Pubs of 2014

Right, here we go...... The purpose of this blog is to log all the pubs that I have visited and consumed an alcoholic beverage in during 2014. The rules are quite simple, the establishment needs to be a public house, it sounds straightforward but it may get complicated for example things that wouldn't count are a visit to the bar at the cricket, a pre gig drink in a concert venue, a drink at the Birmingham German market etc. As judge and jury my decision is final, and if I'm in any doubt I won't count it.



My prediction as at the start of the year is that the final number will be somewhere around the 200 mark though I won't go to pubs just to get the numbers up, it will be a true reflection of my pub visting year.



My posts will include information about the pub, the ambience of the surroundings, the choice and quality of the beer, any interesting or amusing anecdotes about my visit and, where possible, photographic evidence.



I will try and keep the information as accurate as possible noting that alcohol consumption means that at times this may prove difficult !!



The format of the posts is simple, the first visit to the pub will be the blog entry and that post will be updated for any subsequent visit.



Hope you enjoy it...



Cheers

UPDATE January 2015

Right, that's it, it's finally finished, some 259 pubs later !! It's been hard work but it's nice being able to look back and relive the drinking experiences of 2014.

I am pleased with the final result and whilst I've been reviewing it, I have actually laughed a few times at my own jokes !!

A word of warning, it does start off a bit slow (some of my posts from Bath are a bit dull) but stick with it. In hindsight the format of posting repeat visits to a pub on the original post at times doesn't work very well when reading the blog in its' entirety but on the whole I'm pleased with it and I hope that you enjoy it.

I have stated this in the blog but I will say it again, thanks to anyone that I have had a beer with in 2014 and special thanks to Shelley for her patience !!







Tuesday, 9 December 2014

The Wellington

Just like The Malt House, The Wellington is another pub that I just had to visit this year. This is arguably Brum's number one real ale pub and the fact that I hadn't been in the place in the whole of 2014 is nothing short of disgraceful, it is almost worthy of me being thrown out of CAMRA such is the esteem that this place is held in real ale circles, it has won West Midland's CAMRA pub of the year on numerous occasions.

I'd been out with my American mate Jeff and his girlfriend Lauren so, as they had inexplicably chosen to go to watch v*lla v Southampton rather than stay drinking with me, I'd got a few minutes to kill before catching my train giving me just enough time for a quick pint in The Wellington.

The pub has had a bit of a refurbishment since I last visited and the aroma of the place is far more pleasant that it ever used to be when the odour of the mainly ageing male clientele coupled with the smell of the ale gave rise for its nickname of the Smelly Welly !!

The choice of ales is unparalleled in the city, a screen listing the different available real ales (normally sixteen) is constantly updated and is even available as a live feed on line..



You really are spoilt for choice and the helpful code which indicates the beer colouring with A being the lightest through to E as the darkest makes the decision process a bit easier. What is quite unique is that they encourage you to order your ale using the numbering from the screen, it's just like ordering food at the Chinese takeaway but much more fun. I ordered a pint of number 8, I did chuckle though at number 15 a beer called Number of the Rat which had an ABV of 6.66% !!

As I mentioned before this probably isn't a place for girlie girlies, I can't pretend that the average patron isn't anything other than a middle aged real ale bore but as I am sure that I don't fall into that category (oi, cheeky !!) I must have really stood out as I enjoyed my pint of Allgates Samhain which had a hoppy aroma with a flavour that had hints of coriander. Boring?! Me?!! Never !!!



I wandered upstairs for my first view of the new bar and, more impressively, the rooftop terrace. Okay, a dark, damp November night probably meant that I wasn't experiencing it at its best but it is still a welcome addition..



If you look carefully you may be able to spot an early Christmas tree in one of the windows. Aaaah.

My mate Kap and I have christened one of the regulars in The Wellington as the Child Catcher such is his likeness to the infamous character from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. See if you can spot him if you ever call in but don't get taken in by his gifts of sweets and lollipops !!

An impending train brought a halt to my short and long overdue visit but I vowed I'd be more loyal to The Unsmelly Welly in 2015 !!
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