Backyard Porter at the Black Tap

The long awaited Black Tap Brewery Taphouse is finally open! Hidden away in the town centre of Redditch near the bandstand; this pub will brew its own beer on-site. I popped down to the meet the team on a quiet Thursday evening. Five hand pumps were on the bar; which is great for the Redditch scene. It didn't take long for the barman to recognise me; though it took me a while to remember which pub he came from. I was then instantly given a tour of the cellar. The strangest thing was that I wasn't told anything of the forthcoming brews; instead I was treated to a tour of the fixtures. I was shown a new venting system for the beer; his plans to refurbish the cellar with cupboards and notice boards; together with his preparations of where the furniture should go. Not the most interesting of highlights for a new brewpub; but bless him; he showed me what he could. I thoroughly enjoyed the Backyard Porter; while the summer beer; although nice; was beginning to lose its condition. We concluded with a brainstorming session of future beer names.

Help the Heroes at the Peacock, Forhill

Last night’s venture into the Peacock at Forhill was an attempt to catch up on my Cask Marque ale trail. There were rumours of the pub being owned by Greene King; but on my arrival the ‘Chef and Brewer’ motif on the umbrella soon put paid to that. The beer range on the bar meant that it was certainly to be a quick survey stop, as Greene King Indian Pale and Speckled Hen were alongside Marston’s Help the Heroes beer; not a great selection. I pondered my choice in the gents as the barmaid was serving a group of diners; and slid across the floor on my way out. When I returned to the bar; it was a young chap who served me; which resulted in a pint being poured even though I recalled clearly ordering a half-pint. Their price system seems strange; £3.47 was requested; which was reduced to £1.47 when the barman identified his mistake. Nevertheless; I sat in the uninspiring beer garden and gave my friend a quick call while I guzzled through this beer stop.  

The wolf at the Leaping Salmon

After an evening spent exploring the south side of Berwick Upon Tweed’s outer walls, we ventured cautiously into the Leaping Salmon. Steve seemed to think we were lost and that we were in a chain restaurant rather than a pub; but I soon put him right. This Wetherspoons was a lot smaller than others in the country; and we struggled to find a table that hadn't yet been cleared of earlier diners. However; we chose and ordered; and our meals arrived quite quickly. Having crossed the border earlier; I was still pleasantly surprised to find the Highland Burger on the menu. I was also confused when I asked if it was the haggis beef or haggis chicken I wanted; but it turned out I got both beef and haggis. The whisky sauce was a little watered down and didn't offer much taste; but the Lone Wolf beer that accompanied it was in excellent condition. 

Fyne beers at the Argyll Hotel, Inverary

Just across from the scenic inner seas of Inverary in Scotland lies the Argyll Hotel. It's a shame that the hotel does nothing to command the magnificent views; as the hotel’s car park completely blocks the view beyond. Once inside, the small lounge bar seems even more sealed as the windows are completely covered over with wood panelling. However; the food served was of the highest quality; if not a bit overpriced. I enjoyed a well grilled steak with all the trimmings; and the sticky toffee pudding was home-made and a fair size too. There was even a real ale available; which had lost some of its flavour and I failed to catch the name. The only downer was that we seemed to be served by foreign staff again; who had to ask for assistance in finalising our order. Scotland seems to lack local services being run by local people. Perhaps these houses are run by business people that close up their hotels when they're out of season. 

All keg at Abrecknesh House

If you ever find yourself near Loch Awe and come across Abrecknesh House; I thoroughly advise that you carry on walking. We arrived to eat in good time before last food orders; and after finding seating in the lounge; we asked to see some menus. I ordered the Oban battered haddock with chips; while my friend ordered the mushroom soup with chips and another ordered the steak. The waitress who took our ordered didn't seem to know what was going on; and had an overseas accent. We had to queue at the bar for drinks ourselves; while a rushed hostess abandoned everything just before we were about to order to get a glance at an eagle which one of the locals spotted flying past outside. We waited fifty minutes for the food to arrive; during which the soup arrived but without the chips. When my fish did arrive; it seemed to be of the frozen supermarket variety and the chips were simple French fries rather than hearty Scottish fayre. My friend’s steak was also very grizzly. But if you enjoy overpriced food and neglected service; then go on over. 

Cairngorm Stag at the King's House Hotel

Nestled away from the main road and set in stunning scenery is the King’s House Hotel. Found in the stunning mountains of Glencoe; this historic restaurant is open to non-residents and serves bar meals all day alongside an extensive whisky range and two real ales. After negotiating our way through the corridor which was decorated with antique furniture and a map of the area; we reached the bar where a friendly barman advised us to order quickly as the kitchen was making preparations to close. He was also very appreciative when we paid by card; as he was low on change and the nearest bank was over thirty miles away. I ordered the venison burger and settled down to wait with a mahogany pint of Stag from the Cairngorm brewery which was in excellent condition. We had to make some room on our table as the lounge bar was very popular;  but the food arrived very quickly and was cooked to perfection. My friend’s spinach lasagne also looked very appetising. 

Cairngorm Caillie at the Claraic Inn, Glencoe

The Claraic Inn is set against the stunning scenery of Glencoe in the Scottish Highlands. Whilst primarily a inn; its large snug bar with booths and large tables are perfect for groups to curl up for a quick break from their  travels; whether by foot or road. There are also picnic benches to enjoy the mountains of the Highlands while being sheltered from the main road traffic. It has an extensive range of fifteen hand pumps; and I was very pleased to see Thirsty Cross’s Whisky Cask Cider on the end. I tried a half of Cairngorm Caillie which was in excellent condition and a new beer for me; a low gravity golden beer perfect for lunchtime. We also called in on a wet evening for dinner; and found the bar absolutely packed with walkers sheltering from their day’s expedition. This created a great atmosphere but was also rather noisy; which our designated driver was not keen on and so we decided to move on.