A pre-choir pint in The Cask and Barrel Southside – what could be better to lubricate the vocal chords? Also gives me a chance to try out the Android WordPress App – who knows, this may spawn a whole new challenge for the year?
Slipway, from the grandly-titled Captain Cook Brewery in North Yorkshire, is a very pleasantly bitter IPA. The nose is light and citrusy, while the colour is dark straw. The flavour is smooth but happy, with the bitterness building over time. The finish is long, bitter but satisfying. At 4.2% it’s not quite a session beer, although it would be difficult to stop at just the one!
You can read more about Slipway and its sister beers on the brewery website.
Enjoyed as a guest beer at 
The second in Caledonian’s monthly specials in 2009, this brew is named for the Six Nations rugby tournament. Possibly brewed with the intention to celebrate magnificent Scottish wins – Murrayfield Stadium being situated little more than a mile from the brewery – but will unfortunately more likely be used for drowning of tartan sorrows! With the various cut-backs in the working at the Caledonian brewery as a result of the recent acquisition by Scottish and Newcastle (now owned by Heineken) it’s good to see that a full programme of seasonal beers is planned this year.