Flying Scotsman (The National Railway Museum) By @SpectreUK

We stayed in York for a few days this week. Last time we visited was around fifteen years ago, and we went to the Pink Castle, the York Castle Museum, the York Minster and walked along the city wall, completely missing out on The National Railway Museum. Well, this time I dragged Cinabar straight there on the first day and was certainly not disappointed. Back to the wall the next day, as it just has to be walked!

Whilst wondering around looking at Royal Carriages and famous engines such as the Mallard, and my favourite type of Warship Class Diesel. In the workshop they had the Sir Nigel Gresley in bits and there next to him was probably one of the most famous engines; the Flying Scotsman. I was a little choked at first because the Flying Scotsman was recently finished in full working order and toured the country in 2016. I desperately wanted to see it on the tracks, but was either at work or doing something else when it was in the area. My dad was also wanting to go and see it, and I kind of wish we'd made the effort, as he recently lost a fairly short and brutal fight against cancer. Anyway, there it was, the Flying Scotsman in a workshop staring back at me. Not much of a train geek myself, I also out-geeked an old train spotter who was pointing at the coal tender for the Gresley and saying to his equally geekish friend that it was for the Mallard. In stepped Spectre to put him right… Ooh… he didn't like it! I didn't want to tell him, but I'd already seen the Mallard with its tender outside the workshop and there was a picture of the Gresley on what was left of the frame, which looked exactly like the Mallard!

Cinabar spotted this 3.6% volume Flying Scotsman ale in the museum shop from the York Brewery. This golden beer was hopped with English Challenger hops and Slovinian grown Styrian Goldings. There was a fruity zesty citrus smell from the hops on opening the beer. I was surprised it had survived the train ride home without being a little shaken. The beautiful golden ale shined like the super polished engines in the museum. On first taste I had to agree with the label. This beer is light, fruity and refreshing. There are initial hints of grapefruit from the hops followed by the pale and sweet crystal malts into the aftertaste. Mmm… Proper bitter from up North, perfect with fish and chips or just enjoyed on its own with a good book or newspaper.