On Wednesday I had a pre-planned (unusual for me) night out at a pub, with, wait for it, some friends (highly unusual for me {sob}).
It was at the Victoria and was most pleasant, thanks for asking. It was also uncharacteristically pleasant to stay in one pub, all night, and work my way through their wares. I was happily reacquainted with some old favourites, whom in some cases, I have not sampled for far too long.
Brewdog 5AM Saint rarely disappoints, and must be one of their best, yes?
The Flying Dog Doggie Style was a new one for me and enjoyably hoppy and drinkable, in a sort of 2006 kind of way. What does that mean? Well, it merely means that in 2006 I was drinking lots of new US beers with the same sort of hop profile. Is that OK?
Jaipur was (and is), well, Jaipur. Very juicy.
Brother Rabbit, also from Thornbridge was another new one for me, and not my favourite from these reliable lads. The sunshiney hops were by turns 'a bit' juicy, and then 'a bit' straw-ish.
The Kirin lager was lager. I don't think I am able to handle lager any more. It's been so long since I drank it, and it makes me feel a little bit queasy, and a little bit like Morrissey might have felt when asked to do cross-country running at school.
The Wye Valley Butty Bach was terribly run of the mill. Not terrible. Served in good nick, but utterly lacking in inspiring flavours.
The Maisel's Weisse was fluffy, smooth like a satin bedspread and undulating with it's cakey, creamy manifestations.
The Brooklyn Lager was perfectly acceptable, and rather slick.
The Victoria has lots of lovely murals, appropriate lighting levels and a good atmos. My fellow drinkers made me feel like an old git and no mistake, but that's my problem and not theirs. I wish I had been as well dressed as them, when I was their age.
And then I went home.
As a quick addendum, let me tell you about tonight's beer hunting. With a window of about 10 minutes after work, I trooped in and out of three pubs and tried.... zero beers. There was nothing on offer which excited me, so rather than blithely sup a half of this or that, I kept my wonga in my pocket. Does that represent exceptional strength of mind, or gargantuan beer snobbery? Only you can decide.
I think it makes common sense - if there's nothing grabbing you, no point 'wasting' some cash and importantly too some liver capacity, on a beer you don't really want to drink. Better to head off and have something decent at home, than have something mediocre 'for the sake of it'.
ReplyDeleteI almost did the same yesterday, until one of my chums caught me peering through the window of The Shakespeare, then wandering off. He telephoned me, so I went in and had a pleasantly tasty Orkney Wayfarer IPA.
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