Round Fifty

30/01/19

Round Fifty!!! Another stunning landmark victory for the Odyssey madlads on the road to everlasting infamy. Bottoms up!

207. The Hoop and Grapes, Aldgate High Street.

A lovely pub, with a moderate attendance. Background music playing. An old creaky for greeted us in and a fine selection of ales beckoned us towards the bar. Nicely spaced but without too many conspicuous features.

Beers:

The Orkney Brewery The Red MacGregor - dark blood red, not giving anything away on the nose, rugged, smoked, flavoursome and wholesome, chestnuts roasting on an open fire, deep, cranberry and red berry flavours, best of the night.

Fullers Off Piste - amber, some light bubbles, intriguing, light bodied, sweet at the end, no real aftertaste, mostly hoppy flavours.

206. The Culpepper, Commercial Street.

Vibrant and perky. Many beers on tap varying between Adnam's and Purity. A large oval bar and wooden furnishings throughout. Good feelings about this pub. Looking around there was plenty of ale being guzzled and a nice variety of clientele. 

Beers:

Adnam's Ghost Ship - dark amber/piney, delicate head, clear, pleasant to consume, light to medium bodied, mealy, hoppy finish, woody, lemony.

Purity Lawless - bubbles on display, minor head on top, some kind of shootout going on inside, not as fizzy as one would expect, crisp, sweetness on the aftertaste, definite bulgur wheat flavours...

205. The Ten Bells, Commercial Street.

Pokey but pleasant. A timber laden bar centred the room with a lovely selection of ales. Two tiled murals are linked along a whole wall of patterned tiles which give the room a great charm. Sadly loud pop music was playing during our stay and it was difficult to be heard properly. In the end, a relief to leave.

Beers:

Fourpure Brewing Flatiron - decent head, cloudy, red-ish, lingering fizziness up front, very hoppy, stark bitterness but masked by the fizz, fairly dry.

Fourpure Brewing Session IPA - clear, very pale, quite bubbly, light but manages to be very hoppy, a fine blend of bitter flavours that gets the balance right.

204. The Golden Heart, Commercial Street.

A very good drinkery with Victorian heritage and two sides, bar and lounge. Wooden benches, a fireplace and historic framed images hung around. Slightly Shoreditch-ised but nonetheless a steady public house.

Beers:

Truman's Swift - golden in colour, flat, sweet and hoppy, medium bodied, sweet smell and pleasant to drink.

Truman's Zephyr - not flying away, dark amber, fruity aroma, frothy, a fair bit of character to this one, bitter aftertaste, runs over the tongue very smoothly.

203. Commercial Tavern, Commercial Street.

A grubby looking exterior but a prominent corner tavern that needed to be observed. Tiled in green along the outer edge and plenty of drinkers inside and out. Inside was fairly loud and bore all the hallmarks of the so called 'hipster' movement in which everyone is individual and different. One hallmark was the presence of some splendid craft beer. Cheers!

Beers:

Equanimity Wiper and True - clear, dark brown, no nasal clues, light, a bit watery, a fair bit of earth in this one, tasty and ripe.

One Mile End Snake Charmer - Clear, pale, bitter to the nose, medium bodied, not as bitter as first thought, tickles the testicles a little but starts off with a nice malty taste.