Day Two of the trip and a decision had to be made. I had to pick one pub from the Drinking In London piece mentioned in Day One and it had to be a good one. A croque madame is always a safe bet for breakfast and my choice was made, so after a couple of errands, I made my way for Brew Dog, Shepherds Bush.
There’s something about going to the pub at half twelve on a Tuesday afternoon. But I was on my ( brief) holidays so why not? The menu made my eyes and mind boggle.
Brew Dog’s Dead Pony Club is one of my favourite ales and there it was on tap so I said I’d make a start with that.
Next I went for The Wild Beer Company’s Fresh, an English IPA that lives up to it’s name.
I was reading the Brew Dog propaganda magazine. Sometimes brainwashing feels really good. So I had an American style IPA Hello My Name is Ze which is infused with passionfruit and was the result of a collaborative effort by Brew Dog and Brazil’s 2Cabecas. Very pleasant.
I reckoned it was time for a bit of grub so I went for the burger and ordered an Oskar Blues G’Knight which they brewed as a tribute to one of their late brewing friends. It’s a serious double red ale.
I stuck with Oskar Blues for my next, Ten Fidy which is a very impressive Imperial Stout.
I’m starting to think I’ve found two new favourites between Oskar Blues and Beavertown.
My afternoon session finished with a Blaecorn Unidragon from Clown Shoes. It’s an epic Russian Imperial Stout with a great name.
I didn’t fall out of the place as I stuck with halves or thirds when recommended. The two bar ladies on duty were very helpful and quick to offer a sample, I hope we come to see more of this in Ireland. Heck I hope to see our own Brew Dog bar someday! It was time to head for the airport, more on that tomorrow.
This is what drinking should be all about. I’m afraid in my day we were a bit too intent on outdoing each other on quantity. We did have some discernment but it diminished as the session went on.
Up until a few years ago I would’ve cocked a snook at a man drinking a glass of beer, I suppose in this case a little education isn’t a dangerous thing! We all need to be a bit less worried what others think…
Ten Fidy by Oskar Blues is so freakin good. Agree with the glass comment too, I was the same and now I totally get it and do that more often now especially if I am sampling, driving or just plainly want to function that day.
I had to navigate public transport in a strange city so I needed to have some of my wits about me! The G’Knight was exceptional too I thought. ..
Yeah, that G’Knight was a beer worthy to be honored with. I recall rating both of those very high, in fact so far pretty much every Oskar Blues beer has been top notch.
I’m a big new fan of theirs now, I hope I’ll be able to get my hands on more of their brews here…
Blaecorn Unidragon! I brought it fir the name and loved it. And only this week I found the Beavertown beers in the local English beer importers, it’s a small world.
I was only talking to an Irish distributor today about bringing them in to Ireland, I got VERY excited at the prospect!