20/11/21
2021 races to its climax, and the lads race out to their northernmost odyssey tour thus far to make records! (Joint most pubs in one outing - 11)
Peterborough
286. The Coalheavers Arms, Park Street.
Rated highly in the bible but quite why we weren't sure. A nice pub by all accounts, comfortable and friendly with a good ale selection. A mild sweaty stale aroma on entering. Nice all the same.
Beers:
Woodfordes Brewery Once Bittern - dark amber, mid bitter, nutty, textured and decent.
Worsthorne Brewery Some Like It Blonde - blonde, translucent, watery, very bitter.
285. Charters Bar, River Nene.
The first pub of the odyssey to require a mooring. A floaty bargey brew up with a terrific array of taps. Comfy, bright, long and alive. A very tasty asian restaurant on top deck.
Beers:
Todd Steam Brewery Dr Fox's Chicken Choker - Smells fowl (hehe), a mildly tangerine coloured ale, no real taste of chicken but pretty cluckin' good, mid bitter, quite ok.
NVB Supersonic Gin and Tonic - orangey colour, quite opaque, real gin overtones, very interesting, strangely drinkable.
284. The Brewery Tap, Westgate.
A large and spacious brewpub, claiming to be the biggest in Europe. The microbrewery is nicely framed and lit behind glass. Nice long bar with a friendly barman. Curiously empty spaced in the center - a mirror ball hangs above. Thai food is prepared on site and served to punters on the upper floor.
Beers:
Oakham Brewery JHB - lightish amber, safe, slight bitterness, ok, brewed in honour of a very short man from history, John Hudson (top barman knowledge).
Oakham Brewery Inferno - amber, no real aroma, bitter with coriander notes, a middle ground beer.
283. The Bumble Inn, Westgate.
Terrific and friendly microbrewery serving tasting planks, a wide array of choice despite its miniature nature. Wooden panelled all around in its distinctive pale blue. Clearly regularly attended by many. A real treat.
Beers:
Three Sods Brewery Boho Bitter - Dark brown, medium bitter, steady and reliable.
Bath Ales Gem - Dark brown, quite clear, quite smooth, minimally bitter, textured, gentle.
Ossett Brewery Centennial - light amber, clear, floral, light around the mouth, bitter, hangs around a short time, summery, refreshing.
282. The Stone Works, Church Street.
A narrow and cute crafty bar. Understated but has character. Hazy inside due to a small smoke machine, and a mild swimming pool aroma. Dimly lit. Twenty four taps line along the rear of the bar. Simple decor and a very nice stay.
Beers:
Brew York and Fyne Ales Release the Cranachan - very sweet, very dark, strong forest fruits smell to it, cherries, light for a stout, powerful flavour.
Leigh on Sea and Neptune Phire and Lime - Light, sour, yellow, translucent, melon aroma, cucumber taste, a pleasant and light sour, not too much mouthfeel.
281. The Queen's Head, Queen Street.
Bright and buzzing, people are often seen queueing outside. Charles Wells beers on tap. Bare brick design suiting it well. Accosted by two overly painted females asking (and telling) far too much about body parts and drawing much attention away from two very good beers. A pub that brings out the strangest of Peterboroughns.
Beers:
Charles Wells DNA - steady, tasty, moorish, brown, very drinkable.
Charles Wells Origin - Light brown, tasty middle ground mild beer, like a solid wooden barrel.
280.The Blind Tiger, Cowgate.
An outlier in odyssey history. A glass-fronted bar with a great focus on interesting and crafty ales. Tidy, a great buzz and a fun little retro gaming table adorned with Pacman imagery.
Beers:
Devils Peak UK Lucy Goes West - citrusy and bitter from the start, lightly bubbly, quite pleasant and light, gassy.
Neon Raptor Brewing Co. Montagues - yellow and opaque, very very hazy, wheaty, bubbly.
279. The Drapers Arms, Cowgate.
A large and noteworthy Wetherspoons for its expansive nature including an outdoor balcony bar. Great selection of ales as you would expect. Fairly regular spoons decor but as always with a nod to the local area in its displays. Very popular.
Beers:
Newby Wyke Brewery the Deep - dark like Poseidon's thoughts of Persephone, like the singularity, very deeply black, bitter overtone and a strong tar like slick towards the back of the throat, all hopes and dreams lost inside forever.
Grainstore Brewery Ten Fifty - hazel brown, light head, no real aroma, slightly smooth, sweetness at the front, tails off very slowly and leaves a liquery aftertaste.
Whittlesey
278. Dog in a Doublet, North bank.
Sadly empty, blamed on the closed main road nearby. An interesting collection of spaces from the rear restaurant, the front lounge and the beds available somewhere else. Probably intentionally confused decoration but with a consistent fascination with pooch portraits. Disappointing bar.
Beers:
Guinness Original
John Smith's Extra Smooth
277. The Black Bull, Market Street.
A very nice stumble-upon. An attractive front facade and equally attraction interior made for a nice drink. Initially turned practically every head in the room as we walked in, not being local and all. Sport on in the far corner, a locals local.
Beers:
Timothy Taylor's The Landlord - Medium amber, slight head, slight fizz, little ripple on the tongue, slight bitterness, very drinkable.
Sharps Doombar - Solid, reliable, ubiquitous, as always.
276. The George Hotel, Market Street.
A respectable start in one of the finer Wetherspoons in a large building dominating the market square in town. Festive food on the menu got us started nicely and interesting beers washed it down a treat.
Beers:
Wolf Brewery Wolf Whistle - substantial head, brown, aroma suggests something dark has happened in its past, full bodied, bitter beginning, long finish, nice and frothy mouthfeel.
Exmoor Brewery Exmoor Exmas - reddish ruby, no head at all, smooth, flat, chestnuts and cranberry flavours.
