The Brown Lion, Birmingham

I've visited this pub around harfadozen times now. First time - late last year - could easily have been the last time. Every single beer on the hand pumps was lactic. I had a half of everything on tap, left most of it and went on to some imported lager thing, which was O.K. but not very interesting.

Why did I go back?

Well, a yeast infection can happen to anybody (Oooh Matron!) and sometimes, it's just One Of Those Things; best avoided but not always within One's Destiny. New brewery and all that; QC problems obviously beleaguering the poor dears. The chap behind the bar I discussed it with didn't dismiss me as an idiot, whereas you, gentle reader, might. I got the impression everyone was trying very hard, and that's impressive in this day and age.

The clincher was that the bar staff were all absolutely brilliant. Helpful, friendly, courteous and in some cases, quite cute.

The pub itself is unpretentiously basic without being gimmickily agricultural. No tractor parts on shelves or spitoons used as ice buckets or sawdust on the bar. Basic. Functional. No sewing machines on shelves or gratuitous oxen goads hanging over the bar. NO big screen football intrusion- at least I didn't spot any intrusion, so I was happy. I could talk to the people I went in with and hadn't lost my voice or my hearing by the end of the night.

Bowl of chips with a pint. GREAT chips. Scratchings on draught. Gave some flavour to the imported lagery experience.

Second time I went in, had a pint of something which was so sour I had to send for a mop. Nice lady behind the bar tried it and spat it across the room in disgust. Very apologetic. SO.. we all went on to the porter, another Pair O' Towers concoction that was sooo good we all stayed with it till it was time to be swept out from under the table. The porter was absolutely lovely, so good that it totally balanced out the previous disappointments and made an aggregate positive experience if the two visits; that's quite a feat, but it was quite a beer. Six stars out of five for that one.

so - went back again. And again.

A couple of nights back, went back again with wife and daughter. WE had a meal - a selection of plattery stuff and something vegetarian for the awkward teenage teetotaller. It was very nice. We would have it again, doubtless.

Discovered another Brace O'Towers brew called Chamberlain or something similar. It was absolutely exquisite.
I drank far too much of it, bored the bar staff rigid with my enthusiasm and fell in with a couple of regulars, talking absolute gateaux and discussing the virtues of single malts. I'm easily entertained.

Ordered a couple of shots of that interesting-looking Nipponge Whiskey that was sitting on a high shelf. My it was superb. Plus plus ++ superb. I realized why when I got the tab. Ouch. I'll probably have it again, though, when I've saved up for a few weeks. Ask for "that Japanese scotch...|" and I'm sure they'll sort you out o.k. Seriously worth trying if you like smooth blends. You won't regret it, price notwithstanding.

There's live music, which I'll not discuss here and now.

Overall verdict? A jewel of a pub which maybe needed a bit of polishing re. the in house product range but which now seems to have itself sorted out. I'd cheerfully adopt it as my local.
The Two Towers ales are first class when they are up to spec, and I'd assume that that is where they'll be from now on. You can always try a shot-glass taster if you're unsure - a nice touch.

If you don't mind lack of plush decor nor snotty sevice and you can live without overpriced Italian fizzy beer and waiters in uniforms, get yourself down to the Lion and enjoy yourself. Look, I'd give this a 10/10 if it wasn't for the initial whoopsy with the beer QC, and I feel I have to be scrupulously honest in the rating so I've knocked a couple of points off, overall. On my last visit alone, I'd give it 10 each for service, beer and even the food (bearing in mind it's bar-snack, not A La Carte)
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Highly recommended.

5 Mar 2012 17:59