Well, what a busy time.  So much for the sodding recession!  Whilst our beloved MP’s have been attending to their dry rot, backed-up moats and unruly wisteria, we have had our two busiest months ever in the shape of March, and then April.  May of course may be another matter as we have reached the point of running out of beer as a result of a cracking April, but never fear, normal service is being resumed.  First to lead the charge for May is Assistance (although Agincourt was technically an April brew, it saw service in May).  Assistance (as in HMS Assistance) is a sweet malty brew at 4.0%, and as you may have sussed, on of our boat-themed beers, and completely unlike our usual hoppy offerings The real hopheads need not worry though, as we will soon (in a week or so) be letting loose Iron Duke at 4.4%, which is golden, and whilst not overly bittered, does have a good charge of both Amarillo & Fuggle hops for aroma and flavour.  And the die hard fans will have sussed from the abv it is another in the Britannia Class steam locomotive range.

Having been so busy is of course a good thing, but there are still signs overall that the pub trade is struggling in many ways – although cask ales sales are definitely on the up.  Well they are if you talk to small brewers and those publicans who take an interest in their cellars.  What I am not sure on is whether their are new faces in the pubs, or if existing customers are spending differently.  Obviously I need to spend more time down the pub doing some research.  As a mere mortal, do you think the taxman would let me claim the cost as legitimate expenses?  No.  I thought not…