This is the eve of The Rome Trip officially entitled Hectoris Hiatus Horribilis, as close as we could get to – Hector’s Horrible Holidays. Due to the antisocial flight times from Scotland, Edinburgh specifically, it was conceived that The Rome Trip would kick off in Crawley. Some took the train, not Howard and Hector who flew to Gatwick. Having checked in at our respective Berths for the night, it was off to Brighton with a stop-off at Burgess Hill to see Lady Maggie, Lord Clive of Crawley was at work in The City.
The Evening Star is usually the first and sometimes also last venue on a Day Trip to Brighton, there have been a few over the years, The premises where the Dark Star Brewery began, this remains a major outlet, though with the relocation of the Brewery to Partridge Green, one has been there to pay homage twice at the new Brewery Tap.
Dark Star’s – American Pale Ale – (4.8%) was considered to be the best Cask Ale on offer, one always hopes for Revelation, perhaps later. With New World Hops still not too shabby but it does lack the bite of it’s Big Brother.
Sharing our table was a Chap busy 
at his laptop. Conversation broke out, Howard recognised something about what he was working on. The Chap was arranging the Bier for an upcoming Festival, Howard asked if he knew Alex Hall, this was he. So it goes. He is a member of the British Guild of Beer Writers, whatever that is.
Hector has toured The Pubs of Brighton with Lord Clive in previous times, today was Sir Howard’s Trip, Hector in tow. The Basketmakers Arms was dismissed, no doubt a fine Pub, but as with the majority of UK Pubs, nothing Special on offer, we – The Company – do not seek English Bitter.
How I have not been to the North Laine Brewhouse before is now a mystery, an excellent venue, bright and spacious, though I suspect that mid afternoon, midweek, was seeing it at a time which suited our requirements. One assumes this place could be Trendy and therefore Busy at night.
The Search for Hops was answered with the staff recommending their very own – Tap Taketh Over at 5.5%. This Amber Ale was suitably Dry in Flavour but suffered from a Diacetyl after-taste, a problem shared by many a Micro Brewery around the World. I should certainly wish to return here, who knows, their Ale may get better.
The Heart and Hand was again considered but dismissed, the objective was the Brighton Beer Dispensary which looked encouraging as we approached. There was quite a gathering outside given the time of day. With six Cask Taps five of which were on, the choice was simple – Bristol Beer Factory’s – Bristol Export at 5.8% (Bristol, Avon, England). Having sampled five in their range, one always has hopes for another great discovery. This Dark Gold Ale was dangerously quaffable, Maltier than I was hoping for, and despite no serious Hop Hit, was still deemed to be a very Worthy Bier.
We sat to the rear in a Conservatory/Atrium, comfortable, and were intrigued by a group of Mature Ladies who also appeared to be on a Bier Tour of Brighton.
There had to be Curry-Heute.
Somehow I found myself on Preston Street, the same street as where Marg, Hector, Lord Clive and Lady Maggie of Crawley dined on the May Bank Holiday in 2014. This evening it was River Spice’s Opperchancity to impress.
The final port of call was up the hill to The Craft Brewing Co who started out in Farringdon, another worthy venue. The Brighton Branch has six Cask Taps, Tiny Rebel (Newport, Wales) is a Brewery held in high esteem, though finding their Bier is difficult. The 5.0% Stop-Dirty Out is a Smoked Stout, not my usual style, but if one cannot appreciate a good Porter having drunk nothing but the produce of a certain Irish Brewery for some twenty years, then…
The optimum train back to Crawley via Three Bridges was chosen, by now Dr. Stan, Craig, Yvonne and Mags – whose celebratory trip this was – should be in Crawley. There was a text en route from Maggie suggesting that the first Hiatus of – The Rome Trip – was now occurring. Hector would be giving up his bed for reasons not clear.
Brewery Shades has become the Pub of choice in Crawley in the last few years. The occasional night in The Swan may still happen, however, the Ale here is usually way better. This is especially so when Dark Star’s Revelation (5.8%) is available as it was tonight. With Ales in hand, Howard and Hector went off to find Les Autres. Jean, who is scheduled to be Mags’ room-mate at the Wolf Strassenfest this year was also here to introduce herself – to Mags.
Now it was revealed why Hector was on – The Couch. Booking a hotel on the wrong date is easy, I have never done so, however in the past I have been guilty of booking an Airport Transfer for eight a month early, and train tickets for ten, a day early. It happens. There was no room at The Travelodge, or anywhere else at a sensible price, for Craig and Yvonne this evening.
The last time Hector slept on a settee in Crawley was on the way back from Deutschland during – The Volcano – episode.
The Restaurant and Pubs visited today:
The Evening Star – 55-56 Surrey St., Brighton and Hove, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 3PB, England
North Laine Brewhouse – 27 Gloucester Pl., Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 4AA
Brighton Beer Dispensary – 38 Dean St., Brighton and Hove, East Sussex,, BN1 3EG, England
The Craft Beer Co – 22-23 Upper N St, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 3FG, England
River Spice – 17 Preston St., Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 2HN, England
The Brewery Shades – 85 High St., Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 1BA, England