Round Thirty Five

31/12/17

150 pubs and a happy new year! Top Pubbing!


150. The Churchill Arms, A4204.

A pub we really looked forward to, decorated resplendently outside and in not just with christmas tinsel, but with historic pictures, ornaments and tankards too. Despite the good looks, the pub has a very mixed flavour with the imperial English decor combining with Irish pride and Thai food. Therefor lacking in good pub grub. Good beer though.

Beers:

Kiuchi Brewery Hitachino Nest - fizzy, slightly cloudy, maybe light showers, delicious, fizzy and acidic, heavily orange flavoured, would go nice with a curry, mild spice, edging towards a lager but importantly not, more complex and sweet.

Fuller's Espresso Stout - essentially dark, darker than the oppression of the Welsh apparently, tastes rather strongly of Espresso and nothing much more, alcoholic but lacking in the true stout characteristics, having said that, tasty.

149. The Uxbridge Arms, Uxbridge Street.

Very nice. Quiet, Good selection, sufficiently creaky and nice staff.


Beers:

Fuller's Holly Bush - dark maroon, looks rather sensual, flatter than Keira Knightly's arse pancake, Mmm Christmas pudding, mealy, no holly in it fortunately, tasty and sweet, hint of sherry?, Long tail, miaow.

Caledonian Brewery Uxbridge Arms IPA - amber, oblique, empty bodied, slow starter, bitter notes in the middle but tails off rather rapidly, bit malty, orange flavour spreads rather than spikes.



148. The Windsor Castle, Peel Street.

A smashing pub. Tudor? Low beams, snob screens all around, central bar and a fireplace. Mahogany panelled with pew style seats. No music and no need for it. A lovely atmosphere and a terrific old drinking pub.


Beers:

Itchen Valley Brewery Pride of the Valley - muddy, scrungey, frothy, sweetness at the end, full bodied, lemony but perhaps bitterness coming from the coffee, sours off a bit at the end, a lovely and peculiar beer.

Rudgate Brewery Shed Seven Instant Pleasures - red tinted but dark and clear, bitterness in the front, surprisingly medium bodied, a reminder of seedy bread, sweet tingle on the side of the tongue to finish.

147. The Old Swan, A4204.

No pork scratchings. Nice enough pub. Scratching around for beer.


Beers:

Craft Academy Well Red - semi-cloudy, maroon, sweet and dark aroma, bitterness that tails off throughout, sweet, fairly light bodied, fizz up front, strawberry or perhaps cranberry notes, very nice beer.

Round Thirty Four

30/10/17


146. The British Oak, Old Dover Road.

Fairly bog standard pub. Eerily quiet and quite tight on ale variety. Always a joy to see a dart board however.


Beers:

Upham Brewery UB5 - cloudy, fizzy, blonde, that is all.

Wadworth Treacle Treat - walnut colour, dark, stout aroma initially, coffee taste, mildly sweet unlike the name suggests, quite nutty.



145. Royal Standard, Stratheden Road.

Mix and match decor, retaining its cuboid outer shaping on the inside too. Plenty of interesting material on the walls and lively enough with a friendly barman. Nice beer selection and Del boys cousins red van parked out front.

Beers:

Saltaire Brewery Triple Chocoholic - opaque, coffee aroma, glorious, chocolatey, like a gateaux, slight roasted texture, quite heavy but not too much, delicious.

Oskar Blues Passion Fruit Pinner Throwback IPA - cloudy, quite blonde, sweet aroma, strong flavour of passion fruit but not alarmingly so.

144. The Railway, Blackheath Village.

Not highly expectant of this one but didn't do a bad job beer-wise. Not the most interesting walk around. Often a pub that welcomes entertainment and has a lively atmosphere in and around it.


Beers:

Siren Craft Yu Lu Loose Leaf  - blonde, very cloudy, a socialist beer, fizzy, very bitter, uncomplicated, would be suitable as a cleaning fluid, grapefruit central.

Great Heck Brewing Mercy - pear flavours, not totally clear, light amber, like an alcoholic pear drop, bitterness coming at the end, tasty and begin bodies without setting anything alight.




143. The Hare and Billet, Hare and Billet Road.

A little walk away from the village, this one was a nice find. Lively inside but not amongst the pigeons. Good bar snacks and a nice touch with the taster beer plank which allowed us to get our buds around an extra tipple.


Beers:

Bedlam Brewery Benchmark - dark amber, cloudy, cherry aroma, medium bodied, cherry edge on the flavour, slight bitterness, harder to palette.

Bedlam Brewery India Pale Ale - clear, sweetness, consistent bitter taste, medium body.

Hare Ale Best Bitter - light and a bit cloudy, smooth and empty bodied, sweet, taste spikes around the middle, tangy, blood orange.



142. The Crown, Tranquil Vale.

Not feeling the glass door at all but we were split over the ornamental log pile. Nice layout, ok bar, not a drinkers top destination. But seriously, the glass door, no.


Beers:

Shepherd Neame Autumn Late Red - woody red colour, quite clear, smooth, light bodied, sweet smelling, chestnut flavours, light bitter taste and thin bodied, nice autumnal beer.

Shepherd Neame Spitfire - dark amber look, a solid beer, medium bodied, punchy front, bitterness lingers on.



141. The Princess of Wales, Montpellier Row.

A really nice pub. Definitely appreciating the large numbers outside on a weekday. Narrow along the bar through to dining tables. At the near end a quiet and noble looking hole with cricket and rugby memorabilia. The skeletal remains of a man at the bar was although disconcerting, testament to the length of time one could enjoy drinking here.

Beers:

Beartown Ursa Major - near clear but a bit of sediment, fairly dull frothy head, initial taste heads towards bitter but holds off for a fairly fruity body, very tasty, bit thin.

Mole Brewery Molecatcher - reddish sediment lined appearance, quite smooth, heads to the back of the tongue, a hint of sourness, very tasty also.

Round Thirty Three

30/8/17

Starring special guest Carys' triple hopped half pint parade.


140. The Chandos, St Martin's Lane.

The Chandos features a much more open plan space and low ceiling. So can feel a little noisy, but nonetheless friendly. Samuel Smith's beers, so sadly limited, but the only pub to offer pork scratchings this evening, so a consolation there.

Beers:

Samuel Smith's Old Brewery Bitter - a duplicate thanks to the limitations of Samuel Smith's, a nice bitter, decent head, dark amber, quite clear and bold.

139. John Snow, Broadwick Street.

Credit to Carys on this one. A great find which has undoubtedly gained greater fame since the GOT series began, but pre-dates the show of course. Not by any means extravagant but solid like an oak tree, which it what it feels like inside. Snob screens - an old quirk.


Beers:

Samuel Smith's Organic Chocolate Stout - dark as hell, smooth as Mick Jagger, creamy, bang - what a beer, smells of cocoa pops, tastes like a heavy chocolatey nutty flurry of wonderfulness, could bathe in it.

Samuel Smith's Taddy Porter - dark like West ham's prospects in the premier league, hell of a froth, unsmelly, smooth heavy, a proper stout, probably a huge chunk of mahogany in there.



138. The French House, Dean Street.

French? Possibly. Two Frenchies at the bar. Terrific characteristic little pub with great French style artistry on the walls, small strange shaped rooms and mellow tones from the speakers. Not a great beer selection.

Beers:

Theakstons Best Bitter - watery, thick, sweet and smooth.

Montagne Lager - look, it's a lager, tastes alright though.

137. The Crown and Two Chairman, Bateman Street.

Slightly perturbed by the neon lights but otherwise a healthy pub with a nice bar, wooden panelled walls in the backroom hideaway, beers served possibly by a Targaryan.


Beers:

Madness Brewing Co. Absolutely Finest Pale Ale - very clear, strange, very sweet aroma, ooh is that Turkish delight?, Taste all at the front.

Fuller's Double Summer Yeastie Boys - clear, amber, not with head, a humdinger!, Medium bodied, flavour all up front, gives way to a lovely sweetness, smells wheaty, strong flavoured, tangy.

Guinness Original (with blackcurrant cordial - a travesty but Carys was insistent) - Guinness, with blackcurrant cordial...



136. The Dog and Duck, Bateman Street.

Nicholson's pub in mid Soho, built in 1734. George Orwell was a fan! Great city working man's honest pub.


Beers:

Bad Co. Comfortably Numb Pale Ale - clear, citrus aroma, small head, smooth, sweet but slightly bashful, hoppy enough to please a lazy bugs bunny.

Harviestoun Summer Legend Easy IPA - very clear and quite pale, no real head, sweet and refreshing, lingering bitterness towards the rear of the tongue, light citrus fruitiness. Very nice.



135. The Flying Horse, Oxford Street.

This pub has been stood on site for a few hundred years, and is the only pub left on Oxford Street. The black death even started in this very area! Lovely high ceiling, portraits of curvaceous ladies and a fine selection of ales.


Beers:

Sierra Nevada Hop Hunter IPA - amber, clear, minimal head, smells very hoppy, not too fizzy, reasonably bitter but not soul destroyingly so, fruity undertones that ebb away, perhaps orange, strong and gassy.

Ilkley Ruby Jane - dark ruby tone, light frothy top, medium bodied and Smooth, feels a bit stouty, runs along the tongue and lingers afterwards, earthy.

Round Thirty Two

10/08/17

134. Hung, Drawn and Quartered, Great Tower Street.

Another pub that has been closed on previous attempts. Various crimes for which such a punishment could be handed down are written and framed on the wall opposing previous patrons or perhaps victims of hanging. A noose hangs above the bar as a warning to loutish boozers. 

Beers: 

George Gale & Co. Beach Comber - clear, medium amber, light head, not much aroma, empty, musty and quite refreshing without being spectacular.

Fuller's London Porter - darker than Jeremy hunts NHS plans, thick, stouty, very pleasant porter, smooth, tails off nicely, solid and sweet.

133. Walrus and Carpenter, Monument Street.

At long last this pub is open, having not been on two previous attempts. A plentiful selection of ales along the bar, nice and spacious and decorative. No walruses. Presumably the carpenter had finished the job.

Beers:

Broughton Hopopotamus IPA - orangeyness and quite clear, so so so bitter, very grapefruity, lingers like a bad smell, no hippopotami witnessed.

Cali American Pale Ale - cloudy, amber, little head, citrusy aroma, very very bitter like a really sore loser, very hoppy, does what it says on the tin, not the greatest.

132. The Ship, Talbot Court.

The Ship is a great hideaway pub amongst the high-rise glass structures. It's small but very well attended. Just about got some unique brews and a friendly and beer enthusiastic barman (and a keen photobomber) provided excellent recommendations for new beers, pubs and walks. Top tankard award for him.

Beers:

Hopback Brewery Summer Lightning - medium amber, heady, bitter aroma, bitter tasting, empty mostly, nice overall.

Salopian Brewery Shropshire Gold - light amber, little head, indiscernible aroma, medium bodied, a 'good' beer, slight maltiness, nicely textured. 

131. The New Moon, Leadenhall Market.

High ceiling dark pub with a burgundy front in the market. Plentiful ledges for resting beers upon while taking a break from the terrible stresses of the marketplace.

Beers: 

New Moon Beer - dark amber, clear, parmesan aroma, very citrusy, medium bodied, flavour all up front and tails off sharply, not bad at all. 

Craft Academy Desert Ryeder - frothy modest head, dark walnutty colour, parma violet aroma, exciting and lively, fizzy to taste, blackcurrant tones, earthy, rye comes through, rises in interest throughout, lingering aftertaste. 

130. The Crosse Keys, Gracechurch Street.

A former banking headquarters, large windows and high ceiling, great selection of cask ales. Great central bar and a clock embedded in the balcony frieze. Cracking selection of beers on tap.

Beers:

Windsor and Eton Windsor Knot - clear, amber, very little nose, quite bitter, tickly on the tongue, builds up to a hoppy overture.

Celt Brewing Bleddyn 1075 - clear, red, flat, sweet smell, spicy edge, a firecracker, a large tail containing most of the flavour of dark red berries, weighty front as well.

129. Jamaica Wine House, St Michaels Alley.

Known locally as the jam pot, the first coffee house in London. Apparently frequented by Samuel Pepys, that famous drunk. Lovely brown stone building hidden down an alleyway.

Beers:

Whitstable Bay Oyster Stout - smooth large head, black like the railings alongside the pub, smooth, nutty undertones, can't taste any oyster, full bodied and strong flavour.

Shepherd Neame Spitfire - no head, amber, clear, hoppy, light bodied, bittersweet and sharp tail, nice and refreshing, backheel - lovely.

Round Thirty One

5/7/17


128. The Round Table, St Martin's Court.

A good, rounded pub with nice seating and spacious arrangements. Some classic photography along the walls but no mentions of King Arthur as one might have expected.


Beers:

Craft Academy High & Dry - very clear, citrus notes, described as blonde but more amber, possibly of spice.

Round Table Hand Crafted Bitter - browny amber, cloudy, a bit muddy, an interesting vinegar aroma, light bodied, sour, appley, potentially had gone off....



127. Mr Foggs Tavern, St Martin's Court.

Without question, one of the best pubs of the tour. Though quite modern, it very well pulls off the classic era antiquity that fits the Phileas Fogg adventures. The barmen were dressed in waistcoats befitting the era, the walls and ceilings were fantastically dressed with taxidermy, model ships and travel artifacts. Upstairs seated punters in chez langes and served a wide selection of gins. A gem.

Beers: (tankards)

Whitstable Stout - dark, frothy, light stout, creamy, flavoursome, roasted flavour, very very nice beer.

Mr Fogg's Best Bitter - red tinted amber, amber, very thin, sooooo watery, absolutely lacking in character, dull and uninteresting as a Gordon Brown speech about fly fishing.

126. The Salisbury, St Martin's Court.

Lovely historical pub. Once the wagon and horses, the pub has a large back space and a finely decorated front room with statuettes dating over 100 years. A wrestler once made famous in the pub has Big Ben named after him.

Beers:

Craft Academy Bittersweet Black IPA - blacker than a black hole, blackcurrant flavour, burnt, smacks the back of your tongue, fizz at the front, very full of flavour.

Craft Academy Big Bang IPA - amber, clear, citrus notes, lots of fizz up front, bittersweet end, a love hearts fizz to it.

125. The Ship and Shovel, Craven Passage.

Very interesting indeed. The first of the tour to feature two competing sides! The left is the more rowdy bar, the right is the quieter lounge area. Unique and pleasant.

Beers:

Badgers Bitter - very clear, golden, holds its head, indistinct aroma, not very hoppy and therefore not very bitter or flavoursome, it might be good for washing your dishes

Badgers Cascade & Celeia (C&C) - clear and golden, not very aromatic, bitter, full of barley more towards the end, not a big winner but not too shabby, elements of Weetabix.



124. Sherlock Holmes, Craven Passage.

A lively celebration of the great mystery solver. Not a wildly different pub layout but certainly popular. The windows were engraved with Sherlock, Watson and their creator Sir Arthur.


Beers:

Greene King Sherlock House Ale - dark amber, clear, smooth head, mellow, flat, sweet suggestions, a tweed coat of beers.

Greene King Watson's Pale Ale - light amber, sweet smell, light bodied, gentle, not bags of flavour, polite.



123. The Admiralty, The Mall.

A broad and seaworthy establishment. Many a nautical artifact paying homage to the great sea nation of old. A solid patriotic beery journey.


Beers:

Long Arms I.P.A.O.K. - cloudy a little, amber, fruity, sweet, very smooth, bitter climb to a steady end, not an arse slapper, but rather gentle like your kindly old uncle with a bag of Werther's Originals.

Fuller's London Porter - dark, opaque, stouty smell, foamy, cranberry (?), Red tint, tickles the tongue.