Beers, Boats and Boozers, No.90

We left Cambridge in the afternoon after a further wander about and head down the Cam and back to the Great Ouse. We stopped off over night at Ely where we moored up about 20:00, and then off first thing to head up to the Little Ouse to explore that waterway. Unfortunately the weather was not very good, overcast and drizzly with a cool wind.

The Little Ouse has very few points of interest along it so it was real excitement to see a bridge, and watch a vehicle go over it too. It is a very narrow lightweight bridge called Redmere Bridge

This is the head of navigation for us, and as far east as we can go. The navigation does extend for another half a mile but the lock is only 35' long. The next day we walked into Brandon down a tree lined footpath called Victoria Avenue created for Queen Victoria's Jubilee. The town has been linked to flint knapping since the stone age as Grimes Graves are close by and the buildings make full use of the raw material. It was also a rabbit skin processing town that employed 400 women in the trade.

We headed back to the Great Ouse and had a lovely quiet mooring that evening and the next day the weather once again faired up. The next day we were once again at Denver Sluice for the passage across to Salter's Lode Lock and back on to the Middle Levels. Tide time was late afternoon and we were the last to cross. By the time we were at Salter's Lode the tide was just on the turn making it a little awkward getting in, but no drama. As we were last through we were allowed to overnight on the lock mooring before setting off early the next morning.

Once again we were lucky to find a space at March. We had wanted to look round the little museum on previous visits but it had been shut. This time we stayed the next morning to have a gander, and it is well worth the time spent. Lots to see.

This end of the Middle Levels is made up of separate waterways, and each have a different character. Here on the Old Course of the River Nene we pass from the eastern to the western hemisphere with this Centenary sign provided by the Rotary Club of March. It isn't going to last until the next one mind.

We got to Ashline Lock and you can see here the old lock that was altered in 1998/99 to be inline with the Middle Level route for longer boats. We are now on the Briggate River. Not far past are some moorings at Whittlesey Leisure centre and there was room for us. 

We had a walk into town and headed to the Boat Inn on Briggate. You can see the bridge over the waterway to the right and it is very near the 90deg tight turn too. The pub is said to originate from the 11th century. It was a brew pub until 1874 and was brewing up to 210 gallons at a time. It was entertaining dealers, travelers and drovers at this time, as well as watermen on the navigation that were using the nearby quay. In 1874 the brewing equipment was sold as the pub had been bought by North Brink Brewery in Wisbech that had started in 1795. For some reason landlords did not seem to stay as for the next few years it was up for let. The North Brink Brewery was finally bought by the Elgoods Family in 1878 and is still owned and run by them. The pub we visited was somewhat run down, but everybody was very friendly and we had a good chat. There was a poor choice of beer on hand pull though.

I Tried a pint from Heritage Brewing Company. They are based in the William Worthington Brewery that then became the National Brewing Centre in Burton upon Trent. Steve Wellington joined up with the museum to start up a micro brewery but later the plant was enlarged to a 25 bbl unit and the brewery and bottling plant were used. They aim to preserve methods, styles and recipes of old and have been credited with saving Worthington White Label beer. They obviously use the famous Burton water for brewing.

The Heritage Gold, 4.8%, I tried had a lovely golden colour and a nice head on it. there is a citrus aroma as you bring it to the mouth but the first taste for me was of the bitterness. The hops came through afterwards, but as always when the beer is supposed to be a balanced ale I seem to find it a 'jack of all trades, but master of none'. It seems I like a more definite taste, so long as I like it. To me a bit like a lager in as much as they 'all taste the same'. (I know they don't by the way). Not quite a session ale, but a beer that attracts the middle ground, so does not stand out to my on distinguishing taste buds. Still alot better than some drinks I have tasted.