I Don't Want Lunch, I Want Breakfast

Day #709 Worthington's White Shield / William Worthington's Brewery, Burton Upon Trent, England
Previously from this brewery: Red Shield and Red Shield

Raise your hand if you came here tonight to hear me complain.


I can't see you, because you're reading this on the internet, but I'll just assume that you have your hand raised.

Today was an unmitigated disaster on many fronts - and it's not over yet.  The one bit of news that I'll share is that I've learned my car needs a new transmission, and this will run me much more than I care to spend. As I've already replaced the problematic transmission part before, I'm currently in negotiations (read: getting ready to scream) with General Motors to have them pay for the repairs.  And the cost of my bitchin' Hyundai rental car. I'll keep you posted.  Or, just open your window... you might be able to hear my cursing and yelling from your house.  Dammit.

Tonight's beer is another old one from the beer collection, a bottle of Worthington's White Shield.  I have no idea where this bottle came from or when it was acquired, but the label suggests that it is bottle conditioned, and can be aged for up to three years.  Good, as it was in the fridge for a while.  In the glass, this beer has a bright, clear copper hue with a lingering creamy white top.  Very good looking beer.  There are aromas of biscuits and bread and sweet malt, and there's a nice flavor mix of caramel, toffee, and bread, with a touch of hop bitterness on the finish.  This is a British made India Pale Ale, so there's not the hop overkill that you find in American made IPAs.  A rather tasty beer, I'd say, almost more like an ESB than an India Pale Ale.

I'm not entirely sure who brews this one; I've seen references to William Worthington's Brewery, Museum Brewing, and White Shield Brewery.  Ultimately, no matter what you call this brewery, it's owned by corporate giant MolsonCoors, purveyor of crappy beers and big profits.

Thing to Think About Today:
Whenever customer service doesn't live up to their end of the bargain, I reflect back on an old scene from the movie Falling Down, where Michael Douglas' character goes off the deep end a tiny bit when he finds out that he missed breakfast at his favorite fast food location.  He just wants some breakfast.

I can appreciate that.  I just want a car that works, General Motors.  That's all.  The customer is always right.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdOD_C7bKo0

"I don't want to be your buddy, Rick.  I just want a little breakfast."

Worth It.

Beer #289 Worthington's Red Shield / William Worthington's Brewery, Burton Upon Trent, England

Wrapping up some writing, then heading to TJ's to cross a few more beers (and maybe ciders) off the list.  Need to make hay while the sun shines!  Today's beer is Worthington's Red Shield, a blonde ale from Worthington's Brewery (more on that later).  This one was drank out of a purple plastic cup, so not much on the color.  The aroma was of grain and barley, and there's a good, easy flavor of grain, yeast, and hop bitterness.  Fairly mellow beer all around.

I almost didn't have a photo to share, as it was trapped in my old phone.  Did I mention I had good news on that front?  My photos, which mysteriously disappeared from my dying phone, returned back to the phone the next day in an equally mysterious manner.  Spooky, and it's not even Halloween.  The good news is the nice people at Verizon can copy the pictures over to the new SIM card, so I think I'll be fine, and I emailed a few photos of beer and Flash over before I switched to a new phone.  I apologize for all of my cursing last Friday.  As a professional beer blogger, I need to hold myself to a higher standard of writing excellence.  One that doesn't rely on any goddamn curses to tell my tale.

Shields up!

History class may be a bit fuzzy today.  This brewery traces its roots back to 1761, when William Worthington opened the doors.  It merged with rival Bass in 1927, and then was later spun off and purchased by Molson Coors in 2000.  The brewery is more famous for their White Shield brew, an IPA that ranks as the third most popular ale in England in terms of sales.  It's been brewed at a succession of other breweries after the original brewery closed in 1965, although it appears they've re-opened a new brewery in the same town as the original, Burton Upon Trent.  In the header, I've attributed this beer to William Worthington's, although I've also seen references to Museum Brewing Company and White Shield Brewery.  If you have the full story, please let me know, as I clearly don't, and neither does the internet.

Thing to Think About Today:
I need to get my hustle on and get some dinner, so let's go ahead and take an obvious cue; Red Shield beer (apparently) gets you thinking about Red Red Wine by UB40.  1980's, go ahead and sing us to sleep tonight.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXt56MB-3vc

Beer 282: Three Things and a Red Shield

Three things to chew on this lovely Monday evening.

1. The Lion Sleeps Tonight is one of the greatest pick-me-up songs ever. I was ready to come home and slip into a coma. The song came on and I may make it to 9:00 p.m.

2. Littering has become a crime to be punished by death in my world. Pick it up, you lazy fuck. And yes, I am yelling at you from my car.

3. The acorn apocalypse has begun. Do not come to my home. You've been warned.

And now for the Red Shield. Worthington's Red Shield is brewed by Museum Brewing Company / White Shield Brewery in Burton-on-Trent, England. It looks like Molson Coors may own it now but the brewery has a history dating back to 1744. I'll allow it.



The Red Shield is labeled as a blonde ale but I thought it had many triple characteristics. It was well balanced between the malts and hops. It was a little bread-like and had lots of caramel flavor. I drank it out of a solo cup so I can't judge the color but it did have a big, thick head. The ABV is too low for a tripel (4.2%) and it didn't have any booziness in the flavor.

I think the Red Shield is a good beer. Cheers!