Round Nineteen

28/10/16

77. The Well and Bucket, Bethnal Green.

A good one to end on. Interesting artwork, nice brickwork, satisfying bar area. Applauded, not lauded.

Beers:

Pin Up Milk Stout - light, dark as a stout should be, smells like sweet milk, fizzy addition to the taste, light, milky smoothness, possible dark chocolate notes, sweet and very pleasant.

Under Current Oat Meal Pale Ale - red, clear, no head, bitter smell, medium bodied, bitterness sits on your tongue but still manages to be quite smooth, not too pleasant. 

76. The Marquis of Cornwallis, Bethnal Green 

An improvement. Not too many shenanigans ongoing, just good beer. Not a proud pub but well established and functional, which is all you really need when thirsty.

Beers:

Pressure drop Wu Gang Chops The Tree - no head, dark but rather blonde, stale smell, warming, sweet, smooth, fizzy, some sort of cheesy influence, strange.

Partizan Pale Ale - very cloudy, blonde, citrusy smell, looks fizzy, empty bodied, sharp drop off flavour, stringy texture, bitter aftertaste.

75. The Star of Bethnal Green, Bethnal Green 

Halloweens goings on in here too but rather less busy. Could pass for a good standard eating pub on a normal weekday. Little bit greasy.

Beers:

Redchurch Shoreditch Blonde - blonder than trump's hairpiece, cloudier than a bank holiday weekend in Wales, small head, very sweet, dominated by fizz, grapefruit bitterness, low bodied.

Camden Pale Ale - clear, amber, tiny head, fruity nose, late bitter aftertaste, dominated by fizz also.

74. The King George, Bethnal Green

Nightclub or pub. Not sure. Quite packed anyway. Some halloween masks were quite scary but thankfully the beers were not.

Beers: (served in tankards)

ELB Foundation Bitter - rather red, clear, no head whatsoever, less head than Oliver Cromwell, a little bubble, quite bitter, no real accent but a nice bitter taste throughout.

Purity UBU - light head, cloudy, browny amber, no outstanding odour, full bodied, sweet, peachy aftertones, nondescript beginning. 

73. The Misty Moon, Bethnal Green Road.

Tom Jones not present. Big let dow. Otherwise decent enough pub, popular enough, nice old fashioned carpet.

Beers:

Brains Open Casket - orange, dull in colour, slight head, smooth, no real peaks and troughs, citrusy throughout.

Caledonian Autumn red - reddy brown, quite clear, little bit of a tickle, citrusy but no bitterness.

Round Eighteen

09/10/16

70TH PUB ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED. PASS GO. COLLECT A CIGAR.

72. Woolwich Equitable, Woolwich. 

No arguments about this one. One of the pubs of the tour thus far. From the tiny unassuming front door you wouldn't expect the gem inside. Born out of the wreckage of the old building society, the stone walls and overhanging balcony above the long bar give the place an aura. Then filling the space with old furniture, a piano, games and good staff bring the character. Guest beers on tap. A very enjoyable place.

Beers: 

Sharp's Wolf Rock Exceptionally Red ale - very red up against the light, dark shroud, fizzy at the start, red berry sweetness, drops off quickly but quite nice overall.

Sambrook's London Pale Ale - Amber, medium cloud, no substantial head, quite fizzy, lingering bitterness from mid to aftertaste, stays on the throat like a grapefruit.

71. The Great Harry, Woolwich.

Harry wasn't in but his minions were. Wetherspoon's providing a nice beer selection though the pub itself was not hugely interesting.

Beers:

Ringwood Red Boar - dark reddy brown, medium head, fairly interesting smell, very little lingers on the tongue, warmth at the beginning, citrus, then a heavy slope off the edge of a rather steep cliff. 

Ruddles Best - lighter brown, clear, marginal head, very pleasant, full bodied, sweet, smooth throughout, nice bready body.

70. Fox and Hounds, Sandy Hill Road, Plumstead.

Slightly nervous about this one but it was ok. Much more of a residential pub in that everyone was very regular and drank the same stuff every time. It was decent enough to drink in and featured some of the traditions we often love, if not a bit tatty.

Beers:

John Smith's Extra Cold - very smooth head, muddy brown, disappointingly common, uninteresting flavour, yet a very nice smooth mouthfeel.

Take Courage Best Bitter - brown and clear, watery, easy to drink, not a great flavour, very empty bodied.

69. The Red Lion, Shooters Hill.

Our second most local local and deserving of a viewing. More welcoming inside than out. Family friendly with a nice garden to the rear.

Beers :

Caledonian Coast to Coast Pale Ale - brownish amber tint, bubbly but only mildy fizzy at the start, rather minor head, bitter aftertaste, quite nice after a few sips, a little empty.

Hop stuff Fusilier - hazy, minimal fizz and minor head, nutty looking amber, slightly bitter, secondary bitter wave, medium bodied and reasonably pleasant.

68. The Greenwich Tavern, Greenwich.

The greenwich tavern is nicely situated for a cooling pint after a long day of swanning around in the park. All the interesting stuff is downstairs where the bar is. Upstairs is a rather restauranty dining area.

Beers:

Adnams Southwold Ease Up IPA - light amber and clear, small head, subtle fizz at the start, bitter crescendo giving way to fizz, sweet.

Truman's Runner - bold, dark, hazelnut colour, good short head, nutty taste throughout, smooth, slightly on the bitter side.

67. The Rose and Crown, Crooms Hill, Greenwich.

A continuation of our Greenwich exploration. A nice warm pub with alluring maroon colouring including the rather heavy curtains. Quite homely. Could have several beers here.

Beers:

Greene King Oompah - looks fizzy but isn't..., Yellow, mildy cloudy, consistently flavoursome throughout without knocking any socks off, like driving an old Cadillac along route 69.

G2 Brewery Otava IPA - light and misty as an autumnal morning, yellow, not a wizbanger, looks fizzy but isn't, bitter, no particularly interesting taste, drains off the tongue quickly.