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arwkrite
02-11-2009, 07:50
Having to be in Hereford for most of every day has meant my catering arrangements have revolved around Wetherspoons which is one of the best for food I have found. The beer festival has been a pleasant diversion. I have not been keeping track but enjoyed Woods Old Cow, Lancaster and Mr Grumpy to name a few. A Czek dark beer however was far to heavy for me and I left half of it. A number of the lighter brews appear to have the same tasting finish of lemon/grapefruit. I cannot be bothered with ordering thirds which often leads to rolling eyes amongst the locals because it slows up service even more:rolleyes:.At £1.69 the beers are selling fast and the name clips change quickly.

Soup Dragon
02-11-2009, 10:05
I popped into the Acorn, in Lichfield, on Saturday, with friends. I tried a few, but was not really impressed to be honest. Luckily, it was the last place we did!

arwkrite
04-11-2009, 05:54
Strange you should say that about the beer. I have started ordering halves after my last few selections resulted in unfinished pints. Tried Carolus (8%) but found it a dense , chewy brew much like the Czek stout like brew I left. My preference is ales in the 4%>5% range as long as thr citron like finish is missing .Far to much of that about.
Sat there people watching I have noticed the festival has bought in newcomers to the pub who do not stay long. The regulars stick with their pints of Ruddles or lagers.However the ales are being turned over quickly, even faster on a weekend.

arwkrite
11-11-2009, 08:29
Yesterday I had a pint or two of Everards Old Original. Its a full flavoured pint without that citrus finish I have found in so many of these festival ales and dislike.

Soup Dragon
11-11-2009, 10:00
Yesterday I had a pint or two of Everards Old Original. Its a full flavoured pint without that citrus finish I have found in so many of these festival ales and dislike.

Yes - Mr A, not a citrus, or fruit beer fan - nearly as bad as :twigs:

PaulOfHorsham
12-11-2009, 11:08
Hey Mr Arkwrite - I had the Bohemian Schwarzbier and I thought it was alright - not the best cask stout I've had but perfectly fine. That was in the Lynd Cross (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/57013/) where, to my astonishment, they had a good selection of festival beers. I say astonishment because the choice in that place is frequently rubbish - as few as 2 ales sometimes (can we have an option to provide second and third opinions please PG-meisters?).

Actually, that's the only festival beer I've had - maybe I'll pop back next week.

Conrad
12-11-2009, 11:14
(can we have an option to provide second and third opinions please PG-meisters?).
In the works, sadly to do it right is not an easy change, it is however in our priorities.

hopwas
12-11-2009, 11:29
I had crafty pint (I wasn't supposed to while on duty but what the hell :D) at White Swan in Solihull. I opted for Caledonian's Double Dark which was in top notch. It tastes like burnt coffee and liquorice into one.

Very next day, I went to Solihull's other wetherspoon Assembly Rooms and had pint of Black Panther (I forget name of the brewery!) It was not too bad and bit weak on taste side otherwise drinkable

arwkrite
12-11-2009, 11:33
It must be my taste buds . I had a pint of Black Panther last night and could not finish it. It proves I am a bitter man in more ways than one.( Mind you the fish I had to send back did not help the experience, but it was replaced without question and in a pleasant manner.)
I must learn to put my specs on when ordering my pint . Only the large print shows up otherwise and I often make mistakes. There have been one or two stouts I have tried and enjoyed, Marston Oyster Stout comes to mind but its a rare find.
My comments on beer are from my personal taste which I admit is quite narrow but I do like to try new names to me.Looking at customers at the bar of my age we do seem to be a conservative ( in choice) group by and large when it comes to what we drink.Despite cheaper beers on offer we seem to carry on with what know and like. Yeah B,O.F's one and all.:o

nogoodboyo
12-11-2009, 12:35
By way of a change to the famous Red Dragon in Penderyn ( and I think we’ve all heard of Penderyn now!) , My friend and I went to the ‘spoons in Abedare ,Yr Ieuan ap Iago.Getting the negatives out of the way first, I have to say that three ales does not make a beer festival. First up was Mr.G’s Lunchtime Ale,3.7%.My rating 6/10.Derived from New Zealand, but I fancy brewed in the UK, this had the generic ‘spoons ale taste, but my friend quite liked it.
Next up was Caledonian Double Dark Oatmeal Stout, 4.6%, my rating 7/10.A splendid stout with an excellent aroma, and a pleasing bitterness.
Saving the best till last I then tried Moorhouse’s Black Panther, 4.8%. My rating 8/10.Brewed in Burnley Lancashire, I’m sure Soup Dragon would approve of this superior ale.The colour is what Dylan Thomas would have described as ... sloe black, slow, black, crow black , if you see what I mean. Perhaps a difficult ale to categorise, laying somewhere in that tantalising void between a stout and a strong ale. Nevertheless it was a delight to savour,plus I benefited from saving 50p with a CAMRA voucher!

Soup Dragon
12-11-2009, 12:47
I think, i have only ever used one of my vouchers, boyo - i am just lazy i guess. But if in a Spoons i always look first for MILDs, then Stouts - but i just find Spoons so hit and miss really, i have had pints in a Spoons that seem ok, until you try them elsewhere, when you really get the taste. Perhaps i am unfair, but life is like that - i do resent the fact that the GBG 2010 contains loads of them.:mad:

oldboots
12-11-2009, 13:03
Looks like we might be needing a 'Spoons - Good or Bad type thread :D

I can't comment on the current festival has I've had nowt this time round, and it looks like I wont get to a JDW before Monday - wrong places and too much work :mad: and I've still got 9 vouchers left to use before the 4th December :moremad:

arwkrite
12-11-2009, 23:05
" i do resent the fact that the GBG 2010 contains loads of them.:mad:" Soupdragon Quote.

I was looking at an American site which rates beer if you get my drift. The top 100 ales are nearly all American brewed and the great majority are described as Imperial Stout. Its strange but I dont see many people drinking stout and did not see a lot in Florida and that was Guiness super chilled. Mind ,in that heat it was the last thing I would want.It has a big market but not apparently in the pubs I visit.
This evening I did see the Caledonian DD Stout but decided to pass it for a pale ale with my curry.I can hear you all shouting "Wimp" way out here in the sticks.

Almost got flattened by the Nat Exp. Coach in Hereford today.That had Abedare on its route sign.And here I see the place mentioned. Never given the place a thought before.

SOUPS just re read your thread. Are you refering to Wetherspoons ? in which case I had hold of the wrong end of the stick.

Soup Dragon
13-11-2009, 13:10
Yes, Mr A - i do mean Wetherspoons, sorry if my general gabble confused anyone:muppet:

nogoodboyo
13-11-2009, 18:08
Almost got flattened by the Nat Exp. Coach in Hereford today.That had Abedare on its route sign.And here I see the place mentioned. Never given the place a thought before.

Resist the urge to go to Aberdare, there's very little to recommend it, certainly not the quality of the beer. You will only be disappointed, whatever your expectations.

hopwas
14-11-2009, 10:29
I've still got 9 vouchers left to use before the 4th December :moremad:

Post to me :D

Pretty please...

nogoodboyo
14-11-2009, 21:17
I ventured out today to watch Pontypridd play Neath at Sardis Road aka the house of pain. Not being a fan of the cold fizzy keg brew they sell in the ground I popped into The Tumble Inn, a ‘Spoons pub in Pontypridd. First off was Ringwood Filly Drift, a good traditional bitter from the New Forest. This might not the best pint I had this week, but it was the most enjoyable.
Learning that the Ponty game was cancelled due to the rain, I headed back up to the bar to sample the Fairport Five beer. At this point I’d forgotten that I’d already used one voucher this visit, but the barman didn’t seem to mind. This was a 5% golden ale produced with the festival in mind. It has a strong citrus flavour which I know many of you guys dislike. Any other time I would have enjoyed it more, but after the Filly Drift it didn’t go down too well. At least I managed to catch some rugby, as Welsh serial under-achievers the Ospreys defeat to Bath was showing on S4C ( it’s a Channel 4 for the Welsh).