Dark Star

Last weekend I was taken on a tour of the Dark Star brewery - a much welcomed birthday surprise from Simon! Originating in the cellar of a Brighton pub, The Evening Star back in 1994, the Dark Star Brewing Company takes it's name from the strong dark strong bitter brewed by the young Rob Jones (Dark Star's head brewer) for Pitfield Brewery in London back in 1987 which was subsequently named after the song of the same name by The Grateful Dead.  

The brewery has since grown in size and relocated twice to where it is now; Partridge Green, West Sussex - a bus ride through the beautiful Sussexian Downs from Brighton. Upon arrival to their warehouse brewery we were greeted with a "please make your way over to the crates where the talk will take place and start drinking." Well OK if you insist..

 

The talk was very interesting, informative and we learned all about the history of the brewery and the brewing process..

 

Whilst sampling a great many of the delicious Dark Star ales on offer..

And for afters we had a table reserved at the brewery tap in the village, The Partridge for a lovely lunch in the sunshine..

 

And of course, we procured a couple of pints to take home!!

Middle Farm, Lewes

 

Picture source: Middle Farm

I can't think of a much better way to end a looong week (and in fact it was even only a short one!) than to come home carrying a box full of English ciders, ales and crops. And this exactly what I did yesterday! Wey! I visited Middle Farm and oh my, what a discovery it was, it's my new haunt! Can't believe I've been just driving straight past it on my way to and from work without actually stopping in! You can read all about the wonders of Middle Farm HERE.

My box full of rough Somerset ciders, local ales, an organic perry, two different varieties of tomato plant, a small oregano bush, rhubarb chard seeds and a How to Grow Apples and Make Cider book!

As well as being a working family farm there's a restaurant, gift shop, farm shop, plant nursery and, you guessed it...an incredible CIDER SHOP!!! I was totally overwhelmed by the range and quantity of English ales, meads, country wines, fruit liqueurs, ciders and Perries! Just look...!

 

Picture source: Middle Farm

I also spotted this interesting looking book on the counter...'How to Grow Apples and Make Cider'. This year I will definitely be making my own cider! I didn't get round to it last year as the two weeks of the apple harvest transpired to be the two weeks that I was between the leaving of my old job and the starting of a new and the leaving of London for a new life by the sea. So not all bad I guess - but I think this book will be able to provide me with all the information I need and possibly more to get going on a batch of my own this year! It's written by Bill Bleasdale, a cider maker who lives high up on a magical mountain in Wales. Check out his website Welsh Mountain Cider.

 

Cheers and adieu!