Sampled by:
ROC, KOC, MG, PV, TM, RN, JA and Shredder
On a dismal day for weather we hoped our trip around a few of the capitals new craft beer outlets would lift our spirits. The trip got of to a good start as our Northern Correspondent meet us at Waterloo.
| Pub |
Location |
Post Code |
| Porterhouse |
Covent Garden |
WC2E 7NA |
Comment |
|
Taking up all four floors of the building the London outlet of this Irish brewer certainly made an impressive statement. All heavy engineering with brass and copper pipe work made it a rather dark interior which perfectly suited the beers on offer – Irish Stouts. The Oyster Stout was very black and smooth but ROC reported the Plain was even smoother.
|
| Brewer |
Beer |
% |
Price |
Mark |
Comment |
| Foreign |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| Porterhouse |
Red |
4.2 |
£4.25 |
3.5 |
- |
| Porterhouse |
Oyster Stout |
4.6 |
£4.40 |
- |
Smooth - hint of sweetness |
| Porterhouse |
Plain Stout |
4.2 |
£4.25 |
- |
Even smoother |
| British |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| Mad Goose |
Purity Ale |
4.2 |
£4.2- |
3.5- |
Sharp and floral |
| Pub |
Location |
Post Code |
| Maple Leaf |
Covent Garden |
WC2E 7LJ |
Comment |
|
A Sports Bar with all that goes with it – noise, multiple TV screens, rubbish décor and poor service. It was busy with young men watching the game of their choice (two different matches were being shown) and there were no seats available for our group. Not for some of us and it was just the one beer before heading out into the rain.
|
| Beer |
Country |
% |
Price |
Mark |
Comment |
| Sleeman India Pale Ale |
Canada |
4.9 |
£4.74 |
- |
Very Sweet |
| Pub |
Location |
Post Code |
| Holburn Whippet |
Holburn |
WC1A "QH |
Comment |
|
Located in the Italianate splendor of Sicilian Avenue this craft beer outlet was a markedly better than our last port of call. The bar was light and airy and with few customers we were able to make ourselves comfortable. All the beers were dispensed under gas from a single column behind the bar. The gas dispense did not distract from the beers which were all excellent. The barmaid suggested the Kosritzer came from Bamberg but Bad Kosritz is rather north of there! ROC was a little confused by the Siren IPA thinking it was American whereas it actually comes from Hampshire. Naturally, the Dark Arts came from Huddersfield.
|
| Beer |
Country |
% |
Price |
Mark |
Comment |
| Kosritzer Dark Lager |
Germany |
5.4 |
£4.00 |
- |
Excellent but not Bamberg! |
| Koenig Pilsner |
Germany |
4.9 |
£3.80 |
- |
- |
| Licher Weizen |
Germany |
5.9 |
£4.50 |
- |
- |
| Lagunitas IPA |
6.2 |
£5.00 |
- |
- |
| Brewery |
Beer |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| Siren |
Soundwave IPA |
5.6 |
£5.00 |
- |
- |
| Magic Rock |
Dark Arts |
6.1 |
£4.00 |
4 |
Dark & lovely |
| Pub |
Location |
Post Code |
| Craft Beer Co |
Clerkenwell |
EC1N 7TR |
Comment |
|
One of the expanding chain of Craft Beer Co outlets this particular outlet used to be the Clock House. This one occupies a corner site and the typical two bar layout has been dismantled to the now normal single bar format. The pub was very popular but there was sufficient standing room at one end for our group. There was an excellent line up of beers with the craft beer devotees catered for with 8 fonts and the real ale brigade with 12 handpumps. The barman was very knowledgeable and provided PV with a number of tasters. The two Scandinavian beers -- Om Nip Ollo and Hoanbeer Juleel were interesting enough but the best taster was the Blackjack King of Clubs which compared well with the other Imperial Stout on offer.
|
| Beer |
Country |
% |
Price |
Mark |
Comment |
| Stone IPA |
San Diego, USA |
6.9 |
£9.00 |
- |
A fine example of an IPA |
| Brewery |
Beer |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| Dark Star |
Imperial Stout |
10.5 |
£5.50 |
4 |
Stunning |
| Dark Star |
Six Grain |
4.8 |
£3.95 |
4 |
Becoming a favourite |
| Pub |
Location |
Post Code |
| Old Red Cow |
Smithfield |
EC1A 9EJ |
Comment |
|
Another single bar outlet crafted from a traditional pub. The place was not at all busy and there was plenty of room to settle down and enjoy your drink. Again the barman was knowledgeable about the beers on offer. It was just unfortunate for the foreign drinkers so little of it was from abroad. Still they did have a UK craft keg beer which was close enough for some. PV was well happy with the menu and enjoyed a couple (more) black beers.
|
| Beer |
Country |
% |
Price |
Mark |
Comment |
| Maisel’s Weisse |
Germany |
5.2 |
£5.10 |
- |
- |
| Fourpure IPA |
UK |
6.5 |
£6.40 |
- |
- |
| Brewery |
Beer |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| Camden |
Ink Stout |
4.4 |
£4.70 |
3.5 |
Black |
| Redwell |
Oat Stout |
4.8 |
£5.80 |
4 |
Black & moreish |
| Windsor & Eton |
Conqueror 1075 |
4.4 |
£4.90 |
- |
Not tried |
| Pub |
Location |
Post Code |
| Rake |
Borough Market |
SE1 9AG |
Comment |
|
Early evening and this overly self important outlet was heaving. It did not make for easy ordering, comfortable seating or enjoyment of any sort. Best bit was the view of the illuminated Shard, but you had to leave the pub to view it.
|
| Beer |
Country |
% |
Price |
Mark |
Comment |
| Rams Head IPA |
New York, USA |
7.5 |
£7.20 |
- |
- |
| Pub |
Location |
Post Code |
| Katzenjammers |
Southwark |
SE1 1TY |
Comment |
|
Given our previous visit to the Hop Hall with its glass ceiling (for viewing the hops being traded) Mengo were looking forward to their visit. It was therefore disappointing to find out the Bierkeller was located in the cellars. However, given it was a German Beer Cellar we should really have known. A Paulaner outlet, the waitresses were in traditional Bavarian costume and exhibited the traditional Munich customer service despite none of them being German.
|
| Brewer |
Beer |
% |
Price |
Mark |
Comment |
| Paulaner |
Munchener Dunkel |
5.0 |
- |
- |
- |
| Hacker-Pschorr |
Gold |
5.5 |
- |
- |
- |
