Beers, Boats and Boozers, No.57.

We found another pub before heading back to the boat. More later.

We were moored close to this factory. I was puzzled by the canopy until we could read the faded sign that offered drinks and ice creams for sale. I wonder how much passing trade they were expecting?

Straight ahead is the modernised Loughborough Basin. This was the terminus of the River Soar Navigation that arrived here from the Trent in 1778. It wasn't until 1794 that the Leicester Canal arrived in the town. This explains why the junction is at ninety degrees from under the bridge on the left. I assume that it is called Chain Bridge as it would have been chained shut until a toll had been paid.

Just 5 minutes from the Basin is a fairly new micro pub, the Needle and Pin. It opened late in 2015 in the old H and R electronics shop that had been empty for a good while. The bar is sparse downstairs but the upper floor has seating with games and a record player available. The pub is linked with Wicked Hathern Breewery somehow. Sparse doesn't really mean bare and the place is comfortable enough, and was well filled. The barman greeted is nicely and was very knowledgeable about the beers and ciders that were on offer. For our visit there were six beers on hand pull with plenty of choice in cider and bottled beer too.

I spotted a brewery from close to home that I hadn't tried very much previously, North Riding Brewery from near Scarborough. They started out in the North Riding Brew Pub in the seaside resort, which they still own and brew small batches and test runs from there, but the bulk of the brewing is the North Riding Brewery that was started in East Ayton, near to Scarborough. In fact they have just moved. December 2019 to new premises a bit up the raod, to a new unit at Snainton. This allows them to bre 40 bbls a week rather then the 30 previously, but just gives them more space for storage etc. They should start brewing at the new place in January 2020. In fact the beer I tried was a collaboration with Five Towns Brewery so perhaps I should also credit them too.

Five Town Brewery was set up in 2008 after starting out with home brewing. The brewery is Malcolm Bastow who actually has a full time job as a nurse. The running of his 2.5bbl plant takes up what spare time he has. No wonder he collaborated for this beer. The five towns referred to are the five that go to make up Wakefield, Knottingley, Normanton, Pontefract, Featherstone and Castleford. After tasting this beer I will look out for the beer in the future.

I do like a dark beer so the combination of colour and brewery led me straight to this pint. I wasn't disappointed. What a lovely pint. The head came out almost a coffee in colour, and the pint appeared to be black but when held to the light definitely had red there too. The head looked like it had been floated on top. At 4.3% could be said to be strong for a mild but the taste was did it for me. Not being very good with the descriptive powers, the best I can do is subtle, nothing was overpowering, but the complete symphony was extremely pleasing. You could tell from the name the flavours but nothing hid the others. Just a great pint all round. The Needle and Pin is well worth a visit, and I will definitely look out for more beers from North Riding and Five Towns.