"Is the Sun over the Yard-Arm..?" Awards of the Year

Or as the Handlers put it, “Is it too early for a pint?”

 

I'm advised that before my arrival on the scene, the record for a morning beer was 10.40am, instigated by their friend Janey at the T20 World Cup at the Oval between New Zealand and Scotland in 2009. They also rather sheepishly reference the West Indies Test at Old Trafford where in the course of a day they accumulated 7 of those cardboard beer carriers between the two of them – and that's NOT counting the free shots of Cockspur Rum being dished out at the same time! I say sheepishly as they managed to completely miss our beloved Monty's moment of glory and wickettaking magic so have been suitably chastised for this!

As I'm a little too young to drink, I've had to doff my fins to their superior judgements on this particular subject, so without further ado, and after much negotiation, discussion and arguments, the Handlers Beer Awards are as follows.

@ipkissmog speech:

“aherm, aherm... Ladies and Gentlemen of the Cricketing fraternity... We all know that there is something about cricket... it allows you the time to savour a beer whilst watching the game unfold, rather than frantically gulping down a paltry offering at halftime as you have to do in a football match. As such, you tend to find that most grounds provide a decent pint. Thus said, we have also named and shamed the shocking beer providers too.”

And the Winners are:

• In 3^rd Place, Old Trafford – Thwaites. It's a nice smooth beer perfect for an ODI/T20; possibly not so clever to over-indulge during a Test Match though, as we found out to our cost.
• The Runner-Up has to be Edgbaston – Pedigree. Generally a great beer anyway, and was provided 'well-poured' – extremely drinkable.
• And the Winner is... The Emirates Durham ICG – Pedigree. Hands down! Same beer as at Edgbaston but when served in Austin’s bar with proper Pedigree glasses there's a certain class to it. And even in the plastic glasses it still manages to be a damn fine beer to watch the game with.

                                   @mrsipkissmog huddles against the cold... but I'm NOT a beer-rest!

Hall of Shame:

• 3^rd Worst Beer came from Trent Bridge – Worthingtons. Watery yet metallic tasting, and served in plastic pots so flimsy that most of it spills out when you grasp it. On the plus-side though, that means you don't have to drink quite so much of it.* see addendum below!
• Runner-up was, I'm afraid, Leicester – Old Speckled Hen. Well that's what they said it was. It looked more like lager to us, and the taste wasn’t easy to identify either.
• And the Worst Beer of the Year goes to Taunton – Pedigree. This was on the grounds that their native Cider was only available in cans (really? in Zumerzet??) Safe bet, you would say, but no, not here. No head to speak of, just some unhealthy splotches of cream on the top that made it look like off-milk. It takes a lot for two Geordies (one descended from a Yorkshireman) to leave ale, so imagine Susie's shock when we left over half of our pints undrunk!!

                                               The Fearns were horrified at Lanky's behaviour!

It's worth adding that we would've included for the Australian Grounds too, if either of the Handlers had been capable of indulging whilst at the match. But alas, having severely overindulged at Barmy Army Headquarters before the start of the Tests, they went somewhat green at the thought.

*Special mention does to to Trent Bridge however, for whilst the beer was poor, they had a kiosk selling wine in special plastic bottles, and these were of very fine vintages which made for a pleasant change. Credit where it's due for innovation!

Just to summarise the grounds we've been to this year are:

Aigburth   Arundel   Derby   Durham   Edgbaston  Headingley   Horsham   Hove   Leicester   Norden CC   Old Trafford   Scarborough   Taunton   Trent Bridge   Whitgift School   Worcester

Australian Grounds:

Sydney Cricket Ground (NSW Blues) WACA Perth (Retravision Warriors)