Continuing on our ‘Visit Yorkshire’ theme, I thought it might be time to do something traditional over the weekend. So off we went to the Theakston’s Brewery, which is in Masham, about 1hr 15 mins away from Leeds. Masham boasts not just one, but two breweries, both making real ales (a.k.a dark beer) in the traditional way. We’ve been to the black sheep before, but didn’t take actually took the time to go around the brewrey.

At £5.50, both breweries offers a tour around the brewery on weekends and also on weekdays when brewing occurs. The price comes with a free pint, which you can divvy up to two half-pints at Theakstons. They would also very kindly give you 100ml taster of any of their ales. Bacon insisted on going around Theakston’s – not-so-secretly I kept announcing that I hate Theakstons’ … the only ale I’ve tasted from Theakstons is the Old Peculier…which is very peculier indeed, and fairly disgusting. I think it’s abit like marmite – hate it or love it. T&R Theakston Ltd. was founded in 1827 by Robert Theakston and John Wood who ran The Black Bull pub in Masham. The original building is still intact, but it is now the village post office instead of the local piss-up.

me grabbing my 1/2 pint double quick with hand shadow action

It is a short walk from the village car park to the Theakstons Visitor centre. The short alleyway had creeping hops growing on it, making for a very atmospheric walk.I did not take many pictures as the heavens opened up as we arrived; and the camera was more important. After paying our £5.50, we sat at the bar for our first 1/2 pint – between us we had Theakstons XB, Old Peculier and Coopers Ale. I went for Coopers Ale Bottom – the tap featured a fat man with his pants hanging out…only I will pick beer by that! It was way better than the Old Peculier, light with a slight bitterness, I think this is more of a spring ale – they have seasonal ales and Coopers Ale Bottom was what was available on taps that day.

I have not been around a brewery before….even though no pictures were taken, this was what I learnt:

Cask Ales are ‘alive’ and is still reacting – they do not last very long and therefore do not travel well. It needs to be kept at cellar temperature of about 10 degrees for optimum freshness. Once opened,it only lasts a couple of days before going off. So it is available in a variety of sizes, with the smallest being 9 gallons, apparently perfect for a weekend of sales in a pub.

This is why ales are known to be so regional..what you get up in Yorkshire may not be available in London and vice versa. For example, one of my fave ales is London Pride – I have only had it once out of London.

Theakstons is an independent brewery; currently run by Simon Theakston, 5th generation

They sold out to Scottish & Newcastle ( currently part of the heineken group) in the late 80s, but have since been purchased back by the family.

The family (not sure if they’re actually on speaking terms) also consists of Paul Theakston – who founded the Black Sheep Brewery.

The only pasteurised bottled beers they do are Old Peculier & XB

XB, their most famous and popular ale, is actually outsourced to John Smiths’ in Tadcaster.

Do you know hops look lovely suspended in soap??!!

After the 45 minute tour in which we were taken around the brewery, we were heralded back to the bar, where the fun begins. She was happy to let us have taster-size of the ales, but most people chose to just go for a full pint of something – I guess most of them were already fans of Theakstons ale. I eventually found a brew I like – the Traditional Mild tastes excitingly like coffee, even have the same dark look! Being an addicted caffine slugger, I was delighted and giddy with joy – at last, alcohol that tastes like breakfast!

Seeing that it was already 1.30pm, we decided to cap off the Yorkshire experience with lunch at the local pub. We were recommended to head towards the White Bear, a Theakstons owned pub that is located next to the Black Sheep. Hmm.

I love it how menus are on a blackboard instead of a book..I always knew there was a lil bit of country in me! I think the food is slightly expensive, and was initially apprehensive about spending £10 on my Sunday roast dinner (yes, I am a cheapskate, so shoot me) . However, we were hungry and really couldnt be bothered to go anywhere else, so we sat down and ordered our grub. It was a choice of roast pork, lamb or beef – or all three.

I had the lamb, which came with startlingly fresh mint sauce. It was so fresh it tasted like toothpaste! The lamb was not pink, the way I like it, but I like how it was not fatty either. Most roast lambs here are very fatty, I think they must’ve used the shoulder for this one. Comes with yorkshire pud, roast potatoes and lashings of gravy.

Sunday dinners traditionally comes with servings of veg, and I love their veg. Swede & carrot mash, with baby potatoes, brocolli and the best ever red cabbage. I make my own festive red cabbage, but this one is so much nicer than mine! I reckon its the crunch in the cabbage. Yummz. Portions were perfect as well – we had been overstuffing ourselves silly over the past few days and this was just the perfect size for our appetite.

My favourite pix of the day..I love the look of hand-pulled taps. According to bacon (who had worked as a bartender; one of his many reincarnations) one pull is supposed to fill 1/2 pint. This don’t happen in most pubs due to their clogged pipes – reckon they need some prunes .

Theakstons’ Brewery
Masham, Ripon
HG4 4YD
Tel: 01765 680000
E-mail: info@theakstons.co.uk

The White Bear Hotel & Pub
Wellgarth Masham, Ripon HG4 4EN
Tel: 01765 689319
E-mail: sue@whitebearmasham.co.uk

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