RTW 2017

Date: 16 December 2017 Round the World

Sampled by:

RO, KO, TM, FN, PC, RN, PV & JA

Another year, another RtW to London – this time Camden. PV’s desire for an Overground journey meant a change at Clapham for the train to Stratford via Willesden Junction. All went to timetable and we arrived at Camden Road just before midday and met up with JA. We then walked back to Kentish Town West, which we had passed through on the way, for our first bar

Pub

Location

Post Code

Camden Town Brewery Bar

55 Wilkins St Mews

NW5 3NN

Comment

The brewery and tap are located under the railway arches. This modern tap offered 7 of the breweries products, all of which were served under pressure. The beers were all very cold and, some, quite fizzy. The reason became clear when the barmaid provided PV with quick visit to the brewery – the founder was Australian and cold and fizzy is how he likes his beer.

FN went straight for the 10% special – served in 1/3 rd pint – Belgium in a glass.

Beer

Country

%

Comment

Camden Town Pale ale

England

4

Keg

X

Very hoppy

Camden Town Ink Stout

England

4.4

Keg

X

Easy drinking stout

Camden Town Wit

England

4.3

Keg

Most tried this

Camden Town IHL Lager

England

6.2

Keg

PC’s favourite

We then headed off to Joe’s but found it shut. On the way to our next bar it started to rain so we thought we would break our walk with a visit to The Worlds End but inside we didn’t fancy any of the beer on offer. Fortunately our next pub was only around the corner.

Pub

Location

Post Code

Black Heart

3 Greenland Place

NW1 0AP

Comment

Tucked away from the main road, this establishment is primarily a music venue upstairs and a bar on the ground floor. Painted black to reflect its sole it was empty this afternoon but would no doubt be heaving when the music played. There was no real ale but the keg choice was very varied.

Beer

Country

%

Comment

Aegir Lime Bomb IPA

Norway

5

Keg

X

Hoppy with a full on citrus

Forest Road Pitch

England

4.8

Keg

X

Belgium style Black IPA

Weird Beard Black Christmas

England

4.5

Keg

Cranberry infused stout

As it was sill miserable outside it was fortunate the next bar was just at the end of the Mews.

Pub

Location

Post Code

BrewDog

113 Bayham Street

NW1 0AG

Comment

The first BrewDog outside Scotland, they are possibly responsible for the plethora of ‘craft’ outlets now found in London. Of course ‘craft’ means keg and there was plenty of it available. With 13 of their own beers available plus 7 guests it was difficult to choose but we all managed to find something with perhaps the Prototype Blond the favourite for most. The Jet Black Heart was noted as ‘nitro’ – which meant it was dispensed using nitrogen (rather than the more usual CO2); the smaller bubbles giving a tighter, creamier head. With the prices displayed for the first time PV thought it was a bit of a rip off, until the round came to £23.00 – much the same as the previous bars.

Beer

Country

%

Comment

BrewDog Jet Black Heart

Scotland

4.7

Keg

X

Vanilla Milk Stout

BrewDog Libertine Black Ale

Scotland

7.2

Keg

X

Black IPA

BrewDog Proto Blonde Ale

Scotland

4.5

Keg

Just a Blonde

Wiper & True Fig & Quince

England

6.5

Keg

Winter IPA

Pub

Location

Post Code

Prince Albert

163 Royal College Street

NW1 0SG

Comment

The exterior of this ex Charrington’s pub retained the original green tiling and probably looked much the same as when the old brewery owned it. However, the separate bars were long gone and with them much of the charm. There was a Christmas party enjoying a late lunch and it must be said the food looked good as did the barmaid. Unfortunately the cask beer was in poor condition so we stuck to keg. The Swedish beer turned out to be the worst tried and the Czech offering gassy as hell.

Beer

Country

%

Comment

Backyard Shed Head

Sweden

4.6

Keg

X

APA – bloody awful

Staropramen

Czech

?

Keg

X

Gassy – beer unknown

On our way to our final stop KO was on the phone to, he led us to believe, Shredder. Actually it turned out to be Shredder’s sister Lorna who currently lives in nearby Kentish Town. It was very good to see Lorna again after so many years.

Pub

Location

Post Code

Constitution

42 St Pancras Way

NW1 0QT

Comment

This Victorian pile is a local pub for local people. It was all a bit Royston Vasey, but the bar staff were at least friendly. There were a couple of cask beer offerings but after an afternoon of keg everyone stayed on the gas. Most joined Lorna for a chat but the two students decided on a game of pool – 2 minutes before we left to catch the train home.

Beer

Country

%

Comment

Five Points XPA

England

4

Keg

X

Extra Pale Ale – hoppy & citric

Beavertown Neck Oil

England

4.3

Keg

X

Session IPA

Then it was time to say farewell to Lorna – we missed our farewells to JA as he was still trying to pot a ball as we left – and head back to Aldershot. The journey to Camden had indicated it should be easy. It was not. Just out of Willesden Junction we came to a halt – the failed train at Shepherd’s Bush required a return to the multi leveled hub and a change of train. Although this enabled us to add to the overflow in the Gents it eventually put us an hour behind and in the end it took 3 hours to get home and Strictly was nearly over by the time we did. JA walked to Kings Cross and got home to Wakefield by the time we managed Aldershot!