two sheds

Hello,

I escaped from the West Mids by train yesterday on the London Midland
Great Escape ticket (£10 for unlimited one-day travel on all of their
network any day between Christmas and New Year), and thought I'd pass
on my findings. I'd welcome any other suggestions for good beer near
the Southern end of the WCML, as I'd like to do something similar
again.

London

11.45 - 12.10 Euston Flyer, Euston Road - This is a typical main-road
drinking bar, a bit like a small JDW (but not the price!). It's the
only pub on my trip that I've visited before, I popped in while
waiting for Mabel's to open and found it full at 11.45, with many
seemingly there for the football on the TV.
Fuller's Jack Frost, 4.5%ABV, £3.55 pt. CAMRA NBSS Score 3. The flat
beer was as usual served much too cold, but still a pleasant, fruity
Winter ale.

12.10 - 12.30 Mabel's Tavern, Mabledon Place - About 1-minute walk
from the Flyer, and cosier. Surprisingly, it was almost empty.
Shepherd Neame Kent's Best, 4.1% ABV, £3.10 pt. CAMRA NBSS Score 3. My
first pint of Kent's Best, which was a nice traditional bitter, again
served a little cold.

St. Albans

I don't know what it is about St. Albans that feels a bit 'too
perfect', but I found, as with my last visit, that the town, many of
the pubs, and even a few of the people seemed a bit artificial - I
felt a bit like I'd wondered onto the set of a British version of the
Truman Show. Is it because much of it is a Conservation Zone? Or are
all the home-counties like this?

14.05 - 14.30 Six Bells, St. Michael's Street - A pleasant 20-minute
walk from Abbey station through Verulamium Park, past the Roman ruins
into this olde-worlde pub with low beams and a real fire.
Oakham JHB, 3.8%ABV, £2.70 pt. CAMRA NBSS Score 3.5. The JHB slipped
down as easy as usual, and was in good condition. Served in lined
oversized pint glasses.

14.40 - 15.05 Farriers Arms, Lower Dagnall Street - Taking a short
diversion from the on-street route back into the town centre, I
visited my first McMullens pub. It has a less corporate feel to the
London pubs (which was good).
McMullens Cask, 3.8%ABV, £2.80 pt. CAMRA NBSS Score 3.5. A modern
style session bitter, and my favourite so far.

Bedford

I got totally lost from the station due to my Google map missing bits
when I printed it off (grrr!), combined with the drizzle and very dark
streets near the station. I eventually found the pub after several
helpful (and a couple of unhelpful) directions from Bedford's
townsfolk.

18.00 - 19.00 Wellington, Wellington Street - It's a lovely back-
street Banks & Taylor pub with an L-shaped bar and over a dozen beers,
plus a couple of dozen Belgian and World beers including Poperings
Hommel Bier (one of my favourites). This was my favourite pub of the
day, by far. It's a shame my impression of B & T beer had been sullied
by a few awful pints in JDW pubs.
B & T Shefford Bitter, 3.8% ABV, £2.60 pt, CAMRA NBSS Score 4.5.
Another modern-style session beer, served just about perfectly.
B & T Golden Fox, 4.1%ABV, £2.70 pt, CAMRA NBSS Score 4. Nice golden
beer, again in almost perfect condition.

The friendly staff and customers directed me back to the station and I
had some very nice chips from Tasty Tucks Fish Bar on Tavistock St.

Northampton

21.15 - 22.00 Malt Shovel, Bridge Street - A brisk 10-minute walk from
the station brings you to this pub, ominously opposite the entrance to
the Carlsberg brewery. I knew I didn't need to worry, though, because
although it does indeed sell the yellow p*ss from over the road, it's
the 'Tap House' for the Great Oakley brewery, some 20 miles away. I
personally didn't much like the inside of the pub, which has been
gutted and done out in pine and felt to me like the inside of a giant
shed. It's popular enough, though being full at 9pm on Sat night,
despite being well off the drinking circuit.
Great Oakley Gobble, 4.5%ABV, £2.70, CAMRA NBSS Score 4. Hoppy and
strong - just how I like my beer.
Great Oakley Harpers, 4.2%ABV, £2.50 pt, CAMRA NBSS Score 4. Darker
and sweeter than the Gobble and, as with the Gobble, in excellent
condition.

I got back into Birmingham just in time to get my last bus home. All
trains ran to time and were on the whole clean and comfortable. I
really hope LM do the same deal more often as many of the trains were
almost empty.

Will.

peter fox

What is "CAMRA NBSS score"?

--
Peter 'Prof' Fox
Multitude of things for beer, cycling, Morris and curiosities at
<http://vulpeculox.net>

two sheds

It's a unified beer quality score, see http://www.camra.org.uk/page.aspx?o=230633

paul rigg

Think it stands for National Beer Scoring system

critcher

Hello,

I escaped from the West Mids by train yesterday on the London Midland
Great Escape ticket (£10 for unlimited one-day travel on all of their
network any day between Christmas and New Year), and thought I'd pass
on my findings. I'd welcome any other suggestions for good beer near
the Southern end of the WCML, as I'd like to do something similar
again.

London

11.45 - 12.10 Euston Flyer, Euston Road - This is a typical main-road
drinking bar, a bit like a small JDW (but not the price!). It's the
only pub on my trip that I've visited before, I popped in while
waiting for Mabel's to open and found it full at 11.45, with many
seemingly there for the football on the TV.
Fuller's Jack Frost, 4.5%ABV, £3.55 pt. CAMRA NBSS Score 3. The flat
beer was as usual served much too cold, but still a pleasant, fruity
Winter ale.

12.10 - 12.30 Mabel's Tavern, Mabledon Place - About 1-minute walk
from the Flyer, and cosier. Surprisingly, it was almost empty.
Shepherd Neame Kent's Best, 4.1% ABV, £3.10 pt. CAMRA NBSS Score 3. My
first pint of Kent's Best, which was a nice traditional bitter, again
served a little cold.

St. Albans

I don't know what it is about St. Albans that feels a bit 'too
perfect', but I found, as with my last visit, that the town, many of
the pubs, and even a few of the people seemed a bit artificial - I
felt a bit like I'd wondered onto the set of a British version of the
Truman Show. Is it because much of it is a Conservation Zone? Or are
all the home-counties like this?

14.05 - 14.30 Six Bells, St. Michael's Street - A pleasant 20-minute
walk from Abbey station through Verulamium Park, past the Roman ruins
into this olde-worlde pub with low beams and a real fire.
Oakham JHB, 3.8%ABV, £2.70 pt. CAMRA NBSS Score 3.5. The JHB slipped
down as easy as usual, and was in good condition. Served in lined
oversized pint glasses.

14.40 - 15.05 Farriers Arms, Lower Dagnall Street - Taking a short
diversion from the on-street route back into the town centre, I
visited my first McMullens pub. It has a less corporate feel to the
London pubs (which was good).
McMullens Cask, 3.8%ABV, £2.80 pt. CAMRA NBSS Score 3.5. A modern
style session bitter, and my favourite so far.

Bedford

I got totally lost from the station due to my Google map missing bits
when I printed it off (grrr!), combined with the drizzle and very dark
streets near the station. I eventually found the pub after several
helpful (and a couple of unhelpful) directions from Bedford's
townsfolk.

18.00 - 19.00 Wellington, Wellington Street - It's a lovely back-
street Banks & Taylor pub with an L-shaped bar and over a dozen beers,
plus a couple of dozen Belgian and World beers including Poperings
Hommel Bier (one of my favourites). This was my favourite pub of the
day, by far. It's a shame my impression of B & T beer had been sullied
by a few awful pints in JDW pubs.
B & T Shefford Bitter, 3.8% ABV, £2.60 pt, CAMRA NBSS Score 4.5.
Another modern-style session beer, served just about perfectly.
B & T Golden Fox, 4.1%ABV, £2.70 pt, CAMRA NBSS Score 4. Nice golden
beer, again in almost perfect condition.

The friendly staff and customers directed me back to the station and I
had some very nice chips from Tasty Tucks Fish Bar on Tavistock St.

Northampton

21.15 - 22.00 Malt Shovel, Bridge Street - A brisk 10-minute walk from
the station brings you to this pub, ominously opposite the entrance to
the Carlsberg brewery. I knew I didn't need to worry, though, because
although it does indeed sell the yellow p*ss from over the road, it's
the 'Tap House' for the Great Oakley brewery, some 20 miles away. I
personally didn't much like the inside of the pub, which has been
gutted and done out in pine and felt to me like the inside of a giant
shed. It's popular enough, though being full at 9pm on Sat night,
despite being well off the drinking circuit.
Great Oakley Gobble, 4.5%ABV, £2.70, CAMRA NBSS Score 4. Hoppy and
strong - just how I like my beer.
Great Oakley Harpers, 4.2%ABV, £2.50 pt, CAMRA NBSS Score 4. Darker
and sweeter than the Gobble and, as with the Gobble, in excellent
condition.

I got back into Birmingham just in time to get my last bus home. All
trains ran to time and were on the whole clean and comfortable. I
really hope LM do the same deal more often as many of the trains were
almost empty.

Will.


Critcher said...........................
felt I was there, and could taste the beers, thanks for the walk, talk and
drink through, very enjoyable.