Drygate, Glasgow

I was back in Glasgow for one of my best friends wedding, so a few days before the wedding, the boys had to get together and catch up / share a few jokes at his expense. Somehow it seemed to end up to me to decide where - yes me who lives in Australia and hasn't lived in Glasgow for nearly 10 years now... 

So my search criteria was "great beer" "good for groups" (there was around 12 of us). The thing about Glasgow is that it is full of pubs, so that just narrowed my search to the hundreds... so I added "brewery bar" and a few hours later I ended up choosing Drygate. 

It is the old entrance to Tennent's factory and you an tell - it is a weird layout with the roof bar, side entrance etc but it just adds to its uniqueness to be honest. Glasgow City Council might try to tell you it's Merchant City but it's a good 5 - 10 minute walk to get into Merchant City.  

Thats where my beer was brewed!

Thats a lot of taps!

What is cool about this place is that it not only serves it's own beers, but also a long list of other beers. This makes it a great place for groups to go, as everyone was trying different beers and having great fun. It is full of big tables which again made it easy for groups.

Most people in our group eat in the bar and the menu was big and caters for all.  It all seemed to go down well.

Lots of big tables to suit groups

For drinks, I started with the Gladeye IPA, it was big in hops and good flavour. They advertise it as an AIPA, butI don' think they use American hops as it didn't have the big hoppy citrus aroma you expect with an AIPA, but never the less it was a good beer with a nice golden coloured body.

My one criticism of this place is that when I was asking about the beers, and telling the staff my preferences, "big in hops", "not a lot of bitterness", "strong citrus flavours through it" etc the staff struggled to convert that into recommendations. I get the feeling craft beer is still a new thing for Glasgow so the staff etc are really learning at the same time as the punters that are on the other side of the bar. I think Australia has made me think that everyone gets craft beer etc where it is a new to the mass market. 

Anyway, the benefit was I just picked at random and that is fun as well. I am really gutted as I ended up drinking a Saison beer and I have lost my notes on it to tell you it's name - it was an awesome and unique tasting beer, quite hazy and full of sweeter fruits like peach and grapes etc. It's so good to find a beer that really is quite unique and memorable. 

Overall, I struggle to find the controversy of Drygate, yes it is owned by a big brewery, but so what? It is a great bar for friends to meet up and try new and exciting beers, some brewed onsite and others from small breweries. Great work guys, you have created a unique experience in the Glasgow pub scene.   

The Queens Arms, Victoria London UK

I used to drink in this pub when I worked in Victoria, London years ago, and I had fond memories of it so when back in the UK I met some friends here for a few beers over lunch.

It hasn't changed over the years in appearance but the beer list has widened and there is a lot more crafty beers available. It is a pub that most people eat at opposed to just coming for drinks and has a nice, friendly relaxed atmosphere to it. It also had a lot of groups so it seems to cater well for them, which is a surprise as it is quite a small place but they seem to manage the space well.

One thing I would also say is the bar staff were really good, just friendly and efficient. Men being men, order drinks at the bar then nip off to the 'loo' (great British word that!), the bar staff just dropped the drinks of at our table and made a few recommendations on beers to try etc - like I said, just really efficient and helpful and that's what you want... 

A bright and airy pub

Big bar area, but as you can see, it isn't very big which helps the atmosphere of the place

So... I found a new brewery (for me) that I had to give a massive shout out to - Meantime Brewery. I know it's not that new, but I haven't lived in the UK for years... I tried a few bottles of Meantime Red Ale ( it is one of the coolest bottles I have seen in a long time!) at a friends house and in the Queens Arms I tried my first pint of Meantime Pale Ale. Man it's a good beer.

Great colour for a pale ale, in a cool glass

The head stays with the beer.

It has that lovely golden, nearly rusty, look to it. It has a nice medium body that keeps the flavour locked in and on the nose it has citrus flavours to it. I wouldn't say that the beer has massive citrus flavours through it, it is more of  subtle flavour throughout the body. I thought the beer had a bit of malt in it as there is a bitterness to the beer but from a bit of googling it seems that it is just some of the hops they use that gives it the gentle bitter taste. I really enjoyed this beer.   

After a few Meantimes, I thought I should try something else and went for the Camden lager. It is a really light lager when comparing with the Estralla Dam that my friend was drinking. The head was really small but as you can see, it stays with the beer - I hate it when the head disappears. I reckon the light body and gentle flavours would work on a hot day or at summer BBQ as it isn't in your face with high alcohol or big malty flavours etc. 

Overall, if you are in Victoria, or change at Victoria station, pop out of the tube and head here and if you can find a Meantime Pale Ale (in any bar), go for it - it's awesome! Right, my friend has just called "next bar" - I think today is becoming a bit of a Victoria Pub Crawl! The joys of coming back to the UK and catching up with friends!

The Kernel American Pale Ale - London

So as we carry on our world tour of a holiday, we stayed at one of our many great friends in London. He bought a selection of crafty beers and this was a standout! I always slightly worry that an English ale is going to be cask - flat and like cold tea but this sure wasn't!

It has a small head but as you can see in the pictures, the head stays and doesn't disappear, the nose slightly deceives- when I think American Pale Ale I think big big hoppy citrus smells and a solid medium to full body. When I smelt the Kernel, it didn't have a huge hoppy hit but the taste sure did! It has a hit of citrus in the body which is smooth and flavoursome. I wouldn't say it has a big body but I think australian beers are bigger to suit the taste of Aussies... It also doesn't leave a big hoppy aftertaste either, but rather a hint of citrus flavour remain in your mouth which is really enjoyable and you could sure have a few of these beers!

Great beer guys!