Just returned from a hurried, if pleasantly in-doors ,beer here:Larkins' Alehouse
"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.
[Tried to add to this thread while in the pub, but when I switched to my photos to remind me of what I was drinking, and then back again to continue typing, I found that my response had disappeared, so waited until I got home.] Blake Hotel again this afternoon, having checked on Facebook to see what real ales were on. When I was here on Wednesday I noticed the Neepsend Avena 5%, a 'toasted oat stout' but went for something else, so was a little surprised to see it still on. They have five real ales on at the moment, with the sixth pump awaiting a part before it can be repaired. With business still a little slow, I commented that surely five is enough. However, having gone for this stout anyway, I mentioned how good it was and asked if it was the same barrel. It turns out it had been a little slow to come to its best and was now better than earlier in the week. We agreed on its "quaffability" and in fact I'd have stuck with it for the session, but I'd noticed the Pictish Maelstrom 5% which I also fancied, with a nice bitter finish, and the Neepsend Kefka 4.6%, with Jester hops. The Maelstrom was good, despite its initial flavour of pineapple, but the Jester was not as good as I had hoped, having too much tropical fruit about it, and not enough bitterness. Still, an enjoyable session.
Come On You Hatters!
A walk through Hackney yesterday night for a virtual crawl, the rain making outside drinking unlikely and every venue as full as the law allows. That and the poor selection of real ales, I could have drunk here; other pubs were passed but I wouldn't really give them the time of day:
The Dundee Arms
Cat & Mutton
The Cock Tavern
Hackney Tap
The Pembury Tavern
The Jolly Butchers
Auld Shillelagh
The Rose & Crown
Was in Hackney Tuesday afternoon and did both the Cock Tavern (1 cask on) and The Hackney Tap (2 cask available) both quiet at that point in time, later made my way to Gospel Oak and The Southampton Arms which was awash with good cask and although quiet mid afternoon started to get busy by 5ish.
"Everybody's got to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer."
-W.C.Fields
The Little Gem, Aylesford - a famously small pub, and one I never thought would reopen...
"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.
Several pints in The Express Tavern Kew Bridge, very nice they are too.
"Everybody's got to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer."
-W.C.Fields