BITE user comments - rune
Comments by rune
Well kept ales served at the very right drinking temperature - a gem of a small pub in central Edinburgh. Large turnover of four hand pulled real ales.
24 Nov 2008 13:36
The Porterhouse, Covent Garden
Nothing less than three sample trays, each with three beers plus a seasonal one. In addition to their own draught lagers, stouts and ales there is a quite impressive international bottle menu. Delicious food; the Porterhouse Frying Pan is highly recommendable. Decent service and cosy atmosphere. Best time for sampling beers should be in the afternoon before it gets too busy and crowded
15 Oct 2008 08:31
A place to sample a good range of beers from Samuel Smith while enjoying the fantastic and stunning interior. One of London�s best historical pubs.
15 Oct 2008 08:27
A well-come addition to the real ale pubs in London! Four ales on gravity and four on handle when I visited the place on a Sunday afternoon. Polite and helpful staff. Seems to attract a wide mix of people; travellers, real ale enthusiasts and football supporters on their way to Wembley, eating and drinking in a relaxing atmosphere.
15 Oct 2008 08:25
At least eight hand pulled cask ales, most of them from Milton, but also including some guest beers, all found in perfect shape. Some interesting bottled beers form Germany and Belgium. Informal, charming and airy place with a laid back, relaxing interior. Good food. Excellent service
15 Oct 2008 08:22
Great rock music from the Bloodless Coup and enjoying atmosphere. I would have preferred a better range of real ales, though I have nothing to complain about my pints of Morland Original Bitter � they were well kept.
15 Oct 2008 08:19
To celebrate our friend 50 years old birthday 15 Norwegians stayed at The Swan Hotel for three nights. The food for birthday dinner and breakfast was great and the service excellent. Comfortable accommodation. Moderate choice of real ales in the pub, but there were always a London Pride and the summer spirit of Mighty Oak�s Maldon Gold to enjoy. They also had a few bottled beers from the local Farmers Ales. Overall a friendly, welcoming and recommendable place right in the centre of the Maldon.
11 Jul 2008 07:45
A gem of a traditional, old countryside pub half the way between Witham and Maldon in Essex, well worth the �10 taxi drive from Maldon. 12 to 14 beers on gravity dispense, including the house ale Totham Parva. There were also some interesting bottled beers. A cosy patio outside, perfect for enjoying the excellent ales in the sunshine. Serve traditional homemade pub food. Very friendly bar staff and regulars. Our party of more than 15 Norwegians received a warm welcome from an easy going landlord. The Swan in Little Totham has got several awards, among others CAMRA National pub in 2002 and again in 2005. We had a really good time here during a few hours on a sunny Saturday afternoon early in May (03.05.2008).
9 Jun 2008 12:15
Cosy and very friendly traditional two rooms pub on the outskirts of Cardiff. We went there early on a Saturday afternoon (03.02.2007) to watch Liverpool-Everton on the TV screen and to have some pints of well kept ales on cask from the Brains Brewery. The pub was voted the Camra pub in Cardiff in both 05 and 06.
15 Feb 2007 12:03
The Fox and Anchor, Smithfield
Our Norwegian and German party had a very successful stay at this cosy pub early one Friday morning. We were very well welcomed and had a delicious full English break fast. My pint of T.T. Landlord was served at perfect room temperature and turned out to be my best Landlord ever. The pub had also some other flavoursome real ales on cask.
4 Jan 2007 08:10
Beautiful location by the riverside. Clean and tidy. Moderate range of real ales.
25 Dec 2006 11:37
The Duke of Wellington, Norwich
A place for contemplation while sampling interesting and hard to find English real ales. Five active hand pumps and at least ten on gravity when we visited this suburban pub in the outskirts of Norwich. Very relaxed and quiet. No music.
25 Dec 2006 11:34
We had read about this pub and were not disappointed when we made a pilgrimage from Norway to The Fat Cat in Norwich. We spent half of the day here sampling ales and some bottled beers. The pub was a beer festival in itself. An attentive, smiling and helpful barmaid made us feel welcome. We were very pleased with our visit.
25 Dec 2006 11:25
At least 16 different ales on gravity - great! Nice winter garden in the back. It is always a pleasure visiting The Fat Cat pubs
25 Dec 2006 11:19
Superb real ales-oriented pub. Great ranges of ales on gravity and cask, rotatet very often. Cosy place with medium-sized rooms and a barbecue in the back. The food was alright. Effective service and attentive barstaff. This is one of the best pubs we have been to so far in England.
25 Dec 2006 11:15
A new must-visit pub in London. Intimate place just behind the Borough Marked. Very friendly staff and well kept real ales on cask and bottles.
20 Dec 2006 09:21
During the St Albans Beer Festival we visited The Six Bells twice (28th and 29th September '06). We also had the pleasure of being quests at about 7-8 great pubs in St Albans. This pub, in the outskirts of the city. has got inviting rooms, but we were not satisfied with the service and, worst of all, the condition of the ales; bad service and poor beer quality. We tried the next neighbour pub instead, and were warmly welcomed. The Six Bells is not representative of the pubs in St Albans.
12 Nov 2006 19:46
Went there for some Monday blues - one man playing Robert Johnson blues. Inviting atmosphere and service that made us Norwegians feel welcome. Great music, outstanding british real ales and a great pub. And of course their pickled eggs that tasted good with the ales.
30 Aug 2006 21:54
Small and cosy place by the St. Mary walls. Five hand pumps to choose from. Real pub for real ale!
29 Aug 2006 22:04
Nice pub just outside the old city walls. Got their own library room. Six hand pumps with decent selection of ales.
29 Aug 2006 21:56
Great real ale pub where you can sit for houres sampling different kind of british ales. Pleasant atmosphere and attentive barstaff.
5 Aug 2006 14:08
The Rosemary Branch, Islington
After the Dove in Bethnal Green this pub was our next stop on the great Regent's Canal Pub Crawl. Quite ordinary Fullers pub with friendly staff and pleasant outdoor seating. We had some decent pints of Chiswick, Discovery and ESB before we continued along the canal.
5 Aug 2006 13:42
The White Horse, Parsons Green
Great ales and great food. Good atmoshere. Last time I hade a delicious bottle of Fullers Vintage Ale 2002. Can get a bit overcrowded and noisy during the week ends. Love to return in September.
27 Jul 2006 19:34
The Pakenham Arms, Clerkenwell
A place I like to visit before noon. Quiet atmosphere for really enjoying some british real ales. I had some of my best pints of T.T. Landlord here. Inviting flower decoration on the outside. Coming back on my next trip to London in mid September.
27 Jul 2006 19:15
A new favorite for us visiting London once or twice a year. Cosy, classic pub with local feeling. Very friendly and helpful staff. And of course, lots of real ales from Youngs. Bottle ales to take home after closing time. Look forward to the next visit in September. Cheers.
7 Apr 2006 10:29
We did the Black Friar as a part of our NI-crawl (Pubs of National Historic Interest) in central London. A large room split into a number of drinking areas. Mosaic interior all over with words of truth written at the walls. A heritage pub, but otherwise fairly average. We had a honey sweet and dry pint of Jennings Golden Host before we crawled further on to the Salisbury in Covent Garden.
16 Feb 2006 12:24
In two days we visted 12 pubs in a crawl through St Albans. Farmers Boy was one of the best places. We had five different ales from the local Verulam Brewery. Welcoming and cosy interior. Lazy, but friendly pubdog. Helpful and nice barmaid who can best be described by one of the ales name (find out for yourself).
7 Feb 2006 12:33
We managed to do 13 boozers during a two days pub crawl in York. The Last Drop Inn was visited early on a Monday. Very quite at that time of the day. An attentive barman made us feel welcome, and we drank half pints of four different ales from York Brewery. The Last Drop Bitter was a decent stout with taste of burnt malt and coffee. The Guzzler should also be mentioned because of the ale's hoppy bitterness. Great ales at a comfortable pub with central location. A perfect start on our pubwalk in York.
3 Feb 2006 08:09
As the snow and cold rain continue pouring down here in the Arctic, I'm looking back with enjoyment to a warm summer afternoon in late June last year sitting by the canal just outside this magnificent cafe. I still remember the delicious taste of D'n Schele Os Dubbel, a dark and bittersweet beer from Maasland Bouwerij. Very helpful barstaff who guided me to some the great Dutch ales. Added value to this biercaf� for the lovely outdoor seating by the canal. What a place and how I long to come back!
2 Feb 2006 07:19
The Cask and Barrel, Edinburgh
During our weekend pub crawl in Edinburgh this bar was visited twice. In fact we started here early one Friday afternoon and ended up here late on Saturday evening. After two days we had been to 16 great bars in Edinburgh. Cask & Barrel was among the five best places. Brilliant pub, polite staff, and, of course, a very good selection of excellent Scottish ales. From the 10 hand pumps we sampled beers from Harviestoun, Isle of Mull, Inveralmond, just to mention a few.
31 Jan 2006 07:20
This gastropub and microbrewery just in the town centre of Copenhagen opened its doors in spring 2005. Gunnhild Kolvereid, a female brewer from Norway, is doing a very good jobb having made seven excellent beers so far. Last time I visit the bar I had a perfect IPA and tasty Porter (called Cole Porter). Be sure to order a table at least a week before you visit the brewpub's restaurant, which seems to be very popular.
30 Jan 2006 12:21
In recent years modern beerbars have flourished in Copenhagen. Plan B is among the finest representative of this welcoming trend and got the "copenhagen prize" for for the best caf�/bar in 2004. Delicious food (try their salad and cheese), real ales on tap and bottle and very friendly staff. I was offered a sip of their ales before buying. During my stay I could sample beers from Denmark, USA, Sweden and the Baltic.
2 Jan 2006 13:10
An oasis for real ale lovers in the middle of Copenhagen. Just a minute walk from the busy city center of Str�ket. A perfect place to relax while the ladies are doing their Christmas shopping. Six hand pumps with well kept british beers and a good choice of Danish Yule ales on tap. I enjoyed ales from Bank's, Wychwood and a delicious Young's Winter Warmer. I also had some very good halfs of Xmas beers from Thisted Bryghus. Friendly staff and guests and nice xmas decorations.
20 Dec 2005 08:55
Whenever I go to London, I try to visit this railway pub. It is still a good place for the good range of real ales, including Fuller's Red Fox. But the London Pride was not as it used to be.
29 Nov 2005 14:38
After filling our sacks at Utobeer with (mainly american) bottle conditioned beer, we were lucky to find a table in the new section of MP. Packed with people on a Friday afternoon, but still a good place to be because of the well kept real ales. I was very happy to find a tasty blond witch among the ales (Moorhouse Blond Witch).
29 Nov 2005 14:28
The Dove was included in our Regents Canal Pub Crawl. We arrived on a sunny Wednesday afternoon and were greeted with a very large beer menue. I had a belgian golden ale called Delirium Tremens - strong and refreshing taste. One a visit to London earlier, I also had the pleasure of enjoying the pub's food.
23 Nov 2005 07:02
Walking along the Regents Canal we had a lunch break here. Large one room pub with few guestes at this time of the day. Excellent organic food and vegetarian friendly ale from The Pitfield Brewery. The St Peters Organic Best Bitter was not on at our visit.
21 Nov 2005 12:51
The last stop on our Regent's Canal Pub crawl from Limehouse to Wenlock. The pub was packed with people and we had to stand outside in surroundings that are not the best. But of course this is among the best pub in London for real ales. I try to come earlier next time.
15 Nov 2005 07:21
Bl� Rock Cafe has been my favourite place in Tromso for 15 years. Because of good music and rock concerts, a big range of Norwegian, British and Belgian bottle beers, and very friendly staff behind the counter. The three level pub has got some good salads and burgers (try the Waterboys salad and the Dead Kennedys burger). I always feel comfortable here.
15 Nov 2005 07:11
One of the few places in Oslo where you have a good range of bottled beer to choose from. Though not exactly what you call a beer bar, Lorry is worth visiting. On the other hand the barman and barmaid one work last Thursday did not know about the Norwegian Bottle conditioned beer from N�gne � and HaandBryggeriet. What a pity for a place which has got more than 100 other beers to offer!
15 Nov 2005 07:00
Strolling along Regent's Canal we had a beer break at The Palm Tree in Mile End Park. A public house from the 1930s with heavy curtains at the windows. Nice decoration with china and flowers. Friendly reception and a few real ales in perfect condition. Music from Michel Bubl� in the backgroun. Three palm trees outside the pub.
8 Nov 2005 06:58
Together with Bl�rock Cafe this is my local in Troms�. It's a perfect place to go after work on Fridays. If you ever visit Troms� in Arctic Norway be sure to start your crawl at �lhallen. On my visit last Friday I had to pints of Mack Brewery's Chrismas Ale. A strong and good beer to be consumed while the sun gradually disappears from this part of the globe.
7 Nov 2005 12:59
We started our Regent's Canal pub crawl at this place. Pleasant and quiet early on a Wednesday. You can see that the backstreet pub is run by women: fine, clean and cosy with some flowers here and there. We had a good pint of Youngs Bitter before we moved on to the canal.
7 Nov 2005 12:46
They have just brewed their first organic beer, which has got a refreshing taste. The pub has also launched their beer for the Yuletide. Very friendly barmaids.
4 Nov 2005 11:04
A bit strange and fascinating to drink a good pint of Marston's Pedigree in one of the pub's small wooden driking boxes. Never seen anything like this in London.
4 Nov 2005 10:53
This bar is really worth travelling for - even all the way from Norway. Among the many great real ale bars in Edinburgh this is the very best, and the only bar I have given the highest score so far. Cozy, relaxing atmosphere, mix of clientele and even a gallery with a restaurant serving perfect food. And of course, the best of Scottish real ale. I enjoyed some decent halfs of Dark Island, Trade Winds, Clipper IPA and Stuart Ale last time I visit the bar.
1 Nov 2005 13:31
A small and unique place full of enjoyment. Hard to find for a foreigner, but well worth looking for. Good selection of cask ales. I had beers from Jarrow Brewing, Harviestoun, Belhaven and Inveralmond last time I visit the pub early on a Saturday. Love to come back.
25 Oct 2005 14:00
For a Norwegian visiting this one room pub early on a Friday afternoon is like heaven. Just a short walk from The National Library of Scotland I could step inside this splendid ale drinkers place. Brilliant range of real ales served by a knowledgeable staff. At my last visit I had some good pints of Isle of Arran Ale and from Fyne Ales.
24 Oct 2005 12:22
This is a unique pub with interesting historic interiors. Among other rooms the pub includes a large hall with small drinking booths for four og five people. Good home made food at lunch time. All the beers are from Samuel Smiths. The Oatmeal Stout Bottel Beer is very recommendable with an impressive, delicious aftertaste.
23 Oct 2005 14:17
A very intimate two roomed pub in the middle of York. You get the impression of visiting someone's private home. Panelling from the early 1900s. A must visit pub with well kept real ale. I had a nice pint of Jennings Cumberland Ale.
23 Oct 2005 14:03
A cosy two room bar a bit outside the city center. Friendly and easy going atmosphere. The bar retains most of its original features from the late 1890s. You can order beer through ticket boot openings in one of the rooms. "Sip before sup" taste of the beer. Lardlord, Deuchars and some good guest beers from Cellernan's and Harviestoun when I visited the place. A great place to be for a Norwegian in Edinburgh.
23 Oct 2005 13:50
Me and my friend had the pleasure of staying at this pub for three nights during the The St Albans Beer Festival 2005. Clean room, great food, very friendly barmaid and landlord, not to mention the well kept beers. Nine real ales on cask! The pub was a festival in itself. Must be one of the best beer places in the UK.
21 Oct 2005 13:36
Trondhjem Mikrobryggeri a.s., Trondheim
Situated in the middle of the city (Prinsensgt. 39) the microbrewery in Trondheim has since December 1998 established itself as one of the very best beer places in Norway. It�s a medium size, cosy, one-room pub with a large counter in the middle. In fine weather it is possible to enjoy the ales outside in a beer garden (�The Hop Garden�).
During June 2005 there were 7-8 beers on offer. The regulars are all between 4,4 and 5,6 per cent ABV and include Pale Ale, IPA, Bitter, Stout, Trondhjemspils (lager) and Porter. An full-bodied Amber with a much taste and flavour, together with a sweet Weissbier were the two beers for the summer season � the Weissbier being the brewers pride, I were told.
A sample tray with all the brewery�s products is a well-worth introduction to the different flavours. The good range of food is related to beer and the staff, many of them being students, are friendly and knows how to handle and talk about real ale.
(Visited 1st and 19th June 2005)
21 Jul 2005 12:03
Being a West Ham supporter from Norway I had the pleasure of visiting this pub some hours before the match between Reading and West Ham on the 12th March 2005. Hobgoblin turned out to be a beer drinker�s nirvana. The choice of hand-pulled real ales were amazing. There were at least nine beers on cask. The pub, situated in the very centre of Reading, had a cosy atmosphere decorated with pump clips, beer mats and other beer-related materials all over the place. In one of the many small wooden rooms, me and my friends tasted beers from West Berkshire Brewery, Gales, Steamin� Billy Brewing, The Moor Beer Company, Spinning Dog Brewery, not to mention a beer called Old Jockstrap Stout. We could drink the well kept beers to gothic music, among others some classic tunes from the Sisters of Mercy. At this particular Saturday afternoon the enjoyment came at this pub and definitely not from what we saw of the Hammers on the Madejski stadium.
4 May 2005 07:13
The Standing Order, Edinburgh
No less than 16 active hand pumps, most of the ales to be found in the program for Wetherspoons real ale festival, Nov. 08. We had a great time drinking different kind of real ales from 1/3 pint glass.
24 Nov 2008 13:51