Featuring impromptu guest 'Tory Matt' of the north (Bolton).
231. The Rose and Crown, Paris Garden.
A very decent pub from the trusty Shepherd Neame people who seem to have a penchant for tall narrow pubs. Nestled amongst the quiet residential pocket of Southwark, it was nice and oaky, clean and full of beer. A good pub to end the night.
Beers :
Bear's Brewery Triple Hopped IPA - light amber coloured and mild fizz apparent from gazing within, no real head, a slight fizz to the tongue at the beginning giving way to a bitter peak lingering for but a moment, certainly hoppy.
Bear's Brewery East Coast IPA - mid-amber, slight head and kind of hazy, fairly dull appearance but nice tasting, a nice mix of hops from the beginning, allows for the texture to roll well over the tongue and begin it's journey southward, pleasant.
230. The White Hart, Whittlesey Street.
A pretty cosy pub to the east of Waterloo. The outside was very inviting with a nice facade and big windows displaying the jollity within. One big room with a central bar, looking pretty modern and neat in appearance. A good selection of taps at the bar with space for standing as well as a good number of tables circling the outer rim. A good atmosphere too.
Beers:
Sadler's Peaky Blinders Black IPA - dark and flavoursome, fills the whole mouth, darker than the backstreets of Birmingham, a sharp front and a peaky end with deep nut and dark fruit notes, it's alrite ay it.
229. The Kings Arms, Windmill Walk.
A crowded little number this one. Slipped into the backstreets of Waterloo. A nice wide bar, plenty of tradition here without needing to boast of age or being horribly modern. Immediately having got to the bar, Tory Matt of the north interceded and made sure we knew who we were voting for. Very kindly bought us a pint of ale each and shared a love of real ale and blogging about it (and a handsome dose of politics).
Beers :
Twickenham Liquid Gold - hazy gold and kind of glowy, minor head, medium bodied with a smoothness coming from the rising bubbles, slightly sweet and pleasant on the tongue.
Watney's James Watney - a darker shade of amber, large bubbled froth hinting at a flavourful mouthful, a steady amount of sediment swirling around, rich brown flavours, slightly earthy and a deep aroma, a good steady beer.
228. The Windmill, The Cut.
This was an excellent stumble-upon. Along the cut it popped out of nowhere and invited us in to a rather dedicated ale repository. Good choice and good presentation with many portraits of famous faces they wish had sipped from their glasses. Even had space to sit down amongst the many other wandering souls who enjoyed their own beery discoveries. A good looking establishment and a strong ale ethic.
Beers:
Wandering Brewing Project Wayfarer Green Hop Pale Ale - not green but infect a light amber colour, a bitter aroma, hazy, bitterness coming through in the middle and tailing off rapidly, reasonably malty and quite drinkable.
Fourpure Brewing Co. Bavarian Helles - a beer of the lagery kind but definite interesting notes amongst the typical colder than cold fizz-hopped gold, quite clear and definite amber, sharp and tangy and easy to down, a tasty number.
227. The Anchor and Hope, The Cut.
Sort of restauranty outer appearance with an awning and bold lettering. More pubby inside with well utilised bottom resters and a creaky floor. A respectable beer board assisted with the selection. Absolutely heaving. Lovely.
Beers :
Small Beer Brew Co. The Original Small Beer - a low strength one at 2.5%, nice and crisp, light coloured and no real aroma, citrus notes, easy to drink and pleasant for washing things down that otherwise might get lodged in the gullet.
Tiny Rebel Brewery Yipee Try Yay - hazy and light yellow like it's fading, not a great aroma and tastes like a wrung out dishcloth, bitterness that wanes and tails off into nothing, not horrible but not what we might have wanted.
226. The Wellington, Waterloo Road.
The pubby bit of the hotel is most excellent. Stands out nicely on the high street as a stoney and respectable establishment. Two halves to this one; the left side being the more open and quiet lounge with large tables and the right being the bar. The upper floor also contains some quite handsome decoration and artwork. A good selection of taps but struggled for unique ales here. A loud and proud pub.
Beers:
Fullers ESB - another encounter with the ESB, a good beer to be relied upon, clear and dark nutty appearance and a similar taste, good mild flavours that set the mouth up well for a good evening.
Fullers ESB - another encounter with the ESB, a good beer to be relied upon, clear and dark nutty appearance and a similar taste, good mild flavours that set the mouth up well for a good evening.
Abbaye de Leffe Leffe Blonde - yellow and translucent, fresh wheaty aroma, quite an astonishing and frankly over the top head formed from rushing bubbles, a nice pleasant taste from the wheaty fields of Belgium, fizzy but achieves a creaminess likely due to the enormity of the head.
225. The Fire Station, Waterloo Road.
One of those very modern incarnations of pub. A converted firehouse that no longer contains fire engines but ales! Good thing too as the high metal girders made for a clanky atmosphere and one all too popular with those unsteeped in proper pub tradition.
Beers :
Brakspear Gravity - clear though dark brown appearance, looks inviting, good maltiness within, a subtle sweetness which combines well with the malt, smooth and textured.
Eagle Brewery McEwan's Headspace - a cracking starter beer, dark in tone but quite clear, a gentle head, sweet single malt whiskey aroma, whiskey comes through immediately as you sip it and sticks around for a short while mixing with the fruity notes of the ale, warming, rich, daring, a great beer.
