“There’s nowt such thing as bad beer, it’s just they that keep it that spoil it” – Brad, The Furnace
I know you doubt me, but Brad’s maxim is never truer than with our nation’s favourite beer (sorry, Donnington BB).
I probably drink half a dozen pints a year, mainly in Spoons. I’ve never taken a Doom Bar back.
It’s often served too soon by landlords who care more about brand recognition than quality; but there are enough exceptions for me to say “Give Doom A Chance“.
Not only THE best Doom Bar pub (they’ll probably drop it now) but also one of the jolliest pubs anywhere, which I guess is why it slipped out of the Beer Guide again this year. At least that means they’ll avoid a BRAPA visit in 2021.
Yes, you could have Landlord instead, but you’re surely desperate to know if the Doom really did taste like flat Bass here ?
None of that pointless beer choice in my runner-up for top Doom.
“We also have Stella” screamed the sign in this little slice of the East End stuck into a posh little Hertfordshire commuter town.
As Pub Curmudgeon noted, the best kept beers make you turn to your drinking companion and say “Taste this! This is what cask’s all about!”
“Sadly I had no-one to turn to, not even a pub cat. So I told the Landlord on the way out. He shrugged.“
A more traditional Doom Bar venue, and a 3rd pint of NBSS 4+ in 6 months. Is it worth travelling dangerously close to Bridgend to sample ? It’s a free world.
Let’s be honest. Bass often comes with a nice pub wrapping, Doom Bar less so. Our next pub, from this summer, is beautifully located in the Somerset lanes but still a bit plain.
Drinkers were confined to the garden; as you’ll know by now drinkers are scum who want to kill your granny by visiting pubs and not buying burgers.
I felt sorry for the barmaid after she kept me waiting on the door while she rattled off “Guinness, Peroni, Carling, Stowford, Doo..” when I asked what beers they had.
Those brightly painted tables raised the NBSS to 3.5, which’ll do for me.
Which brings us to,
A Brewer’s Fayre. ANY Brewer’s Fayre
Let’s call this one near Barnsley.
“You must come now. Doom Bar’s drinking well“. texted Mrs RM.
Well. How could I resist. Actually, they were two distinct statements. The essential nature of the Wentworth (Brewer’s Fayre) derived from an extended Irish family on the lash.
It may look like Gomorrah to you,
but we loved it. And the beer was gorgeous.
Not ALL Brewer’s Fayres fared so well. Note the symbolic vinegar bottle.
If you’ve only had Doom Bar in a Tim Martin emporium lately, you ought to try it in a Spoons that cares about its beers.
This (and Greene King IPA) were served from the barrel at their 2018 beer festival. “Certainly drier than on handpump, I wouldn’t have recognised it as Doom“.
Is that a dozen yet ? No ?
Here’s one for those of you who need a backstreet pub with blokes wearing a singlet. And who doesn’t ?
I rest my case.
Of course if, due to being in Tier 3 or Glasgow, you’re forced to resort to the bottle, always decant it into a Bass glass.
Happy Dooming.
Truly we are all Doom’d by this post, though in a nice way of course. Rarely see Doom Bar round our way, it’s all microbrewer glop and flat Landlord that tastes of stewed tea. I would add the Top House in Thurmaston to your bonkers dozen.
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Looks a cracker, though What Pub suggests no real ale at present. Perhaps your recommendation will prompt them to reconsider
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It must be said the Eclipse is a lovely little pub. I think I had Otter when I went, though.
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I’d have done the same!!
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Always a good choice. I’d have had the Otter as well if it had been on.
Reminds me in style of the Olde Cottage in Chester.
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While I can perhaps understand the Bass fetishism, I really think you’re flogging a dead horse with this one. I do often try Bass if it’s available (usually confirms my prejudices, I must admit) but there’s almost always something more worthwhile to drink than Doom Bar.
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I reckon Martin drank the vinegar in Glenrothes and couldn’t tell the difference from normal DB.
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Oooh! I’ve missed a good pub fight 😂
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I know it isn’t always easy to do, but I am curious about two things. First, what makes Bass distinct from Doom bar for you? Second, is the Bass fetishism justified by the beers history or something else? These are honest questions. The topic is of interest to me. I was kind of expecting these back to back posts to go in this direction.
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I had my first pint of Doom Bar at the Hole In The Wall, Torquay, maybe ten years ago.
I’m not saying that it was also my last, but I can’t remember any others.
I couldn’t tell you when and where I’ve drunk Black Sheep, nor many more too, mind.
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“I know you doubt me, but Brad’s maxim is never truer than with our nation’s favourite beer”
I’m not sure if you’re being your (semi) usual sarcastic self. 😉
“I’ve never taken a Doom Bar back.”
Hmmm. Maybe I should scratch the sarcastic remark?
“but there are enough exceptions for me to say “Give Doom A Chance“.”
The perfect saying for 2020, dontcha think? 🙂
“which I guess is why it slipped out of the Beer Guide again this year”
Remind me. Why is it called the GOOD Beer Guide again?
““Sadly I had no-one to turn to, not even a pub cat. So I told the Landlord on the way out. He shrugged.“
Ouch. By the way, there’s always Twitter to turn to (or so I hear). 🙂
“See Martin Taylor’s other Tweets”
See! 🙂
“as you’ll know by now drinkers are scum who want to kill your granny by visiting pubs and not buying burgers.”
I never quite understand that. I should stay home in order to not kill granny… who, if she’s that frail, should really be staying home herself. 😉
“Those brightly painted tables raised the NBSS to 3.5, which’ll do for me.”
Is that some sort of LGBT thing?
““You must come now. Doom Bar’s drinking well“. texted Mrs RM.”
Blimey. I would have thought Doom Bar was below Mrs RM’s ABV threshold. 🙂
“I rest my case.”
And well done!
“Of course if, due to being in Tier 3 or Glasgow, you’re forced to resort to the bottle, always decant it into a Bass glass.”
(slow golf clap)
Cheers
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Your point on grannies is very well made.
Doom Bar is our best selling beer so I assume it’s our favourite. Who would drink something they don’t like (apart from a craft beer fan, obvs).
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“Your point on grannies is very well made.”
Ta.
“Doom Bar is our best selling beer so I assume it’s our favourite. Who would drink something they don’t like (apart from a craft beer fan, obvs).”
Blimey! I had no idea that was the case.
Cheers
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Doom Bar gets in virtually all the estate pubs with only a marginal focus on beer. And a lot of chain dining pubs. Brand recognition is high.
10 years ago Greene King IPA would have been the top seller, no idea what before that.
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