Plymouth Day 6: Fortescue and Mutley Plain.

In early afternoon, we grabbed a bus from our base in Honicknowle, which is a few miles north of Plymouth's city center, to Mutley Plain -- a street, but also the name for the neighborhood. The crown jewel of Mutley Plain is the Fortescue Pub, winner of the local Campaign for Real Ale chapter's "best of" numerous time.

Around eight well-tended cask ales are pouring at any given time, and my attention was drawn to the Blue Anchor Spingo Special, a rarity from a pub brewery in Cornwall. At 6.6%, it's strong by English standards (though not by Hoptimus's standards). In the photo above, I'm holding a Spingo in one hand and a plastic cap from a tub of Sancho Miguel's Salsa. I promised them I'd take a photo.

While nursing the Spingo, I noticed that St. Austell Proper Job was available, which led to a second pint, which led in turn to two more pints of Proper Job in the handy carry-out container, to be enjoyed back home in the garden. Fastened by a clip, it forms a spout reminiscent of elementary school milk cartons. Unlike growlers, it needs to be consumed quickly.

We may have played a game of Scrabble in the blue, red and grey. If so, I imagine I lost.

(The account of our visit to the UK is being posted piecemeal, backdated to the actual day)

Plymouth Day 5: Cawsand and Edgcumbe.

With weather still sunny and hot, Monday seemed an ideal day for a cool, breezy boat ride from Plymouth harbor to the tiny port of Cawsand. The "county line" between Devon and Cornwall is the River Tamar, and Cawsand is just another bay over from Plymouth, floating west. We arrived before lunch and immediately retired to the adjacent pub, where I richly enjoyed two pints of Skinner's Betty Stogs before attacking a Cornish pasty.

There followed a bus ride over the hill to the Mt. Edgcumbe House and Park, a jaunt through the grounds and formal garden, and a return ferry to Plymouth's commercial harbor -- but not before two glorious pints of St. Austell Trelawny, a memorable ale brewed with Galaxy hops from Tasmania. Session ale is the future, indeed.

(The account of our visit to the UK is being posted piecemeal, backdated to the actual day)