I had a couple excellent steak & ale pies since the last post.  The first one was consumed yesterday at the Bitter End Pub, a nice pub on the banks of the diminutive Bitter Beck river in Cockermouth.  This pie was great, especially the pastry crust which was crispy and light.  Relatively light.  The second pie was tonight, at the Trout Hotel.  This pie was also excellent, especially the rich and thickly textured dark gravy.  The peas at the Trout weren't actually mushy peas, which I enjoy whenever I find them.  I enjoyed mushy peas the night before at the Bitter End Pub, for example.  The Trout Hotel peas were crushed and minted, and so they were not as creamy as one would expect if they were mushy, and minted did not impart a good taste. But the pie was delicious, which is what counts.