For my 40th birthday Brad and I considered getting a barrel of ale from a local Free House. Brad had salvaged a proper Ale pump from a local skip and we reckoned it would be cool to rig one up.

After much faffing about we decided against it – mainly due to the short life of the stuff – and the effort involved.

Browsing the Internet we came across the Nethergate Brewery. They supply their own ales in Polypins (plastic containers much like a wine box) in 18 pint and 36 pint sizes.

Being a bit over zealous, I bought 4 barrels for the party, Old Growler, Umbel Magna, Essex Border and Augustinian.

This stuff keeps for up to a month (a barrel keeps for a few days)  – just as well really as less than half of the 90+ pints were consumed. It is hard to say which was the best – in my eyes it was the Umbel Magna, but others thought differently.

The 3 weeks after the party saw Brad, myself, Brad’s parents, my wife, and anyone who wanted any, necking the stuff before it went off. You don’t waste good ale.

Why am I telling you all this. Well – I don’t drink wine anymore. Think about it. £20 for a box of wine, or £27.50 for 18 pints of really good ale. You can’t lose really – it’s a no brainer. And they even deliver it to you.

A bit of an all-rounder – Good ales, comfy, and good food. It’s slightly hard to find, and you will probably have to drive – which is a shame. I had good pints of Nethergate, Old Peculiar, and Adnam’s bitter.