06/01/19 - Stroud's Good Beer Guide Pubs

Pubs - 4
Good Beer Guide Ticks - #356-358


A first time visit to the centre of Stroud.  We were impressed by the town centre's size and sense of independence.   With the exception of the McDonalds and Vue Cinema, it in no way felt like an identikit of the usual chain shops and coffee houses.

If only it wasn't so hilly.   We didn't quite make it all four of the Bible's recommendations.  The Prince Albert remains to be discovered another day.

The Little George, George Street, Stroud Brewery Tom Long

Mrs M's first experience of a micro pub.   Look at how keen she is to get in.   She nearly sent the bins flying.

First in buys

Probably correct that it should mirror all of my previous experiences in micro pubs.   Mismatched furniture, enthusiastic host, gravity fed ales, no music and no punters.   The atmosphere, as we listened to the hum of the beer coolers, was just too oppressive.

Maybe the first Sunday in January was not the best time to come.  I wish them all the best.

Just Add Punters

Crown and Sceptre, Horns Road, All of the Uley Range

A back street boozer that you need to show some dedication to reach.  It's all uphill from town, walking through narrowing terraced streets until the lights hail the oasis that is the hat and stick (as they are known on Twitter).

Exactly my sort of pub.   Full of nick nacks, interesting beers and people.   Mrs M, not used to provincial pubs on a Sunday is quite incredulous that all the punters are drunk.   Of course, she's correct, but its exactly the same at 7pm in our local.  She's just too busy watching corrie.

An Oasis in an unlit street of terraced houses

We'll start with said punters.   At least three are perched at the bar attempting the crossword.  In terms of potential answer negotiation, its up there with Brexit.   There's a goth girl who alternates between the crossword solving to have a gentle sway in the middle of the room to some decidedly non goth music.

The most sartorial punter is a gentleman of around 50 who has come dressed as an early 80's American student.  He has bright red bumper boots and a red/white baseball coat with an interesting motif.  Not wishing to cause attention, I send a FB message to Mrs M detailing what I think it could be.

Of course she waits for a gap between goth enjoyed disco to bellow out all confused "Sonic the Hedgehog holding a bottle of Coke".

I may have to go back to solo based pub ticking expeditions.

Stroud, Proud and Sonic

Of course we stay for a long time.  Far more entertaining than the Micro.   This provides the chance to try the range of Uley beers - having only previously had the bitter.    The Pigs Ear really needs to be tasted to believed.   I've never before had a beer that smelled and tasted of apples.   Unique.

Perfect pub and reinforcement of the reason why I seek out the non obvious pubs of the land.

Golden Fleece, Nelson Street, Stoud Brewery Tom Long

Not on the Good Beer Guide but we needed a break from the walk, even if downhill.   The smart internal appearance and bright lights, illuminating a couple sharing a bottle of red and playing board games could not be ignored.

Punters - plenty and you wait your whole like to see a man in a pub with a Mohican and you find a pair.   Not even sat together.

Just the one real ale on but the hand pulled Tom Long knocked the previous gravity fed into a cocked hat.

Very beautiful on the insde

Ale House, John Street, Siren Craft Brewery Broken Dream Breakfast Stout

Back into the town and we seek out the Ale House.   It's huge and obviously converted from an important building.   Think independent JDW.   We spend an age arguing about what the building used to be and my argument on "Bank" was debunked by reading the bible on our home return.

A grade II listed, built in 1837 and used by the Poor Law Guardians.

Needed a photo that showed off its magnificence better

The perils of pub crawling in unknown towns is not knowing the best time to visit.   Mid way in the pub quiz can be filed under "not optimum".   Firstly, we had to stop ourselves from going "shhhh" as the concentration levels were palpable.  Secondly, we would have like to join in, if we had been on time.

Not that we would have done any good.   We listened with intent, with no danger of blarting out any answers.   I mean, here's a sample - "The Angel Falls in Venezuela are the highest waterfall in the world, but what is their height in feet?"

The pub quiz in my local would confuse the punters with "Think of a country that begins with V"

We have the perfect place to contemplate our stupidity - wonderful leather Chesterfields in front of a roaring open fire. 

I could have stayed for hours watching the flames dance, embracing #tryanuary with my first ever "Breakfast Stout".  6.5% really is the only way to kick off the day.

The fiendish Quiz Master and the Ale House Wares

2019 Good Beer Guide ticking starts with a bang and sets the standard for other towns and cities to match.