@minutemat and I did a pub crawl around Birmingham today (Mat doesn’t know I’m writing a report/review, but may well comment once he sees this!).
Mat wanted to visit/see some new venues within Britain’s Second City and I agreed to accompany him. Both of us know the bars and city pretty well, so new places sounded fun to me.
We joined the same train and had a couple of ‘train beers’ (two Harpoon cans from Massachusetts), both were ideal for our needs (2 rates each).
New Street Station is a bloody nightmare, where ever you get out, no matter what platform, you get lost. The signage is awful and it’s just not user friendly, it’s the same leaving by train, especially after a ‘session’.
Mat had a kind of list/map/plan, I said I’d just join along. However I discovered Mat had never been to the Bacchus, and it was close to where we came out of the station: Bacchus (Nicholsons) • RateBeer.
Mat found two new rates, I found one; it’s a lovely place and well worth popping in even if the beer selection isn’t that great. My wife Margie loves the joint!
The Bull: The Bull • RateBeer was a bit further away than we realized, but it was worth the effort, proper Old School Real Ale Pub. Two half’s and a new rate each, grumpy barmaid but cracking place.
Next up and very close was the Gunmakers Arms: Gunmakers Arms (Two Towers) • RateBeer. Local artist display their ware on the wall, it’s also home to the ‘Two Towers’ Brewery which is out the back. Loved the lady behind the bar but sadly the beer quality wasn’t too great (and it’s their Brewpub). Two new rates for me, all four new to Mat.
Mat had never been in the Old Contemptibles and we were close, so in we popped: The Old Contemptibles (Nicholson’s) • RateBeer. Sadly they had nothing of interest and we popped out again!
Mat had read about here: Somewhere In Brum • RateBeer, so we duly walked down the stairs to this cellar bar that was like a Speak Easy that wanted to be Gay. To be fair we both had three new hits, but it was a strange place and neither of us felt comfortable in there.
Next up was the Indian Brewery: Indian Brewery Snow Hill • RateBeer. We liked the decor, industrial with an Indian Bollywood vibe, music a strange mix of cultures (Indian, reggae, pop and popular stuff). It all went a bit wrong in here to be honest, we ordered two meals and four halves. Two halves arrives, then two pints and even though the place was almost empty, they managed to give us the wrong food. The beers (all their own) were not as exciting as we’d hoped either.
Not far away is an interesting shop: Lituanica • RateBeer. I got some new Kvass brews and Mat hit some Russian stuff, so all good in here.
We were getting a little jaded now, so we walked back into the ‘city’. I was surprised to hear Mat had never been into the Old Joint Stock: The Old Joint Stock (Fuller’s) • RateBeer. It was three deep at the bar and we couldn’t be bothered to queue, so we left by the back door and hit the Wellington: The Wellington (Black Country Inns) • RateBeer. Obviously an old favourite and still the top rated bar in Birmingham, even with all the new ‘Craft Places’. Two new rates each!
Train home. 18 new rates for me, @minutemat a couple more maybe.
Nice to visit new places and try their beers (curse of the rater), but we had some very ‘iffy’ beers today and if we’d gone to known venues would most likely have had some interesting and better stuff.
Please discuss if you’ve bothered to read this!
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