Birdie Time Pub and Mini Golf in Portland, Oregon

A look at Birdie Time Pub and Mini Golf in Portland, Oregon, USA.

A big thank you to my friend - and minigolf team-mate and rival - Kevin Moseley for sending over these photos from his visit to the Birdie Time Pub and Mini Golf in Portland, Oregon, USA.

It looks like a fun place to play.

I like the look of the Birdie Shuffle Putt game too. I've not played that before.

It's brilliant seeing different courses around the world. Oregon is still on my to visit list and hopefully I'll get a game on the mini golf at shuffle putt at Birdie Time Pub and Mini Golf in the future.

Check out the Birdie Time Pub and Mini Golf website for more information.

A sign of panic buying

Spotted at a pub in Northwich, Cheshire today.

A sign of the times

Camden Town Brewery's Brewmaster's Open

A look back at The Brewmaster's Open miniature golf competition at the Camden Town Brewery in London.

Ready to tee-off

We competed in The Brewmaster's Open at the Camden Town Brewery nine years ago today. It was part of 2012's brilliant summer of sport in the capital.

Some superb crazy golf beer mat scorecards

It's still one of the best settings for a pop-up minigolf course we've seen on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

What a course!

The layout was the 302nd played on our travels.

In action as tournament winner Alan Norman looks on

The Brewmaster's Open at the Camden Town Brewery was a marvellous event played on a portable 5-hole minigolf course from UrbanCrazy. More than 200 players competed in the tournament. And I made it onto the podium!

The scores

Session Ale from Swing by Golfbaren in Stockholm

A look at some minigolf beer from Swing by Golfbaren in Stockholm, Sweden.

As today is International Beer Day here's a look at the Session Ale from Swing by Golfbaren in Stockholm.

Swing by Golfbaren was the landmark 800th course we visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in February 2018.

From the Crazy Golf Museum's stores - Session Ale from Swing by Golfbaren in Stockholm, Sweden.

Have you tried this minigolf beer before?

It's a superb indoor miniature golf venue with two courses hidden within the speakeasy.

Visit the Swing by Golfbaren and Golfbaren websites for more information.

We're looking forward to visiting Sweden again in the future and playing the other Golfbaren courses.

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One for International Beer Day - Crazy Golf in Beer, Devon

A look at a crazy golf scorecard from Pecorama in Beer.

Happy International Beer Day.

Here's an item from the Crazy Golf Museum archives - a minigolf scorecard from the Crazy Golf course at Pecorama in Beer, Devon. Donated by Nigel Lutt.

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Minigolf in a brewery

Happy International Beer Day.

We competed in The Brewmaster's Open at the Camden Town Brewery eight years ago this month.

This is still one of the best minigolf scorecards I've seen

It was a superb event played on a portable 5-hole minigolf course from UrbanCrazy set up in a brewery! More than 200 players competed in the tournament.

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CLUB GOLF crazy golf beer

Today is International Beer Day.

I spotted this Crazy Golf beer at the Club Golf minigolf pop-up at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross, London in February this year.

It was the last new minigolf course I played before the coronavirus pandemic hit.

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Minigolf beer at Holeymolies indoor minigolf course

Happy International Beer Day.

Did you know that the Holeymolies indoor miniature golf course in Skelton-in-Cleveland, Teesside has its own beer?

The minigolf course was the 500th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

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19th Hole minigolf beer for International Beer Day

Today is International Beer Day.

Uncle Stuart's Brewery and Beer Shop at Wroxham Barns in Norfolk created the 19th Hole Beer to commemorate the staging of the 2011 BMGA English Open minigolf championships at Wroxham Barns.

To our knowledge it was the first minigolf beer in history!

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Stay alert. Control the virus

I was alert on my government mandated outdoor exercise time today.

The Corner Bar in Stockport Market

A visit to The Corner Bar in Stockport Market.

There's a lot of debate as to which is the smallest pub in Britain/the UK/the planet. On our travels we've been to The Signal Box Inn at the end of the Cleethorpes Light Railway in Lincolnshire (the smallest pub on the planet) and more recently to the Lakeside Inn at Southport (the smallest pub in Britain).

Well, to add to the mix there's a very very very tiny pub in Stockport's Market Hall - The Corner Bar.

Emily and a visiting Simon Hall at a very small bar indeed. It was well stocked with draught and bottled beer and cider

We certainly deserved a drink after our tour of one of the more horrifying stops on the Stockport Town Centre Heritage Trail. Luckily there is plenty of outdoor seating at Stockport Market

Link:
- Stockport Market website
- Stockport Market on Twitter

Related blog posts:
- A visit to the Smallest Pub on the Planet
- The Lakeside Inn at Southport, Britain's Smallest Pub
- Stockport
- Pubs

Ocho Reales gluten free ale

I recently heard about Ocho Reales gluten free beer via MexImport on Twitter and I was very pleased to receive a couple of sample bottles.

The name was taken from the old currency 'Real de a ocho' - more commonly known as the Piece of Eight

Allergen information on the Ocho Reales gluten free Ale

I'm looking forward to trying them with a Mexican meal soon.

Check out the links below for more info.

Links:
- MexImport
- Ocho Reales

Related blog posts:
- Gluten free beer
- Gluten Free
- Coeliac

Gluten free beer

Details of gluten free ale, beer and lager found since being diagnosed with Coeliac Disease.

On a trip to York I found two new gluten free beers - Hoptical Illusion by Brass Castle Brewery and Mongozo's Buckwheat White Beer.

The four new gluten free beers I've recently found

Since my diagnosis in 2008 I've found out about 117 gluten free beers, ales and lagers. There are more and more gluten free beverages appearing all the time. It certainly gives some new and interesting drinking options.

Coeliac and Beer Drinker

Of the 117 gluten free beers available around the world I've tried the following 46 beers:

1. Ambar
2. Bard's Beer
3. Brewdog's Vagabond Pale Ale
4. CELIA Lager
5. CELIA Lager Dark
6. Crop Circle by Hopback Brewery
7. Daas Ambré
8. Daas Blond Beer
9. Estrella Damm Daura
10. Estrella Damm Daura Märzen
11. Glebe Farm Pathfinder / Night Mission
12. Glebe Farm Wellington Bomber Porter
13. Green's Export Lager Lite
14. Green's India Pale Ale
15. Green's Lager Dry Hopped
16. Green's Pioneer
17. Green's Premium Golden Ale
18. Green's Premium Pils
19. Green's Refermented Blonde Ale
20. Green's Refermented Brown Ale
21. Green's Refermented Dark Ale
22. Green's Supreme Golden Ale
23. Green's Trailblazer
24. Green's Glorious Pilsner (new 2015)
25. Green's Gilded Golden Ale (new 2015)
26. Green's Gorgeous Blond Ale (new 2015)
27. Green's Gutsy Dark Ale (new 2015)
28. Green's Gallant Amber Ale (new 2015)
29. Green's Great Discovery Amber (new 2015)
30. Green's Grand India Pale Ale (new 2015)
31. Green's Gold Dry Hopped Lager (new 2015)
32. Hambleton’s Gluten Free Ale (GFA)
33. Hambleton's Gluten Free Lager (GFL)
34. Hoptical Illusion by Brass Castle
35. M&S Belgian Golden Ale by Brouwerij De Brabandere
36. M&S Belgian Premium Pilsner by Brouwerij De Brabandere
37. Mongozo Pilsener
38. Redbridge Beer
39. Saxon (in a can!)
40. Schnitzer Bräu Lemon
41. Schnitzer Bräu Premium
42. St Peter's Brewery Dark G-Free™
43. St Peter's Brewery G-Free™
44. To Øl Reparationsbajer
45. Wold Top Against the Grain
46. Wold Top Scarborough Fair IPA

Those that I've heard about but not yet tried are:

1. Brunehaut
2. Ghostfish Brewing Co Grapefruit IPA
3. Ghostfish Brewing Co Shrouded Summit Witbier
4. Ghostfish Brewing Co Vanishing Point IPA
5. Ghostfish Brewing Co Watchstander Stout
6. Gluten Freedom
7. Glutenberg Beer Blonde
8. Glutenberg Beer Glutenberg 8
9. Glutenberg Beer Pale ale américaine
10. Glutenberg Beer Rousse
11. Green's Discovery
12. Green's Endeavour
13. Green's Herald
14. Green's Mission
15. Green's Pathfinder
16. Green's Quest
17. Hepworth & Co Brewers Blonde
18. Hepworth & Co Brewers Iron Horse
19. Hepworth & Co Brewers Saxon
20. House Brew by Pitt Bros BBQ
21. Koshihikari Echigo Beer
22. Laitilan Kukko Vahva Pils (can)
23. Lebensfreude (Zest for Life)
24. Les bières de la Nouvelle-France Messagère 
25. Les bières de la Nouvelle-France Messagère aux fruits
26. Les bières de la Nouvelle-France Messagère Millet
27. Les bières de la Nouvelle-France Messagère Red Ale
28. Masquerade by Monty's Brewery
29. Mikkeler American Dream
30. Mikkeler Green Gold
31. Mikkeler Peter, Pale & Mary Gluten Free
32. Mikropolis Pils
33. Mongozo Buckwheat White Beer
34. Neumarkter Lammsbräu
35. New Planet Beer
36. O'Brien Brown Ale
37. O'Brien Light Lager
38. O'Brien Pale Ale
39. O'Brien Premium Lager
40. Ocho Reales
41. Omission Beer - IPA
42. Omission Beer - Lager
43. Omission Beer - Pale Ale
44. Riedenburger Brauhaus Gluten Frei
45. RESIDENZ - BIO Ingwer (BIO Ginger)
46. RESIDENZ - Reisbier (rice beer)
47. RESIDENZ - Reisbier dunkel (rice beer dark)
48. Sally Monroe
49. Saor by 9 White Deer Brewery
50. Savernake by Kennet & Avon Brewery
51. Spalt BIO Buchweizen (Spalt BIO Buckwheat)
52. Stringers Amber
53. Stringers Golden
54. Stringers Outlook
55. To Øl Hop Love Pils
56. Wold Top Marmalade Porter
57. William Wilberforce Freedom Ale by Westerham Brewery Co
58. British Bulldog by Westerham Brewery Co
59. Scotney Pale Ale by Westerham Brewery Co
60. Scotney Bitter by Westerham Brewery Co
61. Viceroy India Pale Ale by Westerham Brewery Co
62. Hop Rocket IPA by Westerham Brewery
63. Bohemian Rhapsody by Westerham Brewery Co
64. Audit Ale by Westerham Brewery Co
65. Double Stout by Westerham Brewery Co
66. Allendale - GFPA by Murphy and Son Ltd
67. First Chop - Ava
68. First Chop - DOC
69. First Chop - Extra Love (Mango)
70. First Chop - FCB
71. First Chop - The Chop

In November 2014 I was a guest on the GFree Radio Show's gluten free drinks special episode. You can listen to the show at 'GFree Radio episode 80'.

In 2015 Green's Gluten Free Beers refreshed the look of their range. Check out the blog for an update.

The updated range of Green's Gluten Free beers

Related blog posts:

- Gluten free

- Coeliac

- Gluten Free Ales, Beers and Lagers

Gluten free mixes from Spice Queen

On a trip to Ipswich we stopped off in Chelmsford and enjoyed a walkround the town centre and market. we've always got our eyes peeled for gluten free things and so were pleased to see the Spice Queen stall selling a range of mixes that were gluten free.

The chap on the stall was very knowledgeable about gluten free needs and offered some samples which Emily tried and liked. We bought the Chicken Tikka, Chicken Curry and Any Bean Curry mixes.

The pots of flavour come with a recipe sheet and Emily made some great dishes with the mixes. Some photos of the prep and results of the delicious Chicken Tikka and Chicken Curry are below.

Ingredients and recipe sheet for the Chicken Tikka

Getting messy marinating the chicken

Sealing in the flavour

We like to cook chicken using the 'beer' can method. As I'm gluten free we opt for cider cans instead

The curry mix ingredients

A fine gluten free curry. A nice treat. Especially with an obligatory gluten free beer

You can find the Spice Queen team at farmer's markets across Essex. For more information visit the Spice Queen website.

Links:
- Spice Queen website
- Spice Queen on Twitter
- Spice Queen on Facebook

Related blog posts:
- Gluten Free
- Coeliac
- Emily's cooking
- Gluten free beer

A gluten free meal at Honest Burgers in London

Honestly one of the best burgers ever.

I recently visited Honest Burgers in London and I really wish I'd been there sooner.

On an evening out in King's Cross we were feeling hungry and as a Coeliac that's not always a good thing due to the limited choice available when dining out. Luckily Emily remembered that Honest Burgers on Pentonville Road served gluten free options - she'd noticed they served Estrella Damm Daura gluten free beer on a previous visit.

Honest Burgers stock a lot of beer, including the very good Estrella Damm Daura gluten free lager

We checked out the menu and saw they had GF options, including buns (although there is a £1 surcharge). As dining out is an anxious affair for me I steeled myself with another alcoholic beverage but then bit the bullet and decided to go there.

We were welcomed by a member of staff and I asked her about the gluten free options, where the GF buns were heated and other food was cooked?

I received very confident answers on the preparation and cooking of the food and cross-contamination controls in place. Additional information on the cooking of the fries was also volunteered meaning I would be able to have a whole meal with no substitutions, or going without. This was all excellent.

When we were seated I was shown the allergy sheet so that I could see what was/wasn't OK to order. Thankfully for gluten free/coeliac diners most of the menu is OK. I chose the Special Burger - Beef, smoked bacon, Honest guacamole, Swiss cheese and Harissa mayonnaise. Served with rosemary salted chips.

It was absolutely delicious.

A very happy Coeliac with his gluten free burger, chips and beer

Check out the links below for more about Honest Burgers, the menu and locations.

I'm looking forward to returning and working my way through the other burgers.

Links:
- Honest Burgers website
- Estrella Damm Daura

Related blog posts:
- Gluten Free
- Coeliac
- Burgers
- Estrella
- Beer

Indoor Mini Golf in Leeds

New 9-hole indoor minigolf course to open in Leeds.

The Roxy Ball Room in Leeds has announced the opening of a brand new indoor miniature golf course at their venue.

The 9-hole layout will be the latest addition to the bar and pizza place's leisure activities that also include beer pong, pool, ping pong, billiards and tenpin bowling. It sounds like my kind of place!

The new indoor crazy golf will be opening in a few months time.

You can find the Roxy Ball Room on the 1st Floor Trinity Square, Boar Lane, Leeds, LS1 6HW. Check out the links below for more information on the venue.

Emily and I are looking forward to visiting and playing the course as part of our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

We've enjoyed playing a number of Indoor Mini, Crazy and Adventure Golf courses over the years and the new set-up sounds like it'll be in a good spot.

While in serious competition alcohol and minigolf sport do not mix, in the fun side of the game they are a great combination.

Links:
- Roxy Ball Room website
- Roxy Ball Room on Twitter
- Roxy Ball Room on Facebook
- Roxy Lanes website

Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Indoor Mini, Crazy and Adventure Golf courses
- Minigolf and Crazy Golf courses in Pub Beer Gardens

Gluten Free Beer and Lager in Whole Foods Market Piccadilly

Five gluten free beers on sale in Whole Foods Market in London.

While recently in the West End I popped into the Piccadilly branch of Whole Foods Market to take a look at the gluten free products available and my eye was taken by the five different gluten free beers, ales and lagers on the shelf in the beer department.

The range of gluten free beers, ales and lagers on sale in Whole Foods Market Piccadilly - Daas Blond, Celia, Mongozo, St Peter's Brewery G-Free and Dark G-Free

Since being diagnosed with Coeliac Disease in 2008 I've tried all five of the gluten free beers (and a lot more besides).

The other fridge in Whole Foods Market contained bottles of Mongozo, Celia and St Peter's Dark G-Free gluten free beer

Having a look on the Mongozo website I noticed the gluten free Mongozo Buckwheat White Beer - one I haven't tried yet.

The Whole Foods Market website lists the New Planet Gluten Free Pale Ale, but I've never seen it in store. The website shows a mix of products that are available in UK and/or US stores.

Check out the links below for more information on the gluten free beers, as well as my blog post about the gluten free beverages I've drunk over the years.

Links:
- Whole Foods Market Piccadilly
- Celia Lager
- Mongozo
- Daas Beer
- St Peter's Brewery

Related blog post:
- Gluten Free Ales, Beers and Lagers

Gluten free chicken and beer

Chicken and beer - a great combination.

Emily's a great cook and makes some delicious gluten free treats - both sweet and savoury. We've blogged about some of them here on The Ham & Egger Files and also posted photos and details on her Twitter feed.

The latest creation Emily has perfected is oven baked cornflake chicken (think kind of southern fried, but healthier if you will).

Southern-style baked chicken coated with crushed Nestle Gluten Free Corn Flakes, served with paprika potato wedges, BBQ beans and an avocado. Washed down with a chilled Estrella Damm Daura gluten free beer. Delicious food, gluten free or otherwise

Since my diagnosis with Coeliac Disease in 2008 I've tried a fair few of the gluten free beers available and Estrella Damm Daura is one of my favourites.

While recently shopping for a gluten free Chocolate Yule Log in Tesco's Free From section I noticed that Estrella Damm Daura were included in a 3 for 2 offer and so twelve bottles of the great gluten free beer were £12 - a great buy for a savvy coeliac like me.

Links:
- Estrella Damm Daura website
- Estrella Damm Daura gluten free beer on Twitter
- Tesco Free From website
- Nestlé Cereals website

Related blog posts:
- Gluten free Ale, Beer and Lager
- New Nestlé Gluten Free Corn Flakes and Honey Corn Flakes

- Coeliac

- Gluten Free

GFree Radio - gluten free drinks special

A discussion of gluten free drinks on GFree Radio.

Listen to the latest episode of GFree Radio, with an appearance from me discussing gluten free drinks, suitability for coeliacs, pub snacks, and dreaded cross-contamination.



GFree Radio is the world's only weekly free podcast for people with coeliac (celiac) disease and the gluten free community. Hosted and produced by Peter Stewart each episode offers content ranging from news items and comment, food updates, reviews and interviews with coeliacs and food & drink producers. It's well worth a listen and if you've got a coeliac / gluten free topic you'd like to discuss then check out the GFree Radio Show website and get in touch with Peter.

Richard Gottfried - coeliac, gluten free blogger and fan of alcoholic beverages

One of my most popular blog posts is on Gluten free Ale, Beer and Lager and I've been lucky to find a fair few on my travels.

GFree Radio Links:
- GFree Radio website
- GFree Radio on Spreaker
- GFree Radio on Twitter
- GFree Radio on Facebook
- GFree Radio episode 80 - GF Drinks Special

Other gluten free links:
- Coeliac UK
- Gluten Free For Men
- Gluten Free Survival Guide
- Gluten Free Guerrillas
- Free-From.com

Related blog posts:
- Gluten free Ale, Beer and Lager
- Coeliac
- Gluten Free

New Gluten Free Beer and Cakes at M&S

New gluten free products - including beer and cakes - in the Made Without Range by Marks & Spencer.

Emily and I are big fans of Marks & Spencer as in the last few years they have added more and more products to the 'Made Without Wheat' range.

In addition to the special Made Without Wheat gluten free branded line, M&S has been making a lot of other items gluten free - such as the new BBQ and Grill range - which include our particular favourites of pulled pork and the cheese & chilli 'posh dogs'.

While having a browse in the Luton branch today I spotted there are now two new gluten free beers available!

The new Marks & Spencer beers - the Belgian Golden Ale on the left and the Belgian Premium Pilsner on the right.

I'm a big fan of beer, ale and lager and after my diagnosis with Coeliac Disease in 2008 following years of illness I received the additional hammer blow of being told that I wouldn't be able to have a pint of beer again.

Since then I have found that there are a number of gluten free tipples available and details of those beers I've found and drunk are available on my compilation blog post about Gluten Free Ales, Beers and Lagers.

The Belgian Golden Ale and Belgian Premium Pilsner are brewed by Brouwerij De Brabandere in West Flanders, Belgium and have been specially brewed for Marks & Spencer.

The new M&S Ale and Pilsner both contain Barley and in the information on the bottle it says "Barley gluten is removed during the brewing process to leave a great tasting gluten free beer."

I bought a bottle of each beer. I haven't tried them yet, but I'm sure they'll get drunk over the weekend.

M&S have also recently started selling four new cakes. I spotted three of these in the Luton branch, while the Party Cake was spotted in the Ipswich store.

The Made Without Wheat Extremely Chocolatey Celebration Cake by M&S. I bought one of these for our recent wedding anniversary.

The Made Without Wheat Extremely Chocolatey Celebration Cake was nice, I liked it more than Emily, but we both agreed the base of the cake was a little too dry. Not a bad amount of chocolate cake for the £10 price tag. I'd buy it again, and at least this time I'd have it all to myself.

The M&S Made Without Wheat Carrot & Walnut Cake and Coffee and Walnut Cake. I haven't tried these. Yet.

The M&S Made Without Wheat 'Party Cake'. I hope I get one of these on my next birthday.

Check out the M&S website for details of the Made Without Wheat range and the other Gluten Free items they offer. I spotted some different cakes available there too!

Links:
- Marks & Spencer website
- Marks & Spencer Made Without Wheat page
- Brouwerij De Brabandere
- Coeliac UK website

Related blog posts:
- Gluten Free blog posts on The Ham & Egger Files
- Gluten Free Ales, Beers and Lagers
- A blogger's gluten free sandwich
- Gluten Free Finds in London (and beyond) - October 2010