Date: 1 June 2011 Absent Friends, Welcome Visitor
Sampled by:
KOC, FN, ROC, PV and SH
With TM resting before the big Berlin trip and MG showing no interest in biking this year, Mengo numbers were down to four. The train took the strain to Bentley from where it was but a short ride to Lower Froyle and our first port of call.
| Pub | Location | OS Map Ref |
|
| Anchor
| Lower Froyle
| GU34 4NA
|
Comment | | After passing a vagrant (or at least someone having a kip) in the bus shelter, the kudos of the area picked up markedly upon arrival at this quiet and opulent pub - you might have thought you were in a leafy suburb of Stuttgart going by the number of silver BMW's and Mercedes in the car park. Fortunately, the pub end was empty and the diners were not put off by the sweaty biker boys. SH then arrived in time for a not unreasonable pint (in both price and quality) before we headed off to the next pub.
|
| Brewer | beer | % | Price | Mark | Comment |
|---|
| Triple fff
| Alton's Pride
| 3.8
| 2.90
| 3.0
| Not at it's absolute best
|
| Triple fff
| Hallelujah
| 4.5
| 3.20
| 3.5
| Bitter but nice
|
| Pub | Location | OS Map Ref |
|
| Hen and Chicken
| Upper Froyle
| GU34 4JH
|
Comment | | On mention of TM and PC's upcoming Berlin trip, SH entertained us with a story about the Eastern European girls he encountered on a works trip there shortly after the wall came down - waiting on corners dressed in fur and with beaver on the menu. The story went down well, as did the beer.
|
| Brewer | beer | % | Price | Mark | Comment |
|---|
| Hall & Woodhouse
| Badger
| 4.0
| 3.05
| 3.5
| Excellent bitter
|
| Hall & woodhouse
| Firkin Fox
| 4.3
| 3.30
| 3.0
| Caramel aftertaste
|
| Hall & Woodhouse
| Tanglefoot
| 4.9
| 3.30
| -
| Not tried, even by FN
|
| King & Barnes
| Sussex
| 3.5
| 3.05
| -
| Not worth the effort
|
The greatest distance between two pubs this evening provided plenty of opportunity for PV and KOC to cloud gaze as the sun set on this pleasant evening. There was ever changing shades of blue and pink on display.
| Pub | Location | OS Map Ref |
|
| Queens Head
| Holybourne
| GU34 4EG
|
Comment | | After the typical greeting from a couple of locals having a fag outside on entering we were more pleasantly welcomed by the landlady. Whilst we were enjoying the Cornish beers available, Anna called by and we had an enlightening chat about Greene King and the company tie. Seems GK are seeing the light and giving their tenants more autonomy in sourcing local beers.
|
| Brewer | beer | % | Price | Mark | Comment |
|---|
| Greene King
| IPA
| 3.8
| 3.00
| -
| Neither North nor South
|
| Hardy & Hansons
| Olde Trip
| 4.3
| 3.20
| -
| A pub favourite but not ours
|
| St Austell
| Tribute
| 4.2
| 3.20
| 4.0
| In stunning nick
|
| Skinner's
| Betty Stogs
| 4.0
| 3.20
| 4.0
| As was this
|
| Pub | Location | OS Map Ref |
|
| Eight Bells
| Alton
| GU34 2DA
|
Comment | | Phil and his pals were crowding the bar but they did not totally obscure the barmaid displaying her lower back tattoos. The beers available weren't bad either with the two Flowerpots beers going down particularly well. Phil confirmed his beer festival would again take place on the weekend after the August Bank Holiday.
|
| Brewer | beer | % | Price | Mark | Comment |
|---|
| Ballards
| Best Bitter
| 4.2
| 3.00
| 4.0
| Phil's favourite
|
| Flowerpots
| Bitter
| 3.8
| 2.90
| 4.0
| Enjoyed by all
|
| Flowerpots
| Goodens Gold
| 4.8
| 3.10
| 4.0
| Lovely golden beer
|
| Bowman
| Swift One
| 3.8
| 2.90
| 4.0
| Martin's flagship beer
|
| Sharp's
| Doom Bar
| 4.0
| 2.90
| -
| Surprisingly not tried
|
| Pub | Location | OS Map Ref |
|
| Railway Arms
| Alton
| GU34 2RB
|
Comment | | Not only did Sally join us but she was just as adroit as talking bollocks as we were. One of the guest beers, Dark Star Saison, carried the instruction to staff on the back of the pump clip - 'tell them it is a copy of a Belgium wheat beer and is meant to be cloudy'
|
| Brewer | beer | % | Price | Mark | Comment |
|---|
| Triple fff
| Alton's Pride
| 3.8
| 2.70
| 4.0
| ROC could at last relax
|
| Triple fff
| Moondance
| 4.2
| 2.80
| -
| Not tried
|
| Triple fff
| Pressed Rat
| 3.8
| 2.70
| -
| No mild takers tonight
|
| Triple fff
| Hallelujah
| 4.5
| 2.90
| -
| Already tried
|
| Surrey Hills
| Gilt Complex
| 4.6
| 2.90
| 4.0
| Has the SH taste
|
| Dark Star
| Saison
| 4.5
| 2.90
| 4.0
| Ah, Dark Star
|
Then down the station for the last train home. SH must try and grasp the importance of the door lights when he attempts to get off or he will end up cycling home from Aldershot.