Richard Fletcher beer column

Amateurs challenge my inner beer snob May 17 2013

GLOATING is a greatly underrated sport. Though most people wouldn’t admit it, there’s something in all of us that enjoys a vague, misplaced feeling of superiority as we watch others flailing and blundering into certain failure.Read

Black Paw Brewery has a touch of the divine May 10 2013

WHEN one of Phil Whitfield’s regular visitors popped into his Black Paw Brewery recently with some news, he knew there’d been a bit of divine intervention at work.Read

Preparing for return of the king May 03 2013

TO put it in a Lord of the Rings setting (and why wouldn’t you), beer is the Aragorn of alcohol when it comes to food matching.Read

Raising a glass or two to welcome summer Apr 26 2013

A FRIEND once came up with some rather tortuous logic to prove that the good weather – and therefore summer – had arrived, despite the low temperatures and the date on the calendar suggesting otherwise.Read

An impressive array to charm the taste buds at Newcastle Beer Festival Apr 19 2013

STEREOTYPES of student drinking were forgotten as Northumbria University’s union hosted the 37th Newcastle Beer and Cider Festival.Read

A toast to beer festivals of the past Apr 12 2013

MEMORY isn’t usually something that’s helped by beer, but with the Newcastle Beer Festival hitting full swing this week it seemed the perfect opportunity to rack brains as well as the ale with a look-back at some of the Newcastle Beer Festivals from down the years.Read

Local brews return to Newcastle Beer Festival Apr 05 2013

WHAT are your favourite beers? Most of us have probably idly decided our top brews we can’t live without, or that we’d want with us if we were stranded on a desert island, but the contemplation most likely doesn’t stretch beyond the top five or 10.Read

Duke of Wellington marches into spotlight Mar 29 2013

IT’S always good news when a new ale pub appears on the scene, but this time it’s an old favourite looking to get a renewed focus on serving a big range of quality beers.Read

Raise a glass to the Chancellor for beer duty cut Mar 22 2013

I’M looking forward to taking advantage of the new offer on beer that was announced by Chancellor George Osborne yesterday – buy 350 pints, get one free.Read

Setting sail on Shuggy Boat Mar 15 2013

WHILE it’s great to be looking for something new and different, innovation doesn’t have to just be about change.Read

Experienced brewer is a man who knows his craft Mar 08 2013

AS I sit wondering how to begin a column about Out There Brewing Company, the more recent addition to the Ouseburn brewing scene, I feel spoilt for choice.Read

Enjoy beer and friendly ear with local punters Feb 22 2013

IS that just a name, or are they real pigs’ ears?” I ask timidly, expecting Jonathan to laugh at my naivety and explain it’s just a clever label for one of the bar snacks.Read

Docking in at The Schooner in Gateshead Feb 15 2013

SEARCHING through The Journal archives, I can only dig out a handful of pictures of The Schooner pub, Gateshead; the oldest is from the 1970s, while the other few are all 1990s. Strange, for a pub that is probably one of the oldest in the town.Read

Friends steam ahead with brewing venture Feb 08 2013

IT’S always fascinating hearing brewers’ stories about how they started off. For many, it’s a chance to become their own boss, or the perfect use of redundancy money, or simply the natural conclusion to a lifelong passion for beer, less concerned with the profit than the art.Read

Searching for clear answer to unfined beer debate Feb 01 2013

IMAGINE you’re listening to Radio 5 Live’s phone-in show Your Call. Presenter Nicky Campbell brays into the mic as the excitable 5 Live jingle fades out.Read

A true flavour of things to come Jan 25 2013

WITH the announcement of the winners of CAMRA’s Tyneside and Northumberland Pub of the Year competition, there are four deserving winners ... and four different back-stories of hard work and dedication to the pub trade.Read

Plenty of appetite for winter beer festival Jan 18 2013

BEAMISH Hall is used to organising successful events, but even they must be impressed by how well-received their event this weekend has been.Read

Beer is ‘write’ stuff for a get-together Jan 11 2013

HAVE you ever tried writing after drinking? There’s allegedly been some research by some science-types at Albion College, Michigan which showed that being drunk actually helps the creative process.Read

Merry Christmas to one and ale Dec 21 2012

AT THIS time of year I often hear people saying they don’t feel Christmassy ... that they’re not getting that buzz of festive anticipation. But I think they’re looking in the wrong place.Read

Hop bitterness really takes a while to master Dec 14 2012

IT’S amazing how much, and how quickly, tastes can evolve. From food to fashion, to literature, to music – what was disregarded might be loved and vice versa.Read