June 2026. Yerevan. Armenia.
Just the hour late, our tour bus returned to its slot opposite the Yerevan Opera House just past 7,
and we turned down tickets for Sleeping Beauty just to bring you reports on the craft bar scene.
We’ve found clusters of “authentic” craft beer bars all over eastern Europe and into the Caucasus,
the Petersgate Tap/Old Shoe type places with a row of keg DIPAs,
and a fridge full of cans with garish designs.
Controversially, I reckon only Ferment and Gargoyle were the only bars here that would satisfy CAMRA’s authorative definition of “crafty craft”, the local places like Dargett and Dors more akin to a Brewhouse & Kitchen, which isn’t a criticism, we all need burgers.
Ferment is a classy basement bar with the Engligh Rugby Union Premiership shown to a couple of disinterested Armenians girls and a modest modern pub menu. Set in the capital’s premier streets, the beers were over a fiver each. £5 buys a lot of dumplings in Armenia.
Russian imports from Brewlok,
and that astonishing tomato gose from 4Brewers of Vladimir, a thick alcoholic tomato juice I scored 5 on Untappd, which is akin to scoring Doom Bar a 5 on the CAMRA site.
As I know from Chisinau, drinking a pint of alcoholic tomato juice is tougher than you’d think, Mrs RM was on her second pint (the otameal stout, she couldn’t pronounce Леший at the bar when she went back for a second IPA).
By that time we’d ordered a portion of chicken wings SO fiery we were given black rubber gloves to handle them with. There’s a joke about Novichok coating but I’m certainly not making it.
In truth, I felt a bit morally conflicted about drinking Russian beer, more so on the flight home when I was sat next to a 20 year old Ukrainian, but life is complex isn’t it* ?
Slava Ukraini
Heroyam Slava !
*I’m listening to Rachmaninov’s 2nd as I write; should I turn it off ?
retiredmartin 
I take it there’s no connection between “disinterested Armenian girls” and “£5 buys a lot of dumplings in Armenia.”?
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Yes, you could read too much into that line !
Armenian girls always go out in pairs to avoid old blokes hassling them with offers of dumplings.
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Good job we’re only around middle age then.
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Never mind Tomato Gose, it’s proper Tomato Sausages ( made with tomatoes not tomato puree ) that I have to go to Uttoxeter quite often for. Imagine my surprise at sitting down mid yesterday morning next to Quinno, with my Abbot drinking quite well, in Tim’s Old Swan there.
Uttoxeter wasn’t at its best yesterday with Bass “off” in the Black Swan, no Pedigree in the Dapple Grey ( the ever so popular Bass taking priority in the Marstons Brewery ) and the Vaults opening two hours later than Quinno expected.
The Old Talbot and the Bank House were as good as ever though.
I’m not quite sure how we spent more than an hour discussing ailments before my 1.20pm bus departure.
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It’s been all over the internet today, Paul. People reminiscing about meeting you unexpectedly.
“I’m just popping out for some special sausages”, may be the best excuse to get out of the house so far !
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Martin,
They weren’t “special” sausages when I were a lad. I’d never have guessed that half a century later they’d only be available in the town that time forgot. I blame neither-super-nor-market so called supermarkets.
No, Quinno is the paragon of health, an example to us all. I don’t quite understand his interest in all my ailments. He says the sixties are the most dangerous decade – so be careful.
I don’t know if I’ll get to Sawley on Friday having had an unfortunate journey back that way from Loughborough fifteen days ago. Twenty-seven minutes late into Derby meant missing an excellent pint or two there. Then my train to Stafford was cancelled giving me an extra hour in Tamworth of all places. Not to mention that Tamworth to Stafford was far less a Delay Repay than Loughborough to Derby would have been.
My trains up north, and buses from Whitby to Scarborough, went well since then though.
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What possible ailments can Quinno have, he’s barely out of short trousers !
Will we see you in Sawley on Friday ?
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Ooh, tomato sausages! Haven’t had any for years. Didn’t know you could still get them.
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Only a short step from tomatoes to tofu. You’ll be vegan before you know it, Bill.
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Alphabetically, perhaps. But there’s always turkey. And trout.
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I just had a Ukrainian beer! Not a tomato gose, but you can’t have everything….
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I was more impressed with that 11% Romanian imperial stout.
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Saw an American barrel aged stout priced @ £50 a pint yesterday. Managed to resist.
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Scott , Humphrey’s oak cask conditioned OBB at £3.60 a pint was drinking very well in both Whitby’s Plough last Sunday and Scarborough’s Golden Ball last Monday.
Why pay more ?
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