At the Watermill Inn in the 1990's, I spotted "Uncle Igor beer" at 23% the Worlds strongest undistilled beer (at the time).
A beer ticker from work had been searching for it for months. I bought a third and had a sip, then realised that I had to drive back to my hotel, so I poured it into a bottle and shared it out with the nightshift at work the following week! The ticker said I should have brought them a bottle each!
23%? I bet that warmed your insides! I do like the occasional Imperial Stout but I don't think I have ever had anything close to that strength. I recall in my younger drinking days we would occasionally frequent Rain Bar in Manchester which would often have Moonraker on (JW Lees), and at the time was 7% (now reduced to 6.5%). It was hit and miss as to whether they would serve you a full pint or force you to just buy a half. Either way it was probably never a great idea at the end of the night, and on one occasion one of my friends ended up in the canal after having this as his final pint of the evening.
You wouldn't recognise either now.Both been extended,though the Cat is still a good pub, especially in the front.A regular outlet for Larkin's. Ahh, the Chimneys... I've got a lot of time for it, if I ignore the dining room and staff/owner's accommodation out back where the nut trees were. Luckily it has a good longstanding manager, who seems somehow to keep City Boy, the owner , under control. go there fairly often, usually on winter evenings if passing, when the public bar is likely to be empty.
"At that moment I would have given a kingdom, not for champagne or hock and soda, or hot coffee but for a glass of beer" Marquess Curzon of Kedlestone, Viceroy of India.
Blimey, 13 for me, most were very fleeting visits, such as some the Isle of Wight ones
I drink to make others more interesting
'Beer is for all day, not just for breakfast'.
Of course it's subjective. Very often a best pub means an old building with a nice garden, usually next to water or in some chocolate box location. It can sell sour Doombar and microwaved ready meals and they'll love it. All fur coat and no knickers.
As a thought experiment, change the same building to a flat roofer, keep all the rest the same, and you'll be sure it won't get a second look from the best pub brigade. Stick good beer in it, and edible food. Make it lovely and welcoming inside. They'll still walk past.
Last edited by NickDavies; 12-07-2018 at 21:50.