By chance, I was staying at a hotel which specialises in wine and they have their own wine shop, wine menu and restaurant which focuses on wine. I can’t be doing with all that stress, so I went to a nearby hotel which has a craft beer bar that is highly rated on-line. They’ve been there since May 2014 and they’ve had their own brewery set-up since December 2014, focusing on five main beers. Having noted that, they have a lot of wines as well, but for me it’s about the beer.
When I arrived all of the external tables were taken and so I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to get in. The friendly server found me a table inside which entirely met my requirements. My requirements are quite basic really, I just want to be inside and another advantage of that is the food and drink gets to me quicker.
The venue’s beer list.
I couldn’t be choosing and so I went for a flight. From left to right:
(i) Summer 8 – very light, but at 2.6% I wasn’t expecting Funky Fluid and it was smooth and refreshing.
(ii) F13 Dark Lager – rather malty, quite rich and pleasant roasted tastes.
(iii) W12 Weizen – a clean wheat beer with suitable banana notes.
(iv) F14 APA – very punchy on the hops and it was malty with a bitter edge, rather drinkable although there was a slight taste of cupboard.
(v) F12 Lager – Clean, smooth and a bitter finish.
I went for fish and chips as the main meal and this was a large portion size that I struggled to finish. The batter was light and had a pleasant flavour, whilst the cod was firmer than I’d usually expect but it was no less delicious. The chips were lightly salted, firm on the exterior and fluffy on the interior. Everything was hot, it looked well presented and it wasn’t overly greasy.
I’m not usually a dessert person, but the tiramisu looked appetising and I wasn’t in a rush to go anywhere. It was another generous portion, light and there was a suitable amount of coffee richness to it.
I really rather liked this venue, it was clean, the service was efficient and the server was engaging. The food and drink all met my expectations in terms of the taste, temperature and presentation, with the range of beer being interesting to work through. The prices were moderate, the temperature wasn’t too hot and I left feeling full, so a positive result all round.