The Ale Trail: Home Brew in Basall Common and breakfast at the Forest of Arden Resort

I wish to pause before heading north to Basall Common, to remind all the good citizens who drive motor vehicles over here on the North American continent just how good we have it.  For one thing we American's still use the English Standard of measurement for fueling up our cars and trucks and SUV's.  I paid $3.00 for a gallon where I live the other day.  Yes our gallon is about a half liter smaller than an Imperial Gallon which just so happens to be four (4) liters.  Now a liter is under a quart, I know you know that. Today's exchange is $1.55 in US dollars to by a British £ 1.00.  To fill up our tank for the road in the car we were driving it took 40 liters, which cost a little over £ 49.00, so that's £ 49.00 pounds to fill the tank up or in US dollars $75.68, each time you fill up at the petrol station.  Now do the math... yup, we have it good over here!

Now the Ale Trail is all about the beer and the Ale, Basall Common being no exception what so ever as for me... it is the Holy Grail of Home Brew. Tonight we stayed with old friends eating a fine meal and I savoring home brew... it's what I came here for... well sort of... at least for this story. My friend has been brewing for 35 years... he knows a thing or two about beer and ale and specific gravity.  Over the years he has used modern and ancient recipes, and has also done it from scratch following time honored recipes... with  precise measurement of specialty hops and malts sorted by variety and age and condition... adding exotic yeasts... and not to forget treated tap water... but that has all changed now.  Today he makes five gallons at a time of “Kit” ales in the white poly container above... as he no longer has time for making brew from scratch.  

He once used as a guide “Brewing beers like those you buy,” by Dave line, now he brews using pre-fab“Kits.”  The first beer tonight was a copy of “Definitive Bitter,” stronger than what you would get if you followed the kit directions... and yesssss ever so tasty. 

Next up was a “Yorkshire Bitter” which I was told is the leading UK Home brew kit... each time you make a batch you get 30 to 40 Imperial Pints (about 20 ounces each) or five thirst quenching Imperial Gallons of dreamy ale!  Pay attention to what you are doing for best results.  I could go on and on about my friends home brew, we did stay up having a few more than required.  Really it's one of those experiences you need to be there for, perhaps one day you will!

My good sister in law had booked us a room at the Arden Forest Resort, which is just a few miles north east of Basall Common. As one can see from the snap I took in the main lobby, this place is anything but shabby.  Next morning I witnessed a  wounding at breakfast... after a very quiet restful sleep... it was a full English breakfast... house rules call for us to dress, naturally when we had been seated... a New Age hippie couple who obviously had not read the rules!  With gruffy young teen age boys in torn cut off jeans in need of a good wash took a nearby table... to Hell with with the dress rules. 

A waiter approached..."Coffee?"  Hippie mum asked for Green Tea.  The waiter offered hot English tea, the normal stuff you have with milk and sugar... hippie mummy relented...

Sleepy eyed younger brother, the one in need of a good wash and hair cut... went to pick up the stainless steel mini-pot holding the "Hot Tea."  

Older brother was sitting across from him...  I just happened to turn to see the younger brother yell ouch and then let the tea pot go... the vessel was about 4 inches above the table when it happened and it tipped forward... the lid opened... I watched as hot tea poured out towards the older brother who was also watching now with great fear.  It happened so fast... older brother screamed as he jumped out of his seat.  The scream commanded the attention of everyone... and now with all eyes upon him... he screamed "You're a fucking idiot!"

Silence... 

The younger said, "I burnt my finger."  The older brother was crotch burnt...  I wondered for a fleeting moment if the painful expression on his face meant he'd gone "commando" this morning.

Mum and dad and everyone in the restaurant heard the "F" word for breakfast.  The older brother was still ranting and raving as I thought... "Some people should not have children."

Information: Brewing beers like those you buy,” by Dave line, published by the Amateur Wine makers publications LTD Andover, Hants (TEL 52412) 1st edition 1978 (Click Here)

The Forest of Arden Resort (Click Here)