For some reason or other, Hector was fairly confident that Marg would be the designated driver today. We were scheduled to meet up with Ricky and tour the pubs of Ilkley and Otley, a day out he tried to sell me the day we went to Todmoden. Ilkley and Otley were the first Yorkshire towns Hector ever made the acquaintance of back in 1996, another lifetime.
Ilkley
Trying to make out Bar t’at over the phone was a challenge, but this is where it was written we should meet. On the edge of the Car Park was the location given. I do not know how many Car Parks Ilkley has, but we first encountered a different one on the edge of town. The beginning of the Classic Holden Tour?
Ricky’s mate Geoff was in tow. Geoff looked familiar, I believe he served me at the Bradford Beer Festival earlier this year.
Taking it easy
As the day could be a long one, Hector took the decision to keep the Biers at a moderate ABV, and keep them local. The first Ale of the day was Mary Jane (Ilkley Brewing Co.) which was quite unremarkable. After the walk back to the Car Park, we sped off to Otley to locate the Horse and Farrier.
Otley
Hector recognised this pub’s location instantly being close to the Curry House. The exterior may not have changed but the interior was unrecognisable. I had to be assured that this was once a more mid twentieth century décor the last time I was here. Now it is approaching trendy wine bar in appearance but has an array of Ale taps.
Lydgate by Mallinsons (Huddersfield) was the Ale of choice. At 4% in the safe range, but the lack of strength usually means a lack of taste. The dry, hoppy taste could have been more to the fore. (Jarl of Fyne Ales manage this.)
Marg decided it was time to eat. Her Pork and Haggis Pie came as a massive slice, even the chunky Chips looked appealing. Hector was almost tempted, so was Ricky, but we knew what was coming later.
The wife of Geoff phoned – ‘Yir tea’s ready.’ That we were mobile and not long out revised the route for the day. Time to move on.
We walked across the market town to the Old Cock where the Ales of the local Otley Brewery were on sale. Hector had the Rodham’s Wheat Beer despite Ricky warning that it may be not be wonderful. Again, it was OK. This is more than I have said about many British Wheat Beers. The bar itself had a main bar room and a smaller room off. The seating area was in the smaller room, one can imagine it is quite a squeeze of a Friday night in the bar room.
Rodley?
Passing the Leeds-Bradford Airport I found myself approaching Pudsey, very familiar territory. Somehow we did not cross the valley which links Leeds with Bradford but turned east halfway down. How the Leeds-Liverpool Canal can be this high up on one side of the valley is puzzling.
The Owl was the first of two venues visited at Rodley. A large, busy pub with a décor that was from a period when pub architecture should be forgotten. The Ale which was partaken has also been forgotten. By this time Hector was starting to care less. The pubs were fine but when would I get a serious Bier? My strategy for the day was starting to backfire. The staff were very friendly, they even give a discount for card carrying CAMRA members. What a wonderful idea.
Marg went for a wander along the canal and rejoined us in time to cross the road to the very impressive Rodley Barge. What a setting! For walkers, cyclists and the passing Bier Enthusiast the location of this pub is such that it must be impossible not to stop off. The Rodley Barge Bitter had to be the Bier of choice. Sadly, not remarkable.
Geoff was dropped home and we turned our back on Leeds and headed to the haven that is Bradford.
The Fighting Cock I visited at the end of June, on a Sunday. Both Ricky and I were driving. The Partner Brewery Special was the final Ale of the day. What Ricky refers to as the best bar remaining in Bradford sells a proper array of Bier – the Bier Hector enjoys most too.
And so the final Bier of the day was the old reliable Maisel Weisse (Bayreuth, Bayern), yes, I have had it at Source! At last, a Bier with bite and body, even a hint of Bananas.
There was a possibility of an Oktoberfest Bier on draught but it was lost in translation. The Erdinger tap said Festbier on it. It was not clear if this was a Festbier version of their very bog standard Weizen, or indeed an Oktoberfest Hell… I shall never know. The latter I would have sampled.
A few Biers had been drunk today, the company was excellent, Marg was not put out. In many ways it had been a tour of great pubs rather than the consumption of outstanding Ale. The best part of the day was yet to come: possibly the finest Curry-Heute experience, ever…
The Pubs visited today:
Bar t’at – 7 Cunliffe Rd, Ilkley, LS29 9DZ
Horse and Farrier – 7 Bridge Street, Otley, West Yorkshire LS21 1BQ
Old Cock – 11-13 Crossgate, Otley, West Yorkshire LS21 1AA
The Owl at Rodley – 1 Rodley Lane, Rodley, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS13 1LB
The Rodley Barge – 182-184 Town Street Rodley, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS13 1HP
The Fighting Cock – 21 Preston Street, Bradford, West Yorkshire BD7 1JE