Real Ale
Do you like traditional ‘real British ale’? I was converted to it only a couple of years ago. We had been working on the restoration of a lovely country house in Rutland. We were fitting new stone fireplaces, a small stone staircase, and about 20 stone mullion windows. In the weeks we were fitting the windows, the weather became very very hot, and by the end of each day we were exhausted, as were all the other workers on the site. The very kind owner told us not to rush off on Friday evening as he had a special surprise for us. (We were full on anticipation!)
So, come friday night, another scorcher, and we’re all whacked. Then along comes our kind employer, with a barrel of something. Turns out he’s decided to do a bit of ‘cottage industry’ traditional craft himself, and has started a micro brewery. He’d been very taken with our traditional stone masonry skills, and liked the idea of doing something similar.
Well until this point, myself and several of our workers were really just lager drinkers, but the thought of a lovely pint of beer, at the end of a hot day, whatever sort it was, proved an irresistable temptation. The beer he had made and perfected, was a tradional bitter. All barley hops and yeast, and made in the old fashioned way…. and it was delicious, so delicious in fact that I never drank lager again, and am now a confirmed ‘real ale’ drinker.
So, it’s not just stone fireplaces that are still made in the traditional way. There are so many other little businesses out there using old methods and skills, and rediscovering the beauty of doing something in the proper way.