The Idle Lunch

I met up with a couple of dear friends on Saturday and caught up with each others gossip. We met at the Cross Keys pub in Thame and it was a very civilised way to spend a couple of hours. I am not a Thame resident but I can walk there in about an hour and Saturday was such a perfect day for a walk that it would've seemed a sin not to cross the fields in the company of the last of the swallows, the yellowhammers, buzzards and red kites (always, always kites) and take in the newly harvested land on my way.
I was quite early, because that's who I am, and was able to sit with a half pint and read the local CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) literature which was left for all to peruse. There was the usual bad news of pubs closing and big bad breweries buying up the independents. However, in the literature there was much to be joyful about. I drank beer from the XT brewing company based in a village (Long Crendon) a couple of miles North of Thame. XT has been brewing for less than a year but is already building a superb reputation for itself and I certainly enjoyed both their No 1 ( A blond bitter - citrusy and clean,4.2 abv and right up my street) and No 4 (Their flagship beer - a very drinkable amber ale at 3.8 abv. It would be very easy to spend a whole night on this particular brew and it shows that you do not need stupid alcohol levels to produce great flavour).
The pub itself has its own micro brewery, alas none of their beers we on the ten pumps on the bar ( all of them serving small brewery or cider products). I'll just have to go back sometime soon to try their own beer.
We are also within a very small distance of two more wonderful independents of the brewing industry - The Chiltern Brewery near Wendover and the Vale Brewery in Brill.
We should be so proud of our brewing heritage. British Real Ale is unique to these islands and delicious in all its forms. Yet we listen to our demons who tell us that "its too warm" "I want something lighter" " Its not cool or cold enough" Its time to listen to our better angels and embrace this natural gem of our food and drink culture.
There can be no mistake though:  when it comes to small independent producers of British Real Ale, if you live in the beautiful area north of the Chiltern Hills, then you are truly blessed. So blessed, in fact, that your pint glass surely overflows.