From: ak200032@sol.yorku.ca (Alan Marshall)
Subject: UK Pubs & Ales
Organization: York University
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 1993 17:46:05 GMT

I was replying to Frank @ Bristol and got off onto general stuff about UK 
pubs and beers that I thought would be better posted:

I went and found my notes.  The ex-pub in Hampstead, mentioned in my first
post was the Nag's Head.  It was managed by Peter & Joan (I didn't get the
last name).  He was very knowledgable about his beer.  I cannot image that he
is out of the pub business.  If anyone (in London??) knows where he is now,
please tell me.  I would assume that wherever he his, it would be a fine pub. 
The Nag's Head had had several names.  A few years back, it was used as a
movie set for some movie I've never seen.  The decor was quite old, and could
easily be used for a period piece. 

Another pub that I found that I liked is the King's Head (33 Moscow Road, near 
the Bayswater tube station).  I went there Sunday at noon.  There was a 
passable selection of hand-pulled ales, and an excellent roast beef & 
yorkshire pudding carvery dinner <yum, yum>.  Now if anyone can tell me where 
I can find a good carvery dinner in Bradford, I'll be eternally greatful.

Frank and I exchanged a few comments on ales.  He mention Greene King Abbot
Ale (og 1048-1056) as being one of his co-favourites.  I agree about the
Greene King.  I once (twice, thrice!!) had the Greene King Abbot as a free
flow at the Nag's Head. I have not been able to try it hand pumped, but given
the choice, I'll take free-flow any day.  The GGAA was outstanding:  very
clean, smooth, with an 'apricot' finish.  I never expected an ale to taste so
clean and light.  <<put out the torches - I don't mean 'light' as in light
beers, but I cannot come up with a better word)  Rating: **** 

Other favourites of mine (the ratings are my subjective opinions, using 
Michael Jackson's four star system):

Maiden's Ruin (og 1070+ ??, too powerful for a whole pint at lunchtime!)
Rating: *** 

Marston's Pedigree (og 1043-1049) (I've had this both from a beer engine and
free flow - either way it's great, but FF is better!), rich, amber and smooth
- Rating: **** 

McMullens Country (og 1039-1043) (very malty, almost a molasass character,
very smooth and clean)- Rating: *** 

Owd Roger (1088!! & very distinctive) - Rating: ***; 

Fuller's ESB (og 1053-1059), rich, dark with very much character - Rating:
****; 

Ruddles County (og 1048-1052), very very smooth, somewhat light for an ale,
but not very distinctive, Rating: *** 

Old Peculier, dark, rich, heavy, wonderful (My rating of Old Peculier is 
based on the Masham-brewed product hand pumped at the Fighting Cock in 
Bradford, not the chemical-factory product that presumably is what we get in 
bottles that I occasionally see in Toronto) Rating ***

Anyway, I am still looking forward to receiving your comments on UK pubs.  I
have received a few so far (including a ten-pager!!).  Thank you to those who
have replied so far, in case I have not ackowledged your messages. 
Personally, I am looking for information about pubs in the Bradford, West
Yorkshire, and Manchester, as these are the places I will be going to. 

Flame-Bait:

I cannot stand beer from cans, no matter how good the beer was going in!  I 
swear I can last the 'tinniness' of the can.  My order of preference:

1.  Free-Flow
2.  Hand-pumped/Beer Engine
3.  bottles
-------------------------------------
4.  mini-kegs, cans, draft, and all attempts to simulate draft.

Anything below the line, I'll pass on it!

BTW what is the Canadian equivalent to the word used to describe swill 
bottlers (Budmilloor)?  Labsons or Molbatt?
-- 
-- Alan Marshall -- AK200032@SOL.YORKU.CA  (York University, Toronto, Canada)
Newsgroups: alt.beer