Painting the Town Red [with Round Corner Brewing]

Earlier this year, I was fortunate enough to attend the Thursday trade session of BrewLDN - a festival and trade show in The Old Truman Brewery; a welcoming emporium of game changing beers, high quality street food, good-time DJs and general festivities.

Although COVID-19 was making headline news here in the UK, edging its way ever closer from far distant lands such as China and the-not-so-far-flung-Italy, talks of the novel virus in conversations were fleeting at best, usually sandwiched in-between casual chit-chat about the beers and atmosphere.

I’d attended the festival with several hats on - my networking hat, to hook up with business owners I’d arranged to meet; my podcasters hat - to record episodes I’d previously lined up (you can go back and listen to those if you wish); and my party hat on - to sample some of the finest beers London had to offer.

Having a young family means I don’t always get out to the latest beer festivals, trade shows, or even down the pub on a regular basis. So whenever I do get the opportunity, I saviour the experience even more so than I do the drinks.

On this particular occasion, I went with my good friend Darren from the Industry Tap in Sheffield. Darren’s a quality bloke and can definitely give me a run for my money as far as beer consumption is concerned.

(I have to confess, it was quite funny... having spent a couple of hours podcasting I’d probably had around a pint in total. But by the time I bumped into Darren around 3pm - baring in mind doors only opened at 1 - he was already slurring his speech and reminding me (yet again) to go and visit Round Corner Brewing’s stand. This was to become a common theme of the day, as we’ll soon see).

I ran into lots friendly faces from the industry, many of whom I’ve had the good pleasure to podcast with. And yet, it seemed, that in between every social interaction, Darren popped up asking the same question: ‘Has tha’ been to Round Corner Brewing yet?’.

After a while, it was difficult to elude the question. And, with my defences being down on account of a beautifully smooth yet 14.4% whisky barrel aged scotch ale (courtesy of Glen Affric), I finally succumbed and followed Darren into the throng of bodies all packed like sardines in a can... not a sentence I’ll be using to describe a bar or any other social event this side of COVID any time soon!

Darren introduced me to Combie Cryan, a larger than life Northern Irelander who - as his first gesture of kindness - offered me a beer and, as his second, a Melton Mowbray Pork Pie.

Not only were the Round Corner team very accommodating, but they were also highly entertaining. I don’t know whether the market town showmanship has rubbed off on them, but it seemed to be attracting a lot of people to their bar.

If their reputation precedes them, then - on account of their beers - I could see why. I was poured a plantation rum oak barrel aged dark lager pretty much instantly upon being introduced to them by Darren.

And I can tell you... the sheer flavour of this thing, I wish I could describe to you - magnificent! Deep, rummy, warming, and yet crisp, smooth and rich.

As we parted ways, Combie invited us to visit the brewery - a trip me and Darren intended to take this Spring until, lo and behold, we spent the warmest month of the year so far firmly not going anywhere.

But I was still keen to get Round Corner on the podcast, albeit virtually. They’d struck a chord with me and I couldn’t quite put my finger on why.

Not until the days that followed the recent death of my father-in-law.

On the evening he died, Combie and I were due to record the following episode you’re about to hear. However, with 25 minutes to spare, I had to postpone the recording last minute until after the funeral.

Within a couple of days, the landlord of my former office called me to say that a package had arrived from Round Corner Brewing... ‘That’s funny’, I thought, ‘I haven’t ordered anything from Round Corner Brewing... and the episode beers Combie had sent ahead of time for us to chat about had long been in my fridge tempting me every time I opened the door!’

After some wrangling with the courier to get the package redirected to my home address, my wife and I opened the box to discover the same plantation rum oak barrel aged dark lager in a 750ml waxed topped bottle, accompanied a note of condolence from the team, suggesting we use the beer to raise a toast to my late father-in-law’s life.

(Needless to say, it is being saved until the family can be safely reunited to crack it open and do so).

We were both extraordinarily touched by this gesture of k...