tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post2814375235014346279..comments2024-03-28T17:11:52.333+00:00Comments on The Pub Curmudgeon: Beer vs pubsCurmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02558747878308766840noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-41696142872270910372014-11-05T16:55:18.092+00:002014-11-05T16:55:18.092+00:00Sorry py, i agree pubs are more important than bee...Sorry py, i agree pubs are more important than beer, but Wetherspoons are as likely to attract groups of people going out to socialise i.e. to enjoy pubs , as anywhere else.<br /><br />That doesn't mean I'd rather have a pint in the Tivoli than the Blue, just that I defend the existence of Spoons as a legitimate pub experience.<br /><br />While I'm talking about Cambridge, have you experienced the Architect yet py ?<br /><br />Martin, Cambridgenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-4755302923249836702014-11-05T13:30:30.224+00:002014-11-05T13:30:30.224+00:00@py/Bailey
As they say,opinions are like arseholes...@py/Bailey<br />As they say,opinions are like arseholes.<br />Maybe we caught an off day but any pub that can't clear tables and have staff who don't appear to know much about the beer they're serving is crap whether it serves craft beer or not.<br />We weren't the only ones - from Time Out's review: " not all the staff seem to have the levels of enthusiasm and expertise a pub like this needs." <br />The Princess Louise was rammed, the Holborn Whippet far less so. Maybe all those people have duff taste too.<br />Now The Rake is a different kettle of fish altogether.<br />A proper craft beer bar and not a cloth cap or whippet in sight.<br />Great beer too.<br />Professor Pie-Tinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-26022717274722602942014-11-05T13:06:44.558+00:002014-11-05T13:06:44.558+00:00The English Pub (Saxon Tavern)was as much a part o...The English Pub (Saxon Tavern)was as much a part of the "English Way"as much as the Village church<br />and market place.<br />The OPEN doors offered welcome to all both local and traveller,retired generals shared a lively bar with yokels and social intercourse flourished through good times and bad<br />Now many pubs are little more than loners retreats,specific groups and neolithic yonners.<br />Of course some pubs are surviving<br />as they sweep up the dregs from local closures,a bit like bragging about grave robbing.<br />To halt the decline in pubs will require a fundamental change of <br />attitude from those who still frequent the remaining pubs,sadly but a dream<br /><br />tacitus<br /><br /> Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-26421201802208370532014-11-05T13:06:09.038+00:002014-11-05T13:06:09.038+00:00Lord Egbert obviously has duff taste. Sorry Lord E...Lord Egbert obviously has duff taste. Sorry Lord Egbert, but that's the way it is.pynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-54681454228541567642014-11-05T13:01:00.761+00:002014-11-05T13:01:00.761+00:00"The biggest pub disappointment in my life wa..."The biggest pub disappointment in my life was making a visit to the Holborn Whippet after reading beer bloggers eulogise about it."<br /><br />Ah, yes, <a href="http://tandlemanbeerblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/the-holborn-whippet.html" rel="nofollow">like that notorious pub-hating craft beer hypester Tandleman.</a>Baileyhttp://boakandbailey.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-84628044177862902902014-11-05T12:39:51.891+00:002014-11-05T12:39:51.891+00:00wit infection? Isn't that the new sour wheat b...wit infection? Isn't that the new sour wheat beer from Magic Rock?pynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-41800433427662548162014-11-05T12:37:37.757+00:002014-11-05T12:37:37.757+00:00@Cooking seems to be suffering a wit infection. Mo...@Cooking seems to be suffering a wit infection. Most welcome.Jonathan Bagleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17331501151709216753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-35571115588136802652014-11-05T12:13:46.273+00:002014-11-05T12:13:46.273+00:00I know what you mean.
The biggest pub disappointme...I know what you mean.<br />The biggest pub disappointment in my life was making a visit to the Holborn Whippet after reading beer bloggers eulogise about it.<br />Most of the craft beer I drank was shite and the bar istelf was untidy,full of dirty glasses and looked like a 1970's Burton shop.<br />So we buggered off round the corner to the Prince Louise and spent a few happy hours drinking good old Sam Smiths.<br />Great bogs as well.Lord |Egbert Nobaconnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-16358460692009927272014-11-05T11:08:35.905+00:002014-11-05T11:08:35.905+00:00Cold? Not after the 1st Spesh.
Some of you crafti...Cold? Not after the 1st Spesh.<br /><br />Some of you crafties are what we oop north would refer to as "nesh"Cooking Lagerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02830924433230427226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-5801128770054977962014-11-05T10:56:10.507+00:002014-11-05T10:56:10.507+00:00Its a bit cold though, no? At least pubs have a ni...Its a bit cold though, no? At least pubs have a nice fire on.pynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-4870077343171681262014-11-05T10:44:12.393+00:002014-11-05T10:44:12.393+00:00You guys do know that a park bench is social space...You guys do know that a park bench is social space right? See you both there. Py, you bring the mangy dog. Mudgie, you bring the Spesh.Cooking Lagerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02830924433230427226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-89576800098302324802014-11-05T10:37:02.778+00:002014-11-05T10:37:02.778+00:00Mudgie agrees with py shocker!Mudgie agrees with py shocker!Curmudgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02558747878308766840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-61015524311999682352014-11-05T10:11:41.007+00:002014-11-05T10:11:41.007+00:00CAMRA killed the British pub
The day it decided no...CAMRA killed the British pub<br />The day it decided not to fight the smoking banAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-23698850332989479192014-11-05T10:10:46.133+00:002014-11-05T10:10:46.133+00:00I like beer, but actually I think pubs are more im...I like beer, but actually I think pubs are more important. Having a social space where people feel comfortable going either by themselves, in couples, or with a big group, where they can get to meet and interact with their local community is hugely important. The internet can never adequately replace actual face to face interaction.<br />pynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-60357326294268786282014-11-05T10:04:05.149+00:002014-11-05T10:04:05.149+00:00you could make a hot song of that, py, to the tune...you could make a hot song of that, py, to the tune of "video killed the radio star"Cooking Lagerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02830924433230427226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-1724569658613658602014-11-05T10:01:16.355+00:002014-11-05T10:01:16.355+00:00CAMRA killed the british pub the day it started ac...CAMRA killed the british pub the day it started acting as wetherspoons marketing department.pynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-81121534871590559152014-11-05T09:18:55.346+00:002014-11-05T09:18:55.346+00:00Clarkey is bob on. I get the impression that most ...Clarkey is bob on. I get the impression that most beer geeks think the point of a pub is to service beer enthusiasm as a hobby. For most people a pub is a social environment to chat with friends and they pick one on the basis of decor, atmosphere, are the other people in here like me? (a coda for social class). The actual products are lower down the list of importance. Not unimportant as no one want to spend hard earned on crap, but not the point of it. People don't actually go out for a pint. They go out to socialize. Having a pint is just how we Brits socialize.<br />Cooking Lagerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02830924433230427226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-29210395173557700492014-11-05T08:34:12.129+00:002014-11-05T08:34:12.129+00:00Beer, wine, tea, coffee and chocolate are a few it...Beer, wine, tea, coffee and chocolate are a few items easily defined by their flavours. In the case of beer if a small number of people are evangelising their love of high IBU hop bombs or other varieties and consequently entrepreneurs build temples for the new masses to worship then I really don't see a problem. The problem is overstating a niche market. Beer is determined by flavour. Pubs are defined by your own personal preference. Heaven is having beer and pub exactly to your personal taste.Olivernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-4765809884160821872014-11-05T08:32:27.227+00:002014-11-05T08:32:27.227+00:00@John Clarke - pub customers have always been a br...@John Clarke - pub customers have always been a broad church, of course. And nowadays in many pubs the average customer is primarily there to eat a meal.<br /><br />@Martin - I don't think beer geekism is a major factor in the decline of pubs. But the attitude is becoming more widespread that, as described by "munrobasher" on the CAMRA forum 'ask the hipster generation if they are worried about pub closures and the answer is usually indifference and often more likely "yeah, some of those old man pubs have gone but they've been replaced by some great new bars selling great beer in town'" Curmudgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02558747878308766840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-26529599807431188722014-11-05T08:23:55.127+00:002014-11-05T08:23:55.127+00:00I'm with you Curmudgeon, but I only have CAMRA...I'm with you Curmudgeon, but I only have CAMRA newsletters and beer blogs as evidence that pub-going is seen as secondary to beer-finding, and I'm not sure how big a factor significant beer-geekism is in the decline of the pub compared to other factors.<br /><br />I suspect there is much less interest now in tracking down pubs with genuinely good beer quality, whether that beer is Wainwright or a micro, although I personally still think there is a vast gulf in the quality of beer, even in Beer Guide pubs. Your local CAMRA branch is one of the few that seems to reflect that.Martin, Cambridgenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-43700482595197965192014-11-05T08:06:36.100+00:002014-11-05T08:06:36.100+00:00I think Bailey being rather over-defensive here. ...I think Bailey being rather over-defensive here. Perhaps they are all hiding their usual pub going habits under a bushel but with a few honourable exceptions you do get the sense of a disconnect between many contributors to the blogosphere and your average pub-goer. Although I suppose that begs the question what is your average pub-goer these days?<br /><br />Part of the problem I think is that many beer geeks, much like computer nerds, can't see that most people aren't actually like them.John Clarkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00132845616834779091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-108501790511180862014-11-05T07:55:10.514+00:002014-11-05T07:55:10.514+00:00"But it must be a cause for concern that enth..."But it must be a cause for concern that enthusiasm for beer is becoming increasingly detached from the everyday pubgoing experience of ordinary people"<br /><br />"But it must be a cause for concern that enthusiasm for trains is becoming increasingly detached from the everyday travel experience of ordinary people"<br /><br />"But it must be a cause for concern that enthusiasm for stamps is becoming increasingly detached from the everyday postal experience of ordinary people"Aryn Randnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-38824840550696084942014-11-04T20:58:15.913+00:002014-11-04T20:58:15.913+00:00As a beer geek I think you are over estimating how...As a beer geek I think you are over estimating how many geeks there are and their influence in the beer choice for most pubs.The big change in London has been brought about by Locale and the explosion of new brewers.Pubs dumped the regional beers and now stock London beers.The younger pub goer now gets to try loads of different beers and are happy to try new stuff.I am not one of the younger crowd but the thought of drinking the same beers week after week is my idea of pub hell. cheers johnAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-85194917573793335452014-11-04T20:19:08.415+00:002014-11-04T20:19:08.415+00:00I think you just have to accept the death of the p...I think you just have to accept the death of the pub and move on. Don't dwell on it. Like a bird you dated at college, you may occasionally think of her and the past but when you look her up on facebook you discover she's now fat so you are grateful for swerving that one.<br /><br />Move on, drink your grog on the sofa and tweet about it like the rest of us. Live in the present, Mudge.<br /><br />Cooking Lagerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02830924433230427226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-85792170604264218812014-11-04T18:35:55.143+00:002014-11-04T18:35:55.143+00:00@Curmudgeon
I think we are likely on the same sid...@Curmudgeon<br /><br />I think we are likely on the same side when it comes to this. The best brewery tap room in this part of VA is at Three Notch's Brewing and has a good range of beer styles. Their core beers are absolutely solid and always worth drinking, and they have lots of seasonals and specials which are worth trying as well. The tap room itself feels very much like a pub at home (not surprising as one of the founders is Irish), and deliberately so.<br /><br />We have had a couple of 'craft beer bars' pop up in town in the last few months and for all their changing beers and having the latest greatest hoppiest barrel ageist randalised beer, they are just not places I want to go. Their prices are usually higher than other bars for the same beer and the service is often so-so. I'd just much rather wander into the Three Notch'd bar and decide what to drink while the barman pulls a pint of brown ale for my wife.<br /><br />My comment about 'good company doesn't need good beer' came out wrong, good beer is important, but it doesn't define a good pub for me. A good pub <i>with</i> good beer is what I want.Alistair Reecehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15929927359428659775noreply@blogger.com