For real #PubMen, there’s only one thing worse than the Christmas drinker.
And that’s the “Six Nation Sozzlers”, who turn (mainly) Home Counties pubs into Hell for six weeks at the start of Spring. Just ask BRAPA. Due to UK discrimination laws, I’m not allowed to exclude Rugby Union fans from this blog, but know your place in Hell (a Maidenhead Ember Inn) is assured.
Never mind, only two months till the real sport starts again;
But at least the rugby sticks to the weekends. I was glad I tipped up at Longworth’s Blue Boar on a Wednesday lunchtime, avoiding the Cotton Traders crowd in what looks like a rugger stronghold (see top). I still await a trip to the wonderfully named Kingston Bagpuize, but this is close.
Wisteria fans and real pub sign advocates will be overjoyed by the Blue Boar.
But I was more taken by the beer range. TWO unchanging beers, neither over 4.0%, both classic BBBs.
Many will find this the quintessential village pub, with low lighting, tiled floor and wooden beams, and scary open fires. And scarier Daily Telegraph.
Even the jugs hanging from the ceiling (one of them will fall on Simon) maintain the Good Pub Guide stereotype. #StraightGlassesRule.
It’s clearly a popular dining pub for gentlefolk, but without any “Will you be dining with us Sir” nonsense or excessive setting of tables.
Some very pleasant middle-class music from Iron & Wine and Dylan (Forever Young), and the banter from the only customers younger than me was decent, too.
Only joking, it was all about car repairs, kale and the gym (honestly). If it’s a foretaste of the Beer & Pubs Forum Trip to Oxford this month, Mudgie & Co. are in for a treat.
And the Otter ? Cool to the touch, impeccably presented, but not quite stretching beyond NBSS 3. But I’ve come to expect that, and not just in Oxon.
retiredmartin 
Nice truncheon handles!
We had a 3.5-scoring pint of Otter in Devon… May have been ‘Ale’ or ‘Amber’ rather than ‘Bitter’ though, I find them very hard to tell apart!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think that’s probably fair on Otter ! The “Head” stands out though. Hope you logged it on WhatPub, Chris 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
I did – in fact I had to log on to check what I gave it!
Never had an Otter Head before. Is it a local delicacy?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Served in Spoons burgers,apparently.
It’s their strong beer (well 5.8%, lightweight by craft standards), dark blue pump, very rich.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Otter Bright is noticeably different, being much paler and not BBB colour.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah,cricket.
The cuckoo isn’t the first sign of of Spring.It’s the smell of linseed oil and the sound of wood as a new bat gets knocked in and the discovery of sweaty whites at the bottom of a kitbag that should’ve been washed six months ago.
And the ” not long now ” greeting between village cricket mates who’ve endured a miserable winter staying up late watching England get hammered by the Convicts.
Not long now indeed.Marvellous.
I know what you mean about the Otter.I drink lots of it on our annual pilgrimage to the West Country and while it’s always perfectly presentable and looks good there’s something missing about it that I can’t put my finger on.Nuttiness is the only word I can think of.
LikeLiked by 2 people
England hammered ! We just smashed them 4-1 in the, ahem, purest form of the game.
LikeLike
You’ve changed Martin.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A test match that isn’t a test for the country that wins can’t be considered a test, so I count The Ashes as void.
LikeLike
I’m sure at least half the maps you post are computer generated with a random word generator used for the names.
I refuse to believe somewhere called Kingston Bagpuize really exists, unless it’s ruled by an old, saggy cloth cat.
LikeLiked by 1 person
There’s a random word generator in there somewhere.
LikeLike
derby
LikeLiked by 2 people
;-0
LikeLike
Just wait until he gets to the Lincolnshire Wolds and Bag Enderby, Ashby Puerorum and Hagworthingham 😉
Like
It’s hard enough spelling Bag.
LikeLike
More of his Tolkienesque fantasy lands, home to Bass from the wood.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Or three random words.
Van de graaff generator.
LikeLiked by 2 people
That’s four.
LikeLike
Not if the generator was producing the three random words.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m assuming Duxford is where the, er, ducks ford?
“(one of them will fall on Simon)”
Heh. 🙂
Love the beer range. (thumbs up)
“Only joking, it was all about car repairs, kale and the gym (honestly).”
Not surprising since it appears they were both on the San Miguel. 😉
Cheers
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Many will find this the quintessential village pub” –And by “many,” you mean all those damned Americans who want everything in England to have Ye Olde in front of it. 😉
This does look like an especially lovely one. I don’t know what it tastes like, but that Brakspear Bitter has a first class pump clip.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was thinking of you, Dick and Dave, Mark !
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very true, but it is more important to have a boring bitter on inside.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Spot on.
LikeLike
I quite like the Telegraph. Out of all the quality daily papers it is by far the best one for lighting the fire. Don’t get the Guardian, it just smoulders without ever getting going.
LikeLiked by 1 person