G-g-g-g-g-Ghost Ship @ The Shacklewell Arms

What a fantastic day. I understand that Bourbon was busy elsewhere and that Ms Bourbon was involved,  so I seem to be doing a lot of lone drinking at the moment. I am okay with this in my pursuit of the single life,  for what can you do other than enjoy life? And read books. And fall down drunk. Still okay with this.

The Shacklewell Arms:  There was a free BBQ and the promise of lots of Stoner music. That was the hook,  the hook ran deep. Bone marrow deep. The pub looks rundown, but don't fooled by that appearance or if you see me in the street - we prefer terms such as 'careworn' and 'character'. The BBQ was provided by the Pacific Social Club based in Hackney. It was, a damn fine BBQ. The secret ingredient to all BBQs is now yoghurt. It's not a joke. Get some ground pine nuts in there too and a bit of salad with a bit of meat. Yoghurt. huh. It makes everything delicious ... apart from yoghurt itself.


The music was via a DJ who bore a slight resemblance to Gandalf  The White just with some tats and a vest.. It was very awesome. I got to read Carl Sagan's Contact and rock out to stoner and prog rock and drink bitter. Honestly, it was that awesome. Most importantly, no one gave a crap whether you lived or died. They were there for one thing only. The BBQ. Maybe to talk toot among themselves, but the BBQ was the hook.

There was a good selection of beers available; the usual lagers, guiness, cider, two ales, one very nice bitter. One ale and the bitter were from Adnams. Copper Dragon is worth an honorable mention here and it is worth seeking this tasty ale out, it is very nice. Very, very nice and most palatable. I confess, this day I drank to excess and woke up at home at 5am facedown, minus my magic jeans and surrealistic underpants that had dissapeared at some point leading to an added deeper layer of confusion.


Having said that, enjoyed two pints of Adnams Ghost Ship and more so when it was poured into a proper old pint jug. Those glasses are great.  Look to your right for a glimpse of a great glass. When you're done you can either steal it or pretend its a hand grenade: These glasses are much tougher than the regular ones and much easier on the wrist - so you can drink and fight all day with them.


Ghost Ship is a pale ale. My gods, it is a refreshing drink. It's like a lemon and a lime fucked and the bastard offspring became an angel and then that angelic 'lemime' got squished and put into a beer. It's a very, very fine beer. Its very mild - i guess you could complain that it doesn't have an 'Ale' character but quite frankly, I would punch you in the mouth until you accept that it is delicious, packed with citrus taste and Vitamin R for Refreshment.


I actually recommend you get some of this down you as soon as you can for this reason; Adnams Ghost Ship is a seasonal beer and only available from May to October. They do not make it all the time. They should. It's really nice. Hot sunny day, neck a pint of this down. Cold winter day, neck a pint of this down for breakfast. Everything is better this way. Even those awkward mornings.


It cost me £3.60 for a pint which is a bit much really but what the hell, anything is better than a lager. Big bag of Twiglets cost me £1, but you know what makes up for all of that?


That's right. The music was excellent and, did I mention that there was a free BBQ? A really good BBQ?


I heartily rate Adnams Ghost Ship with a 9/10. Now GO my sweet tumours and get some of that in you. Your taste buds will dance the Dance Macabre in praise


T signing off with much power, peace and love