October 2025. Brasov. Romania.
Four nights in Transylvania, longer than we’d normally spend in one place but Pension Casa Timar was to prove the perfect base to explore the land of impalement and Pale ale*.
Brasov is an odd place to negotiate, the rail station in “Tractor District” a mile north of flashy new town and two from the old city, connected by buses running more regularly than the A6 from Stockport.
Untappd has just the one “registered venue”,
that registration (for a fee) giving it the benefit of a big yellow marker, making it the first bar you see when you open the app, and that electronic display board that shows foreign tickers checking-in.
It doesn’t always mean the best or most interesting (ugh) beer, but Aftar Stube is definitely your classy Brasov must, if only for the tat in a rambling and atmospheric old tavern.
Packed on a Sunday night (as was all of Brasov), table service only, a couple of fairly plain local beers (Pilsner and Bock) on draught,
it’s all about the cans (mostly Hop Hooligans imperial stouts) and a wonderfully sticky house salad.
“You MUST see the bear” says Mrs RM on the way back from the loos.
I presume she means this;
We ignore the drizzle, it’s only 15 minutes back via the chicken and wig shops,
and an Untappd offie (Succellus) sells us more Hop Hooligans and a potent liquor from Bran.
But is it REALLY Dracula’s blood ?
*sorry
retiredmartin 
As a vegan, I can give you no reassurance as regards Dracula’s Blood.
Is a tomato gose no longer edgy enough for you? Perhaps with a drop or two of Henderson’s Relish?
LikeLike
I’m just reminded it looks like Soy Sauce. I hope Mrs RM drinks it in pints.
Any advice on Sheffield beer fest, or I’ll just stick to the Pastore.
LikeLike
So Sheffield’s beer festival has clashed with Stoke’s fortieth and final one.
Yesterday lunchtime was my first beer festival since April 2023 with Will.
It was lovely being back in the King’s Hall, chatting with Simon George who had the wonderful Bturtpore for many years and meeting the Whim Brewery man.
My only slight disappointments were the absence of pint glasses, shortage of seating and then whingers on that Discourse suggesting that the cask beer was too warm.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sorry Paul, absence of pint glasses ! So beer is only served in 1 litre mugs like in Germany ?
LikeLike
As far as I could tell those jugs were only for the tasting panel judging beer on the stage.
LikeLike
“and that electronic display board that shows foreign tickers checking-in.”
Ah, the old ‘hook’ to draw them in.
” if only for the tat in a rambling and atmospheric old tavern.”
Yep. Definitely tatty.
“it’s all about the cans (mostly Hop Hooligans imperial stouts)”
Blimey. At 12% that will definitely put you on your can.
“But is it REALLY Dracula’s blood ?”
You have it backwards. Dracula drank other people’s blood.
“*sorry”
I’m just glad I didn’t look ahead.
Cheers
LikeLike
Are you saying Dracula didn’t have blood, Russ ? Probably drank his own during prohibition.
LikeLike
It’s a great part of the world – the Balkans – for names isn’t it? Is that what started all the troubles?
I mean, would you want your daughter to bring home someone called Vuk Draskovitch?
LikeLike
Depends if he was a centre back for Manchester City or not.
LikeLike
Well, if they brought football into it too…
LikeLike
Nah. Drac has blood for sure. Problem is, he’s taken blood from so many people, you don’t know what’s in his!
(he could even have Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease**)
** – when I came back to Canada after backpacking around western Europe, and the UK, in 80/81 the Canadian Red Cross would no longer allow me to donate blood, because of the possibility of Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease, or some such twaddle)
LikeLiked by 1 person