In defence of Wetherspoons

Coventry City 1 v Sheffield United 0

Saturday 16 August 2014

Twitter @ball_sup

….and of course this away game at Coventry City was played at Northampton Town.

This blog post is mainly about the beer.  After all, in a week when the Ched Evans will they won’t they story reignited, and the week that Bramall Lane featured in the surfacing Cliff Richard allegations - what else have I to write about.

One of the reasons I like Wetherspoons is you know what you’re getting.  I got the train to Leicester, the train to Wellingborough, the bus to Northampton. I walked to my target pub (The Lamplighter), and it wasn’t open (too early).  OK, it wasn’t yet noon, I could have phoned, I could have checked their website.

So, the pre-noon reappraisal is usually - Wetherspoons, they’ll be open.

Another reason I like Wetherspoons is their showcasing of foreign brewers (during their Real Ale Festivals) and American brewers year round in their American Brewers Showcase series.  I know it’s a bit of a cheat, with the beers usually being made at major UK industrial breweries.  But, it’s a neat way of being exposed to foreign brewers stuff.

So, I hit The Cordwainer in Northampton and had a go on Barley Brown's Black IPA at 5.2%. The pump clip said by Tyler Brown & Eli Dickison of Baker City Brewing Co. Oregon. It was dark but not quite black. Impressive head clinging to the glass.Lovely mouthfeel soft and gentle.Nice combination of toast & hopped bitterness at the back of the throat.  I like Black IPA (although increasingly less so) and this was a good high quality version.

After a quick “are you open” phonecall it was back to The Lamplighter.  It’s a lovely welcoming place. Only when I needed the loo did I realise that it’s a warren of rooms both downstairs and upstairs. Very calming paintjob. I counted 6 cask on handpulls, some of the usual suspects and one UK craft brew keg.  When I showed an interest in that (was it Brewster’s Brewing from Lincolnshire?), the Landlord offered me a taste. Very welcoming - hi mate, sorry I forgot to ask your name.

I started on Phipps NBC Red Star at 3.8%. Ruby. Nice head. Not much aroma. Malty toffee on the palate. Pleasant easy drinking. Powerful finish but more malt than bitter.

I moved on to Nobby's Wild West at 4.6%. Very thin mouthfeel. Very very slight hint of liquorice (I thought odd for a copper/ruby beer - though not unpleasant). I’m sorry - but I felt it was a sort of nothing going on beer. More hint of orange peel as I got down it.

Another “are you open” call, and it was on to The Garibaldi Hotel.  One of the reasons I like Wetherspoons is their wide and mixed business model appeal. Early risers, night owls, solitary afternoon drinkers, real ale heads, lager jockeys & cider gliders, pensioners, young kids pre-loading...all catered for.

As an older fella - here’s a tip for emerging craft beer places - watch it. Keep your offering mixed enough to attract people like me. It’s not always going to be about honing down for the hipsters. The Garibaldi is just on the cusp I feel. My mate walked in and said “Hoxton”.  Now that’s OK - but you don’t want to go too far.

As I recall it was 2 cask, 2 ciders, 3 Meantime, 3 Camden, Brooklyn, Vedett - maybe a Purity. Bottle list on a big, informative sign behind the bar.

I started with Meantime ShortList Fool's Gold a 4.5%. It looked slightly unfiltered and a little opaque. Very lemon citrus on the nose. Bursting with flavour. Very refreshing. Grapefruit kicking in. I really enjoyed that one.

I had a good look at the bottle list. The barman (Josh I think) was very helpful & informative.  He pushed my buttons. I’d never heard of Runaway Brewery.  But Josh told me the brewer was called Darren - always a winner with me if I know the brewers first name.  I was sorely tempted by the Smoked Porter - but on Josh’s tip I had Runaway Brewery IPA at 5.5%.

Tongue tingling pucker up hoppiness. Grapefruit. I love beers like this. Looked unfiltered and unpasteurised. Superb.

My mate did have the Smoked Porter - unfair of me to comment. The smell was fantastic - swirling blackcurrant.

After the game, and before the bus to Wellingborough I had one in another Northampton Wetherspoons, The Moon On The Square. I had Grainstore Brewery Rutland Panther at 3.4%. Oh and at £1.89. I know there is a danger of Wetherspoons buying power making it difficult for smaller breweries to get a toe hold. But, you know £1.89 is a good price.

Very, very dark brown. Lovely foam head. Sugar cube sweet on the nose. Earthy, peaty on the palette. Rich & spicy.