It started with a kiss…
As much of our lives revolve around the glorious nectar it comes to pass
that our first ‘official’ date revolved around the glorious stuff.
After my rejection night we still continued to text each other and for some reason Kerry asked if I wanted to go on a mini ale trail with her on the Monday.
After my rejection night we still continued to text each other and for some reason Kerry asked if I wanted to go on a mini ale trail with her on the Monday.
K – As the majority of my friends in York drink the dreaded Fosters, I
felt the need to find myself a new drinking buddy, despite his dress
sense….
G – So I donned my casual, but smart, glad rags and set off, late. Ok,
this was not the best start to the day but luckily Kerry was still there
waiting for me.
K – I wasn’t overly bothered about him being late, but slightly nervous
he wouldn’t show which is probably why I’d managed to drink most of my
pint by the time he’d arrived.
G – Now I haven’t the foggiest what I drank that day but, being the
ultimate professional she is, Kerry kept a record of her drinks and the
places we visited.
I had no expectations for the day, if anything I was relaxed, thinking I had gained a friend in York who was into her ales. Both good points.
So we settled down in The Snickleway to our first drink sat in a little corner away from everyone so we could have some time to chat.
I had no expectations for the day, if anything I was relaxed, thinking I had gained a friend in York who was into her ales. Both good points.
So we settled down in The Snickleway to our first drink sat in a little corner away from everyone so we could have some time to chat.

G - While I was happy I was still a little nervous. Kerry after all is
beautiful and I wondered why she would come out drinking with me.
Well, I have no idea what my drink was. As it has been recently The Snickleway has been a little lapse with its ale choices with the occasional new ale on tap. I probably plumbed for a bog standard ale they were serving.
Needless to say the conversation flowed as if we had been friends for years.
Well, I have no idea what my drink was. As it has been recently The Snickleway has been a little lapse with its ale choices with the occasional new ale on tap. I probably plumbed for a bog standard ale they were serving.
Needless to say the conversation flowed as if we had been friends for years.
K – We were chatting so much I only had one or two pints while we were
in The Snickleway. I have a sneaky feeling Gareth was trying to impress
me with his knowledge of ale…

We entered and chose two ales, one of which is brewed locally. We took our York Brewery Yorkshire Terrier and Downtown Brewery Honey Blonde and sat on the comfy sofa’s.
Bear in mind we were out drinking and no tasting notes where taken this time. As normal I’ve provided the links to their websites so you can have a look, find them in a pub and decide for yourself.
K – I was used to taking tasting notes, but didn’t want to appear rude,
so other than managing to jot down the name of the pub and a couple of
ales we had I have nothing. The White Swan was at that point my most
frequented pub, serving a variety of real ales alongside the more bog
standard drinks, allowing a perfect meeting point for my non real ale
drinking friends. The conversation flowed, though I can’t remember what
we talked about in this place.
G – So things were going better than well, a little unexpected, but
brilliant non the less. We pondered our way from White Swan taking a
somewhat long route to the next pub (this was to become a theme for the
night).
As we wandered down Petergate towards the next pub I hoped that the friendship that we had started to form was going to last. I had found a good drinking buddy in York at a time when I needed friends. To say I was happy was an understatement.
As we wandered down Petergate towards the next pub I hoped that the friendship that we had started to form was going to last. I had found a good drinking buddy in York at a time when I needed friends. To say I was happy was an understatement.

Well this, as Kerry tells me, if the pub where she started to like me in a way more than friends. Something happened to make her change her mind.
K – It may have been the beer or the atmosphere, but this is the moment I
remember most about our mini ale trail. We had settled at the bar with
our drinks and had begun to talk about our backgrounds and family
situations. The more Gareth talked, the more I began to like him, and
thought that my first impressions of the arrogant little man in the hat
were wrong.
G - Well we settled down with our pints, one of them being a Marston Moor Matchlock Mild and the other we haven’t got a clue, and continued to
chat the night away.
After a while of delicious and stimulating conversation we decided to make a move to the next pub. This being The Hole in the Wall.
After a while of delicious and stimulating conversation we decided to make a move to the next pub. This being The Hole in the Wall.
FOOD TIME.

We only have one note for this pub and it was Brakspear Oxford Gold. I haven’t got a clue what I was drinking.
K – When Gareth and I had met up previously for a Chinese buffet I was
so interested in my food I completely bypassed the fact that Gareth
doesn’t eat meat. This only became apparent to me when he ordered the
vegetarian curry in Hole in the Wall. Whoops.
G- Now being a lightweight the alcohol was starting to affect me and I was
feeling brave. Well that’s the only way I can explain what happened in
the next pub. I’m a chicken when it comes to do with females and
approaching them but this was a little different. I’ll let Kerry
explain.

G- So that was that. We were ‘comfortable’ around each other and I was loving it.
We decided that we had time for another drink we pondered over to The Last Drop Inn.

G - So that’s the story of our first Ale Trail together, our first date and the start of something that has changed my world.
Happy drinking fellow alers and I promise it won’t be as long till the next blog.
Gareth & Kerry