It was moments after 06.00, the 06.25 flight from Gatwick to München was about to Board. You’re from Edinburgh? said Doris in front of us in the queue. No, Glasgow, I replied. Your Boarding Card says Edinburgh. So it did, where was my Gatwick-München Ausweis? I looked in my pockets, nothing, I opened my bag, nothing, I left the queue. I did not even have the return Boarding Cards to Edinburgh, wtf?
Last evening was all so different
We reached Edinburgh Airport in good time by driving via Stirling and not taking the normally congested M8. Our flight to Gatwick was early, Clive and Maggie were waiting for us in their new Mercedes, why did they not send their Driver to collect us?
Clive put forward a suggestion – There is Dark Star (Partridge Green, West Sussex) Smoked Porter on in a Pub just a twenty five minute drive from here. I had tasted this two weeks prior at the Three Judges (Partick, Glasgow) and had been impressed by how similar it was in flavour to Spezial (Bamberg, Bayern). I had told Clive to keep an eye out for it as it must appear in his neck of the woods soon. Why drive twenty five minutes for a Bier when one still has to drive ten minutes to Crawley, dump one’s bags and walk to and from The Swan? Surely a waste of VDT?
Maggie was up for the drive, Clive was still not selling me the deal, but as we were headed south east beyond Crawley it was now written. The Sat-Nav did not give away the destination, the road-signs eventually did – Are we heading to Partridge Green? I asked. This was by now rhetorical. The home of Evening Star, our favourite Brewery in these parts (some may argue that Harveys holds its own), we were going to The Partridge, the Brewery Tap. The location of the Brewery itself was pointed out just before we parked at this much sought after venue. Only The Brothers have been here before! Clive assured me. I was a Great Big Happy Old Hector and I had not even had the Bier. A BIG THANKS to Maggie for indulging us. Partridge Green! Leith no more!
Maggie permitted herself a half, Clive and Hector got tore in. Marg even had her favourite Caribbean Tipple. This Ale is everything I remembered and it was late of an evening when I first had it. Not as severe as Schlenkerla, it has the distinctive Smoked Flavours, but remains Mellow.
There’s More!
The American Pale Ale also from Dark Star had to be tried also. Another Fine Ale, but after the comparative onslaught on the palate of its predecessor it did lose out. One of the Locals propping up the bar took us on, he did not believe that I had come all this way and so briefly to drink Dark Star Ale at Source, why not?
Back to Crawley
Maggie dropped Clive and Hector at The Swan, she and Marg headed back to the Mansion.
Niall was in situ, Dave arrived shortly afterwards. One is starting to feel like a Local, and what’s-more there was no Hophead. Amarillo (Crouch Vale, Essex) a Blond at 5% was deemed to be only second of choice to the Dark Star’s American PA at the last Larbert Ale Festival. Tonight it was flat, lifeless, tasteless, a major disappointment. Time to switch to the Cider, but no Old Rosie…the Black Rat.
We were sensible Chaps and went home long before closing time. Clive had washing machines to move, Hector had a flight at 06.25. The Taxi was ordered the Alarm set.
The Trusty HTC?
Lesson #1, don’t switch off the phone and expect the Alarm to ring. The bladder woke me at a time I thought was early. We had missed the Alarm and the Taxi. A new Taxi would arrive in minutes, we were at Gatwick twenty minutes after the original plan and were through security in no time.
But where was my Boarding Pass?
Marg had taken the München-Edinburgh passes from me. It was pointed out that I must have had the correct Pass to get through Security.
The Wrong Pocket
It was early, I was definitely harassed, all was well and we even managed to get the extra leg-room seats. München here we come…
The Brewery Tap and Pub visited today:
The Partridge – Church Road, Partridge Green, West Sussex, RH13 8JS
The Swan – 1 Horsham Road, West Green, Crawley, RH11 7AY