Caley 80/- isn't as good as it used to be either IMO. London Pride is one of my favouride beers when on top form but sadly it is often not served at its best.

&amp;quot;dereko1969&amp;quot;:pl059pix wrote: had a very nice durham brewery benedictus a barley wine that didn't taste as strong as it's 8.4% would suggest, actually the durham brewery beers were the best i had 'white bishop' a nice pale ale for one. [/quote:pl059pix]
Yes, I've had a few Durham beers and they were all very good. Glad that you were able to find some good beers.

&amp;quot;dereko1969&amp;quot;:pl059pix wrote: the best thing about the trip were the pubs themselves were amazing remnants - the colpitts, the victoria inn in particular were architectural gems.[/quote:pl059pix]
<!-- s:) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!-- s:) -->

les,
did you make any great discoveries at the festival? did harviestoun have any new beers? anything else that made you want to stock up on to bring over with you?
i've saved your list of pubs as i'll be over in edinburgh in late august.