Beers, Boats and Boozers, No.66.

Heck, it has been difficult to find time for the blog lately. Major building works plus detailed returns and grant bids added to all the rest of life seem to claim more than their fair share of time. Any way here goes for the next installment.

We left you last at Crick and our next port of call was following a slight diversion to Braunston to pass a little time.

First thing was through Crick Tunnel. It wasn't wet this time through and a clear run too.

We had a little wait at Watford Locks, just enough time to top up the water. Today was the first day of restrictions when the locks are only open from 10am to 3.30pm. There was a queue top and bottom when the lockies arrived!

We were soon at Norton Junction and despite the lockies telling us the No.4 lock in Braunston was to be closed for repairs for a couple of days we turned right and headed there.

After the lock had closed and on the way back from the village in the evening sun the bottom lock and shop seemed strangely quiet with no boats, but very photogenic.

With the lock closed we decided to catch the bus and visit Daventry as we had never been. Of course I was on the look out for a new pub, or two as well. 

The Early Doors micro pub, the first in Northamptonshire, is found up an alley, Prince William Walk, that is off the pedestrian street of  Sheaf Street. It opened in an ex mobility shop in 2015 but had recently changed hands with a local father and son team running the show. It lives up to the micro pub title but was welcoming with old wooden doors being the decoration in part. There are tables and benches around and the beer is all on gravity, kept in its own cooler, purpose built by the look of it. There were six beers on tap and plenty of ciders for Helen to choose from, some boxed but three on hand pull. It had been Northants. cider pub of the year. As it was mid afternoon it was very quiet in the pub.

I choose a beer from the Vale Brewery from Buckinghamshire as I had enjoyed one of their beers previously. The brewery was set up in 1995 by Mark and Phil Stevens in Haddenham, but by 2007 they found a new site not too far away in Brill (near to Ayelsbury). The business did well and they grew their brew plant to a 20bl unit that produces 5616 pints at every brew. They do run tours and own several pubs too, one where sister brewery Aylesbury Brewhouse is found. They only use Maris Otter malted barley and hops from around the world.

I tried the Black Beauty Porter 4.4%. As it was gravity poured there was little head on the beer. With a dark beer it is always nice to me to see the contrast between the beer and the head, so that was missing. I have said several times I do like a beer hand pulled. The colour was a deep black and the first sup was very complex. The first note was of chocolate and then a bitter coffee came through, probably the roasted malt. As stated on the pump clip it was very full bodied and a meal in a glass. I really enjoyed it and would seek it out again. I will also return to the pub too. If you are a trip to Daventry look it out.