Chester was resplendent in the Autumn Sunshine. After a Full English Breakfast we headed into town centre with its unique Covered Walkways. Pre-Elizabethan in parts it is the closest thing that England has to the traditional German Altstadt with which Hector is more familiar.
Having seen the shops we headed down to the banks of the River Dee via a Park full of tame Squirrels which kept Marg amused. Add to this Graeme armed with binoculars to Spot Birds, and this would be a different sort of day for the Curry Hound.
At least there were the Roman Sites off the River Bank to give Hector some sense of Kultur before he was whisked off into the Chester Hinterland and The Zoo.
Hector likes Penguins, Meercats of the Animated Variety are interesting, that’s about it. Having sat on the neck of an Elephant in Sri Lanka in a National Park, watching them in a pen is not interesting. Animals that hide from the Paying Public should be dealt with, rations withheld… The Lions and Tigers were reluctant to appear, another Cat simply did not. Even our Close Cousins – the Orangutan were indifferent. We went to a Tropical House full of Birds, I took photos of the Foliage. A Bird gave Marion a Present, she then wanted out. The Penguins were fun, of course.
Meanwhile back in the Clean World
Dinner was booked in a Pub – The Bear and Billet. They were having an Ersatz Oktoberfest. This meant the Staff were dressed in Bayerische Costumes. Posters advertised Deutsche Bier, most of it third rate. At least there was some Schlenkerla (Heller, Bamberg, Bayern) but bizarrely this was the Weizen. I had to have it. Poured in a normal pint glass is not the way to drink a Weissbier. Still, I knew I would be getting the full Smoke/Rauch experience. Being used to the Urbock, this still felt a bit thin.
The Ladies drank non-Bier related items and so do not appear much in this saga. Graeme would always choose something at the lower end of the abv range on offer. Roosters was a favourite Brewery in the late 1990s. Their Roosters, Cream and Yankee were all superb. Either the palate has moved on or they are not made to the same standard as in the halcyon days. Londinium (Roosters, Harrogate, Yorkshire) a 5.5% Porter felt like a fitting choice in this Roman Town. It would also complement the Dark Schlenkerla. This Coffee Porter was Dry thankfully a fine Ale indeed.
To accompany all this I had a Double Bacon burger – of the Home-made Variety. This was an excellent Feast, way more satisfying than Graeme’s Small Steak.
Spitting Feathers
Having completed a daytime survey of the three main Bier Outlets on Northgate, The Brewery Tap, aka Spitting Feathers stood out above all. Reminiscent of a Great Hall, the interior had a very inviting atmosphere. The Menu was also superior to that of the Bear and Billet, but having booked our table at the latter we stuck with it.
Woodlands’ (Woodlands, Nantwich, Cheshire) Super IPA at 6.4% was way above what Graeme would tackle. This was within the comfort zone for Hector, just. This Gold Ale was very pleasant and did not drink at its given strength. It had the Body but was lacking a significant flavour, a pity.
Back Home
We had to return to the Pied Bull to try some of the American Craft Beer. The Classic Pale Ale at 5.5% (Flying Dog, USA) was a beautiful Amber and well-balanced Beer. It was Dry with a hint of Malt, a very pleasant experience. Graeme had only ever tried one US Beer before and had not enjoyed, he stuck with the domestic. These were starting to run out.
Somehow it was time to call it a day. Hector was just getting warmed up, the Ladies must learn to pace themselves.
The Brewery Taps and Pub visited today:
The Bear and Billet – 94 Lower Bridge Street, Chester, Cheshire, CH1 1RU
Spitting Feathers : The Brewery Tap – 52-54 Lower Bridge Street, Chester, CH1 1RU
The Pied Bull – 57 Northgate Street, Chester, CH1 2HQ