Beers, Boats and Boozers, 2018. No.31

We had nineteen locks ahead of us the next day and the weather looked great, once again. The Audlem flight is quite drawn out but the gates are easy, and narrow, so easy to jump across

This is around Lock 7 looking back down the hill, so on the eighth of the day. Nothing passed in either direction yet.

Just another 6 in this flight to do and a boat coming our way hopefully means all the locks will be the right way for us. Does anybody know why the lock beams are painted grey. I know that it is traditional here, but was it from the original canal company or just something that happened later in the canal's life?

We are at the top of the Audlem locks and still basking in the sun. It is a pleasure to be out and about on the canals on days like this. Not massively busy so you can just potter along on your own.

You get a mile break before getting to the foot of the Adderley Locks, but there are only five of them. I spy a boat leaving No.4. under Massey's Bridge, so things may well be good for us again.

Boat and this butty were heading to Audlem for the Historic  Boat event and had to bow haul the butty through the locks. I'm glad I wasn't behind them as it would have thrown our schedule out, but a great day for taking your time.

Last lock of the day and Helen's is going to pick me up under the bridge, I hope. It is then a nice 3 mile run to our mooring for the day.

Beautiful long tree lined straights based through and still not much traffic about.

Once stopped I had the door off the stove to replace the packing around the glass. I bought a kit and the rope they gave me was far too thick. I had bought some thin fire proof packing and thought I had better get round to sorting it out before it was needed!

We moored up just outside Market Drayton and were heading into town for a pint after the previous disappointment.

The building of the Red Lion dates from 1623 and when the Joules Brewery was in Stone it was a Joules owned pub. It is now the brewery tap as the new 2010 brewery is behind the pub. They have moved the oak paneling to the dining area and has 7 of Robert Thompson of Kilburn who carves the mice on his work. All Joules pubs seem to be refurbished in the same style. Loads of warm oak and old signs etc. They are always feel warm and inviting. The staff are always interested and willing to talk about their beer too.

Joule's beer started to be brewed by Augustinian Monks near stone in the 16th century and they were known to bless each barrel. By 1780 the Joules family became involved and by 1867 they had made the red cross their trade mark, the 6th in the country. Mind you they put 'Trade' 'Mark' either side to differentiate it from that of the International Red Cross!! In the 19th century there were massive rivals with Bass and competed with them for USA and India trade. By 1970's Bass Charington managed to buy enough shares in Joules to take on the company, and then destroy it, and in 1974 the brewery in Stone was closed. By 2008 they had become Molson Coors and an approach was made about brewing Joules recipie beers independently. In 2009 this was agreed as was use of the logo. In 2010 the new brewery was built behind the Red Lion in Market Drayton that accessed the same water aquifer as at Stone.

This is one of my most favourite beers. It has a lovely colour and head and although a pale ale is not thin and hoppy but has real malty biscuit and sweet caramel tastes with a bitter finish at 4.1%. It all feels very complex, a real pleasure to drink, and nice and thick on the tongue too. Beautiful I have never had a poor pint of this nectar.

I then tried one of their seasonal beers Bob On at 3.6% a nice summer evening drink with a lovely head, and a lemony yellow colour to compliment the lemon and citrus aroma but with some of the pale ale body to it too. I should perhaps say that we had fish and chips and a pint for £9-50, hence I had another pint.

As a 'pudding' I went for the 4.5% Slumbering Monk. All the Joules beers seem to have a very thick small bubbled head that lasts to the bottom of the glass, a good sign. It was a lovely dark bitter with malty caramel end notes are great way to finish a meal. I walked back to the boat a happy man, in more ways than one. I have heard when we at our boat last, that Joule's are getting planning for a theatre and pub in the old Joules Brewery in Stone. So will be another nice pub thgere.