Our lightning stop in Munich began with an early arrival at Hauptbahnhof. We took the U-Bahn to our hotel but we were too early to check into our room so we headed straight out to explore. The city map we were given at our hotel had a short walking tour so after an excellent breakfast at a city centre cafe we strolled around the city taking in the sights. For lunch we visited the wonderful Viktualienmarkt where everyone was tucking into substantial pieces of pork. We tried the wurst and traditional Munich meat loaf. Both were very good. We also had a very simple but delicious sandwich of herring and raw onion in a crusty roll.

We spent the afternoon at the Pinakothek der Moderne. We spent a few hours admiring the four sections and we discovered that the IKEA BILLY bookcase is a design icon. For dinner we had no option but to visit one of Munich’s excellent beer halls. We enjoyed great food and very good beer at Augustiner am Dom (we also managed to squeeze in a visit to the Löwenbräu Keller.)

I was in Belfast last weekend watching the Ospreys take on Ulster in the Heineken Cup. Had a very good weekend, lots of pubs, lots of Guinness and good food. The match itself was a tedious affair, another ruined by the whistle of Malcolm Changleng. The Ospreys now need to win their last two games, preferably picking up a bonus point along the way, if they want to qualify for the quarter finals as one of the best second placed teams.

Belfast was a bit of an eye opener. I had no idea that there were still walls and gates separating the Catholic and Protestant communities in West Belfast.

We went to see Field Music last night. They are as good live as they are on record. Their latest album is highly recommended.

Edinburgh was as enjoyable as ever. Drank some good beer at the Guildford Arms. Had a very satisfying pint of Dark Island from the Orkney Brewery. Will make it the Cafe Royal bar next time.

We visited the National Gallery on Sunday. A pleasant way to spend an hour or so. The gruesome Goya prints were just what I needed after the previous days massacre.

Photos: Martin and Monika’s and Bethan’s.

Magnesia Bank

It’s difficult to find any faults whatsoever with the Magnesia Bank. The beer is excellent and there is a wide selection with the majority being from local micro breweries. There are normally six cask beers on at a time.

Good food too. A decent lunch menu and excellent lamb from the pubs own flock of sheep!

(Google Map)

Prince of Wales

A Samuel Smith’s pub, so if price is your greatest motivator you should head here.

The one cask beer (Old Brewery Bitter) is in excellent condition.

Fish is a speciality. The crab sandwiches are delicious. The crabs may well have walked from the fish quay themselves as it is only a few hundred metres down the road.

Entering the Prince of Wales feels almost like stepping back in time. This is traditional multi-room pub which hasn’t been altered for years.

(Google Map)

Teac Fiddler

We’ve only been here once. I’m not generally a fan of Irish pubs. The beer is usually limited to keg. The food unremarkable, the atmosphere, like the decor, fake and the Guinness marketing overbearing. The Teac Fiddler is pleasantly surprising however. There is a decent selection of cask ales (Bass, Deuchars IPA and Jennings Cumberland Ale) and a good menu which includes some traditional Irish dishes.

On the one occasion we have eaten at the Teac Fiddler I had an excellent bowl of Irish stew and Wyell had some tasty grilled chicken.

(Google Map)

Oddfellows

Good pint of JB (Abbot Ale and a guest are also available) and free soup!

A number of bottle conditioned beers are also available including Durham Brewery’s excellent Evensong.

(Google Map)

Tynemouth Lodge Hotel

Located between North Shields and Tynemouth. The Tynemouth Lodge has Bass, Deuchars IPA and Belhaven 80/-.

No food.

(Google Map)

Tap & Spile

We have only eaten here once. On each occasion we have returned since they have not been serving food. Good beer (Deuchars IPA) and tasty chips.

(Google Map)

Wooden Doll Inn

A great pub for a pint on a summers evening after work. The outside seating overlooks the mouth of the Tyne and you can wave to those on the decks of the departing ferries. If you’re lucky there may be a bowl of whitebait on the bar from which you can help yourself.

A Jennings pub which also sells decent food.

(Google Map)

Great beer, as always, at the Cumberland. Think it was Wylam Rapper I was drinking.

The game managed to be encouraging and disappointing at the same time. I wasn’t expecting much before hand but the Ospreys played well in the first half scoring two tries but crucially missing two guilt edged chances to score further tries. Leicester preyed on the Ospreys weakness in the second-half kicking to the corners and pressurising the lineout. More: 1, 2, 3.

ROSS: Shouldn’t the pizza be here by now? I mean, they said thirty minutes or less. Well, how long has it been?
MIKE: (looking at his watch) Eleven minutes. (long pause) And now twelve. So, do you like the beer?
ROSS: I do. I do. Although, it’s actually a lager.
MIKE: Huh. (pause) What’s the difference between beer and lager?
ROSS: I don’t know. We could look it up.

Asking “Do you prefer espresso or coffee?” is clearly ridiclous. But people constantly make the same mistake when talking about beer. It’s not just Americans who make this mistake either its seems that the UK’s political elite are equally ignorant:

But the pair were split over their favourite tipple, with Mr Davis going for beer and Mr Cameron lager.

Had an eventful bank holiday weekend. Spent Friday and Saturday nights in Keswick. Did nearly ten miles walking on Saturday and Sunday. Keswick was a good place to visit though I don’t think it would be very comfortable at the height of the season. Enjoyed the Cumberland Ale, a good hoppy flavour. Probably the last few casks brewed by Jennings as an Independent.

Went along to the Orange Evolution festival on Newcastle quayside on Monday. Got there ridiculously early. Had to sit through bands I wasn’t interested, in drinking Fosters, for hours before watching SFA who were as excellent as ever. Looking forward to their new album in August.