Onto the final hill #drinkthegradient we are heading up the steeper climb (8.6%) of the Puerto de Navacerrada with the added Bola Del Mundo. Being matched with Gouden Carolous Classic at 8.5%. #bskybeer

On Hill 4 #drinkthegradient sipping a classic Kernel Export Stout - London 1890 at 7.4% alongside the first climb up the 7.5% Puerto de Navacerrada #bskybeer

Hill 3 #drinkthegradient I’m having a ‘Sticky Bottle’ moment finding myself outside the 0.2 abv margin. I’m drinking a LSBB’25 #2 west Coast IPA from Verdant/Stoup (Seattle) /Bale Breaker (Washington State) breweries at 7% on the 7.3 Alto del León. Off to see the Commissaire. #bskybeer

Hill 2 #drinkthegradient Im supping a lovely Sindris Forge, part of Brew Yorks Nine Realms series. This one is in collaboration with Salama Brewery from Finland and is described as a 5.6% Mountain IPA . Matched with the Puerto de La Paradilla 5.7 #bskybeer

Hola. So here we are again for #DrinktheGradient - the Vuelta edition. Starting sensibly with a 4.1 % gradient Alto de La Escondida matched with a not sensible (but very good) Vault City Cherry Cola Float 4.3%abv #bskybeer

St Bernardus & Weihenstephaner ‘Konbine’ described as a Helles but much more. Very good. #belgianBeerWeek at @thefreetradeinn.bsky.social

Next De La Senne & Cantillon ‘Biere de Coupage’. An Amber Lambic Blend with a bit of funk about it. It’s not a surprise that this is very good @thefreetradeinn.bsky.social #BelgianBeerWeek

Well this is outstanding. Rodenbach Alexander, a barrel aged flemish red with sour cherries. Belgian beer week starting off well at @thefreetradeinn.bsky.social

So onto our final peak La Plange 7.2% which I’m enjoying with another Belgian Classic Westmalle Dubbel 7.0% #drinkthegradient #bskybeer

For the 4th (2nd) Hill, Cormet de Roselend 6.3%, I chose a Verdant ‘Gardens of Narrative’ at 6.5%, partly because I wanted an IPA at this point but also its great print bird artwork. #drinkthegradient #bskybeer

So our first proper hill and it’s a difficult one, Col du Pré (12,6 km à 7,7%) , HC in classification for riders but potentially difficult for us as it’s short. So im quickly sipping a classic Rochefort 6 at 7.5% #drinkthegradient #bskybeer

Next up would have been the Col des Saisies (6.4%) which would have matched perfectly with this Full Circle West Coast looper 6.4. But we are just starting on the flat so gradient is a just a little bit out #drinkthegradient #bskybeer

Due to Cow Issues the first 2 hills of #drinkthegradient are missing today so we’ve began virtual whilst watching test match. As a starter I’m beginning with dessert. Vault City poire belle Helene 5.0% abv which was matched to the missing Côte d'Héry-sur-Ugine 5.1% gradient #bskybeer #justnotcricket

Lovely @kernelbrewery.bsky.social Running Porter with a chaser of Cotherstone cheese from Neil’s Yard

Keeping hydrated in this warm weather with a little “fruit juice” at Mean Eyed Cat #bskybeer

I’ve hit the moment I remembered I shouldn’t be drinking half’s at a brewing showcase, so now in third mode. ‘Sweeping coast’ to the the right, ‘Where the Buffalo’s Roam’ to the left. @durationbeer.bsky.social takeover at @thefreetradeinn.bsky.social

My annual Friday afternoon at the Toon Beer Festival. Had to start with a Firebrick ‘Stottie IPA’ brewed with Big River Bakery. As I’m pairing it with, a Big River Ham & Pease Pudding Stottie I coincidentally bought on my way in

Well this was a lovely addition to quiz night at @thefreetradeinn.bsky.social . Mills x Oliver’s collabs all very good

Afternoon of lovely company rounded off by an appearance of of the Guinness Timmermans Collab at @thefreetradeinn.bsky.social

Sitting in the dark with headphones on, listening to the new @stevenwilsonhq.bsky.social album ‘The Overview’. Inevitably great

4th stop on #lambictrail #laternrouge is the Town Mouse. A little bottle share of an impressive Little Earth Tangential Thoughts and a third of 3 Fonteinen Nocturne

Stop 3 on #lanternrouge #lambictrail is the Mean Eyed Cat. This sourpuss is enjoying a Perennial ‘24 from Welsh Brewers Wilderness

At Axis for first additional pour in the #lanternrouge #lambictrail. A little sipper of mackerel skies alongside a third of the 3 Fonteinen Oude Kriek

#lanternrouge #lambictrail beer 2: a lovely Tilquin Kriek de Schaerbeek at Central

As is traditional now, I’ve started the Lambic trail at the Central Bar in Gateshead with a Tilquin Abricot / Rhubarbe

My mid-table obscurity performance tonight at the @thefreetradeinn.bsky.social quiz will be fuelled by this classic

Getting in practice for the Belgian beer trail in a couple of weeks. Hake at @thefreetradeinn.bsky.social inevitably great mussels in sauce, alongside chips with mayo and a bottle of Orval. Roll on the lambics

On cold evenings like this, I find joy at looking at the Scottish Gritter Tracker Map and finding so many wonderful puntastic names www.traffic.gov.scot/gritter-trac...

Got to love New Years Day at @thefreetradeinn.bsky.social . Lots of regulars, great beer and lovely soup.

In the depths of trying to find something decent to watch - randomly found a channel showing Chicago Transit Authority ‘I’m a Man’… what a great track

2nd beer of Xmas day. There is one small offy in the little town of Dollar. Every time I visit, I find a brewery I don’t really know. This time Glen Affric, have had 5 of their beers over the week - all very good

Merry Christmas. First beer of the day is Vault City’s Last Christmas - a very Whamageddon experience

The final part of our journey back to Newcastle today was the lovely train ride from Edinburgh. Here depicted in 18 pictures, taken at 5ish minute intervals with the random filter option on an old Hipstamatic app.

When visiting Falkirk area, I always have to do a visit to Andy Scott’s wonderfully Kelpies sculptures.

Great to be visiting Dollar in Clackmannanshire again & lovely being able to do the 3 mile walk along the Devon Way to Tillicoultry today. Sadly with added tree obstacles from yesterday’s storm.

Just embarking on the Pastore showcase at @thefreetradeinn.bsky.social . Looking forward to a lovely journey through these sour and blended beers.

Lovely afternoon experimenting at Northern Print, I’ve linocut more birds, adding to my little evolving aviary of prints. Tthis time alongside colourful geometry. A Penguin with a yellow circle and a Robin with.a red stripe (not the beer). #art #print

TEES! We’ve had a little restock of ‘Dogs of the Free Trade’ T-shirts and our best selling ‘Pub’ tee in a new autumnal colour. There’s also a restock of ‘Dogs’ Totes. We’re working on more stock of favourite designs, and there’s still a few items reduced on the shop. Freetradeinn.square.site

Considering the animated illustrations are by the excellent Chris Riddell & it’s soundtracked by the wonderful local band The Unthanks. It’s no surprise I really like this years Fenwicks Christmas Window

The obligatory Pre gig photo for @bellowhead.bsky.social / @thelongestjohns.bsky.social gig at the Glasshouse

61 years ago, a strange tale of a traveller in a box started & in time, would become a favourite of mine. I’m still on my journey watching Doctor Who on Iplayer in order, starting in 1963 & currently in 2008 (as the 10th reluctantly changes to 11). Image taken from my watch draw series.

Unseen Barbara Hepworth letters reveal ‘recipes’ for sculptures – and her high standards

Been across to Northern Print in the Ouseburn to see the start of their Open Editions & Blueprints exhibitions. I’m happy to report I have 2 pictures (linocuts of penguin and bears) in the Blueprints section. There’s lots of great work of various print styles to see, buy & get inspiration from.

Awaiting the start of #QuizzyMonday - the trilogy of Mastermind, Only Connect & University Challenge on #bbc2 For years, I’ve kept notes of answers i get right, and have drew some of them on the covers. This year, in small hexagons, one answer from each episode.

A regular Sunday wander down the #Ouseburn in #Newcastle. Following the burn to the Tyne through the natural, Industrial & Arty. As always @thefreetradeinn.bsky.social offers a lovely turnaround rest point for a beer & coffee

A lovely wander this morning, along #gateshead Riverside Sculpture trail. Seeing great industrial art with good mates.

A paper circle interpretation of ELO’s song Mr Blue Sky seems an appropriate place to start. Taken from my recent Listen Draw project in October