Wet Wednesday 2: St. Paul's

 
Met Karl at Lord Raglan (which I'd been to in 2010) and had a pint of DB5 then went round to a Fuller's pub - The Red Herring - before crossing over into the area around Bow. We decided against the Fine Line because there were no new beers and went instead into the Williamsons Tavern, where I had a Nicholson's IPA and a Redemption Urban Dusk and some sausage and mash.
Karl left and I had a sneaky, lonely half of Sambrook's "Lavender Hill"in Ye Olde Watling before heading home. It seems that both Karl and Rod are up for exploring beers in various parts of the city and perhaps I can get them together for Wet Wednesday 3.


 

Great British Beer Festival

Wet Wednesday 1: King's Cross

Went to The Fellow, Smithys, The Queens Head and Central Station with Rod on what may become an irregular date. Tried 3 new beers to go with the two new pubs: had a Brain's "Le Peloton" at Smithy's and a Bingham's "Vanilla Stout" and O'Hanlon's "Yellow Hammer" in The Queens Head, a pub which impressed me in everything but its lack of apostrophes.

Snooty Fox, N5

 This is a charming pub near Canonbury station with a few ales, of which I tried the Saltaire "Rye Pale Ale". I enjoyed both the setting - the rain held off long enough for me to sit outside - and the dry pint.

Weltons "Topper"

Lovely coffee notes in this full-bodied mild.

Duchy Original "Organic Old Ruby Ale"

Not sure why my entries this Jubilee weekend are inextricably linked to the royal family, but this organic ruby ale, at least some of which originated from Prince Charles' Highgrove farm, was a more pleasant experience than Friday's visit to the royalists' pub. Malty and full-bodied, I enjoyed a couple of bottles from Waitrose.

Windsor Castle, W1H

Appropriately for the Jubilee weekend, this must be the most Royalist pub I've ever been to (the name should have given it away but they are largely lacking significance). The bunting and Union Flag tablecloths outside seemed par for the course but there were more permanent pictures of the royals all over the walls. I ordered my Wadworth 6X and realised one of the old punters next to me was being interviewed by a French journalist on the question of whether the UK might be better as a republic. With my "Stuff the Jubilee" badge on the strap of my bag, I was willing her to interview me afterwards but instead my loudmouth views went unheard.

The pint wasn't right. I didn't finish it and I won't be back.