Jeff Evans
@jeffevanswriter
Beer, television, music, quizzing, not necessarily in that order. Author: The Penguin TV Companion, Rock & Pop on British TV (new edition September 2026), numerous books on beer; former editor of the Good Beer Guide; question writer for Mastermind.
10 years in the making … greatly expanded and fully updated second edition on sale soon! Details and pre-orders shorturl.at/dIdDW or via the usual outlets.
Privileged to be asked to say a few words on behalf of the beer writer community at today’s celebration of Des de Moor’s life. A man of many talents. Beer was just one facet of his remarkable life.
5 Tūn Daradach, 4.5%: An Irish-style stout with a delicate blackberry fruitiness to complement the dryness of the smoky, toasted grains. @tunbrewing.com
4 Round Corner Hopping Spree, 6.6%: Polished and authentic West Coast IPA that took me back to the 90s when I first toured American breweries and discovered their groundbreaking interpretation of IPA.
3 Our Brewery Untamed, 7.5%: Northern Irish take on a Belgian sour ale and expertly done. Spritzy and sharp, with a lemon fruitiness and gentle oak notes.
2 Thornbridge/Theakston Masham Ale, 6.5%: A joyful Christmas cake of a beer with a satisfying, leafy Fuggle hop finish. @thornbridge.bsky.social
1 Stroud Märzen, 4.2%: Okay, not strong enough to be classed as a true German märzen but this is a really classy amber lager, full of silky caramel notes and light herbal hoppiness.
The incongruity between price and quality (and also quantity) is quite something on this pub beer list.
Another classy offering from N Ireland’s #ourbrewery, this time an 8.5%, bottle-conditioned saison. Tart, refreshing and keeps you interested.
The Thornbridge/Theakston, bottle-conditioned, 'from the Union' take on Masham Ale is a joy. Traditional English strong* ale at its best. * 6.5%, for readers from other countries.
How it started; how it finished. Finally completed the Thames Path, 10 years to the day after we started it! #ThamesPath
Went to my first ever gig on this day 50 years ago (unless you count seeing Tom Jones when I was three and a half). I sent off a postal order (£1.50) and an SAE, and the tickets came back a few days later. This ticket stub for the gig is currently selling for £80 on Tracks. Anyone want to buy mine?
This is quite a treat for a Sunday evening. Our Brewery’s Untamed feeder-aged wild ale from N Ireland. Delicate, tartly refreshing and very well made.
Fine display (as always) of wild hops along the Kennet & Avon Canal near our house.
The Nazi Documentation Museum in Munich is fascinating and highly educational but, of course, very sobering. The displays and text are easy to follow and there's an important message – one that is very neatly encapsulated in the final paragraph of this image and is begging to be shared.
Interesting painting of a Munich beer garden from 1884 by the artist Max Liebermann (in the city's Alte Pinakothek). Notice how all the beers are dark.
Still one of my favourite newspaper headlines of all time, from 1995. The brewery later apologised unreservedly and good relations were restored.
I honestly could sit in a bar in Bavaria and drink Helles all day.