Update from yesterday & Dolphin, Hastings

A gorgeous day yesterday, a bit more overcast today, and to the Dolphin...

I was here Thursday evening for the quiz too, our team, At The Bar, came equal first, though there were only 5 other teams this week (compared to 13 in total last week), potentially easier to come last too! There was a lovely near-full moon to admire from the beach on the walk home too, very atmospheric. Anyway, A few changes ale-wise at the Dolphin...

Because of trouble with the Directors, and I still think the recipe of that has been altered, if not the flavour has been effected by being brewed in Bedford now, Mark has brought in Youngs Special, ironically, brewed in Bedford at Charles Wells too!  It may not become the regular replacement, but signs are of sales of Special being significantly more than the Directors, so wait and see...

Sussex Best and Hophead remain regulars, and the APA remains as the summer reguar too, plus 2 guest ales, ie the Stonehenge Heel Stone (4.3%) already mentioned in previous blogs, and Growler Lemon Head (4%). The Lemon Head is a ginger and lemon flavoured ale, no surprise there then, though the ginger is very subtle, the lemon is in your face.  It's very refreshing, if a tad different, good summer ale, especially if you like shandies. By the way, I was confused by Growler Brewery, but it appears Nethergate are now calling themselves Growler, unless they always did and I just wasn't aware?

Cheers!

Dolphin, Hastings 3rd June

OK, for a change, I wandered eastwards, along the beach in the evening sunshine, and ended up at the Dolphin at Rock-a-Nore, presumably an Anglais interpretation of 'Northern Rock' (?), and started with my usual Dark Star Hophead, but more was available than I realised...

The 3 regulars, and summer 'special' were all on, ie Hophead, Directors (is it just me, or does this taste more 'malty' than it used to, have Charles Wells altered the recipe, it's like drinking liquidised Caramac!?!), Sussex Best, and the excellent Dark Star American Pale Ale (APA), plus 2 guests, the new localish brewer (Littlehampton), Anchor Springs Riptide (4.1%, a medium coloured traditional South Eastern bitter, pretty good) and Hop Back Summer Lightning, another old favourite... 

Consequently, following the Hophead, I tried a pint of the Summer Lightning, I had to compare the two for research purposes, of course, and I found that Summer Lightning still can hold it's head up high, but not quite to Hophead height, despite being stronger at 5% compared to 3.8%, which is some achievement for the Sussex brewer. The tasting notes in the Good Beer Guide for Summer Lightning read "Finely balanced, it has an intense bitterness, leading to a long, dry finish." Very true, though I would add a slight nutty flavour too, presumably to do with the hops used, but it still doesn't come up to the bitterness of Hophead, a crackin' ale, indeed, but not as bitter and dry, ie what I like ;-)

In amongst the convivial atmosphere and good company, which included Adam, behind the bar, and Mark (landlord) and Kevin among many this side of the bar, I also drank the APA, however, I have to concede that I still prefer the Hophead, but only by a 'short head' (in horse racing 'terms', not pubco fiddling the amount of beer they serve up 'terms'; which certainly isn't the case at the Dolphin, where you always get a proper measure). 

Incidentally, they ran out of the Riptide, this evening, but will have Elgoods Golden Newt coming on soon, a 4.1% golden ale, which I am looking forward to, probably after the weekend, cheers!