Pints West 84, Winter 2009 - Bristol & District CAMRA

PINTS WESTA Round with RobinAs I mentioned in the last edition of Pints West, I was one of fiveCAMRA chaps that completed the Somerset pub trail, whichinvolved visiting at least 15 pubs from a list of 45. One pub on the trailthat eluded me was the Brewers Arms in South Petherton, which is theSomerset CAMRA pub of the year 2009. So it was fortunate that I wasable to go by bus to their beer festival on August Bank Holiday weekend.22 beers and five ciders presented a reasonable choice, so Tony andI set to work on the beers from the West Midlands and South Yorkshire,plus the Cornish and Somerset ales. As well as the friendly hospitality,free sausage rolls, pizza, spring rolls and sarnies appeared from time totime. One beer was most unusual: Djinn Jar Beer (4.2%) from SheffieldBeer Works – yes, you guessed, a ginger flavoured beer, spicy butnot overdone. Also worthy of mention was the Enville Light Pale Ale(4.0%), and here I agreed with the tasting notes “…with a mellow hoppyflavour, ideal for year round copious quaffing.”A couple of weeks later, I worked at the Somerset Tenth BeerFestival at Minehead railway station, and it was good to see so manyCAMRA people from Bristol there. I have to admit it was hard workmost of the time, but the recompense was to see drinkers having a goodtime, and the occasional slurp of some of the 109 beers on tap. It wouldbe difficult to choose a beer of the festival, but I especially liked thefestival specials Moor Dry Hopped Hoppiness (6.5%) and the rich porterGlastonbury Thriller (7.0%). The most complex flavour, for those wholike this sort of thing, came from West Yorkshire, the Summer Winebrewery’s Elbow Grease (3.8%), which surprisingly had a slight smokinessto contrast with the citrus hoppiness.As a complete contrast, a month later, when I worked the Bath Beerfestival for the Saturday lunch-time session, it was hard work on thedesk for CAMRA tickets, but fairly laid back serving beer at the longbar. 89 British beers, 18 ciders and perries, and a selection of foreignbeers were on offer. I was recommended by the organiser to try theInnocence (4.0%) from Plain Ales, a new brewery from Chitterne inWiltshire, and this deceptive beer was my favourite there. Also verygood were the Rye Smile (3.8%) from Saltaire and the Ebulem (5.8%)from Williams of Alloa in Scotland.Fortunately I was able to quaff a few pints of the Plain Innocence atthe Duke of York, St Werburghs, when on the Saturday of Pubs Week inearly November, a group from Weston visited the Masons Arms in Stapleton,having a few beers there with four chaps from the Bristol branch.The Duke of York was the obvious choice of pub on our way back toBrewers Arms, South Pethertonthe centre. We finished at the Bank where the Old Freddy Walker wason sale for only £2.80 a pint. The Seven Stars has not changed much,except for the arrival of Paul to replace Katie and Steve, and he is doingsterling work to continue the high standard of cellar management, theamazing choice of ales, with one being over 6%, and the huge discountedprice to CAMRA members (all day, every day!).The real ale drinkers, of which there are many, at the Regency inWeston-super-Mare were disappointed that it did not make the 2010Good Beer Guide. This is the only pub in Weston that consistently hasfive real ales on, took part in Mild Month, and promotes CAMRA. Itis fair to say that the beers are all “nationals” if you include ButcombeBitter, but they do offer a different taste, one from another, and all with acapital Q for Quality.However, it has to be said that the Raglan Arms deserves to be inthe Good Beer Guide, and Freddy, Miles and the staff there have workedhard to ensure the beers (usually from the south-west) reach the standardrequired. If Moor, Cotleigh, and O’Hanlon’s beers are more prevalentthan others, I personally don’t mind. The White Hart in Weston hasbeen having a few strange beers; the Dark Star brewery beers are alwayswelcome, as are the funny named Church End beers, but the CaledonianBlueberry Thriller is just too fruity, and I’m afraid to say I couldn’t tastebeer at all. Off The Rails continues having at least one dark beer on atany one time, and a core of CAMRA members in town look forward tothe Quercus beers. The Criterion, opposite the Raglan Arms has beenhaving Theakston’s beers recently and these having been in tiptop condition.Also Courage Directors is available on gravity serve there, Pauland Craig having found out the hard way that it’s better served like thatthan from hand pump. The Tuesday quiz is popular there with CAMRAmembers and they have a real fire in winter, as has of course the RaglanArms. The Raglan continues to major in music, especially on Sundayand Friday evenings, with occasionally your correspondent playing hisspoons!Robin E WildOpening hours:Mon-Fri 3pm - 11pmSat 12 noon - 11pmSun 12 noon - 10.30pmEnjoy a Warm Welcomeand a Pleasant AtmosphereThe Annexe InnSeymour Road, Bishopston, BristolTel. 0117 9493931A Real Ale Pub 7 Real Ales Large conservatory (available for private hire) Family room (including baby changing facilities) Enclosed garden open throughout the year Disabled access Lunchtime and early evening snacks- including children’s menu Pool table All TV sports events covered Relaxed, friendly atmosphereMonday Night is Quiz NightYou can also enjoy various promotionsand special offers during the yearOpen Lunchtimes & EveningsAll day Saturday, Sunday & Bank HolidaysPage 15