Royal Albert Hotel, Surry Hills

So last night was the second time I have organised to come here (+Royal Albert Hotel).  I think that you need to come a few times to get a feel of a place [especially if you going to blog about it]. 

The thing is, I still haven't made up my mind about this place... Half of me loves the place and wishes I lived / worked beside here to wander on in and become a regular here, but the other half thinks "nah, this joint isn't for me". The reason for not liking the place is the service, for me a craft beer place is all about asking the bar staff for advice. I haven't heard of half the beers, brewers etc so I want them to tell me about it. When I asked about the 2 bird Sunset Ale, the reply I got was "its an American style Red Ale", well gee, I can read that too thanks. Then when I came back the second time to ask about the Feral White beer, the reply was "its less hoppy than the Feral Hop Hog" so that's two different visits, with 2 different staff members and the same level of engagement. Actually, only when I went back to my table to google Feral White did I find out about it (read below, it's awesome). What is the point of being a crafty joint (i.e. unusual, often unknown beers), if the staff are as useful as an ice machine to an eskimo? Rant over, now let me tell you why the other half of me loves the place...

I should of taken this photo at the start of the night opposed to at the end..

So their slogan of "a craft little corner joint" could not be more accurate. Both times I have been here the range of beers on tap has been fantastic, and on both occasions there have been a few that I haven't heard of before, never mind drank... 

Its true - it is crafty, what a range, and its always changing; the best way to find new craft beers...drink em!!

A view from outside... 

It is a small corner joint place, with  more seating up the back

Tap takeovers seem to be the rage in Sydney just now...

The food menu has 4 different type of hot dogs, yes 4 I tell you. I had the chilli dog, it was good. It's a small menu, ideal for a small pub, but I like that and it is not the usual "fish and chips"... Great work...
  

Hmmm, burgers and hot dogs... great bar food...

Did I also mention that the range of beers was really diverse, and from a wide range of micro breweries? Yes? well it is worth reiterating the point, their beer list is really interesting. 

The music was a 80s electro vibe thing, and, it works in that it adds to the atmosphere of the place and concept the pub is trying to create - it is not for the usual suits after work jugs of beer or people that are "Hi, I am looking for the next new cool pub to tag on Facebook" and that works for me; this is a pub that knows what it is, what it wants to be and just is it...

So the first time I was here, I tried the sunset ale by 2 birds, well to me, it still is a very English style beer - malty, flat(-ish) with a smooth small head. Not for me. 

This time around, I started with a few Ekim IPAs - I sort of fell in love with the Ekim brand (http://www.ekimbrewing.com.au/Ekim_Brewing/Beers.html) after a few of their After Battle Pale Ale, but while I loved the IPA, I think it maybe left a bit too much bitterness in the after taste for me. It is a more straight up IPA style, with a medium body and a small head. It's a solid drink and I would happily drink it again but only if I couldn't get my hands on their Pale Ale. That is a monster of a beer (actually, I should probably say it is a "Viking" of a beer, actually it should be called "Odin" after the Viking god it is that good a beer).

So next I headed onto 2 birds Taco beer (http://www.twobirdsbrewing.com.au/our-beers/). I don't really know how to describe it, one sniff of it tells you why they called it that - think of a veg taco while drinking a Corona in a field and that's the smell you get and the taste is somewhere between a light summer ale and a lager. Really different and thats really cool. Beer, especially craft beer, shouldn't taste generic, and this sure is a unique beer. I had two of these, and that was about my limit, it was awesome but you wouldn't want to drink it all night. If you read the reviews on ratebeer.com you see what I mean - people love it or hate it. I am a fan.

Then I finished the night with a few of the Feral White. They advertise this as a true  Belgian style beer (http://www.feralbrewing.com.au/our-beer/) and they are so on the mark with this. It reminds you of peaches and stone fruit and the colour of the body is white / blonde. It really is a fantastic beer. I was concerned that it must of been a 6%-er of a beer but after some research (and to my relief) it is 4.6% which means you can stay on this beer for quite a while. 

Feral White - A fantastic Belgian white beer.

The beer is meant to go on top of the beer matt... 

So overall, great beer selection, good food and a good vibe to this place makes you happily meet up with friends here but if you are looking to take people new to craft beer, choose the Dove & Olive  or Bitter Phew up the road as the staff will engage you a bit more.