Tag: Beer

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Beer

The Worst Pint of Beer in Cardiff is at …

We went to the Wales V France Games Last night.

Wales V France 6 nations 26th Feb

Had a couple of pints before the game

At the Goat Major great pint of Hydes Berry Good Ale

Goat Major - Hydes Berry Good Ale & Brains Dark

AT the Central Bar (a spoons pub) Rhymney Export but at 2.95 a pint

But the worse pint of the night was at the stadium £3.50 a pint of Brains Bitter in a plastic glass, Iam sure they had pored it before from their super fast poring system and left it for a while, it was cold but tasted of drip tray slops – Sorry Brains but you need to check the quality of the beer at the stadium.

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Beer

What are your five favourite pubs in the UK? asks What’s on Tap

We need help finding great UK pubs for What’s On Tap.

If you have a 2 mins enter your fave 5 here

The five on my list that I would go to again in a flash are..

1) The Goat Major In Cardiff
2) The Black Boy Pub in Winchester
3) The Philharmonic Dining Rooms, Liverpool
4) The Volunteer, London
5) Otley Arms/Bunch of Grapes Treforest/Pontypridd

of course the Welsh ones I go to quite often.

What’s On Tap is a project that me and Rob came up with, but Rob has done most of the work, I just meet him in pubs to talk about it, but he will be the driving force in getting it launched and the future development as I have something called shed week taking up my 5 to 9 time, so if you see him buy him a pint, he deserves it.

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Fancy a pray and a pint – come to Merthyr

The Western Mail report that a chapel in Merthyr is proving pints to men if they come and pray.

[flickr]photo:2750137107[/flickr]

Photo of another church from Flickr User papajka

Ministers Tony Graham and Gareth Lloyd are bringing a radical approach to spreading the gospel to Hope Chapel in Pontmorlais.

“It’s great to be part of something here. We’re putting sofas and bar stools in the basement to have a relaxing evening and learn what the Bible’s about.

“Drinking isn’t a sin, but people from other generations think of it as so because of alcohol abuse and the bad consequences that can come of it.

“Forty or 50 guys will be here, studying the bible with a pint of beer in their hand.”

I hope they have a licence!

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Beer Blog

In like a bullet at number 40 – Wikio Beer & Wine blogs

[flickr]photo:4373272005[/flickr]

Well I never get any accolades for writing my drivel about beer, until now that is (well sort of)

I have apparently entered the top 40 of the Wine and Beer category over at wikio, which is nice as this blog is not just about beer, but to put it into perspective there are 39 great blogs about beer above me.

Including well know beer know all and my occasional drinking buddy Arfur Daley 😉 (who is in the top 20)

Wikio - Top Blogs - Wine and beer

Now only if I can get my shedbrew off the ground and write about that my shed pub could make it into the 2020 edition of Good Beer Guide 😉 see the fame of wikio is going to my head.

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Beer

Pub Review : The Otley Arms – Treforest – Freehouse

I have been drinking on and off at The Otley Arms for the last 15 years.. and a few years ago its was my permanent local for about 18 months…where people know your name sort of place, even though I only live 4 miles away now – as the bus drives, I don’t visit this pub enough, but nothings changed apart from the bar maids hair colour.

The Otley arms does not pull any punches it serves quality real ale and all the favorite keg beers to an audience that’s either students and locals or the odd person who pops in depends on the time of the year.

If you like an old fashion pub then you may think you are getting one from the outside

Otley arms

Otley arms

But the Otley has gone through so many internal changes over the years that It does not really know what it is.

Otley arms

But I think that’s what gives it its unique charm, Pool for the students, great jukebox, good food the Sunday lunches are what you would expect and more – many tellys and a biog screen for football/rugby when the big matches on… and some great odd regulars who never seem to leave.

The saving grace and the reason I always seem to return if I get off the train at treforest is the quality of the beer, there is always at least two award winning otley beers on tap (yes they brew their own up the valleys) – mostly the excellent O1 (£2 a pint currently) and whatever they are brewing at the moment like OG a stronger brother to O1.

The guest beers they have on are normally of good quality and wide ranging but the price is something you would be-used to in the city unless you are a holder of an Otley card or a O badge were you will get a discount.

Otley arms flanker's tackle

One of the beat beers they do is called ColumbO but this was not on on my recent visit, in fact it’s one of my favorite beers from the last few years, if your local serves it then grab a pint.

Otley columbO

If you want a proper history to the Otley then beer “know it all” Arfur Daley has a post somewhere online 😉

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Beer

A London Trip – Fullers & Sams Smiths – Soho Pubs

I had a nice day in London on Tuesday meeting some people about something to do with shed week, can’t say anymore 😉

I did have a few hours to spare so here are my random shots from various pubs around London (Soho mainly)

I went to the Duke of Argyll & John Snow both Sam Smiths houses – nice extra stout, The John Snow had a great Glass half door..

Also went to the Wonderfull De Hems Dutch Cafe Bar Soho and had a half of maredsous blonde – if it was not for the prices I think I could live in that pub.

Then to the Mad Bishop and Bear Paddington Station (for the first time ever) a nice pre train bozzer.

Iam not up to the number of London pubs that Rob has done but It’s a start.

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Duke of Argyll

John Snow

Fuller ESB Mad Bishop and Bear Paddington Station

Fullers Discovery Mad Bishop and Bear Paddington Station

Fullers Discovery Mad Bishop and Bear Paddington Station

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maredsous blonde

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Beer Blog

Goat major Beer festival – Cardiff – Red Hop Lover, DangleBeer & Bread of Heaven

The wonderful Oasis in Cardiff that is the Goat Major is having a mini beer festival this week, you would not know it as nothing on the Brains website I had a tip off from ArfurD

Beers on today include Brewseters Red Hop Lover, DangleBeery & Brains own Bread of Heaven.

Red Hot Lover

Beer List

Later in the Week (or when the have gone ) they have the Lovely Brew Dog Trashy Blonde

Bread of Heaven

If you are in Cardiff this week it’s worth popping over the Goat (which is near the Castle) as it’s what Cardiff Pubs used to be like.

You can now Follow the Goat Major on Twitter thanks to GdnCardiff for the heads up.

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Beer

How come I have not seen one of these before – Beer Bag

Maybe as I don’t shop at Waitrose, but what a great idea, sorry the video on the wonk, could not be bothered to rotate it, but it adds to the msytic

A bag that holds bottles in separate pockets..

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A climb up Kilimanjaro & Brains beer a good mix? In this case yes

On of my colleagues is taking part in the Kilimanjaro climb for cancer (you can sponsor her here).

But another good thing to come of this is a new beer has been brewed by Cardiff Brewer Brains

‘Up and Over’ ale has been specially created for the Brains SA Captains Climb. The 500ml bottle is being sold exclusively in all Welsh Tesco Extras and Superstores, and is available as part of Brains’ 3 for £4 offer. 15p from each bottle sold will be donated to the challenge.

The name ‘Up & Over’ was the inspiration of Stephen Katchi who won a MediaWales competition to name the beer.

I have been lucky to get a bottle and will let you know what is tastes like, but Brains have provided some tasting notes

‘Up & Over’ is a fruity, light amber coloured beer. Fuggles, Goldings, Styrian Goldings and Cascade hops coupled with the unique Brains yeast and balanced malt flavours creates a deliciously refreshing pint guaranteed to be a high point in our ale range.

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Beers of the Week – unique beers from a Scottish dog and south west hare about time

Not blogged about the beers I have drunk for a while, one good reason for this – I have cut down – well in the week and during the day anyway.

So these beers are either with meals or while running my shed empire and used as a typing aid.

UNION 4.9% ABV

This was a lovely European style lager from the great London brewery Meantime – UNION 4.9% ABV, great label as well.

Dark Hare 4.0% abv

Another great regional brewery Bath Ales – I love their beer but this is the first time I have drunk the Stour from the bottle as been lucky to have it both in Bath and my local once!

Dark Hare is a lovely stout – but if your drink the Irish one you wont recognise it, its smooth and the roasted malt gives it a great after taste.

The next few beers are from the outlandish but excellent brewdog brewery.

77 lager 4.9%

AS with a lot of brewdog beers the hops hit you.. and this is not different, unfortunately the Mrs liked it as well, so only had half a bottle, If you can get it try it on your lager drinking mates you will convert them.

zeitgeist 4.9% Black Lager

Another Lager from brewdog but so different from anything else I have had in the UK- I first tried this at a local golf club from cask and was blown away with it – it reminds me of Czech black lagers. Its smooth and has a nice roasty flavor I had it with a curry and it worked a treat.

Bashah 8.60%

Been wanting to try this for a while Strong IPA from brewdog, it’s a Black Belgian Double IPA with help from Stone Brewing (from that America) its a great taste but the alcohol hits you (so that means the mrs does not want to share it!), it was like an expresso hitting you…. i can see me using some of it in a stew or something – be wonderful , if I could spare some.

I have a few bottles of Paradox (10%) in the shed, but don’t think drinking the same time as the Bashah would help me get to work tomorrow.