Brewery: Wye Valley Brewery
Location: Stoke Lacy, Herefordshire
ABV: 4.0%
Version: Draught
Source: The Goose & Cuckoo, Upper Llanover

Wife and kids away for a weekend, the dog walked for 4 or 5 miles, a bit of work done, curry waiting to be made at about 7pm, it’s mid-afternoon, sunny, and my bike’s sitting there just waiting to be ridden.  What’s a man to do?  That’s right … visit the Goose & Cuckoo.

It’s quickly become my favourite pub.  It’s a proper pub, with no jukebox, no mobile phones allowed, pickled eggs, 80 malt whiskies, and always a fine, ever-changing selection of ales.  There’s a damaged spread of plaster on one wall where faces appear, animals in the garden to keep the kids amused, and a picnic area across the road if you want to take your own grub.

It’s also at the top of the steepest hill in the universe.

So after my ride up there (and I admit, I pushed a little), the first order of the day was a pint of water.  While I was chugging that, I ordered a pint of Wye Valley Summer Stinger out of curiosity more than anything else.  An ale made with nettles?  OK, I’ll give it a go.  It’s a dirty job, but etc etc.

Glad I did try it.  Usually a fan of darker, slightly heavier beers, this light-coloured ale went down smooth and refreshing on such a hot day.  Slightly cloudy, with a subtle ‘countryside’ aroma – cut grass, heavy brambles, ferns and forest – it also had a gentle citrus aftertaste. 

From the people who bring us Dorothy Goodbody and her variously wholesome ales, this is another winner. I believe it’s one of their monthly aleas, but I hope they brew it again next year.

As for the Goose & Cuckoo, it was a fine couple of hours, and it’s on my calender for another visit very soon.