Pint! Thornbridge - Kipling 5.2% South Pacific pale ale. An old favourite which still hits the spot. #Bskybeer

Tomorrow sees the start of the Tour de France and our annual drink the gradient challenge will be Stage 20 this year. Please feel free to join us ( @pauljwhite.eurosky.social @dad2dam2dum2mum.bsky.social @thefreetradeinn.bsky.social ) guide in alt text of image. #drinkthegradient #Bskybeer

Still going through some old playlists at work. Again some decent tunes.

Still making my way through that 10 year old playlist I started on the other day. The good tunes keeping coming.

Some of tonight’s beers courtesy of those lovely people at @donzokobeer.bsky.social With @dad2dam2dum2mum.bsky.social & @pauljwhite.eurosky.social #Bskybeer

Obligatory pre gig photo for Neal Morse at Cluny 2 with @dad2dam2dum2mum.bsky.social Early kick off because of the football.

Boozing with the chaps today @pauljwhite.eurosky.social & @dad2dam2dum2mum.bsky.social in Donzoko taproom. Paul is happier than he looks, we think.

Currently enjoying a ten year old playlist whist wrestling with spreadsheets at work. Some decent tunes keeping me awake…

Today’s view from the office…

An event with cake. What’s not to like? Almost too scared to eat the In the Wake icing…almost.

All ready for the off…

Obligatory pre listening party photo. This time around for In The Wake of Poseidon with @jothekendall.bsky.social & @sidsmith.bsky.social

Pint! Brooklyn - Stonewall 4.3% Session IPA at the Water Rats, London. Fairly lightweight with a touch of grapefruit peel in the mix. Very welcome in the oppressive heat of London today. #Bskbeer

Obligatory coldest place known to man photo. Off to that there London to listen to @sidsmith.bsky.social waffle on about King Crimson for a couple of hours. Should be fun if I don’t melt.

As well as enjoying a bit of booze now and again I also enjoy reading about it. This piece by @barmas.bsky.social about Norwegian cider is really interesting and has reinforced my wish to visit the country. Well done sir.

Pint! Siren - Lumina 4.2% Session IPA which is largely uneventful. Some citrus, some bitterness and generally lightweight but inoffensive. Probably a good pre train journey selection. At the Parcel Yard, King’s Cross, London. #Bskybeer

Pint! Saint Monday - Cold IPA 5% Orange forward flavour. Some dryness- from the Swiss lager yeast? Pleasant change from your run of the mill IPA at Tap East, Stratford, London. #Bskybeer

Pint! Howling Hops - Pale Ale Series No.1 4.0% Citra & Simcoe pale ale with just the right amount of bitterness. Very quaffable at Tap East in Stratford, London. #Bskbeer

Half! Moot Brew - Penny 4.4% Rhubarb and Custard Sour. Not overtly sour, more of a spritz on the tongue. Ver pleasant. Tap East in Stratford, London. #BskyBeer

Train tunes courtesy of a prompt from @hungryforsound.bsky.social Jolly good stuff.

Obligatory coldest place known to man photo.

Bottle! Oude Geuze Boon - Black Label 7.0% Classic geuze which is the prefect end to a lovely afternoon of boozing. #BskyBeer

Scran! Top pizza at @thefreetradeinn.bsky.social from Fire and Dough.

Pint! Otherworld - Judgemental 3.1% 60 shilling, dark Scottish ale. Nice roasted malts and quite light on the palate. Quite the quaffed really @thefreetradeinn.bsky.social #BskyBeer

Half! Full Circle - Whimsical Skedaddler 4.3% Mango Sour. Does what it says on the tin and does it well @thefreetradeinn.bsky.social #BskyBeer

Pint! Roosters - Baby-faced Assassin 6.1% One of the classic British IPAs, still tasting great after all these years @thefreetradeinn.bsky.social #BskyBeer

Third! Cantillon - Sang Bleu 6.0% Banging, blue honeysuckle lambic. Tart mofo with mouthfuls of sharp fruit. Bloody gorgeous @thefreetradeinn.bsky.social #BskyBeer

This morning’s listening was inspired by @hungryforsound.bsky.social A pleasant accompaniment when travelling between hospitals for meetings.

The view from the office today.

Lovely brunch catch up with old World of Warcraft guild mates. Lots of geeky banter was enjoyed.

The view from the office today.

Bottle! Kasteel - Rouge 0.0% Damned hard to tell it from the full fat 8.0% version. It is a school day after all. @thefreetradeinn.bsky.social #Bskybeer

Half! Rigg & Furrow - Veil of Gorse 6.0% A murky, hop soup. Despite that it’s relatively easy drinking and really rather pleasant. @thefreetradeinn.bsky.social #Bskybeer

Half! Burning Sky - Plateau 3.4% Quite a dry finish and fuller mouthfeel. Holds up well to the previous bigger beers. @thefreetradeinn.bsky.social #Bskybeer

Half! Chouffe - Session 4% Light and slightly bready. Lovely and refreshing and complements the Triumph 2400cc in the background nicely. @thefreetradeinn.bsky.social #Bskybeer

Half! Chouffe - Framboise 7.0% Very easy drinking, like a fruit loaded cordial. A bit of a cracker really. @thefreetradeinn.bsky.social #Bskybeer

Pint! Kernel - Spring Pale 4.2% A bitter smack in the gob to counteract the tedious heat. Much needed and bloody delicious. @thefreetradeinn.bsky.social #Bskybeer

Introduce yourself with 10 bands you’ve seen live: Angel Witch Blue Oyster Cult Coheed and Cambria Crowded House Drive By Truckers Hawkwind King Crimson Lynyrd Skynyrd Magnum Rush

Excellent set list from Beth Hart tonight and she was on great form despite being under the weather.

Obligatory pre gig photo for Willie & the Bandits and Beth Hart at the Glasshouse, Gateshead.

Newcastle looking like they want to gift West Ham something from this. Story of the season.

“Lock the madness outside” Angel - Helluva Band One of three Angel LPs I snagged at a recent record fair. Some lovely pomp rock from Greg Giuffria and Co.

Pat Metheny Group - First Circle Another recent record fair purchase of a previously owned record which is long disappeared. A lovely little toe tapper which always puts a smile on my face.

“Nothing special, nothing much” Bernie Tormé - Live Recent record fair pickup. A real blast from the past from an underrated guitarist.

“It’s crazy what we wouldn’t do for love” Amelia Coburn - Between the Moon and the Milkman Recent pickup at her support slot at the Glasshouse. Have tickets for her headlining gig there in December.

Bottle! Orval 6.2% My favourite beer? Close. With Gill, Karen and Stu. #Bskybeer

Window shopping

Pint! Brouwerij Huyghe - Paranoia 5.6% Hazy Hoppy Hippo Beer as the strap line says. From the those nice folks who produce the Delirium beers. #BskyBeer

Pint! Paulaner Hell 4.9% Perfect cold lager for to hot Malaga sunshine. Gill is the heavyweight again on the 8.0% Kasteel Rouge.

The view from today’s scran destination. Recyclo Bike Cafe, Malaga.