07/05/18
176. The Crown and Shuttle, Shoreditch High Street.
Another pub embracing the open / bare trend and also recycling old furniture; virtuous perhaps but entirely attractive to these eyes. The garden on this sunny day was very well exploited. On our part the bar was well exploited, providing the best 2 beers of the day. A very nice overall pub but questions over the reasoning for 2 doormen.
Beers:
Siren Craft Brew Liquid Mistress - dark ruby red, flat, as much head as stormy Daniels, very fruity aroma, full of flavour, dark chocolate notes, raisins taste throughout, a haze of fruity flavours but crystallises into a distinct and lovely balanced beer, top stuff.
First Chop Brewing Arm MCR Modern Bitter - very murky and substantially flat, orange appearance, tangy to the nose and the flavour backs it up, blood orange taste with an overriding sweetness.
First Chop Brewing Arm MCR Modern Bitter - very murky and substantially flat, orange appearance, tangy to the nose and the flavour backs it up, blood orange taste with an overriding sweetness.
175. The Owl and Pussycat, Redchurch Street.
Off a narrow sidestreet in Shoreditch lies charactered and popular pub. Keen on maintaining a bareness and an openness that is trendy in these parts. Some displays perhaps intentionally left in disrepair (the bar clock an obvious example). Simple artwork here and there, good choice of beers and a good overall appeal.
Beers:
Brakspear Oxford Gold - sunny gold appearance, tint of bitterness on the nose, wholesome, light to medium bodied but mostly bland.
Brakspear Bitter - dark, bitter up front but tails off nicely to a hazelnut aftertaste, overall pleasant with enough taste to want more.
174. The Spread Eagle, Kingland Road.
A very nice drinkery. Not too busy and not too big. Downside to that is the lack of space for taps. Attractive besides the cheap cafe style tables and chairs outdoors. This is a pub that though being quite traditionally British in many ways, chose to feel very Mediterranean at least on this day with salsa style music.
Beers:
Sharps Cornish Pilsner - bit lagery, rather fizzy, pale and clear, refreshing, and also lagery.
Blue Moon Brewing co. Blue Moon - not blue but in fact yellow and cloudy as f**udge, creamy, cheesy, would go nice in a lasagne.
173. The Bricklayers Arms, Charlotte Road.
Slightly off-track is a more local's pub with working class tradition and annoying £10 minimum card spend. Neat yet grubby enough to enjoy. Nice big bar mirror and well looked after taps. Also some appreciated ornaments such as a 50's wooden radio and massive cognac bottle in a cradle.
Beers:
Watneys IPA - tinting on orange darker amber, smells hoppy, quite clear, quite bitter and interesting, mellow at the beginning, very much a crescendo at the end.
Darkstar Brewery Hop Head - yellowy amber, not entirely clear, citrus aroma, flavour at the front of the tongue, bitter and sweet.
172. Old Blue Last, Great Eastern Street.
Lovely large open, high-ceiling and wide-floored pub, very wooden and a giant glass Truman's mirror behind the bar. Various animal ornaments on the walls including stags and warthogs. It's own beer on tap. Room for a DJ in the corner too.
Beers:
Old Blue Last - a little translucent, mild fizz up front, light amber, bitter notes but smooth and textured, light bodied and fresh.
Franciscan Well Brewery Chieftain Irish Pale Ale - woody brown, slightly translucent, fruity, up front bitterness, foresty, pine flavours, like drinking a pinecone.
