Francois and Susan opened their doors and and allowed us to enjoy their hospitality, along with awesome appetizers of shrimp cocktail, sausage gravy on toast and watermelon rinds wrapped in bacon.  We had a wonderful dinner starting with a delicious shrimp and squash bisque, then an awesome roast pork tenderloin, with mushroom gravy, sweet potato casserole, broccoli casserole and creamy risotto.  This was followed by chocolate rice crispy bars, peanut butter balls, chocolate torte and a rum cream cake.  All of this was enjoyed with great friends, good music, and accompanied by plethora of homebrew and hard to find commercial beer. 

 

Great job Francois and Susan, thanks for having us and hosting our gathering!

An interesting thing happened last month.  As editor of the newsletter I received an e-mail from a gentleman named Graham in England.  He had seen Dean on our web site and asked me to forward a message to him as he had lost his e-mail.  Well, it turned out that he had come across an old article Dean had written for Homebrew Digest which spoke of him and the Rose Tavern in Wisbech which he used to own.  It's amazing how the internet allows people to get in touch with each other after such a long time.  Anyway, here is the article which Dean had written about Graham and the Rose Tavern for Homebrew Digest:

When we got the chance to fly Virgin Atlantic for $93
ea. way, we jumped.
Don't let the weather in the UK in Jan. scare you -
just keep close
to your CAMRA Good Beer Guide! 

It was our 4th of 7 days in England and we were
heading south from the
county of Norfolk in East Anglia towards Oxford.  As
it was getting late,
we detoured off the A47 to the town of Wisbech.  We
couldn't see any
B&B signs but we did find a Real Ale pub from the Good
Beer Guide and
thought that would be a good place to ask.  Thus we
entered
The Rose Tavern freehouse in Wisbech.

They had just opened  at  5:30 and there were already
3 or so gents at the 12
seat bar.  We ordered Woodford's Wherry Best Bitter
(OG 1.039 ABV 4%) and
asked about places to stay in the area.  Graham
appeared from the back room
and set about to helping us find a room.  A call to
the Marmin Hotel,
his first choice, proved them full.  So he asks 'Who's
driving?'.  I
answered that I was and he say's 'Come on.  We'll go
get you a room at
a good rate'.  So I left my wife at the bar and headed
out to explore Wisbech
with the local publican.  At his direction, I drove
around the town stopping
at two hotels that he declared 'too expensive', the
Marmin again
'Just to check', and ended up at the Orchard Hotel
(which came complete
with Basil and Sybil - but that's another story).  He
also gave me an
impromptu historical tour and showed me the Elgoods
Brewery in town telling
me to go in and 'tell 'em you came from America for a
tour!'.

We returned to the Rose.  As I sat down one gent asks
'So you work with
computers?' and a second chimes in 'And make your own
beer?'!  Patty
had been having quite a chat!  Over pints of
Butterknowle's Conciliation
Ale (1.042, 4.2%) I got to know the folks who seemed
to know me so well.
Graham was starting us collecting bar coasters (of
which he has quite a
collection) by the time we tried Morrells Varsity
(1.041, 4.3%).

All made us feel as welcome as we've ever been!
Sensing my curiosity about
Real Ale, Graham gave us a cellar tour (his cellar
trousers are the butt
of the locals jokes), showed us where he has his beer
festival in the summer
complete with live music and dancing, and gave us a
copy of all the Real
Ale literature he could find.

We returned after dinner for the Everards Tiger Best
Bitter (1.041, 4.2%)
and the best beer of the trip, Cains Formidible Ale
(1.048, 5.1%) -
smooth, tasty and sneaky!

We consider ourselves fortunate to be adopted by
Graham and the Rose Tavern
folks.  If you're ever anywhere near England, GO!
Best, freshest and most
diverse Real Ales (and conversation!) on our trip!

The Rose Tavern freehouse
53 North Bank (on the river)
Wisbech

Cherry and Bill Tredo attended the Moat Mountain Smokehouse & Brewing Co. Beer Dinner held on November 6^th at 6PM. Having driven as far as Webster NH the previous evening there was no great urgency to depart for the final 100 miles to North Conway on Saturday. Instead, a lazy morning was followed by an equally leisurely drive north dotted with stops at various and sundry antique shops along the way.  The arrival in No Conway was still too early, so a trip to the north side of town for a brew at Tuckerman’s Bar and another at Moat Mt wetted the taste buds for the anticipated dinner ahead.

 

The five-course tasting of “Octoberfest”  fare was paired with 5 of the Moat Mt lagers and ales. Seating at large tables afforded the opportunity to make new friends and/or the chance to try to impress the same.

 

First course was an Austrian Style Oxtail Soup served with Moat Mt Golden Dog Pilsner.

There were some vegetarians in the group so a completely separate menu was designed

around their needs. Although there was vegetarian at the Tredo table, remembering the

exact menu is difficult. The Oxtail Soup however was truly delicious and the Pilsner came across as light and refreshing, a great pairing indeed (even with the veggie entree.)

 

Second course, an unbelievably delicious Pastrami Smoked Salmon served with Potato Latke (potato pancakes,) sour cream and apple chutney. This course was paired with the Hoffman Weiss. This was also light and refreshing and although it had a banana

flavor (note, essence,) it was not as overpowering, and was better than, the same brew from  last year. The food pairing was outstanding!

  

The “salad” course was Bavarian Weiss Wurst and Beet Salad with sweet mustard. One of the reporting members was not thrilled when beets were mentioned, but that person’s

plate, due to the beet recipe used, was nearly empty when removed. The veggie replacement for the wurst was a vegetarian stuffed ravioli with red pepper couli. The course was accompanied by the Dunkle Weiss, which is an excellent 3 yeast weissen. The triple yeasts are a weissen, a heiffen weissen, and a lager.

 

The Moat Mountain Opa’s Octoberfest accompanied the main course of Roast Pork Loin with braised Red Cabbage and Pumpkin Spatzle (which we could have told you earlier, is a German form of pasta) This course was just as excellent as the paired brew. When the Octoberfest is not available, the barmaids have been known to substitute a brown ale lightened slightly with some Dunkle. Veggie enthusiasts would have loved the Puffed Pastry filled with grilled mushrooms and vegetables. It was so enormous that our token

Vegetarian could not begin to finish it. No fear, Rick was there!!! Rick, a local patron

is never full! If you should ever be at Moat Mountain on a Friday night, there is an “all-you-can-eat” pork buffet. Rick would be the skinny guy who returns to the buffet line three and four times!!!

 

Last course would be the Square Tail Stout paired with the “BEST” German Black Forest Cake ever consumed by these reporters. The stout was dry, not sweet, and was a perfect accompaniment  to the sweetness of the “perfect” cake.  Sorry you all missed the meal!!!

What is the current name of the first brewery in Canada to be operated by a woman?

Answer:  Moosehead Breweries.   Susannah Oland took over operations of the then Army and Navy Brewery when her husband died in 1870.  (Click here for a complete history)