Went up to the new crown last night where they have an actual cooling system for the beers on the bar top now, basically just copper pipes with iced water going through them that are wrapped around the casks.
Got 8 rates, the grumpy pale ale being the winner. The others were fairly uninspiring.
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Still haven’t hit a Spoons for fest beer yet. Will correct that error tomorrow. Picked up the beer list today and was surprised to see some genuinely interesting beers on there.
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Apologies - I b*ggered up entering Toshi’s Amber Ale on the database (I blame my Mum & Dad for ringing up when I was doing it!). Failed to enter the name of the beer - it’s the one under Bank’s just called "Banks’s (Marstons plc").
I’ve done the send correction thing to get it amended, this is just to warn you in the meantime.
Apologies to all, esp the admin who has to sort out my balls-up.
Nice beer though!
Cheers
Anth
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Toured my 3 local Spoons yesterday and picked up the following :-
Crewe
1. Shepherd Neame Grumpy Pale Ale
Also had the guest perry, Westons Farmer Henry dispensed from a box.
Winsford
2. Butcombe Old Vic
3. Caledonian Double Dark
4. Adnams Pale Champion
Northwich
5. RCH Pier Ale
6. Bath Hefeweizen Hared
7. Batemans Iron Lady
8. Davenports Last Minute
9. Titanic Another Pint In The Wall
The best for me had to be the Grumpy and the worst the Titanic but the general standard wasn’t too bad at all 
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No problems, I’ll sort it out
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OK, so now had 21 of the beers.
Best so far is the JW Lees Supernova, one of the best milds I’ve had in a long time, will get a 4/5 from me. Some fantastic dark fruits, great juiciness in the mouth and the condition of mine was superb.
Grumpy was great on the aroma when I had it poured with a sparkler, the rest of the beer fell away, and when I had it without the sparkler, well it was just dead.
Purkmistr was drinkable if uninspiring
The Adnams with a Burton still light bitter which I liked a lot.
Galbraith was drinkable with some good sting on finish
Iron Lady was dull
Toshi’s had a good finish, but nothing in the middle
O’Hanlons Red Ale is still a favourite, one of the best of its style in the country
Double Dark was ok
Bath Hefe, haha, falls into the trap of being neither a golden ale nor a wheat.
Frilly Drift is hopeless
RCH Pier, is a strong golden ale, with some ok peach/apricot fruit
Gouden Carolus is solid as a solid thing with alcohol and gets you pissed really quickly. Especially if your Spoons doesn’t know they aren’t supposed to serve it by the half.
Oh and the half pints in Ashford Spoons, 2 halves for £1.78, pint is £1.79. First time ever halves have been cheaper than pints????
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Why doesn’t that surprise me.
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Of the 11 I’ve had so far, Grumpy’s Pale tops the list. Both the Purkmistr & the Black Panther were more than acceptable. The Carolus is as good a Belgian as you’re likely to find on tap in a ’spoons but everything else has been forgettable & uninspired IMO.
Still on the lookout for the Thornbridge Pioneer, Daleside Morocco & Shep’s Dambuster. Wouldn’t mind trying Woodforde’s Dragon Hall as it’s a local back home, the others haven’t thus piqued my interest. 
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It’s a slow and drawn out festival up here. I have managed just 6 so far, with the Purkmistr being the best. Continuing to monitor the pubs, just in case another one comes on. Lots of coming soon badges on mostly unused pump handles.
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Had the Purkmistr last night as my first festival beer; OK, just a bit wet. If that makes any sense.
Would have stopped for more but I felt like shit, the bar was filling with Cro-Magnons and I was ready to beat the liver out of a student sat near me. And he was drinking Kopparburg. Wanker.
And I left my CAMRA vouchers at home. Arse.
Keen to try the Grumpys but hearing really mixed reviews. Is that because too many are expecting a Spoons international beer in the mould of Stone Californian IPA?
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