The Black Horse, Nuthurst, Horsham 25th February 2007

Popped into the Black Horse as we had the use of a car for the afternoon and had some lunch.

King Winter's T'Ale (4.1%): An interestingly flavoured bitter with a strong ginger smell and taste. A good choice to drink in this delightful cozy pub with an open fire (warmer than the picture suggests), on a rainy Sunday afternoon in February.

Harvey's Sussex Best Bitter (4.0%): An excellent pint which tastes heavier and more bitter than it did in it's home territory of Lewes yesterday.

The food was good and its just a shame you need a car to get here. A lovely pub.

The Lewes Arms, Lewes 24th February 2007

The last entry in the old Good Beer Guide we had, this was the final stop on the pub crawl. We had been warned that it has been taken over by Greene King and some of the locals now stay away. Sure enough, even before we got inside, we saw the sign which said "don't mention the H word".

Hardy & Hanson's Olde Trip Ale (4.3): Slight deja vu as the previous pub had this on as well. Not as fresh and hoppy as before but still a pleasant drink.
Highgate Davenport's Original Bitter (4.0): Light beer in all respects. Not a huge amount of flavour but it stands up to the alcohol content.

This is a very old and beautiful town pub with several small rooms and lots of memorabilia around the walls. Although the beer was drinkable, I can to some extent understand the locals' displeasure at not being able to drink their grand local brew in this lovely venue.

After a swift half here we went back to the John Harvey for some food and a beer then back to the Lansdown to hear the band (and for another beer).

An excellent pub crawl. Lewes is well worth a visit, especially as it is easily accessible by train.

The Royal Oak, Lewes 24th February 2007

In a prominent position in the town, we found ourselves walking past here several times so it only seemed right to pop in and see what was on offer. This is a Greene King pub and therefore does not serve Harvey's.

Bateman's XXXB (4.8%): A creamy smooth bitter with a mellow taste.
Hardy & Hanson's Olde Trip Ale (4.3%): Tasty fresh hoppy bitter.

Another big pub in the town centre, this was remarkably empty for a Saturday evening.

The Lansdown Arms, Lewes 24th February 2007

This pub was next on the list. Looking like a 'city' pub, it was short on space but big on weird artwork; full of young people and we were recommended to return later to hear the band "Turning Green".

Harvey's Sussex Best Bitter (4.0%): This is the fourth pub I've visited today and they've all had this beer on. And I've sampled it in each pub. And it has been consistently excellent.

We did indeed pop back later and eventually (an hour and 20 minutes late, once the bass player had arrived) the band started. Unfortunately although the musicians were capable, the music wasn't anything we hadn't heard before, as well as being very loud for the small space. At this point we made our way back to the station.

The Brewer's Arms, Lewes 24th February 2007

After a walk around the castle and a visit to the museum and shop, it was time for the next pub.

This was a large pub on the high street with an empty front bar and a back bar full of people watching the rugby on a massive screen and the football on an only slightly smaller screen.

Harvey's Sussex Best Bitter (4.0%): Another excellent pint of Harvey's. The good people of Lewes are very lucky.
Harvey's Sussex XXXX Old (4.3%): Looking completely different but tasting surprisingly similar to the Best, this is a slightly mellower version. Yet more good beer!

Another good pub although more cavernous than the sort I usually like.

The Gardener's Arms, Lewes 24th February 2007

Next stop was the Gardener's Arms as the most easterly pub on the itinerary. A small pub, showing the rugby on an unobtrusive screen in the corner, it looked like a real locals' haunt.

Harvey's Sussex Best Bitter (4.0%): Damn fine beer, as in the previous pub.
Nelson Dogwatch Stout (4.5%): Delicate smooth stout. Very tasty.
Custom Cascage Ginger (4.8%): Pleasant ginger flavoured beer. Light and drinkable.

We didn't have time to stay long enough to sample the Welton's Sussex Pride on offer, which had travelled from Horsham as we had!

The beers were good and the pub was quite full seemingly with regulars, making for a friendly and relaxed atmosphere.

The John Harvey Tavern, Lewes 24th February 2007

Travelled out to Lewes for a serious pub crawl. With only the Good Beer Guide 2005 to guide us, we planned to visit at least the five pubs in Lewes contained within.

We started at the brewery shop as Harvey's itself isn't open for tours until June, and with some guidance from the helpful staff, began the drinking at the John Harvey.

Harvey's Kiss (4.8%): Interesting light hoppy beer but with a tangy fresh taste. Might be on the way out.
Harvey's Sussex Best Bitter (4.0%): What a stonking pint! Reminiscent of King & Barnes (RIP) in Horsham or Morrell's (also RIP) in Oxford. Just shows how much better beer is when drunk at source.
Harvey's Hadlow Bitter (3.5%): Flat IPA, tasteless after the Sussex.
Harvey's Armada Ale (4.5%): Delicious bitter with a lovely crisp hoppy taste.

We thought it was important to try a few different beers here in case we got too drunk later to appreciate their subtle differences.

An excellent pub with excellent beer and excellent food. So good the conversation turned to moving to Lewes...

The Malt Shovel, Horsham 23rd February 2007

Popped down the local for a quick pint.

Salopian Abbey Gates (4.3%): Very fresh tasting decent beer. Would make a good regular bitter. Of the six real ales on offer I think I made a good choice.
Fuller's Gale's HSB (4.8%): Another good pint, sweeter and more hoppy than the Salopian.

And we didn't try: the Landlord, the Flowers, the Black Sheep Bitter and the Brakspear Bitter, as the pub was loud and smoky.

The Foresters Arms, Horsham 17th February 2007

Having recently moved to Horsham one of my first tasks is to test out the local pubs.

Youngs Bitter (3.7%): Tastes watery with a lack of flavour. Shame its not a bit stronger to back up the taste.
Harvey's Sussex Best Bitter (4.0%): Well rounded flavour with a slightly fresh tangy aftertaste. Could definitely drink this all night.

Immediately I walked in, I knew I'd been here before. It must have been about five years ago with my dad, and we came to hear a music session.

Today the pub was very quiet for a Saturday night, having been closed for refurbishment until two months previously.

A charming pub with at least one good beer and pleasant staff so I hope trade picks up soon.

Dovetail, Clerkenwell 16th February 2007

An old school friend and his wife led me to this bar I've been meaning to visit for ages, calling it "the place that does the wild boar burgers".

So that was the food decision made then, one extremely delicious boar burger for lunch.

The drinks choice was somewhat tougher, as there were hundreds of Belgian beers to choose from. For the first time (possibly ever in a beer buying situation) I felt slightly out of my depth, as I know nothing whatsoever about Belgian beer. At 9.0%, I didn't feel I could try the Delerium Tremens, billed on the menu as "elected as the best beer in the world", as it was only lunchtime.

I started with a bottle of Florisgaarden Honey (4.5%) which was a "fruit" flavoured wheatbeer. It was amazing, it tasted like honey, but in beer form. For anyone reading who is used to these flavoured beers, you'll think I'm stating the obvious, but for me it was a revelation and I'm not sure how else to describe it.

Feeling that I should also try a draught beer I opted for the very sweet Liefman's Frambozen (4.5%) which even with my limited knowledge of Europen languages suggested raspberry. I was not disappointed although it tasted more like lager than the bottled honey beer had done. The selling point was undoubtedly the fruit flavour and there wasn't much of a beer taste underneath.

I stole a sip of my companion's bottle of Lindeman's Peche (2.5%) which again was sweet and rather heavy on the fruit flavour, although delicious and still managed to taste of both beer and peaches. Mmm.

A very informative lunch and at last I know what Belgian beer tastes like. About time!

The Malt Shovel, Horsham 8th February 2007

Eight real ales on this evening when we arrived for the monthly tunes' session, the same number as on Saturday, but with one exception they were all different beers. Amazing. A lot of beer must get drunk in this pub.

Brakspear Bitter (3.4%): This seems to be getting better all the time. Very pleasant. Never thought I'd say that about this beer in this pub!
Wychwood Hobgoblin (5.0%): Sweet and strong. Excellent if that's what you like; a little too sweet for me.
Woodforde's Wherry Best Bitter (3.8%): Light in flavour and fruity. A decent pint although quite bitter after the Hobgoblin.
Black Dog Whitby Abbey Ale (3.8%): Very pleasant although not strongly flavoured. Got boring towards the end of the pint.
Young's Special (4.5%): Surprisingly it didn't taste of much. Disappointing.
Fuller's Gale's HSB (4.8%): This has an indistinct flavour and was very disappointing. Tasted like it was missing an important ingredient, so I was glad I was testing someone else's pint.
Bass Draught Bass (4.4%): Surprisingly drinkable. Ok but a bit tasteless, would do in an emergency (i.e. no other beers on).
Adnam's Bitter (3.7%): Good standard tasty bitter. Would have enjoyed drinking it all night if I'd had the chance.

I learnt a few lessons this evening. Mainly to do with the music (most people playing don't know what the tunes are called; everyone plays everything in G) but also that even in a decent pub the beers that were tasteless last week can be drinkable today. Unfortunately the opposite also appears to be true.

The Lynd Cross, Horsham 4th February 2007

Somehow after yesterday's nine pints, I summoned up the enthusiasm to sample a couple of beers while in the local Wetherspoon's eating some cake (as you do).

Itchen Valley Winchester Ale (4.2%): Tasty light beer with a distinct hop flavour. The staff had lost the pump clip and couldn't tell me the name of the brewer, so when I wrote the below I didn't know it was the same!
Itchen Valley Godfathers (3.8%): Another light beer, very similar in taste to the Winchester although suffering slightly from the lower alcohol content. Could this be from the same brewery?

The half of Godfathers was the shortest drink I've ever been served. If it hadn't already been carried from the bar and I hadn't had a hangover, I'd have mustered the energy to complain.

Although the beer was cheap, the tables were sticky and children were screaming. Not really a comfortable pub atmosphere for a quiet drink. The cake was good though!

The Malt Shovel, Horsham 3rd February 2007

Turned up to hear the band playing at my new local... and thought it was important to test every one of the eight, yes eight real ales on offer. If this hadn't entailed drinking nine pints, I would have been fine the next day. In spite of that, or possibly because of that, it was a good night.

Oakham JHB (3.8%): Very light, almost fizzy fresh beer. Not quite strong enough in my opinion with a hint of dishwater.
Harvey's Sussex Best Bitter (4.0%): Rounded and pleasant but no taste of hops. Classic bitter which I could easily have drunk all night. Almost a shame there were so many other beers to try!
Brakspear Bitter (3.4%): Thick, dark bitter with an indistinct flavour, but better than it's tasted for a while here.
Adnam's Bitter (3.8%): Very tasty for a low gravity beer. Eminently drinkable.
York Centennial (4.0%): Beautiful delicate light beer. Reminiscent of St Peter's Elderberry fruit beer which is no longer made and sadly missed. Easily the best beer of the night (and believe me, I tested it as much as humanly possible).
Arran Dark (4.3%): Sharp and warm with a mellow aftertaste. The sort of beer that if you're not used to drinking bitter you might really hate, but actually it was fairly pleasant. Wouldn't be my first choice.
Ventnor Pistol Night (4.4%): Very unusual bitter with a warm, incredibly hoppy taste. Improves with drinking. Delicious.
Timothy Taylor Landlord (4.3%): Another decent bitter. Sweet, tasty and deceptively strong.

The staff were jolly and helpful. A real pleasure to be here. I came to hear the band and the pub happened to have eight real ales on, including some 'standard' bitters, light beers and a dark beer.

The Okee Dokee band were great and were appreciated by the clientele. Footage is available on youtube.com.

Who could ask for more in a local?

The Sir John Oldcastle, Farringdon 2nd February 2007

Tried a few pubs in the area for a quick after-work drink but this was the only one we could find with space for three more people on a Friday night.

Harviestoun Bitter & Twisted (3.8%): Sweet, mellow and dark. Slightly hoppy and very pleasant. Not entirely convinced that the beer I was served WAS the beer I was told it was, but tasty all the same.

Itchen Valley The Sir John Oldcastle (4.5%): Unusual hoppy bitter. Served cloudy but it did eventually settle in the glass. A day or two past fresh but not quite off.

What a surprise, Weatherspoon's beer served cold! Actually it wasn't as cold as in other pubs. Maybe someone has finally got the message.